Chapter 53 The waiting game
Alessia’s POV
I watch him until he shuts the door behind him gently, then I lay back down on the sofa. Silence lingers in the living room as Luca stands up and heads to the window, shrugging his shoulders as if to shake off his worries, but it’s not working. After a moment, his eyes linger in the hallway as if he is expecting someone to burst in any moment.
“Luca, where are we going?” I ask, feeling a bit cold all of a sudden, and I hug myself. “Please tell me if you know, I don’t like being left in the dark.”
He turns to me ,giving me a soft look and a smile that does not reach his eyes.
“I am not sure where we will be heading to , it depends on what Padre tells Alex. All I know is we will be on the move tonight.”
My mind goes back to what Luca described about the spell Selina carried out. She is a bad ass witch. I am so Terrified but impressed. I start pacing around the room. My heart ringing loudly in my ears, my eyes fall on my laptop lessons forgotten. I remember the last line that I read about Natura’s coven La Casa, “Every coven member is hunted at least once after the awakening.”
I shiver in fear, wishing I hadn’t read that line, wishing I had’nt heard the things Luca told Alex.
My stomach clenches as a slight nausea rises to my throat and I force it back down.
Thinking out loud… “Luca ,Why do I even have to take these lessons to begin with?, Why can't I-”
Luca cuts in softly.
“Alessia, you are learning because you need to understand who you are and what will happen to you,” Luca adds, walking toward me. “It’s a good thing.”
“But I am scared,” I say finally, sitting on the chair again.
“Do I even want to know who I really am, Luca? I mean Mama bound me for a reason, a very good one.” My heart twists in pain as Mamas last moments, her laying on her pale silk sheets almost as pale as her face, holding on to my hand a tear escapes me before I can stop it and I brush it off quickly.
“She moved from La Casa for a reason. Magic spells that can trace a jewel across continents? That’s absurd ,For every positive there is a negative,” my voice cracks, “and now Alex is in there taking forever talking to the one person who understands this crazy world more than all of us combined. What if he returns with yet more information I can’t handle? I am at my limit already,” I venture with my hands shakily folding ny legs unto my chest.
Luca crouched in front of me, resting his hands on either side of me. He doesn’t touch me but his presence serves as an anchor, grounding me.
“Alessia, there is absolutely nothing you can’t handle with me and Alex here,” he says firmly. “You are not alone and you will never be.”
I shake my head, not wanting to hear his coaxing words. My thoughts are spinning out of control as everything I have heard is finally catching up with me.
“I am not like you two, not brave at all. And those lessons, I feel like I am reading a novel about someone else’s life not my own.”
He watches me for a moment.
“What part of it has got you so scared?” he asks me gently.
“Almost everything I read or watch scares me, but I just read a line that says,
‘Every witch is hunted at least once after the awakening.’”
I shiver again as repeating makes it even more ominous.
“Besides, most withches have lives in their community their entire lives. They have learned how to take care of themselves and so on. Who will put me through that? Will I be able to catch up?”
“Yes, Alessia, you will. They are your family, and your legacy runs strong in the coben. They will never treats you like an outsider. You have just been apart.”
“I have… been apart, living in a compleletly alternative life, and now it’s about to coexist with the life I am supposed to have lived. Can both coexist together? Only time will tell.”
I take a deep breath.
“And La Rosa? Will we be able to locate it? The video mentions”
Luca lifts his hand stalling me.
“Alessia, look at me.”
I do.
“It’s not your responsibility to prove your innocence or to make them stop chasing you,” he says. “You haven’t done anything wrong, remember that always.”
My eyes sting with unshed tears.
“But they still think I am the culprit,” I say quietly.
“I am sure Alex has an idea on how to deal with that,” Luca replied.
“That’s part of what this phone call is about. Knowing Alex, they are probably discussing how to send them in the wrong direction.”
I hitch my breath, eyes widening as it dawns on me.
“The mafia lords? To give us time?”
He nods. “Now you understand. They will mislead them on purpose. We are safe for the mean time.”
I sigh, leaning back in the chair as A thought comes to me.
“Luca, what if they demand that they need something from me? La Casa… what if they expect me to stay in the coven?”
Luca stands, moving to the single chair and sitting down.
“Alessia, relax. Alex won’t let anything happen to you, neither will I. And we will carry you along the way. We won’t leave you in the dark. You get to choose your path.”
“I have a choice?” I ask. “So what if I don’t want to meet them?.”
“Why won’t you want to meet your family?” he says, his voice softening. “Aren't you curious? Just trust us and stay calm. Let’s handle everything else. Also, the fact that you are taking the lessons means you do have some interest in learning about who you are.”
A dry laugh escapes me. “Akex didn't exactly give me a choice, but then I am a bit curious.”
He skills. “I know you are.”
There is a pause as my eyes move to the closed door again.
“What could he be saying to him for so long?” I ask quietly.
Luca hesitates. “Hmmm”
“I need to know,” I push. “Didn’t you just say you will carry me along?”
He sighs. “I think he will return and say we need to go to the Red Sea.”
My stomach feels as heavy as stone.
“To face La Geneva? Now?”
“I could be wrong,” he adds. “It’s just a feeling I am getting.”
I suck in a breath. “Luca, I don’t” I watch Luca as he glances at the hallway once more.
My heart leaps in my throats as I catch sight of Alex coming out of his office, taking calm measured steps.. He approaches slowly, his eyes cold and his expression blank. Once he reaches the edge of the sofa he looks at me...
“We need to go.”