Chapter 18: Riccardo-18

RICCARDO'S POV

“Breathe, Riccy… breathe.”

Papa held my hands as I shook.

“Papa, I'm scared. What if Raziel kills someone?” The thought made my heart sink.

“That won't happen, Riccy, because you are a good person. And good always triumphs over evil.”

\~~~~~

I opened my eyes slowly and was met with the sun’s rays. I scanned my surroundings—I was back home. But weren’t we in the Ice-Crystal Pack? How did I get here?

I got out of bed and walked to the door when it suddenly opened, and Harry and Stefano entered.

“Ric! You’re awake!!!”

“Sire!”

They both hugged me tightly.

Awake? What was going on?

“Why are we in Vacuità? When did we get back? And why was I asleep? Where’s… where’s Luana?”

“Whoa, calm down. We’ll answer all your questions. Just take a seat.”

They led me back to the bed and had me sit down.

My eyes went wide at what they told me.

“Shit! Shit! Where’s Luana?”

“She’s unconscious,” Harry said.

I got up and ran a hand through my hair, frustrated.

“How long was I out?”

“Three days,” Stefano replied.

“Luana too?”

“Yeah.”

“That fucking Raziel,” I snarled.

Raziel—my split personality that always reeked havoc and destruction.

“The pack… do they know about this?”

They shook their heads.

“No. I made sure they didn’t,” Harry replied.

I let out a frustrated sigh. How long was this going to continue?

“Calm down, Ric.”

“How can I be calm?!” I snapped. “I’m going to kill someone at this rate! If the chains can’t even hold him, then what can?”

I paced about.

“He wants the prophecy to be fulfilled. That’s his goal.”

“But there is hope, sire,” Harry said.

“Hope?”

“Yes. I noticed that when Raziel had Luana in his grasp, she couldn’t perform her magic. But when she was freed, she was able to bind him and bring you back.”

“She saved me?” I asked, my voice low.

“Yes, she did,” Stefano said with a smile.

“But I tried to fucking kill her!” I shouted, punching a wall.

“Not you—Raziel,” Harry said. “You’re not him. You’re better, so fight it. Remember, good always triumphs in the end.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder.

“You should go see the queen. She’s been worried sick about you.”

\~~~~~~~

As I stared at Luana’s unconscious body, I felt more and more pathetic.

It was already a month, and she still hadn’t woken up.

“Emerald…” I called, caressing her head. “I’m sorry.”

I leaned in and planted a kiss on her forehead.

“Please wake up… please.”

I had grown so accustomed to having her around that I couldn’t imagine the castle without her—or me without her.

It’s funny.

We were enemies, but now… I think I have feelings for her.

But I could never tell her that.

I doubt she’ll feel the same way.

I kept her here as a prisoner—cursed to use her powers only for my good and for the kingdom.

She can’t even go home and check on her family.

I’m such a cruel person. How do I expect her to have feelings for someone like me? I bet she already has someone.

That guy she danced with at Eastall.

I sighed. In my many years, I never thought I would fall in love—let alone with a feisty witch.

I chuckled.

Suddenly, her eyes started moving, and in an instant, they opened.

“Luana?!” I called, holding her hand tenderly.

“Ric…” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“You’re… you again… I’m glad.” Her voice was so weak it broke my heart.

“I’m sorry. You should have killed me when you had the chance.”

She shook her head.

“That person wasn’t you. You’re not like that.”

“You don’t know that. He lives within me. He knows everything about me. He’ll try to take away the people that matter—just to see me break.” I paused, looking away from her. “I won’t be able to control him for much longer.”

Silence.

“I had a vision,” she said.

I turned. “A vision?”

“Yes. Have you ever heard of a unicorn?”

Unicorns? I’ve heard of them, but I’ve never seen one.

“Yes, I have.”

“What about them?”

“Well… its tears can dissolve Raziel. Forever.”

I blinked in disbelief.

“Really?”

“Yes. We’ll just have to convince it that you are the good one—and Raziel is the bad one.”

I nodded.

She tried to sit up, and I helped her.

“Careful.”

“Umm… did the pack find out about what happened?”

“No. Harry said he made sure no one knew.”

“Okay…”

She looked at me, her emerald eyes piercing mine.

“You haven’t slept, have you? Were you worried about me?”

The question caught me off guard.

I smirked. “Nah…”

She smirked back. “Oh? Then… why are you still holding my hand?”

I chuckled.

“Of course I was worried, dummy,” I said, ruffling her hair.

She pouted.

She was too cute.

Her stomach rumbled, startling us both. Her cheeks turned beet red.

“I’ll go get you some food. Don’t get up.”

I finally let go of her hand.

I felt the coldness and uncertainty return to my palms.

“You’re driving me crazy, Luana,” I murmured to myself as I grabbed some warm soup from the kitchen.

The maids were surprised to see me.

I mean, I had never stepped foot into the kitchen until now.

“Here.” I gently handed the soup to Luana.

“Thank you. Oww—”

“Careful, it’s hot. Show me your fingers.”

She held out her hands, and I gently took them, blowing on her fingers softly.

“Feel better?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Let me feed you.”

“No! I can feed myself, thanks.”

“No, please allow me.”

“I’m fine, Ric. I’ll be careful with the bowl.”

“Okay.”

She started blowing on her soup and eating slowly.

Something had been on my mind. I knew it was impossible to avoid, but I had to confront it.

“Luana?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you miss home?”

She stopped the spoon halfway to her mouth. Her expression changed.

“Yeah… I do.”

“I’m sorry for taking you away from your family. For binding you. For cursing you. For making you feel like a prisoner.”

She said nothing, just stared at me in surprise.

“Ric…”

“It’s fine. I accept my mistakes.” I turned to her and smiled. “Thanks to you, I got to see a ray of light in my dark life.”

“Thank you, Luana.”

She was speechless.

“After we destroy Raziel… I’ll set you free.”