Chapter 27: A Distant Memory.

LUANA'S POV

I couldn't believe my ears. Maybe I heard wrong.

“What did you say?” I asked, sure I had heard wrong.

Massimo looked at me, his expression softening.

“I’m your father, Lua.”

I shook my head in disbelief.

“That’s impossible! My parents died when I was a baby. There’s got to be a mistake!” I said, my voice slightly raised.

He smiled gently, then held out his hand.

“Come, let me show you the truth.”

I hesitated.

There’s no way this could be true.

Madam Margaret lied?

This is crazy.

But then again, there was the calamity.

And I was also curious about what he wanted to show me. I wanted to know the truth.

I took a deep breath and placed my hand in his.

\~~~~~~~

“You were born in Prateria, your mother’s town. She was an Earth witch,” Massimo began.

I opened my eyes. We weren’t in his study anymore; we were in a memory!

I saw a younger version of him standing close to the same woman I had seen in the vision in the Forest of Illusione—my mother. She was holding a baby.

“You were the greatest thing to happen to us, Lua,” he said.

“Earth witches were different from most witches. They controlled the earth itself.

Crops flourished and withered at their command. Flowers didn’t dare raise their heads without their permission.” He paused, then, raising his hand, changed the scene before us.

“Your mother was powerful, one of the best of her kind.” He chuckled. “I met her on one of my travels, and we fell in love,” he continued.

The scene before us changed to a place I was all too familiar with… Vacuità.

His expression hardened, and his tone turned serious.

“Your mother had a friend in Vacuità, Morwenna.

We visited often. Her husband was a nice man; I often enjoyed the talks we had.” He paused, then looked at me.

“Their son was very fond of you. He even proposed an engagement.”

My heart quickened.

Ric had asked for an engagement when we were young?

“Did you agree to it?” I asked.

“Your mother did. Morwenna was so happy; she was quite fond of you.

The King and I advised waiting until you children had grown.”

He said, then broke into a small laugh.

“Riccardo was adamant and insisted on the engagement. Scoff. That brat.”

A small smile found its way to my face.

But I had mixed feelings.

I wasn't born in Witchesville.

I had parents.

I knew Ric and his family when I was little, and I was somewhat engaged?!

Why hadn't anyone told me? Why the lie?

“But… everything changed that day,” he continued, changing the scene again.

My eyes widened in disbelief. The scene was the same as the one we saw in the forest.

Me and my mother entering the house, and the boys shouting my name.

Our younger versions had tea and biscuits with the moms.

After that, we went off to play in the garden.

A tear escaped my eye.

I knew Harry and Stefano.

This was overwhelming. I saw Ric calling my younger self to come behind a tree in the garden.

He looked nervous, his hand hidden behind his back.

“I… I got something for you,” he said, bringing out a wooden box from behind him.

“What is it?” little me asked.

“Open it.”

He handed me the box, and little me opened it.

A gasp escaped my mouth.

No way! This was all too much!!

The content of the box was a pin.

The same leaf-shaped green pin Ric had given me before I left Vacuità.

I giggled. “It's pretty, Riccy. Thank you!” little me said, then hugged him. His face turned red.

“You're welcome. I'm going to get you more when we get married,” he said, patting me on the head.

The moment was so beautiful and innocent that I was almost lost in it.

“So… what happened on this day?” I asked, remembering he had said something had happened.

He changed the scene again to where my mother and the Queen, Morwenna, were having tea.

Morwenna poured my mother a cup of tea, her smile never leaving her face.

Someone called Morwenna from inside, probably the king. She excused herself and left the table.

My mother stared at the four of us as we played.

She smiled, then brought the cup to her lips and drank.

After a few seconds, she began to cough.

My heart wrenched.

She continued coughing and eventually coughed up blood.

“No!” I shouted, running to her. “I tried to help her, but every time I tried to touch her, my hand went through.

“Why… Why can't I get through? We have to help her!” I shouted.

She had coughed up so much blood by now.

The surrounding plants began to wither, turning a dark shade of gray.

Massimo said nothing. There was a pool of sadness and guilt in his eyes.

She tried to speak, but nothing came out of her mouth, like she was calling for someone.

Tears streamed down my face. I looked at our younger selves, and they were completely oblivious to what was happening.

Mother got up, clutching her chest as she walked to the door of the castle.

Her skin had turned pale, and her green eyes no longer held the spark they once had.

When she reached the door, she coughed up one last chunk of blood, and in the next second, she collapsed on the doorstep.

“No!!!!!”