Chapter 67 Voice
Alessia’s POV
I get up gently, wheeling my luggage to the bathroom. After a quick bath and change of clothes, I return to find Alex shirtless, settled on his side watching the news. I stare at his chiselled chest and tattoos on his arms. Suddenly, I feel very, very warm. I approach the bed and pick up the air-con remote, increasing the pressure, feeling cool air on my face.
Alex watches me without saying a word. Silence stretches as I clutch the blanket, trying to keep my heart rate steady and my breath calm.
Suddenly, I hear a faint whisper in my ears.
“Welcome to your home, last daughter of Molano.”
My body grows cold as every hair on my body stands on end. The air in the room seems to grow thick as I can barely breathe properly. The room feels way too tiny and I feel panic clawing at my throat, begging to escape. What the hell was that? It seems I may be going bananas! Clutch my hands counting from 10 down trying to stay calm.
“Alessia.” Alex moves closer, his voice a calm balm in the midst of my hysteria. “What is the matter?”
I shake my head, not able to say it because it sounds ridiculous even to me. How can I hear a whisper that welcomes me to town? A whisper that sounded like the most real thing I have ever heard in my life. Did I imagine it? It sounded real, just like the person was standing by the window waiting for me to open the curtains. Waiting for me to go outside.
Alex tightens his arm on me, his warmth steadying me.
“Do you feel like how you felt at the airport?”
“No, it’s different.” I sound shaky and unsteady. “This one is a whisper in my ear…”
His jaw ticks as he attempts to understand.
“Who? What is it saying?”
I tremble. “Welcome to your home, daughter of Margo Molano.”
He pauses, then he gets off the bed and crosses over to the window, opening the curtain slightly to check outside, blocking my view with his body. I watch how tense his shoulders are as he continues to scan the area below.
He steps back, allowing the curtain to fall back in place.
“It’s all clear. I didn’t see anyone.”
“Alex… I am sure it wasn’t from the window,” I whisper softly, folding my legs to my chest.
His eyes flicker to me.
“Then from where did the whisper come from?”
I wrap my arms around my legs. “It seemed to have come from the very air…”
He walks towards me, opening his arms wide. “Cara mia, come here…” I jump into his body as his strong arms encircle me, holding me tight as if he can protect me from something he can’t even see or hear.
We stay like that for a few minutes.
“Alessia, who is Margo?”
I shudder as my mum’s pale form flashes in my mind. Tears fill my eyes in an instant as unimaginable pain races through my chest.
“My mother.” My voice cracks. “My mother was Margo Molano…”
He moves back a bit to cup my face with his large hands.
“Alessia, look at me. Whatever La Casa is doing, they can’t force you to remain against your will. We will face them together.”
I nod. “Thank you,” I whisper shakily. He sets me on the bed for a moment and runs his hand through his hair, starting to pace around the room.
“Mezza recognised you when you stepped on the soil and alerted La Casa. Remember Angelica said it…”
Fear races down my spine.
“So La Casa knows we are here.”
“Of course. Who else will whisper into your ear like that?” His voice is low and controlled. “But I really don’t think it means anything bad.”
I let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Alex, something or someone whispered to me through air. How is it not bad?”
Alex doesn’t falter. He just sits again by my side, his knee brushing mine.
“I have seen death, destruction and mayhem. Survived things I should not have. But you see this…” He exhales slowly. “This is a whole new ball game. It’s magic. It’s an unknown threat for me, but it doesn’t mean I will let them have you.”
His assurance calms my mind a bit. I take a few deep breaths in and out, trying to expand my lungs. I hear a thud sound from next door, then Lucas’ loud voice, a bit muffled but clear enough.
“Angelica, the floor just trembled beneath me!”
Angelica soothes him.
“I told you we could share the bed. Climb in. Mezza is over the edge tonight.”
Alex mutters, “So it’s affecting them as well… hocus pocus.”
I gulp, still listening for any sounds from next door.
“Alex…”
“Hmm?” He turns to me.
“I don’t want to hear it.” My voice is laced with fear. “I don’t want to have anything to do with this place.”
He laces his fingers with mine. “Then we go to La Casa tomorrow, get whatever info we need, and leave. Whatever you want.”
I gasp, blinking at him. “What if Angelica wants to stay here?”
Alex narrows his eyes. “She can stay and come later. But you are my priority.” He lifts our joined hands and kisses mine. “Always.”
Warmth fills my body as I finally start to relax.
Suddenly, I flinch as I feel a wave of energy flow over me, then a whisper once more.
“Daughter of Margo.”
Alex notices immediately. His arm wraps around me again.
“Did you hear the whisper again?”
“Yes.” I close my eyes.
He tightens his grip on me.
“It can probably hear me too.”
He gets up, lifting me and placing me further into the bed. Then he stands by the bedside facing the room, his voice full of authority.
“I don’t know why you keep whispering to her. You know she knows nothing of you,” he says to empty air. “If you scare her, we will turn and leave. You will never get to meet her.” He pauses. “She doesn’t belong to you.”
Silence fills the room as I call to him.
“Alex, don’t provoke them. Come back to bed.”
He comes closer, looking at me. “I want to protect you, Alessia.”
I swallow again, trying to clear my dry throat.
“Please, just stay beside me.”
His gaze softens as he climbs into the bed, pulling me right onto his chest. I hold on to him, the feel of his steady heartbeat calming me.
Minutes pass and nothing. No more whispers.
The air in the room finally clears and breathing is no more choppy .
Alex kisses my hair. “Has it stopped?”
I nod. “I think it’s done for the night.”
“Rather my threat scared it, or them,” he murmurs.
I yawn as exhaustion starts to pull me under. My limbs feel heavy.
“Alex,” I whisper softly.
“Yes, cara mia.”
“What if the whispers are worse tomorrow?”
“Then I threaten harder,” he says without hesitation. “You should sleep now.”
I drift off on his chest with his steady heartbeat soothing my fears.