"It came in with the report from Inaymi," Eli said, handing the letter to her. "I will be back shortly---"
"Stay. Let's read it together."
Something glinted in his eyes, his voice betrayed the childish eagerness that glimmered in those brown orbs though.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." She nodded, cutting off the seal so she could finally read the letter.
Lytio had a lot to tell her, he had started by reporting about her family's situation.
The trial was over, as was her mother's freedom. She would be marched to her quick death in a week, having been found guilty of murder as well as other crimes.
Her father had hit rock bottom mentally, absolutely losing his mind at his wife's judgment. He was crazy and now he was locked away somewhere to be taken care of.
The first night without his wife, he had attempted suicide. The second night, he had held his grandson hostage and threatened to kill Arlo if his wife wasn't released back to him.
Belladonna frowned as her gaze passed over the words of the letter and she imagined her father being that violent.
She couldn't imagine it, he had always followed her mother's orders.
He was her dog.
Now that she was deeply thinking about it, it was possible that he would lose his mind. Her mother was his master and without his master that he was so addicted to, he must have felt like he had lost his bearings, but to the point that he had used Arlo as a hostage to get what he wanted, that was insane.
Was her whole family insane?!
Yes, they were. She knew this. It just got more and more obvious with time, just how crazy they were.
The death sentence of her mother didn't really come as a shock to her but she still felt something in her shift unpleasantly knowing that she would be killed, and she quickly tried to console herself with the thought, "killed for her crimes."
Still, it weighed heavily on her heart.
She continued reading, Eli had not commented on the letter yet and she appreciated that. She wanted to read this with a clear head and not one struggling to give out answers.
"Arlo is fine." The letter read. "He is being taken care of by my mother. It is good to see that she is good. Right after the truth came out, she totally withdrew from her depression, these days in fact, she looked happy anytime she comes to visit me, as I am still healing from my severed hand."
Belladonna looked up from the letter to Eli and he arched her an eyebrow.
He did tell her he severed the boy's hand, did he not?
Besides, it was just one.
That was the most merciful thing he had done to him. Reducing his punishment by a large percentage.
They said nothing to each other, then went back to reading.
"She has been taking care of Inaymi, and the people have been good to her. So she told me.
As for Aniya, I have been told that she is fine. Her mental state is just as affected by the situation, but not as much as your father's. She is in confinement, my mother still hasn't told me what they will do with her, but I don't care. I hope we never cross paths again. She has done enough damage in my life, enough damage in our lives."
Her mind was blank at the last line.
She kept on reading.
"You might find yourself not being concerned about this but I am fine.
I am really grateful for whatever it is you did. I know I owe you my life. Being bedridden for a while now has given me time to think and reflect on many things. You have no idea how disgusted I am with myself, I almost ruined your life as they have ruined mine. I shouldn't have hurt you, you weren't the one that hurt me. My anger was misplaced, please forgive me."
Her hand tightened around the paper.
A sincere apology.
Finally.
"Please forgive me, I plead with you a thousand times.
Finally, I wish you happiness, even though it is not with me."
That was it.
The letter.
It was a goodbye, different from what she had gotten on his wedding day to Aniya.
This was finally a goodbye they were both contented with. She thought about not sending anything back, but it made her think that he would believe Eli didn't give her the letter.
That would not be good.
So, with Eli's help in offering her writing materials, she wrote something back.
"I wish you happiness too. Goodbye, Lytio."
She really did wish him happiness. He did deserved to be happy, after all.
"How did you feel?" Eli asked after she had handed the letter to him.
"Happy that you came into my life when you did." She flashed him a grin and he pinched her cheeks softly.
"Are you fine with your mother and everything?"
"It's the law, she killed someone, it is only right." She blinked, finding the need to do that so she could maintain a clear sight. "They are all a menace to the village, and--- but----" her voice trailed off and he pulled her into an embrace.
"I understand."
They stayed there for a while and when she was feeling better, she pulled away and flashed him a sincere smile.
"I bought you a gift, one that you will like."
"A book." She declared in surprise, feeling the hard frame through the beautiful green wrapper. She didn't see this when he came in.
"It has been a very long time." He beamed, like a child. "We should read this together."
"Read it now?" There was excitement in her voice.
"Let me freshen up first." He was heading to the door. "I will be with you soon. How was dinner?"
"A little lonely without you. Should I send someone to get you your dinner?"
"Nevermind that." Eli stopped, his hand on the doorknob. "My hunger will be well taken of soon enough."
She bit her lips at the teasing and turned her attention to the piano as he left.
Eli had been fast, in about five minutes, he was back.
"Will you teach me this sometime?" She ran her hands across the keys, the sound filling the room for a moment.
"Yes. Hopefully, you will be better at this than swordsmanship." They laughed, fell into the sofa, and started with the book.
She had only read half a page when he decided her thighs were more interesting that the words on the page. Belladonna let out a gasp when she felt his warm breath on her inner thigh, and his fingers playing with the lines of her panties. She closed the book, reaching down for him, but he stopped her.
"Do not stop reading. I want to know what happens next."
"How can I? You are distracting me." She laughed, a little out of breath from an activity aside from the laughing.
"Eyes on the book, Donna. Read to me."
She smiled, absolutely certain that she wouldn't be doing any of that, until he added, "That is an order."
Well, this was about to become a real battle.