3 I Forbid You

"But Dad, I don't want to become his wife" I can't help to say. "I'm sure I can find a way to get close to him. There will be a lot of disguises to use except pretending to be his wife"

I cannot hide the hesitation plastered on my face. I watch my father stand on his seat and walk slowly towards the single-row bookshelf near the huge glass window. He picks a book and flips it to open it while I am still standing on my spot. 

"Have you forgotten what I told you fifteen years ago?" 

My brows furrowed and tighten my fisted hand. My heart skip a bit not sure if it is because I am scared of my father whose face is void of emotion or perhaps I am angry with the idea of marrying an Ildefonso. 

He turns to look at me.

"Listen and follow me. And I will avenge you" he gets something inside the book and put it back on the shelf before returning to his seat. "Get this"

My eyes went to the thing he handed to me. With my cold hand, I accepted it. Slowly, I look what is it and my body instantly froze when I saw the picture of me and my parents smiling brightly. My lips quivered as I felt the clenching pain in my chest, recalling what happened that night is like a nightmare that keeps on killing me. 

I gritted my teeth, eyes burning with so much anger. For fifteen years, I did everything to survive. The life Luscio Costello gave to me only means one thing- vengeance. Even if it cost my life, I will get even. I will make Ildefonso pay for what they did to me, to my family. 

"Cesar Ildefonso's life is mine to take. He also has a debt on me that is long due already. I will avenge you, Hera. But at the same time, I will let you have your revenge too. Killing his son will be the best way to get even" 

I shut my eyes close and give back the picture he gave me. 

Will Cesar Ildefonso experience the same pain once I kill his son in exchange for the life he takes away from me? 

But will it be enough to give justice to those lives that fall in the hands of Ildefonso?

"You should keep it, Hera"

My lips form into a thin line and shake my head.

"That child on the picture was dead fifteen years ago. I cannot keep it with me" I utter in a monotonous voice.

"Hera-"

"Tell me what to do. I will get it done just like what I always did" I said seriously determined to do everything he will ask me to do. 

That's my role in this family, after all, I am Herravie Costello...

-MIDNIGHT-

"DAD!"  

"Hera!" 

I open my eyes and gasp for air. The dark surrounding automatically filled with blinding light and then I felt someone holding my hands giving me warmth and comfort. Slowly, my blurry vision becomes clear and I recognize the person who's in front of me wearing an expression I never saw him show to anyone- worried.

"A-Apollo..." my voice cracks.

He sighs and reaches for the glass of water on my bedside table.

"Here, have a drink" he softly uttered.

I took a deep breath before I accept it with my trembling hands. The dryness in my throat subside after I almost drank all of it. I could feel the bullet of sweats on my forehead as if I run for miles. The up and down movement of my chest seems like I am chasing something.

"Are you alright?" 

I breathe calmly before I nod my head. I lift my gaze and force myself to flash a smile to ease the troubled expression on his face. 

"I am, thank you" I whisper.

"Another bad dream?" He query.

I look away and gaze down at my trembling hands. The fear, tension, and pain I felt that night are still fresh inside my head. It's been fifteen years but it feels like it just happened yesterday. I could recall everything, my memories about that night are all vivid. 

"It's the same nightmare, Apollo" I corrected him in a bitter tone of voice. 

It was supposed to be just a bad dream. Or a nightmare that gives me sleepless nights, but then it was more than that.

I sigh and look at Apollo again.

"What are you doing here in my room?" My eyes scan him. "When did you arrive?" I ask to change the topic.

Dad said he's busy but he's wrecked by the smell of alcohol. He looks worn out too. Is his work giving him a hard time? Or is he busy fooling around?

He sigh. "It's been fifteen years already, Hera. Stop tormenting yourself, move on and forget everything" 

My face went serious upon hearing what he said. 

"Let's not talk about-"

"I don't want to see you suffer" he cut me off.

My brows furrowed.

"It doesn't mean I can move on then I can forget too. You know that I can't forget, Apollo" I hissed, clutching the blanket that covers me. "I still stayed there on that night. Maybe I am living here today but my mind and soul are still there"

Silence envelops us. There is an unknown emotion on his face but my emotion is not stable right now to mind it. It would be better if he don't push the topic further. I had enough for this day...

"Why are you here, by the way? You should head to your room and rest" I break the silence.

He puffs out a breath and ruffles his hair. 

"I just check on you to make sure that you're sleeping peacefully" he stands up and slides his hands into the pocket of his jeans. "Go back to sleep. Just call me if you need something" 

He turns his back on me and leaves my room without any sound. I took a deep breath, gaze glued on the closed door a bit guilty for Apollo in I don't know the reason.

Apollo Clio Costello was the youngest son of Luscio Costello. The first time I came into this mansion, he was the first person who rejected me. He was so against his father's decision of adopting me. But ironically, right now he is the closest to me.   

"He's sulking..." I exhale and shake my head.

I shut my eyes close and push myself to get on my feet. I grab my nightgown and follow Apollo. I went straight to his room and barged inside, but I stop and frown when his bare broad back greeted me.

"You got hurt?" I hurriedly stride close to him and grab his arm to make him face me. 

I scan his naked upper body and my eyes widen when I saw a bandage on his lower abdomen. I killed numerous people I can recognize the smell of blood even without a stain.

"Where did you get this? Who did this? Is Dad aware that you got hurt?" I ask continuously and lift my gaze to look at his face.

But my worried face seems like a joke to him because he just answered me with a cheeky smile.

"What's with your face?" He was about to touch my right cheek but I rudely slap his hand away.

"I'm serious, Apollo!" I exclaimed. "Look at your wound" I hysterically hissed when the bandage slowly start to stain with his fresh blood. 

I breathed heavily and I suddenly wanted to kill the person who dare to hurt him. The trauma I experienced when I was young still buried inside me, that's why whenever one of the people I treasure the most gets hurt, I forgot how to think and just wanted to kill because of anger and fear.

I flinch when Apollo held my arms gently and bends down to level his head with mine. 

"Calm down, I'm fine..." he softly utters realizing what I am feeling.

I bit the inside of my mouth while looking right into his eyes. He sigh and pulled me. His arms wrap around my small body as if assuring me that everything is fine. The warmth of his skin spread through me and I could feel the fast beating of his heart.

"I'm alright, you have nothing to worry about" he whispered.

I shut my eyes close. 

"But I can smell blood from you..." I mumble.

I'm such a fool because I didn't notice it a while ago. 

"Of course, because I have a wound" he laugh lowly not taking me seriously. "There was an engagement with the security police during the transaction. But all of these are just a scratch, this is not a serious injury. I'm really fine" 

I breathe calmly. 

This is not the first time I saw him wounded. I saw the worst of this but then the fear is always the same whether it is a small wound or a life-threatening injury. 

"Stop being dumb" I push him slightly. 

I glance at his wound and bite my bottom lip before I look at him. The creased on my forehead deepened because he was smiling at me playfully.

"You could have a serious injury and yet you're acting cheeky in front of me?" I puff out a breath and shake my head.

"Fine fine, I'm sorry" he laugh and raised his both hands. 

I purse my lips and step back crossing my arms. 

"I know this is impossible to ask. But please, as much as possible avoid having an injury. I don't want to smell blood from anyone of you" 

"And I don't want you to marry an Ildefonso" he retorted which made me stop.

I look at him seriously for a couple of seconds before I open my mouth to speak.

"You already know..." I utter, lowly.

His face went serious like mine.

"That's the reason why I immediately return" he stated. "I forbid you to accept that mission, Hera," he said firmly.