"Remember to be kind," Liviana lectured her parents, sending the two a look over her shoulder as they made their way to the Castelli's front door. "And show some respect, will you?" Blaze adds, glaring behind at the two as he stops before the door, asking if they understood the rules they had laid out on the way over, before daring to ring the bell. It was only once Alonzo nodded and assured his son-in-law that they listened and understood the boundaries that Blaze finally relented and rung the bell. It took no more than a second for the door to be pulled open, and for Elara to greet the family with a warm smile."Kids!" She greets her son with a hug, pulling him down to kiss his cheek- an action he returns as he places a swift kiss on his mother's cheek before surpassing her, moving inside to greet his father. Elara turns her attention to her Liviana, quick to wrap her daughter-in-law up in a hug. "Hi, dear!""Hi," Liviana smiles, immediately feeling better in the woman's warm embr
Dinner was dreadful - as expected by every soul unlucky enough to attend. The night was long, dragged on by awkward small talk and questions that could either heal them or hurt them worse - and it did. It hurt worse as the hours went by and the families found themselves running out of topics they could use to save themselves from the silence - something that seemed to do more damage than one would think. Usually it was their words that cut like knives, if not actual knives. Never had a Castelli found silence so daunting until this one dreadful dinner. They couldn't wait for it to end. And when it finally did - when it ended after an endless chain of meaningless conversations, Elara had finally caved and dismissed four of the ten people who had joined, while the other six had excused themselves to chat. It was time to get down to business. "Alonzo, Drusilla," Lucius nods, pushing out of his seat and asking them to follow behind him. "Blaze, you of course know the way to my
It was half past ten by the time Liviana and Blaze pulled through their front gates, parking in their driveway and taking a moment to sit in the car that hummed with life.Music flowed softly through the speakers, playing lightly to soothe the silence that sat heavy between them.Liviana hummed along to the tune in a plea to aid the awkward tension that sat between her and her husband, sucking all the air out of the car. It was suffocating.When had things become so strained? She could've sworn that for a moment there, things had gotten better. She thought they were past this.Blaze coughs, drawing the woman's green eyes from her window to him. "Well... I don't know about you, but I'm beat," he says. "I'm about ready for bed."She forces a smile, lips pressing into a thin line as she nods. "Yeah... me too," she agrees. "That dinner was exhausting.""And yet, strangely enough, it's the calmest meal we've ever had..." He hums. "Odd, considering the end."She hums. "I honestly expected w
Liviana was completely and utterly exhausted. For hours, she had tossed and turned and occasionally played dead - fake slept - in hopes of not disturbing the man who sleeps peacefully beside her. And then, before she knew it, the night had come and gone and it seemed to have taken her sanity with it. Livi felt as though she was going insane. She was tired. All she wanted to do all day, from the very moment she got out of bed, was to go home and get right back in it. All she wanted to do was sleep. And after the day she had - after the tedious dinner she attended and a conversation that left her with more questions than answers - she could honestly say she was as mentally exhausted as she was physically. She had earned the right to rest. And yet, Liviana spent her entire night restless and worked up. She couldn't stop thinking about it - about her. Lyra. Blaze's first... what? His first kiss? First girlfriend? Love? She couldn't know. All she could do was wonder. Her mind ran in c
"The breakfast was wonderful, Liviana!"The woman smiles. "Thanks, dad."Alonzo nods at her, and Liviana returns the gesture before her attentions stolen by Blaze, who reaches for her hand. "It really was wonderful, Liviana," Blaze compliments, giving his wife's fingers a gentle squeeze and watching as she blushes. "It was delicious. Thank you."Her smile only widens. "It was delicious, wasn't it?" She boasts with a grin that Blaze matches. She was fishing for more compliments, and he was happy to oblige."It might just be the best breakfast I've ever had," he teases, watching as her grin grows by a ten fold. "You truly outdid yourself, love.""Thank you," she says, voice going soft with her sincerity. "I'm glad you enjoyed it.""We ought to get you to cook more often," Drusilla cuts in before the two could go on, telling her daughter that she had done a fine job. "I quite enjoyed the pancakes, myself. And where did you get those blueberries? I haven't had any that tasty in some time
The drive was long and as dreadful as any other time the father-daughter duo spent time together was. And they both couldn't wait for it to come to an end - so much so that they began counting down the minutes, anticipating the long awaited moment where they would reach their destination and they would be put out of their misery. That moment couldn't come fast enough. Liviana's knee bounced with nerves as she stared out of the car window, hoping they would arrive soon. She was practically vibrating with anxiety, and she could hear her heartbeat in her ears- feel it in her throat. This was too much. She needed out. "Are we almost there?" She turns to question her father, asking how much farther this office was. "I really need to get back-""The only thing you need to be doing is some explaining."Livi frowns. "Explaining?" She echoes, watching him nod before asking why. "Explain what? I already told you everything you need to know.""All you've told me is that she's a potential thre
Liviana was a nervous wreck. From the moment she got in the car, she hadn't been able to keep still. Her knee bounced with nerves and she wrung out her hands, squeezing her fingers whenever she wasn't spinning the diamond ring that the special one held. Her hair had become knotted because of how much she played with it, and by the time they arrived at the mansion, she had looked as much of a mess as she felt. Nonetheless, Liviana was beaming with her excitement- just another emotion spurring on her antsy limbs as she climbed out of the car and shook out her hands, making her way up the front steps as fast as she possibly could. She only paused when she reached the top, taking a moment to gather herself as she fixes her hair - tries to fix her hair. She stands there straightening herself out, using the reflection of their squeaky clean windows to help clean herself up, running her fingers through the dark strands of her hair and brushing the locks over her shoulders, praying he would
Violence was never the answer. For most of her life, Liviana lived by this philosophy. Kindness Is key, she would say, preaching it to anyone who dared ask. Violence is never the answer. Often times more than not, this phrase would get Liviana into more trouble than it would save her from. Somehow, her kindness was never worth as much as the pain a punch had to offer. No matter how many problems she solved, or souls she saved, or days she made brighter, she would always be called ridiculous in the end because she had done it all kindly. She never even had to raise a fist. Liviana Castelli was one of the sweetest souls you would ever meet, and it was because of this that she stood out against the rest of her family. Drusilla and Alonzo, who were known to be monsters. Her brothers, the monsters in training, according to most. And Emilia, who over a short period in her teenage years, had built a reputation for being a verbal weapon. And then there was Liviana, whose reputation couldn'
Strolling through the hedges was difficult - awkward - and the Santora siblings couldn't handle it. They absolutely hated this heavy feeling hanging between them. Never have they ever felt so detached."Where are we going?" Tino asks, glancing around at the tall rose bushes that kept them secluded. "And why is it so freaking far?" He complains, quickening his pace to catch up to that of his nervous sister, who remains silent. "Liv?""Uh," she mutters, glancing over her shoulder at the young man. "Just... follow me," she says, insisting he not question it. Right now, she was only doing what was best for the both of them, and she needed him to trust that. "We need to get away for this, okay? It's important that no one overhears us."She couldn't risk their parents finding out about her betrayal. They would behead her at the first opportunity."Okay..." he trails, eyes narrowing at the back of his sister's head. "But why?""Because..." she shrugs it off, admitting in a whisper, "it's saf
Liviana didn't know what to do with herself.After her argument with Tino, it was as if the thoughts doubled in tenfold and her mind couldn't - wouldn't - stop. All night she was forced to sit with herself, overwhelmed by her endless thoughts and memories while she retraced every inch and wondered, where did it all go wrong?She would look back on her life, spending hours sorting through all the memories, and it was as if every time she did, she could spot a new lie. It didn't take long for her to have a mental list going, and the more she added, the more she wondered, was any of it real? Where did the lies stop? Where did this act she perfected end? When was enough, enough? Nothing was ever enough for Drusilla and Alonzo - Livi scoffs at the thought, turning over where she lies in her bed. And then came the dreaded thought. What about her siblings? One was dead, one disappeared, and the other seemingly despised her. Her eyes water at the thought, and she pulls the blanket over her
The moment Liviana left the restaurant that night, it felt as if she was walking into a world void of air. It was as though all the oxygen had been sucked out of the planet - if not just her lungs - and she couldn't breathe for days afterward. It was all too heavy, and she wasn't sure she could handle it. How does one go about their life knowing that nothing was as it seems? Knowing that, at any God given moment, it could all be taken away from her? How was she supposed to go about her day knowing that each second could be her last? She just couldn't.Liviana was no stranger when it came to living her life in fear. She knew paranoia all too well, almost like an old friend she was introduced to by none other than her parents. Childhood was rough, and Liviana could say with confidence that she was raised in fear. It surrounded her. It became her. She was scared of everything. And that was always her biggest problem.After dinner with the detective, Liviana only grew all the more paranoi
A younger Liviana wrung her hands together as she climbed the stairs, following her mother's bellows all the way to her bedroom door. "Liviana?!"She flinches at the screech of her name, taking a step back to compose herself. "Breathe," she reminds herself, stilling for that of second before she's startled by another shout of her name. "Shit," she curses, rounding the corner into her mother's bedroom and asking, "yes, mom?""Finally!" Drusilla throws her arms up. "Where in God's name have you been?" She demands, asking what had taken her so long. "Didn't you hear me calling?""I'm sorry, mom," Liviana apologizes. "I was outside with-""I don't care to hear your excuses, young lady!" Drusilla scoffs, scolding the girl for her lack of responsibility. "What if I was hurt, hmm?" She questions. "What if I was in danger? Or worse, dying? What would you have to say for yourself then, huh?""I'm sorry-"Drusilla scoffs once again. "Your apologies mean nothing to me, Liviana. Do better!" She
Blaze could practically feel his heart tie itself into a knot in his chest at the sound of another distraction. Would he ever get the timing right? He sighs at the thought, turning around to greet the man, whose voice he recognizes immediately."Bryce," he greets, pushing out of his chair and offering the man his hand to shake. "There you are! We were beginning to think you got lost.""What can I say? I run on my own time." Bryce shrugs it off, giving Blaze's hand a shake before he rounds the table to take the seat across from the 'happy couple.'"That would have been something to mention days ago when we arranged this meeting," Blaze points, and the detective rolls his eyes. "I specifically asked for a time that suited you-""I'm here, aren't I?"Blaze only hums, narrowing his eyes at his 'old friend', and Liviana coughs."Uh- Blaze," she murmurs, reaching to take his hand in hers and giving it a gentle tug with a silent demand- if not a gentle ask for him to sit. "He's here. That's
"Are you sure about this?" Liviana asked, sparing a paranoid glance over her shoulder in worry. She couldn't believe they were doing this."Yep," Emilia nods, marching through their parents' garage with a determination Livi had never seen in her sister until now. And in all honesty, the look in her eyes scared Liviana, and she couldn't help but disagree."I don't know about this," she says, slowing to a stop and looking back at the elevator they had come from, scared of who could follow. "I think we should just go back-""Livi!" Emilia throws her head back with a groan. "Come on, it's fine! Just come look before you leave-""But what if-""What if we live a little?" Emilia cuts her sister off, spinning on her heels to face her sister with the question. "What if we do this and it's the best night of our lives?"Liviana frowns, arms crossing over her chest as she ponders the thought. Would one night be worth it? "What if it's not?""But what if it is?" Emilia stresses. "We'll never know
"I hate them!"A young Liviana startled in her seat when, out of nowhere, her bedroom door is thrown open and Emilia storms into her room with the complaint. "I hate it here," the older sister pouted, kicking the door shut behind her before collapsing onto her sister's satin sheets, climbing into the bed with her to vent. "I can't wait to grow up and leave. I need to get out of here!"Livi frowns, reaching over to gently pat Emilia's back, watching as she takes a moment to bury her face in a pillow and scream. She couldn't help but chuckle as she observed the action, asking the dreadful question only after her sister quieted. "What did they do now?"Emilia pushes herself up, propping herself up on her elbows to face her sister, who frowns at the sight of tears glistening in Emilia's eyes. "They lied," she says. "Again."Head tilting in her confusion, Liviana asks, "what?" She questions softly. "What did they lie about?""The car," Emilia answers, watching as her sister grows all the
It was as if the moment the words left her mouth, the world around them changed. Life was different. Liviana couldn't explain how, as it was a mere feeling- a pang in her heart every so often as she becomes painfully aware of her situation.The realization hit like a truck when the thought first crossed her mind. She didn't want to believe it, but there was a nagging feeling in her gut that told her something was wrong, and she needed to look deeper. It was over the course of a week, after days of trying to ignore that unsettling feeling stirring inside her, that Liviana's demeanor began to crack and the thoughts she had tried so hard to ignore became all she could think about. They consumed her, and soon, they were the only thing on her mind. She should have known it would have come spilling out of her sooner or later- she never had been good at secrets of her own.Liviana hoped that telling Blaze would help. She wasn't sure how as there was nothing he could do- he was a mere listene
The question plagued Liviana's mind, and it didn't take long for the fear and worry to join it.She couldn't stop thinking about it. Why would Emilia run away when it seems as though she already had everything worked out? She had a plan, and Emilia had always been strict with her practicality. What would be grave enough to have her abandoned it all completely? What could possibly be so bad that it would make Emilia abandon her family? Her siblings? Liviana didn't understand. It was all so sudden, and yet, that night, she never thought to question it.Liviana cursed herself for being so thoughtless, though she couldn't hold herself at fault entirely. Back then, she had no reason to question her sister - who had mentioned running away more times than she could remember during their youth. In all honesty, Livi believed it was only a matter of time before Emilia snapped and finally went through with it. And though she missed her sister dearly, she could never blame or resent Emilia for he