Love, Lies & Legacy- final chapter
CHAPTER 27
“What’s that you’re holding mum?” I asked, referring to the old oblong casing she was holding.
“It is said that there some very important documents inside. But the problem is, nobody knows how to open it,” she said while gathering all her things.
“Too bad,” I said while taking a sip of my coffee.
“Tell me about it. Look honey, I’m running late. Could you tell your dad that he has a dinner appointment with the Johansson’s at The Ivy Restaurant? My cruise leaves port at 5.00. I will call you later tonight,” she said
“All right. Have fun in
“Love you, Sienna!”
“Love you too, mum!” I said as she opened the door. I watched her walk to the Vogue Range Rover, wearing her classic Chanel tweed suit while totting her Hermes Birkin bag and that very odd oblong casing. That was the last time I saw my mum.
The image of her started to blur as everything around me started to fade away. Then I was standing on top of the staircase of my castle. My surroundings was foggy and gray, everything seemed gloomy and dark. I started to feel scared but then there was an image of my mum standing at the bottom of the stairs. As I took a step down, I heard the hallowing sound of a gunshot.
Downstairs, my mum was frantically calling my name, telling me to run down the stairs. Another gunshot was fired and I abruptly felt an immense pain on my lower back. Before you know it, my body was leaning forward and I fell down the stairs. I felt every crack and bruise on my body as I stumbled down the stairs.
When my body hit the marble floor below, I was in so much pain. Every part of my body was aching and I could not move anything. Then a dark figure loomed over my body. The person was holding a gun and it was aimed exactly on my forehead. Seconds later he pulled the trigger.
I woke up screaming recklessly. I was panting and trying to catch my breath. My chest felt tight like the time Lexy’s hand was on my throat. The door opened suddenly and Darius walked swiftly towards me. I threw my covers aside and instantly placed both my hands over his shoulders.
“What happened?” he asked worriedly while tightening his arms around me.
“Nightmare. I saw my mum and heard that horrible gunshot with the man that was pointing the gun at me… I am really scared Darius,” I said, not making any sense.
“It is just a dream. You do not have to be scared, I am here,” he said soothingly, both hands gently on my neck. I could not say anything; I was still a little terrified. Darius took my hand and pulled me to bed. He locked his arms around my waist and I felt warm against his bare chest.
“Sleep my love,” he whispered to me and I did, safely in his arms.
~*~
The next morning, I woke up with the sun blaring on my face. I sat up and saw that Darius was not beside me. He came out of the bathroom moments later, all dressed up.
"Buna dimineata," I said lovingly.
"Good morning to you too. Since when did you learn to speak Romanian?" he asked with a smile. I smiled at him back and lifted both my shoulders cheekily.
"Where are you going?" I asked worriedly.
"I am going to see my mother."
"Can I come along?" I asked while getting up.
"No, you stay here with Margaret. It is too dangerous out there," he said while putting on his watch. Even though it was dangerous, I still wanted to follow him. But I knew he would never let me out of the house.
"Go safely, okay?" I said softly. He came up to me and kissed my temple.
"Do not worry about me," he whispered. I put my arms around his neck as he pulled me closer. He lifted my chin up and my lips met his. Darius felt warm and soothing to me. His kiss was gentle, addictive and made me want to belong to him forever.
“I think it’s the other way around. You worry too much about me,” I said softly.
“I worry about you because you are important Sienna.”
“Why do keep saying that to me? It seems like there is something hidden beneath those words,” I said, little frustrated by his words.
“Because it is true. You are important to your family, to the society and especially to me,” he said, full of honesty.
“Why am I important, Darius?” I asked him seriously. That question has been swirling in my head for some time. What makes me so important that people would want to kill me? That unanswered question makes me afraid to be important.
“I will tell you when I get back,” he said with a smile. He gently kissed me on the forehead and walked out the door.
~*~
I sat with Aunt Margaret in the study room while I flipped threw an Edgar Allan Poe book. Aunt Margaret was busy with her laptop. Darius sent me a message on my cell phone to tell me he was on the way back. I know it has been a couple of hours, but I miss him so much already.
He rode his black Ducati 900 motorcycle this morning. I really wonder how many automobiles this boy has. He promised me that when things cool down, he would let me ride his Ducati. I was so looking forward to that.
Just then, Aunt Margaret's cell phone rang. She immediately picked it up. It must be Annaliese with news about the investigation. So I continued to read my book. As I was reading, I heard the doorbell rang. My heart was filled with elation as I stood up to greet Darius at the door.
"Sienna," called Aunt Margaret as I was walking to the door. I turned around to face her.
"Sienna, Darius is missing," she said heartbreakingly. I could feel my body shake and I became light headed all of a sudden. My eyes were burning and I felt like I could not stable myself. My heart was numb and so were my legs. I gave up on my body as I fell. But before I hit the ground, someone grabbed my shoulders to support me.
I jerked my head up to see who it was and my heart jolted in shock. It was a woman, a face I recognize so much but could not believe. It was irrevocably impossible.
"Sienna…" she said, her voice full of worry.
"Mum……"
DARIUS CUZA
Darius was riding his prized Ducati motorcycle back to Château Constance. He had met with his mother at her second house, just north of
The Parisian air was warm as Darius rode threw the lush greenery of the Parisian hills. His mind was constantly about the girl he loved. All he wanted was to make sure she was in no danger and harm from anyone. He was willing to risk his life many times over, as long as Sienna was safe. Safe from the hands of Lexy Pierce and especially from Jesse Everard.
He was going 210 km/h speeding to get home and be in the arms of Sienna. He was about 15 minutes away from the château. There was a tunnel up a head and Darius accelerated his motorcycle. The tunnel was dark and narrow. He could almost see the sun from the end of the tunnel, a small light of halo at the other end. Then everything went black.
Darius Cuza never made it out to the other side of the tunnel.
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