Beyond death

Marked

Alba’s POV

We hurried to Giovanni's family, where my grandfather inquired about the distressing scene.

"What happened?" he asked Giovanni's parents.

Giovanni's father, his face pale and his voice trembling, recounted the inexplicable ordeal. "My mother appeared as usual, but then... she started to fade. Her skin seemed to melt away, and it was as though she was drowning in some invisible sea before vanishing altogether. Where is my mother?" His voice cracked, raw with grief, and the anguish in his eyes mirrored the confusion that rippled through the gathered crowd.

The onlookers parted, revealing Enzo’s father, Giuseppe, and his grandfather, Ludovico, leading the way. Giuseppe’s companion and her daughter trailed behind, the former’s lips curling in a faint, unsettling smirk. Their demeanor clashed with the somber atmosphere, a dissonance that left me uneasy.

Giuseppe’s voice cut through the tension, calm yet authoritative. "She is with the goddess now. I am sorry, but your mother will not return. Something must have changed with this year’s blessing. After the summer solstice festivities, come to Aradia at the castle. She will prepare a comfort potion to ease your loss. I will investigate to ensure no other families face this tragedy." His words, though intended as consolation, carried a weight that felt more like a decree.

As the other families slowly dispersed with their reunited loved ones, Giovanni's family lingered, bound by a grief that felt isolating. The air grew heavier, the sorrow tangible, as though the tragedy had cast a shadow over the festivities.

Giuseppe’s gaze turned to Enzo. "My boy, why are you with the Beneventos and Marconis this year? You’re usually with us at this time."

Enzo’s posture stiffened as he addressed his father and grandfather with a formal air. "I apologize, Babbo, Nonno." He exchanged the requisite air kisses, his tone measured. "Alba is my soulmate. I chose to be with her as she attended the lake ceremony for the first time. I will see you later in the morning."

Giuseppe’s attention shifted to me, his gaze sharp and assessing. "Welcome to the family, my dear. Perhaps we will have you for dinner tomorrow night—or rather, this evening?" His smile was laced with something inscrutable, making me uneasy.

My mother stepped in, her voice steady but firm. "Would it not be better to wait until after the solstice festivities, Giuseppe? This is the time I have with my daughter, and I would prefer to spend it with her. I trust you understand?"

"Of course, Sofìa," he replied, inclining his head. "But Enzo, I expect you home for dinner tomorrow."

"I will be there," Enzo said, his tone clipped and formal.

As they departed, the oppressive weight that had filled the air seemed to lift, leaving me with a sense of relief I hadn’t realized I needed.

In the privacy of my thoughts, Siena’s voice resonated. "Alba, every one of them is steeped in dark magic. Not a single good bone among them. I don’t know what happened to that poor woman, but something about the town’s curse is shifting now that your magic has awakened. We have a role to play in this."

"I think you’re right," I replied, the surreal sensation of speaking with her in my mind becoming marginally less jarring.

---

Back at the house, Alessandro announced his intention to access the attic, a space I hadn’t even known existed. It seemed he had unfinished business there, and I was too weary to question him further.

"Your father is… quite something," I remarked to Enzo as we settled into the parlor.

Enzo’s expression darkened. "You have no idea, Alba. The longer I can keep you away from him, the better. You embody everything good, and he—along with my grandfather and their ilk—stands on the opposite side. After the solstice, if you must endure dinner at their table, remember we can always escape back here." His words were laced with an urgency that stirred unease within me.

---

By the time we retired upstairs, the house was silent, save for the creak of old wood beneath our steps. My room, lovingly transformed by Zia Giulia, was a haven of soft hues and delicate details. The simplicity of candlelight danced along the walls, casting a soothing glow.

"Turn around while I change," I instructed Enzo, my cheeks warming at the intimacy of the moment. He obliged, sitting on the edge of the bed and averting his gaze. I slipped into a white linen nightdress trimmed with lace, its simplicity a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions within me.

When I returned from the washroom, Enzo had removed his boots and lay reclined on my bed, his hands resting behind his head. He looked entirely at ease, yet his presence set my heart racing.

"Your room suits you," he said, his voice soft. "I’m sorry today was so overwhelming, but I’m glad I could be here for you."

"Thank you," I murmured, seating myself beside him. "Who would have thought that in less than two days, I’d discover I’m part witch, part werewolf, and gain a soulmate?"

The tension between us thickened, charged with an unspoken desire that neither of us could ignore. My gaze fell to his lips, and before I could second-guess myself, I leaned in. The kiss began softly, a tentative exploration, but it quickly deepened as passion surged through me. My hands found their way to his chest, fingers tracing the planes of his muscles through the fabric of his shirt.

Enzo’s hands hesitated for a moment before settling on my hips, pulling me closer. The warmth of his touch ignited a fire within me, one that burned brighter with every passing second. My kisses trailed down his jawline to his neck, and I felt his sharp intake of breath as my lips lingered over his pulse.

"Alba," he whispered, his voice thick with longing. "We should stop—"

But neither of us moved to pull away. Instead, I straddled his lap, my body pressed against his as if drawn by an invisible force. His hands roamed my back, tentative but firm, while I pressed my lips to the juncture of his neck and shoulder, drawn to the intoxicating scent of him.

A strange sensation stirred within me—a hunger, primal and insistent. My teeth ached, a sharp pain that only intensified as I licked the spot where his pulse beat strongest. Enzo shuddered beneath me, his breath hitching, and the sound only fueled my desire.

Before I knew what I was doing, my teeth elongated, and I sank them into his flesh. The taste of his blood was unlike anything I had ever experienced, rich and heady, sending a wave of euphoria through me. A low growl escaped my throat as I licked the wound, sealing it instinctively. The word "mine" tumbled from my lips, unbidden but absolute.

Enzo’s hands tightened on my waist, his eyes wide with shock and something else—something that mirrored the raw intensity coursing through me. For a moment, it felt as though we were the only two beings in the universe, bound together by a force far greater than ourselves.

Then reality crashed back in, and I pulled away, panting and trembling. "I... I’m sorry," I stammered, the weight of what I had done settling over me.

Enzo touched the spot where I had marked him, his fingers brushing against the now-healed skin. "Don’t apologize," he said softly, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions in his eyes. "You’ve marked me. We’re bonded now."

Exhaustion overwhelmed me, and I collapsed onto the bed beside him, my mind spinning. What had I done? What did it mean? But even as sleep claimed me, one thought remained clear: nothing would ever be the same again.