Something had happened, something I couldn’t explain quite yet. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. The furry sensation on my tongue reminded me that I hadn’t brushed my teeth in too long. My pulse picked up thinking about what this would do to my teeth.
“Greta?”
I simply stared back at my brother. Meeting other people’s eyes cost effort, not with him.
“Are you scared of me now?” he asked in a strangled tone. Tears filled my eyes. Deep down I had always known what Nevio was. I had felt it. But I hadn’t quite understood the enormity of it, how pitch-black Nevio’s longing really was. What I’d seen him and Dad and Nino do, had opened my eyes to a brutal truth I had trouble handling.
“Greta,” Nevio said, shifting a bit closer. I glanced at his palm with the crisscrossing scars. Pain meant little to Nevio. He liked pain, feeling it, causing it.
“I don’t fear you,” I pressed out. Nevio visibly relaxed and a small joyless smile pulled at his lips.
“I fear what you’re capable of. I fear for the people who’ll cross your path in an unfortunate moment.”
“That’s how nature works, you know?” he murmured. “There’s dark and light, there must be. Maybe it’s the same with twins, but it wasn’t split evenly between us. I got all the darkness and you got all the light.”
“That’s too much of a weight to carry, so much darkness,” I whispered, my heart aching for him.
He smiled sardonically. “I like the dark, Greta. I belong there.”
I wished I could argue with him but after seeing his expression in the cell, I couldn’t.
“Very few people can bear what I am,” he said quietly.
“I can.”
Nevio searched my eyes. “You ran from it.”
“Not from your darkness. From…” I shuddered, remembering everything. Tears stung my eyes once more.
Nevio nodded as if he understood. How could he when even I didn’t?
“I won’t ever run from you, Nevio. I’ll always be at your side, no matter what.”
“You swear?”
“I swear.” I extended my hand and touched my palm to his. His touch didn’t revolt me. Maybe it should. Why could I bear his touch after what I’d seen when I could hardly bear most people’s closeness? Maybe my light wasn’t as bright as Nevio thought.
“We should go home. Dad is about to send out the cavalry to search the city for you.”
A weight sunk into my stomach but I allowed Nevio to pull me out from under the bed. He scanned my bloody clothes but didn’t comment.
I felt shaky because I hadn’t eaten in too long. Nevio tightened his hold as he led me out. He towered over me, his fingers linked with mine. Aurora leaned against the wall in the corridor and she straightened when she saw us and gave me an apologetic look before she smiled at Nevio.
He nodded at her. “I owe you.”
He pulled me past her and down the corridor. When we’d almost reached the stairs, I looked over my shoulder, mouthingThank youat Aurora who still stood where we’d left her. Then she disappeared from view as Nevio led me downstairs. Soon we were crossing the basement corridors and entered the mansion. Nevio didn’t stop until we arrived in the common room area where most of my family had gathered. Alessio and Massimo lounged on the sofa while Nino and Savio sat across from them on the other. Dad was pacing the room, and Kiara was consoling Mom who looked horrible.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Dad muttered, then his eyes settled on me as I stepped out from behind Nevio. Silence fell in the room.
Mom stepped out of Kiara’s embrace, her blue eyes scanning me from head to toe, horror mixing with relief. She rushed toward me and pressed me against her chest in a crushing hug. “Oh Greta.” She sobbed. “Greta.”
I accepted her embrace but my eyes were directed at the rest of the room. Nevio headed over to Dad, clapping Massimo’s and Alessio’s hand on the way. He said something to Dad, probably how he found me.
Dad’s eyes locked on mine, and I felt a deep sadness. I looked away and pulled out of Mom’s arms. I didn’t look at anyone in the room, unable to bear it. “We need to clean you up, okay?” Mom said in a careful voice.
“No,” I said firmly.
“Greta.” Mom cupped my face. “We really need to get you out of these clothes. You’ll feel better then.”