Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Dimitri
The fire had long since died out, and the moon and stars were fading into oblivion as dawn began to take over. I sat there, watching Gianna as she slept, my eyes tracing the delicate features of her face. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she dreamed, and her soft snores were like a siren's song, tempting me ever closer.
I tilted my head, my lips brushing against her forehead in a featherlight kiss. The scent of her skin filled my nostrils, a heady mixture of vanilla and something uniquely her. It took every ounce of my self-control not to bring my mouth down to her full, red lips and taste the forbidden fruit.
As I pulled away, my fingertips grazed her cheek, and a spark of electricity shot through me, stronger than when I first touched her. It was like a bolt of lightning, igniting every nerve ending in my body and setting my blood on fire.
I shook my head, a wry chuckle escaping my lips. Gianna was definitely a dangerous distraction I could ill afford. She clearly had the power to lure me down a road I never thought possible and make me question everything I thought I knew about myself.
I stood up, circling the room like a caged animal. My mind raced with thoughts of her, of the way she made me feel. It was like she had cast a spell on me that I was powerless to resist.
But I had to resist. I had to stay focused on my mission. I couldn't let myself be swayed by a pretty face and a siren's call.
I glanced back at Gianna's sleeping form, my heart wrenching in my chest. She was a complication I never saw coming, a temptation that could very well be my undoing. But as I stood there, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest, I knew one thing for certain: if I went down that road, I was in for one hell of a ride.
I got up and put my hand on the doorknob, but then froze as I smelled him. I hissed as anger surged through me. I yanked open the door to see my father.
I narrowed my eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth as I met Petar's gaze. "You thought I was ducking out? No, no, no. I was just getting some fresh air. You know, clearing my head of all the lies and manipulation. They're making it a bit stuffy in there."
Petar stepped closer, his eyes cold and calculating. " I am her bodyguard, Dimitri. You seem unable to grasp this basic concept."
A harsh laugh escaped my lips, and I shook my head in disbelief. "Right, because you've always been the picture of loyalty and devoted protection. Tell me, do Angelo or Gianna know about your little side projects? The ones that leave a trail of broken bodies in their wake?"
Anger flashed in Petar's eyes, and he opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off with a sharp shove to his chest. He staggered back, surprise flickering briefly across his face before the expression was replaced with a mask of cold fury.
"Don't give me that shit, Petar," I snarled. "You're not here to protect anyone but yourself. That's what you've always done, isn't it? Use people until they've served their purpose, then toss them aside like yesterday's trash?"
Petar straightened, a menacing smile on his lips. "Watch it, son. I'm more powerful than you are."
I let out a low, dangerous chuckle, taking a step closer until we were nose to nose. "Don't threaten me like that. It doesn't work on me anymore. I'm not the scared little boy you used to push around."
I leaned in, my voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm watching you. And if you so much as breathe in a way that puts Gianna or Valentin in danger, I'll be there to stop you. Unlike you, I actually give a damn about something other than my own power."
"Hmm," he murmured as he rubbed his chin. "I think I have something that will change your mind." He opened the door across the hall from Louise's and Augustus' apartment. He beckoned for me to follow him inside.
Compared to Augustus' and Louise's apartment, this one was sparsely furnished with a worn, flower-patterned fabric couch and an end table with a lamp. No pictures or paintings hung on the wall. There was a small wooden kitchen table with four chairs. It looked like someone had picked the furniture up from a garage sale. It was as bleak as Petar's personality.
He opened up a kitchen cabinet and pulled out a small, intricately crafted puppet, its features unmistakably those of my brother, Valentin, right down to the smallest detail. The lifelike resemblance was uncanny, almost as if a miniature version of my brother had been captured within the doll's form.
I smirked to cover the unease churning in my gut. "Well, well, well. Looks like someone's been playing with dolls. Should I be worried about your secret tea parties?"
He chuckled coldly, a mirthless sound that sent a chill down my spine. "Always with the jokes, Dimitri. I assure you this is no ordinary doll. It's a Malefic Puppet, far more potent and insidious than your supposedly witty remarks."
I stepped forward, my eyes narrowing as I studied the puppet more closely. "A Malefic Puppet, huh? Sounds like something straight out of a bad horror movie. What's next, evil clowns and possessed teddy bears?"
His fingers caressed the puppet with a cruel tenderness that made my skin crawl. "Mock all you like, but this puppet has the power to bind the essence of its victim. Every twist, every pinch, every act of malice inflicted upon it is mirrored in the one it resembles. The high priestess herself crafted it for me, ensuring its power is unparalleled."
I let out a low whistle and gave him a nonchalant shrug, even as my heart raced in my chest. "Impressive. Remind me to send her a thank you note for the nightmares."
I paced the room with a casual swagger that belied the tension coiling in my muscles. "But here's the thing, Petar. You're not the only one with tricks up your sleeve. I've got a few connections of my own, and I'm not afraid to use them."
I stopped, turning to face him. "So let's cut to the chase. What's your end game here? You want to use that creepy little puppet to hurt my brother…why? To get to me? Because let me tell you, that's a dangerous game."
"Perhaps," he grinned, a wicked gleam in his eyes that made my skin crawl. "But I know you, Dimitri. I know you'd do anything to protect that little bastard."
"Indeed I would. So let me ask you this. What's to stop me from snatching that creepy little thing and tossing it into the nearest fire?" I lunged for the doll, my fingers barely grazing its surface before a searing pain shot through my hand, as if I'd plunged it into a vat of boiling oil. "Son of a bitch!" I hissed through clenched teeth, cradling my scorched flesh to my chest.
"Oh, did I forget to mention?" He chuckled, a fearsome sound that set my teeth on edge. "The high priestess cast a spell on the Malefic Puppet. Only I can touch it."
My stomach dropped, a wave of nausea washing over me as the implications of his words sank in. The puppet was my only hope, and now it was beyond my reach. I fought to keep my expression neutral, even as fury ignited in my chest.
I narrowed my eyes as I fought back the rage bubbling up inside me. "You'll pay for this," I ground out dangerously, my voice low.
He reached into the cupboard again, his movements slow and deliberate, and pulled out another doll that bore an uncanny resemblance to Gianna. My heart plummeted into my stomach, and I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.
There was no way I could let him know that I cared about her. It was just something else he could use against me. Valentin was bad enough. I plastered on my most sardonic smirk, arching an eyebrow.
"Care about a spoiled princess? Please," I drawled, my voice dripping with disdain. "I'm just here for the entertainment. You know how I love a good damsel in distress story." I paused for effect, then added with a wink, "Besides, someone has to keep her out of trouble. It's practically a full-time job."
My heart raced, betraying the nonchalance I was trying to project. But I kept my expression carefully controlled, hoping he couldn't see through my act. The last thing I needed was for him to realize just how much she was getting under my skin.
A mischievous smile spread across his face, a smile I knew well that always made my blood run cold. "No, son. You'll do what I say. You're going to come with me to New Orleans."
Every instinct in my body was screaming at me to refuse, to tell him to go to hell, but I bit my tongue. Maybe if I gained his trust and he let his guard down, I could find a way to steal the damn dolls.
He circled me like a shark, reveling in the power he held over me. "You'll join the Santi family, and then you'll steal the Moirai Mirror."
I schooled my features into a mask of indifference even as my heart pounded in my chest. "The Moirai Mirror?"
"Yes. It can show the future, you know," he replied, his voice a sickening blend of smugness and anticipation. "And you're going to steal it for me."
I cocked an eyebrow. "And if I don't?"
He moved in close, his breath hot against my skin, his words a venomous whisper. "Then your precious brother and the mafia princess will suffer for your stubbornness."
I recoiled as I met his gaze head on, watching him twirl the two dolls meditatively. "Wow, Dad. You really know how to make a compelling argument except I couldn't care less about the princess. Threaten the only person I care about, and suddenly I'm supposed to jump at your command? I must have missed that lesson in Parenting 101."
I pushed past him, putting some distance between us as I tried to clear my head. The weight of his threats hung heavy in the air, but I'd be damned if I'd let him see how much they shook me.
"Let me get this straight," I said, turning to face him with a look of mock contemplation. "You want me to infiltrate the Santi family, steal some magic mirror, and hand it over to you? And in return, you'll graciously spare my brother and the princess from your twisted little games with dolls? "
I let out a humorless chuckle, shaking my head in disbelief. "You know, for someone who claims to be all-powerful, you sure do need a lot of help from your son. What's the matter, Dad? Getting rusty in your old age? Why can't you just steal the damned mirror yourself? You're already in the Santi family."
My father's eyes flashed with anger, but I held up a hand, cutting off any retort. "Spare me the indignant act. We both know you're not above doing anything, even using your own flesh and blood, to get what you want."
Petar's jaw clenched, his voice low and dangerous. "You think I haven't tried? That mirror is protected by powerful magic. Only a Santi by blood can touch it without triggering the alarms. And Angelo..." He paused, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. "Angelo doesn't trust me enough to let me near it. But you, his sister's valiant protector? You might just have a shot."
I scoffed, trying to mask my surprise at this revelation. "So that's your game. Use me to bypass the magical security. How touching, Dad. Really feeling the family love here."
"Don't be naive, Dimitri," Petar sneered. "This is bigger than you or me. That mirror holds power beyond your imagination. In the right hands, it could reshape the supernatural world. In the wrong hands..." He left the threat hanging.
I rolled my eyes, even though I fought to keep the anger brewing inside me under control. "Right, because nothing says trust me like threats and the mention of world-altering power. You really know how to sell it, Dad. "
I leaned against the wall, affecting a casual pose I didn't feel. "And let me guess, your hands are the right ones?"
He chuckled, a sound that sent an involuntary chill down my spine. "Something like that," he said, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "Let's just say I have…plans for it."
I had to find out what devious plot he had conjured up and who with. Dear old dad doesn't usually go solo. I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a low, menacing growl. "Let me make one thing crystal clear. If you lay a finger on my brother, if you so much as look at him in a way I don't like, I will rain down a world of pain on you that you can't even begin to imagine."
He didn't even flinch and just gave me a huge Cheshire cat smile. "Just steal the mirror," he put up his hands, "and everything will be fine."
I held his gaze, letting the weight of his words sink in. "I'll play your little game, but not because you've threatened me. I'll do it because I'm the only one who can protect them from you. And when this is all over, when I have that mirror in my hands, you and I are going to have a long overdue conversation about the meaning of family loyalty."
With that, I turned on my heel and walked away, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my gut. I knew I was walking into a trap, but if it meant keeping the people I cared about safe, I'd gladly march into the lion's den and face any teeth and claws lying in wait for me.