Page 164 of His Cursed Heart

I look around and see Mamma's purple orchids. The same swing that she always used to stay in is in the same spot in her garden.

I am in her garden back in Italy. But how did I end up here?

"Sorella, can you give me a hand?" I stiff when I hear my sister's Italian voice.

I turn around and sob when I see Keres on her knees, trying to save a rose. Her blonde hair is pulled in a high ponytail and she wears her favorite yellow summer dress.

"Keres?" I need to make sure that she is real.

"Yes, Althea?" She finally takes her eyes off the rose and her blue eyes are the ones that make me run to her.

As fast as I can.

She stands up quickly and lets me throw myself in her arms. I cry harder when I feel her arms embrace me in a tight hug. I take in her strawberry smell, trying to imprint her in my brain.

"I missed you so much, il mio spirito." I squeeze her in my arms.

"Not more than me." She pets my hair and kisses my cheek.

I have so many questions but I'm afraid my time with her is limited.

"Help me with this rose." She smiles and takes my hand, lowering on the ground.

She takes a wood branch and wraps it around the dead rose. Her hands are so delicate that I forgot how she feels like.

"Where are we?" I ask her and I look around us. We are in Mamma's garden, but I don't see our mansion.

I don't see anything past the gates.

I feel the wind breeze past my skin, and I look at my own summer dress. My hair is let loose on my back and my skin isn't stained by blood.

In what universe am I?

"We are in the purgatory." Keres says and wets the grass.

"Purgatory?" I ask perplexed. She said so casual that it makes me the crazy one.

"We are between life and death, piccolo artista."

"But you died." I say brokenly.

"I did and I can't thank you enough, Althea. Thank you for helping me find peace." I look at her and she smiles so brightly and it makes my numb heart ache.

"So that means I'm dead too?" My whisper is barely there.

"Do you want to be dead too?" Keres eyes me.

I shake my head before I have time to think, but I know it's true. I can't let Vincent alone in a world full of dangers. I can't let Everette bring his beast out again.

"You need to live for yourself, Althea." Keres begs me. How the fuck does everyone read my mind?

"You talk aloud." I look at her and she laughs. "We don't have personal thoughts here."

Now, that's a crime.

Keres laughs again and I want to listen to that sound forever. Her smile dies and she looks at me with tears in her eyes.

"Will you ever forgive me for what I've done to you?" I frown at her words. "I never knew he was yours. I never knew what happened with you the day you called, begging for my help. I never knew those things."

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