Page 29 of His Cursed Heart

Her blonde hair is tucked under a low bun and her blue eyes have sparkles in them. Her smile is contagious and her posture is perfect.

“You are late.” Hanibal’s harsh voice is making Keres’s smile disappear and look behind her. A shadow is at the door and then a feminine figure is making her way known into the room.

“Nobody died, isn’t it?” Her voice creates goosebumps down my spine. Her brownish skin and brown eyes are making her look exquisite. Her frame is small, but her body is ready to make you a sinner.

Why can’t I take my eyes off her?

“Althea, please.” Keres’s pleading voice is making me

frown.

“Please excuse my daughter. She has quite the mouth, just like her mother.” Hanibal is almost hissing.

I never knew that Hanibal has two daughters.

Two daughters that are so different.

Althea chooses to sit on the chair next to me.

She looks at me with small eyes and I can see a trace of redness in them and cheeks. Althea leans towards my ear and the sweet smell of vanilla and cigarettes overwhelms my senses, making me feel trapped in a trance.

"If my sister suffers something, I will make sure that no one will find your body." My eyes widen when I hear her words.

Who are you Althea and why does no one know about you?

"I promise I'll take care of her." I say the words with difficulty, as if someone is squeezing my throat.

"Be careful, Keaton, that's a promise you can't keep."

"Then I promise I'll do my best to keep her safe."

“I did keep her safe.” I say through my teeth.

“So good that she is in a casket, six meters underground.” I lean forward, feeling how my blood is boiling. Her eyes are showing no trance of fear.

“You’re angry about me breaking my promise, when you left her all alone.” This time, her eyes widen and her lips parted. “You turned your back on her when she needed you, like she was some trash. And she kept making excuses for you. Why aren’t we talking about that?” I almost spat the words, letting the anger win.

And something happens, something which I didn’t expect.

Althea bows her head, her fists still clenched and leaves the garden in a hurry. Almost running away, leaving me all angry and confused.

What the fuck happened?

You can come to me when your thoughts are loud.

Your heart is safe here.

You are safe here.

I repeat my mother’s words as I try to calm myself. I can’t let them take over my body again. Not when it took me years to learn how to bury them deep until I no longer felt hopeless.

And after so many years, he makes me feel like I’m losing control.

You turned your back on her when she needed you, like she was some trash. And she kept making excuses for you.

Oh, Keres, what have I done to you?

I wish I had the chance to explain to her everything.

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