Page 40 of The Don's Eternal Vows

My chest tightens, an ache blooming deep within. I see myself in his pleading eyes, in the tremble of his hands.

Chapter 19

Gianni

The ghostly king fades, but his desperate plea lingers in the air. I find it impossible to look away. At this moment, I'm not just fighting for Genoveva. I'm fighting for every lost love, every shattered heart that came before me.

My heart pounds like a war drum, the revelation of my ancestor's journey hitting me like a sucker punch to the gut. The shock courses through my veins; to think I shared a fate as heinous as this with someone responsible for my very existence rattles me to my core.

"So, my forefather stood here too," I whisper. “Tell me, Hades. What of their fate?”

Hades doesn't answer immediately. When he does, his voice carries an unexpected note of... is it respect? "He failed, asall mortals do. But his love... it echoed through generations. It burns in your blood even now."

I swallow hard, my throat tight with emotion. "I won't fail," I say, my voice low and fierce. "I can't."

"Ah, yes. Your beloved." Hades' voice drips with mock sympathy. "Such devotion. It almost makes me nostalgic."

My jaw clenches at the mention of Genoveva. Her face flashes in my mind – her smile, her eyes, the way she looked on our wedding day. To know he has her in his palm.

"What do you want from me?" I ask, my voice cracking with desperation.

“I want you to understand that history has a way of repeating itself. Watch closely, Gianni.”

My forefather returns before Hades' throne, his posture regal despite the desperation etched on his face. His features are hauntingly familiar – the same sharp jawline, the same intense eyes that I see in the mirror every day.

"Please, Lord Hades," the man – my ancestor – pleads, his voice echoing through time. "I'll do anything. Just return her to me."

I lean forward, my heart pounding. The parallels are uncanny, and a chill runs down my spine. Is this my fate as well? My eyes are glued to the scene, drinking in every detail. Questions floodmy mind, each more urgent than the last. Who was she? What happened to them? How did it end?

The mirage shifts, showing flashes of battles, of a kingdom in turmoil, of a love torn apart by cosmic forces. With each image, my resolve hardens.

"I need to know more," I growl, my voice low and intense. "What choice did he make? What went wrong?”

The next thing I know, Hades raises his hand, fingers splayed, and a swirling mist replaces the scene before us. It merges, shimmering like quicksilver.

As the swirling mist dissipates, a haunting figure emerges. It's my ancestor's soul, still crowned but visibly broken. His once-regal posture is now hunched, shoulders sagging under an invisible weight. The crown sits askew on his translucent head, a mockery of his former glory.

I can't tear my eyes away from his face. Deep lines of sorrow etch his features, and his eyes—God, his eyes—are hollow, devoid of hope, reflecting an eternity of regret.

"Is this..." my voice catches with anger, and I have to clear my throat. "Is this what happens to those who seek love in your realm, Hades?"

The god's laughter echoes through the chamber, but I barely register it. My mind is racing, heart pounding against my ribcage. I feel a mix of emotions I can't quite name – pity forthis broken king, fear that this could be my fate, and a burning determination not to let it happen.

I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. The pain grounds me, reminds me of who I am. I won't end up like this ghost before me.

"I won't fail," I growl, more to myself than to Hades.

Hades' laughter dies down to a low chuckle, his eyes gleaming with mockery and intrigue. "Oh, Gianni," he purrs, my name rolling off his tongue like poison-laced honey. "Your ancestor said the same thing. Such delicious determination, only to be crushed under the weight of his hubris."

I feel my jaw clench, but I force myself to remain still, not to give him the satisfaction of seeing me ruffled. Hades continues, his voice echoing off the black-marbled walls.

"You see, mortal, the game never truly ends. Your ancestor failed, yes, but his failure merely set the stage for you. And should you fail..." He trails off, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, let's just say the cycle continues."

My mind races, latching onto every word. I can feel the weight of generations pressing down on me, but I push it aside.

"Genoveva," I say, her name a prayer on my lips. "Tell me how to get her back."

Hades leans forward, clearly relishing my desperation. "The stakes are high, Gianni. Are you sure you're prepared to pay the price?"

---