Page 79 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

Lucio feigned indifference, but Domenico pressed on. “Escaped? How? Gone where?”

“Raven said they are gone. The brother, too,” Sebastiano repeated.

Marcello’s eyes locked onto Lucio’s. “You want to do this now? When our father is at death’s door? You want to push us to this, Lucio? For her?”

“I have always served the brotherhood, the coven. I’ve always served you three. But I won’t let you take her from me. I can not,” Lucio finally said, his voice carrying a rare vulnerability. He felt a strange relief wash over him.

Domenico snickered. The sound grated in the tense bubble of silence they existed in.

Marcello looked hurt. His rage simmered beneath the surface of his pale skin. Lucio braced himself for an outburst, willing toendure physical assault. He could take the blows, but he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Dolly or Darlene.

“It’s time, brothers. You heard him. You heard Father. Lucio is fulfilling the prophecy. He’s the one corrupted,” Domenico said, his voice resolute. “It’s time we finish this. We find those women and feed them to Draquria and save our father. Save us all. This is the moment we decide.”

“I agree,” Sebastiano said. He stepped out of the dark fog to Marcello’s side. “We need you to agree, brother. He is not one of us anymore.”

Marcello lowered his gaze, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on him. The surrounding night seemed to hold its breath, the darkness their only witness.

Lucio lowered the barrier he had erected between himself and the Brown sisters, feeling the immediate rush of their presence as he reached out to Darlene and Dolly.

The Void

Dolly blinked, her eyes slowly adjusted to the midnight darkness, thick and weightless as if made from shadow itself. She felt strangely grounded yet formless, surrounded by a vast nothingness. Her body, her mind—everything was hazy, a dreamy blur. Beside her, Darlene slowly began to materialize, her dark silhouette emerging in the gloom, becoming more real, more alive. Darlene looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers and smiling faintly as she felt her body restored, whole and vibrant again. The air shifted, a subtle stirring, as if something—or someone—was bending it to their will.

“Dolly?” Darlene’s voice was soft, laced with confusion. “Is that really you?”

“Darlene,” Dolly whispered, relief softened her voice. “What happened? Where…how did we get here?”

“I don’t know—” Darlene began.

“I brought you here,” came a familiar voice, low and deep as the night itself.

The sisters turned as Lucio emerged from the swirling darkness, stepping into the moonlight that seemed to spill from nowhere. His appearance stole their breath: his suit fit perfectly over his lithe, muscular frame, each dark fold cast shadows that only accentuated his lean strength. The dim light glinted off his amber eyes, a knowing gaze sharpened with a sly, almost dangerous smile that exposed just a hint of his fangs, tipped in crystalline diamonds.

“Lucio!” Dolly’s voice trembled as she ran to him, flinging herself into his arms. He caught her effortlessly, holding her close, feeling her warmth seep into him. Lucio closed his eyes, letting himself be lost in the comforting rhythm of her heartbeat, that steady thrum anchored him in this temporary realm. He didn’t have long; it had taken nearly all his power to bring them here, to this hidden sanctuary of shadow and memory, a place they could be together—if only for a moment.

“I was so afraid,” Dolly murmured, her voice breaking as she buried herself in his chest. He held her tighter, inhaling the floral sweetness of her scent, letting himself drift to dreams of a world where he could keep her, where their love could grow into something real. He envisioned children, a family—her as his queen in a life where he didn’t have to fight destiny for her. For just an instant, he let himself believe it was possible.

When he opened his eyes, his gaze met Darlene’s across the distance. Her expression was complicated, her eyes guarded. She watched them from afar, silent and uncertain, and something in her look pierced Lucio in a way he hadn’t expected. She wasn’t the bold, sharp-tongued Darlene he remembered; this Darlene seemed carved from something ancient and untouchable, glowing with an intensity that was wholly her own.She was darker, bolder, a striking goddess in her own right. And for the first time, Lucio truly saw her. Really saw her. And wanted her, achingly.

Darlene rolled her eyes, catching the heat in his gaze, and looked away as if unimpressed.

Lucio smirked; his lips pressed gently against Dolly’s ear. In soft French, he whispered his love, his apologies, and a hesitant plea for her permission—to share his heart fully with Darlene, her twin. Dolly looked into his eyes, her love fierce but understanding, then slowly nodded and stepped back, slipping into the shadowed edges of their strange reunion.

“Hello, Darlene,” he said softly, turning to face her at last.

“Lucio.” Her voice was firm but cool, holding her ground even as he approached. She kept her distance, chin lifted defiantly.

“Did you miss me?” he asked, his tone light, teasing.

She crossed her arms, giving him a withering look. “Not even a little.”

He stopped just inches from her, close enough to catch the faint scent of jasmine on her skin. “A shame,” he murmured, his amber gaze unwavering, “because I missed you.”

“Liar.” Her eyes narrowed. “What, surprised I’m my own person?”

A grin tugged at his mouth. “More than my surprise—it’s awe. You’ve changed. Your skin, its darker, deeper, richer, regal. You’re beautiful, Darlene. A beauty all your own.”

She rolled her eyes again, but the faintest blush crept to her cheeks. “I look just like Dolly, genius.”

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