Chapter 73

**Luciana's POV**

The ringing clocks hit my ears hard. Twelve o'clock. It was twelve o'clock. What was I still doing there? I bolted out through the hall, bumping into various dancers as I ran. They twirled and turned, shrieking and screaming as I disrupted their intimate moments. I heard Keira and Jeremy on my way out, but I didn't stop. I dared not stop. My life literally depended on it.

"We've been looking everywhere for you, Luciana! Where are you going?" Keira exclaimed behind me. I couldn't let her see me. I just couldn't. The building seemed endless. I was confused, my senses lost. It felt like I couldn't think. There was nowhere to hide, and I couldn't even find Arielle. As I scanned the room, I bumped into someone I prayed I wouldn't.

My very own mother.

Flashes ran through my mind of the worst possible outcomes I could face. Warning bells rang endlessly as I braced for impact. The way she looked at me, with creased brows… What was she thinking? What was she planning? I couldn't tell, and it scared the hell out of me. I gulped and held my breath.

"Little brat. Hope you fall off those ugly heels and break your jaw," she scoffed and walked right past me.

Those words were awfully kind, considering they were directed at me. What just happened? Was I imagining things? I started to wonder if my little fairy godmother had mixed up her princess spell. I checked the time and sighed in relief: 11:59. The clock in the hall was minutes behind. It didn't mean I had much time, so I hurried out and hailed a cab to take me home.

"What a night," I sighed, gently tracing my lips. The warm feeling lingered as the memory of my kiss with my mate replayed in my mind like a broken record. The thoughts were enchanting, intoxicating. I didn’t like them, but God only knew how much my heart fluttered at the thought, how much I loved it, how much I loved… him?

But I couldn't love him. Although he was mine, he still wasn't. He would never admit that he was. But if that were the case, then… why did he kiss me? Did he think of me as someone else? I pondered until I was stopped outside the large gates.

"Thank you, sir," I told the cab driver, handing him his fare. He tipped his hat and drove off. I watched silently as his car slowly faded onto the road, far from sight. I sighed again, feeling my face flush.

"What a night," I exclaimed for the hundredth time that evening and walked in.

The house was rather lonely; everyone else had gone to the event, and I’d had to leave early. My mother definitely didn't like me having any fun, even now that I no longer lived under the same roof as her. But, to be very honest, I don't think I could have lasted another minute in that place, not with all the tension going on at the moment. These people, this side of life—everything was just too overwhelming.

I changed out of my dress, placing it on my bed. I took a warm, relaxing bubble bath, trying to calm my shaken nerves, but nothing worked. If anything, it only got worse. I couldn't get Caspian’s saddened face out of my head, nor that kiss.

I slipped into my pink silk pajamas and stood cross-armed, staring down at the dress and white mask lying side by side on my bed. I was teetering between consciousness and sleep when I was startled by not-so-subtle footsteps. I was supposed to be the only one here.

I walked down the narrow hallway, feeling my heart in my throat as the noise grew louder. The vague words I heard sounded like anything but English or any language I’d ever heard. I walked closer and spotted a hidden door left wide open. Something so mysterious left unattended—it was like they were begging me to explore it.

I heard countless warning bells, but nothing could stop me now. I walked down a flight of stairs and was greeted by dim lights and the smell of strong incense… and animal blood? If I was frightened before, I was completely creeped out now. It was a scene straight out of a horror movie. Candles burned, dead rodents lay scattered, and odd shapes were drawn in what seemed like blood.

There were odd photos everywhere—some of Keira, Arielle, Damon, Jeremy, the nice fairy Duncan, and even… me. Our eyes were crossed out, our images viciously pierced on voodoo dolls, and our pictures were repeatedly splattered with animal blood. I gagged at the sight. A torrent of questions flooded my mind. How was this here? Why was this here? Who would do this?

I searched every nook and cranny of the unknown room, finding more dead animals and photos. In a dark corner, I found a perfectly framed picture of my very own mother. I should have known she was behind this. But why here? Why like this? What was her angle?

This scene was as disturbing as dark magic… or maybe it was dark magic. A gasp escaped my lips as I tried to leave, but I was a moment too late. I was suddenly engulfed in darkness and felt a sharp blow to my head. I stumbled, falling against a small candle. Flames quickly spread, lighting up the room as it grew brighter by the second. I felt blood trickle down my neck before my eyes slipped shut.

I guess curiosity really did kill the cat.