Louisa's POV
"Father!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Will tried to hold me up from the ground, but I just kept falling from his hands like dripping water.
Then, I heard steps coming from behind.
I turned back and saw Lucian walking into the cell. He was holding a torch in his hands and was followed by some soldiers.
"You! You've killed my father!" I shouted and charged at him.
He grabbed me in his arms and held me tightly against his chest.
I punched his back and tried to push him away, but he didn't let go of me.
Instead, he lowered his head and lay his head over mine.
He didn't say anything, but I knew he wanted to physically block the pain and sadness away from me.
"Give my brother back to me! You are a murderer!" I almost cried my heart out.
"Sorry, Louisa. I'm sorry," Lucian said.
"Did he ask you to do this to my father?! Did he ask you to do this to me?! Is this the way he wants to torture me?! To force me to witness my father passing away in front of me but can't do anything about it?! What kind of psychopath is he?! Why?! Why does he have to treat me in this way?!" I gave up struggling and melting in Lucian's arms.
I felt totally crushed by the waves of exhausting pain and sadness.
"Sorry, Louisa," Lucian chanted in a soft voice.
"You're not sorry! I don't want your pathetic apology! You keep doing bad things for that asshole and you never feel apologetic! Now you've got what you want! I am torn apart. Why don't you let that asshole know about this?! Tell him through your mindlink and let him know that I'm beaten and I'm crushed after witnessing my father's death! Let him know! Let that murderer know!" I wailed.
"I am sorry, Louisa. I can't stop him from doing things like this. That's my fault. Please blame me because Lucas has nothing to do with this. It's my idea. I'm behind all this. I want to know who you are, but he refused to tell me. I need to let him talk, so I have to bring you in front of him. It's all my fault and I'll use the rest of my life to make up for you."
I drastically lifted my head and looked at him.
I couldn't believe what I'd heard.
At that moment, I realized what had been left on that tundra on the day of Lucian's parents' death.
It was his soul.
There was no longer a soul underneath his marvelous exterior. He seldom revealed his emotion wasn't because he was reserved, but because there wasn't anything left.
He may occasionally smile or frown, but it wasn't because he felt happy or confused. It was pure muscle memory due to years of etiquette training he had been through in the Royal Academy.
He remembered those reactions and performed them according to the requirements of the situation.
He was basically a pre-programmed manikin. A thoughtless, heartless walking dead.
That was why he could carry out all kinds of instructions Lucas demanded him to do.
At that moment, I experienced a higher level of cruelty.
It wasn't shouting, beating, cursing, and torturing, like the way Lucas always treated me.
It was something more subtle.
It was...
Gentle.
The highest level of cruelty is gentle.
"You... You're..." I couldn't iterate.
Lucian didn't seem to notice my smothering anger and continued, "I was suspicious about why Zackery was so interested in you, but now it's confirmed. You're his half-sister. You're the current King's biological sister. Do you understand? You're Lycidas' younger sister."
I pushed him away from me with all my strength and said, "Stay away from me, Lucian! You are the most toxic creature that I have ever met in my life! You're a monster!"
Lucian frowned. Then, he walked towards me and tried to hold me again.
"Come with me, Louisa. Let's go back to the camp," he said.
"Leave me alone! I would rather die in this place with my father than go anywhere with you!" I shouted.
"Louisa, listen to me. Lucas is in trouble and he needs your help. As I said, I will make up for you for the rest of my life because of what I've done to you. I'll be your humble servant. I will serve you and I'll be at your disposal. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it. But now, you have to come with me."
"Lucas killed my father! You killed my father! And you're asking me to go back to that murderer?! Are you insane?!" I shouted.
"Alpha Jacob isn't your father. Your father is the Late King Duko Hawk. Rumor has it, he is still alive. So, I can help you to look for him," Lucian said.
"No! No!" I stomped my feet and roared. "I don't want to have anything to do with your conspiracy or anything! I only have one father and he was killed by you!"
Lucian frowned again. I could tell he was a bit anxious now.
He stared at Will and thought for a while. Then, he said, "Louisa, I know you won't listen to anything that I tell you right now. So why don't we do this? I'll take you to the Cliff of Fear and pay a visit to Count Vincent Swans. He will tell you everything that you want to know."
I stared at Lucian viciously. I really wished I could rip off the handsome mask on his face and expose his dead and rotten soul to the rest of the world.
Does Gianna know what kind of person Lucian truly is? Does she know what kind of monster is going to be the father of his son? I thought to myself.
"Think about the warlock, Louisa. He's still in our hands and Alpha Zackery wants him dead. We don't have any way to persuade him to do anything, but you can. The sooner I make you convinced about your family history, the better chance the warlock will survive." Lucian said and walked towards me with open arms.
I stepped back and said, "Stop! Don't touch me! I'll go to talk to Vincent, but you have to promise that you won't hurt Darren anymore! And I want my father be buried with decency."
Lucian nodded and said, "You have my words."