Chapter Fourteen

I slammed my eyes shut as if that would help me forget the fact that Alexander killed Calixto. At a lull of the moment, Alexander turned me around to face him, but thankfully my eyes were closed. I didn't think I could bear to see the monster in front of me. I felt my lungs seize. My chest tightened and cold beads of sweat ran down my back as I felt his hand crawl all over my skin, then it stopped moving when I felt it on the rope of my corset. I held my breath, preparing for the worst, but inexplicably, nothing happened. The world around us grew still, even the air seemed to cease its movements.

Slowly, I dared to open my eyes and found Alexander staring directly at me, his eyes no longer red but their usual hazel color. They sparkled like yellow diamonds against the backdrop of the night sky, a sight that would have mesmerized me if not for the blood of Calixto adorning his face.

"You were crying, Annalisa," he remarked, his voice full of concern. "And you're still crying," he add