The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness
Chapter 43

- KATALEYA ~

I've heard stories of homewreckers, women who have no shame of being in a relationship or simply messing around with a man who is taken.

And Enrique is very much taken in terms that he's engaged. know over dinner they said they wanted to finalise the engagement, but their being here was pretty much a done deal. I should have known that. Until he has told her what he has planned, I shouldn't have allowed him near me, even if I love him...

I wrap my arms around my knees, resting my head on them.

I don't know how I will face Marie, oh how horrible I am!

I bite my lip as tears trickle down my cheeks.

She was so good to me. Imagine being engaged to someone and then seeing them with someone you had treated with kindness and politeness. I cringe with disgust and shame. Last night no longer felt like a pleasant moment. It was wrong. Completely wrong!

Anger, hurt and frustration at myself swirl viciously around me, like a swarm of angry bees.

"Come out, do you plan to stay in there all day?" Enrique's cold voice comes through the door, making me clamp my hands over my mouth, refusing to let him hear me cry.

I don't answer, my heart aching.

He remains outside of the door for a while before I hear him curse.

"Fine... do whatever the fuck you want," he snarls.

I'm sorry...

I hear the door slam, and I close my eyes, my lips quivering.

This is all my fault!

How did we end up going so far? Last night returns to my mind and I close my eyes. It was me... I was the one who kissed him.

The memory of how good it felt, the tingles of pleasure as he pulled me close-stop!

I can't stay here, regardless of the fact that I am meant to be helping him. I will still do so, I will replace answers, but I will not remain in his room, on the same floor, or in this packhouse!

How did I end up not even thinking of Marie?!

I stand up, my heart thumping. I have to leave.

Exiting the bathroom, I quickly get changed, slipping on some lingerie before I pull on some yoga pants and a tank top. Putting on some sneakers, I grab my phone and leave the room, but just as I'm about to head downstairs I hear footsteps coming up the steps. The person is talking loudly and I recognise the voice. My stomach drops. Oh no, it's Carlos. Is he being sent to watch me?

"I can't come home for lunch, Madre. The Alpha wants me to keep watch. I already angered him today..." He protests, he's talking on the phone and with every word he's getting closer.

I change direction, quickly turning left and making my way down the hall. I've not been this deep in before, since Enrique's office and the other rooms were right near the stairs. However, the further I walk, I realise that it only touches how big this place is. But I keep going, I'm not going to let Carlos spot me.

There's no doubt he's sent to watch me... I don't want to see anyone right now.

can hear him still talking on the phone, his voice fading a little as I turn down a narrow hall and stop when I see the winding staircase that goes up.

Another floor? I haven't really paid attention to the building from outside, how many floors is it?

There are a few wooden boards, picture frames, and an old vanity stacked against the stair rail, partially covering the steps. My heart skips a beat as I scan the small open hallway I'm in, but it's the deep mahogany floor that piques my interest. They are a different shade than the ones in the main hall... these are older, more worn... and dustier.

I glance up at the stairs, wondering what's up there. Well, I don't have anything to do until Carlos disappears, so why not have a look around?

I slowly make my way to the stairs, testing each step before I reach the stairs. There's no way to get past without making a sound if I move these things, so instead I grab the rail, hoist myself over it and silently make my way up.

A few times a step creaks, and I pray that Carlos doesn't come, but so far he's still on the phone. I keep to the outer sides of the steps where I know for certain the wood is less creaky.

Finatty, I reach the top. It's dark, there's no window and the smell of mustiness, dust, oil, and wood fills my nose.

I reach the top and instantly come to a stop, my heart pounding when I realise this is a place I shouldn't be. But I'm suddenly intrigued and I'm unable to make myself turn away, not when I know Carlos is down there and might hear me.

it's like I've entered a time capsule, the velvet curtains are drawn and covered with a thick layer of dust, and the small tables and sculptures that surround every alcove are also covered in dust.

A stark difference then the rest of the house. The rug that covered the narrow hall still holds the hint of jasmine and eucalyptus from long ago. Perhaps a spillage on the rug...

The walls are covered in extravagant gold frames that contain portraits of what is obviously the Escarra Alphas of the past... my heart is in my mouth as I look at the man in the portrait that hangs on the wall opposite the stairs. A handsome man who has so much in common with Enrique that I instantly know who he is.

Sebastian Escarra.

The man who had kidnapped me as a child.

Despite the sliver of bad memories that rush through me, it's obvious this man in the picture was not yet the man he became when I met him.

His reddish-brown hair is curly like Enrique's and his eyes hold that same dreamy look with thick lashes, even though they are a different colour. There's a hint of a smile on his face as if he is almost amused by something.

This expression... This smile is not that of an evil man, this is not the man I had the displeasure to meet. No, he didn't look like this. This isn't the man who cut off Enrique's hand.

This was much before then.

My heart thumps as I stand there staring at the portrait, before looking around the hall. Everything seems to swish and I feel as if I'm being pulled, everything turning and then my eyes blaze and the sound of laughter rushes through the hall, the sun shining through the window that now stands wide open.

"Enrique, be careful!" A woman scolds in Spanish.

"He's young. Let him play." A man's voice comes.

I turn as I see a door open, a door that shines with fresh varnish. Gone is the dust and decay. A man- Sebastian steps out of the room, and takes the woman's hand. I blink, not having noticed where she appeared from as I replace myself being sucked further into the memory.

"He's only three. I worry he'll get hurt," she murmurs, smiling up at the man.

Enrique's mama... her dark, almost black hair is pinned back as it tumbles down her back. She's beautiful...

Sebastian kisses her softly, clearly smitten by the woman before him. They're mates. I can see that much. "He won't," Sebastian promises before he looks down.

"What is it?" she murmurs. "Did you replace an answer?"

He shakes his head. "Not yet, but I will. The Escarra bloodline is more than just cursed. I believe I will replace a path for us. There is no way I will let my son suffer like this." She cups his face. "You will be ok, no?"

"I hope so... father only passed a year ago, but the effect is already consuming me. I don't know how long I will last before I become a madman." His voice is heavy.

"You will not become a madman. You are a powerful alpha, Sebastian!"

"That's my wish and unlike my father, I plan to succeed... at least for Enrique..."

A dark sombre aura surrounds them, and I realise at that moment neither believe there's hope... for that is the curse of the Escarra Bloodline... a deal made with the devil can never be undone...

He wraps his arms around his mate, and I'm sucked from the memory, gasping as I'm once again in the dark, dusty hall.

He had wanted to end the curse, but he failed and was instead consumed by the Djinn...

I look around before I make my way quietly down the hall, looking at the other portraits on the wail.

The memory of Marie seeing me returns and I drop onto the floor, resting my head against the wall.

I'm so sorry...

I miss my family right now. I miss Mama's reassurance, Skyla's no-care attitude, and Azura's quirky jokes... sighing softly, I close my eyes wishing I could change what happened.

I'm going to have to come clean to her, one way or another.

I don't care if Enrique does it or not. If by evening he hasn't, I will.

My eyes fly open, my heart thundering when I realise I must have fallen asleep. It's dark, even darker than before.

What time is it?

I glance around the dark hall wondering what awoke me when I hear shouting from somewhere in the distance.

Was something happening? A crawler?!

I get to my feet, making my way towards the stairs, when I hear a menacing growl.

Enrique...

"Find her! I swear on the Moon Goddess if she is not found by midnight, I will exile you all!" His voice trembles with fury, and I gulp stepping back.

I don't want to face him right now. I'm not sure why he's trying to replace me, but when he's in a mood like that, I'm not sure I want him to, and I definitely don't want him to replace out where I was. That will simply anger him further. I look down. There's dust on my thighs, and probably all down my back. If I went down now, he'd know where I was.

Goddess... What do I do?

Looking around, my eyes fall on the drawn curtains. My eyes sparkle when an idea pops into my mind.

Where there's a curtain, there's a window, where there's a window, there's a way out. I pull open the curtain slowly, trying not to cough as the plumes of dust get up my nose. I tug at the latch and push the window open. And, where there is a window, there is possibly a deep dangerous drop.

I stare down at the smooth wall. There's nothing to hold on to, no window ledge to grab nor any balcony or grooves to grab onto.

I'm too far up and that is not a way down, which means...

I glance back at the stairs, realising I'm going to either have to remain here or go down those steps...

Oh dear.

Well, that's not a hard option.

Sighing, I sit down behind one of the small stone statues and sigh softly.

Seems like I'm going to stay here until he decides to go to bed.