Volterra, Italy, 1958
"I love you, you know."
"Don't say that, please."
"It's true."
"I know."
"Don't you feel the same way?"
I looked up into those blood red eyes that sent chills down my spine but made my heart flutter at the same time. His face was so open to me, so willing to love me. I wondered if he'd ever in his existence given another girl that same look. His cool hand touched my face and I took it, guiding it back down to his side and letting go. I turned to leave and he caught my wrist, his eyes wide and frantic now.
"Lilian." The way my full name rolled off his lips was sweet, the scent of his breath intoxicating. I wanted so much to throw myself into his arms and never leave. But I couldn't do that. I didn't belong here. I turned back to him, memorizing his face. I would never see him again after this. Unless he was coming to my execution, of course. His eyes were asking the question again. I could hear it, feel it pulsating off of him. He wanted me to tell him that I loved him. And I wanted to tell him that I loved him. I opened my mouth, saw the spark of hope in his eyes, the longing in his expression, then closed it. Standing on my toes, I put my hand on his neck and pecked him on the lips, then took a step back, scaling the garden wall without much difficulty.
When I was about to jump over the wall, I felt my cloak snag. I heard yelling, though it wasn't his. I twisted my head around, looking for him. He wasn't on the ground. Where was he? He had run. It was obvious now. He had saved his own skin. I didn't blame him. I couldn't. I'd faced Jane before. Suddenly, his whisper filled my ear.
"Run."
The snag on my cloak let loose, and I dropped to the ground. I didn't dare look back for him as I ran, my lungs aching for air and my forehead damp with sweat.
As soon as I felt it was safe, I twisted around to look behind me. Jane was following me, dragging something that was twitching with her. I skidded to a stop, turning to get a full view. I recognized him immediately. He screamed at me to run, but I couldn't hear it over the sound of my own screams as Jane pointed her smile at me and I was dragged into a pain that was unbearable, my screams falling silent as my body gave up and I was dragged into darkness.