Church of Bones

5.

I took my time wandering the catwalks. I wasn't really in a rush to go anywhere. I chanced a glance at his globe, still lit up as it had been for a long time. I wondered if my globe had returned to normal. With the amount of fear I had absorbed today, I doubted it. The lights may have died down, but there was no way they would have returned to how they looked before.

I pulled my robe closer to my body, frowning as I saw light coming from Drago's room. The boy should have been asleep for another few hours yet. I lightly rapped on the door and opened it, seeing him sitting up in his bed, his knees pulled to his chest and his head resting on his arms. I couldn't read his expression, even in the lamplight. "Drago? Why are you awake?"

The boy only continued to look ahead. "I felt a strong surge of fear," he answered. "It woke me up. It took a minute, but I figured out who it was." He looked to me then. "Is Daddy alright?"

I went and sat on his bed. "I don't know." I looked down at my hands, finding myself wringing them subconsciously. "Drago. I need you to tell me what he's hiding."

The boy shook his head. "He'll be mad at me. I don't want him angry. He's scary when he's mad."

He didn't have to tell me twice. I knew firsthand how terrifying the Boogeyman could be when pushed to his limits. "This is something I need to know."

"You'll be angry too."

I frowned. "At you? Why would I ever be angry with you?"

He went quiet, looking at the far wall again.

"Drago, has your father been unfaithful?"

"No. That's not it. He loves you; I know that even though he never says it."

I was beginning to get more and more frustrated. What on earth could have been so horrible that he was terrified to tell me? We had been together for the greater portion of four hundred and seventy years. What could have been making him scared now?

Drago frowned. "Now you're getting scared."

I nodded. "Please. What has he been hiding?"

He took a shaky breath and looked at me finally. "You have to promise not to be angry with me."

"I promise."

He put his legs down and clenched his hands together. For such a young boy, he had his moments where I thought he was older and wiser than myself. "It's something he's been fighting with for a long time. Something he regrets with all his heart. I don't understand why he's so scared to tell you though. Daddy started the witch hunts."

I felt my entire being shatter. I almost couldn't breathe.

"Your death will be an example to all who shun our Lord, Witch." "Put the whore to death!" "Execute the sinner!"

"Mommy, what's wrong?"

I couldn't see. My chest hurt too much to take in anything besides short bursts. It couldn't be true. It couldn't be. My heart pounded in my ears.

"Oh gods, Hana, I'm so sorry…" I felt arms stronger than Drago's wrap around me. I knew it was him.

I pushed him away, looking at him through the sickening haze. "You… you're the reason I was condemned to death."

His face only held pain, absolute regret. "It was before I knew who you were, before all of this. I'm sorry. I never wanted you to know."

A lump formed in my throat, only allowing a cracked "Why?" to escape.

With the damage already done, he looked away. "The fear. When they faced the noose, their fear was so powerful. I had to."

He had been right. I did hate him. I hated him for everything he had put into motion. I slapped him as hard as I could, the sound resonating in the room. "Stay away from me." I pushed him further away and left the room.

He caught up to me, holding on to my arm. "If I would have known then what I do now, I never would have done what I did. Please, Hana, I'm so sorry."

I wanted to believe him. I couldn't. All the pain came rushing back. My throat felt constricted, my wrists burned.

"Please, Serah."

I tugged out of his grip and pulled at the knot of the well-kept leather around my throat. I threw it at his feet. "You were right. I do hate you. Stay away from me, Kozmotis." I called for Hessian and sank into the shadows. I didn't care where I went. I just needed to be as far away from Italy as possible. I let Hessian go as he pleased as I leaned into his neck, remembering everything I had tried so hard to forget from the village. I had spent such a long time believing it never mattered, but it could never remove the sting of the memories. Before I knew it, Hessian left the Void, putting me in front of Jack.

He looked surprised to see us, just as I was surprised Hessian would lead me to him. "Hana, what happened?"

I choked on the words for a moment, trying to get them to come out. Fresh tears stained my face. "Pitch is the reason I died."