Rise of a Queen (Kingdom Duet 2)
Page 112
“I’m fucking not. I would never hurt you or Clarissa.”
A small chuckle comes from her before she coughs, and her distant breathing catches as if she’s gurgling blood. “Why? Because we’re Mum’s daughters? Your original muse? I know, she left it for me in her will. She told me to cut all ties with Clarissa because of you. My own mother wanted her daughters apart because of no one other than you! She said that something unlocked inside of you after you met her and that she created a monster. You told her that you loved the challenge of killing people who looked like her because you couldn’t hurt her. You can’t hurt me and Claire either, because we look like her, but we inspire you to kill, don’t we?”
“And yet, you kept coming back.” Dad’s voice is stone cold. “You came to Leeds all the time when you could’ve stayed away.”
“I didn’t want you to use Clarissa as a muse instead of me.”
“Give me your fucking hand, Alicia. You’ll die in there.”
“Maybe it’s better if I do — just like Mum did. I thought she killed herself because of Dad, but it was because of you, Maxim,” she snarls. “She willingly left this world to not carry on your sins with her.”
“So you’ll leave your role for Clarissa?” His voice turns calm in an almost manic way.
A sob tears from her throat. “Leave her alone. She’s your daughter. At least she’s your daughter.”
“Which will make her a better muse than you and your mum ever were. After all, she shares my and Bridget’s DNA.”
“M-Maxim…leave her…”
“Then give me your fucking hand, Alicia. Take responsibility for both Bridget and her.”
“I can’t.” She sounds defeated, numb almost. “My own husband thinks I’m crazy, and even my son believes it sometimes. And now, he left me. Aiden and Clarissa are the only bright things in my life, but I’m not theirs.”
“You’re not crazy — you were made to believe that. I think I know who’s behind this.”
“I-is it Jonathan?”
“You don’t want it to be him?”
“Tell me. P-please.”
“Give me your fucking hand first.”
“Y-you’ll leave Claire alone?”
“I will.”
“And Aiden?”
“I couldn’t give two fucks about him. He looks nothing like you and Bridget.”
“F-fine.” There’s the sound of a pained moan as a rustle of clothes comes from Dad.
“Oh…” Alicia breathes heavily. “I c-can’t move. T-there’s so much blood…”
“Fuck! Fuck!”
“M-Maxim…I…I d-don’t feel so good…”
“Don’t you dare go!” he shouts at her, voice more enraged than worried.
“C-Claire… D-don’t do this to her… D-don’t make her me and Mum… P-please…please…”
“Shut the fuck up, Alicia.” More friction of clothes come from Dad’s side.
“T-tell Aiden and C-Claire that I love them so much and I-I’m sorry I couldn’t take them far away and p-protect them.” She’s full on crying now, her voice turning weaker with every second. “Tell J-Jonathan I forgive him if he did it. Tell him that he should pick up his life and move on.”
“I said shut the fuck up.” Dad groans as he seems to be trying to lift either the car or her.