Love in Your Eyes

Francesca's Point of View

I knew I wasn't fully included into the family. But the house was huge, and Henry made sure I had everything I wanted. A new wardrobe, the best maids and book at my disposal. But I couldn't help feeling I was lacking it all still. I guess it was true, you can have it all and still feel hollow inside, but for some reason I felt more empty than ever.

"Henry?" I call as I knock on his study door as he hangs up the phone and waves me into the study.

"Call me dad" he suggest as I nod. "What is it Francesca?" He ask as I nod.

"Dad" I start, "Why did you think I was dead?" I ask as he sighs.

"When your mother and me split she told me all the stress caused her to have miscarriage. I told her I still wanted to be with her but she said no, she wouldn't break up a family" he admits as I stop.

"You were married? You weren't separated?" I ask him as he nods his head no.

"Life is complicated, we make a lot of mistakes but your mother was the best decision I ever made. She made me experience love like I never did, I just wish we could've been together in the end" he recalls as I can hear the sadness in his words.

"It was cancer" I tell him.

"What?" He ask me.

"She died from cancer, she fought it for thirteen years." I confess, "She talked about you all the time, only the best. That's why I thought you were dead" I tell him as he smiles.

"That's why I love her" he says as my words bring a smile to his face.

"Don't you mean loved?" I ask him as he disagrees.

"Love" he repeats, "Because I never stopped" he says as I nod, walking out of his office.

Why would she lie? Was it the mayor? But I couldn't possibly blame everything she did one the mayor.

As suddenly I'm shaken out of my thought by a knock at the door. As one of the maids answers the door and I move to the window, admiring the view, hoping it would bless me with some clarity.

"Francesca?" A man calls my name as I turn around to see Nathaniel.

"You remembered my name?" I ask him as he smiles.

"It's hard to forget such a name" he admit as I smile. "But I have t been able to get you off my mind since that night" he tells me as I'm surprised. Did he remember me? "Do I know you?" He ask as I think, this is my time.

"Maybe this will help" I say, and without thinking I go in for a kiss, letting my lips melt into his. I was sane. The sparks were still there, as a passion mended our souls together as we kissed. The heat illuminating for our chemistry. I only hoped this could help him remember, and I would have the excuse to kiss him.

As I pulled away, breathing heavily as I look to his eyes.

"I remember" I hear him whisper as suddenly Gigi emerges. Taking him by the hand.

"We have to go" she say to him as she ignores me and leads him outside as I walk to the window. Praying to the universe I broke the curse.

As the darkness proceeded to take it claim within the air. As I decided to take a walk outside, hoping I can think about something other than Nathaniel's lips.

Leaving the house I duck, seeing a silhouette outside. Looking in the cars as I inch my way up, looking at the man. Suddenly realizing this isn't the first time I saw this man. He was one of Elijah Knights men.

As I quietly sneak back into the house and wondering back to the study, running in.

"DAD!" I shout as he stand up out of his chair, walking over to me. As panic painted its stripes on my face.

"What is it Fran?" He ask as I still can't believe it.

"The mayor, the man outside?" I say in confusion as my father sits me down. Sitting down beside me and holding my hand.

"Let's try again" he suggest as I nod. "What is wrong?" He ask as I try to talk again.

"The mayor want me gone" I finally tell him.

"What?" He ask as I sigh

"At the gala I attended he told me he wanted me gone, he tried to offer me money for leaving" I tell him as he stands up. "I didn't take it, I told him I wasn't going to leave. He then told me he would make me "disappear" I tell him, shaking. The thought of death worried me, knowing I would never break the curse, being stuck just as Thealen. "Now one of the Mayor's men is outside, and I don't know what to do" I explain to him as he looks through his drawers.

"Take this" he says as he hands me something heavy, wrapped in a black cloth.

As I unwrap it I realize how truly dangerous the mayor was. I wasn't in a pissing contest, where words meant nothing. As I held the gun in my hand I knew it was life or death.

"I....I- can't" I stutter out as I push the weapon back towards my father.

"You just aim and shoot" my father says as I can't even imagine myself with something so dangerous.

"Why would you give me this?" I ask him as I stand up. Wanting to race up to my bedroom to hide under the sheets.

"Because the mayor is everything you think and worse sweetheart" he warns as I can't bring myself to carry this weapon with me.

"But I don't have a license" I explain as he nods.

"I rather you have trouble with a technicality that I can bribe you out of than you being dead" he says as I nod my head.

"I'll call up some men that will guard you, but I don't want you to ever be vulnerable" he says as he kisses my forehead. "Now go and get some sleep" he says as I nod.

Walking up to my room and laying down, silently dozing off as suddenly I sit up from my bed, hearing something. Someone in the corner, as I squint suddenly the figure comes at me full force. As I can't scream with his hands over my mouth I squirm. Kicking him in the crotch and grabbing the vase and slamming it over his head as he still squirmed and I grabbed the lamp, slamming it on his head as I rolled him back over.

It was the man! The mayors bodyguard. I really was in danger.

The next days were a blur. I didn't feel anything, I was scared to. But some my emotions bubbled up as I threw my purse over my arm, the gun inside, as I March to my bike. I was done being afraid. I was either going to be dead or alive and brave, there was no other choice in my heart. I was going to the mayors house. And I wouldn't leave until I was dead or he was.