Volume 1.25: The First Cut Is The Deepest

Type: Series

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: M

Characters:  Andrew, April, Cadence, Luca, Rachel, Willow
Word Count: 813

Glossary: 

Warning: 

But when it comes to being lucky, he's cursed

When it comes to lovin' me, he's worst

The First Cut Is The Deepest-Sheryl Crow

The days following the meteor shower were unbearable for everyone in the Delacroix manor.

Luca's mood changed from gloomy to enraged very quickly. When he wasn’t staring mournfully outside his window, he was constantly on every one's throats. Little things, like when they innocently mentioned Cadence in passing, sent him flying in a rage. He was like a bear with a sore head and talking to him was just impossible.

He ventured less and less to the cellar too, choosing to spend his days on his piano. And on more than one occasion April had to lie to Julian and the others whenever they asked after him, assuring them Luca was fine and they were on track with their plan.

But truth be told their plan was going pear-shaped, fast. And if nothing was done soon, if Luca was left to self-destruct, they were afraid he'd take everyone down with him...

"We have to talk to him, get him to open up somehow. If you were all not so obsessed with hating Cadence, he'd take his chances with her, risk her coven's wrath. But he's worried about the clan too. Worried about everyone's feelings and it's tearing him up," Willow mused as she stared into the fire; they were in the living room, trying to ignore the mournful sounds of the piano drifting from Luca's room upstairs.

"So this is our fault now? We warned him not to fall in love with the enemy. She’s just a means to an end. And he lost sight of our goals!" April hissed from her little corner.

"He knew the rules," Andrew added.

"Love has no rules. If it did, you and I wouldn't be together right now," Willow pointed out.

April and Andrew kept quiet, both thinking about her words. She was right; they couldn't fault Luca for falling in love. But this was Cadence. The daughter of the enemy.  They could never accept her...NEVER!

The young woman responsible for the oppressive mood in the Delacroix manor was having an equally difficult time.

Unlike Luca though, she didn't take out her heartache on everyone, instead, Cadence spent more and more time in dance class, sweating off her anger.

She was hurt and disappointed that Luca had made little effort to reach out to her after their encounter at the beach. She thought he'd come back to his senses and give in to her. But on the third day when she still hadn’t heard from him she finally admitted defeat, and it didn't take long for her depression to settle in.

Rachel knew the real reason behind her pain; after all they talked about him all the time, late into the night until they both passed out from exhaustion.

But Rudi just assumed she wasn't handling her breakup from Mitchell. She'd finally done it, broken things off with him. He'd taken it surprisingly well, no tantrums, no threats, nothing, just an understanding smile which had made her feel like a total bitch.

When Emme announced the big boys from Bridgeport Dance Co. wanted her, Cadence couldn't feign excitement. But as the days dredged on, and she didn't hear from Luca she began to seriously consider the offer from Bridgeport. It seemed more and more appealing. A fresh start. Away from Twinbrook. Away from all the hate between her coven and Luca's clan. Away from her heartache…

When she told Rachel she was thinking of going up to Bridgeport, her friend cried. She was happy for her, happy that she would finally get the recognition she deserved. But she was sad too.

"You can always come with me if I decide to go," Cadence told her one evening after dinner.

"And do what?" her friend asked.

"I don't know...paint, work at a gallery. Rudi can come with us too," Cadence replied.

Rachel kept quiet, thinking about her suggestion, the intense frown in her eyes told Cadence she was seriously considering it but she wouldn't make a decision yet. She'd have to talk to Stella and Rudi.

Later as they were getting ready for bed, the subject came up again, but it took on a different direction this time.

"Cade, are you going to Bridgeport because you want to or are you running away?" Rachel came right out and asked her.

"Of course I'm not running away, I want this," Cadence protested.

"I thought fame wasn't your thing?" Rachel pointed out as she got under the covers.

"Now it is," Cadence flicked off her light angrily and fluffed up her pillows.

For a long time she lay in the dark, thinking about her friend’s question. Rachel was right. Fame wasn’t her thing. She loved Twinbrook. But Luca was everywhere

now.

“Cade, I’m sorry I asked,” Rachel’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“It’s okay,” Cadence reached for her friend’s hand on the pillow and squeezed it…