Chapter Six – Liliana

The doorbell rang just as Dragos’s story was beginning to get interesting. It brought us back with a start. We sat there for a few moments feeling dazed and slightly confused before Lucian cleared his throat and stood up.

“It’s Liliana…I’m so sorry I completely forgot that she was coming today. Aurora is it alright if she joins us?”

I looked at him with contempt. I didn’t want her to be a part of this. She had no right to know of my family history, I knew that I was only overreacting due to my jealousy but I couldn’t help myself; right then Dragos’s interruption couldn’t have been more welcome.

“I’m sorry Lucian but I wouldn’t feel comfortable including another person in on something this private and I am sure that Aurora feels the same…perhaps we should continue this another time.”

With that he stood too from where he was perched on the coffee table and looked down at me with a sad smile etched on his face. I stood up quickly too and looked towards Lucian who had already disappeared towards the front door. I could hear him opening it and speaking softly to Liliana, the jealousy intensified beyond belief. I looked towards Dragos again to find him staring at me intently.

“Don’t worry my dear…things always happen for a reason, you and I know that better than anyone.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that comment…perhaps they did after all.

“Well anyway, I shall be off. I have a few errands to run. We should arrange to meet again.”

I nodded my head feeling slightly apprehensive at the thought of what my Father may have gone through. It was comforting to have met someone that had known him so closely but I did not confide that in Dragos. I watched him walk away and disappear into the corridor before I snapped out of my thoughts and realised that I had no way of contacting him. I ran towards the front door to find Lucian whispering to Liliana and the front door closing behind them. I stopped short and stared at them mesmerised. Lucian had big grin on his face as she gazed back at him lovingly. I felt sick to the very core of my being. I turned back towards the sitting room and looked for my jacket and shoes; I found them beneath the coffee table as if thrown there. They entered the living room hand in hand just as I’d finished putting them on.

“Leaving already?”

I looked up at Liliana as she smiled sweetly at me; my heart was racing with venom. I’ve never hated anyone more than I hated her in that moment; although I really had no reason to. She was really rather nice if I had to admit it to myself and she always tried her best to befriend me but I kept her at a distance, never allowing her to get real close because of my feelings for Lucian. He always excused my behaviour to my lack of social skills and I never had the inclination to correct him. To do that would mean having to explain more than I wanted to, to both of them, so instead I chose to put up with it instead.

“Yes…sorry I really must go…I…uh…have quite a lot of errands to be getting on with.” I felt cheap and deceitful using Dragos’s excuse but I couldn’t think of anything else, and I wanted to get away as quick as possible.

I turned away and headed towards the front door. As I opened it, breathing a sigh of relief at the thought that I was about to escape, I felt a hand on my shoulder stopping me in my tracks. I looked back to find Lucian staring at me, looking more than a little confused.

“I am really sorry Aurora…I realise how important this is for you…finding out about your Father, it was an honest mistake. I really did forget.”

I smiled weakly before replying, “You don’t need to apologise Lucian. She is your future wife after all and is allowed to come and go as she pleases. Besides you should get used to this, you and I will be no more after you get married.”

I tried to laugh as if I’d made a joke, but it came out strangled. He didn’t smile, instead removed his hand from my shoulder and stared at the floor. Did I reveal too much? I wasn’t sure, nor did I care.

“I’ll make it up to you. Dragos has left me with his contact details, I’ll give him a call and we’ll arrange for another meeting. Perhaps then he could finish the rest of his story without any interruptions.”

I nodded before thanking him and then after a moment of awkward silence I finally left his apartment and made my way home.