Chapter 6

The day Alexia was discharged from the hospital was the anniversary of her mother's death.

As she stepped out of the hospital, Jacob's car was waiting at the curb.

Anton's head popped out of the window. "Mom, we're coming with you to visit Grandma."

In the back seat, Kassandra gave her a smug, pitying smile.

Alexia's fingers tightened on the bouquet of white lilies in her hand, the cellophane crinkling. She got in the car without a word.

The cemetery was cold and windswept. An attendant informed her the plot's fees were due.

"I'll take care of it," Jacob said, striding toward the office, the perfect, responsible husband.

The moment he was gone, Kassandra's face changed. "It's a shame, isn't it? That she's dead. Taking up such a nice spot. My grandmother's plot is so crowded."

Alexia's head snapped up, her eyes turning a dangerous shade of red.

She didn't think. She just acted. Her hand swung, the crack of her palm against Kassandra's cheek echoing in the quiet cemetery.

Kassandra stumbled back, tripping over a headstone and hitting her head. Blood matted her hair.

Jacob and Anton came running.

"She hit me!" Kassandra sobbed, clutching her head. "I was just trying to be nice, and she attacked me! I know she's just jealous, Jacob, I understand..."

Jacob and Anton exchanged a look. It was that look again. That secret, shared pleasure in her "uncontrollable" passion.

Jacob's face hardened into a mask of righteous anger. "You've gone too far, Alexia."

"She needs a real punishment this time, Dad," Anton said, his voice cold.

Jacob turned to his bodyguards. "Dig it up."

Alexia's blood ran cold. "Dig what up?"

"My mother's grave," she breathed, her voice a horrified whisper.

The bodyguards looked hesitant, but Jacob's glare was steel. They started digging.

"No! Stop!" Alexia screamed, lunging forward, but Jacob grabbed her, his grip like a vise.

The wooden box was unearthed. One of the bodyguards pried it open.

And then, a gust of wind caught the contents.

Her mother's ashes swirled into the air, a grey cloud against the grey sky, and then they were gone.

Jacob's face went white. "What did you do? I just told you to dig it up!"

The bodyguard stammered, "I... I thought you meant..."

Time seemed to freeze. Jacob stared, horrified and regretful, at the empty box.

Alexia watched the last physical remnants of her mother scatter on the wind. She remembered her mother's kind smile, her warm hugs.

A sharp, unbearable pain seized her heart. She choked, and a spray of blood erupted from her lips.

Her vision tunneled to black.

As she fell, she heard their panicked voices.

"Dad, I think we went too far this time," Anton cried.

Jacob's hand, trembling, took hers. "Alexia... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"We love you, Mom," Anton sobbed. "We really do."

A single tear escaped Alexia's closed eye. They needed her pain to feel their love. They needed her destruction to prove their devotion.

Well, she wouldn't give it to them anymore.