[Mafia] Who Breaks a Butterfly?

(13) - No Choice

| The All Knowing |

Elena's feet scuttled away, her mind overflowing with thoughts and bubbling with an overpowering sense of emotion that she couldn't quite decipher. She willed her body to calm down whilst they shook with unvoiced sobs, the only sound that accompanied her were the vivid, angered shouts from a few metres away along with her uneven breaths and sniffles.

She was completely lost - both literally and metaphorically. Elena had only been in his house a few times before and every time it only appeared to get increasingly larger once she discovered a new twist or turn. If she were ever going to live here then she'd surely need to be gifted with some sort of a map. Metaphorically, however, she had no idea where her emotions were - she was a divulging mixture of irritation and misery and she absolutely despised it. Romano De Angelis had always said "to leave your emotions raw, is the same as stripping you weak."

Elena had never understood the complexity of the statement until now. She had regretfully shed her tears in front of them and now they knew exactly how to hurt her because in their eyes she was in a state of vulnerability. But now she was nothing but determined, determined to stay strong. Her petite fingers brushed across her skin delicately to rid of the frail encasements of water. Her bewildered orbs flickered to the surroundings and a small smile tugged at her lips once she recognised the familiar setting.

In front of her stood the recognisable, mahogany, indented picture frames. The dark, smoky patterns etched into the seemingly sturdy wood that sheathed the elegant portraits - the brush strokes coarse and rough under her fingertips as she traced over one of the pictures. Her hands continued to dance a precarious path over the multitude of pictures before her eyebrows suddenly furrowed. Elena's hand came into contact with an empty part of the wall, the suddenly smooth and even texture bringing her to a halt.

"It's gone," she whispered softly noticing the large area that was now unoccupied. Elena took a few hesitant steps back in disbelief, her eyes roving around the wall just to ensure that it was gone and she was sadly not mistaken. Pacing forwards towards the towering, mahogany door that beamed with the noticeable "NO ENTRY" sign she burst through the door.

"Gabriella?" She questioned, it was almost as if she were expecting an answer. Her body slumped and she felt herself grow less tense once she acknowledged the blonde/brown haired girl that laid neatly in her bed. It was strange how her once lofty portrait had vanished yet; Gabriella remained unmoved in her bed. However, Elena didn't fail to notice the change in colour of nail polish or the new sets of earrings that graced her ears.

Elena smiled slightly at how well catered to she was, Jake's cousin was undoubtedly treated like a princess, even in her induced sleep. Slowly, Elena made her way towards the bed that was certainly a lot larger than required but who was she to complain? Instead, she sat on the edge of the bed and gazed at the girl. It would have been far more uncomfortable if Gabriella was awake although she wasn't, she was captured by the realms of darkness.

"You know, your cousin is really annoying," Elena muttered, a slight laugh parting her lips as she acknowledged the fact that the only person she could talk to was in a coma. "Well, you probably already know that..." She sighed, the duvet bunching up in her hands and Elena couldn't help but feel pathetic.

"I thought you were his girlfriend at first," she chuckled softly. "Which is really silly now I think about it, but I don't really think we're going to last, I'm pretty sure him and Isabella have something going on." Elena carelessly babbled her feelings in the still atmosphere and she felt relieved because in some strange way, it was almost as if Gabriella was listening.

"It'd be nice if you were awake, Leo is really cute and if you're wondering he's doing fine," she updated the sleeping form, her eyes fixated on the heart monitor, the line gently rising before dipping back down at a steady rate. "I've made a decision though, one to keep me happy," Elena murmured tucking a strand of stray hair behind her ear and exhaling noisily.

"Anyway, I should probably call Charlotte to pick me up - I'll make sure I come back and visit you even though Jake said I wasn't allowed," she huffed at the thought of his controlling demeanour. "But I have a feeling you never listened to him either, so you might see me soon if he doesn't annoy me too much."

Elena began to walk towards the large, glass wall - her fingers tapping a quick message to her best friend and almost instantaneously she got a reply stating Charlotte would be there as soon as possible. Green grass sprouted below on the other side of the window, surrounding the healthy patch were neatly laid out bricks and in the centre stood an ornate statue of a lion jumping in mid-air.

"I'm going to find my way back, next time I'll bring some of my favourite nail polish for them to put on you," Elena chuckled quietly suddenly feeling very attached to the silent girl whilst she walked towards the door. "Thanks for listening Gabriella," she was truly grateful and maybe it was true, even though she couldn't respond, she could be listening.

Her gentle footsteps were the only noise in the house, the angered shouts from earlier had vanished and Elena couldn't help but wonder where everyone had finished to; yet part of her really didn't care, after her talk with Gabriella she felt far more relieved.

Elena had finally found her way to the front door and after a few minutes she had at last pushed it open with more force than intended. The large chunk of wood swiftly swung forward and a gust of cool air brushed past her and tickled at her exposed skin before she hastily stepped out onto the pristine concrete. She stumbled slightly when she heard the echoing bang of the front door and took a few steps away from it.

"Butterfly," his voice came out firmly and her heart beat immediately fastened at the unexpected presence.

"What are you doing out here?" She frowned; Jake sat comfortable on a small bench situated near the door, in front of an array of pretty flowers.

"I knew you'd try to leave," he clarified and stood up, only to have Elena walk a few steps away.

"And with good reason," Elena huffed; she crossed her arms in a defensive manner before walking away from him.

"You don't need to be jealous!" He exclaimed and followed behind her, his feet bashing against the ground and the sun bouncing off his golden locks and shimmering honeycomb orbs.

"I am not jealous." Elena scowled abruptly stopping at his allegation.

"Then why did you leave?" He pouted with his eyebrows slightly furrowed whilst trying to understand her.

"Because Jake, I shouldn't be here in the first place - I was genuinely intruding, if you wanted to spend time with her before you're forced to marry me then so be it, I am not here to mess that up." Elena mirrored his pout and his features quickly reflected a smirk.

"I never invited her here-" he tried to explain.

"Plus, it's not like we're in love or anything and I've made a decision." She spoke firmly for once, her voice never faltering as she tried to assert her seriousness.

"You're not in love with me yet," Jake raised an eyebrow teasingly and putting emphasis on the word "yet."

"And neither are you, so I've decided-" Jake rolled his eyes at her accusation of him not being in love with her, even though he wasn't in love with her yet, he knew the potential existed. Nevertheless it seemed like Elena was denying him that potential.

"Elena!" She heard her best friend shout in the distance whilst beeping the loud car horn; Elena shot her a dismissing wave before turning to Jake.

"I'm giving you eighteen months to make this work Carter. If I fall in love with someone else or think that this marriage just isn't beneficial for either of us then I'll have no choice," she sighed sadly and Jake winced at her threat and the thought of her falling in love with someone else whilst being married to him.

"What do you mean, you'll have no choice?" Jake growled at her unfinished sentence, a slight hurting entering his mind.

"I'll have no choice but to divorce you."