Code name: Athena [18+]

Code name: Luna

•Arabella DiStefano•

I'm in a meeting room with three other people; my head is spinning like crazy and my mind is fighting to keep my body awake.

Ilya is sitting to my left and my m—the woman is across from me with Russo to her right "How is this even possible? How are you alive? I saw your dead body, we buried you."

She smiled softly as our eyes met "The whole illness was a lie and so was my marriage to your father; well more of a scam, the only thing he ever was to me was—"

"An ATM," I interrupted "that's why we were losing vital amounts of money every year...one more reason for me to be sold like a broodmare," there was a void in the pit of my stomach.

Russo grinned looking my way "How does it feel little sis? Does it hurt knowing that you were not brought into this world to be loved?"

"I've known that since I have use of reason. How does it feel being nothing? At least I've been smart enough to make a name for myself but you're just a pawn in her little game," tears slid down my cheeks.

"Enough—"

"What about Viola?" I interrupted her. "Do you know your youngest daughter is dead?"

A deep sigh left her mouth "I do know Viola is deceased but she was not my daughter."

"Come on!" I exclaimed as I got up on my feet and hit the glass surface with my clenched fists.

Her right eyebrow arched; utterly unbothered which pinched every single one of my nerves "We found her at a convent in Germany."

"But you were pregnant, you had a big belly and—"

"It was just a prop, that's why I never let you touch it," she told like it was nothing "Viola was not your sister or my daughter."

"She was my sister," I wiped my tears away "she was the only person in the world who loved me unconditionally."

"Sit down, Arabella," Ilya said quietly standing beside me "your legs are shaking."

I glanced at him and then took his advice "Where is my son?"

"My grandson is in a safe place," she said "away from all this dra—"

Suddenly a doubt popped in my mind "Who is he?" My eyes darted to Russo.

"He's your half-brother; my heir."

Always nothing to everybody "Why did you leave me behind? You could've taken me with you, given me a better life. Did you ever care about how I felt day to day enduring the humiliating acts you called training?" I acted as if that didn't hurt me.

She took a sip of her water as if we had all the time in the world "Should I tell you a lie or a truth?"

"I wouldn't know if you're telling the truth even if I asked for it."

"The truth is that you were created to serve a purpose, Arabella," her eyes locked with mine "and that was to be weakened day by day, trained to bow down at your husband's orders, to feel worthless so one day I would turn up with my loving mother arms open, ready—"

"But it didn't go as planned," I sniffled "what's plan B?"

"That's why I took Napoleon," she got up on her feet "if you steal the thing the most powerful man in the world loves, then he is at your feet," the woman was looking out the window feeling like an empress.