Fool Me Once

Alfred was heartbroken about Frankie’s death, but he had to be strong for Addy and the others. He hadn’t had time to allow himself to properly explode over it, not like Addy was. How badly he wanted to pick her up and just protect her from the world, but he couldn’t protect her any more than he could bring Frankie back to life. Frankie being like Alfred’s son was a simple fact, a thing that Alfred had always felt about the boy, even if he didn’t always show it as much as he could have. He showed it in some ways though, an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on, a trusted confidante. It was all gone and the world was falling apart around him.

He looked at Addy, with love, with sorrow, but no pity, never pity. Adaria was her father’s daughter. As her magic grew and grew around them, he remained calm, because it was the only thing he knew how to do. He couldn’t fall apart, not then, not ever. He always put the Campana family first. As the magic went wild and he was effected by its destruction. His eyes went wide, confusion flooded through him as his brain had seconds to wrap his head around what was happening. He had seconds to decide what to do with them.

He looked at Addy, he smiled as best as he could through the pain, he sighed. Addy, I forgive you. He couldn’t die without her knowing that. He’d see Frankie again, all would be well, and the last thing he wanted was for Addy to blame herself. He was at peace in that moment, as the life fell out of his eyes, and the world went black. His story was over, and Addy’s was just beginning.