When Good Friday arrived, I couldn't smile. That was the worst day of the Holy Week. Going through the week that began on Palm Sunday and ended on Easter wasn't easy. Every Christian felt heartache when the day to remember Jesus Christ's crucifixion arrived. The procession went through the crucifixion's fourteen stages. Besides all the suffering, I had to wear a black dress and veil, which wasn't my favorite outfit. Once the procession ended, I went to Mr. Fenaroli's house next to his store. Ettore and Dario were wearing black like everyone else that evening. They sat on armchairs around a square wooden table in the living room.

I sighed while sitting on a chair. "This day is always so depressing."

"Tell me about it," Ettore looked at the ground. "Uncle Alfredo has been praying since the day began."

"Speaking of prayers, where's Isabella?" Dario rubbed his brow. "She always turns sadness into fun."

I smirked. "Did you want to see her?"

"No! It's... I just..." Dario cleared his throat. "Isa is interesting, that's all."

Ettore's eyes bulged. "Am I going crazy, or my cousin has feelings for a nun?"

Dario smiled widely. "Isabella is not just a nun. She's a wonderful woman."

That was unexpected.

I gawked. Although I hadn't realized it at first, the truth had been in front of me for a while. Dario always stared at Isa like she was a goddess. How didn't I notice his feelings for her before? Sadly, Isabella wasn't likely to reciprocate. I had known her and Dario since a very young age. They had nothing in common, at least as far as I knew. Besides, Isa had only fallen in love once, and all her relationships were meaningless affairs. Dario was bound to get hurt.

"Maybe there's a chance she'll like me," Dario turned to me. "Could you say how great I am to Isa?"

I laughed softly. "I'm sure she already knows."

Ettore bit his lower lip. "It's dangerous to fancy a nun, but there are worse ways to get in trouble."

Dario crossed his arms. "Such as?"

Ettore observed the table. "Falling for a non-Catholic, obviously. Eternal pain and persecution would be inevitable."

Holding my tears, I stared at my feet. I couldn't avoid remembering my parents. They didn't deserve any of the bad things that happened to them. Dad's death, my mom's ruined reputation, everyone looking down on their relationship... Those things wouldn't leave my mind. My heart couldn't accept that society destroyed people's lives only because they feared the different. Like anger, fear could bring the worst in humanity.

Dario narrowed his eyes at his cousin. "You don't know when to stop, do you?"

Ettore gawked and frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Val's dad was Muslim," Dario pointed at me. "Every time you say these things, she remembers he's gone!"

"You're right. I'm so stupid!" Ettore slapped his forehead. "I'm sorry, Val."

"No need for apologies," I recalled my mother crying while observing my fallen father. "What you said wasn't wrong, Ettore."

Besides remembering my parents, I thought of Sandro. If I caught feelings for anyone outside my religion, my life would become more insane than it already was. The same would happen to him. We didn't live at a time in which our desires mattered. Luckily, Sandro and I were just friends. I had great control over my heart, so I wouldn't face what my parents had.

"Nobody answered my question!" Dario huffed. "Will Isabella come and see us tonight?"

I shook my head in denial. "Nuns usually don't leave the convent on holy days."

If Isa hadn't left last night, the hooded strangers wouldn't have hurt her.

Although it was Good Friday, I wondered if Isabella was safe and sound. Could the mysterious group have injured her again? Where were they? I gazed at my friends while I thought of a way to find out more about those strangers. I hoped someone had information on those men. I felt shivers just by thinking of them.

Ettore observed me. "Are you alright?"

"Don't worry," I rubbed my brows while trying to forget Isa's abduction. "Good Fridays always make me sad."

"We don't have much to complain about," Ettore stared at the window. "The Jews are the ones who should worry."

I gulped. "Why are you saying that?"

"Some Catholics throw stones at Jewish people and their homes on Good Friday," he sighed. "They claim it's a way of punishment."

Dario bit his lower lip sharply. "These attacks happen every year."

My eyes bulged as I breathed quickly. Although I should pretend in front of my friends, I couldn't. I stood up while feeling my back become full of sweat. I wanted to save everyone from those violent people who wished to attack. However, only a single name came to my mind. The one I worried most about.

Sandro...

I panted while looking at Dario's cousin. "Is there an attack happening right now?"

Ettore nodded. "I heard some men saying they planned to do it after the procession."

"Don't go after them," Dario knitted his brows. "You'll get seriously hurt."

I walked towards the door. "I can handle a few scratches."

"This is madness!" Ettore approached me. "Aren't you afraid?"

I chuckled. "The aggressors should fear me, not the other way around."

I took a deep breath after opening the door. My legs burned as I ran. Perhaps I was crazy. I never expected to be so determined to save someone I had met recently. Did I care about the danger? Definitely! I just couldn't let my enemies know. My jaw dropped to the floor once I reached Sandro's neighborhood. People ran and yelled while some maniacs attacked them. Not everyone prayed on Good Friday. Some preferred to make other people's lives worse. The aggressors threw stones at the Jews, destroyed their homes, and said ugly things.

This ends now!

Feeling the magic running down my arms, I hid in an alley. I levitated four aggressors from a distance and threw them against the wall. Once the victims escaped, I ran to another street. I made three attackers fly and crash against each other, allowing the people to flee. I didn't like hurting others, but those attackers left me no choice. I healed as many injured as I could. Every person forgot my face once I used my powers, making me wonder again why San was immune.

I fixed a bruise on a young woman's arm. "Do you know where Sandro Montefiore is?"

She nodded. "On the lower floor of his dad's shop."

I walked quickly to the rag store after enchanting the woman. Sandro gasped as he was lying on the floor. He had a black eye, his mouth was bleeding, his clothes were partially torn, and he had injuries everywhere. I knelt beside him while trying to detect his internal injuries. My magic worked, making me sigh in relief.

"Jesus!" I gaped. "What did they do to you?"

"I... I distracted them to... to allow my family and Roberto to escape," San coughed intensively as he couldn't speak normally. "They're safe."

I touched his wounded left shoulder. "I'll heal you upstairs."

"No! Besides wearing a crucifix, you... you're a woman," he wiped the blood off his forehead. "Dad will... He'll say horrible things."

I shrugged. "I guess both Catholic and Jewish communities have members who dislike certain people."

Sandro nodded while breathing heavily. "Every group has good and bad representatives."

"Come on," I helped him up. "Follow me."

San was limping, so I had to assist him. I put his arm around my shoulder so that he could hold onto it. He then placed his arm around my lower back, and I held his hand, giving me a mysterious shiver. The chaos reigned in his neighborhood that day. Although I forgot to make Sandro's badge invisible, no one attacked him. We took a while to arrive at my home as he walked with difficulties. Like I did with Isa, I took San to my bed and sat on a chair next to him.

Let's hope my powers work now.

Feeling his internal injuries, I sighed in relief. My healing magic slowly brought the purple glow to my hands. One injury at a time, I fixed Sandro. He smiled, seemingly glad I was there. I controlled myself not to grin as San kept observing me work.

I restored his facial injuries. "Staring at the healer isn't allowed."

"What if looking at you helps me recover?" San slightly narrowed his eyes while smiling. "You can't deny treatment to a patient."

I raised my brows. "If you're flirting, that means you've recovered already."

We laughed softly. My chest felt warm as I looked at Sandro for a minute. Even though I was treating him, it felt like he was the one healing me. San gave me a strange inner peace I had never experienced before. Not even Dario, Isabella, and Ettore made me feel that way. Besides, I could never get enough of Sandro's mischievous smirk. It was like no other.

"Did anyone hurt you tonight?" Sandro knitted his brows. "I don't have magical powers, but I promise to destroy anyone who harms you."

"Although I appreciate the gesture, I'm fine. No one was violent towards me," I glanced at his yellow circle. "Maybe you'd get in less trouble if you stopped wearing that thing."

"I only hide it when my father isn't around," San rolled his eyes. "He's more afraid of paying a fine to the Church than putting his family in danger."

"I don't want to meet your dad," I healed his right leg. "No offense."

"None taken. My dad hates everybody," Sandro glanced at his healing arm. "You should only talk to those who value your greatness."

"I... Thank you," I felt myself blushing. "You're not so bad yourself."

He chuckled. "That's the nicest thing I heard today."

Laughing, I finished healing all his inner and outer injuries. I stood up, and so did Sandro. My heart was beating quickly, but I didn't know if distress or something else caused it... Something that I was forbidden to feel. I shook my head to wake up, wondering if I had gone crazy.

San raised a brow. "Won't you try to eliminate your face from my mind again?"

I took a deep breath. "Maybe I don't want you to forget me."

"Good," he approached me. "Neither do I."

My mouth was half-open while Sandro caressed my cheeks and looked deep into my eyes. Panting, I let him bring my face closer to his. If he had done that a few days ago, I would've slapped him. However, for a reason I couldn't understand, I didn't want him to stop. Perhaps he had put me under a spell. We closed our eyes. Lost in my emotions, I neglected the approaching footsteps. Someone violently opened my bedroom door. My eyes bulged as I stepped away from San. 

I'm doomed...

"This can't be real!" my mother put both hands on her face. "My daughter didn't bring a man to her bedroom!"

"This is not what it looks like!" I approached her. "I was healing him!"

Pietro soon arrived. I froze once he glanced at Sandro's badge, which couldn't be good. My stepfather breathed so quickly I thought he'd scream. I got between the two men, hoping my insane stepfather wouldn't hurt San. Mom prayed so much it seemed she'd seen the devil.

My stepfather wrinkled his nose. "It seems Mr. Zanetti wasn't so Catholic, after all."

Sandro looked at the floor. "I'm sorry I lied, but..."

"Filthy Jew!" Pietro interrupted San while baring his teeth. "How dare you dishonor Valentina? You're a dead man!"

"Don't call him that! Sandro is here because some idiots beat him. He needed help. Nothing..." I cleared my throat as I recalled the almost kiss. "Nothing profane took place here."

"My child is no longer pure!" my mom looked at the ceiling and kneeled. "Protect Val if this wrongdoing made her pregnant! I beg you, Jesus!"

This can't be happening!

San and I looked at each other, then back at my mom and Pietro. I wanted to disappear when they started discussing what to do with me if I was pregnant. Since they were too distracted by their argument, I made Sandro a signal, and we left the room. Once we were outside, I sighed in relief. I could finally breathe.

"I'm sorry for what happened," I squeezed my eyes shut. "They'll see the truth, eventually."

"Don't worry. Will we keep seeing each other?" San knitted his brows as he caressed my hands. "I know it's risky, but I don't want to stay away."

I felt as if a hand smashed my chest once I glanced at my house. If I kept seeing Sandro, I'd be putting many things at risk. However, I didn't want to let my family stop me from being happy. Taking a deep breath, I walked closer to Sandro.

"I'm very stubborn," I hugged him. "You won't get rid of me that easily."

"You're incredible," Sandro's lips curled into a face-wide smile while his cheeks turned rosy. "Hopefully, I'll see you soon, my... I mean, Tina."

San walked away. Perhaps he had enjoyed my embrace more than I thought he would. Giggling, I returned home. Pietro crossed his arms while glaring. Mom breathed heavily as if she had just watched me die. I closed the door behind me while thinking of what to say.

"Do you promise you didn't lose your virginity?" my mother looked deep into my eyes. "Because I'll be very disappointed if you did that while Pietro and I were at church!"

"I promise! Sandro is a friend who needed my healing magic," I explained. "That's it."

"Friend? Really? You were about to kiss when I arrived!" my mom closed her eyes. "I know the signs, dear."

"We were just caught up in the moment!" I scowled. "What signs?"

"You're falling for him," my mother wiped away a tear. "I can see it."

I forced a laugh. "That's not true!"

I shook my head in denial while staring at the floor. Mom couldn't be right. Although I enjoyed San's company, my mother had gone too far. We had a special moment... Just one! It didn't mean I had fallen for him.

"Now I remember why I thought the boy was lying. He's Sandro Montefiore, son of that thief who owns the rag shop," Pietro shook his head in denial. "I knew that bastard looked familiar!"

I ground my teeth. "You know nothing about Sandro! Stop calling him names!"

"I forbid you to see that man again!" my mom's eyes bulged, and her hands trembled. "Do you understand me?"

I gawked. "Unbelievable!"

"I'm putting an end to this! I won't let you suffer as I did," my mother bit her lower lip sharply. "Joy can be dangerous."

I shot her a defiant glance. "Some danger is better than eternal unhappiness."

Mom frowned. "What are you trying to say?"

"Pietro received a good inheritance from his parents. You don't need the potter job," I decreased my tone of voice so that my stepfather wouldn't listen. "You use the work as an excuse to be independent, just like I do. We both know you can't stand your husband."

My mother gawked. "How dare you!"

"There's more! I know my stepfather tries to control me because he can't have kids," I crossed my arms. "He should stop it because I'll never be his daughter!"

"Don't change the subject!" my mom narrowed her eyes. "You will not see Sandro anymore. It's over."

I crossed my arms while my chin trembled. My head hurt so much that I thought I'd faint. I ran to my room and shut the door. Why did people keep restricting their children's freedom? Nobody deserved that sadness. I embraced both legs while resting my head on my knees.

I gazed at the wall. "Don't worry, San. I won't give up."

My back was so wet that the sweat stained my dress. Despite my determination to do what I wanted, going against my mom's wishes broke my heart. We were very close. However, she had to let me live my life. Sandro was just the start. If I kept following her every command, she'd stop me from doing everything. I had to take control of my life. Remembering my fun moments with San, I tried to fall asleep. 

****

Author's note: Is Carla right about Valentina's feelings? Will Valentina and Sandro become closer? Keep reading and you'll find out... ;-)

I dedicate this chapter to my dear friend Hitstacey