Milan, 15 June 1532
08.33 pm.

The night was warm and it was full moon.  The moonlight lighted the warm night in summer.  However, the road, where a man standing on the middle of three ways, appeared to be a little too quiet more than it was supposed to be.  The man who looked like in his middle 40s with average posture wearing all black attire –the long coat was most appealing part, tried to foresaw around him and further into the village.  His eyes were so sharp with flawless black lenses.  A few streaks of blonde in his rather long black hair looked so striking among his dark attributes.  His hair style was the only thing that looked a little messy out of his entire appearance.

He took a deep breath and shook his head indicating something wasn’t as he wanted it to be.  He tried to use his senses again to feel something that would indicate something good or bad.  He grunted in frustration then looked up to his people who one or two were on top of the roof on each house. 

One of them who must have been the second in command, tried to whisper directed to the man who waited on the middle of the three ways. “Gabriel.  What is it? Why it takes so long?”

Gabriel whispered indirectly but assumed they would be able to listen to what he said. “Something wasn’t right.  Retreat!”

As he turned around to leave, the whole village was gassed.  With that amount of bomb gas, it covered the whole village in matter of seconds.  All of the people who were on top of the roof groaned like they were in pain then some of them fell to the ground as if they were kicked, which turned out they were kicked by some people who brought weapons.  Gabriel was going to save some of them who were closest to his spot but someone shooting arrows nonstop at him moreover, he was distracted by the gas yet not affected like the others.  He had a view of the arrow shooter who was on top of a roof.  He wasn’t there before.  It was a young skilled man with shoulder length black hair tied to the back wearing light brown shirt and pants.  He wore his sleeves up to his elbow.  To protect his eyes, he wore some kin goggles so that he could see well.

Gabriel had to watch his people slaughtered by some other attackers using stakes. “Milano!” he said that name between his gritted teeth and fled the scene in a heartbeat that made the young man who was shooting arrow dazed.  He wanted to follow where Gabriel gone but his order was to stay and kill all the vampires who were Gabriel’s people who were about to slaughter the villagers.  He and his team had evacuated the villagers to the safer place. 

He had a bad feeling that surge in his heart.  He was thinking of what to do, when someone shouted at him. “Alessandro! Some help here!” there were more vampires than they expected.  Some were hiding between alleys and turn.  Some died slowly, some were getting disoriented but some were stronger than the others.

Alessandro eyes darted to certain direction.  He looked uneasy.  Something was bothering his heart but he trusted his father’s order.  He couldn’t leave this spot until it was done.  He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.  Then he made a jump and rolled down the roof.  He needed to get closer look to help his team.
-----

About two hours ago
Milan, 15 June 1532
06.22 pm.

“Take this with you sister.” Alessandro took off his ring with amethyst stone as the eye.  He got that as a gift from someone in Finland when he came along with his father for a mission. “This gemstone is said to be for protection.  It bears some powers from the nature.” He handed it to Freya and held her hand with both hands. 

“I think you’ll need it more than me tonight.  This will not be just like any mission you have had before.  Father said this time we won’t miss.  That means you’ll face the original and his notorious people.” She pushed his hand but the hold was too tight.

Alessandro shook his head. “No, Frey.  You need it.  I’m going to be okay.”

“Al, what bad would it do to us who fight at home? Besides, father and mother are here with me.” Freya chuckled plainly. “Maybe I should go with you if you desire so bad to protect me.” She smiled teasingly. “So take it with you.  It’d burden my mind and heart to leave you all alone out there risking your life.” She untangled Alessandro’s hold from her hand then put the ring on his finger again.

Alessandro pulled her in a hug and whispered. “I love you, sister.” His left arm was around her back while his right hand stroking the back of her head gently.

Freya felt a bit weird of how heartfelt Alessandro was that night. “Al, this isn’t a goodbye.  You’re making me worried.  But I love you too, brother.” Her hands patted his back softly. 

“Whatever happens, I will always look out for you, not because you need to be protected, but because you are my sister and I’m your brother.” He retreated himself and held her hands now.

Freya just smiled at how earnest Alessandro could be. “We will always look out for each other.  We’re the Lorenzo – Milano, the weight of the world is on us.” However, she said that lightly as if to ease the solemn mood from Alessandro.  

“Father and mother will protect you.  I’ll see you soon when it is over.” He pecked her cheek and hugged her for one last time before he left. 
-----

Milan, 15 June 1532
10.44 pm.

Alessandro dropped his crossbow and let out a scream as a hand caught his arm and crushed his arm so hard till he could hear his bone cracking.  He never screamed in any torture he had endured but that time was gruesome.  He fell on his knees, feeling excruciating pain on his left arm yet trying to grab his crossbow.  That vampire was about to kick him but with all the energy he had left, Alessandro who had already had his crossbow on his hand, smashed that vampire as hard as he could.  His friend, who just realized that, ran to him and staked that strong vampire before he could do anything worse. 

“Are you going to be fine? Take cover and help yourself.  That doesn’t look good.  We got this.” A shaved head guy who looked like a few years older than him checked on Alessandro’s arm.

Alessandro nodded. “Can you handle this? I need to go check on my family.” His friend nodded and told him to go.  He held his broken arm that seemed fatal.  His breathing was getting short, holding that much of pain.  He had a layer of tears on his eyes but kept walking to where they tied their horses in some stable in that village.  On the way, he tore a part of his shirt and used it to wrap and tied this arm. 

When he found his white horse, he quickly got up on it.  He had to ride and held the rope with one hand.  He got fatal injury, he wanted to just lie and rest on the ground but he couldn’t feel at peace until he knew his family was safe.  It was about 5 miles away from that village to his home.  He rode the horse fast through the long road and woods.  Their house was on the countryside, the nearest to the hill and river side, whereas the nearest village from his house was half a mile. 

It took him about an hour to get to the area of his home.  From afar he saw thin smoke in the air on the spot that he believed was his home.  He became more distressed than he already was.  His anxiety led him to ride the horse faster and his worry turned out right when he saw the house was on fire that had burnt some parts of the house.  He climbed down the horse once he got there.

“No, no, no! This cannot be.” The tears that he was succeeded in holding before escaped his eyes involuntarily.  He ran inside the house, not concerning about the fire that was starting to spread.  The first thing that shocked him was finding his parents lying soaked in blood on the front room.  They looked like that had endured multiple stabs.  With the smoke hurting his eyes, he got tears running from his eyes more. 

“Father! Mother!” he got down on his knees.  He tried to save his parents dead bodies by dragging them outside before the fire touched them.  He grunted, struggling to drag their bodies.  He sweated his clothes and that hurt his arm more but he couldn’t let their bodies burnt by the fire.

He was out of breath after he eventually got his parents dead bodies out of the house.  Then he remembered his sister. “Frey! Frey!” he ran back into the house, walking through the fire that burnt brighter. “Agh!” the fire caught the tip of his pants and he put it off by hitting it with his hand. 

“Freya! Come out now sister.  It’s Al!” he shouted as loud as possible while looking from one spot to another through the parts that were not caught by the fire yet.  He started to feel a headache, he almost fell on fire. “Freya!” he kept shouting her name but he couldn’t find her anywhere.  When the fire got worse, he tried to escape and got out of the house.  He didn’t give up on finding his sister but he couldn’t do any good dead.  He believed Freya escaped and ran away and she might have been so scared on her own now. 

When he got out of the house, he cried her name with the last energy he had left, on the top of his lungs. “Freya!” Then he instantly fell on the ground next to his dead parents. 

He looked at the ring he wore and remembered about what they talked about before it all happened.  He felt so guilty seeing at everything around him.  His eyes were blank, stunned, looking overwhelmed.  He couldn’t think of anything but his sister.  He blamed himself for not being there for her.  His lips quivered thinking of what could have happened to his sister.  Her name was all that came out of his lips while seeing his house burnt down to the ground.  He had lost his parents.  He couldn’t lose his sister too.   

“I will find you, Frey, even if it costs me my life.” He vowed to himself.
-----

Alexander breathes in and out.  His left hand caresses the dark purple sheet of Freya’s bed where he sits on.  He doesn’t know how much time he has spent musing in her room.  His other hand darts to his chest and lifts his necklace under his shirt.  He has two rings that he’s wearing as necklace.  One ring with amethyst stone and the other is just simple gold ring that is engraved in the inner circle, ‘I love thee, Chiara Milano’. 

With no more hesitation, he dials in her numbers.  She takes the call after waiting a few seconds ringing.  He exhales heavily then puts the phone on his ear.

“Giving up already brother?”

“Where are you now?”

He can hear her grunt. “Ugh sometimes I hate technology.  Where’s the fun when you just call then ask where I am? I miss the old fashioned way when you would chase and venture from one place to another just to look for me.”

“Are you okay? Last time Will and Melissa told me something might be happening to you.”

“They came to you?” she sounds annoyed whenever Will’s name is mentioned. “If you trust them, and I know you do, they’re your cheat codes to find me, so ask them.  Let’s see if their psychic power is still working.”

“Frey, I’m serious.  Please just tell me and I will come to you.” Alexander pleads but she hangs up. 

He gets out of the room and decides to come to Will and Melissa.  He’s sure they can help him to find where Freya is now.  He doesn’t wait any second and leaves to where Will told him where he can find them.  It’s a little harder than he thought.  They live in remote area in Afton.  He stops in front of one story house that looks wrecked in the middle of nowhere.  Anyone would think that it’s abandoned house.  He got out of the car and walked to the house. 

“Alexander.” He halts his steps as Will opens the door and welcomes him as if he knows that Alexander will come. 

Alexander walks closer and says his purpose directly when they stands a few feet from each other. “I need you to help me find my sister.”    

“I’ve thought of that.  Come on in please.” He waves his hand as a gesture to let him in.  Alexander steps inside and finds that the house in the inside isn’t as bad as it looks from the outside.  There are not many stuff and clean enough to live in. 

“This house is abandoned so we did a little here and there to make it better to live.  Melissa and I usually move from one place to another though.” Will explains while leads Alexander to a room where there is a couch only. 

Alexander whispers, adding to what Will has said. “One place to another to where Freya stays and likely in danger.”

“We wish we were not that linked to her.” Will nods and smiles lightly. “We risk our life but we don’t have the will to fight it.  At least I wish Melissa can live her life in peace.  She very much deserves it.  She’s a great girl, the best friend I could ever have in life and death.” Will lets Alexander sits first on the couch then he sits afterwards.

Alexander just responds. “I believe she is.  So what can you tell me where Freya is now?”
*****

Isn't that emotional roller coaster!? How's that flashback about how Freya turned? 😭😭😭 Freya is my baby I love her very much

What do you think about her so far with that flashback now? How's that tragedy affect Alexander and Freya?
Please tell me what you think about anything that struck your mind!

😜
Anjaa