"Why are you doing this?" Asks a nineteen year-old girl. She gripped the man's arm who was standing in front of her. Pain and sadness were both in their eyes. She looks away in pain as he embraces her tightly. Tears started swelling in her eyes and she couldn't help but let them run down her cheeks. She started sobbing when the man still hasn't answered her.

"Tell me. Please," begs the girl, letting go of him, "Why--" she was abruptly interrupted by his lips. His eyes were closed shut and she couldn't help, but kiss him back.

"That's why." He says once he lets her go. The girl felt her cheeks flush as she looked into his dazzling eyes and his messy hair. She turns away in embarrassment when she suddenly felt his fingers gently stroked her long, black locks.

"They-they'll hurt you. I won't let you!" She stuttered. She couldn't even look into his eyes, "I--" the man suddenly places his finger on her lips, silencing her. She lifts her head, facing him.

"Even if they hurt me. They won't lay a finger on you. I'll protect you even if I lose my life as a consequence." The couple embraced, not wanting to ever let go.  Tears flow from their eyes as snow started to rain from the evening sky, the moon's radiating light shining on them. 

"But. . . I. . ." starts the girl. She was loat in words. He may care for her, but she didn't want to lose another of the people she cared for.

"I love you," The man says, interrupting her thoughts, "I will always be with you. To the end of time."

"Yes. You will always have a place in my heart. . . Bernardo."

********

"That's what he said," Thought Angelica as her eyes opened, sensing the sun's gentle touch on her face,  "He tried. We both got hurt. But I lost him. And I'll never forgive myself for that. I hate myself," she pushed back the covers and swung her legs to the bedside, "Why am I still alive? The world is utterly cruel to me. And yet. . . it is often kind."

Angelica got up and looked outside her window. Today was the day. The day when the Arcana Famiglia were to bring the kids to the mountain. She smiled in excitement, imagining what the day had in store for them. Realizing what time it was she started for the bath. 

*********

"No, place it there! No, no, no! Over there! Jeez you guys!" Shouts Debito in disgust as he orders his fellow members to place the boxes on the docks, "We have to get to the mountain early! Come on! Am I supposed to do everything myself?!" He cries, seeing that they still haven't gotten the boxes in line. He wanted them neatly lined up and his fellow members doesn't seem to get it.

"It's alright boys. I'll take it from here." Says Pace. The other members gratefully left the docks and attended to other possible work available.

"Why are we here anyway?" Complains Debito with a scowl, "Isn't this Liberta and Dante's work to handle these things?"

Pace looks at him calmly, "I guess something must have come up and they needed help. Come on! There's barely any left," he continues, taking hold of a crate and passed it along the laborers, "To tell you the truth, I should be eating lasagna right now." He says with his mouth watering.

A mischievous grin suddenly appears on his companion's face, "Ohh. . . really? Are you sure you're not simply wanting to be with Cecilly are you?" He says smirking. Pace stiffens at this.

"W-what? Pfff, no!" He quickly replies, turning away. Pace doesn't realize that he had become red, increasing Debito's curiosity.

Debito laughs hysterically, "Pace, my man," he continues laughing, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder, "No wonder you no longer stare at Angelica. . . You lost your interest to someone else!"

"Oh, shut up already! Let's just get this done and over with!!" He says quickly walking away to avoid being teased. Unknown to him, the crew have already taken down all the crates and end up going down again, but avoids Debito. Debito grins from ear to ear.

"This is so amusing." He thought.

"We're back!" Calls Liberta. Along side him was his mentor and savior, Dante who was currently chewing on a cigar, "I see that the job is done." He continues, seeing that all the crayes were on the docks.

"Yeah. So what occupied your time to have us do your job?" Asks Debito irritated. Liberta and Dante glance at each other.

"Felicita needed some help with some stuff for later. And she asked us to assist her." Dante replies calmly.

"Since it's all done, let us go and fetch the kids," Says Liberta putting his hands behind his head, "By the way. . . Where's Pace? Wasn't he with you?"

"Oh. He left early," Says Debito while grinning, "He probably went to see someone."

"Wha--"

"Let's go. We wouldn't want to disappoint the kids." Debito quickly interrupts Liberta as he starta to walk away. Baffling him.

"Um. . . Okay. . . ?" Mutters Liberta, following Debito, "I wonder what tricks Angelica stored up in her sleeve. . . " Unknown to him, Dante looks down everytime his gaze is cast upon Angelica. A pained look appears on his face everytime, moment. Almost like he knew her from before.

********

Angelica watches the kids chase Debito and Pace as they played tag. She chuckles at the sight. That morning after they had done their duties, Felicita, Liberta, Nova, Debito, Pace, Luca, Luciano, and Angelica took the kids to a nearby mountain for sight seeing and such. They were finally on the top, but some of the kids somehow were still full of energy and were now playimg tag with the boys. Angelica glances at the girls who happened to be playing with Shandor who apparently begged Angelica to let him go.

"Is that a real zampogna??" Asked Felicita with wide eyes. Angelica glanced to her side to where her instrument lay.

A zampogna is an Italian instrument

"Yes, it is." Angelica replies beaming at Felicita. Her friend gaped in awe.

"Could you play a song?" She hesitantly asks. Angelica only smiles in response. She nods. Angelica turns and her hands take hold of the zampogna and places her lips on the mouthpiece. But before she could blow, Felicita calls out to the others to come listen. Angelica chuckles in amusement and starts playing without waiting for the others.

Play the video to your right to play the song Angelica played :3

Angelica plays her song and immediately enchanted her audience who listened intently. She plays it with passion, reminded that she used to play several instruments at home. 

"That was marvelous! Fantastic!" Says Luca once she finishes, clapping. The others clap as well, impressed.

"Impressive. As always. You never cease to amaze me." Says Luciano, taking a look at her instrument before handing it back. The kids started to bombard Angelica with questions, curious. Asking where she got the instrument and how she learned how to play and other questions. Surprisingly, she answers all their questions without hesitation. Felicita couldn't help but wonder if they were all true.

"That was beautiful. Yet sad." She says when all the kids had ran off to play, along with the boys, "What was that song about?" She asks, wishing in her head that Angelica would answer.

"It's about hope," replies Angelica, surprising Felicita, "It's talking about the ending of something being the beginning of another thing," Angelica suddenly pauses before continuing, "It says '. . .never lose hope. . . for dawn is near. . .'" The girl sighs, causing Felicita to wonder, "But how can I when I don't even see the horizon?" She continues. Her question baffles Felicita causing her imagination to go reeling, trying as much possible to not get into her friend's head.

"An--" Felicita was suddenly interrupted by Liberta's calls, motioning her to come.

"You should go. You wouldn't want him to wait." Says Angelica. Felicita just nods in response before she walks to Liberta.

Angelica sighs, "You sure are secretive," Debito says from behind her, "Yet you give little light, thus giving the kind of curiosity that kills." He continues.

"You're exaggerating," replies Angelica, sternly though, "If she was so curious. . . wouldn't she just get into my head?" She adds, glancing at him.

Debito looks at her in surprise, "Wha--How--where??" He asks, wondering where she got that information. Wondering if Felicita told her or did someone. . . ?

"I may not have the ability to read one's thoughts or weed through one's memories," she says calmly, seeing his confused face, "But I have the ability to just KNOW."

"Guys, come on! Let's eat!! I'm starving. . ." Calls out Pace, but was interrupted by a tug on his arm, "And the kids are hungry, too!!" He adds then laughs with some of the kids who were crowded around him.

Angelica sighs, "I know you're all wondering about me," she continues, catching Debito's attention again as she stood up from her place, "I am happy that you worry for me. But. . . I am sorry. I don't want you to know how filthy in reality I am." She adds before walking away. Debito watches her head towards the others who ahd crowded around Pace since he had already started to distribute the food.

"I don't want you to know how filthy in reality I am." Debito recalls her last words. It really caused him to be curious of her past life. Wondering what she was so ashamed about. He couldn't understand her at all. Apparently. . . Angelica didn't trust anyone enough to tell her back story.

"What was that about?" Asks Luciano, "You guys seemed so serious."

"How much did you hear?" Debito asks with a serious tone.

Luciano shrugs, "Only the part about her saying that she doesn't want us to know the real her," He replies, "Something is really bothering her." Luciano adds.

Debito nods as he watches a kid play with Angelica's hair. She was so.sweet, kind, gentle, and wise at times. She has been helping with the maids around the house, if not she was in the garden, her eyes staring ahead, so deep in thought. Debito yearned to help her. Yearning to reach for her heart that was lost in an abyss. The girl seemed to have locked herself away. Away where no one can reach her, yet she wishes to be reached to. Her smiles were only veils to hide her pain that was harbored in her heart.

"Something's up." Says Luciano, interupting Debito's thoughts.

"You think?" Debito replies irritably.

"You know that guy the others brought in two days ago?" Says Luciano.

"What about him?" Replies Debito. He decided that, like Felicita, he was to help her in anyway possible.

"I told this this to Papa and Mama yesterday, so you're not the first person to know this," Says Luciano, his voice becoming serious, causing Debito to glance at him, "Ronaldo, the guy who left yesterday afternoon, um, told me that Angelica isn't safe whether she's with the Arcana Famiglia or not."

"What??" Debito replies, surprised, "Is it those men again who attacked her three weeks ago?" He thought.

"He said something about them--I dunno who exactly is them but--"

"Just say it already!" Snaps Debito.

"Sorry!  He said something about them saying that they're not gonna give up on their fish. . . ? Or was it. . .prey?" Luciano immediately replies.

"Long story short, she's still being hunted?" Says Debito, getting to the point.

"Yes." Luciano replies. Deep inside he yearned for Angelica as well.

"I dunno what's going on, but we're obviously involved." Says Debito as he watches Angelica eating lunch with Felicita and the others, "What are you hiding??" He thought.

********

After their long day on the mountain, Felicita and the others had decided.to go down before night falls, because it could be very dangerous. Who knows what creatures lurk in the forest? Though soon the boys (all the boys, both young and the older ones. Well, except for Nova who thought the idea was ridiculous) thought that it might be fun to stay for the night and perhaps go monster hunting. Felicita and Angelica quickly threw the idea aside and firmly told them that they had to go home, reminding them of the possible dangers. The boys reluctantly complied to their wishes, not wanting to upset them. Nova immediately scolds them and tells them to be more practical and mature.

"Heh. You're just scared are you?" Teases Liberta, nudging his friend.

Nova stiffens, "No I'm not!"

Unknown to them, their little debate from earlier (their argument of monster hunting) somewhat stalled them and the night sky was quickly upon them. Well, one of the little ones scraped her knee earlier when she and her sister were playing tag as they traveled down. As the child was crying her eyes out, Angelica came to the rescue by placing some herbs to heal the wound quickly, as well as to numb the pain. Since then, the little girl has beem clinging to Angelica like a little girl clutching her balloon.

"Angelica, I'm scared. . . Ihhhh!!" The little girl cries upon hearing a wolf's frightening howl. Angelica found the girl trembling in fear and immediately pitied her. She somehow found a mirror of herself when she was a little girl herself.

Kneeling down, Angelica caresses the girl's cheek, "Do not worry, Alberta," she says comforting the little girl, "You're safe with me. I'll protect you. You don't have to be afraid. The wolf is simply singing because the moon is beautiful tonight," she says while pointing at the full moon, "And the stars light our way as well." She adds. Her gentle voice and comforting smile immediately calmed the girl down.

The girl smiles, wipes her tears, and threw her arms around Angelica's neck. Letting go, the girl watches Angelica stand up and immediately grabbed hold of her gentle, comforting hand. Some of the children, seeing the child in such a relaxed state, started coveting for Angelica's hand as well.

"Um, can I hold your hand?" Asks a child.

"No, I'll hold her hand!" Shouts another, interrupting Angelica who was about to answer the other.

"No, me!!"

"Me!"

"Her hand's so warm. . ." Purrs a boy who found his opportunity to take hold of her vacant hand. Seeing this the kids started arguing amongst themselves and debating who's gonna hold her hand. The adults kept quiet, finding the situation amusing. Even children, boys and girls, adore Angelica which surprised them.

"No," says Debito taking Angelica's hand from the kids, "I'LL be holding her--" he continues as he laces his fingers with hers, "--hand." He sniffs her hand and places a gentle kiss on the back. Angelica couldn't help, but smile. Quickly turning away when she realizes that she was ever so slightly blushing. The boys (kids) backed away grossed out at the scene, while the girls found it extremely romantic.

"Nu-uh, Debito," says Luca as he swiftly took off his coat, "A REAL gentleman's priority is not to do anything erotic with the lady, but rather--" he places his coat on her shoulders since her arms were exposed to the cold night, "caring for her health."

"How can I possibly do that when the kids were fighting over her hand?" He says. The others just laugh as they walked down the mountain. They were pretty lucky that the mountains in Regalo weren't steep. That would've been a HUGE problem. And together they split to quickly bring the kids home so that their parents won't gey worried.

********

The candle's flame flickered as a cloaked man lurked in the room. His.back to the road he locks the door to the building, glancing to his sides as he did so. Once finishing, he sneaked through the alleyways like a shadow. Soon he reaches a house with laughter that can practically be heard theoughout the neighborhood. Slipping inside, he snakes his way through the crowd in the house filled with boisterous laughter which turns out to be a bar. He quietly approached a man and joins him.

"The girl. She had just come back from her little field trip." Whispers the man. His hood casted a shadow upon his face that only his mouth was visible.

"Alright." Replies his companion, he stood up, but was quickly held back.

"The money."

"Here. I'll be meeting with the boss. So just get the girl, no witnesses. Got it?" The man nods, "Oh, and one more thing: bring her to the harbor by midnight. That would be three hours by now." He adds. His companion only grins and disappears through the crowd.

~~~~

Hey, guys! How's the story so far? Sorry if this is all confusing you, but the answers are at hand and you'll find out soon enough. Thanks for reading! Please tell me what you think of the story! It breaks my heart not hearing anything from you guys :'(

-BalladPhoenix

P.S. I know that it's sort of early since I told you earlier in one of the previous chapters that the readers of the PREVIOUS chapter is supposed to be twenty, but because I'm excited I posted in advance ^_^

P.P.S. Please comment (as said above), vote, and follow!! :D

Thanks again for reading!