RINAThe tram rolled to a stop, plunging my heart to the depths of my stomach. I watched in sheer horror as people milled out. Their faces, a total contrast to mine. “Excuse me?”I jerked and turned to see a lady next to me. “Hello? You’re blocking the way.”"Oh." I stood, allowing for her to pass. Sorry. My gaze followed her out before falling on the elderly creeping her way out of the tram. She and I were the only passengers left, but somehow, that didn't move. She whipped her head towards my direction, nearly hoisting me out of my skin. “Non stai scendendo?” [Aren't you coming down?] she asked, ignoring my show of fright. I gave a ghost of a smile, readjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder and walked. I helped her down. “Sei sicuro di non esserti perso? C'è una stazione di polizia fuori.” [You’re sure you aren't lost? There's a police station right outside the terminal.]I managed a smile. “Sto bene, signora. Grazie.” [I'm fine, madam. Thank you.] She didn't take her
VINCENZOI turned the faucet and filled my cup with water. The generous gulp taken drove out steam, blessing me with a nice feeling. Sighing in satisfaction, I went for another cup. That fully got me back in the zone, and straight I went to my desk. Ready to continue from where I'd stopped.I was halfway through with making entries on the database; that wasn't to say I'd be free in no distant time. I'd still got work to do on the balance sheets—which included sending them across to the Chief Financial Officer today. Once these were cleared, I could then heave a sigh and focus on preparing for Sunday. I worked for some time before getting interrupted. It was Padre's secretary, Diego. He was set to leave, but had decided to make one more attempt at pissing me off. "How's it going?"One look was all it took to slap the smile off his face. And even as I'd returned my focus to the desktop, I could still see him gape like the fool he was. He eventually jammed the pit that was supposed to
RINAMammà's eyes suddenly came to me and she dropped the blouse she was folding. "Come on, dolcezza. Don't be moody."My response was a sigh, before I started fondling with the zip of the duffle bag."Do you want to come along? I'm not sure what the Luna would say but—" "No." Finding her words ridiculous, I let the zip be and wore a distant look. "I'm okay. It's just that…" I'm terrified of how these five days would be. "I'll miss you, that's all."Mammà merely smiled before resuming her folding. Five days without her around would be hell on earth. Need I say how?Abruptly, she stopped—giving me another pitiful look before drawing close. Her hands eased my shoulder. "Rina." Her voice was a drawl. Which happened whenever she cautioned me. "One day you will start a family. Now, what happens if your mate lives in a faraway land? How will you survive without me?"My brows furrowed in disagreement, her words getting me unnerved. "You know I won't let that happen."She lifted a curious
VINCENZOThe annoying ring came again, ripping sleep off my eyes. I sent a glare at the nightstand, one stretch away from punching it to shards.As though reading my mind, the sound ceased, and I muttered a cuss of gratitude, turning the other way to get back to sleep. A second later, it reemerged, pissing me out of my wit's end. I grabbed the phone and got hit by an ugly glare. However, my emotion took on a different look when I spotted the name on the phone log. Redialing the number, I pushed towards the bedhead, still groggy. The call went on and on, making me feel sleepy. Just when I was about dozing off, a birthday song burst into my ears. I stared with a bored expression, at the same time cringing on Michele's behalf. I rubbed my forehead in relief when the crowing ended. "Who's the birthday boy? That's right. You.""You should have saved this for your boyfriend.""Well, aren't you?""Fucker," I replied, causing him to cackle. I picked up a remote and lit the room. My eye
VINCENZOJudging from how unblinking my stare was, it came as no surprise the pressure building in my eyes. I couldn't stop.…provided he mates and produces an heir. These were the words that haunted me. They plagued my thoughts.And now the clock had begun to tick. I had a year to do the deed. If not, I lost everything. A mix of negative emotions churned within me, polluting my blood, weighing down on my chest. My battered state could explain why I let the lone tear slide freely. The only thing that told me apart from a statue was my flaring nose.I placed the paper face down on the table and buried my face in my hands.At twenty, when I was supposed to be building my future and getting ready to be an alpha that wouldn't be forgotten in the history of Florence, Padre wanted me to mate.I gave a stifled laugh. How was that clear thinking? And Madre, whom I took to be the more sensible one, bought the idea.I shook my head, accepting a fact. They didn't love me. I wasn't even sure I w
RINAMammà, I had been told, had a difficult pregnancy. She hadn't been fortunate at all in all of her feminine metabolites. From a breast lump that nearly claimed her life at a tender age of sixteen to the scanty periods that had occupied her every thought. I hadn't been easy with her as a fetus, and when the time came to be pushed out, Irefused to come forth.Right now, all I could think of was how fucked up it had been for her and me to have survived. The umbilical cord around my neck could have saved me all of life's cruelty. It would have spared Mammà the pain of unconsciously watching me lose myself each passing day. I never thought I'd say this, but, but…fuck that organisation that had interfered. What right had they to make the donation that brought my existence? It wasn't here now, was it? It wasn't here to see me weep my eyes out, shaking and trembling because of the unknown fate that awaited me. No, all their members were somewhere in this cursed world living their best lif
RINAI didn't need to be told what he meant by that. Another round of abuse. Another round of holding back my tears as my chest burned. Another round of nightmares. "Please, please. Wait," I started when he picked up his walk. I retreated till I hit the wall. My eyes zapped straight to the sink; taking a gulp of bravery, I moved my fingers towards it, edging closer and closer till I reached my toothbrush case. I dipped my hand in and brought out what I believe would be a weapon. His eyes slid towards my hand, but that was it. He didn't speak, neither did his countenance change. He simply continued creeping. I, on my part, was stuck in the middle. I didn't know if to fight back or appeal to whatever soft side he might have. It wasn't my fault, couldn't he get it! I had been taken unawares. Alessio was the one at fault. My grip on the toothbrush tightened, clenching and unclenching as I prepared myself for the worst. He stopped, so close that the tip of our toes touched. I matched
VINCENZOShe cried. Moans like a drug, they messed with my senses; charging up my system; setting me on fire. She dared me to plunge in. Yes, her face was a clear depiction of aroused: her mouth open, pleading that I hit. I found myself hesitating. Something I never did. Something I wasn't known to do. But then, those eyes of hers flashed at me. Anger and desperation reddened them. I could read her mind. I knew her thoughts: What the hell are you doing staring? Her puckered brows were what tore my hesitance away. I arched forward and entered her. A high pitched noise erupted from her, thickening the air. Making the atmosphere more sexual. Two things hauled a cry out of me. Two fucking things. The sound she made and the thick, tight walls of her pussy. I swam in ecstasy; spasms of a sweet feeling spearing down my spine. I bent in different directions, never seeming to get enough of her body or pleasure in general. So, I went in, harder, faster, joining my cock in wailing. And I di
EPILOGUE Vincezo Moreno They were removing her off life support today. Jaw clenched, straight went my gaze. At infinity. Thunder droned at a distance. Clouds, gray, were laden with rain. It'd fallen all night. I'd taken an early morning flight, fortunately, and so, had been able to make it here. I didn't know if I should be comforted that nature empathized with me. Mourning along with me. Or I should break more, knowing that Rina had been to be next Luna, the reason why the skies mourned her imminent exit. I gave out heavy, fervent sobs, fishing out some tissue from the armrest. I wept into it. No. Grief hadn't left. It never would. As long as I lived, this was what I'd be: a grieving man. Wiping my nose, I set out to the pearl white walls of Andrea Filemone International Hospital. My fingers curved around the tiny velvety box. I held back the tears till I got to ICU: Room 4 and shut the door behind. The heart monitor beeped. My Rina still laid like a corpse on the bed, not d
Vincenzo MorenoDay 3: post operation. White stark walls moved behind as I was wheeled into ICU: room 4. My system was asleep, with just my ears acknowledging the clomp of feet on the floor, muddled chatters and the squeal the wheelchair had as it rolled on along the tiled floor.The nurse pushed in the door. My heart throbbed the instant I spotted her. It wasn't good for my recovery, as the doctor had said; I didn't care. I couldn't, not when she was involved. Something washed over me. Hurt that clawed at my core. The nurse placed me next to her and left. I lifted a hand, then placed it on Rina's. My cloudy eyes moved to her face.It was unbelievable, so much, because I'd thought I'd lost her. Almost pushed to tears, I kissed her hand—my eyes shut tight as I communicated using my mind. We'd converse this way until she recovered.I cannot believe it: I'm holding you. You are here with me, life and direct. There's so much that's to be said. So much I should let out that I have th
Vincenzo Moreno When I'd gotten a text from Alessio, I hadn't done the expected. Rather than steam with rage, I shut my eyes in relief, for it was all over. I would get Rina at long last and eliminate that son of a bitch.I'd gone straight to Padre and stood my ground. I'd venture into the jungle of Valle del Teschio. It'd been clear Padre was too interested in the whereabouts of the moon statue to see the emergency at hand. He'd been too distracted to think clearly. And not only that. This was my fight. My mess. And only I could clean it up. Nearly twenty-four hours down the line, I was marching into the unwelcoming forest, accompanied by an army of soldiers. The only thing I saw good about my pack was the level of organization it showed. The soldiers who were armed to the teeth were proof. They made up the emergency tactical unit. Always on their feet at the snap of the finger. The undergrowth impeded our movement; our determination was the driving force that kept us going. The
Rina ZanteFire crackled in the background. It was one marker that showed the girl on the floor, whose legs laid sprawled and eyes closed, was alive. That, together with the occasional forcing of air into her nostrils. I hadn't seen my period in months; so the growing pain around my belly felt strange. It'd started yesterday with just a dull throbbing. Now, it came more frequently, resembling my period with its undulating intensity. A low and a high. At the onset, I'd worried something was wrong with the babies. And even as I'd figured what could be amiss, dread sank deep into my bones—chilling my blood. It wasn't supposed to happen now. I pressed my teeth into my upper lip as the painful wave waltzed across. It wasn't supposed to happen now. A tear of heartbreak escaped. I couldn't have the babies here. Not now. My heart wept out of disappointment. I'd had faith the moon goddess would come through for me. I'd been in Central Temple, in my dream, happy like never before as I ca
Leonardo (Alessio)Everywhere was soaked in green. Even the air. It oozed of the scent of herbs. I got out of the car, which was something I'd looked forward to since the journey began. Not just because my bones ached, but also the car had been suffocating in the figurative sense of it, and till now, I couldn't explain how or why I was subject to guilt. Leaves rustled and twigs snapped from the weight of my feet as I trudged ahead, stopping in front of a beastly truck. This was our new home for the meantime. Until we got to the endgame. The hood bore dust and leaves laid strewn over its surface extending to the bottom rim of the windshield, bringing to my notice a poster of Mario Domenico—a well-known survivalist. A wooden wall was mounted at the tail region of the car. The wall formed a convex hood above the windshield. I went to the side of the truck for further inspection. There was a door, a pigeonhole notched close to the back tyre, a large window towards the back. And a ch
Vincenzo MorenoI forced open the door, cutting Dr. Yolanda short. "See it now? They've fucking succeeded."Initially taken aback, Dr. Yolanda sent her gaze to the receptionist standing beside me, eliciting an explanation for why I had barged in from the dumb girl. Dr. Yolanda didn't show she was mad. Rather, she waved the receptionist away, turning to me. "I'm currently having a session, Vincenzo.""This is a matter of life and death. Definitely it's worth looking into with immediate effect." She paused, eyes fixed at me, and pressed back against her swivel chair. "What is it?"I frowned. "Yes. What is it?""You don't expect me to talk…now." I looked at the client seated across from her. "So, it's private. Surely, it isn't something too pressing you can't spare some minutes." I glared at her, the intensity almost lethal. Yet, she held my gaze, not at all intimidated. "Go on, Vincenzo. The longer you stand there, the less your chances of meeting with me." After several seco
UnknownA four lettered bitch. Something cruel and unfair. A tyrant who everyone feared. None questioned it. None could challenge it to a fight. That was what life was. Life wanted me to be like everyone. Accepting the shit it threw my way with open arms. It was an absolute impossibility for me to succumb because none of it made sense. How was it that one was favored, and the other person disposed of like garbage? Alessio Salvatore wasn't better than me. He hadn't been taller nor with more powers. In actual fact, we both—like other babies—had been born with zero abilities. He hadn't been more facially endowed, nor blessed with an angelic cry. We'd both had the potential to keep our parents up at night with our wails. Yet, he'd been chosen over me simply because he'd been the first to arrive. I had been seen as the lazy one. Belief had it that I still was attached to the other world, and so would have a negative impact on the true born and everyone around me.They hadn't blinked be
Rina ZanteBit by bit, the wardrobe came into view. I fixed my eyes at it for a while before finally heaving up. My arms bore the under of my belly. A huge yawn left my mouth. I was tired, even though the sleep had been long and peaceful. Then again, I didn't see myself fancying the idea of taking another nap. My gaze moved to the curtains. It was well lit. A clock hanging next to it stated the morning had long started. Some minutes to nine. Off to the bathroom, I couldn't say what would become of today. One thing was sure, however, I'd be out of town in a short while. As I brushed, a thought materialized. It was one that widened the soft spot that'd been attached to my heart ever since my belly became visible. The bathroom sink had inspired the thought. It looked just as cozy as the tub in my dream. Clean in its pale blue color and adorned with cloud patterns around. The dream had been lucid; I could remember details of it. The babies had been having their bath. Just me with the
Vincenzo MorenoHer room was a brown monochrome. Fairly furnished and with large panel windows. I couldn't stop myself from wondering if every therapist's office was this way. Depressing. Dr. Yolanda edged close and handed me a cup of coffee. "I'm going to be honest with you," she said while lowering to her seat. "I'm glad you called."Her gaze spoke volumes. She expected me to lay my worries bare—my greatest pet peeve. However I had no choice. I wanted none of these anymore: torn away from Rina, waking up miserable, and being in exile. "Do you want to talk about it?" I stroked my thumb over the handle of the cup, then sent the hot beverage sliding down my throat. "How much time do I have?" I asked. "Forty five minutes, but I'm willing to make it an hour."Why? Because I'd make an interesting study?My focus laid on the coffee as I mentally prepped myself to talk."I want all this to end. I just want to wake up and see this as part of the past." A short pause followed. "I don'