After being dropped in the bath, she could see the pain rise on the surface of Isadora's face.Instantly, Isadora's lips morphed into a bitter smile, "Damn it, you can't just leave me alone, can you? I have had enough of you and the bad luck that comes with." She hissed."I understand if you are mad at me, but I didn't lie when I said I came on my own. Vincent must have found some way to listen in on our conversation." Felicity replied, her voice heavy with remorse."I don't forgive easily, Felicity.''Isadora spat, "Neither do I believe a single of your words. You've been here more than I have and with common sense, you should be able to understand and predict the behavior of your leader better."Felicity was quiet. She knew Isadora's words were right, but she had been in such a hurry to speak to her that night, she didn't think her actions through. And now only Isadora suffers from the consequence.Isadora grunted as she tried sitting up. "Who knows? Master Vincent might be listening
Sienna angrily barged into the Green Viper mansion, stomping her foot as she walked into the living area. She threw her purse not minding where it landed. Her hands continually raked her hair as some sort of coping mechanism as she paced about the place.Anger that had risen to dangerous levels laid dormant on her face… she could hide it anymore.A maid nearby trembled, sensing Sienna's distress, "W-welcome mistress Sien…""Get the fuck out of my sight, you lowly thing!" Sienna hit the unfortunate maid who welcomed her in with a tight slap.The sheer force of impact sent the maid to the cold floor. Holding her face as tears burned the back of her eyes, she quickly crawled out of sight."The bitch… that fucking bitch! Arrgh!" Sienna screamed in frustration and slumped into the sofa."Sienna, so you are back so fast? I thought I heard someone come in." A much older lady than Sienna, with eyes which looked like they've had a lot of experience appeared from one of the doors."Not now mom.
Vincent stood staring out the window, his hands crossed behind his back. The mask on his face hid whatever expression he had as Mateo fed him with information concerning the Famiglia."Two more spies sent by Viktor have been caught, my Lord. Should I take care of them or you shall deal with them personally?" Mateo asked.Vincent sighed deeply. Those two idiots will make it the fifth case in a month of Viktor's persistent attempt to infiltrate the Famiglia and wouldn't be the last he shall annihilate.That bastard is starting to get on his nerves. Does he have so many men to spare that he sends them straight into the lion's den knowing well they would never make it out alive?!Viktor, Vincent's younger brother and the Don of the Green Hounds, has become increasingly annoying as one of the biggest enemies of the Black Saints.He hates Vincent to the core for murdering their father in cold blood and promised to exert a bloody revenge by killing Vincent with his own hands.When Vincent ha
THREE NIGHTS LATERThe clock struck thirteen as Isadora bent over a workboard making a large batch of muffins for the sixth time in one day. Her arms ached for mercy, working every step of the way, manually. And as usual, Imelda watched intently hunched over her back, not once did her gaze depart from it."And that's it." Isadora stood upright, speaking to Imelda, one could see the fatigue in her eyes.She wiped sweat off her forehead, "I only need to fill this into the mold and add some chocolate chips on it. There is no other special thing to the recipe.""Why… just why?" Imelda murmured under her breath for the thousandth time, a solemn expression marred her features."It's the same process every single time, why doesn't mine work?" She whispered. Extremely weary both physically and mentally, on the brink of giving up.Isadora could barely hear her mumble unintelligible words after that. Since breakfast three days ago, Imelda began to behave weird towards her… incredibly weird. In
The Next Day***Isadora stood in front of the exit of the mansion's west wing. The mist suspended close to the earth, creating a white film in midair which made it hard to see. She waited, on guard as a black silhouette approached from the distance, getting closer and closer till she could accurately make out its identity."Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. Had to take care of something first." Felicity apologized habitually.Felicity was dressed up in a light brown overall bib on a white T-shirt and had her blond hair up in a messy bun and she carried a laid-back aura around her.Yellow.Isadora thought again. Even today her color wasn't darker or lighter, just yellow. The kind of yellow that was just good enough."I'm only like a maid here, you instructed me to wait and I did," Isadora said vaguely, her lips pressed together.She didn't notice her hands run up opposite arms a few times."Here," Felicity stepped closer, she wrapped a thick wool scarf around Isadora's neck,
Following Felicity's instructions, Isadora helped get the store ready for opening in no time. With Felicity's design choice, it looked more like a fantasy cottage than a typical store, and Felicity, the fairy was managing all of it.The scents in the cottage were sweet, light, and unique in different corners of the room. Isadora felt especially calm in this place.She observed from a corner in the store as Felicity reprimanded a customer."Wouldn't this be the third time this month you would piss her off?" She looked at the young man before her with displeasure written all over her face."I'm sorry Miss Felicity, give me another chance. I promise this is the last time. It's only a mistake," He looked very flustered as he spoke."You said these same words five chances ago!"The man immediately kept shut, guilt written all over his face. He could tell speaking further would aggravate Felicity more and do less good.His perception proved to be correct soon enough."Right. But this is the
"Mistress Sienna, you don't need to deal with this personally. Leave it to me, I'll take care of her." Dante said as he tried to stop Sienna for the nth time.That daughter of Lance carries such a disgusting bloodline, Sienna's hands shouldn't be sullied by her dirty blood. Isadora isn't worthy enough."You don't need to be worried, Dante. Don't you believe I'll be successful?" Sienna stood out in the open field, the fighting grounds reserved for the men in the B-, Division.Unlike her habit of wearing beautiful dresses, she looked powerful in pants and boots, a confident aura surrounded her.All the men of the B-Division were out to watch the interesting 'show' that would soon happen. The captain of the Division, Dante, hovered around Sienna in case she needed anything.They were quite good friends."Yes, I do." He said with utmost confidence."Then just watch from the sidelines. You've coached me personally and I am your best student, let me remind you of that." Sienna wound a piece
"Isadora…" Felicity whispered.Without warning, the heavy doors to Vincent's chambers swung open making the guards jerk forward from shock. And there he stood in a velvet Golden robe, the leader of the black saints in all his might.Even if he stood strong, eluding such a dominating aura that even Mateo's breath inevitably stifled, his tired red eyes revealed his true state."Lord Vincent!," They all acknowledged him, unable to hide the surprise in their voices.Vincent wore a frigid expression and ran an eye over his new company."What is all the ruckus about?!" He asked ferociously, his voice echoing down the hallway.The silent guards exchanged looks, not daring to say a word, for fear they might aggravate him even more.Felicity gathered courage and sucked in a deep breath. Immediately she threw herself at Vincent's feet, all of her sincerity gathered at the tip of her tongue."Please forgive me, Senior Brother, I have committed such a terrible thing to interrupt your rest in my s
On the hospital bed, Sienna’s eyes weakly fluttered open and her blurry vision took a moment to clear up. Her mind felt heavy and foggy, and it took a while to get her bearings.She emitted a deep, weary moan as she attempted sitting up, overcome by the fatigue that washed over her.“I wouldn’t move too much if I were you,” Mateo advised.Sienna’s gaze snapped to the source of his voice. Mateo was sitting on a chair right beside the edge of the bed with an unwavering gaze on her. She hadn’t noticed him before.“W-what’s going on?” She struggled to form words, still feeling groggy.“You fainted yesterday. You are in the infirmary now.”“Why would I be –“ Sienna’s mind recovered its sharpness in an instant. She finally remembered.“Oh no…. I need… I need to see lord Vincent now….I need…” Ignoring her deathly aching body, Sienna hastily hurried onto her feet, almost tripping in the process.“Sit the fuck down, now, Sienna!” Mateo commanded with striking authority, yet his voice remained
At the entrance of the Green Viper’s Mansion, a number of maids carefully but quickly stowed Sienna’s suitcases into her ride. They didn’t want to be present when she showed up, the past week plus had already put them through enough hell.The signature click-clack of Sienna’s heels could be heard as she walked towards the entrance from within. She moved with urgency in her steps and an impatient look on her face as she checked for the time on her smartphone.“Ugh, it’s almost noon and these imbeciles aren’t done loading up yet. Just like the system here, its people are also slow. How I miss Zeta!’ she groused under her breath.“Don’t tell me you’re going back to the Black Saints after you were clearly banned. It’s barely been two weeks already, do you have a death wish?” Neomi scoffed.Her voice scraped Sienna’s nerves like nails on a chalkboard, forcing her to stop in her tracks.Turning just her torso, Sienna glared at Neomi who met her gaze from the staircase landing. “Unlike you,
"Woah," Gianna sat up and cupped Isadora's face in her hands, "Is there anything wrong?" She asked worriedly, unused to Isadora being so affectionate.Isadora let out a small giggle, "No, I've just missed you.""Hmm" Gianna examined her body, "Are you sure? You've lost a bit of weight. Where have you been all these while? Your friend said you went on vacation. Is that true?""Slow down mom, one question at a time."Isadora shook her head."Yes, I'm fine and it's true, the stress was getting to me and I thought I should take advantage of the break and relax properly before school resumed." She lied.Only after her explanation did Gianna finally calm down, sighing in relief.Isadora dragged a chair and sat by her mother's bedside, smiling.Vincent really kept his word to keep Gianna out of their affairs if she complied. That, she was thankful for. She couldn't put Gianna through the stress of worrying about her, in her condition… she couldn't drag her back to that life.Gianna noticed th
Isadora had her back to Victor while he left. She gazed at the crumpled piece of paper in her hand and tossed it into the trash in an instant.Federigo saw this and sighed, "Don't be too upset Isadora, this is for your own good.""And who are you to tell me how to feel?" Isadora said hotly."I'm just following your father's wishes." He explained.Isadora scoffed, "If you haven't noticed, following that low life's commands isn't exactly my forte, is it?"Federigo didn't know what to say. He could see hatred blaze in the child's eyes each time his master, Lance was mentioned. If Lance could see this right now, he would be destroyed within.He couldn't tell her the truth now. He couldn't possibly explain how much her father loved her and never wished for things to play out like this. No… that would be too much to hear after all these years of pain.He could only say bitterly, "This isn't the way Lance wanted it to end.""Of course, it isn't." Isadora agreed sarcastically.Federigo led her
Isadora smoothly settled down at the new dorm. For dinner, she ordered takeout for all and left Echo and Nirvana in each other's company before retiring to her room. She spent the rest of the night researching and filling up updates on what she's missed in the past few months and her class schedule.The next morning, Isadora rose quite early with an ominous inkling for the day and boarded a cab out of the University's premises. It was a silent ride downtown.She had mixed feelings, willingly coming back to the one place she detested the most, somewhere that was supposed to be her home. Despite knowing that the sole cause of her hatred was dead, it didn't give her much peace.She's never really got to think about Lance's death and what it meant to her. He was gone, but it didn't feel like it. Even when she strove so much to be completely dissociated from him, his bloody legacy still found ways to influence her life, in some way or another.Somehow he's managed to make himself a major ch
"Great, you are here already!" Nirvana opened the door to the dorm, ushering Isadora in."You own quite the apartment, don't you?" Isadora commented, looking around the beautiful living space.Consisting of multiple private rooms sharing one living room, It was a place located in one of the most well-off housing areas in the school. She didn't expect to be placed in the same dorm as Nirvana. It seems she had become Nirvana's official bodyguard.Nirvana chuckled, "Just as much as the insufferable problems, there are perks that come with being born in a wealthy Famiglia," She hopped over to the mini bar at the corner and poured Isadora a glass of chilled water."Thanks," Isadora took a sip from the glass. The feel of the cold liquid in her mouth instantly melted all the tension that built up in her mind while coming here. Back to a place that she'd lost all hope on.After she received Vincent's orders yesterday, she proceeded to inform Felicity and Imelda about her pending departure. Th
After two days of rest, Vincent summoned Isadora to his side quite early in the morning.He made her stand beside his desk, which exposed a clear view of his confidential work while he penned down some words.Isadora took liberty to peer over his shoulders while he worked. She subconsciously thought he was very attractive in his serious working state.There was a soft knock at the door."Come in." Vincent permitted, routinely.The door opened, revealing Imelda's gentle figure."Good morning Lord Vincent. I want to know if you are in the mood to try anything today." She said with a tone of anticipation."No need." Came Vincent's firm voice. Not once did he take his eyes off his desk."Alright." Imelda released a sigh of defeat and proceeded to leave the room.One day he was alright and the next he wasn't. Vincent hadn't tasted a thing since the last time he ate. She was starting to get worried."Wait." Vincent's casual word made Imelda halt immediately.For the first time since she arr
Felicity looked crestfallen, facing Isadora's rejection. Her tone considerably lowered, "I thought you also felt it. Did I read it wrong? I'm sorry I shouldn't have -" "No! It's not you." Isadora grabbed Felicity's hands in hers, preventing her from saying anything else. She spoke, raw from her heart, "You are the most wonderful person I've ever met, Felicity." She glanced at Felicity's body, feeling a rush of desire, "Just… Wonderful." She looked Felicity in the eye, "And I do feel something for you - something I don't understand. I'm just not ready for all of this yet." Isadora explained, a bit overwhelmed. Felicity's doleful expression softened into a small smile. She looked very relieved, her eyes glued to the floor in embarrassment, "I was going crazy not acting on my feelings for a long time. I thought it would ruin our friendship." "Hey," Isadora held up Felicity's chin to meet her gaze. "Nothing can ever come between us. I won't let that happen." Felicity's heart raced at
"Mateo doesn't mind if you hang out with me in broad daylight?" Isadora was much more patient with Felicity now that she understood their dynamic.Felicity's smile instantly fell flat with a frown. Isadora perceived she had said something wrong. Did the two get into a fight?"He's too busy to notice." She replied curtly.Felicity brought Isadora down to her quarters, where Milia sat in the living room, holding an adorable toddler.She stood up to acknowledge them, "Mistress Felicity… Mi-miss Isadora?..."Milia looked very surprised. She never expected the maids' hot gossip this morning, that Isadora had survived the monster was indeed true."Can I have him?" Isadora reached for Lucas with a smile."Sure." Milia passed him to her.Lucas, who was usually very picky about who held him, readily bent his torso towards her.Once he settled in Isadora's arms, Milia stepped aside.Isadora sat beside Felicity on the couch and sat Lucas on her thighs.His bright blue eyes stared at Isadora with