The Legendary Durga

CHAPTER 10

Their ship is getting closer to the port, and the three of them are still having fun without a care in the world. As the ship gets closer, some men in black suits started shooting at them. Thanks to their unearthly abilities they were able to dodge it. However Agnez is different, she's not that strong yet to be able to dodge a surprise attack, so Giotto being nearest to her pulled the young girl towards him and into safety.

The once happy meal, turned into a disaster.

"More assassins?!" The Godfather exclaimed as he hid behind the table, together with his Grandchildren.

"Merda! (Sh!t)" Agnez cursed, getting upset that she needed her brother's help to get away. "Lo li uccido. (I'll kill them.)"

"Agnez, mind your manners." The Godfather said strictly.

"This is not the time to mind my manners Nonno, we're under attack!" The young girl exclaimed.

This is suppose to be a relaxing journey back home, not full of action and bullets flying towards them. Couldn't they just let them rest for a day? This is a little disappointing, the Godfather thought. There was nothing he could do about it. He is a mafia boss, this thing is pretty normal, although sometimes tiring. But this is the life he chose and he don't regret it, he never will, but sometime he just wants to have a normal dinner with his family.

"I am truly ashamed Boss, I did not think that there would still be more." Giotto looked truly devastated. "I shall see to it that these people who dared to attack Patriarca Famiglia will be punished, thoroughly." He stated professionally as his voice laced with hostility.

Giotto wanted to let his Grandfather and Little Sister to have fun. He prepared for this day to be simple and ordinary. He did his best to make it like what normal people do.

"It matters not, for now we should take care of this, look out for Agnez." The Godfather ordered, the cheerfulness on his voice gone.

"Yes Boss, Agn--." Giotto stood astounded to see his little sister fighting with armed men without worries. He smiled, a little sad one. Thinking that his little sister, who was once a child don't need any help from him. "Boss, I don't think she needs me at all."

The old man laughed, feeling really proud of his good disciple. Three years was more than enough to make her a person capable of protecting herself. Now, they won't need to worry about her.

"Well, that is my Granddaughter indeed."

Half an hour passed, the whole ship bathed in crimson red, the assassins were defeated along with other men. They were able to breathe easy but the battle has yet to end. What awaits them at the port were hundred armed men ready to ambush them.

The Patriarca Famiglia is at disadvantage, their men are injured and tired from the recent battle. Making the men feel dread. It's as if they were about to arrive at their own graveyards.

Everyone is uneasy, their resolution has started wavering.

"DO NOT PANIC!" The Godfather's voice echoed throughout the ship, making the men in attention. They all stood erect as the old master look at them with dignity. "No matter how many enemies there are, we shall not falter. We are the Patriarca Famiglia, we will not back down without a fight. We will defeat those who dare to block our path! Raise your piece and clip those foolish bastardi who thinks they can defeat us!" Thanks to the Godfather's words of valor, the men got their fighting spirit back.

Giotto asked Agnez. "Are you scared Princess?" The girl looked at her with sharp eyes, but gentled the moment they met his'.

"There is nothing to be scared of, I have fought with a lot of wild and strong animals, and I have trained until I bled." He hugged her, as tight as it could be. After feeling enough of her warmth he smoothly let her go and smiled.

"I'm getting lonely princess." The girl couldn't comprehend what he was trying to say. "You have gotten so strong, you won't need me to be by your side anymore." The little girl snapped, feeling her blood boil in rage, without further ado gave her brother a good beating.

"W-what are you doing Agnez?"

"Stupido! Idiota! Even if I have gotten strong, that does not mean I will need you no more, I still do! Stop saying nonsense Fratello! Even if I'm strong you must protect me, you must always be by my side, sempre! (forever)!" She shouted, her tears in the brink of falling. Giotto hugged her.

"Mi dispiace (I'm sorry) Agnez, forgive this foolish brother of yours. I will always protect you, even if I become an old man." He promised with all of his heart.

He bit his thumb until it bled and she did the same, they made it touch as a sign of promise, a blood oath. "Mi impegno (I pledge)." They said in unison.

The Godfather looked at them, feeling the warmth they are giving to each other, if only this peacefulness would remain, that would be great. But nothing lasts forever. They were getting ready as the ship gets closer to the port. The Godfather finally broke the deafening silence of the battle to come.

"Get ready!" He commanded, his voice resembled the roar of a lion.

"YES SIR!" Said the men in attention as each and every one of them ready their weapons and souls. Their eyes all bear the fire of a warrior, not one of them held any doubts. With straightened backs full of dignity, they will fight.

And they will win.

The battle that would be written in the history of their family has started, even though the enemy has the upper hand, the Patriarca Famiglia didn't show any sign of weakness. Thanks to the Godfather's words, every one is in high spirits. His monstrous power overwhelmed the enemy, he was able to finish them with only his bare hands.

Giotto Patriarca, who is known as the Sword Master, prodigy of swords, using his famed blade, Ryoukiba or known as the Dragon's Fang, every enemy within rage loses life. He sliced every enemy around him, as if he was cutting a soft meat. Not one remained alive right after touching his blade.

Agnezka Patriarca, using all her might, defeating enemies by enemies with the martial arts her master taught her. Not even the people who are bigger and is much more experienced than her was able to defeat the little girl.

Guissep Patriarca, the man who is feared in the underworld. Everyone knows his name, but no one dares to speak it lightly. Not one of the men who was able to get close to him lived, all of them died, instantly.

Everything was going well, they have a fighting chance to get out of this place alive.

Until the Death God arrived.

A man with a mid-back length red hair tied in a thick ponytail, wearing a plain men's kimono. Holding a blood soaked katana, killing every person it encounter, be it his allies or enemies. He sliced them with no regard, not even bothering to look who he was killing.

It was a carnage.

The way he handles his sword was different, it was clean and swift but at the same time powerful. Giotto felt the challenge, he asked. "Who are you?" Gripping his sword tightly that his palms turned white.

"Are you the man they call Sword Master?" The red haired man asked, not even bothering to look up.

"That is indeed me, Giotto Patriarca." Giotto answered with a fierce eyes.

"Good. I came here to take your life." The man said as he took out a cloth from his trousers and cleaned off the blood on his blade.

"Very well, as a fellow swordsman, I shall be your opponent." Giotto said with all his pride. He will lose face if he don't fight this man, and as a man, he can't let a good opponent pass by that easily. "State your name."

"You do not have the qualifications to know my name, not unless you can force me to say it." The man then smirked, he was definitely looking down at Giotto.

Giotto frowned, he's not the type to get mad easily. "Impudent." His patience was as long as the Great wall of China, but he hated it the most when other people look down on him, especially his Sword Play.

"Fratello, that man is dangerous." Agnezka warned her brother.

She could feel the blood lust of the man before her, even by being in the same place as him makes her whole soul tremble with fear. It was totally a different feeling, unlike what she feels when fighting hungry tigers or wolves, even when fighting assassins. He was on a different level, she could feel it. This man is stronger than her brother.

He's a monster.

But Giotto's reply was only smile, a smile that is so different. She didn't want to let go of his arm but that smile made her to, as if saying something she couldn't understand. She watched paralyzed as her brother makes his way to that monstrous man.

They started battling.

At first they were standing on the same grounds, but it didn't take that long to see that Giotto was being pushed back. Giotto was having a hard time to even attack his opponent, he was on his defensive maneuver.

Who is this man?

The man was so strong, that even the man called the Sword Master is being out classed. How can he move so gracefully but at the same time fierce? The both of them looked like they were dancing some kind of exotic dance, with the grim ripper waiting for one of them to trip.

She could tell, she didn't know how but she could feel it, ever since the beginning. Giotto was losing, he was being pushed back by the man's unusual swordplay. It was swift but deadly. Agnezka started panicking, she was having a hard time breathing just watching the match.

But for some reason she couldn't look away to catch her breath.

"Nonno, let's help Fratello, he's losing." She pleaded as her eyes still focused on the savage battle between sword masters.

For some unknown reason no one could take away their eyes at the battle, not even the enemy, all of their attention was at the two swordsman. She couldn't take away her eyes, no matter how much she wants to.

The fear has rendered her unable to move, her body wouldn't listen to her orders at all, as if she was restrained at that position. It feels like if she ever removed her sight from it, she would lose something, something very important.

Her head started to spin, she felt dizzy with this situation.

"Nonno!" She shouted.

"We cannot help Agnez." The Godfather said, almost in a whisper.

The Boss wanted to help his grandson, just as much Agnez wanted, but he couldn't. This is a battle Giotto entered himself, he cannot interfere. All he could do was watch and clench his fist until blood drip from his palms.

"Perché?! Perché non aiutare Fratello?! E 'il tuo nipote, non è vero? (Why?! Why won't you help brother?! He's your grandson, is he not?!)" Agnez said, she couldn't help speaking Italian when she's not on her right mind.

Then all of a sudden Giotto slipped, making everyone from the Patriarca Famiglia panic. Agenz knew at that moment, that if she didn't move, she will lose something.

And she'll regret watching this d@mn match.

"Move! Move! Move! Move!" She repeatedly chanted to herself as she grit her teeth. When she could finally move, without even thinking twice, she attacked the man to help her brother. "Fratello!"

"No, Agnez stop!!!" The Godfather shouted, he ran towards Agnez to stop her.

But he was a step late.

The color of crimson red was flowing like a wild fire, everything went quiet. The place abruptly got surrounded by the sudden rainfall. No one spoke, no one even dared to breathe. At the very last second, when Agnez interfered, the man with the red hair tried to attack her. With Giotto's remaining strength, he shielded her with his own body and got stabbed.

Agnezka stared wide eyed to his brother's face. Giotto smiled, because he knew, he knew it was his end.

Her hands were shaking violently with her knees. In front of her is her brother's smiling face, the gentle smile that he would always have. The smile that didn't give a care on the world, the smile that she always love, and will always do.

She wanted to reach his face, but there seems to be no energy on his body, nothing at all. Her body, brain and soul felt exhausted and drained all of a sudden.

"..." She tried to say something but no voice seems to come out from her mouth.

The red liquid flowed like a broken container, it wouldn't stop.

Without her knowing, tears fell from her eyes, as if her tear pool broke. She couldn't utter a word. She couldn't even lift her finger, much less move it. Her heart beats like a drum and her breathing stopped. She stared wide eyes at the blade pierced right through her brother, from there blood flowed, it was his brothers blood.

And it was slowly taking away his life.

The Godfather looked solemnly at his dying grandson, no matter how much he wishes to shed even a drop of tear he couldn't. No he mustn't, not right now, where the family is in the brink of losing this battle. His hands bear not just the life of his Grandson or Granddaughter, but the lives of all the men who believes in him. That is why, he must be stronger, for the family.

His heart was crying. He felt like his very own heart was the one that got stabbed, like he was the one who got wounded.

The old man looked furiously at the man who stabbed his grandson. The air around the area changed because of the overflowing killing intent from him, but he didn't make a move, he couldn't.

If he did, it will risk everything they have now. It will risk all of the men here. If he make a single move, those men waiting in the shadows watching intently will definitely make their move and kill all of them. Agnez and him might survive, but not his men.

"P-please don't c-cry Agnez." Giotto broke the deafening silence of the place, although his voice sounded tired, it was still heard by everyone.

"N-Nonno, F-Fratello is bleeding. I-it won't stop! We need... n-need to bring him to the h-hospital." Agnez said as her voice trembled, hoping that her grandfather would immediately help, but received nothing. "Nonno! What are you standing there for?!"

"It is too late Agnez, Giotto cannot be saved." The Godfather said, as cold as winter.

More than anyone else in this port, the Godfather wants to bring his grandson to the hospital, thinking he might be saved. But then he knows that it will do nothing. That they're hanging on a single invisible thin thread.

Giotto was struck directly at the heart.

"A-agnez always remember to smile, ok? Take this." He handed her his named sword and a yin-yang medallion made of pure gold. But she didn't want to take it, he is not going to die yet, she don't need it.

"What are you saying? W-why are saying things like that? Why are you giving this to me? You are not going to die, we are going to the hospital." She said between her uncontrollable sobs. "Nonno, I beg you, please carry Fratello, we must head to the nearest hospital. He is badly hurt, we have to treat him."

Giotto smiled as his eyes slowly shut, it was the most beautiful smile he ever showed.

"Fratello?!" She shook him a little. She tried feeling his heart beat, it was slow but its still there, he is still alive and breathing. He's still hanging. "Fratello! Fratello! Please, please, don't you dare close your eyes." She begged.

"Fratello, please." She continued to beg, but he wouldn't speak, his eyes slowly closing but the smile was still there.

"A-a-agne-e-ez..." He whispered but enough for her to hear.

Completely, his eyes closed, his breathing gone and his heart beat stopped. There was pure silence, everything turned dark, there was nothing.

Giotto Patriarca is dead.

"Fratello? Fratello?! Hey! Why aren't you moving?!" She shook him, wishing that he would open his eyes and speak to her again. "Fratello, open your eyes, please!" She begged as she hug him, his body slowly turning cold.

"Please don't leave me." He promised, he said that he would always be with her forever, but now he's gone, with his promise. "Fratello! I will never forgive you if you don't wake up now." She threatened.

Maybe this would work. Whenever Giotto pretends sleeping, she would use this and he would immediately open his eyes. Maybe he would open his eyes and then laugh with her saying it was a joke.

But he didn't, his eyes remained close.

"Fratelloooooooooo!!" She wanted to shout that out but the lump on her throat has rendered her speechless. Her breathing started to get fast at abnormally rapid rate, her body was shaking uncontrollably and she felt like vomiting. But before she could lose it, she tried to calm her self by closing her eyes.

After a couple of exhaling she opened her eyes, only to see his brothers smiling face, again she started trembling.

Seconds passed, she finally accepted his death. She pulled him to another bone breaking hug and slowly stood up. Her head still downwards, she picked up Giotto's sword and held on it tightly, like everything is depending on it.

She tilted her head up, looking directly at the man who just killed her beloved brother. Her eyes full of resentment, rage and hostility.

Without as much as a warning, she attacked the culprit like a beast, swaying the sword like a mad man. But with the big difference in power, she couldn't even touch him nor scratch him. She was far too weak to handle the man.

"Ti ammazzo! (I will kill you!)" She swore.

The other men could feel her deep murder intent, it was sharp that made the others breathless, but not the man she was about to kill. No, she cannot kill him, he was stronger. She was like nothing but a worm to the man.

"Ti ammazzo bastardo! (I will kill you bastard!)"

Agnez could not control her anger. She could no longer see or hear anything anymore. Everything turned black and white. The only thing left for her to see is the enemy before her and the red blood of his brother on the man's sword.

She attack continuously, but still failed.

She knew, it was futile, but still...

but still...

"You cannot kill me, LITTLE GIRL." Said the man with the coldest stare, his eyes was so dark, it doesn't have anything in it. Just like a dark portal, it was sucking everything, but it was empty. Just like the eyes of a doll.  

The man decided to end the foolish girl's action. He started to swing his own sword at her. The sudden adrenaline the girl got started to slowly dwindle. Then she was on the ground, with his katana poking at her neck. That was then that she felt a strong urge to cry. She was frightened, this man before her is too terrifying.

Her eyes held only two emotions; frightened and rage.

She saw him form a small smile on his face.

"Loathe me, carve that hatred deep into your heart. Let your vengeful soul bring out the real you. Then get strong, find me and kill me." After saying those words, he disappeared.

Like the wind he was gone, and so is Giotto Patriarca.

©IF02