TAMED

Ares

The car ride was long, longer than any Vince had ever been on before. The roads were quite cared for but now they had traveled far enough out that the pavement had ended miles before. As they continued on, they sat in silence. Not even the radio played.

"There..." Vince said as an old metal sign caught his attention.

"Lipa Road...there it is..." Levi added and pulled off onto the narrow dirt pathway. The drive was rather rugged as they drove toward a colony of rolling hills that lead the way to the brilliance of the Italian Alps. Levi was forced to keep the car at a snail's pace in order to prevent any large stones from causing damage to the car. All they needed was a punctured oil pan.

Forty minutes later.

"Does this road ever end?!" Vince complained, travelling so slowly made the trip seem like an eternity. They could have gotten there faster if they'd walked, but it just wasn't logical. The trail had brought them in between a set of massive mountains whose peaks kissed the sky.

Just as he was contemplating hopping out and hiking the rest of the way, they rounded a bend, and what they saw was breathtaking. A couple of miles in the distance, on top of a massive stone ridge, sat a huge medieval castle. Its once white finish now stained from rain and snow, while moss, vines, and other plant life grew wild along its proud towers and massive walls.

"Listen..." Levi began as he drove a bit further but then stopped and put the car in park. "I just-"

"I know." Vince interrupted, unbuckling his seat belt and taking hold of his door handle. He turned to look at his friend and sighed, taking a moment to find his words. "I just want to get Ares back, whatever happens to the other Hounds is up to you."

Levi set his jaw as he prepared for what was to come. "Well...I guess let's go. Maybe Sanna's in a good mood."

The two climbed out and took a good long look at the trek before them, and the castle at the top.

"You know, if I wasn't worried about dying today, this would be pretty awesome. I mean look at that thing..." Vince laughed, trying to offset his own anxiety within himself. Levi chuckled and shook his head.

The familiar beep from the car as the doors locked sounded off behind them. Vince furrowed his brows and stopped in his tracks, then turned 'round to look at the vehicle, then back to Vince. He scrutinized the man and watched as Levi rolled his eyes and dropped his head back.

"Did-Did you just lock the car?" Vince accused with a brief laugh.

"Habit..."

"In the middle of nowhere Italy?" The younger man teased, gesturing to the vast acreage of sheer wilderness that surrounded them in every direction.

"It's habit...living in the United States will do that to you ya know..." Levi dismissed as he put a cigarette up to his mouth and brought the end to life.

With the sarcasm having run its course, the two began the hike up the mountain. After twenty minutes or so, they began to wonder why they hadn't seen or heard anything yet. Surely Alejandro had security in place? He had control of the world's most deadly military soldiers, so...where was everyone?

"Should...we be worried?" Vince asked, effectively breaking the agonizing silence.

"Probably." Was his partner's short answer. "I think it's best if we-"

The two stopped in their tracks and held very still as they were quickly surrounded by none other than the Hounds.

"-stay quiet..." Levi finished in exasperation, slowly raising his hands into the air and prompting Vince to do the same.