By Darkness I Burn [EN]

Prologue

Isabella – 16 years old

I was still a little dazed from the message Dad had sent seconds before. Go straight home, the war starts today, was what the message sent to my mother said. Leaving the wedding venue and running to get in the car, where security was waiting for us, I braked when I heard a tire screech very close to us. Shots were fired, and when a black van pulled up right in front of Mom and me, I knew we were screwed.

The van door opened and the person I saw inside made me shiver. Mom pushed me behind her – not that I, or even her, believed that would do any good.

"Get in the car." Nevio said without any expression.

Mom continued to stand, one eyebrow raised defiantly.

"I won't repeat it, redhead bitch." He said and I sighed deeply. Mom hated when people called her a bitch.

"Good!" She gave a condescending smile. "You won't need it because I'm not going anywhere with you."

In a movement too fast even for my trained eyes, due to training with Valerio and Flavio, Nevio jumped out of the van, towards my mother and put the knife to her neck. Knife that I never saw him draw. Mom took a deep breath but held her ground as she continued to hold me behind her.

If only I had one of my knives with me, but Mum had insisted that I shouldn't be as paranoid as Dad and not stick one in the boot I had chosen for the occasion, after all it was just my cousin's wedding to some slut... What could go wrong, right?

Well, the answer was right in front of us.

Mom continued to stand there, holding me behind her as if trying to figure out what to do, and by this time I was pretty sure she was regretting not letting me bring my knives with me. Not that I was as good as my father, but he had taught me a trick or two.

I looked over mama's and Nevio's shoulder, seeing for the first time that he wasn't alone. Massimo and Alessio had their eyes focused on me. When they saw me watching, they both flashed predatory smiles and Alessio was the first to step out of the van, never taking his gaze off me.

Shit!

"Don't you dare!" Mom turned her attention away from Nevio, looking at Alessio now. "Don't you dare go near my daughter."

Alessio's smile widened.

"What are you going to do about it, redhead?" He mocked.

I could see that Mum was holding back in fear of what might happen to me, yet in the next instant she had pushed Nevio, who almost fell over not expecting the action, and tried to land a kick between his legs, which he promptly dodged, causing it to hit his shin. Giving, however, enough time for her to run, pulling me together.

Mom pushed me towards the car, where the security guards were dead, and put me in the backseat, then quickly ran around to the driver's side. However, she didn't even have time to open the door, before Nevio recovered from the surprise attack and grabbed her by the back of the neck, pushing her face against the door. Mom grunted at the hit.

I looked around, looking for something I could use, but there was nothing. Just the soldiers' pistols and I wasn't that good with guns. An unusual glow caught my attention, the ankle holster of the soldier in the passenger seat brought hope to me. I bent down to pick up the knife, but before I got to it, the door on my side was flung open and my hair was pulled, pulling me back. I grunted and struggled, elbowing my captor, but was forced to stop when a dagger lodged in my belly, just below the ribs.

"You have fight in you, Vitiello girl. I like it." I couldn't see his face, but I could tell by his tone that he was smiling.

"Now," Nevio said again. "Let's go to the van, shall we?"