Moth to a Flame

Quarantotto| Lost Crest

THIRD PERSON

Everyone's attention shifted to the figure standing in the doorway. It was Savina, wearing a long black gown that flowed around her. Her hair draped over one shoulder like a dark waterfall. But instead of cheers or applause, her arrival brought a tense silence to the room.

Glaring at the gathering, Savina stepped forward, a smirk playing on her lips. "Why are you all looking at me like I just crashed a party?" The guests exchanged bewildered glances, murmurs bubbling to the surface, disbelief painting their expressions.

"I was invited." She then waved the invitation in her left hand, along with a bit of blood splatter on its envelope.

Inikot niya ang paningin niya, at nang mahanap niya ang iba niyang kasamahan ay malawak siyang napangisi. Tonight, every families were present. While it may seem like a party for them, for her, this will become their funeral.

"Anna!" Sachal exclaimed, half-joyous, half-horrified and confused. "Y-you're alive?"

Savina tilted her head, her expression mockingly curious as she eyed the teary-eyed woman before her. "Aren't you the new mistress of the Salvatores?" she scoffed, crossing her arms.

"I always thought the new mistress was cold and strong," she continued, allowing a laugh to escape her lips. "I didn't expect you'd look this weak and pathetic.

Sachal's heart clenched, her mind racing with memories of their shared past as flashes of laughter and sisterhood danced before her eyes. She couldn't be mistaken. This was Anna—her wingman, her best friend. Pati mukha, tindig, at pananalita nito ay parehong-pareho. She was alive!

"Anna, it's me, your best friend," Nang humakbang ito papalapit ay mabilis na hinawakan ni Lovi ang pulsuhan niya, pero imbis pansinin ang pag-pigil sa kanya ng binata ay binaklas niya lang ang kamay nito at nagpatuloy sa pagbaba ng stage.

"Don't you remember me?" nagsusumamo nitong tanong. Tanging titig lang ang naging sagot sa kanya ng babaeng kaharap niya.

"You are Lieutenant Colonel Annaliesse Permissano, the second in command of the Crimson Talon Unit," she pressed, stepping closer until they were nearly within touching distance. "We were best friends for ten years. I thought you..."

Sachal swallowed a lump in her throat and let a lone tear escape from her left eye. She was happy that she chose to marry Kage and bravely stepped into his chaotic world. Kung kapalit no'n ay ang pagdiskubre niyang buhay ang kaibigan niya, worth it lahat.

Taking another step, she forced a smile. "How are you these years?" she asked, desperately hoping to bridge the chasm of time suddenly stretched between them.

"Do you have any—" Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin niya nang hugutin ni Savina ang baril mula sa holster na nakalagay sa hita niya bago ito itutok sa kanya.

Isang nakakabinging katahimikan ang namutawi hindi lang sa pagitan nilang dalawa kun'di sa lahat ng nasa loob ng hall. Sachal claims that she was her missing friend from two years ago, but everyone inside the hall knew who she truly was.

Savina Canosa, the young head of Chimera that holds the Five Rings together. She carried the legacy that strives to destroy the Quartet Federation and become the next Il Capo dei Capi, the Don of all Dons.

Canosa, together with the members of the Five Rings and some minor families, was behind the fall of the former Il Capo dei Capi, the Lucchesse Family.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Mrs. Salvatore." She paused and raised an eyebrow. "I go by many names, but Annaliesse Permissano is not one of them."