The Family

The Letter...

4 weeks after Ball...
"En guard!" Boomed the referee as Nicolas and his father began  their seventh match of fencing.

His father had quick and firm movements as he lunged and parried.

Nicolas had to stumble out of the way as the sword brushed against his hand.

His father smiled and cautiously approached the individual on the ground.

Nicolas gritted his teeth and as quick as a blink, pressed his sword to his father heart.

"Nicolas wins!" The referee cheers.

They removed their helmets and shook each other's hands.

His father had a cheerful smile on his face while Nicolas had a weary expression. His eyes were dull and dark circles surrounded them.

"Nicolas, avez-vous dormi."  His father asked wearily.

But Nicolas simply nodded and left the room.

He changed clothes and walked out the house.

Antonio warned him about leaving the house alone but he payed no heed to the warning and carried on walking.

Women would wink and flirt but he simply pushed passed them.

He kept his gaze to the ground until he noticed a car.

He didn't know why the car seemed to peek his interest the way it did.

The car drive off down the road and turned the corner, almost as if it was taunting him.

He took a deep breath and took off down the concrete path.

Once he had finally reached the car, he walked closer to the car and attempted to get a look at the driver as the window slowly opened.

A small letter dropped out of the car and fell to the ground before the car abruptly drove off.

He picked up the letter and opened the with slightly trembling hands.

The words that were written in neat cursive made Nicolas's breathe hitch and his blood run cold.

He froze in his place as tears threatened to escape. The words that would haunt him for a long time.

She's dead

Blood found its way up my throat and out my mouth as I crouched on my knees, clutching my stomach.

"You guys are.....good...at this..." I wheezed as I coughed up more blood.

The dull floor and walls were stained with a dark crimson as my small frame remained in the fetal position.

The room was filled with DeLuca, Lorenzo and some other goons.

"You know this could all end....with four words." Lorenzo loomed over me with narrowed eyes.

"I'll die before I marry you!" I screamed, my voice hoarse.

It took all my will power not to scream in pain as he harshly grabbed me by the neck, igniting all my wounds into a seething pain.

"Valentine....I thought you were smart....if you weren't so selfish, you  could easily end this feud between our families. We all know who's going to win here..." he trailed off.

I shook out of his grasp but he grabbed tighter, leaving red and purple marks on my neck.

He forced me to look at him as a sly smile crept onto his face.

"The dirt on your shoe has a better chance of winning!" I spat.

DeLuca watched with an expression filled with amusement.

Lorenzo snapped his fingers and DeLuca, along with the other goons, began kicking, punching and spitting on me as I cursed under my breathe.

My headache intensified as the wounds burned and throbbed.

I just wished for the sweet embrace of darkness as I dug my nails into my hands so hard, they began to bleed.

More blood spilled out of my wounds as I gritted my teeth.

"You......guys........don't.....stand.....a chance...." I wheezed before my vision blurred and I fell into the darkness.

There she stood....blood dripping down her face as wounds littered her body, Nicolas stood over her. His face contorted into one of fear and despair as blood poured out of her mouth and she cried.

"Nicolas! SAVE ME PLEASE!" She begged as her breathing slowed and she fell to the ground into a mangled mess.

"NOOOO!" Nicolas shrieked as he tried to reach her body.

"VALENTINE PLEASE DON'T!" He shrieked as his fingers brushed against her skin.

As soon as he made contact with her bloody skin, his hand seemed to become consumed into the deep crimson liquid.

In the blink of an eye, he entire body was seemingly consumed with her blood and he felt the liquid slither down his body.

He saw vision of Valentine being tortured while they sat and did nothing.

A dark pit of despair was felt in his stomach as his body seemed to fall into the darkness...

He woke up with sweat dripping down his face.

He looked around and saw he was in his room.

Memories of the past events came flooding back into his mind.

He glanced to his bedside table and saw the familiar letter he had found the day before.

He took a deep breathe and brushed his fingers through his hair.

The letter, still placed on his bedside table, was what had caused him to have these dark nightmares.

He stumbled out of bed and tripped over a glass bottle.

Dozens of empty alcoholic bottles littered his room as he checked to see if there was any alcohol left.

He sighed as he came to the realization that none was present.

He stumbled to Seraphinas room and opened the door without knocking.

Seraphina sat on her bed, reading.

She jumped at the sudden intrusion as her older counterpart made his way to her bed.

He ungracefully fell on the bed and lay there, still.

Seraphina inwardly gagged at the stench of alcohol present.

"Nicolas?" She called softly.

He stood up with sorrow filled eyes as tears slowly made there way down his cheek.

Seraphina sat still as she watched the depressed individual.

His body trembled as he sobbed louder.

She snapped to her senses and quickly pulled him into a tight hug.

He quietly sobbed into her shoulder and she patted his head gently.

"It's OK..." she whispered as they hugged each other tightly.