Royal Sinners (Sinners 1)

Chapter 6: Confidando Il Maestro

'I was curious. We used to live in Castello dei Capo. Your room used to be mine,' was what Zak said, then he didn't answer the next questions, no matter what I ask him.

After that day, he and the other members of the Fortunello never approached me again. My scissors were returned and I was left alone. Still, I had a nagging feeling that I was being watched. That deep inside, something has changed. The world may not revolve around me, but now, I am a part of it.

It didn't matter. When I meet Uncle, all those years of being alone will be forgotten. I just have to live by, one day at a time before he returns.

Another day ended, the class was as usual and I borrowed another book from the library. This time, I was mindful of the time. I walked to where I parked my bike when someone called my name, then a cloth covered my nose before I could make a complete look. And ether-like scent invaded my nose and that was the last thing I remembered.

When I woke up, I was already on a bed in a big room. Aside from a picture of a landscape, the room had no more decoration. It was spacious and almost empty except for a bed and a chair.
Faint clanging of metal from the corner of the room caught my attention. A man sat on the floor his back towards me. What was happening sunk in fast. I was being held as a captive and the instinct to escape settled in.

I was always ready to die, but this time, something held me back from such fate. Slowly, I crept to the edge of the bed.

"You'll die faster outside," the raspy voice warned before my feet could touch the floor. Screaming, crashes and something breaking could be heard beyond the door. Yet, the man turned around as calm as quiet before a storm. I gasped. It was not just because of the muscular bulk nor his malicious grin, but all of him. His right ear was cut and half of his face was filled with scars. There were more on his arms, uncovered by a simple white T-Shirt.

Some of his stitches were healed, while others seemed cuts left on their own and closed in time. He was a man who fought many battles, and bloody ones. Unlike his face, the machete he held was smooth and flawless. I found myself crawling to the corner of the bed as far from him as possible.

"Sorry, part of the job," he said, approaching. "Now, where can my blade kiss you?"

No! I won't die like this. Not in his hands. But what could a pillow do against him? A scream could only go far as plead for help.

He was at the foot of the bed when the noise from the outside subsided. Then the door slammed open.

Zak strolled in, still in his school uniform, lazily dragging a long metal tube. The rusty edge hit the floor and made a scratchy metal sound. It was just a tube pipe, but it looked so dangerous in his hands. A deadly weapon held by a deadly man. Though his gait was languid, his eyes were not. They were cold and threatening, while mine were desperate and helpless.

If he's here to save me, I'll gladly accept. For now, Uncle's warning was just a pretentious armor that did not fit me. I just wanted to escape. I have been running from my own demons and being involved with another was more than I could handle.

"Ah, young majesty." The man bowed. "We've underestimated your little dog soldiers."

"That's unfortunate then... Second," he replied in the same tone.

He clucked his tongue. "You and your nicknames. You have a sharp tongue, I see."

"What brought you to my city?"

"I'm here for the package the Orient entrusted to you. I heard it's very precious. In exchange, I'll return this scared, little thing."

"The package is mine."

"Why would you involve yourself with the Orient? Business... payback, perhaps? I thought you have no interest in the mafia."

"I have now. I'm an Orleonne after all."

"I don't think so. You've lost the manners of an Orleonne. Where're my greetings?"

"Apologies." Zak smirked like he found something funny. "How are you, Second?"

"Nothing much," he shrugged. "Still doing dirty jobs for the Colombo Family, the fate of being an Alcaster. How's my little brother?"

"Bino is obedient as always."

Though I understood bits and pieces from the exchange, shock and confusion was still probably a normal reaction. Second is Bino's brother? Then why are they fighting?

Second's offensive stance loosened for a moment. "You don't call him Third?"

"I don't call my pets by ordinals. I treat them right. There are no leashes on their necks, but they do everything I ask." He swung the metal to test its weight. "Second, does your master treat you right? Or they treat you like your father did after he sold his sons when he couldn't pay his debt? First, the eldest, was sold somewhere in the North. You, to the Colombos. And Third, now Bino, to us, the Orleonnes."

Second snarled, bared his teeth, and then quickly took control of his anger. "You've gone wordy. Why did the Orient entrust a boy from the South with a package?"

"A favor." He shrugged.

"Ahh..." Second bobbed his head. "I understand now. You're doing them a favor, in exchange for an alliance against the North. The South and the North have long been rivals, but the Orient never cared about the war. They have been neutral all this time."

"Not for long." Zak then gave me a command. "Close your eyes."

I shook my head with the tears swelling up. That's what my mother told me too, and look where it led me.

"Hanna," he called again, "close your eyes."

Second let out a hearty laugh. "Tough and gentle at the same time."

I want to be anywhere but not here. I've seen death and I don't want to witness another one. But if I do cover my eyes, I might see something terrifying once I open them again.

"Close them." Then he added in a whisper, "Trust me..."

Trust. Him.

So I did, and even covered my ears. However, no matter what I do, I can still hear and feel the clash of metals, screams and vibrations.

What if he gets hurt? Would he be lying in his blood?

Memories from the past flooded in. Certainly, fear of repeated history was one of the most terrifying feeling cursed to man. 'My life, close your eyes and make a wish.' I regretted when I opened them again.

The clanging of metal ceased and there was a last stronger vibration that shook my bed. Someone has fallen. No. Not like this again.

"Open them, Hanna."

I shook my head.

Slowly but firmly, cold hands removed mine from my ears. "It's okay, there's nothing to fear." And for the second time, I trusted him. The first thing I saw was grey eyes. Zak's. His uniform was ripped and there was a gash on his arm. Before I knew it, I hugged him as if my life depended on him. I trusted him and as of the moment, it was worth it. He quickly pulled away like I was a plague. "Let's go."

Second was lying near the foot of the bed with blood on his stomach, and the machete out of his reach. He coughed blood in between words. "You are ready, but how long will you last? Not just the Colombo, other families from the South also aim for an alliance with the Orient. They want a shot, too. If the package is the only way, they'll come for you. What will you do? You're just a boy, Zachary."

"The fact that I let you live will send a warning. Tell them, I'm here to take the throne. Go back to your master and live to tell."

He chuckled bitterly. "Not for long. Colombos don't like failures. Tell my brother to live longer than I did."

"He's not your brother anymore." And we left.

If the room was a mess, outside was hell. Bino sat comfortably over a pile of limp and bloody bodies. The fact that they were squirming under his weight was proof of life or possibly, near-death.

"You don't ask permission before you beat the shit out of them. Change your damn ways Gentle!"

"The human body is a temple, Mr. Alcaster. It's holy. We should respect it."

"I'm not talking to you, fucktard. I'll talk to you once you call me 'Bino The Great'."

"If that's what you wish, Mr. Alcaster."

Pete was the one to notice us. "We're pretty odd, huh?" Beside him, the man in dreadlocks yawned. "This is boring."

The others were quiet, some smoked in the corner. Alfon sat on a tattered couch, folding a handkerchief like it was a clean laundry.

"Hello!" Bino greeted.

I couldn't look at him straightly with all the struggling bodies under him. "So, who was it?" 

"Southerners like us, the Colombos," Pete informed. "They never use guns but knives."

"Idiots." Yet, Bino lacked gruff conviction. "I wonder how they survived without guns. This ain't the era of honor among thieves anymore."

"They're good with blades, like your brother."

"I don't need your answer, Einstein."

"You won't even greet him?"

Bino climbed off his throne of crying bodies and grabbed Pete by the collar. "Don't test me."

"Alright, I'm sorry." He raised his hands in surrender. "Geez big boy, so touchy."

He didn't answer instead, pulled out something from his pocket. "Hey, Mutie." He then threw it in my direction.

I couldn't catch it, but picked the small notebook with an attached pen that landed on my feet. He scratched his head and mumbled. "Use it when you want to say something and I'm sorry about your cheek. I won't do it again." He then turned to Zak. "Happy now?"

All I could do was to manage a smile. For the first use, I wrote something in it and showed him while everyone was preparing to leave.

Second...He is still your family.

He could be angry at me, but still, no matter how the world worked, he and Second were bound by blood. He must have been lonely, I know. I too have felt the pain of losing a family.

"You go first," he said, "I'll be quick."

They all left without a word. I hid a smile following his back enter the room where Second was. These people are complicated. One moment they're evil, but then, I have peeked a little heart in them.

Once out of the building, the different lights form clubs, bars and other establishments blinded me for a moment. Even the building we exited had a blinking sign of Ramir Hotel. There's no mistake that we are at the infamous Red-Light District, where even the police turn a blind eye.
The tension rose again as a group of men were waiting ahead. "Good evening," greeted the old man in the center of the group, supporting himself with a black cane. "What brought you here in this part of the city?"

"To retrieve something," Bino replied, coming out from the main entrance.

Zak stepped forward. "Did you help those men to steal my property?"

On a different occasion, I would've disagreed, but instead, I hid behind him.

"Ah, my hotel is for everyone. If I knew you own the girl, I shouldn't have accepted the guests."

Zak nodded. "I'll send the payment for damages."

"There is no need. It's my honor to have you in my establishment."

Zak didn't answer and pulled me, followed by the Fortunello. The men parted like the ocean was cut in half. We all rode the parked motorcycles and it was such a wonder why nobody stole it.
I took the courage to get on the back without him telling me to and grabbed unto his coat.

"Welcome back, Signor Orleonne."

Still wordless, Zak revved the motor to life. With my last glance, I saw the old man bow his head.

On the road, Zak separated from the convoy towards the direction of Castello dei Capo and stopped just before the bridge.

"You'll be safe here."

But before he could leave, I pulled his hand. "P-Please, help me with the lights."

It was almost midnight and the mansion was dark. If I knew I'd be this late, I should've called the staff to switch them on. In the first place, they'll never take an initiative if I didn't tell them to. "Please."

He eyed my hands gripping his with no sign of letting go. "What are you afraid of, Hanna?"
He already knew the answer, why did he ask? To toy with my emotions? To feel superior?

"The dark. I'm afraid of the dark."

Zak invaded the space between us. "Are you afraid of me?"

I was always certain of the answer. And yet, at that moment, all I could do was look away. "I don't know."

***

Trusting The Master