La Sacerdotessa

The Warning

IT hadn't been long after Satira's own recovery that Felicita lost her memories and the truth of Satira's and Jolly's partnership came to fruitation. Luckily, Jolly was able to save her with the help of Mondo, Liberta, and Nova.

Satira was busying herself in the kitchen along with Felicita's maids, baking for her recovery celebration. She'd like to think she was also celebrating her own recovery as well, a selfish notion she pushed to the back of her head. Most of her thoughts that morning revolved around three men: Pace, Debito, and Jolly. Her stress she had felt over choosing had helped her knead dough, her helpers worrying over her as they watched her.

There was Debito, who made her heart race, Pace, who was her home, and Jolly, who had been there for her when she couldn't turn to anyone else. Sure, she hadn't really thought of Jolly in that way before, but following previous events, she began to see the appeal.

She only hoped she had enough strength to choose.

THE following day, Felicita had come to her early in the morning before she, Liberta and Nova were to go out to sea.

"Gli Amanti said she'd negate the Wheel of Fortune's consequences, but that I can't complete love alone. I went to Jolly and he suggested I choose between Nova and Liberta."

At Jolly's name, Satira blushed a bit, hiding herself beneath the blanket. Felicita sat beside her on the bed, a plate of the previous morning's leftovers in her hands to snack on while they had girl talk.

"Felicita... I understand what you're going through. You know I do. If you're asking what love is, I can't give you a straight forward answer. However, if you have to choose between them for duty, you're not truly doing it because you love them. If Gli Amanti outwardly said it needed to be romantic love, you have no choice but to fall for one and claim them as your lover. But if she didn't, you should be able to think out of the box and use some other type of love to save Papa and keep your memory. Just remember," Satira put her hand over Felicita's beating chest, "listen to your heart. That is the best you can do."

"Thank you, Satira. I hope you can make your choice, as hard as it may be." Felicita smiled before leaving her room to get dressed for her day.

Satira sighed as she leaned back in her bed. My choice... it's nearly impossible.

SATIRA walked through the halls humming to herself and stepped into the courtyard. Pace was sitting on the ledge of Felicita's giant statue.

"Haaaayoooh!" Pace jumped at her excited greeting, blushing a bit.

"You look troubled. What's up?"

"I was just thinking."

"Oh no. That's dangerous." Pace laughed a bit. "Seriously though. What's wrong?"

"Remember how we got angry at you for keeping your problem a secret? We boys haven't been completely honest either."

"What do you mean?"

"Another time, perhaps." Satira wanted to press him about it, but she didn't. She simply put her head on his shoulder and took his hand in hers.

"I don't know what's wrong, but I promise you I'll help you."

"Thanks Sati but I'm not too sure you can."

"I thought I was gone. But you and the boys, you helped me. I will spend the rest of my life owing you guys."

"God forbid you live a long, long time," Pace mumbled sadly, turning to kiss Satira's head. She nuzzled herself against Pace. She could stay like this forever.

"Ms. Bianchi?" A member of Wand walked up to the two.

"Yes, Alexander?"

"You've been sent a letter. The man told me to deliver it to you as soon as possible."

Satira knit her eyebrows, taking the letter from the man and opening it. Her eyes widened and she looked back up at Alexander.

"Who gave this letter to you?!"

"A man, mi'lady. Why?!"

"Lock down the front gates now and get Mama! This has gone too far!"

Satira left the letter where she was sitting and followed after Alexander. Pace picked up the letter, scanning through it.

The letter read:

Hello, my daughter. No doubt by now your famiglia has found a way to bypass my arcana powers.

Good. This way you can take in all I have to say with a bit more than a grain of salt.

I'm coming back. It can either go two ways. One, I bring my entire army of men, and trust me, magic is nothing when faced against firearms. If that happens, I will leave no survivors.

On the other hand, I can come alone. You can come to me and we can have a fight to the death. If I can't have the Quelli Dimenticati, at least I can have the satisfaction of killing you.

Your decision, really.

I await your decision.

Claudio.

PACE finished reading the letter and slipped it into his pocket.

He had a plan up his sleeve.