Chapter 6
1421 Words
Isabella came home drenched in not only the rain but in pain,anguish,anger ,She needed answers,so she went to her brother's room and said
"You knew and you kept it away from me,how could you"
"why are you wet and what are you talking about"Isaac asked in confusion
"I WENT TO SEE ROMANO!!!!"
Realising the gravity of the situation and what she meant by her words he said
" He told you didn't he?"
"Of course he did, I thought we were in this together,I thought that you tell me everything".
"I do!!" Isaac stuttered realising the gravity of mistake that she had done
" I know you and Unc were close I knew that this will hurt you and I do too..I am hurt "Isaac said
"Your father is calling the both of you now to his chambers" a guard suddenly said
At the chambers,Jacob,Sarah waited for their children
"Good evening father,good evening mum" Isaac greeted
"Good.... evening dad, good evening mum " Isabella greeted avoiding eye contact with her parents
"Why is your hair drenched and what was all the noise about "Sarah asked .
"Errm mum" Isaac started
"No I am not going to sit down here and look at you guys in the eye and we all are going to pretend like we don't know what the hell happened" Isabella charged
"Hey watch who you are talking to young lady"Sarah said about to rise from her seat
"No allow her vent your anger towards me I want to hear it all"Jacob calmly told his wife sipping a liquor
"You all knew that Romero kill Unc and no one told me,can I get an explanation for that, I deserved to know too" Isabella said
" I did it to protect you from the harsh truth of reality,..you loved your uncle so much and I couldn't bare to see you hurt ....he was my brother too you know?"Jacob said
"And he was my uncle too I fell like I have been robbed ,I have vowed every day to kill the one who murdered my uncle,not knowing that you all knew all along "Isabella stated.
"Well that's why this is a perfect opportunity "....Jacob brings out a bag and says
"Open it" he instructed
Isabella took one look at her family and asked
"What is this"
"Open itt"
Isabella opens it and saw that it contains weapons and asked
"What for?"
"You just stated that you have vowed to kill who killed your uncle,well those are weapons of all sorts.....
Then he looked her straight in the eye
"Kill ROMANO"
"But but Dad..."Isabella stuttered
"You have been trained for this moment all your life and that vow is the complete head space I need you to be in while doing this .. your not only doing your self a favour, you are doing the whole family a favour ". Jacob said
"But " Isabella stuttered
"But what? "
Jacob shouted making the whole room shake
"I gave you life,food,power, protection, ....Tell me why I shouldn't throw you into the dungeon after defiling my orders ...my clear orders
"DON'T SEE HIM AGAIN" but you still did and your about to do it again?" Jacob said
"I give you two weeks to get the job done if not you will sleep in the dungeon,you will work like the slaves in the scortchy sun and you won't be fed ,you will be stripped of all your titles a d become a nobody".
"Dad"
"My Lord"
Sarah and Isaac echoed together
"Please let's take it easy on her, she will get the job done within two weeks "Sarah assured.
"Yes dad she will"Isaac said
"You better get to work"Jacob said and left the room.
Isabella sobs and cries,her brother comes to console her
"I am so sorry Isa, I wish...."
"You traitor, if you were told to kill the one you love would you have done it ,not to talk of the fact that you of all people met him and only threatened him" Isabella said
"He told you " Isaac said
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, he did " Isabella said sobbing
"Why didn't you kill him?"
"Huh?"
"Oh you were scared weren't you " Isabella said
"Hey, I did that to protect you, so you better do what father says, besides I warned you about sneaking out to see him so this is on you "Isaac said and left.
Isabella just sat there and sobbed hard.
Isabella didn’t sleep that night.
She sat curled in the corner of her room, still soaked, arms wrapped around her knees. The open weapon bag sat by the door like a predator watching her every move. Its contents gleamed under the flicker of the candlelight cold steel and death, waiting for her hands.
Her eyes were red. Not just from crying, but from exhaustion. From thinking. From remembering.
Romero’s voice haunted her,
“I never wanted to kill him, Isa. I was ordered to. Your uncle... he was going to start a war your family wasn’t ready for. I didn’t pull the trigger with joy,I did it with sorrow.”
She clutched her stomach as the wave of grief came again. Her uncle had raised her when her father was too busy conquering territories. It was his lap she’d fallen asleep on as a child. It was his laughter that made the cold mansion feel like a home. He was her softness in a brutal world.
And now she was expected to become the monster that stole that softness from others.
A knock at her door broke the silence.
It creaked open_Isaac.
He stood there, no apology in his eyes this time. Just quiet guilt. “Have you thought about it?”
Isabella didn’t answer.
“Father meant every word,” he said, stepping in. “He won’t flinch. If you fail, you lose everything.”
“I’ve already lost everything,” she whispered.
Isaac looked away. “Romero should’ve kept his mouth shut.”
“No,” Isabella said, standing slowly. Her voice was calmer now, almost empty. “You all should have told me. I had the right to know.”
“You still have the right to make it right.”
She turned to him, deadpan. “Make it right by spilling more blood?”
Isaac sighed, turned, and walked out.
Days passed.
Isabella did not leave her room except to train. Silently, mechanically, with a fury that left the guards whispering behind her back. Her blades hit targets with perfect aim. Her footwork was flawless. Her eyes were distant.
On the seventh day, she stood in front of her mirror, dressed in black. Her long dark coat hugged her frame like armor. Her hair was slicked back, eyes rimmed with kohl.
The girl in the reflection looked nothing like the laughing Isabella who once danced barefoot in the garden. That girl was gone.
She stared herself down.
“Don’t fail,” she whispered.
That evening, she left the estate.
No one stopped her.
She walked alone through the alleyways of Catania, her boots echoing on wet cobblestones. The night air was heavy, pressing against her chest.
Romero was expecting her.
She had sent no message. But somehow, he knew.
She found him in the same place they first met,an abandoned rooftop bar overlooking the old part of the city.
He was leaning on the railing, wind in his hair, cigar between his fingers.
“You came,” he said softly.
“You didn’t run,” she replied.
Romero turned. His eyes searched hers.
“I had a feeling you wouldn’t come to kill me.”
She didn’t answer. The silence between them wasn’t awkward. It was... aching.
“Why did you kill my uncle?” she asked. “Or warn him? Or run away?”
Romano exhaled slowly. “Because it was either him or your father. And your father does not miss.”
Isabella stepped closer. “And now... it’s either you or me.”
“I know.”
He walked toward her and gently took her hand.
“You’re not a killer, Isa.”
She looked up at him. “But I was raised to be.”
He reached into his coat slowly,and she flinched.
But he only pulled out a small envelope.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Something your father doesn’t want you to see. Something about your uncle’s death... that changes everything.”
She looked at the envelope. Then back at him.
And she made her decision.
- Writer
