Lampposts illuminated with the wick inside burning with fire. They lighted the streets where the residents' neighborhoods were close to deserted. Lamplighters hurried home when they see their job well done, tipping their caps in good spirits as they went on their way. Happy families were eating their meal contentedly, exhausted from the day's work. The markets, however, were still alive with people still continuing to purchase items from the shopkeepers. It was noisy with many customers and travelers who had just arrived at the town. Some carried sacks on their shoulders as they passed from stall to stall, examining the town's delicacies. The rich though rode in fancy carriages, looking for a worthy inn or hotel to lodge in for the night.

Inside a bakery shop at one of the corners, a middle-aged woman buys a cake that she will be bringing home to her family, excited for the festival that will be held the next day. The old shopkeeper himself was excited for his son's family will be visiting for the lavish event. They only visit once a year though there were several festivals in the town, but the next day was going to be the Festival of Lights, the best festival even compared to Christmas all year-round.

Above them the sky twinkled with shining stars that shone in the sky. It was clear with no cloud in sight. Along the town outskirts children would stare up and look for the constellations that caught their eye. The moon glowed its marvelous light where upon the water it was reflected, making it appear to be mirrored by the bay. Ships were tied and anchored to the harbor. Their crewmen were merrymaking in inns as they drank ale and beer. Their faces were red from drunkenness, but some were still surprisingly sober, proving themselves to be heavy drinkers.

Close by, the grandfather ticked in each second, as the arm would swing back and forth in beat. A cat snuggled close to the fireplace with a golden earring on both its ears. Her right ear had two though. The monkey, Shandor, ate his meal that the hostess of the house had prepared for him. He himself was close to the fireplace in the dining room where the contractors stayed. Eating merrily, the newcomers were amazed at the delicious taste of the food they were eating. Spoons clatter as each enjoyed the meal, though the group kept straight faces as awkward silence. Clearing her throat, the hostess glances around the gentlemen with a bright smile on her face. Leaning forward, she opens her mouth to speak:

"So. How is the food, gentlemen?" She asks the new contractors. "Is the food to your liking?" Angelica continues.

The two hesitated, but Pietro gathered the boldness to reply: "Yes. Thank you for the food."

The woman chuckles, "No need for the formalities. We're family now," She continues, surprising the two. "We're part of a famiglia. A family."

"What do you do exactly? In this organization you speak of?" Abelle asks coldly, pushing back his glasses.

"We protect a town called Regalo," She replies as she took a spoonful. "It is a lovely town with good people." Angelica continues on after she swallowed her food.

"That's it? Just protect a town?"

Her face suddenly becomes grim. Looking into her eye, the men felt like they were falling into an abyss, forever falling. The woman blinks and the feeling immediately wears off. "This year. Or at least soon something exciting is about to happen," The woman prophesies. "I'm not sure yet. The visions are blurry, but something big and new is coming."

"What did you see?" Asks Enzo, his face becoming solemn.

"I'm not sure," Angelica replies. "But I saw cards. But they didn't resemble the Arcana that we currently hold."

Alfieri smirks, "Sounds like fun." He remarked.

Cocking her eyebrow, Angelica smirks. "I'll kill you if you if I could, but sadly you're a contractor."

"You know you love me." He leered.

The woman scoffs, "Funny, Alfieri."

Fire cackled in the fireplace as the flames danced inside the hearth. The burning coals emitted embers that float into the air along with the ashy smoke. It burned brightly, bringing warmth to the people in the room. Beside the ornamental mantelpiece, pokers were kept in grate-like containers on either side. Then close by was a sack of coal that was barely full.

"I hope to train you myself, but Alfieri may be of—" Angelica stops when she suddenly gasps, crumbling to the ground. Her companions quickly rushed to her side and see her in intense pain. Wincing, her eye was closed shut as she curled up.

"What should we do?!" Asks Pietro, surprised to see the hostess lying on the ground.

"It's La Stella." Muttered Enzo.

"The Star?"

"It's her first Arcana card." He continues, just cuddling her in his arms. "Mondo's in pain. Or at least he's supposed to be, but she told us that she made a deal that she'll connect to Mondo and take the pain upon herself instead."

"What??" Exclaimed a shocked Pietro. "Why would she??"

Alfieri takes hold of the fortuneteller's hand and kisses her shaking knuckles. "We do not know."

"Then how can we help her?" Asks a concerned Abelle.

"There's none," Replied the man, disappointing the two. "All we could do is just stay by her side until it passes."

Before the bespectacled man could reply Angelica suddenly coughs up blood, making the men panic. But at the next second, the woman stopped shaking and relaxed, opening her eyes after. She gives them a pained smile before she fully regained consciousness. Breathing deeply, she slowly opens her eyes, while her eyelids fluttered. "It's getting worse." She spoke, getting up wobbly. Alfieri takes hold of her shoulders before the girl could lose her balance.

"Yes, apparently." He cooed. "I'll take you to your room."

"No, I'm fine," Angelica calmly replied. "You're treating me like an old woman." She joked, but the men with her didn't laugh, seeing how serious the situation was.

"Why are you doing this?" Asks Abelle, scowling.

"This?"

"Why did you connect yourself with Mondo?" He asks, pushing back his glasses.

She smiles as she wipes her bloody lips with her hand then sighs, "That man has been having these pains for more than a decade. His wife and daughter unfortunately cannot help him take the pain away permanently. But even the method I'm currently using on him is temporary, because once I finish the mission his pains will be over," The woman calmly explained. "There are only three cards left, so I will be waiting for the next one to come along tomorrow."

"Another will come along tomorrow?"

Angelica nods, "Then after that there will be two," She continues on. "However, I haven't had any visions of the two contractors for these cards. But no need to worry, the right ones will come along."

Shaking his head, the bespectacled man throws his head back and smirks, "How are you so sure that the next one will be coming along tomorrow?"

A grin appears on her lips, surprising her companions. "You all came didn't you?" She replied. "That's enough proof. You all came when the shop was closed."

With wide eyes, the men realized that she was right. They all came when the shop was closed. Remembering his months with the mysterious fortuneteller, the green-eyed man remembered that there was not one day that the shop was closed except on the day the newcomers came. He and Enzo arrived at night coincidentally and both men were in the same situations when they first arrived at the shop. Feeling woozy again, Angelica staggers at her feet, leaning a little on Alfieri who held her steadily. She groans a little, shutting her eyes for a moment as she clutched her forehead while she held Enzo with the other.

"I believe I need to rest for the night." She says rather calmly.

"I'll help you." Insists Alfieri.

"Fine. But if you do anything I'll give you a gash with one of my daggers." Threatened Angelica, giving him a stern look.

He chuckles, "Yes, I won't."

"Good. Well, good night boys," She cooed, smiling at them warmly. "Enzo, please bring them to their rooms. Also, please don't stay up too late."

With that she walks off with Alfieri supporting her. While they watched them walk out of the kitchen, they overheard Alfieri offering to carry her to which she strongly opposed. Sighing, Enzo walks back to his seat on the table and continued to eat his meal, surprising the other two. They followed him as well and continued eating. Silence lingered for a moment as the three continued eating. Hoping to make friends with their new companions, Pietro places down his fork.

"So. How did you arrive here?" He asks.

"Well, since we know how you arrived and we'll be under the same roof for a time I guess it wouldn't hurt," Remarks Enzo. "I guess I arrived late in the night. . ."

****Flashback****

Trudging under the pounding rain, a cloaked man stopped by each inn, but he was turned away each time because they were already filled with travelers. He told them that the attic would be an acceptable accommodation, but still he was turned away. Every time each door would close on his face, the traveler felt disheartened. The rain suddenly started to pound harder; the drops of rain bombarded his head and shoulders. Getting soaked, he hoped to find someone kind enough to let him stay for the night. But so far, none had enough compassion to let the man stay, wary of thieves and criminals.

Streaks of lightning flash across the dark, night sky, shining some bright light on his face. His hand gripped his cloak tightly as he walked on, passing by shops until he came to the residential areas. Passing by a fancy looking shop he peeks inside the window that was covered with a maroon colored curtain. There he saw a counter with no one attending to it. Glancing at the door, he saw a sign that said, "closed", discouraging him. A monkey suddenly screams at his face, startling him. Right after, his ears hear a melodious voice scold the monkey:

"Shandor! Whom are you screaming at now??" She asks.

A beautiful face emerges when the woman pushes aside the curtain. She had wavy, somewhat long, jet-black hair. Her bangs covered her right eye. Looking into her apparent eye, he realizes that they were dark violet, gleaming in the darkness. She was pale skinned with a beauty mark near her left eye. Even if she had her face and upper body shone, the man knew that she had a slender build. The woman wore a white off shoulder blouse. Her slender neck and chest was exposed, making the man wonder if she was a gypsy. Her ears were adorned with piercings and a brightly colored feather hung on her right ear. The man was immediately mesmerized, almost making his jaw drop.

Her violet orbs soon met his red ones and a worried look quickly came upon her. She disappears from the window, somehow disappointing him. But the door suddenly opens it to him, "Sir, please come inside! It's raining heavily!"

Without a second thought, he accepted her offer and huddled inside as she gestured him the way, shutting the door right after. He felt his heart pound as he opened the small gate by the entrance and closes it right after. Walking up the steps, he saw the woman open the door wider and led him inside. She was wearing a purple skirt that had beautiful patterns on it. She also wore sandals. Finding himself inside, the traveler glanced around his surroundings, curious about her house. He thought that the woman was strange to have had a uniquely designed house build.

Before he could say anything he felt his heavy wet cloak get lifted from his shoulder, making his head whirl around. Behind him he saw the kind woman carry it off to a room nearby, probably the kitchen. She emerges again, suddenly taking him by the arm and led him to the room she had just come from. Just as he had presumed it revealed to be a kitchen and by the fireplace he saw his coat hanging by a chair as water dripped from it. Pulling out a seat, the woman gestures him to sit down, to which he hesitantly obliged. She hurries to the sink where her hand took an empty cup and quickly filled it with water. Approaching him, she hands the cup. His lips touch the brim and his hand lifts it as he felt the water flow into his mouth.

The water was surprisingly cold, but refreshing. He sighs once he had chugged down all the contents. Glancing around, he realizes that the kind stranger was sitting on a chair just across him with her chin resting on her hands. "You okay, stranger?" She asks kindly.

"I'm well. Thanks to you, woman."

Smiling, she chuckles, "No problem. I don't usually open my home to strangers." The woman remarked.

"Ah, really?"

"Mhm. But since all the inns are full I'll make an exception."

His eyes widen in surprise. "How did you know that the inns are full?" He asks.

"Simple," She replied. "This is the residential area, stranger. Where the inns are was the direction you came from." The woman said a-matter-of-factly.

"Oh. So, you know the area well?"

"Maybe," She replied. "I don't really go out or even bother to take a look around."

He cocks his eyebrow, "Why is that?"

"Because I need to attend to customers," She replied calmly. "What about you? What are you doing in this town?"

Sighing the man looks down, "I'm hoping to find a new life. To start my life anew." He replied, as if disappointed.

"Easier said than done, huh?"

"True."

Smiling warmly, the woman suddenly stands up and gestures him to follow. "Come. I'll bring you to your room for tonight." She said, walking out of the room.

Slowly getting up, the man follows her while he continues to examine his surroundings. There were several interesting things hanging by the walls, intriguing the man. Walking up the staircase behind her, he saw images of the famous Arcana fortunetelling cards, immediately suspecting that this woman was gypsy though she didn't exactly look like one. Reaching the second floor, he follows her to a door with a sign that said, "vacant", immediately making him wonder if she actually owns a secret inn of some sort. Opening it, his eyes widen when he realizes that the room proved to look comfortable with the bed even having a comforter, a complete bed like the rich have.

"You may stay here since no one occupies the room."

"Thank you." He says gratefully. "I can't thank you enough."

"Your welcome," She replies. "Well. . . good night." Closing the door behind her, she didn't notice that she was scowling with determined look in his eyes.

Later that night, he sneaks into a room, which he suspected to be the storage. In his hand glinted a dagger. His eyes darted around the dark house, the flash of lightning being his only source of light. He didn't want to risk getting caught, but he had complete confidence in his skills. Walking inside, he started searching the cabinets and drawings quietly, only to find them empty. Continuing to search, he sighs in anger every time he found the drawer empty, making him wonder why. Suddenly he hears a clap, making the room light up. He whirls his head around and saw the woman standing by the doorway. Shame came upon him, but she only had a warm smile on her face. Thinking that she was fooling him, he speedily lunges at her, but she slickly moved out of the way. The man felt surprised knowing that he was known for his speed, but this woman got to get out of the way like it was nothing. Without a doubt the woman was no one ordinary. He continues to attack her until she raises her hand at him.

"Let's not deal with this with violence," The woman tells him calmly. "But rather by chance."

"Chance, huh? So you're a sly woman." The man calmly remarked.

"You could say that." She replies. "If I guess who you are you may go, but if not you are free to take whatever you want."

"Why do I have this feeling not to trust you?"

"Well, you may never know if I'm honest or not unless you do trust me, right?" She points out.

"Fine." He hastily replies, thinking that she was stupid for a kind woman. "Let's do this quickly so you may do the guessing first. Just that one question about my identity."

"Wow, you sure are in a hurry."

"Do it already, woman."

She sighs then says: "You're Enzo. A man who carries the title: King of Thieves."

~~~

Heyo!! I'M SO SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE. I SWEAR TO MAKE IT FASTER IF THERE WERE MORE VOTES.

Anyway, how was the chapter? Intriguing? I hope that you guys liked the chap! And what do you think about the boys' appearances?

The action will soon be coming up so stay in tuned! ( ˘ ³˘)❤

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-Raita with love