Chapter 4 The northern families

Elena became acquainted with the new environment. In no time, she became Lady Moretti. She ran the mansion activities like a governess; her sharp attention to things made it easier for her to move things.

"Good evening, ma'am."

She turned and saw a nice-looking young man. She believed she was seeing him for the first time, but for him to come up to her inside the mansion without anyone stopping him meant he was close to Alessandro.

"Evening," she said, smiling.

"Yeah, I am Carlo Russo."

"Oh, my dear, it's you! He has spoken a great deal about you."

Carlo had been friends with Alessandro right from childhood.

"When did you get here?" she asked.

"Oh, my plane came in this morning, and I wanted to look for a place to stay before getting here," he replied politely while smiling, admiring her in gentle tones.

"Don't be silly. I am not a masquerade; how can I be chasing you away?" she asked.

"But I haven't said you did, ma'am."

"Oh, you did imply it, Carlo. I know you have lived here with him all your life, and now you are looking for a place to stay all of a sudden?"

She smiled, looking at him straight in the eyes.

Feeling overpowered, he took a bow and spoke, "I'll have the boys move my bags to my chambers as the lady demands."

"That would be an excellent idea," she said. "And Carlo?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"We do have many things to talk about."

"I would be delighted to, ma'am," he said, smiling.

Their conversation was a funny one, each placing their stand at Alessandro's heart but trying not to overpower each other.

He left her presence smiling. Just then, he found Alessandro in the great hall speaking to the decorator for the council meeting.

Alessandro saw his friend and looked at him for confirmation.

"Well?" he said, waiting impatiently for his thoughts about his new lady.

"You really had to find this one, didn't you?" Carlo told him while still smiling.

"Well, she's got some perks, eh?"

"That in there isn't some street girl like we spoke about. She's a real princess, molded for a lord like yourself," Carlo told him boldly.

"Hey man, Carlo, she is just here for the deal. After that, she leaves."

"Hahahahah, I know I haven't been around since she came, but I know chemistry doesn't hide new mixtures. It's either a new smell or color or something," he said, smiling once more.

"Carlo, what do you mean? What are you even saying, man?"

"I am saying she is not just gonna be a contract deal lady; she would remain here as the lady of this mansion."

"Alright, man, now I see what's going on here. Did you branch at the bar before getting here? Because I believe you are tipsy, Carlo."

"Come off it, Alessandro. I am your friend from home, from childhood, and I am telling you this one is yours. Did you at least see her teeth and her smile?"

This sounded awkward to Alessandro, and he tried walking out. Carlo followed from behind.

As everyone was preparing for the great council meeting, other lords in other parts of the city prepared too.

The south is divided into three mafia families: the Antonios, the Vincents, and the Rossis. Yes, her former husband is a descendant of the great Rossis of the south, but the entire south is always loyal to the Antonios. They control a large chunk of the hustles going on down south and still collect their entertainment from the other families.

The west part of the east side is controlled by the Vargas family, the Francesco and Matteo families.

The east of the east side has about ten families, each lord of their own territory. They have refused to cede absolute power to anyone there.

But the north has five families. Each of those five can rival any other family in all the other corners of the east side. And they prefer a transfer of power hierarchically, not with guns or fights exposing their supernatural abilities to the world. They let only a Moretti or their descendants rule the north, and whoever rules the north controls the entire east side.

Five northern families:

- The Morettis

- The Salvatores

- The Massimos

- The Enricos

- The Robertos

Elena was busy at the fountain close to the gardens when a mysterious creature showed itself, covered in blackness, creeping through the maze and moving straight to her. Fear gripped her. As she was about to run, she fell into the arms of Alessandro.

"What is it?" he asked her, surprised.

"Oh, I thought I saw a dark, mysterious shadow creeping in on me," she said, feeling relieved.

"What? A dark what? Are you sure?" he asked her.

"Yes, I am. It came from the east through the maze, coming straight up here."

Alessandro seemed to know what it might have been but took her in to get her calmed down.

"Well, take a glass of ginger juice; it will calm your nerves."

"Thank you," she said, feeling happy as she sat.

"Do you think I am lying?" she asked him.

"Hmmm, no, why would I? Of course not. If you must know, you won't be the first to see that. A beautiful woman saw something similar some twenty years ago, so I was just wondering if she was telling the truth."

"So no one believed her then?" she asked, anxious.

"Yeah, no one," he replied.

"Where is she now? She must be an elderly lady now, perhaps busy with life somewhere, eh?" she asked him while he sat there, lost at the moment.

"Did you hear me?" she called him back to reality.

"Elena the beautiful, would you stop worrying for a moment? If you ever see that again, scream for help," he answered her.

"Ok, then, if you say so, Alessandro."

He stood up and walked to her sofa, then he kissed her on her head and spoke, "She is no more. She died after that day. This house may be big, but there are places you must not enter and things you mustn't tamper with, ok?"

He calmly asked her.

"Ok," she replied.

"So, tell me, how will the council meeting look? You plan events well, like that gala that brought you to me," he said, trying to change the topic.

"Well, I have planned what I know most about if you ask me," she replied.

"Well, Lady Moretti, there is more to learn. There are about five great families in the north alone, and other parts of the east side have their families too. The east of the east has ten."

"What?" she asked, itching to hear more about these families.

He smiled, seeing that he drew her attention. Then he carefully spoke about the families in the corners of the east side. But as he came down south and mentioned her husband's family, her face changed.

"What?" he asked. "Have I said something bad?" he asked again.

"I was married to a Rossi, and I never knew all these families," she said, still surprised.

"Well, I investigated that before approaching you. Yes, you were his wife, Marco, is it?" he asked, looking like he was trying to remember his name.

"Yeah, it's Marco. You just said you investigated before you approached me. Did you know me before that gala night?" she asked, surprised.

"Well, yes," he said.

She slapped him and walked away.

"Elena, wait, it's not what you think!" He caught up with her along the passage, standing in front of her, her face facing down. For once, she thought she was starting afresh, and here she was, standing in front of another liar.

"I know you feel I lied to you," he struggled to say.

"You know I think, or you did," she replied.

"I am sorry, I am, I am," he tried to speak.

"Just tell me the truth," she asked him.

"Well, what would you like to hear?" he asked her.

"Everything and no lies."

"Ok, ok," he said.

"Well, at least let's sit," he said as he held his face. She looked at him, feeling him hurt by her slap. She went swiftly to the kitchen to get ice and put some on his face.

They sat. The silence was drawn, and the night grew older.

"Well, Elena, for starters, do you believe in supernatural beings?" he asked her, hoping she wouldn't get scared and try to run away.

She looked at him and smiled, then she turned left and looked at the bright moon up the sky, outshining the darkness in the room in which they sat to chat.

She spoke with eyes gazing at the moon, "Do you mean witches and werewolves and others?" she asked, with eyes fixed on the moon.

For the first time, Alessandro showed a great deal of interest and fear as he looked at her. Maybe Carlo was right after all; maybe she is his better half.