See Chapter Four Here Merewyn
See Chapter Three Here Johanna
See Chapter Two Here Stacy
See Chapter One Here Ashley
He waited two more minutes, his clothes long since soaked through, not that he noticed before calling out “Father?” once again. Out of respect for the priest Renzo traditionally waited to be invited in to the church. Never before had he been turned away but was always prepared for the day this final refuge would be denied to him. His knocking continued to go unanswered for the first time since he’d first stumbled, broken and bloody through the doors and into the only place he could think of his family would not look for him. Father Giovanni had rushed over, robes swirling around him in his haste, kind eyes fraught with concern but there was a calmness and sort of silent authority that Renzo had never encountered before.
Renzo could still see that first meeting perfectly, as if it
had happened five minutes ago and not five years. No matter where he’d traveled
to in the time between he always ended up back here, to where he’d found the
one shred of compassion in his life. That first had been a night much like this
one, where the clouds covered the sky so thickly that not even the moonlight
could penetrate the darkness and the rain was a never ending torrent of tears
from the heavens. He walked around the exterior of the building, to the rear of
church and the back entrance, his mind travelling back in time with each step.
The clan’s desire for him to mate and wed was something he’d
never truly understood. His brothers had given in willingly so there was no
worry about the family bloodline not continuing. No, there had been something
about him specifically that made his father desire his union more than the
others, something that only served to put a sour taste in his mouth about the
whole arranged marriage idea. So he’d left. Packed a bag in the middle of the
night, saddled his horse and ridden off into the darkness. It took two days for
his family to catch up to him, forcing him to abandon his horse and continue on
foot to travel with more stealth through the woods instead of sticking to the
roads.
Luckily for him it had been summer, making it easier to
sleep among the trees instead of using the local inns, saving him coin and
making it just that much harder for his father and the clan elders to track
him. It wasn’t until arriving in Rome that they finally succeeded. A single
moment of weakness and compassion undid six months of hiding. The day had been
one of the first truly cold ones of the year but dark with rolling clouds that
rumbled across the sky and the air had seemed suspended in a pause, a calm
before the storm that loomed overhead. The streets of Rome were busier than
normal, which suited his purposes perfectly. Seemed everyone wanted to do a few
last minute things before the first fat flurries fell. The crowds were pressed
nearly shoulder to shoulder to stay on the sidewalks as to not end up in the
streets where horses and carriages had caused the traffic to pause. Tempers
were short among the humans. He figured it was the almost electric quality to
atmosphere. Hell, it almost had the hairs rising on the back of his neck.
The child was darting in and out of people, unseen by most
as she slipped between full skirts and cutting through couples strolling and
maids running errands for their households. He wasn’t sure what she was running
from but there was a look of fear on her face… a look he understood far too
well. Keeping his hands in his pockets and eyes downcast to hide the claw like
quality of his nails and the pupils that would give him away as something other
than human, Renzo stood in the shadows and watched as she darted out into the
street just as a loud noise startled a horse, causing him to rear up. Hooves
flashed in the dull sunlight just inches from the girl’s dark hair that was
plaited in twin braids reaching halfway down her back.
He pushed away from the wall and made it to the girl’s side
faster than should have been humanly possible. Lucky for him everyone was
focused on the child and not him. Why everyone just stood there and didn’t help
he didn’t know but he made it just in time to whisk her out of the way, turning
as they both fell so that he took the blow from the stone street to his
shoulder and she toppled against his chest. A hoard of watchers descended upon
them, hands dusted his jacket and helped them both to standing. The crying girl
was pressed against the ample bosom of a rather matronly looking woman and he
figured she was better tended there than with him. All he wanted was to hide in the biggest city
he could fine and blend in to the crowds and let the comings and goings protect
him and here he was, the absolute center of attention. He had to get out of
there, and fast. But it was too late. He
saw a pair of red eyes, so similar to his own when angry narrow and flash in
victory.
Damn, his time was up. Renzo pushed aside a portly gentleman
and ran for it. The crowds made it impossible and within seconds he realized
the people he was trying to push past were the very ones he was trying to get
away from. His clan had found him and there was nothing he could do. He
struggled but to fight would be too obvious and draw even more unwanted
attention. It was then the heaven’s opened up and sent everyone screaming and
running for cover. That was when he made his move. Throwing a punch he took
down the demon on his left, elbowed the one on his right and used the confusion
to escape. Only again, he didn’t get far. His brother tackled him to the
ground, Renzo’s face hit the ground, pool nearly blinding him from a gash over
his brow. Rolling onto his back he let his fist fly, connecting soundly with
his brother’s jaw, sending the other male falling off of him. He stood and
kicked the other demon in the gut. A cheap move, but anything to get away, that
was all that mattered.
He had no idea how long and how far he’d run, between both
falls his body was bruised and beaten. Aches were forming in places he’d never
even known were possible and only the rain kept the blood from covering his
face and clothing. Out of breath he’d stumbled up the steps to the church, not
really knowing why he’d been drawn to it, just knowing deep in his gut he’d
been safe. He only made it two, maybe three steps inside the narthex of the
church before falling yet again. He had been lucid long enough to see the fear
and then the steely resignation cross Father Giovanni’s face. The old man had
tended his wounds, given him the first hot meal he’d had in six months, and
allowed him to stay until he was healed.
Thus began their odd friendship. Sometimes Renzo stayed for
a few weeks, sometimes only for a single night but he never could seem to stay
away when he was in the city. Which brought him back to the present and his
current concern. Never, in five years, had Father Giovanni not opened the doors
and allowed him safety, especially when he was expecting him like tonight. Every
sense he had was telling him something was very wrong. Closing his hand around
the wrought iron handle of the back entrance he looked over his shoulder before
slipping inside of the church. Holding his breath Renzo closed the door
silently behind him. Something in his gut was telling him to be cautious and be
alert.
A soft shuffling noise caught his attention. Staying in the shadows he
watched as an odd procession of men in black hooded cloaks walked past. The
belts they wore held a deadly assortment of weapons; no way were they
associated with the church and anything holy. When the last man disappeared
from view he crossed the room and followed them down the stairs, wherever they
were going, he knew Father Giovanni was there. And whatever they were going to
do, he was going to stop. Somehow…
