I wandered the garden while picking flowers with my children. Alba and Tramonto Di Santis ran around my feet trying to find the finest flowers to gain my approval. I smiled and helped them pick while giving them a stern gaze if they became too rowdy. They hardly ever left my side and always made sure to be in the vicinity of my gaze when they climb trees and played hide and seek.

Some Daemons came to inform me of the state of the crops, I had bought a plot beside me and enclosed it with high walls so no one could see the farmers as they were far from human. The Daemons adored growing their own food and have even started to make wine from the grapes. Their wine has become rather famous among the Ascendants and Alessandro have helped sell it far and wide.

Of course, as the land belonged to me, I gained a small portion of the profit but I have spent most of it on either giving the daemons better equipment or to educate them. I noticed that they had no school and most cannot read or write. So, I paid good money to have a teacher brought to them.

Turns out that the Daemon clan was far from dull and quickly picked up all the knowledge I presented to them. Literature, mathematics and history was their favorite subjects and soon they had a rather large library town in the hall I have built them, who had been named Sala della conoscenza.

I was quite surprised when Oddone first had visited the hall and gifted them with a large collection of books. The Daemons had been far from hospitable as they did not trust the Monarchs who had forbidden them from ever entering the surface. But he assured them that he had not visited as a Monarch but as a scholar who wanted to spread the enlightenment.

Oddone had shown admiration for what I had accomplished and admitted to me that he wished that he had the same courage as I did. At first, I couldn’t understand what he was talking about until I realized that my deals with the Daemons made me disfavored by the Sovereign who saw it as a direct violation of his orders.

Fortunately, Alessandro had already anticipated such a reaction and made sure that we would not suffer under the wrath of the Sovereign. Mostly by gaining the favor from the other clans who put pressure on the Sovereign sealing him from taking further action.

My two children suddenly jumped at the intruder in the garden and were hugged by Carlo who was ready for their assault.

“Alba! Tramonto! Not so rough,” I chastised while they both gave me heartbreakingly sad eyes. Carlo put them down and they ran with all their little legs to me to gain back my favor.

“Children should be rowdy,” Carlo said with a gentle smile. I always found it amusing that Carlo was the one that seemed most reluctant to me adopting the two little half spiders as children but after a while, he couldn’t help but to spoil them even more than Alessandro. Carlo spends a large amount of his time, caring and playing with the two children and even reading for them as they go to bed. I swear that I even heard singing from their room in rare cases but Carlo has denied it vigorously.

“That may be so, but they can be a menace if not controlled,” I muttered as I have seen them tip over both vases and people as they play. I looked at Carlo only to notice that his face showed a grave expression.

“Is something wrong?” I asked and his eyes turned to the two children who looked at him with innocent eyes.

“Alba, Tramonto! Why don’t you go find Charon while I talk with Carlo,” I said gently and they both nodded and started to run away. I noticed that Alba stopped for a moment to look back at me, she always was more attentive than her brother, before she turned and ran after her brother.

“Is it grave news?” I asked.

“We are not sure but it might be nothing. You have been summoned,” Carlos said bitterly.

“By whom?”

“By the Herald of the Beast Clan,” Carlo answered.

“By Clepho di Lombardi?” I mumbled and understood Carlo’s concern. Signor Lombardi was a brute. Ruthless and callous even his own clan. He looked down upon all others who were not of his own line and valued raw power over anything else. He had no interest in smaller clans so it made no sense for him to call upon me.

“What do you make of it?” I inquired.

“I think we should ignore it. It’s better to incite the wrath of the Herald than to send our heir into a den of lions,” he muttered and could help but to give him a chuckle.

“More like the den of a sleeping bear.”

“The most dangerous kind. It would not be the first time he kills someone entering his home. No one dares to stop him. Not even the Sovereign who relies on peace between the clans to rule.”

“And what does Alessandro think?” I mused and Carlo replied with a sigh which told me Alessandro’s will. He wanted me to visit the brutish Herald of the Beast Clan. Most likely to put me on display, as the heir of the Sun Clan’s Herald, for one of the most powerful Ascendants in Torino.

“What do you think of his intention?”

“Hard to say. Alessandro thinks that he wants to evaluate you. A mere newborn had caused quite the stir among the clans in the city and he wants to look upon the instigator to assess the threat. I agree with him but I fear that he might do more than look upon you if he finds that you are a threat to his power,” Carlo released a fatigued sigh.

“It’s a risk we should take. Especially as we have nothing to gain.”

I ponder upon the dilemma but curiosity rose from the caution. I wanted to meet the infamous therian whose name is on everyone's lips. At the moment, he is a mere rumor. Tale whispered among strangers. I wanted to put a face to the legend.

“We might not have anything to gain but I have. I want to assess him. As of this instant, I have only heard hearsay of this Clepho di Lombardi, but I have no opinion of my own. I want to see the infamous tyrant for myself.”

Carlo groaned after listening to my answer. He was not surprised by my decision but he was dismayed by it. The rest of the evening went by listening to him trying to persuade me that it was a fool's errand but as the sun set I was still determined that when the morn arrived I would enter the den of the sleeping bear.

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

When the first light traveled over the sky, I awoke to the new day with both agitation and eagerness at the thought of the incoming meeting. I had a difficult time choosing what to wear, something stunning or something easy to flee in. Lastly, I found something that fitted both the categories and left my mansion to be driven to Signor di Lombardi’s home.

The driver took me to the west side of Torino. Through small alleys, which mostly was inhabited by the poor and unfortunate. I wondered where a Herald could possibly reside in such a place but not before long I saw it.

Castello di Rivoli, a castle from the 1000 century which once belonged to the house of Savoy. It was now abandoned as it was heavily damaged during the bombardments under the Second World War. The driver stopped in front of the ruins, which was to my surprise rather well preserved. Then I noticed that it was inhabited as people moved around in the castle. At the entrance a young man waited, my escort I presumed, as I exited the automobile.

The young man turned to me and with a cautious smile as he stalked closer. “Lost, Signora?”

“It depends, I’m expected by a Signor di Lombardi. Does he reside here?”

The man frowned before he saw my golden eyes. “Ah, then you must be Signora di Santis. The Herald told me to expect you, signora!”

The man seems to peruse me for quite some time before giving me a solemn nod. “You are just as dignified as Angela had told me.”

I frowned at him. “Is Angela an acquaintance of you?”

“Yes, from what she had told me. You are the one that saved my life. My name is Santo Gallo.”

I observed his peculiar eyes that showcased him as a member of the Beast Clan. Though I wasn’t sure what kind of therian he was. He gave me a grin, which displayed rather sharp fangs which were not a common occurrence among the Beast Clan.

“I’m a wolf Therian. We are the most common among the therians in Europe but are often ruled by stronger tribes. At least that is what they told me,” Signor Gallo muttered.

“Ah, then I presume you are better now, Signor Gallo?” I asked while trying not to stare at his claws. An action I failed at as Signor Gallo laughed and displayed his claws.

“Si, though as you can see it has some side effects. When a therian refuses to indulge in… their urges, we slowly revert to our animal self. The serum you provided to Angela makes me temporarily human and when I revert back, my urgers are slowed giving me some time before I have to use the serum again. Unfortunately, when I turn back my animal side like to put itself on display,” Signor Gallo muttered and touched his claws with a forlorn look.

“But call me Santo, Signora. No need to be formal as you are my savior,” Signor Gallo said with a gentle smile.

“Angela did most of the work. But you can call me Valeria as well,” I said while watching him as he guided me towards the Castle of Rivoli. I could feel eyes on me from the dark windows. Watching and ensuring that I did not cause any troubles. Santo seemed to ignore their presence but it was far more difficult to do for me as I were the target of their suspicion.

“Have you any idea why Signor di Lombardi invited me?” I asked as he opened the door for me. I was surprised that it didn’t fall off from the hinges as the door was as crumbling as the rest of the building.

“No, but I promise you that I will not let anything happen to you. You will enter unharmed and leave unharmed,” Santo said with a solemn vow and I felt a tad guilty as I have planned to out him if Angela betrayed me again. He seemed like a kind soul.

“Do not worry for me, Valeria. I know how to handle myself,” He said and I winced in bewilderment.

“How-“

“I can smell it. Your guilt and anxiety lay thick in the air,” he replied and I wondered if this was a talent from his clan or if it was an ability only he had.

“Then what do you assume that I feel guilty about.”

“For something that you shouldn’t.”

Our steps echoed in the hall while we wander among old paintings burned by fire and rumble speaking of a turbulent past.

“I know what Angela did. I can only assume that you have done something in retaliation. Most likely spoken about my birth,” Santo continued and I watched his back. Should I tell him? Or will he kill me on the spot? Curiosity took over and I decided to speak.

“Not yet. I decided to keep it hidden as insurance that Angela would not betray me again.”

Santo halted in front of two giant doors adorned with vines. “I appreciate it and if Angela ever betrays you again… I will kill her myself.”