Per Mio Fratello
That was the three words that I uttered that changed my life.
I was so naïve back then, so innocent it makes me wonder how I became this….this...monster. My brother Feliciano and I lived an innocent carefree life as children. We never really knew our parents; they abandoned us when we were four years old. I only remember bits and pieces of them. We lived our grandpa who we called 'nonno' which means grandpa in Italian. Initially we used to ask where our parents were and nonno would say that they were far away. When would they come back? The answer was always the same- they might never come back. We never bothered to ask for them after we realised that he would never tell us. So we forgot about them and continued on with our life. Little did we know that it was going to be their fault for us ending up in this predicament.
It all began that summer, Feliciano and I were walking back home from the trip to grocery shop. We had decided to make Pasta Bolognese for dinner that night, so we headed out to buy a few ingredients. We were taking our time walking back home. When we approached the front gate we heard some shouting. This was strange because nonno was usually calm and collected and liked to joke about a lot. We decided to first check out the situation before barging in. We looked in from outside the living room window and saw nonno talking (more like shouting) to a stranger.
The stranger was tall and had dark hair and wore glasses. To top it off he wore a blue satin coat. "Gosh doesn't he look formal." Feliciano whispered beside me. "Yeah, what century is he from?" I answered. We sniggered and looked up again. Nonno was shouting "Just leave my grandsons alone! You already took their parents! Wasn't it part of the deal that you would leave them alone?" "Yes, it was but sadly they were killed. Not only that but they owe HRE a great deal." Nonno slumped down his face crumpling; he put his head in his hands. For a brief moment he looked up, he saw us. His eyes widened, he mouthed one word "Run."
We hesitated at first, but seeing the pleading in his eyes we bolted. We were fast runners and managed to make it back to the main road in ten minutes. "Lovino did you see that! That guy actually managed to scare nonno. He also mentioned our parents they were alive all this time!?""But he mentioned something about HRE what is that. And what's with this deal they mentioned." "Nonno clearly did not tell us everything. What should we do? Go to the police?"
Thinking that going to the police was the best course of action we ran there. But the blue suited stranger beat us there. We tried telling the police but to no avail, whoever he was he had them wrapped around his finger. "Sorry about this, clearly these boys think I harmed their grandfather. I guess they do not recognise their own family." He said. "What family! We do not even look anything like each other! We saw him threaten nonno. What kind of family does that?!" Feliciano was shouting his as we were literally dragged out of the police station.
When we reached home he pushed us into our bedroom. "What did you do to our grandfather?!" I screamed as he locked the door behind him. "That is none of your concern, for now. All you need to know now is that your parents abandoned you because their line of work did not really permit them to have time for children. If they kept you, you would have probably been disposed off. And yes, by disposed of I mean killed. So they sent you to live with your grandfather. It seemed like a good idea then; it was a good idea until they were killed last month. Since they owe HRE a great deal you guys have to repay their debt, so, which one of you is going to come with me?" "Wait. Who is the HRE and more importantly WHO ARE YOU?" Feliciano asked. "The one who comes with me shall find out about the HRE. A lot of people knowing about him is not good. As for the answer to your second question my name is Roderich Edelstein. I have been asked to take one of you back with me." "What if we don't want to come?" I asked. "Do not make me resort to force. Coming with me peacefully will result in less bloodshed, no matter you have one night to make your decision." He left the room without a word and locked us in. "What do we do Lovino?"
"I don't know. How can we trust him? We do not even know what he did to nonno."
"We can't escape either."
"Wait a minute, your phone Feliciano. Is it still working? Mine is downstairs."
He fiddled with it for a minute and then exclaimed. "Ve, it is, who should I call? The police won't believe us."
"Anyone, call everyone we know."
We tried calling everyone on our contacts list. Half of them did not pick up as they were out of town- it was holiday season. The other half thought we were prank calling them. None of them really wanted to step out of the comfort of their homes. Those who said they will come, well when we tried calling them again their phone turned out to be dead. We were trying to think of whom else to call when we were interrupted by a knock on the door. Roderich looked in and beckoned to me. When I came out of the room he shut the door again. "Listen to me Lovino. Convince your brother to come with me. It would be best for him if he does." I was appalled; he was asking me to give up my brother. Sure I was jealous of him and hated him sometimes. He was everything that I wasn't. He was better than me in every way. He was also nonno's favourite. I really hated him sometimes, but deep down he was my brother. "No, why should I?" I asked. "Because if you do not HRE would hunt you down and kill you. Also I know a way in which you might get to be reunited with your brother later." I was shocked; he was trying to help me. But wasn't he the bad guy? "Why are you helping us?" I whispered. "It is the least I can do. I promised your parents that if this day comes I would help you." He answered. "But why can't I go instead of Feliciano?" he hesitated before answering. "Well, trust me you might not fit in there as well as Feliciano, also out of the two of you you're the one who can manage to get of this mess. Come on do it for your brother." ''Per Mio Fratello? Fine, I'll do it." I grumbled. "Good, I'll make the arrangements then." I was sent back into the room. Feliciano was sitting crossed legged on the floor, looking at me expectantly. 'Well Lovino? What did he say?" he asked. "Get your things together Feliciano you will be sent to the HRE tomorrow." His eyes widened "But WHY?" "Because I said so." "SO WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO?!" "JUST DO AS I SAY YOU IDIOT! I have a chance to get you out of this mess if you do as I say." I was crying by the time I finished. Feliciano was rendered speechless; he had only seen me cry rarely. Wordlessly he came and put his arms around me and we sat like that till until morning. When it was time to leave Roderich came in to the room. "So are you ready?" we silently nodded. I helped Feliciano pack his bags and then it was time for him to leave. He hugged me and whispered "I'll see you again right? You'll come get me and we would come back here and live with nonno again?" I returned his hug "Yes, I promise Feli..."
He left kicking and screaming still reaching out to me until Roderich pushed him into the car and drove off. I had an hour left before he would pick me up so I packed my things and decided to say goodbye to the house. That was when it struck me that nonno was still missing. I ran around raiding each room to find him until at last I found him in the shed surrounded by his beloved paintings. He was lying on the extra bed we kept there."Oh it's you Lovino, your brother left? Come sit next to your nonno." I went and sat next to him, I realised then that he looked so old, and frail. Nothing like the strong man I knew him to be."Nonno, what happened?" I asked. "Oh Lovino, I guess I can't hide it from you anymore. Listen save your brother for me, will you? I don't think I can." "I will-wait don't change the topic, we were talking about you. Don't worry I'll get him back and we can all go back to the way we were." He closed his eyes and a single tear fell out. He opened them again and said "Lovino, I don't think I'll make it." "What?!'' "No listen to me. Lovino Romano Vargas. That is your name. Did you know where you got your middle name from? It's from my name, Roma. I know you felt like I did not love you as much as brother, but the truth is I did. So Lovino take care of your brother for me. And know that I will always love you." He smiled at me and closed his eyes. "Nonno, you are joking right? Come on stop pretending. Nonno? Nonno! Wait don't please don't!" I was hysterically shaking him and crying my vision became blurred. I knew nonno would never open his eyes again I would never see his smile, never his voice singing in the morning waking me up. I looked about helplessly in the shed. It was filled with all our drawings right from when we were children. Feliciano would always draw better than me. I was jealous of him. But there was one picture that was my favourite. It was the one all three of us drew. Nonno in the middle (drawn by nonno himself) and Feliciano and I on either side (drawn by us). I took it off the wall and stuffed it into my pocket hugged nonno's lifeless body and walked out but not before promising that I would get Feliciano back. I found Roderich waiting outside. "Ready to go?" "Yeah" I said stuffing my suitcase in the back of his truck. "But where are you taking me?" "To Antonio Fernandez Carriedo."