Chapter 1: Mending the Wing of an Angel

"Elisa! Wake up, my bella figlia [beautiful daughter]!" my father's voice, Goffredo Cappello, echoed in my ever peaceful bedroom. He gently shook me awake; in response, I moaned.

"Another?" I grumbled, half asleep, "I've spoken to you about that boy before; I have no intention of marrying such a sporco maiale [dirty pig]!"

"Wait…You've met a suitor already? I don't remember you turning into a woman…you're only turning six today!" my father chuckled heartily. Embarrassed from just waking from a dream, my eyes shot opened and my face turned entirely bright red. Bringing about a smile upon his face, my father sat on my bed rubbing my slumberous head gently.

"My Elisa Cappello, what will I ever do with you?" the good-hearted man whispered softly, kissing my forehead, "Anyways, I wanted to awake you on this fine morning; too much sleep is never good for you, miele [honey]." Standing back up, the ridiculous man laughed to himself as he walked pass my bedroom door.

Dressing in the bright scarlet gown, that my cousins from Roma given me, I dashed towards the dining hall; I saw my mother and father waiting for me with smiles on their faces. My mother, Gabriella, embraced me; her kind nature always soothes the soul of broken hearts. She's one of the youngest Venetian wives roaming around; Gabriella Cappello is the idol of beauty with her long, wavy hair and a face resembling an angel. My father, Goffredo Cappello, truly possesses a good spirit no man could ever obtain. Although he wasn't the first handsome man, a woman would seek out, his humor and friendliness catches women off guard.

"Now my miele, take this pouch of 300 florins and go to the market. We haven't had a clue of what gift you wanted, so we've decided to let you decide on your own!" my father explained, still expressing the grin, "Matilde will escort you through the market place and behave yourself, understood?"

"Oh Goffredo…our daughter behaves all the time. Should it be a burden to remind her?" my mother softly spoke, wrapping her arms around my father, "Besides, Elisa knows not the travel down the alleys and other 'short cuts.'"

"You're right, Gabriella…I shouldn't need to restate for Elisa," my father shyly replied. I giggled to myself because my father always was vulnerable to my mother's soothing words.


The market area was sure crowded…thousands of Venetians crowded around stands, making deals and bids. I smelled the scent of ripe apples and delectable sweets; in fact, it filled the atmosphere. Matilde was very nervous; she had sensed she'll lose me in the market place any moment.

"Now Elisa, don't wander off please…" Matilde's shaky voice fluttered around me like a pestering fly. The aroma of the ripe apples defeated me; ignoring Matilde's warning, I hurried to the apple stand where I selected many sweet golden apples for forty florins. I orbited around to see…me neglecting Matilde is coming back around.

"Matilde?" I called out, but my voice was flooded away by the busy vendors. I began to aimlessly travel around the crowd, hoping to find Matilde somewhere. The crowd shoved and pushed me around, causing me to go off course…into an isolated passage. "These are the alley ways my father spoke about?" I whispered to myself, examining the sky reaching walls. I traced my fingers along the stone bricks which built this fundamental structure; astonished, it felt as if I was exploring a new world…an unknown Venice. Interrupting my thoughts, I heard a cough from a distance…I insisted it was an ill person; exploring further, I soon discovered a horrific sight.

A mysterious white-hooded man, with two arrows pierced through his right leg and left shoulder, staggered against the walls. Blood painted the grey stone; he arrived to a corner, where the grey walls met. His feet stopped, causing him to crumble towards the ground. I covered my mouth, muting the gasp and hyperventilating. Peering behind the wall again, I observed as the man struggled to sit up straight. With all his strength, the man finally was leaning his back against the cool wall.

"Merda [shit]…," the cryptic man silently cursed, examining the arrows plunged into his body, "Who would of thought those idioti [idiots] have such incredible accuracy…" He knew the arrows must come out...but seemed to be remorseful of the idea of removing them; it'll cause much more suffering. Sighing, the man let his head hang low; he hasn't given up yet exhausted.

Terrified, I slowly attempted to rush out from this torturous sight…but I thought about the wounded man. I just cannot leave this arrow-pierced person there; he could bleed to death with ease! I escaped the darken alley, in search of a doctor.


Having the height of a mere noticeable person, I tapped people to ask for directions. Unfortunally, it also added the pestering "Awww, what a beautiful girl!" and "Where are your parents?" Arriving to the doctor' stand, I could not precisely detect if the doctor was the correct person; the merchant wore a mask with a bird's bill…or that's what I assumed.

"Mi scusi, signore… [excuse me, sir]," I mumbled, seeing the billed man stare directly at me, "Are you a doctor?"

"That I am, child…How I may assist you?" the doctor kindly asked.

"I have…this friend of mine," I slowly muttered, trying to not think about the horrific sight, "And…well he's terribly hurt because two arrows are in his body. I need five medicine vials and medical cloth please." I recalled a friend of my father…a soldier…needed medical attention. The soldier was completely slashed from head to toe. I saw my father rush out the door, shouting he'll return with medical vials and cloth. As my father returned, the man screeched in pain as my father tended to his needs…Hopefully, the man needed the same treatment without the agony.

"That'll be 260 florins," the doctor concluded; I checked the pouch to see how many florins remained. While the doctor prepared to give my merchandise, he watched me count florin by florin. I exactly had…260 florins…how fortunate of me. Handing the pouch to the man, he handed the supplies in my hands and patted me on the head. I started stepping back to the alley way.

"Tell your friend to be much careful!" the doctor called out, waving farewell to me.


Entering the dark, shaded section, I checked briefly if the man still was there. The body was the same once I glimpsed back at the bloody mess. Honestly, I didn't want to even touch him…what if I cause even more pain for him? Cautiously, I approached the wounded man; he didn't express any responses. I laid the medical supplies down…hands shaking…I must check if he still remained in this world.

How? I don't want to lay a finger on the man…one option to do was to see underneath his hood, to check his breathing. Placing all fours on the ground, I tilted my head to see a shadowed face. His eyes were shut closed; I couldn't feel his breath from his nose…nor his mouth. Perhaps he was breathing slightly, but I didn't dare get closer. Then, I thought of checking if his heart still pounded within his chest. Griming as it looked, his shirt was completely soaked in blood. Holding my breath and closing my eyes, I paced like a turtle with placing my right hand on his chest.

My hand met with his body; I felt slight beating….baaadum….baaadum… "Thank goodness, I thought he was dead!" I gasped in relief. Suddenly, his right hand quickly shot out and grabbed my arm.

"AHHH!" I yelped, jumping backwards. His grip was mighty fierce! He began pulling me closer and I resisted. With one swift tug, I became even closer…face to face with the stranger (in a way…his face is concealed with the hood).

"Cosa stai facendo [What are you doing]…?" the man growled; I could predict he wouldn't let go unless I answered his question.

"I-I…I thought you were dead," I stuttered shockingly, wide-eyed and terrified, "You're seriously injured…so I thought of …finding…help."

The man turned his shaded head towards the medical supplies laid neatly. He returned his focus on me; the grip on his hand slowly relaxed.

"Help…a stranger?" he softly implied, releasing my hand, "Why would you help a person you don't even know?"

"I want to help treat your wounds; we need to remove the arrows."

"Even if you'll get blood all over your hands?"

"Yes, what can I do?" I asked, prepared to do what's asked for. The man silently stared at the medical goods; he seemed a little overwhelmed for a complete stranger finding him in this lonesome alley. Deliberately, the man sighted the arrow in his left arm; then, the hooded stranger sat up straight.

"I want you to grab the cloth and set ready for when I pull the arrow out," the man instructed, preparing his right hand to pull the arrow out. I gripped onto the white cloth…that was about ready to be soaked in the stranger's blood. He commenced yanking the arrow; I could hear silent cursing and groans. As the arrow was now out of the man's shoulder, I applied the cloth on the wound; the man was heavily breathing from the pain engulfing his arm.

"Not so harsh, signoria [miss]…," he chuckled while coughing; at the same time, he was enduring the distress, "I have no need of more Hell upon my shoulder…"

"Mi dispiace! Mi dispiace! Mi dispiace! [Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!]" I gasped in alert, softening the pressure.

The deed was done; both arrows away from his body…they glistened from the little light the alley was given by the crimson blood. With the remaining cloth, I created strips to tie down on the wounds.


"Grazie… [Thank you]," the hooded man breathed; he had this charming grin implied on his face, "What is the name of my savior?"

"It's Elisa," I answered, bowing my head in respect, "Elisa Cappello."

"Elisa…Cappello…," the man softly repeated; he weakly rose from the ground, "I thank you for saving my life..."

"You need to be more careful, signore [sir]," I warned him, trying to hide the color of the heat uprising on my cheeks, "Will you be alright?"

"I'm certain of it; there's no need to think of me now," the man assured, pulling his cape over his left shoulder, "I can take care of myself." Handing him the five vials, he consumed one of them; the weakness faded from his characteristics, and he embarked down the path he came from.

"Addio [Farewell]!" the man beckoned from a far distance; soon, he hurried towards the end of the alley. I watched the hooded man race in the alley, his footsteps reflected off the walls.

"Elisa! What are you doing in the alley?" Matilde's voice demanded an answer; she spotted the blood smears on the wall, "I thought you knew you weren't supposed to here! Can't you see the blood? There was obviously a thug fight!"

"No Matilde...! There was this man, who needed help!" I tried explaining, pointing down the stranger's path, "He was bleeding all over and…I spent the rest of my birthday money on medical supplies!" Speechless, Matilde shook her head in dismay; I rechecked the rushing silhouette, but he was nowhere to be found…

"Come, let us go home; this is our little secret, little 'angel,'" she playfully teased, leading me out of the darkened alley. Walking back to the market place, I've thought of his injuries…how can a man just run off casually, when he was skewered by arrows?

"That man is terribly senseless... Regardless of his intentions, I hope he accomplishes them…," I softly thought, holding on Matilde's hand.


Thank you for reading! :)

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