It has been a while, but here's the next chapter. Can you believe this is chapter 20! (not counting the prologue) Seems unbelievable.

Sorry my updates are so irregular :), but enjoy anyway.

Capture

"Karina," said her mother as she came downstairs. "Your father and I would like a word with you"

"Sure," she said motioning for Rodrigo to stay in the lounge on the sofa while she spoke to her parents in the kitchen. They were both still wearing their pajamas and wore torn expressions on their faces. As soon as they were out of sight Karina hastily said: "He's only staying for a night."

The look of worry on both faces seemed to almost completely disappear. Karina felt kind of good that she was having a proper talk to her parent s for once. Most of the time they didn't have any time for her.

"That's good," said her father a little too relieved than was perhaps acceptable, but Karina ignored it.

Her plan was to get out of this and take Rodrigo out of the house as soon as possible so that he could get back to Talia and she could resume her normal life. From the moment she'd seen her parents face she decided to never to allow Rodrigo back to her house ever again. He had seemed a little dazed by all the modern stuff here anyway. She could guess he wasn't too fond of it.

"Where will he stay now?" asked Karina's mother looking concerned.

"Oh he'll be fine," replied Karina. "His mum is recovering from her problem quite rapidly, it was just last night she was worst than normal and Rodrigo needed a place to stay so I offered to let him stay here."

"Well, if this is the only time we'll let you off," said her father turning round to grab a piece of toast from the toaster and spreading it with butter and jam so that he could eat.

"Okay," agreed Karina. "Thanks guys."

With that she scurried out of the room in search of Rodrigo. Passing the mirror she caught sight of her reflection. Her face looked nice and clear from her night's sleep, but her eyes were underlined with purple rings and her hair looked as though someone had brushed it in every direction at the same time and it looked more like a lion's auburn mane. She sighed, she would see to it after Rodrigo had gone.

The morning woke Enrico with the flight of birds. He heard the unified screeches and flapping of wings that warned him that trouble was afoot. There was somebody or something nearby. Unfortunately the warning wasn't enough: the next moment a man appeared in the entrance to the cave blocking out the sun and casting a long thin shadow onto the floor.

It took Enrico only moments to assess his situation. He could see a long scar reaching up the mans bare arm that was outstretched towards him with a sword, menacing yet held in defensive position ready to block any attempt by Enrico.

"You going to come quietly?" inquired the man.

The ring on his finger revealed the di Chimici seal. He knew who this man was. He'd heard of him before. Ruthless as a animal and brutal as a bear though wiry and agile like an acrobat. Enrico didn't fancy his chances, but his days of cowardice were over.

He stood calmly aware his sword was still attached to his belt. The man he was facing was aware of this too. He pointed to it with his own.

"Remove it!" he barked.

Enrico slowly drew his sword from it's sheath, the man's eyes followed the movement warily. It was just a matter of timing, Enrico told himself. Just a matter of timing. He would have to pick his moment . Enrico was no master swordsman, but if there was ever a time to be one it was now.

Slowly he lowered his weapon towards the ground, he could see the man's muscles relaxing slightly, then at the last second Enrico lunged. His opponent brought his sword round just in time to parry the blow and followed through with one of his own, but Enrico dodged.

Their swords clashed again and again, the horses' restless whinnying could be heard echoing from outside. They could sense the danger. The other man's blows got faster and stronger and Enrico felt the adrenalin coursing through his veins forcing him to defend himself, but his opponent was wearing him down and soon enough he felt a sharp tingling in his wrist and the sword fell to the ground.

The man advanced, but before he was close enough Enrico dropped to the floor and rolled to come up behind the man elbowing him in the head with all the force he could muster. The man stumbled forwards dazed and clutching his head with his free hand. His sword arm hung almost limply.

Enrico was about to attack again when the man spun round, a move that seemed to pain him and held his sword towards Enrico. There was nowhere to go, he was cornered between the wall and the stranger's sword.

He moved an inch just to make sure he had tried, but the man's sword came even closer to his throat so that the point tickled his neck. Enrico gulped, he was done. Behind his back his yellowing nails carved as good a message as he could muster on the stone wall. It paimed him trying to carve it out.

"You're lucky my masters want you," the man breathed heavily the point of the sword shuddering ever so slightly. "If not I'd have slit your throat here and now."

Enrico thought it best not to respond to the man with his eyes that glowed with hatred and something else. Where had he seen this person before? He resembled somebody, but not a di Chimici, somebody else. The name Guiditta Miele sprung to mind and Enrico had to bite back tears.

"You're coming with me," snarled the man.

He hadn't noticed the sadness on Enrico's face and he set about easily tying the mans hands before leading him out of the cave and to a horse that stood silently awaiting them. Enrico thought carefully about the strong palomino stallion they rode as the man steered them back down the mountains.

As the cave disappeared from sight, he couldn't help but think of Karina. He hoped she would find his message, it was perhaps his only hope of ever being free again.

And so the plot thickens. Hope you like it :) Read and review.