The Quest Begins

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Sami asked when she and EJ arrived to the DiMera Mansion. EJ glanced at her saying:

"If you want the answers, yes. My father and Shawn are the only ones living who know what happened all those years ago and since you didn't get Shawn to tell you what happened this is the only way." Samantha took a deep breath.

"I'm not exactly looking forward to doing this but if it's the only way to end the feud-"

"It is", EJ interrupted her and stepped out from the car. He walked to the door and opened it. EJ didn't expect to see his brother there staring at the painting he had received the previous night. Sami had followed him and gasped at the sight of the painting.

"Who is that?" she demanded to know. Tony examined the painting closely a while longer before answering:

"This my dear is The Veiled Beauty. I would think my brother had told you about her." Sami glared at EJ who forced himself to stay civil:

"It's just painting. Tony, is my father here?"

"Our father, little brother. No, he's not here at the moment. I believe he is resting upstairs."

"Thank you Tony. Come on Samantha", EJ grabbed Sami's hand and headed towards the stairs. Sami refused to move as she saw where he was taking her.

"Oh no", Tony came to gloat, "Does she an acute case of climacophobia? I thought it was you who fell down the stairs little brother."

"It's nothing Tony. And thank you for asking, I'm fine. Come on Samantha, nothing will happen", EJ persuaded her to follow him.

Stefano was waiting for them in his room. He sipped his tea when EJ knocked the door and waited for his permission to enter.

"Father, is this a bad time? I have Samantha with me and she would like to ask you few questions", EJ asked.

"Come in, come in both of you", Stefano invited them in and waited to see Sami before asking a question of his own: "Did you talk to your grandfather?"

"Yes, I talked with him", Sami replied. She didn't want to hide but EJ standing next to her was huge comfort for her.

"I suspect he told you a bunch of lies", Stefano said with ridicule in his voice.

"He told the truth", Sami instinctively defended her grandfather but the truth won in the end, "As he knows it." Stefano smirked.

"I believe it's my time to tell the truth as I know it. It isn't that much but you'll get the picture. Please sit, this may take a while."

Stefano watched as EJ helped Sami to sit before finding a seat for himself.

"Every time I look at you, I see my father in you son. It's just not the physical likeness it's in everything you do", then turning to Sami Stefano added, "I hope at least that Shawn showed you a picture of Colleen." When she nodded Stefano enlightened EJ:

"As you are a picture of Santo, Sami is a picture of Colleen. It's almost like fate decided to give them a new chance in you. But on with the history." Stefano sipped little more tea before starting his tale:

"Right after the second world war my father took me with him to Ireland. He had some business there to take care of for my mothers side of the family. My mother remained at home spending the short freedom she had been given in the arms of her lover of the time. Their marriage had been arranged when they were only children and a divorce wasn't an option for them. Two people from Catholic families were not about to break the sacrament. And of course you could always repent having a extra marital affair in confession."

"Is it an European thing?" Sami had to ask.

"It's was a manifestation of the time and the way they were brought up, but to you Americans, it's enough to say it's an European thing", Stefano explained.

"I wouldn't say that", Sami stop herself from protesting.

"We can argue about that another time. You came to hear the story didn't you?" Stefano asked.

"Yes, please father. Go on", EJ interfered.

"Very well. Where was I? In Ireland quite literally actually. My father met this beautiful young girl in town. He didn't tell me this until later but she charmed him during that short encounter. Of course Colleen didn't understand Italian or the compliments my father gave her but she learnt the language later, or she would have learnt without her untimely death. They met again later while chasing two obstinate children. Those children were Shawn senior and I. See Samantha, our two families weren't always at war."

"But what started the feud? I read all about their meetings in Colleens letters to her friend Bridget", Sami asked.

"Oh, did you now. Then you know that sweet innocent Colleen lure my father to sin don't you?" Stefano stared her sharply. Sami blushed and avoided looking at EJ when she replied:

"Yes I know. Colleen chose to love Santo in spite off everything."

"No, she chose to love him for all that he was. Just as he loved her." Stefano gave space for a moment of silence before continuing the story:

"We had to return home to Italy to take back the news and the bargains my father had made. He was heartbroken but he wanted end things at home before starting something new with Colleen. Unfortunately the trip home wasn't an easy one nor was the reaction of the families pleasant. He was still fighting for his freedom and the right to take me with him when the letter from Colleen arrived. In the letter she told him that she was carrying their child and she pleaded for my father to return to Ireland. My father left immediately apologizing that he had to leave me home. He promised to return with Colleen to collect me. Unfortunately my father didn't know that the letter he had received from Colleen was only the last of several with that content. My mother had hid the letters from him. My father never told me what exactly had happened but when he returned he was a changed man. Dark and bitter until the end of his days. My mother and others were all afraid of him since he acted like he had nothing to lose. This attitude ensured our success in business but family life was nothing more than a facade."

"Is that all you know?" EJ asked.

"I know that my father found Colleen and the baby dead", Stefano responded.

"Nothing more? There has to be more!" Sami insisted.

"You are quite right dear. There are the letters my father wrote to Colleen."

"How will they help if she was already dead when the feud started?" Sami questioned.

"These are not ordinary letters. My father kept writing to Colleen even after her death. It was his way of keeping her memory alive. I'm sure the truth is hidden in those letters. And I know where they are", Stefano revealed.