Flashback

Italy 1565

It was dark outside except for the torch lit streets of the village. Another festival was held. Mia wore her best dress, a blue one with long sleeves. Her hair was pulled back into a long braid down her back with little wild flowers woven into her strands of hair. She looked more beautiful than she needed to be. "You look beautiful sister" Antonio said. He blocked the doorway where her friends were waiting for her outside. Mia smiled at him and tried to pass, but a fight against him was useless.

"Now where are you rushing off to?" he asked her.

"I'm going to have fun with my friends"

"Which friends exactly...is it the boy?" Antonio guessed and Mia felt a cold feeling shiver through her skin. She had been caught after all these years. He knew about Michael.

"My sister. What a pretty little liar. I'm a bit shocked that you would risk it; you must really like this boy. Tell me his name" Antonio demanded. Mia didn't dare open her mouth to speak, she was afraid of what her brother would do to the boy she loved or what he would do to her.

"Mia Bella, do not be stubborn. Tell me who he is" Antonio said again, this time grabbing her gently by her arms. He looked almost red with rage at her betrayal but what did her relationships matter to him. She didn't have to let him push her around. Antonio was older, stronger, and he had a bad temper that one should not mess with.

"I love him, brother" Mia said softly while she trembled in his arms. His grip tightened and he released her from his hold just before she let out a wince of pain. He laughed a booming laugh at her words, "love sister? Do you have any idea what love is? You're young and impulsive. Don't let this delusion take over your fragile mind, so I would suggest ending this little fantasy you've created now before I have to step in and end it for you" Antonio threatened her. After saying his bit he stepped aside allowing her to join her friends at the village celebration.

Mia's group of friends were all giggling and dancing around, having fun. All Mia thought of was how to tell Michael she could never see him again. She felt a lump form in her throat just by thinking the words 'I never loved you'. It was the only choice, lying to him. How else was Michael supposed to believe her?

And there in the distance Michael saw her, his one and only love. She looked even more stunning than the stars themselves. She could see him watching her with his bright blue eyes but she quickly turned away, walking off to a less crowded area of the hoard of people dancing in the centre of the town square. He followed after her. He wasn't running just walking a little fast. "Mia wait!" he called out to her. She heard his voice and she stopped.

"Why do you run from me?" he asked and walked over to her with a curious gaze. It was strange for her to act that way around him. He pulled her into his arms, and only then did he hear her quiet sobs and see the tears rolling down her cheeks. "What has happened?" he asked and he feared he already knew the answer. He knew very well that the only time she would cry was when her brother had hurt her.

"I cannot be with you" Mia told him, wearily as she wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her dress. "Then what of our plans? I thought we were going to the sea, just like you wanted" Michael said. Her hands were held in his but they quickly drew away, "the plan's changed. I refuse to leave with you" she lied to him. He didn't know what to say or think; how to respond. "Why? I thought..." Michael didn't know how to continue, and in his mind he ran over various responses to say.

"Is it your brother? Does he know about me?" he finally managed to ask. His voice was stern and serious.

"I don't love you and I can't...run away with you, and I'm sorry if you're hurt by hearing what is right" Mia lied again.

"No what Antonio thinks is right. Why do you let him dictate your life like this? You are hardly free" Michael said, he was anger stricken that her brother would attempt to come between them.

"Because I'm afraid" Mia said.

"What are you afraid of you know I'll protect you" Michael informed her.

"I'm afraid of what Antonio will do to you" Mia said.

"Don't be afraid. I know you are scared. You don't need to be, Mia Bella. I'll fight your battles for you" Michael told her using a serious commanding voice. Mia welcomed his kiss to her lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he held her close against him. "We don't have forever to be together, so let's make the most of it now" Michael said.

Together they ran off excitedly into the forest by their tree. There Michael laid her down against the green grass; he hovered over her, kissing her under the night sky. Mia Bella knew the consequences of her being with him at that moment, she didn't care as long as she was with Michael; the boy she loved. She hardly noticed as time went by and they were both laying there with their clothes garments thrown onto the grass in a pile next to them.

Michael continued kissing her passionately and she kissed him. Mia let out a wince of pain at what came soon after. The pain quickly ended as he made love to her. In Mia's mind there was nobody else she would dream of losing her innocence to. It was meant to happen between them. But what Mia didn't know was that night he had planted a seed inside her.

Two months later...

The days went by as normal except Mia didn't see Michael as often as she would. Yes she told her brother she had ended her little romance though it was only just beginning, starting with the bump forming in her belly. At first Mia wasn't sure of what was happening to her. She felt sick in the mornings, she had stirred up emotions, and most of all her clothes did not fit her the way they used to.

"Mother what's happened to my dress?" Mia asked for the first time. Her mother held a hand against her youngest child's stomach where a familiar round bump was, one the middle aged woman knew well. She showed an expression of both shock and surprise.

"Mother what's wrong?" Mia asked. She was completely clueless.

"Mia Bella...I'm afraid you're with a child. You are pregnant" her dear mother said. Mia gasped in shock and she felt as if her body had shattered completely from the looks of heart-break that her mother had given her. And to make things worse at the moment her mother answered, Antonio and her father stepped in through the door of their home.

From her father came looks of disbelief and disgust at her secrets brought to life. From Antonio came looks of pure hatred, anger and above all, revenge.