Hey, everyone!

I'm back with another chapter!!

Well, I had really lost all my inspiration and confidence a while ago but after receiving your reviews…I've started feeling better. :)

Thanks to-

ShadowWolfDagger- Thank you so much for the review!

joyfulangle319- (For Chapter 4)

Yeah, we should. Well, oh I'm sorry about that sentence. I was in a hurry as I posted it and I didn't want to read it (was too lazy! :P curse me!)

(For chapter 5) Well, I get what you are telling about. Yeah, even I think I should have placed the sentence that way! Thanks for pointing out!

Inkysusbtance- Yeah, that's true, it's not love yet! :) Maybe just a crush for now…let's see if it blossoms into a much deeper feeling!

nickJoffdaCHAIN- Yaay! New reviewer! –Gives cookies-

Thank you for the review!

So, on to chapter 6...


Chapter 6

Things heat up…

"Hey! Hedgehog! Come and help me here!"

Hornet's stern voice rang through the Stella. Riccio at once dropped his comic and rushed to help Hornet pick up the plates and place them on the table. Prosper had dragged the table from the storeroom to the theatre and a set of chairs were set around it.

"Yaay yaay for Christmas Dinner!" Bo cheered.

Rosa lit all the lamps around while Mosca arranged the food.

Rosa, Hornet and Prosper had spent the morning cleaning up the Stella. They put all the rugs properly in one place and threw all the rubbish that had accumulated over the last few weeks. They scrubbed the floor. (Bo in particular had fun in this activity…he kept slipping on the wet floor!)

At last the place looked clean and homely. Mosca had prepared some shelves for storing Hornet's books and Riccio's comics. Riccio had spent the morning reading comics and then (after being scolded by Hornet) he set the books and the comics properly on the shelves.

The Stella looked neater. The lamps lit up the place. The starry curtain shimmered in the light. It was a pretty sight.

A mouth watering smell of pasta, sausages and cheese wafted through the air. They waited eagerly to start the feast.

All of them sat at the table. Prosper cleared his throat. "Ok, so, guys, we'll start the feast!"

He said.

Riccio was the first one to reach out to the plate of sausages but before he could take them Rosa said suddenly, "Wait! Umm…isn't the Thief Lord joining us?"

"Scipio? Oh, you are right…we should wait for him!" Mosca said. Riccio groaned. "Oh, can I at least have a bite?!"

"Don't whine! Scipio has given us so much…the least we can do to return his favour is by waiting for him," Prosper said.


"Scipio! Walk straight! Don't slouch!"

Dottor Massimo's voice cracked like a whip. Scipio scowled and cursed under his breath.

I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.

Scipio scowled all the way to the dining room. He didn't feel like having dinner with his father grumbling and taunting him each second. Scipio wanted to finish his dinner and escape to the Stella as soon as he could. This was getting unbearable…

Dottor, thankfully, finished his dinner without a second glance at Scipio who was to busy thinking to notice he was spilling food all over his napkin. A screech of the chair being dragged on the floor jerked Scipio out of his thoughts. Dottor got up, wiping his mouth.

"Go early to bed!" he barked as a way of saying 'goodnight'.

He's really in a foul mood today. Ha! He doesn't know the photograph is right in this house with his own son!

Scipio put his spoon down and listened intently. He heard his father's footsteps fade away. He got up and throwing his napkin away he ran off at top speed to his room. He looked at the watch and decided to wait till the maids went to sleep which wouldn't take long. He pulled out a book and opened a page and began reading.

He couldn't concentrate on it though…he put the book down and, feeling butterflies in his stomach; he got up and opened his door slightly. He listened for any noises. He felt nervous as he stepped outside. He walked on tip toe towards the staircase landing. He peeped down. Everything was dark.

"Ok, Betty, you can out away the plates now. All of you can go to sleep now!"

An elderly voice was carried up to his ears. The noise of plates being stacked and put away rang through the darkness. A small shaft of light feel in the hall as the maids opened the kitchen door. Scipio turned and ran back to his room.

His heart thudding against his chest, he put on his attire; his black cloak and boots.

Then he switched off the light of his room and opened the door cautiously. He tip toed out of the room. His boots didn't make a sound on the floor. Through the dark, he tip toed to the kitchen.

He hid behind a pillar. His ears strained for any sound of anyone being there.

Not a sound…

He grabbed some food and put it into a bag he had for himself. Then, slinging the bag over his shoulder, he walked out of the kitchen. He was about to escape out from the French windows but then stopped.

He had forgotten something…

My mask…

Scipio contemplated whether to run back to his room and grab his mask or to go on without a mask.

You look cool with that mask, Scip!

He remembered what Bo had comment a few days ago. He smirked. Then, cautiously, he climbed the stairs and walked through the dark passageway and climbed another flight of steps to reach his room. He grabbed his mask which lay on the bed.

He scurried down the stairs to the lower level of the house. He quietly walked through the passage though.

"Oh, in the Stella??"

Scipio stopped. It was his father's voice. It was coming from the study which was just two doors away. He inched closer to the study door.

"How did you find her? Oh, anyway, good for you! I'll call my men right away so that she cannot escape. How long will it take? Hello?? Hello??"

Dottor Massimo struggled to hear the crackled voice from the other line. Blood drained from Scipio's face.

The Stella?

Her?

Who else could it be?

Scipio's hear thudded against his ribs as he stood rooted to the spot.

"Yes, I'll be there with my men in half an hour!"

Scipio dashed from the door and towards the hall. He opened the French windows, not bothering to close them; he ran out and climbed the wall and jumped.

I've to get there fast...

Running through the cold and damp Venice streets, he reached the Stella at last. He banged the door with all his strength. He banged again and again till he heard someone on the other end.

Prosper opened the door surprised.

"Hey, Scip, we were just waitin-"

Scipio pushed his way through the door and into the theatre.

Prosper closed the door and followed him. The rest of the children looked up as Scipio entered. He held his chest as his breath came in shallow gasps.

"Rosa!" he gasped, "Where's Rosa??"

He looked around frantically. He spotted Rosa who was rooted to the spot. He ran to her.

"Rosa! Listen to me; you have to get out of here! You're in danger!" he said. Rosa stared, dumbfounded. Scipio turned to the others.

"All of you, too! Come on, we've to get out of here!" he yelled. Everyone suddenly realised what was happening.

There was a good deal of scrambling and gathering going on.

"FREEZE!"

Everyone stopped.

Footsteps rang through the theatre as a figure walked in the theatre…

Scipio gasped.

It was the man he had seen with his father that day…

And he had a gun in his hand…pointing towards them…


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Please review! They keep me going!

Miki Bidan