So this story isn't taking off as well as I'd hoped, so I'm uploading this chapter where the action actually begins. Thank you to those of you have been reading and reviewing so far. You guys really make my heart-a yay~ ps ... I'm sorry for making Austria the bad guy again ... but it's just too easy -_-

Kismet

Chapter Three: A Leap Of Faith

Lovino awoke to the sun peeking in through the curtains. Elizaveta turned to look at him, "Good morning, Lovino. I hope you two are ready to head into town to buy a few clothes for each of you!"

The Vargas sat up and rubbed his eyes, "Yeah … sure …" She managed to convince both boys to head to breakfast, which was waiting for them in the dining hall. Roderich had eaten already and was in the music room composing, the music gently flowed down the halls of the house.

"Ve~! That sounds so pretty!" Feliciano said through a mouthful of oatmeal. The woman standing beside him chuckled, "Oh, that's Roderich playing. It can be really beautiful when he plays the song all the way through, not just when he's writing it."

"Ve … I've never heard anything like it!"

"Really? I guess I've grown used to it, but the piano is a very lovely instrument."

They cleaned up the dishes and set off into town. Lovino held his brother's hand tightly and put on a hard face, "I can show you where the clothing shop is if you wa-"

"Nonsense, take me to the tailors." she winked. Lovino knew where it was, but he'd only been inside once and had been rudely chased off. Only wealthy people went to the tailors to get their clothes handmade. Life really was going to be different from then on, wasn't it?

He showed her to the small building and walked inside, with Feliciano close behind, "Welcome to m- Oh, it's you, Vargas. Wondering where you'd disappeared to. Guess you were just getting the courage to come and get chased out." He grabbed a broom, but set it down when Elizaveta walked in with a sickeningly sweet smile with dark anger underlying.

"Fit these two for night clothes and two day clothes each. The boys know what they want. Make it happen." She cracked her knuckles and the man nodded, leading Feliciano to the stand where he showed a few drawings and let the young boy pick out his styles, all of which were dresses.

"You know you're a boy, right?" the tailor frowned, grabbing the colors Feliciano wanted.

"Ve~? So? I prefer them because it's tradition … there's nothing wrong with that, right?" his eyes began to water with worry. Lovino grabbed his hand, "No, you're fine, Feli."

"Feli? Aw! That's so cute~!" Elizaveta giggled. Lovino actually got one shirt and pants set, a night gown, rather than pants and dress in the same style as his brother's … just so Feliciano wouldn't think there was anything wrong with him.

"They'll be ready by the end of today or early tomorrow. I'll send them to your home when they are finished." The tailor took the payment and finished off on taking down any last minute details.

"Thank you~!" Elizaveta stepped into the streets with the two, "Okay, now we look for a book shop. If you're going to be living under my roof, you're going to need to know how to read, so I'll get a few children's books, okay?"

They nodded and walked with her down the streets, trying to ignore the odd looks they were getting from the people they knew. Whispers spread around them like wildfire about this and that. Mostly people wondering how the boys swindled a wealthy couple into buying them things and taking them into their home.

Lovino tried to ignore them, but he couldn't help but be angry with their words. They hadn't swindled anyone! His fists were balled up tight and his eyes were set ahead of him coldly. Elizaveta noticed and pulled the boys to the side of the street, "Lovino … are you okay?"

"No! I'm not okay! I hate being here. Now just … leave me alone, okay?" Feliciano grabbed his brother's hand, tears welling up in his eyes.

Lovino squeezed back and sighed loudly, "I'll be fine now, Feli." The younger of the two smiled his huge grin and the three continued looking around town for certain shops.

They walked into the shop filled with books, paintings and old scrolls. Feliciano immediately took off to grab a picture book he'd spotted. "If there's anything you'd like, just tell me, okay Lovino?"

The child nodded and flipped through a few different paper books. Elizaveta finally picked out the books she wanted and led the children home.

Weeks passed and both Lovino and Feliciano learned the basics of reading as well as writing. They also had to pick up slack with Roderich laying off the servants they could no longer afford. Feliciano quickly took to his chores and was really good at them. Lovino … not so much. The older Vargas made more messes than he cleaned and cost more in damages than Roderich spent on regular staff.

Roderich looked up upon hearing another loud crash followed by cursing, a nasty habit Lovino had picked up in the last few weeks.

"Elizaveta, what broke this time?" He turned back to his piano. He'd absolutely had enough of having to replace clothing and dishes because the child didn't know how to clean properly.

His wife stuck her head in through the door, "Just my mother's vase, don't worry! I'll get it cleaned up!" The pianist rolled his eyes and pressed his slender fingers to the ivory keys and took a deep calming breath before a melody began flowing. It was soon interrupted by a loud metallic clang.

"Elizaveta!"

"Sorry, Roddy, my love! I'll clean it up!" her voice carried through the house, leaving Roderich with another headache. He was spending too much money and was constantly being interrupted during his work. The work that fed the two children.

It was time he made a very hard decision.

"You can't Roderich! This is … this can't be! Why are you being so heartless? He'll learn!" Elizaveta shouted. She'd put the children to bed a short time before and she was shocked at the news her husband had given her.

"He's not going to learn. He's been here for three months and we've lost more money and priceless antiques and time than ever before. He's nasty with his foul language and manners. We can't afford them both and I'd rather have the quiet one who at least knows how to clean and let me do my work in peace!" Roderich shouted back, "Please, Elizaveta, try and see things through my perspective. I know you wanted children, I know this! But he is too much work and more than we bargained for. I've already set up arrangements and have fixed him up with a family up north in my home town. They paid heavily for him and I know they will treat him well. They will be here to pick him up in the morning."

"You SOLD him!" His wife had never been so appalled by his behavior. She had known he was stingy, but to sell a child to another family, forever separating him from his brother? It was outrageous!

Roderich turned angry eyes on her, "I BOUGHT him, I can SELL him! You forget this, Elizaveta. He belongs to me and I will do as I please. Hell," she frowned. He never cursed unless he was truly angry, "he isn't even mine anymore. We're done here."

He turned away from her and stormed to his room, a place she would rather die than join him in. Elizaveta flung the other set of doors open and gasped. Her eyes were met with hazel ones, filled with anger … fear … hatred …

"Lovino … I- wait!"

Lovino wiped the tears away as he ran back to the room he shared with his brother. He didn't want to leave Feliciano behind, nor did he want to be sold. How could he let himself trust those people? He climbed into the bed and gripped onto Feliciano tightly.

"Ve~? Lovi? Did you get your water already?" Lovino trembled and silently sobbed against his little brother.

"Lovi? Ve … what's wrong?"

"Nothing Feli, go to sleep." the older Vargas closed his eyes tightly, ignoring Elizaveta's voice calling for him on the other side of the door. He hoped and prayed that it was just a horrible nightmare and that he wasn't worthless and being taken from his brother, but not everything was that simple.

He was awoken the next morning by Roderich, rather than Elizaveta, "Lovino, wake up and get dressed. You're going on a little trip today." He shook his head and rubbed his eyes, only to have the previous night's memories come flooding back.

"You don't have to sugar coat it and lie, Roderich. He heard you talking." Elizaveta crossed the room and picked up the terrified child, "Come on Lovino, sweet child, let's get you ready and say good bye to Feliciano …"

A carriage arrived early that afternoon and Lovino tried to hide, but was quickly found.

"Don't worry, Lovino," Elizaveta cooed, hugging him to her chest, "They will take good care of you or else." he knew she was good with her threats. The woman really knew how to swing a frying pan, "I'll come see you soon, and I'll bring Feli too!"

Feliciano was currently confused, "Ve? What do you mean? Where are you going, Lovi?"

"I have to go away now … but I'll be back, I promise!" he hugged his brother, "Miss Ellie … just take care of him … don't lose him …" he muttered. Lovino wanted nothing more than to turn to Roderich and take his anger out on him, to make the man rue the day he decided to sell him.

"Ciao, Feliciano, ti amo, mio fratello." he kissed his brother's forehead and reluctantly followed the man who had been talking and laughing with Roderich outside.

The last he saw of them, was the door shutting in front of Elizaveta and Feliciano.

"Well, boy, Edelstein said you were strong willed and brave, but we'll see. I will break you of nasty habits." and with that, the carriage left.

Hours later, the sun was setting over the hills and Lovino had yet to say a word to anyone, despite their trying to get him to speak up. Even the pretty young girl with twin braids couldn't get him to say anything.

"Before we head home, I must make a quick stop in Sverran for business." once again, Lovino ignored the man and feigned sleep.

Sometime later, the carriage came to a stop and Lovino looked out the window into the pitch black village. It was rather small and desolate, few lamps lit and what not, but … Lovino's brow furrowed and he gripped the handle of the door and ripped it open and began running. There was no way he was going to be 'broken' and forced to live for some fancy rich family.

"Stop! Wait!" he ignored the yelling and was proud of the fact he could run fast. At least faster than the man who 'owned' him. He rolled his eyes and entered the outskirts of the town.

When he'd gone far enough, the boy stopped to rest. Hunger gripped him as well and thirst and exhaustion. His legs burned and his head throbbed.

Lovino didn't recognize any of his surroundings, yet he felt he was safe at the moment, hiding beneath the odd rock formation. Hopefully he could rest for the night in peace.

As the sun rose up over the distance, Lovino found himself shivering awake. He stood up and stretched, letting the dull ache in his back subside. The Vargas child made a mental note to never go to sleep outside like that again.

After wandering around aimlessly, through the few trees and grassy area, he realized he wasn't going to find anything edible. His stomach groaned painfully and Lovino frowned. Maybe it hadn't been such a god idea to run away, but he was here and there was no turning back.

He kicked a rock and a sudden feeling of dread washed over him. A strange creature poked it's head out from behind a rock and smiled at Lovino.

"What the … what are you?" he'd seen something like that in one of Feliciano's pictures … a … an elf? No … those were bigger and more human like … maybe a brownie? Were those safe to go near? Lovino couldn't remember. All he knew was this thing, whatever it was, looked at him with it's large black eyes like he was something … edible. Fear gripped the boy as the thing's smile grew larger, revealed the rows of long sharp teeth. It made a weird noise and leaped from it's hiding spot and began rushing towards Lovino.

The Illonian child turned and began running, his already sore legs screaming for him to stop. The thing scratched his exposed leg and caused him to go tumbling down a steep hill. Pain ripped through his head and shoulder when he finally landed at the bottom. His vision blurred and he felt tears pricking the corners of his eyes.

But whatever it was, it was still chasing him, bent on having Illonian for breakfast. Lovino managed to push himself up off the ground and continue running. There was a dull throbbing in his leg and he felt the blood from the scratch seeping down his leg.

"Damn it!" he cursed coming to a cliff. The bottom was not far down, and had a pool of water at the end of a deep stream. His head turned back to see the creature closing in on him and he bit his lip, stepping off the edge. He'd rather die hitting the water than be forced to become a meal.

Water surrounded him and he lost his breath, but he also was having trouble pushing back to the surface of the water. His lungs screamed for air and darkness began slipping into his consciousness. Gentle hands wrapped around his waist and pulled him to the surface. He coughed up water and his eyes fell on a woman with long brown hair, pinned on the sides with pink flowers he'd never seen before. A long twirled curl bounced above him as she ran her eyes over him.

She opened her mouth and spoke to him in her own language, something he'd never heard before. When she saw he didn't understand she pressed her forehead to his and smiled, "So you are from Illonia, no?"

Her words were heavily accented and she laughed lightly, but turned and yelled something in her language. Splashing sounded off in the distance and she turned back to Lovino, "I'm Mei, who are you?"

"L … lo …" his eyes fell closed and he slipped from consciousness. As he drifted back and forth between being awake and the darkness, he heard bits and pieces of what was going on around him.

Mei spoke first, " … fell … nearly died …"

Another, childish male voice cut in, still speaking in a language Lovino barely understood, "No … Worry … I … home … me …"

He slipped again and would not wake for several days.

TBC

So? How do you like it so far?

~Lady Pyrien