Chapter 2

Three days after the Duello, Jolly found himself sitting across from Mondo in a side-wing of the Arcana's large mansion. "Now Jolly, what is all this about Il Sole?" Mondo asked, folding his arms and leaning back in the comfortably plush chair.

"Just as I said before. The host of Il Sole was at the Arcana Duello" Jolly said simply, taking a drag off of his cigar. As he exhaled, the smoke curled around his head before disappearing. "She looked to be quite innocent, but she had a fire for a temper. I firmly believe, however, that she is completely oblivious to possessing any power – whatever it may be."

"And you said that you spoke with her?"

"I did."

"Did you happen to get her name?"

Jolly smiled dryly. "Ah yes: Allegra. She can be located in a small dress shop on the north side of the city, though I don't believe it has much status in our standards. Her appearance was middle class."

"Do you know how old this Allegra was?"

"She looked to be in her early twenties, but I cannot be certain."

"How long has she possessed this power?" Jolly was about to answer, but found that he couldn't. Instead, he took another drag off of his cigar.

"Regrettably," he said after exhaling, "that is something I do not know." Abruptly, he stood and walked over to a nearby window. Though he hated admitting that he didn't have all the answers for Papa, there really wasn't anything else that he could do or say. He didn't even have the slightest bit of information to create a theory on.

"I see; well, that can be answered later. So I take it that you wish to include her in the Arcana Famigilia?" Jolly watched Mondo's reflection in the window as he shifted in his seat to face his right-hand man. Jolly nodded, turning around to face Papa.

"Yes; I believe that enlisting her would be the best solution. I myself am not altogether sure what the power of Il Sole is, seeing as no one has been host to it for an undeterminable amount of time. If her power turns out to be dangerous, then would it not be best that we teach her how to control it as soon as possible?"

Mondo nodded thoughtfully. "It would be. When were you thinking to inform her?"

"Immediately."

Mondo's eyebrows raised in slight surprise. "That's quite sudden, Jolly; don't you think we should wait at least a week?"

Jolly shook his head. "No; a few days have already passed since the Duello. Too much time has already been wasted. I strongly feel that we should send out a few of our members to personally inform her and see to it that she arrives here safely."

Mondo chuckled. "You seem to have thoroughly thought this through. Could it be that you fancy this Allegra?"

Jolly's lips turned upward into a smile as he scoffed. "Quite the contrary. Honestly Papa, I didn't peg you as one that would think such nonsense." He turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow. Mondo only laughed again.

"No need to become so defensive. I do feel that it's high time you settle down, however."

"At my age?" Jolly sent him a wry smirk. "I'm an old man, Mondo."

"And I'm sure you'd enjoy having a woman at your side" he responded with a knowing smile.

"What woman would have me?"

"One that could see past your shortcomings, of course." Jolly shook his head with what felt like to him as being a stupid, ironic grin. Mondo chuckled, then returned their conversation back to the original topic.

"Seeing as how you appeared to have thought this whole thing through beforehand, who are you thinking to send for the nineteenth card?"

Jolly confidently smirked. "Allegra is young, but not young enough that Libertà, Felicita, and Nova would be of any assistance" he replied immediately. "I believe that members near her own age would better benefit the purpose."

"Then Luca, Pace, and Debito are the natural choices" Mondo replied with finality. Jolly nodded in approval. "I will consult with them tonight and send them out tomorrow morning with a letter."

Jolly nodded again. "Very good. Now, if you will excuse me." Standing, he made his exit and left for his laboratory. As he opened the door, Elmo looked up from the book he'd been reading with a childishly life-like smile.

"Welcome back, Jolly!" He exclaimed, hopping off of his stool and trotting toward the older man. Jolly sat down in the blue armchair and rubbed his forehead as Elmo stood next to him with a confused look on his face.

"Is something wrong, Jolly?" Elmo asked, tilting his head like most real children his age would. Jolly reached out and patted him on the head.

"No" he said reassuringly, a small and victorious smile on his lips. "Nothing's wrong. In fact, things seem to be falling perfectly into place."

"We've never been here before" Pace commented, looking up at the dress shop's sign with a confused look on his face. "In fact, I didn't even know this place existed!"

"Of course we haven't" Luca replied coolly, ignoring the surprised and curious passers-by. "We've never had reason to come here before." He reached for the door handle with a white-gloved hand and gently pulled it open, causing the soft tinkle of bells to alert the middle-aged woman that was sitting behind an elaborately carved counter.

"Good day, Gentlemen. Can I help you?" She asked, looking up from some ledgers. The woman was pleasantly plump with salt-and-pepper hair and twinkling ebony eyes that crinkled expressively at the corners.

"That's can't be her" Debito muttered under his breath, his brow wrinkling slightly. "She's much too old for the description.

"Yes, as a matter of fact" Luca answered, stepping forward with a gallant bow. His two companions followed suit, causing the woman to tilt her head in confusion.

"We're here to see your daughter" Luca continued. "I believe her name is Allegra?" She eyed them carefully, scanning each of their appearances. Sudden recognition and what appeared to be sadness flickered across her face and settled in her eyes.

"I see. One moment, please." She disappeared into the back of the shop, and hushed voices drifted into the main room. Not long after, the shop owner returned with a much younger – and decidedly prettier – woman.

"This is my only daughter, Allegra." The young lady curtsied slightly with lowered eyes. The three Arcana members exchanged looks of surprise; she seemed much sweeter and more demure than Jolly and Mondo had made her out to be.

"It's a pleasure to meet you" the woman introduced as Allegra said graciously in a light, airy voice accompanied with a sweet smile.

"The pleasure is ours, M'Lady" Debito said, being the first to recover his voice. He bent at the waist and took her hand in his, kissing her softly on the knuckles. Luca awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Ahem, well, we have come on important business." He pulled a white envelope out of his tuxedo jacket, handing it to Allegra and motioning for her to open it. Silently and with a small suspicious raise of her eyebrow, she accepted the note and opened the envelope. Her fiery eyes scanned its contents and continued to grow wider than they already were.

"The leader of the Arcana Famigilia wishes to meet with me?" She asked incredulously, handing her mother the envelope while staring dumbly at the three men.

"Yes. We're here as your escorts" Pace said, holding out a hand to her with a large grin. She stared at his hand, and Luca and Debito held their breaths. Reaching out, she slapped it away.

"I won't go with you" she said simply. "Mother needs me."

"Now, Allegra—"

"Mother, I must stay." She turned to the older woman with a stern look, reversing the roles of parent and child. "Who will help you keep up with customer orders and shop re-stocking?"

"You've been requested" her mother replied patiently. "You must go."

"I'm not even packed" Allegra continued, turning to the three men and ignoring her mother's subtle order. "How can you expect me to just, leave?"

"You need only pack a few belongings" Luca smoothly informed her, doing his best to meet her eyes though failing miserably due to the intense emotion that filled them.

"And why is that?" Allegra shot back, putting her hands on her hips.

"Everything will be provided for you" Pace replied, looking somewhat concerned. "The Arcana will make sure you're not left wanting, since you will be residing with us at the mansion."

"Anyway, we best be on our way soon" Luca said, pulling out a pocket-watch from his waistcoat. "That is, if we are to make it back in time for tea."

"Tch; you and your duties" Debito scoffed, smirking nonetheless. Luca sighed.

"Excuse me, but I don't recall agreeing to this" Allegra cut in.

"You must go" her mother reiterated more insistently. "I'll be fine."

Allegra's expression softened as she turned to her mother. "You're sure?" When her mother nodded, she sighed. "You promise to send word for me if you need me at all?"

"I promise."

She sighed. "Fine." Allegra turned to the three. "I'll be ready in ten minutes."

Exactly ten minutes later, Allegra stood in the main part of the shop with carpetbag in hand. She turned to her mother, who had tears running down her face.

"Don't hesitate to call me back if you need" Allegra said gently, kissing the older woman's tear-stained cheek. "I'll be here in an instant." The two hugged, then Allegra turned to the men. "I guess we'll be off then?"

"Hmph, I guess we will" Luca replied stiffly, clearly ruffled by the fact that they would indeed be late tea. Debito and Pace exchanged a look, then forced back their laughter. It wasn't often that a lady stranger could shake the butler so easily. This Allegra and their Felicita would get along just fine.

"Here, let me carry that for you" Pace said, easily taking the bag from her.

"Thank you" she said in a voice much loftier than her status should permit. Luca's eye twitched, and Debito smirked.

"Shall we, M'Lady?" Debito held an arm out to her. Allegra looked at it for a moment, almost as if trying to decide whether it was safe or not, then gingerly accepted it and allowed him to guide her. As a single tear escaped her eye, she lifted her head a little higher as if to take the shame away from showing emotion. Luca opened the carriage door for her as Pace secured her bag at the back, then took a seat at the driver's post. After Debito helped her into the carriage and climbed in after her, Luca shut the door and joined Pace at the reins.

"Everything's alright now, M'Lady. You may cry in peace" Debito said, sitting across from Allegra as the carriage rumbled forward. "That jerk of a butler Luca can't hear nor see you now. There is no need to concern yourself with keeping up appearances." She took a long look at Debito, then immediately relaxed as a small sigh escaped her lips.

"Thank you" she said, smiling nervously up at him. "I'm really not usually like this. It's just that… I was caught off guard, and that was my initial reaction."

Debito smiled charmingly back at her. "No need to apologize. Luca can be a handful to deal with sometimes." He chuckled deeply. "Though, I can't help but like that spirit of yours."

Her eyes filled with shock, then mischief. "Goodness Sir, I barely know you!" She grinned.

"Then perhaps we ought to get to know one another sometime" he replied, returning her look with a his own smirk.