Chapter 9:
"I've always been asked why I invited the two gentlemen to dine at the villa in Tuscany, when Caroline found out she had an anger in her that could only be described as deadly, but the fire in her was untamed and very unpredictable.
Back then I understood her concern and worries for our family's safety, but I reassured her that we would eventually gain the upper hand, especially with help from our allies in La Famiglia.
Alexander's group was a complex one, but only had a very simple goal which was to wipe out the Vampire race. I agreed with the gentleman myself, vampires were bad news especially when there was so many new threats out there.
Threats lurking deep in the shadows, fighting a war that appears to have been going on for many years."
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Gathered around the Mikaelson Family dinner table, the Mikaelsons and La Famiglia itself and Alexander along with Federico were given glasses of wine, even Alexander and Federico were very reluctant and unaccustomed to such luxuries.
"Thank you, for this. But I must say that myself and my brother are unaccustomed to such luxury." Alexander said.
Leonardo himself had said, "Well, I should be thankful for your help, but I don't feel proud that I've heard your brother decided to lay hands on a lady without her consent."
"For that I apologise, My King, he's rather brash and unthinking." Alexander said. Leonardo nodded, "As much as I appreciate your apology, Alexander. He's the one who should apologise, not to me, but to the lady herself and her family."
Federico just sat in anger and fury at being humiliated. He soon replied, "Very well, My King, Lady Aphrodite, I must sincerely apologise to you and your family for my actions. They were rather inappropriate, distasteful and deeply ill-thought."
"I accept your apologies, Federico, just next time don't touch anyone without their consent." Aphrodite had said.
Elijah nodded and said, "I'm more interested by this Order of yours. What can you tell us?"
"We are but 5 hunters all trained by a very powerful hunter, bound by fire and the dying breath of a witch. The witch herself had friends, one of whom was a man named Mikael, the same man who trained us."
Composing themselves of this revelation, the Mikaelsons finally discovered that Mikael was on their trail, they only wondered how long it would be before he would try to kill them.
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Leonardo and Mauricio were themselves surprised as Mauricio asked, "I didn't think witches existed, from what I've heard this is a peaceful land, albeit the obvious conquest from the Normans. Happening in the south of Italy."
"Yes, I suppose so, there are those who practice out in the open, some choose secrecy as their ally. But our aim is only a goal to destroy all vampires." Alexander had said.
"I suppose nature is reacting to the balance of power shifting, from what I hear there's not many vampires around." Kol boringly said. Alexander smiled replying, "Well that was what we heard, but then we heard about people who call themselves 'Original Vampires', we had to see to it that they're destroyed."
"You haven't found them yet?" Niklaus asked. Alexander shook his head, "No, nothing's come about."
"But there is something else, we have this great weapon that has proven to be a motive, only the map can tell us where it is." Alexander said.
That got everyone's interest as Mauricio asked, "Who else knows about the map?" "Only the hunters and witches know about it, there is also a group that is helping us, in return if we help them too."
"Who's this group?" one of La Famiglia had asked. Federico smirked, "The Templars."
Matthew Doyle looked up from his food before asking, "The Templars?" "Yes, that's right." Federico said.
"Who are the Templars?" Elijah asked with wariness, an untold feeling of worry and concern raised in his instinctual gut.
"Another order of shall we call them, assassins. They believe in the betterment of humanity. That it can only be achieved by peace on Earth. They were founded by a man named Cain. That's what the legends were told."
"I heard about the Templars, they're fairytales dreamt up to get children to behave properly." Finn had said.
Federico smirked, "Oh but they're real, believe me. I've trained under some of them, in fact I trained under the best warrior they had."
The untold fear within their souls only grew for the Mikaelsons, even La Famiglia felt their hearts stop at the promise of an incoming threat.
The meal that was shared went quietly even as everyone shared worrying looks for concern over their safety.
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As soon as night had fallen over Italy, all was quiet at the Mikaelson Villa, Niklaus and Caroline were still awake in bed as Niklaus noticed his wife sitting up, as he asked, "What's wrong, my love?"
"This greater evil that the hunter spoke about, I've been having bad feelings, that's it more to it than meets the eye." Caroline said. Niklaus nodded, "You may be right, I've been thinking about it too, and there are answers that trouble me."
Caroline stood up and walked to the window looking out over the picturesque view of Tuscany, she soon felt a horrible feeling crawl up her spine. She could only hear two undead heartbeats and several speeding heartbeats.
"Something's wrong." Caroline said in horror.
Niklaus strained his hearing before he shot out of bed and said, "Go find our children, I'll get our siblings."
Caroline raced towards Henry and Aphrodite's room, and instantly saw red seeing Federico upon Aphrodite placing a hand over her mouth, with a stake in his hand. Caroline growled, "Don't you dare touch her, bastard!"
Grabbing Federico, Caroline threw him against the wall, instantly waking up Henry and Aphrodite as they wondered what was happening. But they saw their mother looking upon the enemy like a blonde angel of vengeance before she asked, "Now you tell me what I want to know, where is Mikael?"
"He's here, I've had contact with him, he knows about you and those demon spawn of yours. But while you focused on your children, you should have kept watch for what was behind you." Federico evilly grinned.
Caroline frowned before hearing footsteps behind her as she then reached into the chest of a hunter and ripped his heart out. She turned to Federico and bit into his neck drawing a serious amount of blood from his wound and snapped his neck.
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After killing her children's attackers, she then turned to Henry and Aphrodite asking, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, we are. Are you?" Henry asked. Caroline nodded, "I'm ok, but we need to go, now. Mikael's on his way here!"
Aphrodite then asked, "We're leaving?!" "I'm sorry, daughter. But we can't stay here anymore!" Caroline said.
Niklaus came into the room and said, "Everyone okay?" "We're okay, but it's Mikael, he's on the way here!" Caroline said.
"Rebekah, Finn, Kol and Elijah were daggered, but I pulled the daggers out. I'll explain later, but if what that bastard said is true, then we need to run and get out of here!" Niklaus said.
"Then we better get going!" Caroline said gathering their children.
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Heading outside the pair could hear the shouts and screams coming from the town ahead as Niklaus turned pale before saying, "We're too late, he's here!"
"Which means that the Templars must be with him, why would they want to help him?" Finn asked. Niklaus felt his vision water as he said, "I don't know, but we must hurry if we're to escape."
Leonardo and Mauricio soon said, "Then we'll buy you some time."
"Leonardo, your kingship, I can't ask you to sacrifice everything that you've worked for." Elijah said.
Mauricio turned to his brother and looked at the Mikaelsons before saying, "You aren't asking us, we're offering to stay and protect you all."
"Then I will stay too." Finn said. Rebekah was shocked as was the rest of their family before she said, "Are you insane, he'll kill you?!"
"Bekah, if I don't stay, we're all dead, I'm sorry, but this is my choice. I must ask that you could respect that choice for me, I'll find my way back to you, I promise. But please, just stay alive for me, stay alive so I can find you all." Finn said.
"I know you'll do what you have to do. Stay safe, Finn, please stay safe, brother." Kol said, to which Finn nodded with a heavy heart.
Elijah was reluctant to let him go, but judging by the look in his eyes, he then reluctantly allowed him to go. Niklaus however was unrelenting and asked, "Please come with us, Finn."
"I wish I could, brother. I wish I could, but I must go and protect you all. I promise to look for you all. I promise." Finn said with a heavy heart. Niklaus could see unshed tears in his older brother's eyes and he nodded with reluctance, "We'll see you soon, brother."
"Look after my siblings, sister. I know you'll do everything to protect them." Finn said looking towards Caroline. Caroline nodded and said, "I will protect them, I'll protect everyone, to my last breath. This I promise you, my brother."
The pair shared a hug before the younger Mikaelson children quickly hugged Finn instantly started to turn and run.
But Niklaus stayed behind as did Caroline turning to Leonardo and said, "Why did you do this?"
"Because we owed you so much. You haven't just become our friends; you've become our family. We're family and no matter what, we're in this together." Leonardo said.
"Thank you, brother." Niklaus said. Leonardo smiled, "Thank you, Famiglia."
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Leonardo turned to his soldiers and said, "Get ready everyone, get ready to fight."
Racing towards the town, everyone soon came face to face with a tall blonde man with a sword by his side, Finn recognised the man as he said, "Mikael, it's been long."
"Finn, tell me son, where are they, I will spare you your life?" Mikael said obviously lying through his teeth.
"I will not hand them over to you, they're my family, I will protect them." Finn said. Mikael said, "Surely you care about your friends?"
"They're more family than you've been family." Finn said.
Leonardo stared upon the warrior as he said, "Tell you what Mikael, you think you're so strong, bullying, tormenting and torturing innocent people, you're just like every other bastard that wanted to conquer others."
"You're outnumbered, anyway Mikael, surrender and we'll make your death quick and painless." Mauricio said.
Mikael smirked evilly replying, "You forget that I have an army, and I have many allies to help me kill you and conquer this country."
Behind Mikael appeared Norman soldiers, along with what looked like many other vampires as well. Leonardo laughed before replying, "Are you sure, you want to do this?"
"You mock me?" Mikael said. Leonardo nodded, "Well where I'm from, this is called getting under your skin."
Looking ahead on top of rooftops, Leonardo's smile broadened as he said. "And my point is finally proven, you really are outnumbered."
On top of rooftops, there appeared many men and women, whose faces were hidden by their hoods all the same insignia on their cloaks.
The leader issued a rallying cry, "Brotherhood! Nothing is true, everything is permitted!"
A war cry released amongst the unknown warriors as Leonardo smirked, "Warriors, fight as one, fight together, hold nothing back, but seize your glory!"
Swords were unsheathed as Mauricio held his sword above his head shouting, "This is the Way!"
Mikael's army fought against both Leonardo's Army and this 'Brotherhood' that they were called, Leonardo was impressed by the fighting skills of the Brotherhood, the way they upended the vampires and staked them directly in their hearts, the Normans themselves gave a fight worthy, but even with the tactics of Leonardo's Army, they had drawn in the Normans and Mikael's forces.
They baited the enemy, but they could not find Mikael anywhere after the battle. Even Finn was despondent, that he couldn't find his bastard father and kill him.
The leader of the Brotherhood approached and said, "You are the one they call Leonardo Capelli?"
"I am, to who do I answer to?" Leonardo asked.
The man answered, "You may call me Zeus, I'm of the Mediterranean Brotherhood, of the Assassin Order. I must thank you for helping us against the Templar."
"And I thank you personally, and no matter what, you've made an Ally amongst La Famiglia today." Leonardo said.
Zeus nodded, "And you yourself have made allies with the Assassin Order. If ever you need us, we're everywhere." Zeus cast his eyes upon Finn who nodded gratefully.
Whilst both Leonardo and Zeus spoke with one another. Mauricio went over to Finn who had said, "You okay?"
"The man named Zeus, he appears familiar, perhaps a distant memory I can't remember." Finn said staring upon the man.
Mauricio nodded, "We all have distant memories, some we choose to forget, some that have been taken from us and we can't get back."
"I'm afraid that I must go, I'll head to this '5' Kingdoms that Caroline spoke off, I'll see about gathering allies for our cause." Finn had said.
"I'll prepare a horse, food and some basic tools, you'll need them." Mauricio said. Finn nodded his thanks before leaving to head back to the Mikaelson Villa.