Travelling isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that's okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind." – Anthony Bourdain
Adriana's POV
As soon as we came down from the plane a whole different sight greeted me, it was like any other airport but the air felt different, maybe it was the 12 hours plus plane ride that go to me, or the fact that currently, I'm a fugitive, who has no clue how her life will be right now.
"Come on let's go," Uncle Matteo said and led me out, he led me to a pretty girl holding a cardboard with the names Jennifer and Max, the girl had caramel skin, brown do eyes, and a curvaceous body,
"Max...is a very lame name I tell you," the girl said as soon as we got there
"Well hello to you too Aria" uncle Matteo said to her
"You must be Jennifer, I'm Aria and I've heard a lot about you," she said and hugged me, I was shocked
"Don't be surprised Jennifer, she's like that" uncle Matteo said and I nodded, she smiled and led us outside to a black SUV, I sat at the back, and Aria and uncle Matteo sat at the front.
"Marcello wanted everything low key, so he sent just me, but rest assured you're in safe hands, I'm the best transporter you know," Aria said with a smile and started driving
"Thank you for agreeing to be our transporter," uncle Matteo said with a smile and sighed, I looked outside the window and a beautiful city greeted me, I've always wanted to come to Rome but dad never allowed me but here I am, running for refuge,
Emily came to my mind, I hope she is fine and she isn't worried but I doubt she won't be worried.
The scenery changed pretty soon, there were lesser houses but that didn't stop my eyes from feeling heavy and I finally succumbed to the darkness drawing me in.
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Addy Addy Addy I hear someone calling me, I frown, can't I experience calm for once, someone nudges me and I open my eyes, I see uncle Matteo standing in front of me, I guess he was the one trying to wake me up
"We're here," he says, I stand to get out of the car and a beautiful mansion greets me, it has this ancient feel to it, like a castle of a duke or something,
Brown walls, a waterfall in the shape of a goose, with rose bushes surrounding it, rose vines with flowers grew on the walls too...
"Matteo!!" I heard someone shout and it broke me out of my reverie, I turned and saw a man, he looked around my dad's age, he had brown hair with some streaks of white, brown eyes that seemed to know everything, he wore a black knee-length short with a white shirt, he looked smart.
"Marcello" uncle Matteo called, so I'm finally meeting the legendary Marcello,
Marcello walked up to me, he looked me up and down, he smiled and said "just like Macy" he hugged me, I guess the person's I have met so far know nothing about personal space but who am I to complain
He released me and held my hands "come let's go in, you too Aria don't even think about escaping" he said and led us in, inside was as beautiful as it was outside, with marble floors, with chic designs, Marcello led us to the sitting area and we sat down, as soon as we sat down someone came and placed glasses of juice before us.
"How was your journey?" He asked uncle Matteo
"It was good, we weren't spotted" he nodded
"Adriana I'm happy that you are here, I'm so sorry about Antonio's passing, he was a close friend of mine," he said and I nodded
" thank you for having me here," I said to him
"Nonsense, this is your home, any home of the Cardonara family is home to you too girl," he said with so much conviction
"Dad she is jet-lagged and she needs rest, so...." Aria said whilst rolling her eyes
"Oh look at me, Aria lead Adriana to her room and make her feel comfortable" Marcello replied to her and she stood up,
"Come on Adriana, except you want to listen to the boring stuff," she said and I stood and followed her.
She led me upstairs, to a nice room, I placed my bag on the bed
"I'd like to show you around the mansion but I know you are not in the right state of mind for all that, my room is right opposite yours, everything you'll need is in the room, dad has been preparing for your arrival for like a week now, so feel at home" and with that little speech she walked out the room, shutting the door behind her, I glanced around the room,
It still had that ancient feel to it, there was a mahogany dressing table and chair, the cupboard in the room was also mahogany, the room smelt of vanilla, the sheets were white, I pulled my clothes and opened the door facing the bed and I walked into the bathroom.
As the dye used on my hair came off, I sighed and muttered, Adriana De'Luca...Adriana De'Luca it's so sad.
I won't cry anymore, I'm going to face every problem that comes my way boldly, I won't cower or hide behind uncle Matteo, or continue being a spoilt brat, I'll face the world cause I've come to know that this ship called earth is filled with monsters and fairies and I won't allow the monsters to break me but rather I'll break them and shine.
"Dad, mom I promise not to let you down, I'll get you justice" I swore through gritted teeth.