Chapter One

“Viktor…”

“Viktor…”

“inveniete docere desideria cordis eorum” (Latin phrase meaning: “each shall find what their desires”)

Rio tries to search in the dark but cannot see a thing.

“Quis est Ibi? (Who is there)?”

“Quis es tu? (Who are you?)”

“Exaudi me! (Answer me!)”

He falls into a deep hole of space in the darkness. So fast as he lost consciousness.

Rio opens up his eyes and screams.

“Quis es tu?!!!” (Who are you)

He realizes that he was just having a nightmare, as usual.

He turns to his side table where his locket watch is sitting on top of a pile of documents.

He checks the time. It is twelve of midnight.

Rio closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and exhales calmly.

He gets up from the bed and covers his masculine bare body with a red robe and went into the bathroom.

As he looks in front of the mirror glimpse of someone’s memory flashes in his head.

“Aahh”. His head hurts and feels like his soul is separating from his body.

Suddenly, a viscous-looking beast appears in front of him. Out of shock, Rio strikes the mirror with his bare hands.

Blood drips down from his fist and broken pieces of glass are scattered all over.

Petrified, Rio did not move. Not until he sees his fist heals itself of the wounds he had just taken.

“Why does this always happen?’

“What am I?”

He hears a knock on the door and a lady had spoken.

“Are you alright sir?”

His maid was startled by the noise and came to check on him.

“Yeah Petra, I am okay. Just bring something to clean up the bathroom. I accidentally broke the mirror.”

Petra shook her head in disbelief because this was not the first time that it happened.

Petra was Rio’s loyal maid. She is an old but yet jolly woman who treated Rio as his own son.

“A Cuban cigar really is calming.” He speaks to himself as he puffs a smoke.

The soft cold breeze touches his face as he closes his eyes. He regains his tranquility again.

Rio is a well-mannered man and everyone looks up to him because of his patience and tolerance for other people. He is mysteriously rich and has it all.

But aside from having all the good stuff everyone is dreaming of, Rio seems to be a bit lonely. Little did everyone know that he is being haunted by his nightmares and premonitions.

As Rio enjoys the solemnity of smoking on the open balcony, he noticed that someone is staring at him behind the gate. It was wearing a black cult robe.

“Who is there?” he screams as he jumps from the balcony.

The person saw how high the balcony was and smirks a smile as if this person already expects this would happen.

“Nondum, …  Iori.” (Not yet, Iori)

The person then vanishes in the dark side of the street like a shadow.

“Wait! It is that name again. Who is Iori? And who is that person?” Rio did not catch up to the stranger and was left standing barefoot in front of the gate.

He walks back to the mansion out of dismay and confusion.

A man that has everything but is troubled with unexplainable events and is more disturbed now more than ever.

……..

Sunlight hits his face as Petra opens up the window curtain.

“Good morning sunshine, time to wake up. You will be late for your appointment today.”

“Oh, come on Petra, why do you always barge in my room like this.”

Petra taps him slightly on his broad shoulder.

“Get up already young man or I will beat you up to the dining table. I have prepared your favorite breakfast, help yourself for I am going to buy us supplies with Ferdie.”

“Okay, okay.” He laughs courteously as he stood up.

“Look at this five-foot-tall lady going at me again. Does she think that I am still a child? Haha.” He speaks in his mind while shaking his head sideways.

As he walks down the stairs, he sees Maximus wagging his tail. Maximus is a crossbreed between a Mastiff and a Pitbull. It towers Rio as it stands and seems to be hugging his master and started licking him in the cheeks.

“Stop Maximus, as if I will be gone forever.”

Maximus immediately sits down properly in front of him.

“Good boy.” He taps the dog in the head and went to the dining area.

Rio eats by himself.

If only he can be with his parents and siblings, it would be a better scenario.

He was on vacation with Petra and Ferdie in Germany when he received the bad news about his family.

He was told that the mansion was ransacked by an unknown group of armed men searching for something. Or should we say, someone?

All the guards were perfectly trained to protect the family but they failed to do so. Only one guy survived to tell what happened.

Rio was so young back then, that is why only Petra knew the full details the sole survivor had.

After telling important details, the man had blood bubbled up in his mouth and died in front of Petra.

Petra told Rio that the man choked with his own blood and swallowed his tongue suffocating himself.

She always tells this to Rio just to end the conversation about it.

Little did Rio know that he was not told the full story behind the death of his family.

……….

“It is for the young master’s safety not to know this thing yet,” as the man falls down to the ground choking with his own blood.

“I promise to protect the young master,” Petra told to herself.

………

“I believe it is time you tell the truth to young master Petra” Ferdie politely told Petra while they were in the car going on their way to market.

Ferdie was an old guy from Nigeria and served Rio’s Parents since he was young. He and Petra were the ones who accompanied Rio when he went for a vacation in Germany.

Ferdie loved Petra so much, that he respected her decision to stay and look after Rio, even though he had asked her to make a family of their own.

They grew old together while protecting and taking care of the young master.

“No, I cannot, I do not want to lose young master. It is for his safety.” Petra cried.

“His been experiencing it more often than before, can’t you see?” Ferdie blasts.

He stops the car and looks at Petra as she weeps.

“I’m sorry my dear. But eventually, you have to before it is too late.” Fedie tells her in a softer tone.

The car starts to move and they continue on their way to the market.

Petra stares at the car window while wiping her tears with the scarf Rio gave her as a birthday present.

“Poor Rio… my poor Rio” She speaks to herself as they approach their destination.

……….