By this time, Isabel and Dolores were both in their thirties and twenties respectively. They share a history that go back to their childhood and teenage years. Dolores’ mother, Lily, was the madame at La Hermandad de La Estrella at the time. They used to be close but now all that remained between them was trauma and hate. She fought back the tears and walked closer. Their voices were low, but Isabel could hear fragments of the conversation. Adriana spoke with a passion Isabel hadn’t seen in her before. "You don’t understand," Adriana whispered fiercely. "I can’t stay here. This place is a prison. I don’t want to be a nun, I want... I want something more." Dolores stepped closer, her voice like a serpent’s hiss. "And you shall have more. You have power within you, Adriana, power the convent has tried to suppress. You belong with us. when La Hermandad de la Estrella will give you the freedom you crave. We will give you purpose. But if I may ask, what exactly is your reason? The
PRESENT DAY Isabel’s voice trembled as she finished recounting the harrowing story. “That night was just the beginning. Adriana didn’t join the convent. Instead, she ran… and fell into the arms of La Hermandad de la Estrella. It was her actions that started the conflict between both groups, and her choices led to the bloodshed that has followed ever since. But Adriana’s story didn’t stop there; it spiraled into something far more gruesome and disturbing than you can possibly imagine. Yet, I’ll leave it at that for now.” Arya sat in stunned silence, grappling with the weight of Isabel’s revelation. Her mother, the woman she had idolized and revered, had become the catalyst for the war that now loomed over them like a dark cloud, threatening to consume everything she held dear. Leonardo, ever composed, broke the heavy silence that hung in the air. “And now we find ourselves caught in the crossfire of this decades-old battle—no, centuries-old, actually. The question is, Isabel, w
Arya knew she should have left it alone, just like Leonardo had warned her, but she couldn’t shake the guilt. Sitting back and doing nothing wasn’t an option. Too many lives were at stake. Lima arrived, her face pale with worry. "I came as soon as I saw your call. Believe me, Arya, I had no idea about this war." Arya raised an eyebrow. "Your mother is the madame. How could you not know she’s pulling girls from the convent?" “I don’t live at the mansion anymore. I’m kept out of their business. Honestly, I have no clue how they operate. You have to believe me.” Arya wasn’t convinced. “But where did you think those girls came from? The ones vanishing without a trace?” Lima’s expression shifted. “Arya, I’m trying to be better, okay? You saw something in me no one else did. But I was told those women used to be part of the Sisterhood, before they committed crimes and ran away. My mother’s just tracking them down to make them pay.” Arya’s voice turned sharp. “And what about th
As Arya stepped into the dimly lit mansion, the atmosphere enveloped her like a thick fog. The air was heavy with secrets, and the scent of aged wood and candle wax lingered in the shadows. The mansion exuded an aura of opulence that felt deceptive, hiding the darkness that simmered beneath its polished surface. She glanced around, taking in the lavish décor—ornate chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, expensive artwork lining the walls, and luxurious furniture that looked like it had been plucked from a historical period drama. But none of that mattered now. Arya had a mission, and her heart raced with purpose. As she ventured deeper, the sound of laughter echoed from a nearby room, mingling with the clinking of glasses. Her heart raced; she could not afford to get caught. Suddenly, she rounded a corner and nearly collided with a young woman emerging from a nearby room. The girl was dressed provocatively, her attire accentuating her curves. She smelled very good that Arya was
She was in a tough spot. Realizing she had no choice, Arya pulled out the documents she had taken, her pulse racing as she laid them on the table. “Look! They’re planning to take out key members of your group. This is a setup, and we need to act before it’s too late.” The tension in the room shifted as the women leaned in to examine the papers. Arya could feel their skepticism wavering. “You’ve got to believe me,” she urged. “We can stop this before it escalates. But we have to work together. Dolores is counting on us.” Silence hung in the air for a moment before the woman who had initially confronted Arya spoke up again. “You look very familiar. Doesn’t she look familiar?” “I get that a lot,” Arya said, chuckling nervously, the weight of the moment heavy on her. “We literally do not have time. We need to get serious.” The room fell silent, eyes studying her, measuring her sincerity. Finally, the sharp-featured woman nodded slowly. “If you’re truly here to help, then we n
Arya turned to face the voice that made even Lima stiffen in fear. It was the last person she wanted to see right now. “You finally decided to show your face to your mother again,” Dolores said, her tone sharp and dripping with control. Her eyes flicked briefly to Arya. “And you brought along a little friend.” “Mama… I thought you were still out of town,” Lima said, clearing her throat nervously. “And so? Is that why you greet your poor, old mother with such suspicion?” Dolores responded, her voice low but carrying an unmistakable weight. “It’s almost like you didn’t want me here, mi hija.” “No, Mama, it’s not like that,” Lima quickly corrected, visibly flustered. “I’m just surprised to see you back, that’s all. Welcome home. How was your trip?” Dolores regarded her daughter with a penetrating stare before answering, “Productive, one might say.” Her gaze shifted to Arya, and her eyes narrowed slightly. “And who is your… little friend here?” “Oh, uh…” Lima stuttered, cle
The cabin was quiet, save for the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth. Arya walked in, her heart pounding harder with every step. The familiar scent of wood and earth brought a calm over her, but it was Leonardo’s presence that filled her with warmth. He stood by the window, his back turned to her, but he knew she was there—he always knew. When he finally turned around, their eyes met, and his face softened into a smile filled with relief and longing. “You’re finally here,” he said, his voice gentle. “I missed you.” Arya crossed the room quickly, finding her place in his arms. She breathed him in, feeling the tension in her body melt away in the safety of his embrace. “I missed you too,” she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of all the moments they’d been apart. Leonardo kissed the top of her head before pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. His fingers brushed her cheek softly, his touch tender. “I was worried,” he said, a slight frown forming. “You were go
Arya went against Leonardo. She was tired of being treated like a fragile creature, like someone who couldn’t withstand the test of time. Innocent people were going to die, and guilt gnawed at her. Why? She sat in Dolores’s personal living room, waiting with Lima, who was busy spiking her tea with liquor. "Is that really necessary?" Arya asked, watching Lima. "I mean, she’s your mum." "You don’t understand." Lima took a swig straight from the bottle before shoving it back into her purse. "My mum and I share a bond, but being around her too long does something to me. And yes, in a bad way." "Then don’t hog it all. Give me some." Arya reached for a fresh teacup. "Add some tea first," Lima suggested, smirking. Arya gave her a look. "Girl, I need it straight from the source." Lima chuckled and pour her a drink. She downed the liquor without another word. Her thoughts drifted back to last night’s conversation with Leonardo. She could not get it out of her mind for some
Arya walked into the Mayor’s office, her mind still swirling with thoughts of her time at the convent, which had ended permanently. Henry had called her the day before, insisting that someone come to the Townhouse to collect a certificate for her volunteer service. She had kindly turned him down, but Henry was insistent, not taking no for an answer. Arya found herself wondering where this sudden niceness was coming from. She didn’t trust a single soul in this town, not even after everything she’d done to protect herself, including running a secret background check on Ricardo—though he would never find out about that. “Ah, Dona, welcome to my office,” the Mayor greeted, his voice oozing charm as his secretary led her into the room. Across from him sat Isabel and one of the council members, Frederick. Arya couldn’t bring herself to look at Isabel, her gaze fixed firmly on Henry instead. “Thank you for having me,” Arya said, offering a smile that barely touched her lips. Henr
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. “It’s… it’s all too much, Leo. Everything. Isabel, the Sisterhood, my parents—I never even had the chance to mourn them, and now all of this…” He squeezed her hands, the warmth of his touch grounding her. “You don’t have to carry this alone. I know it feels like the world is crumbling, but we’ll get through it. We always do.” She gave a bitter laugh, wiping away a tear. “You warned me about this life. You told me it would be hard, that it would come with pain and danger. And I thought I was ready. But now…” He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his expression softening. “You are ready. You’re stronger than anyone I know. And you’re not alone.” She broke down into even harder sobs, and he just held her close, letting her cry against his chest. His arms were wrapped around her tightly, and he whispered soothing words, his touch gentle and comforting. As her body shook with grief, he fought the urge to share what had happe
By the time they finished work, dusk had settled over the city, casting long shadows across the streets. “I need to get back to the cabin,” Leonardo said, gathering his things. “My wife’s there, and we’ll wrap things up once we’re back.” He knew Arya had gone to the convent earlier to confront Isabel, and although his instincts told him she was safe, a faint sense of urgency nagged at him. Working here, dealing with everything else, had given her space, but he couldn’t help wanting to check in on her. Behind him, Ricardo and Rob were in yet another argument, voices rising and falling as they debated. Leonardo had long since learned to tune them out. Instead, he let his thoughts wander. Spending most of his childhood alone, with only the company of books he’d memorized cover to cover, he’d become accustomed to living inside his mind, finding peace there. But something shifted. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement, something or someone moving too delib
Leonardo walked into the room to find everyone already seated, waiting expectantly. He took his seat, and Rob slid a few files across the table. “These are all we could gather, boss. I double-checked—it’s everything they had,” Rob said, his tone firm. Leonardo picked up the files, scanning through them quickly. Setting them back down, he looked up, addressing the room. “Someone is playing a twisted game with my wife. She suspects it might be the Mother Superior, but I’m not convinced,” he began, his voice steely. Rob tensed beside him. Usually, they didn’t discuss these matters openly, especially with others around. But Rob must have trusted Leonardo’s judgment since he didn’t attempt to question it. “Of course, we don’t suspect any of you,” Leonardo added, glancing around the table. “We trust you all completely, especially after the support you’ve shown. And if we need further assistance, we’ll reach out.” He nodded at Ricardo, who took the cue. “You heard the Don. We
Arya could hardly believe Isabel’s audacity. Her voice trembled with anger as she glared at the Mother Superior. “Don’t sit there on your high horse, pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about.” Isabel sighed, placing her reading glasses delicately on the table. “I get that you’re the wife of a very powerful man, a Don, but Arya, I don’t need to hear about the issues in your marriage. I have done nothing wrong, and I genuinely have no idea what you’re accusing me of.” Arya recoiled, taken aback by the indifference in Isabel’s tone. “What? Why would you say that?” “Why shouldn’t I?” Isabel responded sharply, her expression unreadable. Arya narrowed her eyes, studying Isabel's face. “No. Why would you assume this was about my marriage, Isabel? What makes you think that’s what I came here for?” Isabel raised an eyebrow, her mouth curling in a faint, mocking smile. “Oh, it’s not? Then I’m truly sorry for the misunderstanding. But tell me, Arya—what exactly are you accusi
Leonardo felt the palpable anger radiating from the crown of Arya’s head. He could sense the sadness lurking beneath it, and he was prepared to endure her fury if it meant providing her with the comfort she so desperately needed. Rob walked silently behind them, his expression pensive as they made their way to the car. “I can’t believe Isabel played me like this. Why would she betray me?” Arya’s voice was filled with disbelief and frustration. Leonardo sighed, searching for the right words. “I wish I knew, Arya. I haven’t had the chance to go through the files myself to gather more information.” Arya pulled away from his embrace, her expression tight. “What are you even doing here?” “I was nearby and thought you might need some extra help,” he replied, his voice steady. Rob walked ahead of them, heading towards the car with a focused demeanor. “Despite everything I told you? I had it under control,” she said, her irritation simmering just beneath the surface. Leonard
Arya stood up from her hiding spot, Lima following, and they observed the aftermath in the room. The women had won. The masked men were outnumbered, with only a few of them managing to retreat. The sight of her injured sisters made Dolores hiss under her breath. "Who had the audacity to attack our sacred home?" Arya felt a flash of ironic amusement. That question, coming from Dolores, who was known for her own harsh reputation within the convent, seemed almost laughable. “These symbols on their clothes,” Lima murmured, stepping closer to examine the fallen men. "I feel like I've seen them somewhere before." Curious, Arya moved closer, her eyes catching the emblem stitched onto one of the men’s jackets. It was then it hit her with a jolt. It was the same symbol she’d seen in the Orders of Seraphim file back at the convent. Could it be…? No, they wouldn’t. Or… would they? A knot of uncertainty formed in Arya’s chest. If the convent was involved, this whole mission was far
And just like that, the peace shattered. Masked men burst into the room, their weapons drawn, their intentions clear as they wreaked havoc and tore women away from the comforting embrace of community. “Not on my watch!” Dolores shouted, her voice slicing through the chaos like a blade. She raised her hand, signaling to a woman nearby, and the energy in the room shifted. “Por la Hermandad” the women screamed in unison, their defiance echoing off the walls as they revealed weapons hidden beneath their clothing, including Lima, who seemed to transform into a experienced gun person in that moment. Arya’s heart raced as she watched the scene unfold, a mix of awe and horror flooding her senses. The sight of women standing their ground against armed intruders ignited something deep within her—an instinct to fight, to protect, but also a desperate need to understand. Oh, come on! Is every community in this town a cover for something else? As she scanned the chaos, her eyes landed
There was no way Arya would step into the Sisterhood mansion without Leonardo keeping watch over her. She was his world, his everything. Before her, life felt empty, like a book missing its pages, and the thought of life without her was even more suffocating, an endless void of despair. “Our drones are camouflaged perfectly in the trees. They won’t notice us,” Rob said, his voice steady but urgent. Leonardo’s focus never wavered. Ricardo had been called away on a serious assignment, leaving just him and Rob to keep an eye out. The stakes were too high to allow even the slightest distraction. “Good. Hand me the MacBook,” he replied, taking it from Rob without breaking his gaze from the screens. Every second was crucial, and he felt the weight of their mission pressing down on him. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Inside the mansion, true to Dolores’ words, a grand portrait of Adriana loomed large over the room. Arya felt her breath catch as s