PIANTALA:

Literal meaning: Plant it

Meaning: Stop it or cut it

V A L E R I U S ' S P O V:

TWO YEARS LATER

"Papa, what have you named her?" Zander asked, holding our one-day-old girl in his arms on the couch. Valeria stared intently and kissed our baby daughter on the head. "Illyria. Illyria De Santis." I smiled as her sibling took care of her like a fragile doll.

"She's your baby sister. You all must protect one another." Placing the sacred oil on the top of Illyria's head. "Papa, I will protect her, she's my sister," Valeria said with confidence.

"She's our sister too, Valeria." Adryan interrupted, they all place their hands on top of Illyria's hand promising the vows they made to each other. Placing my hand in Shira's cold ones, I pulled a blanket over her while she rested her head on my chest.

"Illyria was meant to be my older sister's name." Shira looked up at me with a shine of happiness in her eyes, tears forming. "You told me and I wanted our little girl to have it." Wiping away her tears, I pressed a lingering kiss on her forehead.

"Uncle Angelo!" Adryan exclaimed, Illyria sniffled a cry but Valeria stroked her head slowly, whispering sweet things to calm her down. "Stronzo, be quiet, she's sleeping." Valeria whisper yelled, making Adryan apologise quietly.

"Valeria, language," Shira said while Zander chuckled before getting up to meet Angelo. Valeria stayed on the couch, taking care of her sister. "Sorry, Mama," Shira and I watched her gentle movements on Illyria.

"Congratulation, amore mio." Angelo plopped his bag on the floor before meeting Illyria. When will he stop calling Shira 'amore mio'? Valeria gently passed Illyria to him, Angelo gently rocked the baby in his arms.

"She looks like you, amore mio," She did, Illyria had the same eyes. Intimidating yet calm. A mixture of nature's serenity yet destruction. "What have you named her?" Angelo asked, giving her to Shira as she needed to be fed. "Illyria."

Shira went upstairs to our room, I chatted with Angelo asking about his day. Angelo decided to stay with us to attend school here before he left for Italy in three years time. He would be handling our external business, located around the world since he is gifted in the commerce sector.

"Zander, Adryan, Valeria, you won't have training today," I announced, Valeria scoffed before going upstairs, into her room. "Papa, can we borrow Angelo," Zander asked, nodding, Angelo said goodbye before going with the boys.

Papa would pick Angelo up today to spend time with him as it is Friday and drop him off on Sunday for school.

Getting up from the couch, I made my way to Valeria's room, opening it slightly. Her room was a bit like mine at my parent's place. Dark and full of books. In her free time, apart from training, Valeria would read either in her room or go into the library at night.

The girl that was once afraid of the darkness in the closet was now living in the dark. Leaving her in the peacefulness of her room and the new world of the book she held in her hands, I closed the door.

Opening the door to our bedroom, Shira instantly turned her head and placed a finger on her lip. Illyria was fast asleep on our bed with her hands in the air and mouth slightly open. She was a small baby but wasn't premature.

Her little hands were cover by the oversized onesie we got her that had 'daddy's little girl' threaded on it. That she was. All of a sudden, Illyria began stretching her arms and her eyes began to open.

"I'll bathe her." Shira nodded before going downstairs to prepare dinner. "Papa is here, don't cry, principessa." Illyria sniffled before she began to cry. "Ok, ok, bubble bath time," Carrying her to the bathroom, I began to fill the bathtub with water before adding some baby wash for the bubbles.

Taking off her little onesie and nappy, I placed her in the baby bath support. Placing a bubble on my hand, I blew it, causing all the bubbles to fly around. Illyria began to giggle and wiggling in the support.

"Look, bubbles," Grabbing a little more, I placed it on her head like a bubble crown. Illyria pouted and sniffled. Before she could cry, I grabbed some more and blew it, making her laugh once again. "Le mie bolle."

(Translation: my bubbles)

-

After dinner, Papa came to pick Angelo up and left. The kids came to watch a movie in our room but changed plans and played with Illyria, she obviously couldn't spend too much time with them because she needed to sleep.

"Mama, I think Illyria her pacifier." Adryan said, "Where did I-" Shira began, "I got it, Mama," Valeria said, holding it up in the air like a trophy. "Thank you, mia cara." Valeria handed it over and Shira placed it in Illyria's mouth before she began sucking on it and closing her eyes.

Valeria moved in between me and Shira, sitting next to Adryan. "Papa, when Illyria is older, will she start training with us?" Valeria asked, her bright blue eyes look up at my ones. "If that's what she wants." Brushing her hair off of her face, Valeria snuggled inside the covers.

"Mama, can I hold her?" Zander asked slipping in between Adryan and Shira. "Yes, be careful not to wake her up." Zander cradled his sister in his hands before he began to yawn. Shira took Illyria and placed her in the adjoining cot next to her.

Our bodies stayed attached to one another, my hand held Valeria's small hands while Zander cuddled up to Shira. Adryan, on the other hand, slept in the middle with his small mouth opened, snoring slightly. They all fell asleep and I prayed they had a good sleep.

Shira and I were complete, two jigsaw pieces perfectly joined together to make a blank canvas for our children to paint their blood on to and write their own legends.

LA FIN

First things first, thank you to each one of you, who has read, voted, commented on this book and for those who have been here from the very start. I can't explain how much I will miss these two. My first book is completed!

I hope you enjoyed this book and if you have I wish that each and every one of you find the love you deserve and if you are infertile or have suffered from a miscarriage, I pray for you but I wish you are blessed with a miracle.

Thank you once again and I hope to see you in my other works:

- Tainted By Lazarus

- Exotic Evocation

- Art of Seduction ~ one shots ;)