I've had the idea for this story since I had a Tim Burton spree a few months ago, but I'm still working on my other story at the moment OTL. Lovino seems like a character whose personality doesn't really change whether he's gender-bended or not XD. But for the purposes of this story, it was more appropriate to make him into a girl haha. My head is so full of Spamano ideas ;_; Just like in Weather Channel, I will list my chapters after song titles. This chapter is "Antes de Las Seis" by Shakira and "Tuve Sol" by Bajofondo.

Note: Lovi will be a bit OOC in the beginning, but it is part of the plot.

Disclaimer: Hetalia and its characters will never be mine, and rightfully belong to Hidekaz Himaruya.

Chapter 1: Tuve Sol

A tattered red ribbon caught Lovina's attention as she followed her mother down the forest path.

A soft breeze swept the leaves on the ground in a lazy manner, and carried a sweet smell that tickled the nose of a small child. Her white robes shifted with the warm gust of air that brushed past her, leaving her throat parched and craving something cool to drink.

A distant shout from up the path caught her attention, and with clumsy footsteps, the little Italian scurried down the path, further into the woods, clutching her white beret with feeble hands when the wind threatened to snatch it from her head. Soon, the path became less and less clear as the gnarled roots of the trees began to encompass the forest floor. Tears gathered in her eyes, blurring her vision as she glanced about every direction with such a panic that her throat constricted, the waterworks rolling down her rounded little cheeks making them glisten in the harsh Spanish sun.

"Mama!" she wailed.

Her hands clutched the fabric of her robes tightly, when a flicker of movement caught her eye. The red ribbon had flitted from its position on the tree branch and swept across the ground with each little breeze until it landed at her feet.

For a moment, her sobs subsided and she reached down to pick up the delicate cloth. She glared at it with a furious pout; it was the reason why she was lost in the first place! Stupid ribbon!

Just then, a strong zephyr flooded the woods, whipping at Lovina's back and tossing her hair to and fro, and with a small shriek, the ribbon was torn from her hands and twirled its way down her left. When the wind died off Lovina opened her eyes, looking around for the dumb ribbon, but when she found it, she seemed to see what looked like the path. With a start, she took off in that direction, all thoughts of the ribbon abandoned as she ran, crunching leaves beneath her boots.

A smile etched itself on her rosy baby face as she came to a clearing. On the other side, the woods continued, but what Lovina had stumbled upon seemed to be a grove. The small smile dropped from her face when she noted how utterly dead the grove looked. What looked like withered vines littered the grove, and the dirty looking bushes that hugged the parched earth only added to the solemn air that surrounded the place. A strange feeling filled her chest, and she felt so heavy all of sudden. Something about this place was off...the sound of crunching leaves alerted her overactive senses, and she quickly whipped her head to the side, only to see nothing but a blur of a shadow moving across the open ground. The shadow moved and faded as fast as it came. Her heart beat wildly, and she quickly wrote off the occurrence as a bird flying overhead or something.

A hand gripping her shoulder drew a high-pitched scream from the child, and she almost ran off in the opposite direction if it was not for the soft voice of her mother cooing at her in a gentle whisper.

"Mama…where did you go? Why did you leave me all alone?" the girl sniffled into the apron of her mother.

The woman just chuckled and picked up the pouting brunette, clutching her head to her chest, where the girl heard her heartbeat. Its steady rhythm soothed her nerves, and once in a while, she tried to synchronize her breath with her mother's. When she began to sing an old Italian song, Lovina let her eyelids droop at the sound of her mother's voice reverberating through her slight frame, its melodic tone familiar and comforting. When she had calmed down, her mother carried her into the grove, past rows of shriveled vines and vegetation. Over her mother's shoulder, Lovina could see over the rows that lined the grove, and looked back at mouth of the woods they had just come from. That odd presage she had felt before disappeared, but she still felt strange. Her olive gaze settled on the weeping willow where she had stood before her mother found her.

Something was off.

The shadows seemed longer, and with the sun steadily heading towards the west, they only seemed to grow.

Her mother came to a stop abruptly, and the child struggled in her grip, trying to turn around.

"Mama! What is it Mama?"

Without a word, Lovina was let down onto the ground. The moment she turned around, she was left speechless at the sight before her. A quaint little white structure stood out among the grove. White pillars, so iconic of Roman architecture, met Lovina's eyes, and what looked like the ruins of a shrine was strewn all over the place.

She glanced back up at her mother, who had been silent this whole time. The woman held a distant look in her hazel eyes, as if her mind had been spirited away by the warm coastal breeze that filled the meadow. Despite her youthful appearance however, her mother was plagued by a great fatigue; a nameless illness that whittled at her health everyday. Suddenly, a slight change in her mother's eyes caused them to become clearer, and her eyes widened by a small fraction. But Lovina noticed. With a pout forming on her face, Lovina followed her mother's gaze back to the willow tree she had been staring at. The moment she looked over, another flicker of movement crossed her vision. The shadow from before disappeared within an instant. When she turned back to her mother, Lovina found that she was already turning her head toward her, and asked her the strangest question.

"Lovi, do you like tomatoes?"

The child blinked once. Twice. Then with a confused look adorning her face, she nodded her head slowly.

Where had that come from?

Her mother simply laughed, and grabbed her small hands.

"Good, because we've got a lot of work to do!" she exclaimed.

For the next few hours, Lovina and her mother explored the grove, and started pulling out weeds, and other obstructions that were present. During this time, Lovina had wholeheartedly devoted her focus to helping her mother in her mission: to replant, and revive the dead tomato grove! After she had been told that this was once a beautiful meadow full of tomatoes and olive trees, Lovina had resolved to revive this miniature Eden back to its former glory.

As the two laughed and worked, the sun settled over the hills and straddled the border of the afternoon and dusk. From time to time though, Lovina would catch her mother smiling at nothing, and on occasion, she would even smile at the willow tree at the edge of the grove. This time when Lovina looked back, her eyes widened in alarm.

At the edge of the shadows beneath the weeping willow stood...well…another shadow. E-except this one was more of a...a silhouette. Whatever the hell it was, it was just there.

It was looking at them, and Lovina felt goose bumps appear on her arms.

Quickly looking back at her mother, ready to cry out and tell her what she had seen, Lovina saw that her mother was looking at the shadow too.

Except…

Except she was smiling wistfully at it, and with a lazy turn of her wrist, she waved at the shadow, her eyes glazed over as if lost in some sort of pleasant whimsy. Her hand grasped the cross that was tied around her neck, and she laughed at nothing, The wind chimed in response as if laughing too.

Lovina couldn't help but shiver.

The windowpane rattled back and forth as the wind battered against it. The brumal chill of winter's breath snuck through the glass and only served to give her goose bumps along her bare arms. Cursing softy beneath her breath, the young woman wrapped her arms around herself, and attempted to rub some warmth back into her chilled limbs. The Italian sighed and looked out the window again. Its hyaline surface reflected the soft glow of the lambent candle that sat upon the desk. The room was blanketed in a gloomy darkness; the paint on the walls starting to give way to reveal the layer beneath it, and the furniture that adorned the room was old and dusty. Simply put, the room was very drab and…gray. 'Not that outside is much different,' she mused. The people outside were dull, lifeless, and everyday was the same routine. Each morning the baker would chime his little shop bell to alert the townsfolk that the workday has officially begun. Fat ladies would waddle with their affluent aristocratic husbands in their top hats, waistcoats, and their little gold pocket watches. The community was uniform and meticulous in keeping each member in line. Individuals who violated decorum were, well, "punished". In a town of boring little gray men and women, only a few people actually stood out among the many. The days of her sunny youth in the hidden grove were long over; obscured in exchange for the gloomy life she lived today

A sudden series of knocks pulled the girl out of her thoughts, followed by a cheery voice behind the door.

"Lovina?" The door was suddenly thrown open as another girl hurried into the room. The girl's brown hair was tied up with tendrils dangling around her heart shaped face. If it were not for the subtle distinctions in their appearance, Lovina would have thought she was looking at a reflection (albeit dumber) of herself.

"Lovina! You're still undressed!"

Said Italian resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Of course you dunce; I had to wait for you to get your ass up here, and bring the stupid dress," she scoffed.

The room was fucking freezing enough as it was, especially since she was only clad in her undergarments. A white torsolette that reached above her hips, and white (fucking frilly) underwear wasn't doing wonders with keeping her warm you know?

At the mere mention of the dress, Feliciana seemed to perk right back up, and nearly squealed in unadulterated delight and giddiness.

"Oh Lovi! You're so lucky! You get to dress up and be a beautiful bride! Ve~! I can't wait to get married too!"

'Fuck, don't remind me…'

Lovina didn't bother to repress the shudder of disgust that traveled down the length of her spine, and gave her an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Of fucking course, she just had to remind her of her (it made her want to gag just thinking about it) fucking wedding to that arrogant, creepy bastard. Sadiq Adnan.

Feliciana noted the sour grimace that flashed across Lovina's face, and furrowed her brow a bit. Despite her airheaded demeanor, and charming bon homie, Feliciana was not oblivious to her sister's disdain and reluctance towards her future husband. Any outward display of sympathy or melancholy was quickly quelled, hidden beneath her trademark smile. Lovina had enough on her plate. The last thing she needed was to worry about her. Even if it was minimal, Feliciana had to at least try and be optimistic for her sister. The eldest of the two remained quiet, and seemed to be absorbed in her thoughts. The smile etched in Feliciana's face was becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with each day. The last few weeks have been unnerving to say the least…Initially, Lovina was yelling, cursing the universe and every little thing that annoyed her to hell and back, and she had refused to be married off to her Turkish suitor. If there was one thing that Feliciana envied about her sister, it was her brash, wild spirit. In many regards, she was free, but in light of recent events, perhaps…well perhaps she was wrong about that too. In such a dreary little town, Lovina stood out with her spitfire personality, but lately, she has become quieter, and resigned. It seems that gradually, she's been learning to accept, or at the very least, tolerate her situation. What was the point in fighting back when it was going to happen anyway? The sound of a throat clearing forced Feliciana to look up from her ponderings, and into the face of one disgruntled Lovina.

"Feli! Feli, answer me dammit!"

'Funny…when did she cross the room?' thought Feliciana. Well, regardless, no point in making her sister worry.

"Lovi~" she chirped, "Let's get you fitted okay?"

Feliciana held up the large bundle of clothing in her face, and giggled at the annoyed pout on her sister's face. She didn't miss that glint of concern that flickered behind Lovina's eyes. Despite the fact that they were only half-sisters, the bond they shared was akin to those shared by twins, even if Lovina was a good two or three years older. Even though Lovina refused to acknowledge it, Grandpa Roma really did try to delay marriage for as long as he could, but still…Twenty-three years old was pushing it. The Vargas family had to sustain its legacy somehow, especially with no male heirs. With a slight sigh, Feliciana set down her load on the desk and started sorting through the pile of white folds, and silk. Lovina walked over and peered over her shoulder.

Lovina felt her cheeks warm up a little. That dress was for her, and fuck that didn't make the heat go away any faster. Suddenly, Lovina had something shoved into her hands. She stared at the two long pieces of cloth in her hands and arched one brow in curiosity. Feliciana simply smiled, "Stockings." Taking the hint, Lovina cursed and grumbled as she pulled on the cursed white stockings. They reached her mid-thigh, and had white lace embroidered at the edges, and clips that attached them to her undergarments. She fumbled around for a bit before she got them on properly. As soon as she looked up however, something else was shoved into her arms. The cool fabric slid through her fingers with the most subtle of movements. She curled her fingers around the dress, and seemed to glare at the harmless cloth as if this whole situation was its fault. Without any warning, Lovina was whirled around by the shoulders. She let out an indignant squeak as the sudden movement produced a tiny breeze that sent haptic shivers along her exposed torso.

"W-what the hell are you doing?" A sharp tug on the corset bindings practically stole the air from her lungs. Lovina sent a fierce glare over her shoulder to her idiot sister, who looked comically ridiculous with that concentrated look on her face, and her tongue poking out at the corner of her mouth. Another tug made her wince, and she blindly lashed out behind her. When she heard a sound slap and a following 'oof,' Lovina knew she had landed her target.

Feliciana rubbed the side of her head, and gave a pathetic whimper, "Lovi! That hurt!"

Lovina couldn't resist rolling her eyes this time, "Well good, I mean, what the hell were you trying to do? Kill me or something?" She placed a hand on her hip, and fisted the fabric in her hands even tighter.

"C'mon, get up from the floor, I want to get this over with."

Lovina pulled the thin white skirt over her legs, and smoothed down the slightly ruffled folds. The front fold stopped at her knees, while back of the skirt stopped at the backs of her ankles. God…this dress would be a pain to walk in…

While Lovina readjusted her torsolette, Feliciana stood by with the dress in her hands. Once Lovina finished, she let her sister dress her up, and tie the ribbon that wrapped around beneath her bust. Lovina was practically wheezing with how tight Feliciana tied it. Lovina almost had a brain aneurism when her sister started manhandling her breasts so 'they wouldn't spill out' of the dress or whatever. Shut up, it's not her fault that they don't fit...

"Ve…Lovi, your breasts are so large! Don't you get backaches?"

At this, Lovina probably did have an aneurism. Her cheeks flushed scarlet, "W-what! Y-you idiot! Stop spouting n-nonsense! Besides, what the fuck are you talking about? Yours are the same size!"

They were not having this conversation were they? Dear God no…

Feliciana merely looked down at her chest and clutched it with both hands, and then she looked back up at Lovina with a blank look on her face.

Good God…they were.

Lovina slapped her forehead with a palm, and start uttering several dark curses beneath her breath. She willed the heat in her cheeks to go away…unsuccessfully.

"Let's just finish up you idiot…"

Feliciana smiled and nodded her head in agreement. It was endearing to see some of the old Lovi, especially because tomorrow, after the ceremony, Lovina would be leaving with Sadiq.

After fumbling around for a few minutes, Feliciana managed to add the finishing touches to Lovina's attire. She pulled back some of her long, auburn hair into a half ponytail of sorts. With several pins sticking out of her mouth, Feliciana pinned the veil to her hair, smoothing its edges. She stepped back to the desk and grabbed a white choker, and gold cross that was embellished with diamonds, and tiny rubies at each point. With a delicacy uncharacteristic of herself, Feliciana tied the necklaces around her sister's neck; meanwhile Lovina quietly grasped the cross with her hand. The object's texture was cool to the touch despite the gloves that adorned her hands. Even with her eyes closed, Lovina could picture the cross and every detail ingrained in necklace's craftsmanship. She often used to stare at it when she was a small child. It was the only thing she could really remember her mother by after all.

Her eyelids fluttered open when she felt something placed over her eyes. She tried to turn her head, but Feliciana held her jaw steady, murmuring something too soft to hear, but nonetheless, she got the message, and surrendered herself to her sister's care. Weeks ago, she would have yelled and cursed at her younger sibling, but today she did not even bother. She was just too tired.

Weddings were supposed to be a time of celebration, filled with mirth, drunken relatives reminiscing about the 'good ol' days', the town pranksters spiking the punch, and all that other bullshit that came from Feli's mouth. Contrary to what one would think, the approaching date of the wedding only served to put the Vargas household under great stress. Last minute preparations were underway, and in all the chaos, nobody had even paid any attention to the bride-to-be, besides Feliciana of course. A sigh passed through her lips as her sister carded her fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp. Now that Lovina thought about it…even Feli seemed to be affected. The youngest Vargas would rarely leave the Manor these days, and even though it pleased Lovina to know that she wasn't seeing that stupid Kraut as often, it still saddened her to see her little sister act so…strange. Not that she cared or anything! Really… it's just that, well, her sister has been nothing but a sighing mess on autopilot lately! Lovina could see right through her façade with an ease that only an older sibling could possess. Being cooped up in this place was the last thing that she wanted for Feli.

A tiny pinch on her cheek brought Lovina back to reality with a yelp, and a good five different curses. She opened her eyes, ready to give her sister a piece of her mind, when for a moment; she thought she was going blind. Her vision was a bit obscured, and it wasn't that she couldn't see, everything was just…opaque, and white.

"What the fuck did you put on me?" Lovina accused as she reached up with her hands, and ran a finger over the lacy fabric that was tied around her eyes.

Feliciana just giggled, "Nothing! But look how pretty you are now! Look! Look!" with a small shove to the small of her back, Lovina got up and was whirled yet again towards the mirror that leaned against the wall. Any retort she had come up with was silenced as she looked at the woman in the mirror staring back at her.

'Dio…I look like a bucket of white paint threw up all over me…'

Everything save for the cross lying against her chest was a pure white. Even in the afternoon light that filtered through the windows of the bedroom, she seemed to glow, and she had to hand it to Feli…She really was beautiful.

She took small steps towards the mirror and looked at herself. If it weren't for her tan complexion, she would have thought herself to be a ghost. The white certainly didn't help hide the deep flush that stained her cheeks a rich red, and the color of her eyes was (somehow) still visible through the lace covering her eyes. She tore her eyes away from the mirror, taking a deep breath, and facing Feliciana.

"F-feliciana, uh..t-than-" a loud clamoring on the bedroom door interrupted whatever Lovina was about to say, and in her mind, she cursed whoever the asshole was, go to fucking hell and back, and then she would beat the shit out of them, and then throw them back to hell for good.

With a huge bang, their Nonno burst through the door, his hair in disarray (as usual), and panting like a dog. He scanned the room furiously, and Lovina could practically see the joy radiating from his figure when he spotted her.

"Lovina! There you are…My! My! What a beautiful bride you turned out to be!" He walked around her and 'oohed' and 'aahed' at how 'lovely his lovely Lovi was.' The heat in her cheeks came back with a vengeance, and she gave the old pervert a good kick in the ass with the tip of her polished white boots. She made sure to add an extra kick of two to make sure her Nonno got well acquainted with the floor.

"You old perverted bastard! Haven't you ever heard of knocking? What the hell did you come up here for anyways?"

At this, the man's pout dissolved into a serious expression. He stood up from the floor and looked at both of his granddaughters. If it wasn't for the severity of the situation, Lovina would have laughed at how stupid her Nonno looked.

After clearing his throat, he spoke up; "Sadiq and his men have arrived…erm, early…so to speak." He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, and avoided her draconian gaze.

Lovina narrowed her eyes, "What do you mean 'so to speak?'"

Her Nonno simply gave a tired sigh, and ran a hand through his curly locks, "It seems he wants to begin the ceremony at noon instead of in the afternoon like we had originally planned."

Lovina's eyes widened in alarm. Her shoulders trembled, and rather than continue with her usual vulgarities that would make even a sailor blush, Lovina remained quiet, bowing her head in just the slightest manner. The sudden silence unnerved the other two, and they sent worried glances at one another. Both were surprised at this uncharacteristic silence.

"Go," Lovina mumbled, "Just go downstairs, and do whatever you need to do…I need to take off all this crap before I head down."

With this, Lovina pivoted on the heel of her boot, turning her back on both her family members. Feliciana made to go after her, "Ve~Let me help you Lovi. You might get stu-"

"Both of you…just go."

Feliciana barely took two steps towards her sister before she cut her off. Lovina's laconic response, felt like some sort of punishment. Her face formed a dolorous sort of expression, and quickly, she blinked back the tears gathering at the edges of her vision.

She was being selfish…she had no right to cry when her sister was the one being forced into an arranged marriage with such a man like Sadiq. A shiver wracked her body, and somewhere in her mind, she reasoned it was not because of the winter's chill pervading the room.

The gentle thud of her Nonno's foosteps fading away led Feliciana to take a few steps back. Her gaze never quite left her sister's back.

The glow from the candle illuminated the right side of Lovina's figure, and bathed her in a soft glow that seemed to give her some color in spite of the dim room, and the pallid dress that made her seem all the more like some sort of ghost.

A strange feeling settled in her stomach as she turned around at last, and closed the door behind her.

The sensation brewed within her insides, and never quite left her even as she greeted the groom, and his attendants.

Not even when Ludwig arrived, eyeing her with concealed concern.

The afternoon sun hovered over the edge of the westward mountains, lengthening the shadows outside.

Without warning, the feeling seized her as if someone had drenched her in ice water, but she kept up her carefree façade. Her nails dug into the flesh of her palms

No one noticed a thing, not even the ever-observant Ludwig.

Not even when the blood seeped through her fingers.

The moment her sister left the room, Lovina turned around, and lashed out at the dirty window. The normally cowardly Vargas girl was strong given she was angry enough. With a choked sob, she had punched the window; not even noticing when the glass stained her pristine gloves a bloody red. Upon the sound of the glass shattering, a sudden thought invaded her head, and hijacked all other thoughts. Absentmindedly, she grabbed the candlestick holder, her fingers wrapped around its cool frame. With a quick intake of breath, Lovina swung at the remaining glass shards of the window with all her might. The dirtied windowpane crumbled and with the tiniest push of a finger they fell, tumbling and sliding down the red-tiled roof. The rush of adrenaline racing through her veins made her heart beat wildly, palpitating with this newfound ecstasy. One thought ran rampant through her mind, and hushed her normally present voice of reason.

Freedom.

A giddy feeling bubbled within her chest, and without looking back; she climbed through the window frame.

With a fierce determination, Lovina set out along the roof of the manor, crouched down, and leaning back towards the roof itself. It should be noted that Lovina Vargas was neither the most graceful nor the most poised girl out there. After stumbling, and cursing way down to the estate's garden, Lovina broke out in a full sprint, hitching her skirts up with her tiny fists. If there was one thing she was proud of, it was in her ability to outrun anything.

As she raced through garden, she kept an eye out in case any stray servant happened to out. Although, with Sadiq around, she doubted any of the poor workers would be out here lounging around. That asshole sure liked being waited on hand-and-foot. He was an arrogant son of a bitch; a perfect example of the aristocracy she loathed so much, yet was in fact, a part of herself. It was just one of the reasons why she didn't want to marry the bastard. She could go on. No really-she could.

Already, she could feel her momentum slow down, and she couldn't help but curse her idiot that built this place.

'Fuck! Why the hell was this place so fucking huge!'

When the gate appeared in her line of vision, Lovina sped up, and tried to hurdle over the gate that led into the woods. The crunching of dry leaves could be felt through her boots as landed on a dry patch of earth. Carefully, she dusted herself off, checking the skirts of her dress for any damage. The little spitfire did not exactly take off her wedding dress before her departure from the Vargas manor. Not the smartest move to say the least-not that Lovina cared. Slowly, the adrenaline seemed to dissipate, leaving her panting, hunched over her knees as she struggled to catch her breath.

The chilly air made her feel like she was burning up on the inside, yet frozen on the outside. She must have been sweating, but the wind quickly dried whatever moisture formed on her skin. After regaining her breath, Lovina stood up, and glanced back at the house. The oil lamps that lined the manor had been lit now that the sun was beginning to set. Distant shouts reached her ears, and if she concentrated, she could have sworn she just heard her Nonno wailing. Her lips quirked into a small smile at the sound. Well at least until realization hit her.

They knew she had escaped.

A frigid feeling washed over her, as if someone had poured a pitcher of ice water over her head, and with a start, Lovina realized that all the commotion was over her. Fear filled her, and without looking back, she took off running into the woods. Gasping, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Despite the poor amount of light, Lovina was able to leap, and step around any obstacles that might have impeded her path. She knew these woods like the back of her hand. As a child she would often come here to play in that hidden grove that she and her mother would visit so long ago. The air scratched her throat and made it raspy as she raced through the darkening woods. A sharp turn to her left led her onto the secret path towards the grove. The red ribbon from years ago was tied to a tree branch that led in its direction. She slowed her pace until she stopped at the tree's base. Her mouth sucked air in big greedy gulps, while she leaned against the bark of the tree.

Just as she had regained her breath, a sharp snap made her whip around with panic. Her eyes scanned the woods behind her. No one was there…

Fuck…what if she had been followed? She couldn't go back! What the fuck would she say to her Nonno, or worse, her sister? Runaway brides weren't generally applauded, nor welcomed.

"Shit."

For a moment, Lovina thought she had said that-it wouldn't be that surprising really- but when she heard further hushed whispers and grumbles, she quietly walked towards its source. She took care not to step on any leaves or twigs. The voices became clearer, and when one of the voices said, "Sadiq," Lovina nearly had a heart attack. Shit! Did he actually come after her? That chilled feeling came back with a vengeance, and even though her senses were screaming at her to get the fuck out of there, she merely gulped and ducked behind a thick poplar tree. Something just wasn't right here…

'Yeah, like the fact that you're even fucking here in the first place!' her conscience screamed at her. God, she must be dumber than she thought. Stupid Feli…it was all her fault…yeah, that's it.

Lovina bit her lip, and peeked around the tree's trunk, only to see three figures standing by one another.

Her eyes widened when she spotted Sadiq, and his two henchmen, or whatever the fuck they were. From the looks of it, that Greek kid (well technically he was older than her…but still!) and Sadiq were arguing while the other simply looked on with an apathetic look plastered on his tanned face.

Sadiq waved his arms around wildly as he spoke, "Listen you little shit! We need to find that brat, and bring her back! There's no way I can get married without the bride being there!"

The Mediterranean boy merely rolled his eyes at his master, "It's not as if you actually care whether she's there or not. You only care because it puts a dent in your plans."

Plans? What fucking plans?

Confusion flooded Lovina's mind, and she couldn't help but lean in some more.

"Silence! Of course I don't give a rats ass about that little bitch! But I need her if my plan is going to work out. When I find that little stuck up brat, she'll have no idea what hit her…"

At this, Sadiq grinned toothily, and even from her spot behind the tree, she could feel the waves of bloodlust surrounding the enraged Turk. She gave an involuntary shudder, and took a step back, prepared to flee if need be.

"Oh please. You've already signed the marriage contract…the money is as good as yours. With or without her," the Greek scoffed, and turned away, "Whatever. I'm sick of dealing with your affairs."

At this, Sadiq simply blinked in surprise, only to have the grin return, this time though, it was a hell of a lot more malicious and…and Dio-She really needed to get the fuck out of there right now.

"Ah, you're absolutely right Heracles! I don't need her alive"

Alarmed, the Greek turned around and began to protest against the Turk, that that's not what he meant.

'This sick bastard is just after my family's money!'

Well…that wasn't actually too surprising, considering whom this man was, but Lovina couldn't help but feel a little hurt. Not that she expected much better. Fear coursed throughout her, and when she took another step back, the heel of her boot caught on one of the tree roots, sending her tumbling backwards towards the damp forest floor.

Fucking A.

The voices hushed, and all of a sudden, there stood Sadiq, his face shadowed by the dim twilight that engulfed the woods, and his eye glinting behind that stupid white mask. Lovina nearly whimpered when his gaze locked with her own, that predatory smile only stretching farther up that stupid face of his.

"Well, well, well…it looks like it's my lucky day." He took a step towards her, and in turn, she scurried back on her hands, kicking the dirt with her boots. He stomped on the bottom of her dress, pinning her to the forest floor.

"Y-y-you bastard! Let me go!" she snarled.

At this, he only leaned down and grabbed her chin in a painful grip, making her wince and claw at his hands.

Sadiq merely hummed while he let his eyes wander over her body.

"My, don't you look lovely this evening my dear." His deep baritone washed over her, and panic seized her, leaving her speechless as he rubbed his thumb over her cheeks, along her jaw line, and finally, settling upon her lips.

Sadiq just heaved a sigh, and quickly moved his hand to her throat. Lovina felt her throat shudder, and she renewed her struggle to escape. She glared at him, cursing him with all her might, and wriggling beneath his grip.

"That's a good girl, just stay quiet and it'll all be over."

Lovina felt her lungs burning at the loss of oxygen, and her head was spinning. She opened her mouth but no words came out, only quick gasps.

Oh like hell she was going to die here. Not like this. No fucking way was Lovina Vargas going to die like this!

She pulled back her bloodied fist and punched the bastard in the face, while her other hand aimed for his vital regions. With her hand wide open, she grabbed her target, twisted and fucking pulled that motherfucker with all her Italian fury. Sadiq gave a loud yelp of pain, releasing her in favor of nursing his crotch. Lovina landed on her hands and knees, gasping for breath, sucking in the precious air in a rapacious manner.

Without a second longer, she stood up and ran into the woods blindly, ignoring the ripping of her dress. All rational thought vacated her mind as her flight-or-fight response took over, pure adrenaline her only fuel as she stumbled through the darkening woods.

The echo of feet and snapping twigs behind her alerted her to her pursuers. Bushes and branches scratched her sides as she cut through the thick vegetation.

She paid no thought to where she was going, but as soon as she saw the telltale weeping willow, she knew she had entered the hidden grove. She entered the rows of tomato plants, winding through the labyrinth of vines that obscured her vision.

Deeper and deeper into the grove she went, and when she could only hear the sound of one pair of footsteps, Lovina knew she only had one pursuer left.

When the ruins were within sight, she ran inside and hid behind the large white altar, meanwhile she tried to calm her breathing. She could practically hear the blood pumping in her ears, and it only made all the more difficult for her concentrate on the pair of footsteps silently entering the heart of the grove.

Lovina looked up at the remains of the altar, praying to its guardian with all her might. The worn statue of the sun deity stood upon its dusty throne, and if she didn't know any better, she'd say it was watching her.

When the thud of heavy footfalls echoed off the stonewall, Lovina squeezed her eyes shut and grasped her necklace, bringing the cool surface of the cross up to her lips. She mouthed desperate words of prayer, pleading to the spirit or god that resided here.

A trickling of something wet trailed down her side, and with a shaky hand, she patted the torn fabric beneath her chest. She barely withheld the yelp that threatened to escape from her mouth when she brushed the ragged cut.

Her face grew pale, and her whole body shook like a frail leaf as she glanced at her once spotless gloves, drenched in a dark substance. The lighting was very poor, but even then Lovina could tell what it was. How did she not notice that cut before?

Her breath fell in sharp pants, and she struggled to calm her body, but it was pointless.

The absence of footsteps drove her mad with apprehension, and the tears streaming down her cheeks went unnoticed as a sudden realization dawned upon her.

There, glimmering in the dim twilight, were drops of blood-her blood, her mind screamed- and they lead straight to her.

What if Sadiq followed the blood trail straig-

A slithering sort of sound nearby drew her attention, and she whipped her head up in time to see the devil himself, leering down at her with a predatory expression.

"Hello my dear"

Her breath caught in her throat as his hand shot out, grabbing her hair and twisting her head back, so her throat was exposed to the chilly air. She fumbled and clawed at everything within her grasp, her bloodied hands swiped the statue, and left a bloody trail running over the faded sun crest of the god's altar. Sadiq just barked out a laugh and raised his arm, sword in hand. So that's what made that slithering noise before.

With a swift swing, Sadiq brought down the blunt end of his blade across her temple. White-hot pain exploded behind her eyelids, and her vision dimmed, the edges of her eyesight darkening into a heavy darkness that was quickly consuming every part of her being.

'So, this is it? That's the last time I'll pray to any shitty god…' she mused.

She barely felt the blade being pressed against her neck when a warm zephyr-just like the ones that used to fill this land- swept across her skin, and wrapped her in a thick blanket that clouded her mind; the warm trickle of liquid cascading down her neck went ignored as she glimpsed the shadow hovering over Sadiq, and in an instant, he was gone.

Lovina vaguely heard Sadiq's shouts of pain, and...and everything just sounded so…far.

And then it was just silent.

A savior?

If she could, Lovina would have yelled at the idiot with an angry "You're too late you asshole!"

The silhouette shifted, and in the glow of the horizon, Lovina swore she saw a darkened hand reach out to her, wrapping her in warmth she knew from that day in the grove with her mother and the shadow.

A pair of arms cradled her against a warm chest, and she couldn't help but wonder who the hell would have come to her rescue.

Whispers were being voiced into her hair, and since when did shadows have moist breath anyway? The figure's hands grasped her own, giving them a tender squeeze, sending a spark racing through her body, to her core where it settled, and like a snuffed candle, it vanished with only wisps of warmth left behind in its wake. There was something awfully familiar about this, but Lovina was to far gone to care.

With her strength leaving her, Lovina's head tilted back. Her fingers fumbled over her mother's necklace, and as the air finally left her lungs, she could have sworn she saw two eyes, the color of sea glass, staring back at her with something akin to guilt? Or perhaps it was something sadder?

Her lips twitched, and her eyelids fluttered closed, fingers going limp…and then there was nothing.

Nothing but the silhouette of the sun fading back into that Limbo he called "home."

When the last remnants of dusk passed, the figure disappeared into the night, and so too did Lovina in all her white splendor, leaving only trails of red behind, silently trickling down the walls, only to puddle on the floor, along with the others.

Now I can finally work on my other stuff. Anyway, Tell me what you think, Reviews encourage me to write faster. I love each one, and please don't hesitate to give any constructive criticism. I love the stuff, because it allows me to improve my writing. IF YOU SEE ANY TYPOS, TELL ME, AND I SHALL LOVE YOU FOREVER! :D

-PuudaSurf