Prologue: A Love Lost

The Isle Of Cantelina, Accardi Province, Sicilian Territory, 16th Century...

  Dark swirling nimbostratus clouds began to loom over the quaint isle of Cantelina, a peaceful fishing and export spot ever since its discovery by the Accardi family given to the first Accardi Count as a gifted pleasure island in the wake of the short-lived King Antonious Of House Drakmore, owing them a great deal of gratitude. It had been a home away from home for many an Accardi who had been given to youthful indulgence and passions untamed. It had been just the sort of place for a young Athan Accardi to put down roots while he indulged his lovely young wife following his appointment of countship while his elder brother became governor of the Verdicci Provence as per the will of their father the former seated Accardi Governor. The Isle of Cantelina had been given to Athan, the youngest and most rebellious of the Accardi sons as a means of keeping him out of trouble and the level of gossip about his less-than-savory ways to a minimum.

Athan had also been forced into a marriage by way of his father to see to it that there had been some legitimacy to his reign as Count of Cantelina and as a result, he'd arranged for his youngest son to marry a beautiful and considerably wealthy merchant's daughter by the name of Audra DeSavoy. Though a merchant's daughter, Audra had been much like her mother, a free woman of color and elegant in all aspects of refinement. While Athan initially protested the siphoning of his freedoms in favor of legitimacy as far as his father had been concerned, he instantly fell in love with Audra from their very first meeting.

The pair had been quite the sight with Audra towering over the younger Athan and being three years older than he'd been in the wake of their arranged wedding. She had been pure unlike most brides of their era and he had been more than experienced for the both of them. Her lovely dark mocha-colored flesh had been quite the contrast to his lightly tanned complexion as they danced along the ballroom floor.

The change in Athan had been something his father had no doubt hoped for as Audra's age and intellect proved to be most valuable when it came to their union. Athan had been pleased to have such a beautiful and intelligent woman on his arm even if it had been arranged by his father.

The months seemed to go by in a blink as Athan, the young handsome and devilishly charming Accardi had wooed his lovely young wife and gained her affections wholeheartedly in return. They spent a good deal of their time seeing the people of Cantelina who at first were skeptical about the union and Athan himself but saw how good the lovely Audra had been for him and they became a celebrated couple throughout the isle.

Athan proved to have been an excellent choice for a ruler, kind and fair with a heart of gold despite his vast riches and power given his status as Count. He had been content to remain as the Count of Cantelina for the remainder of his days so long as his lovely wife Audra had ruled alongside him.

Late into the night amid the howling winds and the swaying of the large trees amid the splendor of the night, Count Athan Accardi lay naked beside his lovely wife, Lady Audra in their private bed chambers inside the looming castle that sat upon the highest hill of the isle of Cantelina. Her beautiful green eyes had been filled with a longing for her handsome younger husband as the happy couple shared a passionate kiss after passionate kiss while he scooted her lovely body close to him as the two of them lounged in their shared bed. The crackling of the nearby fireplace had been the only thing aside from their numerous quilts and body heat that kept them warm during the oncoming storm.

Audra gasped pleasantly as Athan's rather rough hand stroked her soft belly. She had been with child, but not yet heavy as they lay in bed relishing the good news and looking forward to what the future had in store for them. The Good Count kissed his beloved wife on the lips once more as she further pressed her lovely body against his amid the warm quilts that lined their bed.

It was nightfall and the manor was silent with the staff and servants turning into bed. The dim light of the fireplace filled their bedchambers as they embraced in the semi-darkness finding comfort in the warmth of each other.

"I love you, Audra," said Athan content with his life thus far.

"And I you My Count." She said though pleased but still reflecting on how everything between them had progressed so swiftly. "Here we are married with a child on the way...still, I worry for you."

"There is no need to worry, I am quite alright," he said taking her beautiful elegant hand into his and kissing her fingers. "And should something go bump in the night with this storm know that I will protect you."

She smiled at him.

The yellow-orange glow of the crackling fireplace upon her beautiful face as she did. It made her eyes shimmer and for a moment she had never appeared more beautiful to him. It had seemed that pregnancy made a woman radiant beyond measure when she'd been with child and Athan had been all the more grateful to be able to witness such a wonderful sight.

He turned his attention back to his wife's pregnant belly. He kissed her sweetly and felt the activity of their unborn child.

"What a beautiful son we make," he said happily.

Lady Audra glared at him briefly puzzled by his presumptuousness.

"What makes you so sure it will be a son?" she asked with an arched brow. "Why can our child not be a daughter?"

He gave her a smile warming up to the idea of having a beautiful little girl who had been born of their mutual love. It was a strange thing to note given his past as a philandering lad with little regard for what love had been let alone what it meant to sire a child and raise it properly, if at all.

"If our daughter is half as beautiful as her mother I shall consider keeping her," replied Count Accardi amused.

"And they say you are known for your decisive actions," said Lady Audra. "They should really see you as a jester."

He laughed at the prospect of her words and gently nuzzled her cheek with his own. She'd been every bit the lovely quick-witted woman he'd grown to love even in her most vulnerable form with pregnancy.

"And what of you?" he asked in a rather curious tone. "How do you see me?"

Lady Audra made no means of verbal reply as she pulled him into her rather passionate kiss.

"I see you as my husband and the father of my unborn child," she said grinning in bliss following their kiss.

The Count once more returned her kiss as they settled together amid the heat of the fire and the quilts that lined their bed. Content as it were to be in each other's arms during the storm.

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Outside Casa Accardi, The Isle Of Cantelina, Accardi Province, Sicilian Territory, 16th Century...

Baron Gohn Davenport, a known local hero of sorts and ambitious businessman with shady dealings, had been rallying people to his apparently just cause. He and a handful of his flunkies had been spreading the word to any who would listen that he believed Lady Audra to be a witch who had enchanted the Count with her vile magic and controlled him and his family in order to position herself as Countess of Cantelina Isle. The rather crooked power-hungry man had hoped to depose the good count without a war given how beloved he'd been once word of his elder brother's tyranny reached their shores, Davenport rallied his fellow concerned citizens to confront The Count with this accusation on behalf of the entire community. His constant rallying created an angry mob of outraged and fearful men bearing weapons and torches.

Incensed and afraid for their lives, the men flooded the road that led to Casa Accardi in the hopes of confronting the "witch" and saving their beloved count all at once.

"Are we just going to stand by and wait for the witch to strike at us?" asked Gohn. "She's enchanted The Good Count to have us fearful...she could strike at any moment killing and bending good people to her will!"

"Burn the witch!" yelled one of the homeowners.

"Keep her from the children!" yelled another.

"Let us stop this monster at the source!" shouted Gohn getting the crowd fired up with the promise of vengeance and death. "Let us purge the count's manor and if he be damned, let him burn with his witch!"

They marched toward the manor in droves.

"KILL THE WITCH!" they all shouted angrily.

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Casa Accardi, The Isle Of Cantelina, Accardi Province, Sicilian Territory, 16th Century...

Count Accardi lay beside his lovely Lady Audra who'd been fast asleep following their latest round of love-making. His deep brown eyes fell upon her exposed breasts as they rose and fell showing each of her timely breaths. It had pleased him to watch her sleep more so than he would ever admit. Her lovely body being pressed so firmly against his own had been enough for him. The Good Count leaned his head against her shoulder and kissed softly at her exposed flesh taking in her sweet scent of lilac and honey, her favorite treat which had been put off due to pregnancy. She had been so stunningly intelligent and so beautiful that he hardly could believe she belonged to him.

Athan had been given a chance to know love, despite his history of avoiding it altogether, and it had come from a surprising source given his own father had arranged it. There had not been a day that went by that Athan had not been grateful to his father Sergio for having the wisdom to see their union as something wonderful to behold here for the first time in his life, Athan had a chance with Audra DeSavoy, one that he had known he would never have again. He wanted to savor every moment with her as if there was no tomorrow.

The manservant known as Renco had been the first to awaken to the unrelenting bashing at the front door.

He had been quite drowsy and meant to shoo the trespassers away. It was he who had opened the door and been astonished by the amassed mob outside the doors.

"May I help you?" he asked polite but stern in his manner.

Baron Gohn Davenport had been the most vocal as if he had been some kind of valiant crusader.

"WE DEMAND TO SEE THE COUNT!" he shouted so that the mob could hear.

"I am sorry but Count and Countess Accardi have retired for the night as I am sure you are well aware of," replied Renco more than a bit annoyed at the behavior of the townsfolk, Davenport especially.

"I don't think you understand," said Ghon Davenport. "We are not here for an appointment, there is a witch in our midsts and we will have her head."

"I beg your pardon?" asked Renco.

The mob became restless.

Baron Davenport pushed passed Renco and led his forces into Casa Accardi. The old man put up quite a fight as did the rest of the staff after hearing the commotion. They rushed the struggling staff and advanced to the bedchambers of the count and countess.

Feeling the unrest in his home Count Accardi was the first to awaken. He got out of bed just as the heavy door was it was broken down. To his utter astonishment, Baron Gohn Davenport glared at him as if he'd been the foulest thing he'd ever seen despite being the one to barge into his bedchambers and Castle unannounced with weapons at the ready no less. A handful of his "followers" are present in the room of The Good Count.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion Gohn?" he asked confused by the audacity.

"Take hold of the witch," ordered Davenport in a rather biting tone as he ignored The Count and stared at the newly startled Audra who had just gotten out of bed upon hearing all the commotion.

Athan realized they were after his wife and ended up combating quite a few strapping men in an effort to protect his wife and unborn child. Lady Audra did not understand the sudden rage of the people against their own count. She reached for her husband as the men began to outnumber and restrain him.

Despite his best efforts, however, He was brought to his knees by their combined might.

"AUDRA!" he yelled without regard for his own safety at that moment as he struggled against the hold they had on him.

He was rendered helpless as they dragged her out of the bedchambers and Casa Accardi with a rope around her neck, after binding her arms. She was pulled along the cobblestone out into the town square stumbling to keep her balance while concerned with the safety of her unborn child. The Count had been shacked, bound at his hands and feet as they too led him to the square. He thought of only his wife and child not knowing what these people he once considered friends and honorable citizens were capable of.

"My friends, we have the witch in our clutches!" shouted Gohn as if to be some conquering hero.

"My wife is no witch, you power-hungry snake!" yelled a furious and understandably outraged Count Accardi.

"He speaks because of her enchantment," replied Gohn.

The most respected member of society Judge Torro had deemed this practice barbaric. Yet he too was enticed by Gohn's apparent evidence stating that the "witch" who had been born of color seduced their Count in order to take over Cantelina.

"What is the judgment of the people?" asked the judge.

"Burn her!" shouted the mob.

"NO!" yelled Athan trying desperately to stop them, but it was to no avail.

Lady Audra had been more concerned for her husband and child.

"Please." she said "I am with child, surely you can forgo your rage."

"The witch will say anything to escape her fate," said Baron Davenport.

"It is true!" shouted Athan desperately trying to save the lives of his wife and unborn child. "She is carrying a child, my child....please stop this madness and let us return to our home in peace."

"See how she enchants him so," said Gohn hoping to strengthen the resolve of the mob.

"Burn her!" they shouted.

A heartbroken Count Athan Accardi was forced to watch as they tied his beloved Lady Audra to a thick wooden stake and lit the wood below her feet ablaze. Lady Audra never took her eyes off her heartbroken husband as the agony filed across his now pale face. He wished so badly to take her place, to let the flames burn him, and that they would let her go in peace.

"I love you." she had said to him.

It made him fight even harder but still, it was useless.

The agony in his eyes had been more than enough to hurt her but she suffered agonizing pain from the burning of her feet as it consumed her legs.

Her screams would haunt Athan Accardi for the rest of his life. Her sheer agony made him beg for them to end her pain and his. He watched as the red-orange flames licked at the flesh of her belly once filled with the life of their unborn child and now ablaze like the rest of her. As the flames spread he became increasingly adamant about ending her pain but no one would.

The air became thick with the scent of burning flesh and blood. As the last of her burned what little remained of her that was human people began to disperse and walk away unable to bear the stench of her mort flesh as she burned. Athan was forced to watch the ordeal and once it was over it was as if he had no life left within his own body.

His captors watched in horror as he slumped over his shoulders heavy from the defeat and the agonizing loss of his wife and child. He felt nothing as the winds chilled the flesh of those around him and the heavy rain poured about the isle amid the violent clashing of lightning and the rumbling of thunder. Finding that all he had held dear burned before his very eyes, The Good Count that once was Athan Accardi knew only death, the death of his wife and unborn child. 

Several Years Earlier...