Fan Fiction ❯ china doll ❯ Pascha Resurrectionis Domini Nostri - Enter Isabella ( Chapter 4 )

Once more, Virginia woke in Tom's bed: but judging by the sounds that filled the bedroom, she waked up before the usual time. Throwing a glance at the clock on the console, Virginia saw that it was 7:13 AM. She was alone, but she heard quite well water ran in the shower and Tom's voice singing a tune in the bathroom -and he was good too. From the half open window came the garden's noises: now the singing of a bird; now the noise of shear; now footsteps on the pavement. With a deep sigh, Virginia rolled in the center of the bed with spread arms and stared at the canopy: in her mind gears moved and ticked. Tom's wand was there, on the bedside table and handy; he seemed still busy with the early-morning ablutions. With that wand, Virginia would have been able to call the Knight Bus and go back home. With that wand, Virginia could have stunned... or rather, killed Lord Voldemort. Freeing herself, Virginia would have freed the magical community from the wizard's existence. Virginia smiled imagining the newspapers' headlines.

WHO-YOU-KNOW KILLED BY HIS OWN WAND!

BRAVE PRISONER GETS THE BETTER OF HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED!

WAR IS OVER THANKS TO OUR NEW HEROINE: GINNY WEASLEY!

Being pleased with herself, Virginia took her nightgown from the heap of blankets and sheets: if she was going to go back home and face hordes of reporters, she couldn't show up naked. Arranging a rebel lock behind an ear, Virginia reached out her hand and...

" No, it couldn't be!" it was as if the bed was surrounded by an invisible barrier," NOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

Desperate, the girl punched the mattress, making the bed messier. She didn't notice that the water wasn't any more running and that Tom had stopped humming.

" Ah, good morning: you wake up early today."

Tom said with a cocky smile: as usual, he wasn't ashamed of showing his nakedness to the world, just a towel around the neck. Virginia looked at him with hate; then she noticed a thing that she had never seen and burst out laughing. He arched an eyebrow and placed his hands on his hips; at his unspoken question, Virginia pointed her finger to him and said between laughter:

" You have... you have a heart-shaped strawberry birthmark on the groin! Lord... Lord... Lord Voldemort has a... a heart-shaped strawberry birthmark on the groin! BWAHAHAHA!"

Tom looked shocked at her and blushing (!) covered himself, but not because of modesty.

" Well, what are you laughing at?! I'm born with this... this birthmark and I can't change it! I have tried everything to take it off: spells, potions, and even cosmetic surgery, everything useless! And then, tsk, hears who's talking: you... you... er... you... you're full of freckles!" he try to reply, then looked at her and grinned," What? Was that a subtle way to tell me that you were admiring... my /attributes/?"

" Er... " Virginia stopped laughing and blushed," I don't... may I use your bathroom?"

Tom nodded smiling and with an elegant flick of wand eliminated the barrier. While she washed her hands, Virginia thought with anger about her first flop, and just when she raised her eyes on the mirror, she saw a new occasion. Forgotten on the close cabinet, there was a fine razor: on the snake-shaped enameled handle, there were Salazar Slytherin's initials. Virginia took it, surprise by its weight, and watched the blade with longing; she tore one hair to test it: it was as sharp as new and she brought it at her throat. < Mom, dad, forgive me for the pain that I am about to give you... brothers, be happy for me too... Harry, I'll love you forever... goodbye! > And with these thoughts in her mind, she took a deep breath, shut her eyes and gave a neat incision. Nothing. Virginia opened an eye and saw with horror that her throat had not even a scratch! She tried a dozen of times to cut her throat; she then tried to split a wrist, then the other, but nothing nothing nothing!

" What are you doing?" Tom wondered leaning on the bathroom's doorframe; Virginia, frozen in the action of splitting her right wrist, watched him in shock," If you wanted you to kill yourself with my razor, I'm sorry to disappoint you: it's charmed to cut only body hairs. An idea of my famous ancestor: every time he shaved, he cut himself, and once he even risked to die because he accidentally cut his jugular vein."

Desperate, the girl let the razor fall and she burst in tear, repeating "I can't stand it any longer!" Tom sighed and, grabbed her chin; he raised her face and watched in her eyes.

" C'mon Virginia, cheer up!" he say in a sort of soothing tone," You're my prisoner, my china doll, so what? There are worst things in this world."

" Ah, really?! Give me an example!"

" Oh, well, for example when... er... look, breakfast will be almost ready: why don't you go in your bedroom and get dressed?"

After the last preparations, the moment to go at Bianca's home came: their luggage was ready before the fireplace, when Tom remembered to have left Isabella's gift in his bedroom and left Virginia alone: the girl glanced at the fireplace, then the pepper pot with the floo powder. This time she would be able to go back home. The girl took the pepper pot and slipped in the fireplace; she threw a handful of powder on the embers and shouted:

" The Burrow!" green flames wrapped her," Ouch! Ouch!"

Immediately she went out the fireplace flapping her skirt. Virginia looked around: she was still at Elysian Fields! What didn't have worked this time? She had said her destination well; and even if she had misspelled it, she would have arrived somewhere!

" Hey, what was all that noise?" Tom asked entering in the library; he saw the green flames and laughed, " Do you really think that I'm so stupid to leave Elysian Fields connected with any place in which you could run away?" he then took the pepper pot and shook his head," Virginia Virginia, now we don't have enough floo powder! Well, it isn't a great harm, I never liked travel in this way."

Then he putted an arm round the girl's waist and with the other grabbed the luggage and disapparated.

* * *

They apparated in a gorgeous Mediterranean garden: the air scented with citrus blossom, jasmine and sea; box hedges created precious green laces, palms stood out against a deep blue sky and a fountain gurgled happily. They went toward the entrance of the white villa and Tom rang the bell: after few minutes a woman peeked from a window and ran to open the door. The woman welcomed them with a large toothless smile and called Bianca: the young woman went out running from a room and glanced at Tom with a frown.

" You had told me that you would have come with the floo, and not that you would have apparated in the middle of my garden! Ah, I forgot: welcome."

" Good morning Bianca," Tom replied kissing her knuckles," Sorry if I haven't warned you before: you know, we had a small problem... of powder. Where is Isabellina?"

" Still at school: today she has only five hours, therefore she'll be home for lunch. Come with me, I show you your bedroom."

" What? Tom and I... must we share the same bedroom?!"

Virginia asked upset; Bianca smiled softly and nodded.

" Sure, Virginia. After all it isn't the first time."

Their bedroom was at the end of the hallway, opposite Isabella's: it was simple, with thin white and beige embroidered curtains; the wrought iron bed was soft and with a precious crocheted bedcover; in an angle there was a desk, two chairs and a couch; pots with flowers made the room colorful. A door on the bed's right opened onto a small bathroom while the large French window faced a terrace. After they arranged their belongings in the closet, Tom accompanied Virginia in exploration: the terrace overlooked on the sea, and through a staircase dug in the volcanic rock, reached a small stony cove surrounded by a tall bluff; then they went back, and gave a glance to the garden and the citrus orchard and before they realized it, it was lunch time. They waited Isabella for more than half hour; then, with a resigned sigh, Bianca rang a silver bell and two maids served the lunch: a thing that had struck Virginia, it was the lack of house elves. Tom had explained that for a long time, the Trao family's servants were human and that at Santa Eufemia everybody knew that they were wizards: the inhabitants of the small district cohabited with this, even, the Traos were the true owners of Santa Eufemia and the surrounding lands and everybody recognized them this claim. Heritage of an age in which Santa Eufemia was Trao's domain. The lunch was particularly delicious, even if Virginia had some difficulty with the pasta; in the afternoon they went in the living room, where the two cousins began an animated conversation: soon the girl got bored and she announced that she was going to take a nap; Tom glanced at her in an odd way and then nodded. Sighing, Virginia opened the door and got scared: before her was a girl. She was tall and thin, on her tanned skin two chocolate eyes stood out and a mole was under her left eye; the hair was short, smooth and shining of a bright purplish black. She wore a short light pink cotton sport jacket with ash gray sleeves and an "I" embroidered, worn-out jeans and comfortable sneakers. The girl watched her curiously, eating a lemon and holding on a hip a tray with two sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, a slice of cake and a small bottle of water; she then peered beyond Virginia's shoulders and smiled: she gave her the tray, set a finger on her own lips and went in the living room. Bianca was pouring some Marsala in two glasses, while Tom watched the landscape: silently, the girl approached the man and began to poke his sides. Virginia thought that Tom would have flew into a rage and thrown an Unforgivable to the girl; but with her great surprise, he burst in laugh and exchanged the tickle: laughing wildly and tickling each other, the two fell on the carpet. Bianca turned furious and scolded both bitterly: the girl stuck out her tongue to the older woman; and Tom, still laughing, justified her, an arm protectively around her shoulders. Then he turned toward Virginia and, ruffling the girl's hair, said with a sincere smile:

" Virginia dear, she's my cousin Isabella; Isabellina, she's Virginia Weasley."

" Ah, so this is your girlfriend!" Isabella exclaimed watching Virginia from head to toe," Well, To, you have my blessing: you have done a good choice!"

" I'm not his... er... girlfriend!"

Replied Virginia. Isabella just giggled.

" Yes yes, you're right!" but she didn't seem very convinced, then she took the tray back and winked," do you feel like chatting in my bedroom? Ah, don't call me Isabella, it's too long: Isa is perfect. "

" Er... " Virginia threw a glance to Tom, but in his eyes she saw approval. " Ok... er... Isa. But don't call me Virginia, please: Ginny is better."

" Ginny?" said thoughtful Isabella," even Ginny is too long for my tastes! You know, usually you waste too much time to call somebody, that's why I call everybody with the first syllable of their name: my sister is Bia; my cousin To; Filomena, our housekeeper, is Fi; and the same rule is worth for all my friends. I don't like Ginny, it's still long: I think that I will opt for Gin. Ah ah! It looks as if Destiny is after you: Gin 'n' Tonic, just a lil' cut and it become Gin 'n' To!"

Isabella laughed opening her bedroom's door with a kick: with nonchalance she putted off her shoes, sat on the carpet crossing her legs and set the tray before of her. Isabella's bedroom didn't look like a witch's one: the walls were plastered with Muggle movies' playbills; opposite the bed there was a big TV, with a VCR, a DVD player and a shelf filled with VHS and DVD; at the TV's left there was a stereo and on the desk, near the window, a PC. Eating a sandwich, Isabella beckoned Virginia to sit with her: Virginia began to speak about Hogwarts, her family, Harry...

" You know Er Reporter?!" Isabella exclaimed with wide eyes; Virginia arched an eyebrow and the other girl explained," Er Reporter is how my schoolmates from Rome call Harry Potter. Minchia, you were his girlfriend! Now I understand why my cousin has kidnapped you: sure, the dementor's joke wasn't funny, but... kidnap his arch enemy's love and make her his own girlfriend.... what a plan, worthy of my cousin! Ah, do you want to see a thing?"

Ended Isabella getting up and taking a photo frame from her desk: they were two old black 'n' white photos. One showed a very cute seven, perhaps eight years old boy holding a flute; the other, instead, was a naked baby boy sucking his big toe: Virginia watched frowning the two photos; the two children had something familiar, but...

" This... this is Tom as a child!" whispered Virginia amazed," Awwe... he was so cute! What can I say, these photos make you think: how could a so cute and innocent boy become a bastard like him?"

" Ehy, look, you're speaking about my favored cousin -perhaps because he's the only one! If he want to take over the world, he'll have his reasons: sure, I don't approve his ways, but I don't judge him like much people that doesn't know him does -and I know him very well!" said Isabella defending Tom," But tell me, how have you recognized him?"

" It's simple," she answered blushing, snickering and pointing out the second photo," I have recognized him from the... from the birthmark!"

And she burst in laugh. Isabella joined her.

" Yeah, me too recognized him from his heart shaped strawberry birthmark! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!"

~*flashback*~

Isabella, thirteen years, was before her mirror trying on her most beautiful dresses: now she wore a white and azure Vichy print cotton sundress and her brown hip-length hair was held back by an azure band; other clothes of different shape and color were spread through the room. Nodding, the girl decided that that was the perfect attire for that perfect day: the evening before, her older sister Bianca had announced her that that day would have come their only cousin, Thomas Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort, Who-you-know, He-who-must-not-be-named. Isabella had lived her thirteen years of life listening the tale of her famous relative's rise and defeat: if for many of her contemporaries he was the monster that would have kidnapped and devoured them if they didn't obey to mom and dad, for the youngest of the Traos he was a myth, an idol, a god. Her adoration had been fed by some photos she had found in the attic few years before: photos of his cousin when he was young; in the most recent he was about twenty-six years old. Isabella spent whole days drooling over those photos, which were her treasure: in the photos as a child, Thomas was cute; as a teenager, cool; and as an adult, HOT!!

" *sigh* I bet that Thomas is like Sean Connery:" she sighed looking her treasures," old but still hot! Isa, stop to drool like a starving down-and-out before a nice piece of meat. Will I do a good impression? Perhaps... perhaps I should put some make up on..."

She went back to the mirror and putted some peach pink lip-gloss; she had just opened the mascara when Bianca called her. Isabella forgot what she was doing, opened the door and ran toward the staircases; while she went down, she saw three people in the entrance hall: her sister Bianca, clearly nervous; a short and bald man, with a silvery hand -surely he wasn't her Thomas; while the other...

" Isabellina, good evening: you have grown since the last time I have see you."

Isabella stopped suddenly, the happiness of her face left the place to an indecipherable mask.

" Where is our cousin, Bianca?"

Bianca looked at her sister, and then Lord Voldemort.

" Well... "

" It's me."

Isabella fixed her chocolate eyes in those red of the man, wondering if that... er... thing was a man. She folded her arms, wrinkled her nose and looked at him with defiance.

" I don't believe you. You are a kind of asthmatic snake-man; while Thomas is... is hot."

" Years pass and people change Isabellina."

" It's true, but someone like him couldn't become scum like you."

" Isabella! Don't be rude with our cousin!"

" Do you want me to prove it?"

" Yes."

" Tsk, and what should I do to prove that I'm really your cousin?"

" You must show me one thing."

" And what should I show you?"

" A birthmark." Voldemort looked at the girl in an odd way," A strawberry birthmark." if he has been able to, the Dark Lord would paled, "A heart-shaped strawberry birthmark." The Evil Wizard began to sweat," A heart-shaped strawberry birthmark on the groin."

" How... how do you know about the... about the birthmark?"

" I have my sources. Then? Do you show it spontaneously or not spontaneously?"

Hissed Isabella going down the last four steps without move her icy look. Lord Voldemort stepped backwards, leaving that some distance parted him from the thirteen-years-old girl. Wormtail watched shocked the two: if he didn't know so well his Master, he would have said that the Dark Lord was scared. And the almighty Lord Voldemort, future Overlord of the whole world, whose wickedness made Lucifer looks like a helpless kitten, the most feared Evil Wizard and whose hands were stained with the most horrendous crimes, was wetting his pants: face that little, silly, impudent girl was thousand times worse than duel with Dumbledore. And everything because of a birthmark. The Dark Lord stumbled in a carpet, fell backwards and hit his head being stunned: Isabella took advantage and with two steps she was atop of him and grabbed the edge of his robe.

" MWAHAHAHAHA! Now we unmask this impostor-"

Isabella peeked under the robe for five seconds; then looked at Voldemort, rubbed her eyes and gave an other glance.

" No, it couldn't be... It couldn't be!" she looked again the Wizard, her eyes full of tears and embraced him," To! It's really you! Finally after all these years I could meet you! But let me say it: you're really disgusting! You make me puke! You know, cosmetic surgery have made great progress in these last times: have you ever thought about the pleasure to have again a nose? Or or to get back those nice-looking full lips.... like those you had when you were young? And then this pale complexion... if you go to swim, the octopuses will stick on you! It's true that we could have a fish barbecue, but you look like a mozzarella: if you want, I can lend you my self-tanning lotion. Besides I didn't expect that yours... er... was… er… do you know what we'll do tomorrow? We wake up early; take Bianca's car and go to Modica: there is that famous pastry shop where grandpa used to buy chocolates; you remember it, don't you? We go there and get a nice supply of red hot pepper chocolate so you won't have problems with women, ok?"

~*end flashback*~

The two girls were rolling on the carpet laughing: they laughed so hard, that they were crying!

" And what.... what did... what did he then?"

Was able to say Virginia wiping her eyes. Isabella took a depth breath and, staring at the ceiling, replied:

" We burst in laugh, BWAHAHAHAHA!"

The two girls were able to calm down only after half of hour or more: then Isabella looked thoughtfully at Virginia.

" Gin, where do you buy your clothes?"

Virginia looked amazed at her, then lowered her eyes and said sadly:

" Actually.... it's Tom to choose and buy my clothes."

" Ah, I understand. Not to criticize my cousin -in fact, he's one of the people with more taste that I knows, but he dresses you like a doll!" at these words, Virginia's eyes filled with pain and tears, but Isabella was too busy rummaging in her closet," We're in 21st century, in 3rd millennium! A girl like you should dress in the latest fashion, and not like a museum's mannequin! Here, put these on."

She ended giving her a T-shirt, pants and boots.

" What do you want to do Isa?"

" Elementary: we go to Taormina for shopping!"

Virginia watched Isabella changing: for the first time since when she had gotten on the Knight Bus last July, she would have spent an ordinary Saturday afternoon. Tom didn't have complained about letting go the two girls alone, he just told them to be careful and not go back late. Isabella opened the garage and carried her bike out: a black Ducati Monster S4 Fogarty.

" Isa, aren't you... er... young for a such bike?"

" Yes, so what? Who cares."

" But... but what if the police stops us?"

" Who cares."

" How couldn't you care about it?! Don't tell me that..."

" Minchia Gin, do you want to go out or think about such bullshit?! C'mon, get on."

It was a nice afternoon for Virginia: she and Isabella spent two hours going in the famous shops and spending lot of money. Virginia was worried, she didn't know how she could have given back the money that her new friend was spending for her: Isabella had replied saying that it wasn't a problem; instead, for her it was a pleasure. After have bought an ice cream in a cafe, the two girls went in a beauty center where Isabella almost forced Virginia to do a full service: when they had finished, Virginia seemed a different person. Then the two girls climbed on the bike and rode toward Santa Eufemia: but about two miles before they come the district, they crossed a police patrol.

" Gin, act with nonchalance."

Virginia began to chew her lower lip: if they were stopped, they surely would be arrested; and if it happened, she didn't dare to think how Tom would have reacted. Surely not well. A policeman beckoned them to stop; and Isabella obeyed and got off the helmet: the officer drew near and asked a document and the young witch gave him her id card.

" Girls, you are in trouble," he said shaking his head," It's needed the legal age to ride a big-engine bike, and you're not even seventeen years old!"

" Appuntato, Mutans Mutandis. " said Isabella looking the police in his eyes, whose look became suddenly blank," I am eighteen years old!"

And she snapped her fingers. The man startled, gave back the ID card and said.

" Well, you can go. But this is the last time you're in two, it's dangerous."

" I know, but today it was an emergency."

Isabella replied wearing the helmet and they rode away. Virginia was amazed: with a spell -wandless magic in addition- Isabella had been able to convince that man that she was in age!

* * *

Life at Villa Trao seemed to Virginia more ordinary than at Elysian Field: Isabella was the happier and funny girl she has ever met. And not only Tom was unable to say no to his youngest cousin, but around her the wizard seemed to relax, as if he took a vacation from himself: he laughed, joked, was a bit wild, practically an other person. Virginia understood why Bianca defined her sister a wild animal: Isabella didn't care of many things, first of all that she was a witch and that most of her friends were Muggle. In less than a day the two girls had become bosom friends.

Good Monday morning, at breakfast, Isabella was rather nervous and Tom asked what was wrong.

" What's wrong?! You knew that today I've a History of Magic's oral test, nevertheless you haven't bothered to put a silencing spell: not only I've heard everything, but you screamed so loud that it's a miracle if the plaster didn't come off the ceiling!"

Tom and Virginia blushed and looked embarrassed. In the afternoon, Isabella and Virginia went together in the near chestnut wood: the black-haired girl needed fresh bark for a potion. Found the proper tree, Isabella climbed on to reach the youngest branches: the girl continued to talk picking bark. Virginia answered every so often to reassure the girl of her own presence; Isabella threw her a little bunch of sprigs and climbed higher: when Virginia stooped to pick it up, she noticed them. A small group of white mushrooms under a nearby tree. Virginia bit her lower lip, said that she was going to pee and ran toward the mushrooms: they should have sprouted few days before, because the oldest had a half closed cap. They were small and greenish; some, the youngest, looked like an egg and were white: Virginia picked one and sniffed it, no odor; then she tasted it and she found it a bit sour but eatable. Isabella went down from the chestnut tree and, not seeing her, called Virginia: the girl let the mushroom fall and joined her.

Good Thursday morning, always at breakfast, something happened that nobody would have expected. Filomena was serving the breakfast and when she set the cup of milk and the tart slice in front of Virginia, the girl putted a hand on her mouth, apologized and ran away: few after they heard her coughing and the housekeeper appeared at the door.

" Poor girl, she has vomited on the stairs. With your permission, Vossia, I go to clean. "

The elderly woman went in the kitchen and few after went out with a bucket and a rag. Isabella followed her, but stopped on the door: Filomena was taking Virginia in her bedroom. Isabella went back at the table and the three of them tried to understand what was happening; then the two sisters gasped and exchanged a glance, then they stared at Tom with an expression between amazement and disgust. The man watched confused his cousins.

" Well, what are you staring at?"

" Minchia To! A man of your age, make a girl that could be his granddaughter pregnant: you're really disgusting!"

" Thomas, not to be impudent, but when you two… well, do you take some precautions?"

Tom watched the two women; then, when he finally put the pieces of the puzzle together, he laid a hand on his mouth and whispered with wide-open eyes:

" Gea, Demetra and Persephone: I've never thought about it!"

Isabella got up and said furious:

" What do you mean with I've never thought about it?! There are spells and potions to avoid such surprises; and if you don't want use magic, it doesn't take much to go in the drugstore and buy a supply of condoms! You are lucky that her family thinks her dead, or her father would make you marry her with a wand aimed at your back!"

" Isabella, please, calm down! And you Thomas, you have to take your responsibility."

" First we should verify if Virginia is really pregnant... "

" Sure, she is To! It's since when you have come that I don't sleep and you are busier than rabbits!"

The same morning, Tom went in Santa Eufemia's drugstore and bought, with his great embarrassment, a pregnancy test -"sort it out by yourself!" had shouted Isabella; but no one had the guts even to mention the topic with Virginia, whom was persecuted by nausea. Good Saturday night, the four of them went at the Easter Vigil: Isabella did her best to amuse Virginia.

" You don't how boring this mass is: I always fall asleep! I don't understand why Bia and To are so obsessed: I mean, it's enough go at tomorrow's Mass! Moreover I had planned to go clubbing with my friends tonight, but I'm forced to go in a boring place filled with gaga!"

And the Vigil was really boring: before the end of the second reading, somebody was snoring and Tom had caught a couple of time Isabella dozing. Even Virginia felt tired and bored: soon it was hard keep her eyes open and her eyesight became a blur. When the priest raised the host, Virginia fell in total obscurity. Tom caught her arm in time and shook her gently; twenty or more people turned to watch.

" Virginia? Wake up Virginia!"

" Let her sleep!" Isabella yawned," you shouldn't have bring her here, in her condition... "

Tom scowled at a group of girls whom laughed pointing them.

" Wake up Virginia, everybody is watching us!"

" Thomas, let her sit: you know what's wrong with her, and you are the only one to blame."

Bianca whispered helping Tom to settle the sleeping girl on the bench.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ok, Santa Eufemia it's my invention, I don't even know if there's a place in Sicily with this name: I have searched in the net, but I didn't find enough information. However I imagine it as a little district north of Taormina, with a church, a drugstore, a small post office, a cafe, three or four shops and a couple of restaurants on the harbor.

And now the usual thanks.

Cashew: thank you for the support, but please, don't adulate me -yes... flatter me ;)

Sailor Leo: well, I hope that you have liked this chapter too!

Lil kawaii doom: yes, I've understood, I'm writing, I'm writing! But don't take over the world or Tom would be hurt, 'k?

Persephonie: I like that we agree on this; moreover at the end of this fanfic I hopes to have given some explanations for Uncle Voldie's behavior.

Evil Incarnate: MWAHAHAHAHA!!! Yes, I am evil and I'm proud of it, and within few chapters you'll elect me Queen of Evilness! But don't die on the keyboard or I don't know how could I do without your.. er... daily review ;)

Angel: luckily I know where this will lead; I just need my readers' support.

VuruNeno: thank you so much, keep following me!

TygerLou: wow, I am amazed! I used to knock boys too: the last time was at my last play's premiere, The Resistible Ascent of Arturo Ui by Brecht -Christian Coulson, Tom in CoS, has performed Ui when he was in college: since I had Ernesto Roma's role, Ui's right hand, I consider him as my Boss, and then I have a thing in common with him and you no XP- and there were this guy with a cell phone laughing in the wings. After had told kindly to go out TWICE and since he didn't listen, I slapped him twice; but difference between you and me are that I didn't have to take charm lesson ;P And then what's this tale that girls must be only sweet, kind and helpless? If anyone bothers us, we have the right to defend ourselves!

Ele, from the Italian version: tee hee... you and the others our fellow citizens -plus whoever know ours language- are luckier than the others: since now you'll read CHIDO's chapters about two days before my English-speaking readers!

Review from AFF.Net:

Thom Thumb, for the first chapter: as you can read, I've reached the fourth chapter ;)

PrincessLemon, always for the first: there is much, much more!

Sasami, for the second chapter: thank you for the compliments, and about the beta-reading... I'm in the unceasing and desperate search of anybody that could do it: I try to make my texts as readable as possible, but I couldn't do it alone...

Liv, always for the second: here a new update, I hope that you are happier now ;)

Ah, on MM.org you can find a nice pic of Tom and Isabella together under my old nick - Pat-chan - always if you are able to load pics: it's more than a month that I'm not able to see them and it makes me furious!

Herentas Meridiae