Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
Norina
1907 A.D.
The Lombardy countryside in January was a tapestry of stark beauty; frost painted vines silver and the air hung crisp and clean, biting at exposed skin – Fifteen Year-old Norina Fiorito, her raven-dark hair escaping the confines of her woollen shawl, hurried through the rows of skeletal vines, her breath misting within the frigid early morning air, her silvery-grey eyes, so striking against her pale complexion, scanned the frozen earth for stray branches, her slender fingers numb despite her gloves.
Life on the Fiorito vineyard was simple; it was predictable and filled with a quiet joy – her mornings began early, before the sun had even risen, she would help her mother; Valentina with preparing breakfast for the family – dense, crusty bread, strong coffee and sometimes, if they were lucky – a precious slice of ham.
Valentina, a woman who’s strength was etched into the lines around her eyes, ran the vineyard with an iron fast, cloaked with maternal affection.
She expected diligence and obedience, but her love for her children was as boundless as the fields they tended.
Norina loved the rhythm of the vineyard; the pruning, the harvesting, the crushing of grapes in the autumn – each task was tangible connection to the land of her family’s history.
She often found solace amidst the vines, their silent presence a comforting constant.
Though this peace was often punctuated by the playful torments of her older twin brothers; Angelo and Benito – at Seventeen, they brimmed with boundless energy, they considered it a sacred duty to tease their younger sister at every available opportunity.
A well placed snowball, a yank of her braid, a whispered joke at her expense – their antics were as predictable as the sunrise.
“Ah…, there goes our Piccolo Angelo; already toiling away like a peasant” Angelo bellowed, his booming laughter echoing across the frozen fields
Benito; usually the quieter of the two added with a sky grin “Perhaps she is trying to earn credito extra with mama” he couldn’t help but chuckle “Avoid cucina duty for the week”
Norina, hearing responded in her usual way; a simply rolling of her eyes and a pointed glare; though secretly, she enjoyed their attention, even if it came in the form of playful mockery – they were her brothers, her protectors and he only family she knew.
Their father; Eliodoro – he was a different story altogether, he was a man shrouded by mystery, it was a stark contrast to his wife; Velantina, while she would focus on the day-to-day operations of the vineyard; Eliodoro seemed to drift through life with an almost carefree demeanour, within the day he would be found reading poetry under the shade of olive trees or lost in deep thought; his gaze often directed towards distant mountains.
He would encourage Norina to question everything, to challenge convention – to think for herself, he would tell her stories, not of Saints and Martyrs, but of daring revolutionaries and cunning strategist, he would teach her to read maps, to identify different types of knots, to take notice of the subtle nuances of human behaviour – even providing the basics of some self-defence, he always emphasized that knowledge was the greatest weapon.
“Never accept things at valore facciale, Norina” he told her; his eyes twinkled with a knowing glint “Always look beneath the surface”
Valentina often disapproved of these unconventional teachings; she feared that they would lead their children along the same secretive path he followed, that it could lead them to danger; Eliodoro would simply smile, he would keep secrets tucked away in the corner of his eyes, always assuring he was only preparing their children for the world beyond their vineyard.
One afternoon; returning from the village, a basket of freshly baked bread in her hands, Norina noticed something; two unfamiliar figure standing by the old barn at the edge of the vineyard.
They were tall, imposing; faces hidden beneath a scarf with hoods pulled up, their long coats fluttering around them, it gave them a predatory look; as she moved a little nearer in that direction, she could see that one had a rifle slung over his shoulder.
Norina was intrigued as she began slowing her pace, she decided to get closer, moving towards the old barn; she recognised her father standing with them, but, from the scene that was unfolding, she saw an unexpected tension by how her father was presenting himself.
She crept closer, cautiously approaching the barn – her curiosity overriding her fears, the wind carried fragments of their conversation to her ears, snippets of harsh words, spoken in a low guttural tone; but, they spoke in a language she did not understand; English, her father had promised to teach her and her brothers, but those lessons had yet to come.
One of the men moved forwards, his hand gesturing forwards as he pointed to Eliodoro “You’ve crossed us for the last time Eliodoro” the man growled; his voice thick with menace “This interference ends; and it ends now”
Eliodoro’s voice, usual calm and measured was tight, supressing anger “I have done nothing to warrant you and your cultists to come to my land; leave, leave now and cease these threats against my family”
The second figure moved forwards, his hand pulling the rifle upwards, the strap sliding as he moved it; he swung the butt of the rifle towards him but stopped they heard a noise.
Eyes turned to Noria; she had dropped the basket of bread as she gasped, horrified at what was just about to happen; Eliodoro’s eyes widened with horror as he saw her standing there, frozen by fear “Norina; Correre!” he snapped, his voice was filled with desperation
The Cultist wielding the rifle had now turned his attention towards her; his eyes, cold, but had a curiosity present in them “Huh….” He mumbled “Looks like Fiorito has a little lamb to protect” his words indicated something sadistic as the other Cultist grinned
“Kill her” the first Cultists said
Fear propelled Norina to move as her father moved in response to the man holding the rifle; Norina turned and fled; she ran as fast as her legs could carry her, at one point she could of sworn she heard the sound of the rifle firing, she did not know what was happening, why those men had come to her families land or why they were threatening her father – but, she knew they were in serious danger.
She did not stop running until she reached the safety of the farmhouse; her lungs burning, her chest heaved as her heart pounded against her ribs; bursting through the door, tears streaming down her face she screamed as she ran for her mother “Mama, Mama”
Valentina was surprised when she felt her daughter rush to embrace her; her fast speech incoherent and hard to understand “Norina; calmati” she told her gently, slowly, she eased herself down to Norina’s height as she kneeled in front of her, placing her hands against her shoulders as she looked at her “Tell me what happened”
“Men with pistole; they have papa, they were threatening him” she tells her, urgency within her voice as she spoke “Papa told me to correre”
Valetina’s face paled as she listned to Norina’s frantic account – she was worried about this, what Eliodoro’s secretive life could bring upon their family – now, they had come; wrapping her arms around Norina, she held her tightly, her voice trembled “It’s alright Tesoro”
Along a distant road two figure slowly appeared along the hill, they sat upon horseback. The movement was slow, one; clearly a young girl was leaning her head forwards, clearly exhausted from travel.
The other, an older woman, she kept shifting her attention towards the girl beside her, a smiles present on her face “Lydia” she said before shifting her attention, with the sky darkening, something unusual caught her attention, and she pulled her hands up, pulling the reigns to bring the horse to a halt, Lydia shifted her eyes quickly copying her mothers actions, Lydia’s eyes followed her mother’s gaze
In the distance, they saw an orange glow; dark smoke rising into the darkening sky – then, the sound of gunfire ripped through the air.
Written By: Westley H.
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