Blood and Roses.

Ava looked down feeling drawn to this man dressed in black, whose name alone was enough to instill fear in many.

Suddenly, Alessandro looked up and locked eyes with her. Her eyes widened and her heart stopped for that moment as her eyes collided with his several heights away.

He coolly tore his gaze away and walked in with his men behind him.

The door of the sitting room was pushed open and Alessandro walked in followed by his PA, Ethan Wallace.

"Sandro" Zena called.

"Aunt Zena" Sandro whispered and walked over to her.

"How have you been?" He asked.

"What do you want to hear?" She asked back.

"Maybe good news" He said with a light smile gracing his lips.

"I'd been good, how was your stay in Italy?" She asked.

"The usual" He replied coolly as he handed his coat to one of the maids.

"Did mother come by?" He asked.

"Visited twice," Zena said.

"Mother" Ethan called and walked over to Zena hugging her.

"How have you been?" She asked as she took a look at him.

"I'd been good," he replied.

"You both should eat dinner" She suggested and walked into the kitchen.

The next morning.

A knock on the door woke Ava up from her sleep and she walked to the door opening it wide to see Aunt Zena.

"Good morning Zena" She greeted yawning.

"You look a mess," Zena commented with a light smile.

"Yeah, I was tired yesterday, I will freshen up soon" Ava said.

"He wants to see you" The smile disappeared from Zena's face.

"He...Who" Ava stuttered as her eyes shot open.

"Go freshen up" Zena nudged her and Ava nodded mechanically returning into the room.

"You can come in" Her voice sounded from inside the room.

"I'm okay here," Zena said.

Ava reappeared all freshen up and dressed up.

"Follow me" Zena cast a glance at her.

Ava followed her quietly through the hallway, her eyes stopping on the dragon door for a moment before walking over to Zena who had already stopped at a door.

Zena raised her hands to knock on the door.

"Let her in" A cold detached voice sounded, making Ava flinch.

Zena nodded at Ava who pushed the door open, her eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the room that looked so much like a study room in an ancient palace.

"Ava" He mentioned her name.

Ava raised her gaze to him and her eyes widened for the umpteenth time since she came to this house as she caught sight of his face - Not in images or portraits.

Long fan-like eyelashes, long silky black hair laying on his shoulder, jet black eyes, a dragon tattoo on his neck trailing into his shirt, the light flickering on the tattoo made it more life-like.

"Sit" He instructed and she slowly sat down.

"You were the one that tried running away" He said with a voice devoid of emotions, and Ava nodded.

"Stupidly brave, I would say, don't try that next time" He said.

"I would like to negotiate with..."

"No negotiation" Alessandro cut her off his voice cold.

"You can leave" He said and she stood up, hurriedly walking out of the room.

She rounded the corner and held her chest breathing heavily when she heard footsteps behind her.

She turned back and saw a man also dressed in black with shorter hair walking down the stairs - eyes locked on her.

He had a sharper gaze, a black bag in his hands and a star tattoo on his neck.

" You must be Miss Ava" He stretched his hands, his voice deep.

Ava took his hands in a handshake - his hands felt rough to shake.

"Enjoy your stay here" He said and turned walking away just like that.

She walked up the stairs pushing the door of her room open. Moments later, Aunt Zena came to invite her to breakfast. She nervously walked into the dining room but she could not find him.

She took a deep breath before sitting down.

"You should stop by the company, I will go alone" She heard a cold voice coming from up the stairs.

Footsteps followed the voice and Alessandro and Ethan came into sight followed by a bunch of men on black.

Alessandro walked past her without uttering a word and she was too dumbstruck to say anything.

"You are not staying from breakfast again" Zena sighed.

"There's a whole lot of work to do, Zena" He said and walked out the house.

Ava finished breakfast and requested a canvas and painting materials.

Getting to work, she started painting attentively.

An hour later, she brushed the paint off and turned it to Zena who was watching her attentively.

The painting was in a dark hue. A girl looking out into the night, in a virtual cage, longing for freedom and a grave behind her.

"This is what I feel," Ava sighed. "I miss her"

"It's alright" Zena patted her back.

Ava nodded and walked to the back of the mansion where a garden was located. Sitting on one of the swings, she closed her eyes recounting memories to keep herself busy but all the memories were about her mother and she shot her eyes open as a tear rolled down her eye.

It was getting late and she stood up, pushing the door to the house.

"Aunt Zena," she called.

"Dear, I'm here" Zena's voice sounded from the kitchen and she walked into the kitchen.

"I'm so bored inside this house" She whined.

"Can you play chess?" Aunt Zena asked and Ava nodded.

Placing a bowl of fruits on the table by Ava, Aunt Zena brought a board of chess, and they both started playing.

The door flung open and Ava stiffened thinking Alessandro had returned.

"Ziven" Zena shrieked and threw herself into the hands of the newcomer.

"Aunt Zena, how are you doing?" Ziven asked.

"I'm fine, and you. You just came back from France?" She asked and Ziven nodded.

"So why are you here?" She asked again.

"I'm here for Draco, he was shot and I had not had the time to meet him" Ziven said.

"What do you mean he was shot?" Zena rose from her seat.

"Wow, you don't know about this, he was shot four months ago in Italy and that was why he postponed his return, Aunt Camila knows about that" Ziven said and turned to look at Ava.

"You must be the new girl," he said with a smile.

" Sandro was shot and I was not informed, I'm calling Camila" Zena said angrily.

"I think this was why you were not informed, you worry too much," Ziven said and made himself comfortable on the sofa.

"You've said enough right" Alessandro said from his back making Ava flinch, maybe they were all used to this but she did not feel his presence nor did she hear the door opening.

"Hey, I was trying to console Aunt Zena," Ziven said with a grin.

"Sandro" Zena called.

"I'm sorry" He said and walked to her holding her in her waist.

"You did something wrong right?" She asked.

"I did not want you to worry that's why" He said.

"Where's Ethan?" Zena asked.

"In the office," Sandro said.

"Draco, we have a lot to talk about" Ziven said.

" Zena, would you mind getting us coffee in the study room?" Alessandro said and Zena left.

"You should return to your room" Alessandro said to Ava who had been quiet,and she nodded walking to her room.

"Quite obedient," Ziven commented as he followed Alessandro to the study room.