"W-What... what the hell is this?" Aran questioned, shocked by what she was witnessing as the flickering of blue flames had lit up the group's surroundings, bearing witness as Carston's body disintegrated in front of them, reduced to ashes and quickly vanishing into the air. Aran blinked before whipping her head around to meet Luce's gaze. "Are you alright!?"
Luce jumped, surprised by Aran's sudden yelling, "U-Uh! Yeah... I'm okay. He didn't hurt me. I got lucky." Luce squeezed out a painful smile in an attempt to comfort Aran.
Aran placed a hand atop Luce's head. "Scared the hell out of me." She looked at the twins, "Sorry you had to see that."
Nero stood, "Surprised that you could be that ruthless."
Nello sighed, scrambling back onto his feet and patting himself down, "Deserved it, but... yeah, I would've preferred it if I didn't see that, y'know?"
Servants watched from the sidelines, not even bothering to ask questions to the group, some outright avoiding them.
Aran scanned her surroundings. "Looks like we didn't do anything wrong, huh?"
Nero, a disconcerted look on his face. "His body... what the hell is with the burning?"
"Maybe some other ability, a way to erase evidence."
Luce stepped forward, "Let's go meet up with Cameron. He should be at the back of the estate by now."
The group made its way to the backyard of the estate, crossing to a thin roadway made in the divet of the estate's land that typically circled to the front of the estate, used as an alternative entrance. They all pile into the car, Nello calling shotgun and jumping straight into the passenger seat with Cameron, startling him, as Aran and Luce sat next to each other with Nero. Aran was specifically sitting next to the door whilst letting Luce sit in-between her and Nero.
"I heard gunshots. Is everything okay in there!?" Cameron exclaimed, looking to the group for answers.
"Did you get their name, Luce?" Aran turned to Luce.
Luce nodded, "Carston, I believe." Luce paused for a moment, attempting to remember who they worked for previously." I think they were a guard of Nevio's. I'm unsure, though. It's either Nevio's guard or Bruno's."
Nero shook his head, hands clasped in prayer, "Hope it wasn't Bruno who set that hit."
Luce shook his head, "Carston seemed to have not told whoever they were working for that they were going to go out to... assassinate me, I believe."
Cameron is shocked by what he heard, turning around in his seat to look at Luce, "They tried to 'assassinate' you!? Was that why there were gunshots?"
"Yeah," Aran chimed in, "Killed 'em. But the servants of the estate didn't seem to care much. We haven't had anyone stop us yet, so I assume that they believe that we did the right thing and that we haven't broken any rules. The problem is, someone on either Nevio's or Bruno's side has someone else who can remove evidence. We couldn't search the body, they turned to ash right away."
"Are you serious? Did they blow up or somethin', what happened!?"
"Body combusted into these blue flames and disappeared into nothin'."
"So that 'Boon' stuff wasn't bullshit?"
Aran shook her head before looking to Luce, "Could you show him... what was it called?"
"Cassini's Division." His Boon revealed itself, its moth-like fairy form setting itself on the dashboard of Cameron's car.
Cameron's eyes were wide, shocked at the appearance of this ethereal being, reaching a hand out to touch it, and in response, it disappeared into the light outside. "W-What does it do?"
"I-I... I don't know fully, but... I think I can control light in some way with it."
"Incredible... this gives us a significant leg up knowing that these abilities exist. How did you learn that you have it, or what it is?"
"Carston, that man. He separated me and Aran, and I managed to use the light to direct her. I used my ability to get myself out of that situation, and we won."
"Good shit. For now, let's wait. We still have time before the competition starts, about an hour or two."
Nero groaned, "I should've called shotgun, damnit. It's so cramped back here."
"Sorry that I can't control my size." Aran chuckled.
Nello leaned back to get a better look at everyone, "I'm surprised that you guys aren't more affected that someone died."
Luce, "Well... It concerns me... and... I feel scared. Terrified, but I don't want to mull over it, since they wanted to kill me as well. I'm not so sensitive that I'd go passive, y'know?" Luce gave a smile.
"I've killed someone before, so..." Aran shrugged. "Don't forget that I was in the military as well."
"You were?" Cameron's interest was piqued.
"Not for too long, but yeah. Trained all my life under the Driskolls, and military service is a bit of a rite of passage for them. For a while, they saw me as an exceptional talent amongst their ranks but... shit sorta got bad in the military. That shit just wasn't for me and I got kicked out a year and a half in. Caccias found that appealing, but my family practically threw me out."
"I see, well. Hope that training comes into use."
Luce pinched Aran's coat sleeve, giving her a comforting smile before leaning into his seat. Arab stared for a moment before wrapping an arm around Luce's shoulders, startling him. "How are you feelin', dude?"
"U-Uh! I'm alright, thanks for asking." Luce was slightly flushed as Aran squeezed Luce against her.
"That's good, I know shit like that is scary man. I hope that you don't have to get too used to it, but... You were great out there today. I'm surprised you even thought of such a solution."
"W-Well... without Cassini's Division, I could never." Luce chuckled.
"From what I know, that thing is a part of you, right? Then that means that it is you. You did this, Luce, you survived."
"Thanks... sorry for being so negative all the time."
Aran slapped Luce's back, "It ain't a thing, bro. I stick with ya cause I care, y'know?"
Nero looked dead inside before leaning over his brother's shoulder, "Dude, please let me take shotgun, I can't be back with these flirts!"
Nello snickered, "Nuh uh, finder's keepers."
Luce is a bit flustered by the comment, "W-We aren't flirting."
"I'm giving a motivational speech to my favorite man~," Aran smirked.
"See!? This is bad, please let me take shotgun!"
Aran chuckled, "I'm fuckin' around, calm down, Nero, it's light banter, friend."
Nero scanned Aran, "I don't believe you."
Cameron cut them off, "Get ready, it's almost time."
Aran saluted, "Alright, Cam."
"Cam?"
Nero nodded, sitting down properly and tightening their seatbelt, "I'm ready."
"Been ready," Nello said, leaning into their seat, attempting to push it back onto their brother.
Luce nodded as well, "I'm ready whenever you are. Not like I have much of a choice anyhow." Luce let out a light chuckle, squeezing his way further into his seat to find a more comfortable spot.
Cameron looked to the rearview mirror, "Alright... well..." His hands tightened around the steering wheel, watching the time expectantly on his watch.
Cameron rolled the car out to peek out from behind the house, watching as the hour passed, people immediately beginning to leave the estate. After 20 minutes had passed, Cameron began taking off as well, taking a drive straight to the airport.
As they rode, the twins spaced out as they watched the green landscapes pass by their very eyes, villas stretched out in the distance sat by the oceanside of Sicily. They rode up a hill before dipping down the path, off the hill.
Nello cocked their brow, "From here... it should be around thirty minutes until we arrive at the airport, no?"
Nero sighed, "Let's hope we aren't late for the party. Wouldn't want any misunderstandings to occur... we'd especially not want to be the last to Brazil."
Cameron shook his head, "Shouldn't think that way, plus, someone getting to the cash first is most likely ideal."
"Why's that?"
"We could ambush them."
Luce's eyes narrowed. "I'd prefer it if we didn't do that."
"Either that, or we go for the deed immediately instead."
"Aim for the deed?"
"Either we get lucky and get to the cash first, or we wait for someone to get the cash so we can get the location of the deed."
Luce sighed, "Let's just try whatever we need to try to do. We should focus on getting to the airport first before any of those things."
"Speakin' my thoughts aloud for me, I see?"
A haunting quiet followed as they drove across Sicily's acres of land to get to their destination.
Gabriel Inrique Caccia had met their end on October 27th, 1982, at 5:27 am. On October 28th, at 3:50 pm, his family, his children had all gathered at his funeral to be met with an announcement that would change the trajectory of their lives forever. It is now October 29th, 11:29 am, and Luce, Aran, Cameron, and the Twins have previously allied with each other during these trying times, being known as the weakest links of the family.
Nello looked around the car, gaze going from the front dashboard over to Cameron, "This is a sick car."
"You noticed, it's an Aston Martin V8. Got it for 28k. I bring it everywhere I go. Rides like a dream."
"Certainly, this thing feels great to be in."
Cameron looked miffed for a moment before shaking his head, "I forgot you're all rich kids."
"Huh!? Where'd that come from?"
Nero sighed, fanning his shirt. "Hey, can you turn on the air conditioner? It's getting a bit hot."
Cameron nodded, "It is getting a bit warm." He turned up the cold air.
"That's a little better."
Aran chuckled, "I'm barely gettin' shit over here."
Nero shook his head, "That's because you're clingin' to Luce."
"What, you sayin' that I shouldn't hold Lover Boy close cause he deserves it?"
"What!? W-Wait, did you fuckin' call him 'Lover Boy'? You have a pet name for him!?"
Luce waved it off, "She's called me that since we were kids, so I'm used to it by now."
"Why, tho?"
Aran pat Luce's chest in a pointed motion, "He's a boy who loves, what other name but 'Lover Boy' would be fitting for this sweet, sensitive young man?"
"Nello! Please get me out of here!"
Nello ignored Nero, "Have you wondered what your ability is going to be?" Directing his question to Cameron.
Cameron thought on it for a moment, "Hope it's like... a weird ghost thing that can punch shit really hard."
"Weird choice. I hope I get somethin' like..." Nello thought to himself for a moment, sweating a bit, causing a slight bit of confusion before continuing. "Uh... Maybe something like... Telekinesis? Like one of those superhero comics and stuff. Also, I know the air conditioner is on, but are you sure it's working?"
"I'm pretty sure..." Cameron hovered a hand over one of the car's vents, feeling for cold air. "Yeah, it's working, but... you're right, it is gettin' warm. Is it supposed to be this warm at this time of year here?"
Luce shook his head, "I don't believe so. Especially not in fall." Luce stretched out his shirt, attempting to create air for himself.
Aran groaned, "At this rate, imma strip!"
"D-Don't do that."
"Damnit~! It's hot as hell, what's goin' on!?"
Nero clicked their tongue, "Doesn't help that we're cramped back here."
Luce tapped Cameron's shoulder, "H-hey, could you maybe stop? Maybe something is wrong?"
Cameron considered it for a moment. "A little longer, if it gets worse, I'll stop. There should be a container under one of our seats that has water, so grab those just in case."
Nero put their hand up, "I'll grab it, found it tapping my feet around." Nero grabbed the box and began handing water out to the group.
They managed to stay stable a little while longer, but it didn't last long, as the heat in the car had started to become unbearable.
"Fuck! I'll stop, everyone, get ready to get out." Cameron was caked in sweat, pulling off to the side of the road to let everyone free from the car's clutches.
One by one, everyone got out of the car, breathing a sigh of relief as they felt cold air beating against their bodies. "Maybe we could've just opened a window?" Luce suggested before looking back at Nello, who was still in the car. "Nello?"
Nero gave a quizzical look to Nello, leaning in to his window as he finally left the car. Nello's face wore a look of concern as he looked down at his hands. "Hey... uh... I don't think this is normal."
"What isn't normal?" Nero asked, leaning in to look at whatever Nello was looking towards before noticing that boils had begun forming on Nello's palms. "W-How the hell?"
Nello began suddenly screaming, the boiling growing rapidly across his finger before blowing up into a cascade of blood straight into his eyes, falling right back into his car seat. An audible hissing could be heard as he burned his hand in response, jumping out of the car and falling into the grass off-road.
Immediately, everyone had the same thought. They were under attack.