“Buongiorno, madre! Come stai?”<br/><br/>A young man advanced into the living room of a three bedroom apartment dressed in civilian clothing. He had a<a class="postlink" href="http://oi61.tinypic.com/2namk4i.jpg">dark grey blazer</a>on him, worn over a dark bluish-purple buttoned-up shirt and dark grey trousers of the same material and color of the blazer. He looked at the clock and took note of the time – 0200. The flat of decent structure was located in a safe and beautiful neighborhood in the Italian community district.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Bene, grazie Fabiano.”</span>A woman in her late forties responded, putting a bible face-down on her lap and she took her eyeglasses off to rub her sleepy grey eyes.<span style="font-style: italic">"Mhm"</span>She picked up a half-emptied cup of Chai-tea and took a large sip.<br/><br/>A warm smile touched the young man's lips and he headed to the kitchen neighboring the living room. He picked up the bag of groceries that he dropped by the kitchen upon his arrival forty-five minutes ago, and placed the contents into the refrigerator. His fingers entwined with one another as he made his way back in the living-room. He looked at his mother with brown eyes and a playful smile formed on his lips.<span style="font-style: italic">“Perché ti sei alzato così presto?” </span><br/><br/>The soldier asked his mother why she has gotten up so early but from the look on his mother's face, he knew that she was understandably anxious once again. Nightmares had kept her awake for most of the nights since Germany invaded Poland. Fabiano had returned from war in November deeply injured psychologically and emotionally. His invisible wounds though had faded away in the past couple of days. He still has not figured out what exactly happened prior to waking up in<span style="font-style: italic">that</span>one building couple of nights before. He felt much better than he had in his life, but he could not recover his memories concerning what exactly took place that night. He was also not sure if he could trust Officer Wojcik with whatever information she laid between his hands.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">"Your partner abandoned you. Officer Erlind Kohler. You've suffered a concussion resulting in memory loss. I had come to understood you had worked together for a long time... Was he your assigning officer?" </span></span><br/><br/>He thought about bringing this issue up with Officer Kohler, but something within him told him not to, that if anything he should believe whatever Officer Wojcik trusted him with. At least she was there for him during moments of need, and he believed that he did not thank her enough.<br/><br/>Fabiano's eyes locked on his mother. He doubted that her insomnia and nightmares simply came out of nowhere. His mother clearly told him one day that she was afraid to lose him in battle, and for nothing. She did not approve of the cruelties of the Nazi system and she strongly believed that her son was risking his life for a brainwashed, blinded faith in an evil, mentally-challenged Leader.<br/><br/>The woman got up on her bare feet and walked closer to her younger son. She deeply sighed and shook her head, taking Fabiano's right hand between both her smooth warm palms.<span style="font-style: italic">“O Gesù, perdona le nostre colpe, preservaci dal fuoco dell'inferno, porta in cielo tutte le anime, specialmente le più bisognose della vostra misericordia. Amen[1].”</span>She touched her son's brow, his heart and then his shoulders left and right.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Amen...”</span>The young man whispered and shifted his orbs to his deceased father's portrait that he hang the year before in a prominent place on one of the walls in the living-room.<span style="font-style: italic">“Buonanotte e sogni d'oro, madre!" </span><br/><br/>__________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Master, hot water is ready to use. Your clothes for tomorrow are prepared; hats brushed, collars cleaned, trousers folded and your vests and coats in the wardrobe covered in linen wrappers.” </span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“You do not have to repeat yourself every damn night, Benesh.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“My apologies. Is there anything else that you would like me to do before I head to bed?” </span><br/><br/>Erlind looked away from the window and walked over to his desk.<span style="font-style: italic">“Over here Benesh. I need you to do one more thing for me tonight. You may take a day off tomorrow if you wish. By the way, congratulation on your newborn.”</span>He opened one of the drawers and pulled out a piece of paper, a bottle of ink and a box of envelopes. His left hand picked up the quill and he began to write. Once done, he placed the letter inside a white envelope and added a touch of distinction to it. Fetching for a signet ring inside the same drawer, he pressed it with traditional blue wax made of powdered cobalt glass to the center of the envelope. If one was to look closer, one would see an emblem engraved into the wax.  The heraldic motif featured a Wolfsangel design. Circling the emblem was his full name.<br/><br/>The Butler advanced closer to Erlind and accepted the envelope into his hand. After he was given directions to his destination, the older man began to walk away.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Benesh, wait.” <br/><br/>“Yes Master?”<br/><br/>“In all these years I never asked you ... How ... did you lose your immortality, your powers?”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Ah, I did not lose it, I gave it away by repenting for my existence and swearing faith to the Lord. I believe that was enough, Ashmedei.”</span>The once Djinni smirked and lowered his head, exiting the residence with his delivery.<br/><br/><br/>__________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/><br/>Fabiano inhaled into the winter breeze. It was the perfect night for a walk and for someone who planned not to sleep the night away. An immense task he was to carry in the morning alongside the Oberleutnant and he felt as if this could be an opportunity for him to reach a higher knowledge and a much higher rank in the future. He had devoted all his life to serve Germany and he knew that one day, he will probably not live long enough to see his children or grandchildren if lucky enough to even get to the point of forming a family. Today he was trusted with important matters. He thought about Yvonne as he walked past a pub and then realized that the military base was only at a fifteen minutes walk.<span style="font-style: italic">Maybe I could pay her a visit!</span>He thought, but quickly he changed his mind, reluctant to proceed with his newly-formed plans. Just thinking about her glares the day before was uncomfortable enough. He felt intimidated by the woman. Then there was the fact that he was to keep his mouth shut about the secret operation. If the woman was not aware of the task at hand, perhaps he had a solid explanation to why she nay not have been informed. After all, this was a matter of national security.<br/><br/>Uncertain and questionable thoughts spread into the man's brain, plaguing his confidence as he continued to think about the female Officer. She was of a much higher rank, but he still could not comprehend how she easily made him say things to the Colonel that he did not feel like sharing. Last but not least, there was this atypical personality about the woman; and an unusual energy surrounding her. Alas, it was still something he could not resist, as if mind-controlled the entire time she was present. In his life, and through fire and flames, he never believed to have lost control over himself the way he did when she ordered him around.<br/><br/>His lips quivered momentarily and he smiled to himself, voicing his thoughts.<span style="font-style: italic">"... Although it was interesting, alluring."</span>He decided not trust his instincts for once and then changed his direction once again. He headed towards the base.<span style="font-style: italic">“I know this is going to be a bad idea... but consider it a test of your patience, soldier.”</span>He muttered and advanced towards the barracks when he noticed the lights were still on, and not any lights. Inside one of the second floor windows - counting three from the right - the movements of a shadowy form gently lifted and dropped the curtains.<br/><br/>Fabiano removed his winter coat and rushed inside the building. He almost bumped into a man in black who hurried past him down the hallway. Squinting his eyes, the young man titled his head in curiosity, surprised to see the same man knocking at Yvonne's door. After a while, he slipped what he thought was a document, or maybe an envelope under the door before walking away. Unaffected by the events, the Italian male cleared his throat and moved closer to the female Officer's apartment. He bit the corner of his bottom lip and arched a soft brow, realizing just how awkward and ridiculous the situation was. Why would anyone with a sane mind want to visit people at three in the morning and for no excuse or reason whatsoever.<br/><br/>He turned around on his heels, and attempted to change his mind again.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>------<br/><br/><dl class="codebox"><dt>"Translation[1" | <a href="javascript: void(0);" onclick="var spoiler = this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('dd')[0]; if ( spoiler.style.display == 'none' ) { spoiler.style.display = 'block'; this.innerHTML = '-'; } else { spoiler.style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '+'; };">+</a></dt><dd style="display: none;">"O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls into heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.</dd></dl><br/><br/><dl class="codebox"><dt>''Erlind's letter to Yvonne'' | <a href="javascript: void(0);" onclick="var spoiler = this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('dd')[0]; if ( spoiler.style.display == 'none' ) { spoiler.style.display = 'block'; this.innerHTML = '-'; } else { spoiler.style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '+'; };">+</a></dt><dd style="display: none;">Officer Yvonne Wójcik,<br/><br/>It is of a high importance that you keep the contents of this message to yourself.<br/>Like poison, curiosity is as harmful to the people who drink it as to those<br/>around it, dear. The world is small, and news travel fast.<br/><br/>With all due respect, Officer Wójcik, you can stay the hell out of my business<br/>or meet me tomorrow at 1800 at the address below, to discuss more<br/>serious matters. Fortunately for us, we may be able to make certain<br/>pleasant arrangements for this cause.<br/><br/>The Glyptothek Museum<br/>Königsplatz, 80333 München<br/><br/><br/>And come alone. <br/><br/>Kind regards,<br/>E.K</dd></dl>