Hidden Door

"Listen, remember who you are. You are Antonio Merkses Allidae of the great house Allidae. It's most important that you take your sister and go!"

"But mom she's just an infant! What am I supposed to do with an infant?!"

"You're 10 years old now Tony; a man now, it's time you take responsibility and I believe you will figure it out. Now go! There isn't much time left!"

Tony wrapped his baby sister in a blanket and with tears in his eyes headed towards the hidden door. He looked back to see his mother, Lady Elaine, trying so hard to keep it together as she watched her children go through the secret passageway. This was the only way to guarantee their safety and legacy would carry on. As soon as Tony got into the passageway, he heard his mother say one last thing, "And remember, it is most important that you tell no one who you really are, not even your sister. When it's finally safe you can return home with her and then she can know but until then, it is of utmost importance that you don't. The other families want your father's head and until we can smooth things out, this is the best way," and Lady Elaine closed and locked the hidden door behind them.

"Keep from my sister? Tell her when it's safe to return home? Why does it feel like we won't be able to come home for a while? This is just going to be temporary right?" As Tony thought to himself there was a heaviness in his heart that made him believe that maybe he won't be able to return home with his sister after all. His mother was right, he is a man now and it is up to him to figure out how to keep himself and his sister safe.