A/N: So it's finally here, the first chapter to my newest story, Vir Amator. I promise that this story will be fabulous!

I woke up eager, an unusual thing for me, but today was different.

My boss was coming home from war! It had been nearly four years since he left, and now he was supposed to be coming back! When he left I was merely nine cycles old, so now being fifteen and on the brink of manhood I could show off to him all my skills. I was so happy, yet I had to hide it from the bastard, he would only hurt me. I knew because a fortune-teller said so.

"Your love will bring grief, unimaginable pain. I cannot see if it will end with happiness..."

Her words would haunt me, then I would remember my Boss' own promise.

"I will come back alive and well, do not worry Lovi~ I'd rather see you smile."

I was elated, dressing in a frenzy, diving into the chaos of the kitchen, where a lavish feast was being prepared in his honor. I worked as quickly as I could, scouring pots, and making the pasta dishes, drizzling some in olive sauce, and some in tomato sauce.

A handmaid grabbed my sleeve, yanking me away from the dish I had been adding more garlic to. "His men approach." she hissed in my ear.

I grinned, following her down to the courtyard, running to the gates, and past the guards. They didn't try to stop us, they only chuckled to see that it was I racing along to greet him first.

Something wasn't right. "Why aren't they riding faster?" I asked, pausing.

The handmaid slowed, and I finally got a look at her. It was Laurel, her pretty long brown braid swinging as she came to a stop, frowning. "Maybe they are weary?" she suggested.

I was still doubtful, but I accepted the reason nonetheless. It did make sense. They had all just now come back after the war was won. But since they were victorious... shouldn't they look happier? I voiced my concern, and Laurel nodded, frowning and beginning to jog.

I ran past her, convincing myself that something was really wrong.

When I reached the closest horse I called to the man. "Where is Master Carriedo?" I panted, out of breath.

The man shook his head, and I felt my body go cold.

"No..." I whispered, the sound slithering out of my mouth.

Laurel grabbed onto me, dragging me back to the castle, arriving there before the horses.

Her Ladyship was running out to meet them, stopping to stare at the sombre procession. Then she noticed my stunned look, and she guessed.

"No!" she shrieked, grabbing one of the knights assigned to protect him.

"Lady... he died..." the man whispered. However, the courtyard was dead silent, so it carried.

Shrieks and wails rang up, servants dropped to the ground, moaning as if they had been wounded, and were dying in his place.

My vision went blurry, and I panicked, thinking that a mage spy had come and blinded me. But no... I was crying. I hadn't ever told him that I loved him, nor had I done anything to suggest that I might have feelings for him... but the fortune-teller's words had come to pass. And Antonio had broken his promise.

I added in my wail of sorrow, crying out a lament so terribly beautiful that many servants stopped to stare mournfully at me.

Our Kingdom was that of the voice, Stonus. Even though I was not born here I still had the loveliest voice. I was originally from the Kingdom of Aegritudines, the land known to be haunted by banshees. My mother's mother had been a banshee, while her husband was half banshee. My father's mother had been half banshee, and his father had been human, so my wail was rather powerful, as well as my songs.

That's what I had done for him... I sang to him, love songs, titter songs, sorrowful songs... everything. Who would I sing for now?

Suddenly my wail changed, higher and louder, a siren that screamed over the countryside, causing whomever heard to stop and drop to their knees, sobbing and covering their ears to make the pain stop. It was the wail of a banshee, a bonded banshee at that. They only wailed when their most prized loved family member was killed, or believed dead.

I couldn't stop my scream, and finally I heard someone come up behind me, striking my head. I blacked out, my wail faltering before cutting off.

OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX OXOXOXO

My body was as heavy as a cow, each limb taking the strength of ten men to lift it. I laid in bed like that, curled up tightly, for seven days, sobbing. Antonio Fernadez-Carriedo was dead and gone from me... forever. His stupid-ass grin would never cheer up my day again, nor would his kind words.

After my seven days of mourning, Laurel came to me.

"L-Lovino?" she shook, reaching for me.

"No." I said quietly, easing away from her touch, she began to cry, the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Lovino... th-the queen has s-summoned you to see h-her..." she murmured, kneeling down so she could see into my face.

I stiffened. I knew that Antonio was the only reason I was allowed to stay here. He was the only one who knew I could sing at all, everyone else thought all I was good for was getting rid of this or that vase/pot/whatever! I was always breaking things. I never meant to... I just wanted to be graceful for him, so that a beauty wouldn't catch his eye.

I swung my feet to the floor, using Laurel to steady myself, her sparkling eyes were still suspiciously shiny, but she hid her tears well. "Take me to her." I said, taking her hand.

She nodded, gently leading me along the cold and barren corridors. Guards were seemingly randomly placed about the palace, no one really cared. The heavy mahogany doors swung open before I could touch them. The usually bright receiving room was shrouded in grays and black, even the scones seemed dim, with no jewels to send sparkles everywhere. The queen herself was wearing shrouds. Black lace veil, and a dress adorned with opals and black silks, gray accents making her look lovely even in mourning. Her face was gaunt, and she clutched a filthy handkerchief, one smeared with black face paste.

She glared down at me.

I bowed, "You summoned me your Highness?" I knew what she wanted.

"Yes," she said stiffly, "why are you still here?" she asked.

"Lord has yet to dismiss me." I replied.

I felt the room go dead, everyone inside wasn't even bothering to try to not listen to us. They stared at me in shock.

I heard footsteps, and looked up. The queen was marching towards me, anger in the angry swish of her skirts, and the lines in her face. She raised her hand, and slapped me clear across the face, leaving a stinging welt from her many rings.

I stumbled back in shock, my eyes wide. She was right in front of me, spitting mad.

"Don't. You. Dare! EVER mention my Antonio ever again!" she shrieked. Her hand came down again, striking the same cheek, forcing me to stumble back another few steps. "Leave! Leave this palace!"

I turned, running from her. Screw the rules. I ran straight to my room and began throwing things in a bag. I was crying softly, the tears not enough to blur my vision. I heard Laurel hurry in the room behind me, her breath gasping.

"Don't even say anything. Go back to work. Leave me alone Laurel!" I sobbed, pushing her shaking fingers away.

She grabbed me, spinning my body to face her livid face. "I'm going with you, some of my family is in town today, so we can skip out of the city by nightfall with them." her tone left no room for argument so I didn't offer any.

I finished throwing my stuff in the bag and followed her out into the hallway. No one tried to stop us as we left. A guard even bowed his head and deliberately looked away as we came down the hallway.

Laurel made a quick trip to her quarters to grab some of her things, then telling her mother where she was going and why. Her mother merely nodded, bowing her head to me as we left.

The weather should have been pouring rain, it should have thunder and lightning streaking the sky, not the big poofy white clouds that drowsily crept across the sky. I glared at the cheery colors, pulling my cloak up and stealing a horse, making sure to remove any proof that it was a royal horse. Laurel hopped up behind me, and we sped off.

Within the hour we had reached the outskirts of the town, and Laurel directed me to the line of gypsy caravans on the west side, a party in full swing.

She grinned as she was greeted by two little children as soon as she jumped down.

"Auntie! Guess what I finally managed to work today!" one of them cried, holding up a small wooden toy. I glared at the child, hissing into Laurel's ear.

"I would rather find a place to stay and then sleep for a bit, not be patronized by pathetic brats!" I knew my words would get action.

She frowned at my words but shrugged them off, grabbing one of them up into her arms. "Where's O'Baba?" she asked, snuggling into the child's neck.

"O'Baba? She's slumped in her caravan like usual, taking in the fortune-seekers." the little boy on the ground answered, pouting that he wasn't being held, and briefly looking at me as if I would hold him.

"Thank you Henry." Laurel smiled, putting down the girl and twirling over to a shabby caravan with a long line of people coming from it. Her smile grew bigger, then soured. "You know you're going to have to work for your place here don't you? I can teach you a few things, but mostly you'll have to come up with an act of your own."

My smile was more of a grimace, "I can sing can't I?"

She frowned, but led me into the little space despite the protests of 'cutters' by the people in line to which Laurel growled at them to move.

O'Baba was a wrinkled old woman sitting in a brown shawl-dress thing. It had a jewel-incrusted hood that was pulled up over her leathery face, and even though her eyes were blind, her mind was sharp and her head turned to us when we entered. "Laurel and Lovino, it has been a while Granddaughter, Lovino can bunk with me if he wants until he can make friends and bunk with someone else."

O'Baba was also a psychic. She knew everything.

I gave a humorless laugh. "Thank you ma'am."

Laurel bowed deeply, "Thank you O'Baba, he will find work with us soon, of that I am certain."

"A singer? Banshee? Laurel you know how dangerous it is."

Laurel didn't seem to notice that they were both TALKING ABOUT ME AS IF I WASN'T THERE! "Of course he will train for a while before he actually performs, but isn't that the reason why most people do things? Because it is dangerous?"

O'Baba grinned a near-toothless grin, a raspy laugh slithering out. "Very well, he can help me with the rest of today's customers. You Lovino-"

I cut her off, a little irritated, "Romano."

"Romano." she apologized, smiling, "You can manage the money I believe?" she asked, gesturing to a sack overflowing with gold and silver crowns.

My mouth gaped open, and I nodded.

"Each fortune, depending on what the seeker wishes to be told is a different cost. A normal fortune, is two copper crowns and a silver crown. Anything more and I shall tell you. I usually forget however to ask for the payment, so you will do that for me."

I nodded, agreeing to the job. Sit and watch an old woman talk to people and count money all day? How could it get easier?

O'Baba continued talking to her customer and finished up, "That'll be two silver crowns miss." the woman blanched, but handed me the money.

I grinned, biting one and tossing it in the bag in my lap. "Should I ask before or after you do your task?" I asked her, a finger tracing one of the coins.

"After. I don't know what they need until it's over." the old woman replied, sitting back and waiting for the next person to come in.

I nodded, looking down in my lap. This maybe wouldn't be so terrible...

Antonio... why did you leave me and break your promise?

A/N: You can't hate me just yet, like I said, it'll be fabulous. Alright, Laurel is an OC of mine for the country Genovia, ya know from the Princess Diaries? Anyway, I imagined that when she was younger and less refined she ran as wild as a gypsy, so they're joining a caravan.

Why is Spain's mother so evil everywhereI read her? Even I make her evil, I don't get it. Oh well, I hope you enjoyed, now please review!