Mani, 1910
Andreas Laskaris, a descendant of the well-known Laskaris family and great-grandson of Theophano, lives in London as a member of the aristocratic society of the time.
Recently married and happy, he decides to travel back to his birthplace to sell the old family tower, which he has inherited.
However, upon arriving at the ancestral tower, a strange feeling overwhelms him, and that very night he experiences his first vision. A young woman gives him a prophecy, asking him to break the curse and free their family line. The woman in his vision is Theophano.
Andreas Laskaris wakes up deeply affected by what he saw and heard. He cancels the sale of the tower and begins his search to interpret and solve the riddle he was given.
By him, we are led to the beginning of the story...
The Beginning of the Story
Mani, 1710
Mani is living under Venetian rule.
The Venetian governor of the region, Silvio Esposito, and his wife Renata live in the Laskaris Tower, with Nikitas Laskaris (great-grandfather of Michael Laskaris) by their side, serving as their military advisor. The Esposito family have the respect of the local community by being just and generous with the Maniots.
The patriarch of the Gerakaris family is Mitros Gerakaris (great-grandfather of Spilios Gerakaris), who owns a tavern with prostitutes and leads a gang that preys upon the region. However, he remains untouchable by the Venetians due to his influence over the locals.
At the Laskaris Tower, everyone is preparing for the arrival of the new Rector, Giuseppe Montigliani, and his wife Pandora.
The arrival of the strict Rector will coincide with the mysterious murders of poor girls, which have unsettled the local community. The locals are stirred, believing something demonic is among them, and Giuseppe decides to go to any lengths to uncover the girls' killer.
A curse and a gift are born, just as the enmity between the Laskaris and Gerakaris families begins regarding who will be in charge of the coveted Captaincy...