Per Sempre Medici, page 50
She had lost track of the days and was wondering if she’d ever see home again, when, one night, Giada entered her suite and told her master said it was time for her to return home. Giada started packing up her things. Dona was both elated and afraid. She knew Mario and Marie had both been killed, and she could only hope it had been done quickly, but knowing Soren that was probably too much to hope for. Rodrigo had told her he’d send Giada and Tarleton back with her. She didn’t know them well. They had been helpful to her here, but she’d grown up with Mario and Marie, she’d known them all her life. Dona helped to gather her few things to take back to her villa when Tarleton entered her suite as well. She decided not to ask about Rodrigo, thinking, perhaps, she could leave without having to say goodbye when he appeared at her door.
Walking inside, he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his face burrowing into her neck. "Do not fret, my pet. Giada and Tarleton have been given their instructions. You will see me soon, for I will not be able to be separated from you long."
Spinning her in his arms, he kissed her long and hard, a moan escaping his throat. Breaking the kiss, he looked into her eyes, "You are mine, my pet, all mine." He gave her no chance to respond and walked out of the room.
Giada ordered Tarleton to carry the bags downstairs. "Come along, mistress, there is no time to dally, master wishes you to be gone."
Dona was all too happy to comply. Rodrigo had left as quickly as he’d come, and she didn’t even have time to answer him. She looked around the room one last time, her richly appointed prison cell, and was eager to be gone. "Of course, I am ready."
She followed Tarleton; still not sure she could navigate the labyrinth of hallways to the front entrance. He loaded her things into the trunk while the driver held the door open for her and she climbed into the back seat. She sighed with relief, and then Giada slid into the seat next to her, as Tarleton sat up front next to the driver. Dona was hoping she wouldn’t need to keep up a conversation on the trip home. She feigned a yawn, and laid her head back on the seat, closing her eyes. The ride back was a quiet one.
She did manage to drift in and out of a light sleep as she listened to the light banter between the servants and the driver. After the three-hour drive, they pulled up in front of her villa. She woke when the car stopped, and she looked at the refurbished facade. A lump formed in her throat as she thought about the horrors that had probably taken place inside. The driver opened her door and she stepped out, followed by Giada. Tarleton gathered her few bags from the trunk, and they walked to the main door as the driver pulled away. Dona entered the access code to the house, and she heard the door unlatch. She pushed it open and stepped into a nightmare. It was clear there had been a struggle from the start, as there was furniture over-turned in the foyer. Dona held her hand over her mouth as she followed the trail of destruction into the parlor and saw the blood splatter on the walls and furniture, and the large pool of dried blood on the rug. She didn’t know which of her servants met their end here. There were charred bones in the fireplace, topped with a single skull, where Soren had clearly disposed of both of their bodies. Dona wanted to cry but was well aware both Giada and Tarleton were standing right behind her. "I need to have this cleaned up. The bones removed and buried in the gardens. I don't want to see any evidence of this when you are done."
Tarleton and Giada stood behind her, neither of them disturbed by the sight of the bones stacked in the fireplace. They were used to much worse in their service to the Borgia. Giada stepped forward as Tarleton carried the bags to the upper level. "Pay no mind, mistress, we know how to clean up such things. Go to your suite, rest, and when you wake, all will be back to normal. Tarleton and I will see to our rooms. Go on, to bed with you."
Dona nodded, fighting back her tears when she turned and left Giada to take care of the mess. She headed up the stairs and into her room, again discovering signs of a struggle and the rope suspended from the ceiling, the over-turned chair, the blood pooled on the floor beneath it. The sheets on her bed were blood-stained and in complete disarray, but there was a clear indentation, a perfect outline of Soren, where he had lain, stretched out, to watch her die. It was clear now to Dona, that it was Mario's blood she’d seen downstairs and Marie's blood that was here in her bedroom. She felt dizzy, reaching out to steady herself on the dresser, and noticed the dead flowers in the vase filled with dark, clotted blood. She looked up at the mirror and saw the message Soren had left to taunt her. She felt her stomach turn and feared she might throw up as Tarleton looked on, seemingly unfazed by the carnage. "I can't stay in this room now."
Tarleton shrugged. "Mistress, it is just blood, nothing that cannot be cleaned and burned. You must understand master wishes you only to have the best. It was obvious these two servants were mediocre in their service to you. You will see a difference now that Giada and I are attending to your needs. It will be cleaned in no time."
Dona couldn’t believe her ears! "I’ll move to another room. Please remove that bedding and burn it as well. I will take the bedroom down the hall."
She couldn’t bear the thought of Soren lying on her bed and wanted anything that had touched him removed from the house. She turned and walked, almost trance-like, to one of the spare bedrooms, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. Marie and Mario had stayed with her when all the other staff had abandoned her, and they had paid for their loyalty with their lives. She leaned her back against the door and silently sobbed, as she listened to the sounds of Giada and Tarleton, working efficiently to clean away all evidence of her butler and her maid ever living here.
Giada had joined Tarleton upstairs and sighed. "Our new mistress is prissy and soft. Soren always makes a mess, usually much worse than this. Strip the room, we will burn it all. Empty the fireplace, throw the contents on the rug and drag it outside, burn it, along with the linens inside her room. Remember what master told us, she is to be watched closely and we are to report everything. He wants to know where she goes, who she sees. I will see to her now, give her a sleeping potion and she will sleep until next sundown."
Giada made her way to the spare bedroom and didn’t knock before entering. She found the mistress sobbing on the bed. "Do not fret, my lady, it is just linens and rugs. These things can be replaced, just as your servants were replaced. I will let master know what was destroyed, and he will see to it promptly. I will fix you a sleeping powder to help you sleep. Get undressed, I will return with it."
Dona was appalled at her callousness. She referred to her servants as if they were things to be replaced, like rugs and linens! Dona sat on the side of the bed, more than happy to take something that would make her sleep so she could escape this nightmare. “Would you bring me a fresh gown, Giada? My clothes are in the other bedroom."
Giada stood with her hands on her hips. "Let me make something clear to you, my lady. I am not here to grant your every wish. If you want something from another room, I expect you to get it yourself. I have to make the potion, so you sleep and do not bother Tarleton and me while we clean up this small hovel you call a home." She huffed and walked out of the room.
Tarleton overheard the conversation, found a nightdress in the dresser, and took it to his new mistress. "Forgive her, mistress, she is angry she is not inside the palace any longer. She feels it is a punishment to be sent away. The Borgia treats us well. We are not used to this abandoned countryside."
Dona was stunned to be spoken to in that manner! Giada had always been so helpful when she’d taken care of her in Rome. It was clear, now, the tables had turned. Dona accepted the gown and went to the bathroom to change her clothes in private. She knew it would do no good to complain to Rodrigo about Giada's behavior. Rodrigo had made it clear they 'had their instructions’. She had no doubt her every move would be relayed to him daily. She returned to the bedroom and pulled down the blankets from the bed. When Giada returned, she handed her a chalice. Dona looked hard at Giada, wondering if the maid was going to poison her, and Dona was startled to find the idea wasn’t unappealing. At least it would be an escape. She drank down the potion without question, almost hoping she’d never wake again.
77
Henri had returned home earlier than expected and found Amelie wasn’t at the chateau. He knew his mate had always been a social butterfly, but she seemed to be away more frequently. He’d heard rumors Amelie had been seen in Florence, but he knew the Medici were on lockdown until this mess with the Borgia blew over, so he couldn’t imagine she’d take that risk to visit their daughter. Besides, Amelie had never been one to disobey.
Henri summoned his butler, as he changed from his formal dress, and had him bring a Midnight. "Would you by chance know when my mate will be returning?"
The butler handed him the goblet. "She should be home soon, master. Your grandson, Henry, is stopping by later tonight. She said she would be home in time to greet him."
Henri grunted. He’d be happy to see his grandson but was still a little miffed with Amelie's absence, and concerned over the rumors. “And did she say where she was going?"
The butler tucked his head, "No, master." He and the rest of the staff knew Lady Amelie made regular visits to Florence, but they keep their secrets, as they had always done, trying hard not to land in the middle of any arguments between the master and the mistress. Henri chugged down the Midnight before heading to the parlor, already feeling out of sorts.
***
Amelie arrived back at Valois chateau, happy to have spent time with Grace and Chantal. It was becoming much harder to schedule her visits since the Borgia and the Medici had stirred up their long-time feud, and her daughter was organizing the development of an orphanage for half-breeds. Her daughter already had a lot on her hands with baby Grace. Amelie was proud of her. She’d watched her daughter blossom with this newfound passion in her life. She enjoyed the visits and was able to spend many hours with the baby, so Chantal was able to go about her business unbothered over the safety and welfare of her child. Amelie quickly made sure the shopping bags containing items she’d purchased for Grace were tucked inside her leather tote. If Henri found out, he’d suspect she was visiting, and that was an argument she wished to avoid. She’d tried to cajole him, but he was stubborn, still refusing to see the importance of what his daughter was accomplishing and refusing to acknowledge the child she and Lorenzo had adopted. Entering the house, she was aware Henri had arrived before her, and tried to make her way upstairs to put away her purchases.
Henri heard her when she came in and summoned her to the parlor. "Amelie? Could you join me, please?"
Stopping halfway up the staircase, she paused. "Oui, one moment, Henri, I am putting away my shopping, I shall be done shortly."
"Now, Amelie. We have things to discuss before Henry's arrival!"
She turned to descend the stairs and took a deep breath. The tone of his voice told her he was in no mood for pushback. She put a smile on her face, and made her way to the parlor, to find him pacing, drink in hand. She carefully placed the tote beside the chair and went to him. "You are home earlier than I expected." She kissed him on each cheek, smiling at him before she returned to the chair. "Is there something wrong, Henri?"
"I can't help but notice you have been away from home more than usual. I have heard rumors." He sipped at the Midnight and watched her response.
Amelie kept her face blank. "Rumors? What rumors do you speak of, Henri?"
Henri eyed the bulging leather tote and found it odd. Amelie was usually carrying multiple shopping bags from high-end designers. She’d never attempted to hide her purchases or had any need to as he’d given her an unlimited budget for shopping. Moving quickly, he snatched up the large leather tote and rifled through it, pulling out article after article of baby clothing. He held up a frilly dress before her eyes. "The rumor that you have been making frequent visits to Florence against my wishes! You are going there to see that bastard child!"
Amelie never expected him to grab her tote. He moved so fast she was caught off guard, and she looked at him with pleading eyes. She couldn’t continue to lie to him, but she wouldn’t back down either. "Oui. But that bastard child you refer to is my grandchild. I will not be kept from seeing my own daughter and granddaughter just because you have decided to abandon them. Henri, she is so beautiful. She is smart and such a joy to my life. How can you deny me this?"
Henri tossed the tote and dress aside. "Chantal will tire of this foolishness. She is bored right now and looking for something to fill her time. This half-breed carries not a drop of my blood, nor a drop of Medici blood. We know nothing of her heritage. She is most likely the daughter of some middle-class mortal female and a warrior, and you want me to treat her like my blood? I am fine with the Council's ruling that the killing of half-breeds is now considered illegal. After all, they did not ask to be born. But I will be damned if I will accept one into my home and claim them as my own! We have two full-blooded royal grandsons, Amelie, and Henry and Christoph will mate someday, and you will have great-grandchildren to occupy your time. I specifically forbade you from visiting, and you ignored my commands. I have never known you to be so headstrong! I want an end to this, Amelie!”
She stood against his torrent of anger and hatred, and it sickened her to think that she, too, had once believed as he did. But Grace and Chantal had shown her something amazing. The half-breeds were beautiful, and there were only slight differences from a full-blooded vampire. "I ignored your commands because I refuse to live the rest of my life without my child, without my own daughter. I love my granddaughter as well. You can’t tell me who to love, Henri.”
She picked up the tote and the delicate baby dresses that were strewn about, and carefully placed them into the tote. "You don’t even know your own daughter, Henri. Oui, she had been lonely since her sons left home. When Grace came into her life, she found a purpose beyond being Queen of Medici. You should be beaming with pride at how much she has accomplished." She took a seat on the settee. "So, you will go to the biggest ball in all of Europe and shame her in front of them all? I never thought I would see the day, Henri when you would abandon something so precious. I refuse to end my visits and I support her in every decision. It is time you understood, I am not going to let her, or the baby, be absent in my life."
Henri gritted his teeth. Amelie had never spoken out against him before. "Of course, I will go to the annual All Covens Ball. If I were absent, everyone would notice. I would do nothing to publicly shame our daughter, but that doesn't mean I have to like it! We have never aired our dirty laundry in public, and I don't plan to start. We have an image we present to our coven, as well as to all covens. I will not have that sullied. In public, I will smile and pretend to be happy with this ridiculous notion of a half-breed grandchild. No one will see there is a rift between me and my daughter...and apparently, with my mate as well! But don't interpret my good nature in public to mean I have changed my position. Clearly, you intend to continue to disobey me and see Chantal and this half-breed against my wishes. If that is the case, then you will travel with a protector. The last fucking thing we need is to have you abducted by the Borgia and used to manipulate our two covens. I can't believe you have taken these risks!"
Amelie stood slowly, facing the man who’d become her life. Their mating had been an arranged one, but she’d grown to love him, follow his every lead and rule. But he’d overstepped when it came to their child, and she was going to stand up to him. "I would risk my life, my fortune, and everything I hold dear for my daughter, and my grandchildren. And I will risk disobeying you as well. You can surround me with an army if you like, but it will never stop me. Our daughter stood up for an innocent child who would have been slaughtered, for the sin of being born. Now, I will stand up for my daughter. Someday, this anger will haunt you, Henri, and you will regret this time you denied your own daughter."
She picked up the tote and walked away from him. Her heart was saddened he couldn’t get past the half-breed child. "I taught her well, Henri, how to be a mother and a queen, and she has surpassed all that I taught. I admire her, respect her, and I only wish I could have been as brave."
Henri slumped down in his chair, drinking another Midnight. He hated to be wrong, but he was starting to wonder if he’d made a mistake. He too missed having Chantal in his life. He had no concern for the half-breed but was second-guessing his decision as to whether he should have banned Chantal from his life. He appeared to be the only one who was suffering from his stubbornness, but his pride wouldn’t let him admit the error of his ways. He emptied the glass. Henry would be here soon, and he and Amelie would both put on a happy front as if this disagreement had never happened.
78
Natalia was sleeping next to him. Even in her sleep, she was aware of Marcello holding her, protecting her. She fed only from him now and ached to have him feed from her, but she knew that would go too far. She could never mate him. There was no way they could hide that. He’d continued to seek out the feeders provided for the vampires, staff, and warriors, who resided inside the Council walls. She never knew when he went, he never mentioned it, and she didn’t ask. He came to her room every morning at sunrise, having turned over his patrol to another warrior. Unlike her, he was a day-walker and could choose to be in the sun, but like her mother, he’d sacrificed the daylight to lie next to the one he loved.
The doors to her suite locked automatically when the doors closed, as they did with each Council member. She had little fear of their discovery. They were discreet, and like herself, all the members of Council were pulled to their death slumber. She was sleeping soundly when she felt the dull ache between her eyes that signaled a vision. She couldn’t control her visions. She had no say over when they’d appear, or what they’d divulge. She frowned in her sleep, as she started to recognize the familiar landscape of Tuscany, as warriors gathered in the hundreds. She felt the tension in the air, as the Medici warriors faced off against the Borgia, and a battle began. Most of the figures in her visions were faceless, much like a dream, but she clearly saw her father and her brother, leading the charge. She became restless in her sleep and moaned softly, as the clash of warriors began, and she saw bodies fall, and the blood soaking the earth. She saw the Borgia brothers, both taking great joy in the carnage, reveling in the blood. She watched the battle unfold as if she were standing in the middle of the battlefield, invisible to all around her. The clanging of swords was so loud she covered her ears in her sleep and shook her head no. She watched as warrior after warrior fell, both Medici and Borgia, until she stood alone on a smoldering field, fires burning around her. She looked around her, and there was no one left standing. She sat bolt upright in her bed, jolted from her death slumber as she screamed out, "Daddy! Lorenzo!"
