| Dark Heart By Mommints and Adriana |
| ~*~ Chapter 2 ~*~ Later that night Pensione Accademia-Villa Maravegie In the quaint villa, surrounded by antiques and family heirlooms, Adriana sat on the edge of the bed in their room and patiently waited for her younger sister Tatiana to finish getting dressed. They had dinner reservations for the hotel’s posh restaurant later on and didn’t want to be late. “Casper, are you done yet?” She called out, using the favorite childhood nickname. “It’s say in the brochure that they suggest not only to make dinner reservations in advance but if your late, you may lose your time and have to wait another hour or so until they can get your party in.” Tatiana stuck her head out from the bathroom and frowned at her sister. “I wish you wouldn’t use that name, Tata. It’s so....so childish.” “Childish? What would you prefer then, pest? Brat?” Adriana called out since Tatianna had disappeared back into the room. “Did anyone ever tell you you’re funny? Because your not!” The sound of the hair dryer drowned out any response so Adriana got up, being bored and walked over to floor to ceiling length windows that held a view of the canal and idly watched a gondola glide by, its occupants a couple sharing a romantic ride through the moon lit night. She sighed over the romantic picture she saw, her heart aching with wonder when she would be riding that gondola with her beloved. Adriana turned back inside and saw some of Tatiana’s open suitcases near one corner of the room, suddenly intrigued with the make-up bag and it contents. Her eyes widened with surprise then annoyance when she saw the bottle of her favorite perfume tucked away in the one corner. “CASPER! Who said you could borrower my Tommy H perfume? You never asked me.” Tatiana walked out and swept her long hair up over her head, indicating for Adriana to zip up the back of her black dress. “Oh please, don’t be angry. A woman has to smell nice, especially when she’s going out and even more so if she happens to be vacationing in Italy. Need to smell pretty for all those nice, young Italian men.” Adiana pulled up the zipper and laughed. “A woman, eh? Is that what you are now? Well come along my wise woman of the world, our friends are waiting for us in the lobby and I don’t want to be late. Remember, after dinner, we need to get to the Grand Canal and catch a gondola to the Casino Municipal.” The two young ladies rushed out of their room and met up with Tatiana’s friends from high school in the lobby, Cynthia and Greta then they walked to the hotel’s restaurant for a delicious dinner. Afterwards, they hired a gondolier to navigate through the many canals until they came to the Casino, a three story building ablaze with lights and laughter and went inside, to watch some of the gambling and perhaps play a few games of their own. Adriana was relaxed and laughing, enjoying the time spent with her sister and friends, her dark chocolate colored eyes sparkling with delight. They walked through the crowded room, taking in the sights of the other patrons and sometimes stopping to watch a game of chance being played. At one point, she decided to sit down on some chairs nearby a roulette wheel, her feet aching a little from her new sandals and it was near everyone else, who were all engrossed watching a man lose a substantial amount of money to the spin of the wheel. Adriana pushed back some of her shoulder length hair and tucked some silky red strands behind one ear, watching the game and getting a little bored. She crossed her legs in an effect to relieve some of the ache she felt from too much walking and let her foot slip out of the sandal slightly. Suddenly the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood up and for unexplained reason, she felt a shiver of fear and excitement race through her body, her heart contracting and missing a beat. Someone was watching her. ~*~ Bianca and Luciano arrived at the Casino a little past eight o’clock and they stopped in the doorway, waiting for the owner to come over and acknowledge their arrival. Luciano was dressed in a black Armani tuxedo, looking dark, dangerous and extremely attractive as he escorted Bianca on his arm. His hair had been pulled back into a long queue and his eyes glittered like obsidian as he surveyed the crowded room. Bianca was dressing in a pale ice blue evening gown by Prada, her pale blond hair swept up and pinned into a crown, with a multitude of curls cascading down and giving her a soft, delicate look. Both of their faces were slightly flushed from their recent feedings and Bianca was still inwardly reeling in shock from the casual comment Luciano had stated before they entered the building. “I can’t believe you just told me that.” She angrily whispered although she pasted a pleasant smile on her face, for the owner had just spotted them and was rushing over to greet them. “Why? Because it’s the truth, a true indication of the beast I’ve become?” Luciano whispered back. “Because you snapped the poor man’s neck. Ah mio dio (oh my God), you’ve never done that before, you used to leave your victims alive.” “I’ve given you fair warning, darling Bianca, the winds of change are blowing and I find myself.....enjoying the breeze. Now be a good girl and smile for Signore Ignazio.” Before Bianca could sputter a protest, the owner arrived by their side and clasped her hand, placing a light kiss on her knuckle and bowing formally at the waist. “Ah, Signore Peverite and Signora de La Vionda, two of my most favorite patrons. Welcome to my humble establishment.” Ignazio beamed with pleasure. Luciano nodded his head in greeting but let Bianca carry on the necessities of conversation, he was more interested in something that had alerted his senses. Wordlessly and Bianca thought rudely, he left her side and walked away from Ignazio who was still talking, around through the gaming tables, his eyes searching through the crowd for the source of his interest. Luciano came to some of the tables near the back of the room, his soul racing with an excitement and anticipation he hadn’t felt in years. There was a girl sitting near one of the gaming tables and there was something about her he couldn’t quite figure but needed to validate his feelings, almost becoming obsessed with seeing her face. A shoe that had been dangling from one petite and well manicured foot abruptly dropped to the carpeted floor and Luciano moved with the speed of thought, snatching it before it hit the ground. Adriana gasped in surprise, for one moment she was sitting alone, the next moment the most handsome man she had ever seen was kneeling by her feet. His smile was almost blinding in its brilliance and he was holding her shoe in a silent request to place it back on her foot. Feeling like Cinderella with her Prince Charming, Adriana mutely nodded and held her breath, as those strong hands skillfully slid the shoe over her foot, gently cupping the back of it to ensure a comfortable fit. Those wonderful hands lingered on her ankle, feeling oddly cold but exhilarating and sensual. Her breath came in short gasps as she looked at her prince, who was still kneeling on the floor and she could almost feel herself getting lost in the dark depths of his eyes. “ Grazie (thank you).” She managed to say, surprised she could remember some of the more basic Italian language. “Il vostro benvenuto. (Your welcome)” His voice washed over her like a warm, sensual tidal wave. He stood up, his towering height surprising Adriana and said something rapidly in Italian. She shook her head and smiled. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re saying.” “Ah, Americano.” He smiled again, and then did something extraordinary considering the circumstances of having just met. He extended a hand in a silent invitation. “My name is Signore Luciano Peverite. Come with me, mio unforgotten il cuore (my unforgotten heart) and allow me show you around.” “My name is Adriana Guzman.” She said as she rose up from the chair, powerless to stop herself, unable to ignore the silent unspoken appeal in his eyes and took his hand, unconsciously flinching when their skin touched. She felt a shock wave that seared a pathway to her soul, and her eyes widened in surprise when he placed a light kiss on her knuckles. Her knees threatened to buckle. Like a barely remembered song in her heart, Adriana looked at her new friend as it kept repeating itself in her mind, like the fluttering of a moth’s wing. “I know him, I know him, I know him.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dark Heart - Chapter 3 |