| Dark Heart By Mommints and Adriana |
| ~*~ Chapter 7 ~*~ Rome If she was lucky, Adriana maybe got three hours sleep before being rudely awakened and reminded about leaving early for their trip to Rome. Tatianna was like a drill sergeant, marching her sister into the bathroom, helping her with the toiletries, and getting her dressed in record time. Through it all, Adriana stumbled through it until they were out of the room and into the lobby, meeting up with Cynthia and Greta who were as eager to leave as Tatianna. They quickly grabbed a bite to eat for breakfast and when Adriana complained about being rushed, Greta explained driving to Rome would take about seven hours, and that’s why they were eating on the run. Then they took a short trip to the mainland to a waiting rental car, a silver Audi and with Cynthia at the wheel, they left and began their adventure to Rome. For the first few hours of the trip, Adriana dozed in the back seat while the other girls quietly talked amongst themselves. They talked about the fun they had last night at Harry’s Bar and Greta declared she thought they would be seeing Marcovaldo and Sebstiano again, confiding they had given her their phone numbers. Tatianna thought to herself about Marcovaldo’s warning about Luciano being a vampire and she was quiet until they reached their first rest stop. It was the small village of San Gimignano, set in the Tuscan countryside; a sleepy little town that looked like it belonged in a fairy tale. They inconspicuously ran into a restaurant called Le Vecchie Mura to use the facilities and when Tatianna and Adriana were freshening up in the ladies room, she decided to approach the subject very carefully. “So Tata, what’s going on with you and Luciano?” She asked, combing out a few tangles from her hair. Adriana came around to the sink next to her and started washing her hands. “What do you mean?” “Oh, I don’t know. I’m just guessing at the way you two were dancing last night and how serious this seems to be, I’d say there’s certainly something going on.” “We care for one another, if that’s what you mean.” “Oh come on, Tata. I saw the way he was looking at you last night. Girl, it looked like he was going to eat you alive.” Adriana laughed as she dried her hands. “Casper, you were just seeing things. Luciano has treated me with respect and I know he loves me. He’s told me so several times.” “That’s my point. How can a man you’ve just met profess his love for you unless he wants something?” Tatianna stepped closer to Adriana as her eyes narrowed on an assumption. “You’re going to have sex with him, aren’t you?” “What business is it of yours if I do or not?” Adriana exclaimed, a little more than unnerved that her sister guessed so accurately. And a little more than afraid she would try and talk her out of it. “I’m an adult, capable of making adult decisions. And if I choose to make love to Luciano, than it’s my choice and something I’ll have to live with, not you.” “Tata, I have to warn you about something, about Luciano.” And before her sister could argue further, Tatianna quickly told her of what Marcovaldo had said the night before. “Don’t you think it strange that so far, you’ve only seen him at night, that he declines every invitation to see you during the day? And isn’t it weird that he hasn’t given you his phone number, how odd is it that he knows when you’re in the room at the villa? And how come you know so little about him?” “You’re making this up. I see nothing wrong with Luciano, or when we have our dates. And as for his phone number, well I haven’t asked for it yet.” “I wish I were but the more I see him and what he does with you, the more I become convinced that Marcovaldo was right. Luciano Peverite is a vampire.” Adriana shook her head in denial and started to walk out of the restroom. “Tatianna, I love you because you’re my sister and one of my best friends. I know you say these things because you love me too but listen to yourself. Luciano is no more a vampire than I am the Queen of England.” “What would it take to convince you I’m right?” Tatianna called out after her. “What proof do you need?” Adriana stopped in the doorway and looked back at her sister with a loving but sad look in her eyes. “I don’t need any proof, all the validation I need is within my heart. Let this go, Casper. Chalk it up to Marcovaldo trying to impress a pretty young girl with some town folklore. Vampires don’t exist.” “Then I will prove it to you, somehow.” Tatianna whispered as she watched Adriana walk out the door. She sighed and leaned against the sink, sadly realizing that she had approached the subject as carefully as a rampaging bull in a china shop. For the rest of the trip, Tatianna and Adriana didn’t talk, a rare occurrence noted by Greta and Cynthia. The two girls had no idea the emotional turmoil the sisters were in since their talk hours ago and as the day progressed, it seemed to get worse. Tatianna was deep in thought, planning on calling Marcovaldo as soon as they returned to Venice and seek out the evidence she needed to convince her stubborn sister about her new boyfriend. Adriana, while she would never admit it, was also thinking about the points Tatianna had brought up about Luciano, never seeing him in the daylight and unable to contact him. Feeling a little insecure in her new relationship, she began to think that perhaps Tatianna was right about one thing, Luciano was indeed odd in the way he contacted her. But nothing would convince her that Luciano would ever harm her. ~*~ They arrived in Rome a little past three o’clock and the first thing they did was check in with their tour guide, a young American named Dennis to see if he still had their reservation for the day. Dennis lived in Rome for over twenty years and promised them a day to remember and the girls were excited since he came so highly recommended by the staff at the villa. They started out being driven to Piazza della Repubblica, where the fountain and piazza itself were built atop the perimeter of Emperor Diocletian's baths, Quirinale Palace, former seat of the Pope, then the royal palace, now home to the President. They drove past the Roman Forum and Colisseum but were disappointed when Dennis said they couldn’t stop, instead he cheered them up when they arrived at Aventine Hill - one of the seven hills of Rome, considered the most beautiful by modern Romans, because of its exquisite homes and gardens. They got out of the car to see the Orange Garden, with its breathtaking view of the city and, since the season was right, the nearby Municipal Rose Garden. Adriana was enchanted with the sea of roses before her and when she bent down to inhale the delicate perfume of one, she swore she felt Luciano’s voice soar through her head as he called her name. She was startled for a moment and couldn’t cover her gasp of surprise, for it felt like he was standing right beside her and quickly recovered her composure. But not quickly enough to escape the keen eyes of Tatianna. They got back in the car and Dennis then took them to past Circus Maximus, driving alongside the former arena Baths of Caracalla and down an unforgettable road lined with Rome's famous umbrella pines. The girls looked right over the ancient walls into the health clubs where imperial Romans spent a great part of their days, then past Santa Maria in Cosmedin and the Mouth of Truth. He then surprised them with a twist in the driving itinerary and suggested them to stretch their legs a bit, and walk across the oldest bridge in the city, the Ponte Fabricio built in 62 BC. They strolled to the fascinating Tiber Island, then across the Ponte Cestio (also built in the 1st century AD) to one of the most picturesque - and truly unknown - squares in Rome. They walked a few minutes through the lower, more mystical, part of Trastevere and meet up with the driver again. Then they continued onward for the grand finale of the tour, the Janiculum Hill, where they stopped to view the entire caput mundi and had a little fun identifying the many, many church domes of Rome. Dennis was amazed and pleased at how much Adriana knew about the city and she quietly confessed, besides visiting Venice, Rome had always been another favorite spot of hers to visit. All too soon, the exhausted girls were dropped back off to the original spot where they had met Dennis and said their farewells, thanking him for a wonderful trip. The topic of driving back came up and Adriana quickly found she was the only one wanting to return to Venice, the other girls wanted to stay one night in Rome and drive back the next day. “I don’t see why we can’t drive back now, it’s only five o’clock. So we’d get back sometime tomorrow morning.” Adriana pointed out. “My friend, you didn’t drive up here and may not drive home but I don’t think Cynthia relishes the idea of driving in the dark and getting lost trying to get back to our villa. Staying one night isn’t going to hurt anything.” Greta explained and the other two girls agreed. As Tatianna and Cynthia talked with each other on where to stay, Greta went over and put a comforting arm around Adriana’s shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking. You wanted to be back tonight so you could see Luciano again.” Adriana nodded her head. “Is it that obvious?” “Only to your best friend, it is. If he loves you the way I think he does, missing you for one night isn’t going to kill him. Besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder and if you think he’s crazy for you now, wait until you talk to him tomorrow.” “I guess your right.” Adriana sighed her acceptance. “So what now?” The girls quickly huddled together and after looking over some maps and directions, they decided to stay at the Hotel Raphael, centered between the Colosseum, the Borghese Gardens, the Pantheon and behind the river Tiber. They booked two rooms, luckily enough to provide them with private terraces and a spectacular panorama of the ancient city. Then they made reservations at the hotel restaurant, Relais Picasso, and then went to their rooms to freshen up, enjoying the fruit basket and a welcome drink on arrival. At first Tatianna and Adriana had little to say to each other, and Adriana walked out onto the terrace, gazing out over the city but not really seeing it. In her mind’s eye, she saw the face of Luciano and felt a strange pull on her heart. “You miss him, don’t you.” Tatianna observed as she too stepped out onto the terrace. “Please Casper, I’m not in the mood for any more silly talk about Luciano being a vampire.” “I wasn’t going to say anything like that. I was just thinking that I envy you, that’s all.” Adriana looked at her sister in surprise. “Envy me, why?” Tatianna joined her and leaned on her arms over the railing. “Because I think you may have found something that most of us will never get a chance to have, let alone feel.” “And what’s that?” “True love.” Tatianna took a sip of her drink. “Listen, I’m sorry for what I said earlier today. I don’t know what got into me and uh, maybe I said a few things I shouldn’t have. Ok?” “You don’t have to apologize, I understand although I always thought the big sister looked out for the little sister.” Adriana joked. Tatianna suddenly grabbed her sister’s hand and held onto it in a fierce grip. “Just do me this favor?” “Casper, what are you....” “Promise me you’ll be careful with this guy?” “What are you talking about? You’re scaring me.” Adriana exclaimed. Tatianna squeezed a little tighter. “Promise me you’ll be careful. What I said earlier may have been over the top but I can’t get rid of this feeling that he....he may...” “Go on, say it.” Whispered Adriana fearfully. “He may hurt you.” Tatianna whispered back. “He would never hurt me.” “But how do you know that?” Tatianna cried. “You’ve only known him for two days. All I’m saying is just go a little slower with this one, ok? We still have another week in Venice, take your time with him and please, don’t rush anything.” Seeing her sister’s distress was made Adriana upset and she quickly agreed only to calm her down and placate her fears. They embraced each other, hugging and crying as Adriana whispered that she promised nothing would happen. And she couldn’t help but say a quick prayer herself in the hopes that all of Tatianna’s fears would be unfounded. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dark Heart - Chapter 8 |