CHAPTER 19 (ALIYANA)
Deno leaves the library and I take a moment to admire the place, the long bookshelves, the thousands of books, the brown ladder that is polished, looking brand new and not withered by the signs of time. My fingers touch the leather couch, as I scour the area, wondering what it was like to be her, Bernice Antonella DeMarco.
My eyes stop at the portrait and I stare at her, black eyes, hair pinned up with loose curls hanging from the side. Her face is painted like it was porcelain, her dress flashy and her lips stained red. I am not sure how long I stand here, admiring or critiquing the artist's impression of the woman who remained in these walls since the day she died, but I sense a connection to her.
A need to belong, and to Elladio she did, whether she was the love of his life or the prisoner in his Manor.
“Leonardo, Fillipo, and Deno are leaving tonight.” My sister's voice cracks through my haze.
“Judging by the yelling we heard, I’m not surprised.” I finally turn to see my sister, looking sad. I frown, “Is everything good with you? Leonardo is not going forever Guilia.”
“You and him should have been together, not me. I am not the strong-willed woman he thinks I am, but you are, and when you around it feels so awkward knowing that you wanted him for so long.” She looks at the portrait wiping away a tear and I have nothing that is going to make her feel better.
“You are not playing fair Guilia, Leonardo and you are getting married, any feelings I had for him are dead. I don’t want you to hide your feelings for him when I am around. I want to know that the two of you are happy. We spoke about this last night, I thought we were over it.”
“It’s not that simple,” Her hazel eyes glisten with unshed tears and for the first time, I see the damage my silence has caused my fiery sister.
I take her cold fingers, and hold them in my own, stepping closer to her, “It is as simple as breathing. You love him.”
“I do. First, I thought it was just me accepting our marriage, but Liya, when he looks at me, I fall harder for him. But I don’t think Leonardo feels the same.
I mean he likes me and thinks I’m beautiful as he said so many times before but he still looks at other women when he thinks I am not watching and gets calls from girls at college.”
My dread is a hard pill to swallow when I stare into her hopeful gaze, that is begging me to tell her different. I should, I could. I’m certain I can find the perfect words to convince her of his undying love. But even I am not that cruel to the ones I love.
She is right, Leonardo will not be faithful but like Bernice maybe they can make it work. It isn’t like they have a choice. An arranged marriage in the Mafia is until death.
“His feelings might change over time. He might fall deeply in love with you, or he might just love you. But Guilia, in our world love is a luxury, unreciprocated or not. Once you are married you will have babies, and those babies will be the love of your life. At least you love him. Imagine having sex with a guy you don’t love, or with a big belly,” I smile as she laughs.
“You are right, how did you get so wise so quickly.” She asks and my hands leave her as the reasons how I became so wise flash through my mind.
“I see you too are getting all cozy,” Camilla walks in with a glass of wine in her hand. She seems a bit off, maybe too much to drink?
“You know, if you want my opinion, you should cut your losses and accept that Leonardo would never love you, you are a shiny new toy, meant to stay on a shelf and get dusted every once in a while. Trust
me. He has had more gum than any of his brothers combined, and I’m talking after he got your daddy to agree to sell you off,” Camilla says as she walks into the library.
“Gum?” Guilia asks and Camilla laughs, “Sex sweetheart. I’m talking about the big S. It’s a metaphor. No wonder he chose you over your sister, Aliyana has too much spine for a man like him.”
“I’m going to bed,” I say to my sister not allowing Camilla to rile me up for the third time.
“You should stay Aliyana, and take my advice, it will be vital information for one day when you marry your, not so shiny prince.”
"I have never met you in my life before this weekend, so I fail to see how your opinion in the matter of something that is none of your business is so vital that I should stop and listen."
"You sound like a jealous lover," Camilla states as her heels click toward my sister and I. It is after 11 at night and she is still dressed as if she was attending a business meeting, in a black pencil dress that hugs all her curves. Is that what Marco likes? If he does then I am glad I am not the one stuck with him. That could never be me.
“Or maybe you are just an unhappy one. Is the big ole Marco Catelli not doing it for you.” I am actually curious to know the answer to that one.
“No, I am certain you sound like a jealous lover, though I fail to see why. Since you are the only single one here. Still, harboring feelings for your sister’s man Aliyana? Or are you one of those little girls with daddy issues and hoping to snag yourself a man way too old for you? A taken man.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.