04

CLEOPATRA

I opened my eyes with a loud gasp and sat up. It was a dream. My eyes were wet with tears. I held my neck.

“Are you okay?" The voice asked again. I trailed the sound of the voice and I saw that it was Valentine. I nodded. He picked the cup next to my table and filled it up with water.

He stretched it to me. My heart skipped a beat.

He nudged with a slight curl of his lips, "You were having a bad dream.”

I swallowed hard before taking the glass from his hands. A cold thrill rushed through my body when my fingers slightly touched his.

"Thank you,” I dropped the glass on the table.

His eyes fixed on me. He wouldn't look away. I was uncomfortable. From my peripheral vision, I caught his hands stretching towards my face. I jolted backwards far from his reach.

He squeezed his fist and retracted his hands.

"Valentine, thank you,”I said when he was saying nothing else.

I pushed my legs off from beneath the duvet.

"My Aunt and Nephew will be waiting for me. I have to go,” my voice fell soft in a plea.

"You can't leave this room,” He snapped.

My breath picked its pace. I was wary but I tried to look calm.

“Why?"

He said no words but turned his back against me.

“Why can't I leave?" I asked, my voice cracked with unshed tears.

I fell on my knees. I was doomed. And I asked that one question at the tip of my tongue.

“Do you work for him?"

His muscles went rigid. I became scared. I ran back into him.

“Please, don't take me to him. It was my uncle. I didn't do anything. Please…" I pleaded.

Tears poured down my face.

Valentine didn't utter a word. He walked out of the room.

I fell back on my butts. My guts twisted with fear. My fist folded in a ball and I hit the floor repeatedly crying bitterly.

He didn't return for the rest of the day. I wondered if he was going to bring him to me. My chest raced with fear.

The next morning when I heard the door click open, I jumped down from the bed and picked the glass cup on the table.

It was an older woman with peppered hair. She had a tray filled with steaming tea and omelette and toasted bread.

She placed it on the table. She bowed slightly and began to leave. Again, she didn't say a word. What's wrong with them all? Why don't they say a word?

"Where is he?” I asked.

She bowed, her eyes lowered to the floor.

"I am not sure about the one you seek,” She said in a deep Italian accent.

"Valentine…”

"Oh, The boss left to attend serious work. He will be back soon “ she left again.

I bit my lip hard and sat on the bed. It seemed like she was trying to run from answering more questions.

My stomach had grumbled noisily. I pinched my stomach tightly and spoke harshly, "Why do you have to act cranky now? I don't want food. I need my freedom,” I let out my frustration on my grumbling stomach. I placed the glass cup back on the table and laid back on the bed. I forced myself to sleep.

At dusk, I heard the door open again. The older lady walked in with a tray of food. She gasped when she saw the untouched meal. She dropped the one she came in with and took out the other one.

I laid back on the bed, crying myself to sleep.

The sun rose high in the sky. I woke up feeling an ache throbbing my forehead. Things swirled around me when I stood on my feet and I fell back on the bed. The meal was still sitting on the table. I ignored it and also the incessant grumbling of my stomach. I took my bath and changed into the clothes I found in the closet. It was an oversized shirt. I wore it over the shorts I also found there. I rolled the waist band multiple times to make it fit my waist.

The older lady returned. Again, she exchanged the tray.

Without uttering a word she left.

This continued for three days. I kept feeling tired and drained. My eyes were heavy each morning I woke up.

On the fourth day, the door kicked open. This time it wasn't the older lady. It was a man.

He had a smile that stretched wide into his eyes. He had the tray. He walked in.

“Hola," He placed the tray on the table.

The semblance was there. He looked just like Valentine. His eyes were a swirl of golden brown irises just like Valentine's. His chest was well built and his abs rippled through the two piece suit he wore.

“I took the leverage of bringing breakfast to you. Gracias," He bowed, wearing that smile.

“I don't need it," I snapped and laid back on the bed.

I heard him chuckle. He was walking around the room.

“How do you wish to be alive then?"

I didn't reply to him. His steps soon stopped ringing in the room.

I turned around to see him holding a knife. He raised it high and ran his fingers through the blade of the knife. My throat bobbed.

“W…. Who… are you?" I stuttered, a feeling of deja Vu struck me. He reminded me of my captor.

“Why are you here?" He asked rather, drawing close to me.

“I… I.. I…" I cowered gently.

“He sent you right? You are a spy that needs to be eliminated.”

"A spy? No… no I'm not,” I shook my head, my throat constricted.

"Do you think I believe that, huh?” He held my wrist. His hands crunched the bones around my wrist.

"Please. Please, don't kill me. I am not a spy,” I pleaded.

He grabbed my hair and tossed my head backwards. He placed the knife over my neck.

"Don Rossini is an old lousy man with loose plans. Say hello to the devil when you get to hell,” He whispered into my ear, the hair at the back of my neck rose high. He pressed the sharp blade over my neck.

"Rossetti?!”

His hands froze at a spot. He reduced his grip around my hair. I was able to see Valentine standing at the door.

"Let her go.” He barked.

"No. She should be dead for a long time. Why haven't you killed her?” The man behind me said through his teeth.

Valentine's jaw clenched. He walked in fully into the room.

"We have to talk, Rossetti. Let her go..” he said again.

"You will have to kill her, Valentine with your hands.”

Valentine moved his eyes away from the big man behind me. His gaze was warm and I saw something flicker through his eyes. Something softer than how hard he looks.

"Fine,” He accepted. "If we find her guilty of your claims, I will kill her.”

Rossetti withdrew his hand holding the knife and pushed me to the bed.

He casted one dark glare at me and left with Valentine. I let out a dry cough.

My heart palpitated. My stomach churns.