"Who are you?"
I posed my question while gripping the door handle with all my strength. As I waited for a response my skin began to crawl, I just knew this woman was scrutinizing me even though the darkness. I could feel her gaze stabbing at me like ice cold jagged daggers. Still, I stood my ground. I pulled the door open more than I already had in an attempt to see something, but all I could see of her were the glowing embers of her cigarette floating in the darkness. The room was silent for a long while before she spoke again.
"But Caro, should you stay, and behave yourself, my Alessandro will see that you want for nothing. Yours would be the life of a Princess, a life several women in the past years have been attempting to wrangle literally for centuries. They have plied him with lavish gifts and impossible deeds ... those silly women flocked after my son like lap dogs at their master's heels, but in all this time you Nicolette are the only woman who captured his heart."
A light illuminated her corner of the room as she finished speaking. I had not heard the click. I did not want to hear anything but her enchanting voice, now more warm and inviting than it had been just moments before. Now that the light was on, I heard nothing. I could only look at her in awe as my eyes travelled from the top of her flame read hair, to her swan's neck ... I had never seen a more perfect bosom, admittedly, though my own breasts were nothing to sneeze at, I was more than envious of hers. My eyes followed every perfect line her body made right down to her bone white pumps which seemed to glitter in the light. I had never had any tendencies towards women before, but looking at this woman, I was utterly enamored.
"P-please ... tell me who you are Signora ..."
"Nicolette, my name is Paola Andalina Rossi, but Amore, you may call me Mother."
I stood staring at her for a bit before I opened the door wider. I took a step out into the hallway. She said nothing, nor did she move from her seat. Paola simply took another long drag on her cigarette as she watched me through narrowed eyes. My heart slammed into my rib cage as I made the decision to run. I stole a quick glance down each end of the hall. Finding it empty I turned my back to Paola ...
"Nicolette, this is your life now, this family ... you cannot run from us ..."
Her voice had gone cold again. I could hear her emotion get the best of her as she strained to keep her composure. I turned my head to look at her; I was not sure if I was attempting to see if she was coming after me or if I was regretting the fact that I would not be able to look at her longer. Her jade eyes burned into my not nearly as spectacular chocolate eyes.
"Thanks for the advice Signora Rossi, but I am afraid I really must go ... give my regards to your son per favor ..."
With that I broke into a full run as I exited the room. I heard her call after me, but I did not hear any indication that she was giving chase. The house was huge ... more like a castle than a family home. Its dΓ©cor was beautiful and belied that I was even in the same century much less the same country I had been stolen from. I twisted and turned down the wide hallways, past closed doors never running into anyone along the way. But in the event that I did, I was prepared; I grabbed a huge gilded candle stick before I set out to find the entrance to the palatial home.
Soon I began to smell something sweet, I could not place the fragrance right away, but as I drew closer I recognized the smell as roses, but there was something else, something I did not remember ever smelling. As I turned the corner I found myself standing in the largest foyer I had ever seen. The lights were turned down low in the area and there was no noise at all save the ticking of a clock somewhere in the room. A huge antiquated marble table stood in the center of the vestibule which held a large vase full of at least two dozen of the reddest roses I had ever seen, surrounded by an unbroken circle of pristine calla lilies. It had been the calla lilies I smelled before. I wanted so much to stop and delight in the fragrance of each one, but there was little time. I heard the click of heels on the stone floor. They were not close, but I knew the longer I lingered the more danger I put myself in.
The massive wooden front doors stared back at me like the tops to treasure chests. A thick wooden plank barred the doors against intrusion. I knew the primitive locking agent did its job all too well when I tried to lift it. It would not budge. The sounds of her footsteps drew closer still ... soon they became muffled as she entered the carpet lined hallway leading to the foyer, leading to me. I knew she was there with me before I saw her. She said nothing as I tried desperately to move the huge post preventing my escape. After about five minutes of trying to force it up and away from the doors I pounded the door with my fists as I cried, finally giving up slumping to the floor in defeat.
"Nicolette, the locking mechanism is automated. There is a code that raises and lowers the bar." She said kneeling in front of me. My hair spilled down over my eyes as I sobbed. She moved it back behind my ear as if we were the best of friends.
"See, Caro, the key pad is just there ..." She said, pointing up to a gilded square on the wall next to the door.
For the first time I noticed that it was not just a piece of art, but it was a housing unit for, like she said, a key pad. I looked at her through teary eyes, but even my tears did not mar her beauty. She took me by the arms as she pulled me up in front of the key pad. Her dainty fingers flipped open the little gold door revealing a pad not unlike the number pad on a phone.
"You are intent on escaping your life Nicolette ... I cannot stop you. We all must make our own mistakes in order to learn. The code is *667543*. But Darling, do not forget if you do this, like I said before, there will be consequences. Few have crossed my son without incurring his wrath. Alessandro can be relentless and ever creative when it comes to discipline."
My fingers flew across the key pad as she admonished me to stay. I scarcely heard a word she had spoken after she gave me the code to unlock the door. I was free, that is all that mattered. When you are in a bustling metropolis, Europe is fairly easy to circumvent. One can always find a helpful person more than willing to assist a lost American find the train station or airport. And in this city even easier so as it was situated on the coast, so I thought. Once I was off the Rossi property, past their massive iron gates, all I had to do is make my way to the beach and follow it until I reached the top of what I hoped to be the entrance to the city center.