Stella (Book One of Dark Souls Series)

Cannoli

*~*
sogno- images, ideas, and emotions that are seen when asleep.
*~*

"Mamma, guarda cosa ho colorato per te!"

"Lo vedo, piccola."

I picked up another white sheet and started coloring.

"La mamma tornera, ok?"

"Ok, mamma."

(Translation: Mamma, look what I've colored for you! I see, sweet girl. Mommy will come back, OK?)

"Estella."

I turned my head, but no one was there.

"Estella, wake up!"

I gasped as I sat straight up. The moment I did, I felt a torturous amount of pain that made me groan in response. There was a loud ringing in my ears that sent a disturbing feeling through my body.

"Take it slow, Estella," a familiar voice scolded me.

When my vision became less hazy, I noticed it was Rose.

I looked around to see that we were in my dressing room.

"Is Gio here?" I asked as I tried to get up. My lower body was screaming at me to stop moving, but I couldn't let him see me like this.

She placed her hands on my shoulders, pushing me down. "No," she answered. "He came and left with a twelve-pack and a dime bag."

I sighed in relief. Those were the days I did not have to worry about him being at the club or at home. I had no idea where he went on the days he decided to drink and drug himself into oblivion.

"Why don't you leave?" she asked me in a tired voice.

I understood why she would be through with me.

"And go where Rose?" I snapped at her tiredly.

"Get a hotel room for now," she answered while throwing her arms in the air. "You make enough tips in one night to cover the expenses for a week. You could live week by week. Luca and I could make your food. If you were away from Giovanni, you would not have to worry about him stealing your cash. You don't have to choose to live this way."

"You know I can't do that," I said in a tone that warned her to stop talking.

And she did.

I hated how she strutted around with her perfect, skinny legs and long, auburn hair. Rose didn't belong here. Her perfect boyfriend, Luca, was a rugby star who owned a yacht. She only worked here because social media glamorized the stripper business, and she didn't even dance.

When I was finally alone, I got ready. I used my makeup to cover the handprint around my neck. When I was done with my head, neck, and stomach concealing, I fixed my hair.

I was secretly grateful to Rose for stitching my head up. If she hadn't, I'd be dead now from the loss of blood.

I checked the time to see that I had about an hour before I went on the morning stage, so I rested on my couch.

My eyes were closed for what felt like ten minutes before I heard Rose's high-pitched voice. "Your guy is in the VIP room."

When I opened my eyes, I noticed that I'd slept the entire day away.

"What the hell, Rose?!" I shouted as I jumped up from the couch. My back and ribs ached so badly that I was kind of grateful to Rose for not waking me up. My pain tolerance has grown after getting this job, but past pain was nothing compared to this. I was almost certain something was broken.