Unforeseen

Chapter IX

Dinner was not what I had expected either, not that I let my guard down, but it did seem to pass by in a blur. Surprisingly everyone had been courteous and in good spirits. At first, I was quite insulted that they didn't bring up the incident and try to give sympathy on the matter. But the more I looked at the bigger picture the more I came to the conclusion it was probably for the best that they hadn't brought any of it up. Everything seemed so normal, just a plain old fashion family dinner with no controversies, no talk about money, politics, or guns, which I had expected to hear at least one of those topics.

The food and drinks were served in the grand dining room. The table was of such a scale that it could seat all of the members of the family and more. It was a comfort to see that even after every family member had been served their food they waited until Lorenzo, Alberto and a few of the other hands around the house took their place at the table to take part in the dinner prayer before eating.

The good conversation rolled over from the dining room and into the sitting room where more drinks, cigars, and desserts were passed around. It was at this time that the ladies of the house began to leave the small gathering while the men hung around and continued their conversations. As for Nicholas and I, we had not yet finished ours so we politely excused ourselves and headed back down to the library to wrap up the evening. 

"So, where were we?" Nicholas asked, lighting a cigar while having a seat on the couch.

"You ended with dropping me off at the hospital and keeping tabs on me," I said while pouringmyself a glass of water.

Nicholas began puffing smoke into the air but not before sighing loudly at the turn in the conversation. "Ahh, yes, that's right. Honestly, that's about the end of the story, I mean you know what happened next not me."

"Well, I guess the only thing I have left, that I am curious about, is if you've heard from my mother or father. The last time I spoke to my parents or even saw either one was the night I told them..."

Walking over to the couch I noticed Nicholas putting out his cigar. His eyes were focused on the ash tray as he continued to drive it hard into the dish, grinding off the remaining tip.

A little confused by his action I asked, "Didn't you just light that when we came down here?"

"Yes, I suppose I got bored of it already," he said while pushing himself up off the couch to begin pacing the floor. "The last time I heard from your father was probably the night he called." Nicholas pressed hard against his temple, no doubt recalling the memory. "He didn't speak to me, at the time of the call. Father was at the desk tying upsome loose ends and received the message. I don't have to explain to you how angry my family was to hear the news, as I had told you before. They felt they had given your family a very good opportunity and that you spat in their faces. You know as well as I do that my relatives do not like feeling disrespected in any way, and this was what they took that as."

Pausing for a moment he went uneasily to the mini bar on the other side of the library and poured himself a drink. 

Irritated and weary I rose from the couch with my temper getting the best of me. "I am tired of your drawn-out conversations. Have you heard fromeither of them or not, it's a simple question that only requires a simple answer!" 

 Twisting around he stared at me from across the room. His eyes were wide and his mouth was ina grim position. The anger on his face was so direct he looked as if he would spit on me. "How's this for your simple answer? Your father is dead, we all have to pay a price, and no one gets out free of charge. Your father knew what he would have to do when he made the call. Sacrifice his life for yours if you were to live. He is lucky that was good enough for my family because they were out for more than just his blood, out for the secured future they were promised to have and could no longer. So, they took his life and spared yours, a future for a future I suppose you could see it as."

Trembling through clenched teeth, I managed to say, "You're lucky I don't have a gun on me sir orthose would've been the last words you ever spoke."

"Oh please!" he said, practically laughing out loud. "Do you honestly think you'd kill me and get out of this house alive, or even get away with it, what goes through your head girl?"

"I have nothing else worth living for. If I was killed after taking your life it would be an honor to know that I accomplished the true end of my journey and could leave this world peacefully with no unfinished business." The coldness of my toneechoed throughout the library sending shivers down my spine until I was unrecognizable to myself. 

 "My God, you are crazy, hearing you say these things even in anger piques my interest to wonder what you would've been like if you had joined my family," he said.

"If I would've joined your family the way it was meant to be, I would've been nothing like you. It's because of what you did that has turned me into the person standing in front of you now. You and your family destroyed every piece of me, and all I can hope is that what comes around goes around." My words left Nicholas silently watching me with a gapping mouth.

Turning on one heel I started for the staircase before my temper got the best of me and I usedwhatever was closest as a weapon. 

"There is one more thing you should know," he said, staring down at the alcohol inside his glass. 

I could feel myself snap inside thinking he was just trying to get another rise out of me. "Oh, and what's that Nicholas?"

"After your father was killed your mother didn't recover. Even though she was far away from here it was too much for her to bear, losing you and him in such a short amount of time. Not long after her arrival back to your homeland word reached us that she had killed herself, unable to cope with all the pain that surrounded her of losing the last two loves of her life." 

"Oh..." I said slowly walking off, choking back tears as my throat continued to swell. "Is that all..."

Reaching the front door, I found Alberto waiting on the porch. "I'll take you home Abriana you've had a long day, and it's time you get some rest."

"Thank you but I am going to walk tonight," I said between sniffles. Walking past him and down the front steps. 

I could hear Alberto's footsteps from behind,chasing me down the stairs. "Come now Abriana, where are your senses? It's late and dark and no buses are running at this time!"

 "I want to be alone!" And this was the truth, it was all I could think about. I wanted nothing more than to be completely alone.

"I know you do dear, you can be alone in the back seat, the storm is coming," Alberto said while guiding me into the back of the car.

 Pulling away from the front porch I took one last look at the Manchini house, up in the window I spotted Nicholas watching me as Alberto pulled the car away.