Never Ending

Chapter Fourteen

"Callum? Hello?" I said when he fell silent for a few seconds.

"You remember?" He said, his voice filled with hope and positivity.

"Remember what?" I said, confused.

"N-never mind. I'll try to think of a way to meet with you. I'll call you later." He said.

"Okay."

Then he hangs up. This is getting weird...

I was brought back to reality with a knock on the door.

"V, I brought breakfast." My brother said. I let him come in. He brought me my favorite cereal and a cappuccino and for him, he brought a burrito.

We ate by my bed while we watch something on TV called American Ninja Warrior. I have to be honest; Papa has limited us in watching TV. News and discovery channels are the only ones we can watch and any other channels are strictly prohibited. I know that sounds weird but it had affectively increases our academic skills and given us more time to focus on our studies so my brother and I aren't really complaining.

After the show ends, Callum texted me an address and told me he'll be there.

I convinced Nikolai to come with me to the address that Callum said and pleaded him to help me meet Callum without Benedikt getting suspicious.

"I'll try, but you know I'm not a good actor." He said, downgrading himself.

I roll my eyes and link my arms to his. "You're soon going to handle our family business and enter politics. I think that's good enough."

The thing is if Nikolai would have chosen something else aside from the path that Papa has chosen for him, he would have been an actor or a musician. Growing up, we'd spend time practicing in the music room together. He is skilled with piano and cello while I excel at violin and harp. Sometimes, we'd play something of our own musical or opera for our Nonna. I remember watching Nikolai as he write our own scripts and wouldn't stop until he thinks it's perfect. Sometimes Papa and Mama would watch too and they'd be so proud of us.

Benedikt drove Nikolai and me to the address without any knowledge that I am there to meet someone he's instructed for me to never meet again. As soon as we parked, Benedikt rush outside to open the car door for us. He makes sure that he's always only a foot away from us and not tearing his eyes from us—especially me.

I was so distracted by Benedikt that I hadn't realize that we are in a museum. When I was inside, I almost drop my jaw to the floor. It was a collection of renaissance paintings and statues found from the workshops of different known painters. It was once a private collection but since the owner long died, he wrote to his will that his collection should be showcase for public.

Looking around, Nikolai and I separated to confuse Benedikt even just for a little while. Besides I really hate it when someone's tailing me when I wanted to indulge myself with art. I finished a few rows of paintings when I saw the familiar lady found in Botticelli's workshop. I was a good 3 feet from her and somehow, she never felt closer to me.

"Some historians claim that this particular painting was neither drawn nor painted by Botticelli." I didn't have to look to know whose voice it was. I smiled a half trying not to show too much eccentricities that would make Benedikt think something else. "These portraits are said to be made to be ideals of beauty, needless to say these women aren't real." He continued.