The Art of a Monster

CH. 23November/18/2009

*Major language warning*

"Hey,   you guys made it." Beth said as she and Stela hugged Valeria. Stefano looked up at the sign of the restraunt. It was busy when they walked in so they decided to go to the bar. They ordered some drinks and food. Beth and Stela focused a lot on Stefano when it came to what he did when he was younger and what he does now. Valeria smiled a lot when she saw their reactions to his replies. She could tell that they liked Stefano. She could also tell that Stefano was nervous. Eventually Stefano left the bar after eating to go to the bathroom. He walked in and stared at himself in the mirror. He could see the little bit of sweat on his face.

"Calm down Stefano. You've been with Valeria for several months. If they hated you, they would have gotten rid of you a long time ago." He said as he put a little cold water on his face.

"You don't need to be afraid of them. You pretty much need their approval in order to be with Valeria. Just     be yourself." Stefano said before taking a deep breath. His pep talk was enough to talk to them with even more confidence. He turned a corner to head back to the bar but then he suddenly stopped. He saw someone in a hood drop something in Valeria's drink while they weren't looking. The person then looked away pretending that they were minding their own businesses. The person was trying to drug her.

"Hell no." Stefano whispered under his breath as he started running desperately trying to reach her in time. He knew that Valeria was oblivious to the tablet resting at the bottom of her glass. Nor was Stela and Beth. Time almost stood still and Stefano could hear his heartbeat as Valeria grabbed the glass and brought it closer to her lips. The person in the hood waited eagerly for her to take one sip.

"Don't drink that!" Stefano shouted as he slammed his hand down on the glass, shattering it into pieces piercing his skin. Valeria, Stela, and Beth sat in complete shock and confusion.

"What the hell Stefano!" Beth said clearly annoyed and concerned as Stefano moved his shaking bloody hand off the bar table.

"Why did you do that?! You willingly cut up your hand." Valeria said as she carefully grabbed his wrist to remove the dirty shards. Stefano gritted his teeth as his other shaking hand reached for what was left of the glass. Stela, Valeria, and Beth watched his hand move the shards to the side and grab the tablet. Stela clenched her fists at the sight of the drug.

"Where is that fucker." She said as she gritted her teeth. Stefano looked to see the person in the hood stand up and start to walk away. Without a second thought, Stefano grabbed the person and aggressively held him against the wall. Stela immediately removed the hood to see who the person was.

"Jack you bastard!" Stefano yelled as he slammed him against the wall again and held him there.

"You tried to drug me?!" Valeria yelled furiously as she gritted her teeth to keep her from beating him. Jack looked at her and scoffed.

"Of course I would. What did you expect? You thought I would just let you leave me? You thought I would willingly move on? Think again little bitch-" Jack said before Stefano shut him up as he slammed Jack into the wall and then threw him on the ground.

"Don't call me a little bitch. Get tied up and left for dead in the streets for all I care. I'm not going back to you." Valeria said as she got closer to Stefano's side. Jack stared at her for a moment as he got back up before lunging towards her before Beth pushed him back.

"I have more friends in the opera house than you Valeria. All of them wish that the killer, who is still out there, catches you. They would gladly tie you up and leave you on the midnight streets if you weren't the main character or if you don't take me back." Jack said as Valeria felt her anger and fear grow stronger.