51.
“I am not to be imprisoned here.”
Vlad Tepes looked at the so named guardian of his. “I am ……”
“A dead man if you are seen
outside.” Chorbaji Tarmuk snapped out in anger. The argument took place in the
library of the house that Vlad and his family took refuge. “You are kept here
for a reason; that is to keep you alive. When the news of yours had dwindled or
died down, we will find ways of relocating you to a place of obscurity from the
identity of Vlad Tepes, the Impaler.”
“How long?” Vlad snarked. He took a
drink of the dark red wine that he fancied. “I have been imprisoned by ……”
“What are you drinking?” Chorbaji
asked.
“Sangiovese; red Italian
wine grape variety that derives its name from the Latin Sanguis
Jovis, "blood of Jupiter". Traditionally powerful and slow
maturing red wines.”
“Your taste for …... wine …… is
exquisite.” Chorbaji Tarmuk said. “I still prefer our Rize Tea, any day.”
“To one man, it is poison but the
other, it’s a pleasure to drink.” Vlad Tepes said. “I wished I have the former
so that I can end my life.”
“For your safety and your family, I
will suggest you deny yourself that.” Chorbaji told him. “There is much that
Vlad Tepes can look to in his later years; a family and ……… perhaps riches.”
“Chorbaji Tarmuk, I will presume
you are without a family. Your ……”
“I am devoid of one. My lover died
young with our child. Since then, I have not gotten myself another lover. My
love is my command.” Chorbaji Tarmuk cut in. Seldom does he talk of his past to
anyone.
“Chorbaji Tarmuk, you heard ……. Or
knew of my atrocities of killing and the impalement of my enemies, had you …….”
“The acts of war held many …….
Events that others may see as gruesome but to those who were there, it was the
needed act then to stop further events.” Chorbaji Tarmuk cut in. “We are
soldiers and not sinners to ask for forgiveness.”
“Let me explain further. During my
tenure with Radu; he was the learned one. He related to the exploits of the
Mongol. Blood was a big deal in Mongolian history; blood has elicited terror
throughout human existence. The same can surprisingly be for the Mongols. They
believed the spilling of blood onto the ground when killing or being killed,
the dead will not exist in their version of an afterlife. Its ancestry ended;
in an essence become nothing. If royal blood was spilled, the belief was that
it would precede terrible natural disasters.
“That was my fascination with it
and the subsequent acts of mine was for it. I believed that the dead and
whoever living fear me.” Vlad Tepes took a sip of the wine. The red wine left
their stains at his lips; leaving the impression of blood there.
“We have information that your
presence may be known. We may have to move you.” Chorbaji Tarmuk moved to
change the subject.
“Any news on Lady Justina?” Vlad
asked. It was then his other lover walked in.
“Nothing that I was told of.”
Chorbaji held his words back when he saw the lady there.
“Vlad, you should send words to
her. She may be …… glad that you are alive.” Katherina looked at Vlad. “You do
not want her to wait like I did.”
“That is a separate matter here.”
Vlad shrugged off the request. “I am here with my family…… my real family. The
matter is closed.”
“Chorbaji, tell me of the others
who may know of my presence here. I will not ……” Vlad Tepes looked at the
Ottoman commander.
“Do nothing. Your safety is assured
while we are protecting you. Do not act rashly.” Chorbaji Tarmuk excused
himself and the lovers were left there.
“You could had sent words, Vlad.”
Katherina pressed on.
“Lady Justina is a lady who knew of
her lovers who served in the war. She will accept the sad news of my demise
well.”
“But you are dead. She deserved to
know.” Katherina looked at Vlad. “If I were her, I ………”
“I am dead to the Wallachians, the
Hungarians, and who else out there?” Vlad defended his inaction. “Now I am just
the descendant of Tepes and no more Voivode or the fearsome Impaler though I
still hold the name Vlad.”
“You said it but you cannot
disassociate from your past. Who are those who seeks your head?” Katharina
asked. “On your previous misdeeds or …… the Empress Jewels? Give it to them and
we can leave your past behind.”
“I am ……. What you mentioned will
not resolve my past. I am now an ordinary person, and thanks to Chorbaji Tarmuk,
he will protect me.” Vlad Tepes turned to look at his lover. A part of him
wants to give up on the jewels; if it was still in his custodian, and another
part of him was to challenge those who wants to kill him. He felt the urge in
the second, the endless killings in most of his lifetime rallied in his mind,
but he knew that his body was wrecked by age and the complacent living there.
“I hoped he does. I am to be with
our children now. There I may find solace.” Katherina stepped away. Vlad looked
at the wine in his glass.
“To death takes us on, we will then
part.”
Solace was what Lord Dante Montague
sought but he got disturbing news. He was seated in the library listening to
the words of his informant.
“Prince Escalus is in Genoa and
joined up with Count Paris,” Abram reported to the lord. “I was told that the
Impaler is in Genoa.”
“Then Genoa will not be sheltered
from the harsh winds of conflicts.” Lord Dante Montague sighed. He looked to
the drawer where he had placed the case given to him by Vlad Tepes. Somehow, he
felt that the case brought him calamities to his family. His family was in
disarray soon after the ball that was staged for his daughter, they told her she
was dressed in the vixen red dress and was courted by the devil, and from
there, his friend, Mercutio, was killed, and the calling of by the other devil
to meet him.
“I never knew him.” Lord Dante
Montague muttered to himself.
“Pardon me, my lord.” Abram still
standing there.
“No, I was talking to myself. Tell
me more, Abram.”
“There is the other news of Romeo.
He was seen but they lost his trail when trying to catch him. He seems to be
helped by others in the city. A lady was seen with him but it was not Juliet.
She was here. His father, Lord Gencio Capulet is also looking for him. And one
other news; Benvolio Capulet is missing.”
“A mere coincidence here or related
…… Benvolio is a good friend, despite him being a Capulet. He was with Tybalt
and the others.” Lord Dante Montague looked at Abram. “Are we involved here?”
“Not that I know. He may be
Capulet, but we hold no grudge with him.” Abram shook his head. “Maybe, some
other enemies of him had a bite on him.”
“What’s of the one named Andre
Bassanio Tito?” Lor Dante Montague asked.
“Nothing. We are not involved.”
Abram looked at the lord. “Did I miss anything here? I am to see Shylock Judas
on some matter soon and can ……...”
“No…… I was just asking.” Lord
Dante Montague then dismissed the guard. He looked to the drawer and wondered
if the content there will resolve the conflict with his daughter.
Confusion reigned later in the home
of the Judas when Jessica confronted the parents of her love.
“I want to marry Lorenzo.” Jessica
looked at her parent. “We shared our vow. "Harey at mekuddeshet li
b'taba'at zo k'dat Moshe v'Israel." These words translate to
"Behold, thou art consecrated unto me with this ring according to the law
of Moses and of Israel."
“I deny you that,” Shylock said out
loud. “I have enough troubles to contend with other than your silly notion of
being wedded to the bastard son of Capulet.”
“I love him. And he towards me”
Jessica snapped back. “Why can we not be wedded?”
“He is not of our faith.” Leah cut
in. “You have to marry one of our own.”
“Lorenzo told me he is. His mother
was Jew, and so was his father. He was given the name Karl Levi Tov but when
his mother …… no, it was his relative who named him Lorenzo when she was with
Lord Gencio Capulet.” Jessica said. “He is every much the man of our faith.”
“He …… Wait, did you say, a man of
our faith?” Leah looked at Jessica. “How would …… Did you see? Oh, Yahweh, tell
me I am wrong.”
“We took the vow of intimacy. I
love him.” Jessica uttered it.
“Oh……” Leah looked at Shylock. “Did
she …….”
“I do not care. I will have you
wedded soon.” Shylock was upset. Jessica had betrayed their family values.
“Jessica, may I …….” It was Abram
who appeared there. “I was outside and heard your conversation. I did not ……”
“Abram, will you ignore what was
spoken? She was delirious then. I will have her ……. do the ‘ketubah’ with you.” Shylock looked to
the man who was twice the age of Jessica.
“Abram, I am Lorenzo’s …. No, his
name is Karl Levi Tov. I am his ‘isha’ now.” Jessica looked from Abram and then
Shylock. “Stop me, and you can recite this; Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh
ha'olam dayan ha'emet. (Translated: Blessed are You, Adonai Our God, Ruler of
the Universe, the True Judge).
“You are mad, Jessica.” Shylock
cried out. “I …….”
“Jessica, what was his name?” Abram
asked.
“Karl Levi Tov. He was raised by
his relative named …….”
“Wendy Mencies. Rachel Mencies is
the sister.” Abram uttered the name. “She was my ‘isha’. He was …… Karl is my
son.”
“Jessica Judas, you are to follow
us to the Magistrate Court now.” An officer of the Magistrate Court arrived at
the door. The officer was with three others in uniform.
“And to what was the reason?” Leah
rushed forth to ask.
“The lady was reported to be seen
with the felon Romeo Capulet. We need her to explain this at the Court.” The
officer explained. He saw his entry was blocked by Abram.
“Sir, please refrain from
obstructing us.” The officer looked at the man there. “We …….”
“Stand aside, Abram. I will go with
them to the Court.” Jessica intervened on the stand-off.
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