Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 32

 

32.

 

Rosaline sat by the window at her house, looked to the garden there. She was admiring the flower beds there, nurtured and grown by the gardeners daily. They fret on the growths, removed the weeds, and nourished the soil. She wondered if it was that simple with her own life. She held up the flower stalk in her right hand; the stalk of white rose. The white shades symbolize purity, as was her love for the man she loves. However, she was unsure if he does of her.

“Romeo, I love you.” Rosaline plucked the petal off the flower. She managed to the last petal, and her wish may not be fulfilled. She looked at the last petal there, and her wish then was he loves her.

“Am I being silly here?” Rosaline looked at the petal she plucked. She looked to the flooring and saw the many petals she had plucked then, from the few stalks. She was unsure; twice she denied her love and thrice she was accepted of it.

“Does he really love me?” Rosaline asked herself.

“Does who love you?” The voice was behind the lady. She turned around and saw her cousin, Tybalt Capulet. He is the son of Lord Gencio Capulet’s brother, who resides in Venice. He is a young man, handsome and skilled with the sword, but lack of emotional control on his behaviour, hence he was always in fights. It was the family name that helped him out of trouble.

“Tybalt! When did you arrive?” Rosaline asked.

“A short while ago by ship. I am on route to Moldavia to join the crusade against the Turks.” Tybalt dressed like the Venetian gentleman, in the loose tunic and tight leggings. “I had just disembarked this morning and rushed over to see you.”

“How are you, my pretty cousin?” Tybalt smiled. He held the same smile as his uncle, and flattering was his manners when he was not upset.

“I fare well. You missed the ball?”

“Ball? Yes, I heard of it. The Montague held a ball for their daughter’s.” Tybalt looked to the garden outside. “I am not keen. It may behold a garden of flowers and yet the one I am keen on is here.”

“Oh, you flattered me too much.” Rosaline laughed.

“And how is my cousin, Romeo? Where art thou he had skunk to?” Tybalt held a dislike for Romeo. He once said that if Romeo was not of his blood, he would have long lain dead in blood.

“Romeo is well. I took him there to the ball. He enjoyed himself.”

“At the Montague’s ball? So, it is true, that he was there. I am appalled by that man. Does he not know of the feud, or have his head turned on the neck?”

“Stay calm, Tybalt. He was there on my invite. I am friends with Juliet.” Rosaline smiled.

“We danced and danced.” Rosaline lied then.

“And never once he laid eyes on any Montagues’ ladies?” Tybalt was envy of Romeo.

“No one at all.” Rosaline smiled. “We were just there for the music. He was with me.”

“I am envious. Okay, I must go. Benvolio awaits me. We are to do the needed for Prince Escalus.” Tybalt bowed to the lady.

“Must it be always the war that matters to you?” Rosaline asked. “Or was it only Romeo you dislike.”

“It is in our blood that I should not, my dear. We are cousins, but I do dislike him. I will not kill him if you are concern. I will be seeing you later.” Tybalt left the chamber. Rosaline sat there once more looking at the other stalks of roses.

“Could I love him instead?” Rosaline asked. She plucked the petal and sighed. There was one more petal there on the flower.

“Whatever will be will be.” Rosaline sighed.

Across the city, Romeo met Juliet there not at the arch of the bridge, but in a tavern’s room on the upper level. He had bribed the tavern keeper to use the room.

“Oh, Juliet. How could I resist you?” Romeo was on his knees and facing the lady at the navel. Juliet was half dressed with her gown drawn to her waist. The man was nuzzling at her exposed flesh there, while her hands were holding him by the head.

“Oh, Romeo. I wished but we cannot. We must be …… careful.” Juliet moaned when the man laid his lips at the belly button.

“But till when, my love?” Romeo pulled himself up. He held the lady into his arms. His torso mashed towards her. “You could be my need.”

“I do but it has been too fast.” Juliet pulled away. She pulled the hem of the gown to her shoulder and laced the bodice. Romeo had then held her from the back.

“I love you.’ Romeo said. “Does my love mean anything to you?”

“It does, Romeo. It does but we have to be ……. Careful. I am a Montague, and you are …….” Juliet held her hands over the man’s hands.

“Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet." Romeo repeats his vow.

“Do not do that, Romeo. We cannot desecrate the love and honour of the family.” Juliet reminded the other. “There must be a day when we can declare our love.”

It had been a whirlwind evening of meetings and kisses that had them sworn to love each. Romeo had confessed that he had not felt the same for any ladies before then, and he believed it was love at first dance between them. Juliet felt the same and had taken their love to the more intimate levels. She had felt herself drawn to him, and even when he kissed her the first time, on the lips, it was a moment of daze and wonderment.

Their meetings were most brief, and bolder it got to the dark corners or at the closed doors; a closet was one, but it was restrictive at best. The lips and hands compensated for space then. Every time, they meet, it was both a heightened feel of love, and alerts to any unwanted peeks of others.

The family name of the Montague and Capulet weighed on their love; ever spilling over for them to avoid taking the same path in their walks, or when faced across the square, it was flirty glances and no long stares. Not even Rosaline or Jessica knew of their love; well, it was assumed then.

“Romeo, I must go now. I am to meet mother at the square.” Juliet brushed her hair coiffures. The man was more reckless to reach out with his hands to her bosom.

“Let me feel your heartbeats once more.” Romeo said to her. “Let me …….”

“I must go, Romeo. Stay well and do ……”

“Do what, can I? You hold the key to my chastity belt.” Romeo said.

“Oh, please. You do not have a chastity belt. I ……” Juliet pulled away.

“Let me show you.” Romeo stepped back and held his hands at the hem of the leggings. She stopped him.

“Do not do that. Take care of it by yourself. I must go.” Juliet rushed to the door and was out. Romeo left there felt deflated by the reject. He decided to follow Juliet, a part of him tells him that she was meeting someone else.

“Ah, young master. Fancy you coming here.” It was Gregory and Sampson who met him at the café by the square. They had a few drinks beforehand then, and were intoxicated. “We were just …...”

“Get me a tea please?” Romeo sat himself down. He was looking around for the sight of the lady. He saw there at the other side with her mother as she said she will be. He averted his stare and looked at the other passerby.

“Ah, the Montagues.” Gregroy had returned with the drink, and left it her on the table. He had then taken off to meet the Montagues.

“Stop him, Sampson.” Romeo called out to the other. “We are …….”

“Harmless of him, Romeo. We had not picked a fight since the last time, Mercutio stopped us.” Sampson laughed. Romeo was to stand up when saw the Montagues elder mother confronted Gregory.

“Stand aside, Capulet’s dogs.” Lady Angeline was upset to be intruded. “We are to ……”

“Who do you call as a dog? I do not bark or yelp like a bitch.” Gregory took offence to the lady. “I shall have to teach ……”

“Stay your hand, Gregory.” It was Mercutio was passing by and saw the insult by the man. “I demand your apologies to the lady now.”

“Apology? Why should I?” Gregory reached for the sword he had on his belt.

“Hold your hand, idiot.” It was Romeo who intervened. He then looked towards Lady Angeline. “I duly apologies on behalf of my men.”

“Your apologies ……” Lady Angeline was cut off by Gregory.

“I do not need a young whelp to stand in for me.” Gregory shoved Romeo who had then bumped into Mercutio. The latter stepped back and drew his sword half way out of the sheath.

“Your rudeness asked for a duel.” Mercutio looked at Gregory.

“Gentlemen, please. Refrain from fighting. I had apologies and we will be on our way.” Romeo looked back at Gregory. “Let us go.”

“Not so fast, Capulet.” Mercutio had then drawn his sword. “I demand honour to my name.”

“I have no wish to duel, Sir.” Romeo looked at Mercutio. He knew Mercutio and was surprised at the change of attitude then. “Let us part as friends. I will honour you later with a feast.”

“My honour or your sword.” Mercutio looked at Romeo with his sword levelled at Romeo.

“Mercutio, why must we duel?” Romeo asked. “Are you not my friend too?”

“We were. This matter is not settled yet. I will discuss with you later.” Mercutio led the ladies on their way. Romeo was puzzled at the change of attitude but chose to ignore it.