Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 54

 

54.

 

“Madness! Truly madness!” Shylock sat on the seat there at the lobby of the Magistrate’s office. He was accompanied by Leah and Abram. They saw Jessica taken to the office inside and was not allowed in with her.

“Calm down, Shylock. I am sure she will be fine.” Abram assured the other. “I …….”

“It is not your daughter there. Nor your isha.” Shylock snapped at the other. “She is my …… Jessica.”

“I told you to look after her but you …….” Shylock in turn looked at Leah. “Now she is in trouble.”

Leah was silent to the accusation. She was thinking of whom she could refer to for help. It came then, when she saw Portia Belmont arrived at the office. She was accompanied by another lady, and two officers. Portia looked pale and was led to the seat next Leah.

“Do sit here, Lady Belmont. I will file a report on the incident.” The officer told the lady and then he walked off.

“We will be okay, Portia. I am sure Jean has it all covered.” The lady accompanying Portia told her. She turned to look at Leah who was staring at Portia.

“Who are you? Your face looked familiar.”

“I am Leah Judas. My …… husband ran the money trading.” Leah replied. “May I know your name?”

“I am Nerissa, and my friend is Portia Belmont. I am her companion.” Nerissa looked back to her friend. “We were …… attacked, but we ……. The guards were there to save us.”

“You are lucky.” Leah smiled weakly. “We are here for ……. Our daughter, Jessica. She is an in mix up of ….”

“Ms. Belmont. How are you? Any news on Bassanio?” Shylock was keen to know the fate of the other. “Please do…...”

“I know not.” Portia was upset at being asked of Bassanio. She knew he was in the custody of the Magistrate but she made no attempt to see him.

“Perhaps you should……” Shylock pressed on.

“Leave me out, Mr. Judas. I am not his …… family.” Portia glared at the other. “Whatever he has transacted with you is not of my concern.”

“Ms. Belmont……. I was trying to be nice here.” Shylock lost his patience with the lady. He then stopped when he saw the officer leading Ms. Portia earlier appeared then. Portia stood up to meet the other.

“Maurice will do the paperwork. We can leave now.” The officer told Portia. The lady nodded and they walked away. The lady companion of Portia also took to leave with them.

“I must go with them.” Shylock was to stand up when the officer that led Jessica approached him.

“Mr. Judas. You are required to see your daughter.” Shylock was unsure what to do next but Leah pushed him to go with the officer.

Across the city, Prince Escalus was upset at the report that he got from Count Paris on the attack at the Belmont’s place.

“Obviously, you are incompetent.” Count Paris was told. “It was a simple task of gathering the needed document.”

“I entrusted the task to Vuk ……” Count Paris defended his action.

“A mercenary at best. Yet, did you go in with them? No? You remained hidden and when all was bad, you left without a thought to the matter.” Prince Escalus shouted. “Are you the officer that I regretted bringing up the ranks?”

“No ……” Count Paris was to further defend himself but then remained silent.

“No, you are not. I am taking over the task myself. I am gathering the needed people here soon. Leave me now.” Prince Escalus was upset. Count Paris took his leave and met Reynard outside the tavern.

“Count Paris, I have news. Portia Belmont was in the warehouse and retrieved the wares that was under the name of Bassanio. She had the wares delivered to her house.”

“Do not inform the prince of this. We will visit the lady now. Get me some men to assist here.” Count Paris told the other. “We must hold the news for now.”

The same news was brought to the attention of the Chorbaji by his spies, when he was in the library of Vlad’s home. He had chosen to be there daily to ensure the other was safe and secured there. He kept his distance from the family and remained most times in the yard.

“The game is afloat then. They will congregate there to examine the wares. We need to move the Wallachian away. He is not safe here anymore.” Chorbaji was concerned. It was then Vlad stepped into the library.

“Are you still here? I thought you will be walking the perimeter of the house.” Vlad was making a sarcasm of the situation. “I am safe here. No one knows of my whereabouts.”

“We must leave soon.” Chorbaji did not mince his words. “Your life is under threat.”

“From who?” Vlad asked.

“The …… Prince Escalus is here in Genoa, and so is Count Paris. They sought the jewels from you.”

“Jewels? I have it not. Why do they pursue me? I have not heard of them.” Vlad was asking.

“Prince Escalus and Count Paris are members of the Hungarian court, and they sought the jewels for their own. The have brought in their men to hunt you.”

“I thought no one knew of my whereabouts. You told me so.” Vlad stared at the Chorbaji.

“I did but they have discovered you of late. My spies told me that they knew you are here. We must move you. And your family too.”

“We have another safe house in Genoa. There you will stay till we can get you out of Genoa. Leave your guards and family here. You must leave unknown to them.”

“I cannot leave my family here.” Vlad protested.

“They will come to no harm. Lord Gencio Capulet will protect them. It is you the enemies want. Leave with us now.”

“I cannot …” Vlad insisted on staying but he was not prepared for the blow on the back of his head by the other Janissary behind him. Chorbaji Tarmuk then called for his men to bring the ex-Voivode out. 

Meanwhile, Magistrate Javier was informed of the wares being released from the warehouse. He was upset and rushed to see Bassanio.

“Your lover had absconded with the wares of yours.” Javier looked to the figure lying prone on the bedding.

“How did …… Oh, she has the Bill of Ladings.” Bassanio laughed. “I gave it to her for safekeeping. She is a smart woman.”

“You fool! Now she got the wares, and you are useless to me.” Javier lashed out with the baton on the man.

“Arghh…… Kill me and you will never see the wares.” Bassanio curled up upon the blow. “I could get the wares as its still under my name. She may had taken it out but it is still mine.”

“Take me there, and you will get what you wanted.” Bassanio looked at Javier. The latter stormed out and told his officers to prepare for the visit at the Belmont’ premises.

“I want to take a few officers with me to there.” Javier told his men. “We are to raid a …… warehouse.”

At the home of Portia Belmont, the wares were unloaded and stored at the living area. The crates were opened then by the servants, and the contents examined. There were the spices, and garments with some silver ingots but no jewellery found. They were told to look for the case that contained the jewels.

“It is not here.” Jean who assisted in the search told the lady. It was Portia’s idea to get the wares.

“Whatever they want, it must be in there. It was rumoured that it was some jewels.” With that, Portia had the crates opened. She found was one small case.

“Whatever it was, it is not there anymore?”

“Bassanio lied or he was misled then.” Portia sighed. “Silly man was to take it all in without verifying the contents.”

“Then what are to do next?” Nerissa asked.

“We hide the case and then wait.” Portia reply. “The others will know we took the wares and will come here.”

It was then a group of men stormed in.

“Do not move anything!’ The leader of the group approached Jean.

“On whose authority do you command?” Jean asked. He had his baton held on the right hand.

“I am Count Paris of Hungary. Do not act or you will be dealt with.” Count Paris stared at Jean. “Aer you one with the Magistrate?”

“I am. Officer 24602 Jean here. I am to protect the ladies.” Jean pulled Portia to his side. “You can have the wares but first show me the claims papers.”

“I hold no claim papers on the wares, but only to sought out a certain item from the wares.” Count Paris then motioned to his men to search the wares. The group consists of seven others who proceeded to search the wares.

“Stop your action!” The command came from Magistrate Javier. “I am the Magistrate of Genoa. Stop!”

The Magistrate had arrived with his own seven officers, and they blocked the doorway at the library. The Magistrate approached the ladies, and told them that in the interest of justice, he was confiscating the wares.

“These wares supposedly belong to one named Andre Bassanio, who is under my custody at the Magistrate Court. The man is accused of cheating the lender Shylock Judas who loaned him the ducats to acquire the wares. It is to be placed on trial by the Court and thereafter determined its rightful ownership.” Magistrate Javier looked from the ladies towards Count Paris.

“Anyone who interfered in the matter will be dealt by the Magistrate Court’s authorities.”

“I am acting on the …….” Count Paris was to raise his objection.

“Please file the request at the Court.” Magistrate Javier then looked to this officer. “Load the wares. And take the ladies to the Court too, with ……. Officer 24602.”

“Magistrate, you will …….” Portia was to explain but Javier was not to listen then.

“Speak when at the Court, if you do wish to attend.”

“Magistrate Javier, the matter will be referred to the prince.” Count Paris took his leave then.