Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 46

 

46. 

 

Juliet found her confinement to her chamber was frustrating. She asked for her mother's presence to explain the situation. She told her maid, Angelica to tell her mother.

“My lady, Juliet is restless. She wants to ……” Angelica reported to the lady.

“I will attend to here.” Ladu Angeline walked to her daughter’s chamber.

“Your father is back…” Lady Angeline looked at the young lady.

“Which I am aware of. But why confine me here?” Juliet stepped towards the window. “There is a world out there that I have yet to explore.”

“Your …… Your liaison with the Capulet boy has reached his ears. He is ……”

“Upset? Why should he be? If I can unite both families, will it not be good? The city of Genoa will be pleased with it. Father might gain favourable trades from the others.” Juliet turned to the mother. “You were once ……”

“Do not raise my past to me, Juliet Montague. My family had their issues with the Capulet, and your … my mother saw the … wisdom of it to wed my sister away and myself … to your father. The Capulet held a history of deceit and selfishness.”

“Tough words you mentioned, Mother. Even if the Capulet were of the……. The past is the past. Romeo is not the same. He is ……”

“Juliet Montague, you are too young to understand the true nature of ……” Lady Angeline was upset.

“Were you any younger when you wedded Father? Did you have a say in the matter, or was it the calling of your mother? As I would have to now.” Juliet snapped back. “I am……. I am different from you. Or your sister.”

“Leave my sister Juliette out.” Lady Angeline was upset at the mention of her sister.

“Why? Because she was a slut with Lord Capulet?” Julier lost her mind there. “We are not the same.”

“You are out of line there, Juliet.” It was the father of the lady who had stepped in. “You do not mock your relative in that manner?”

“Dante…” Lady Angeline looked towards the lover of hers. “She is a child.”

“Who listens to words of the loose mouths of the maids? Let me tell you of Juliette Dubier.” Dante approached his daughter. “She was a fine lady, wild in her younger days, but she did like Gencio and …… I was towards her. We ……. Both Gencio and I challenged for her love, and I even met your grandmother for her hand. She told me she was to wed another from a far land, richer than both me and Gencio, and I was disappointed. Eventually, I amassed my wealth and courted your mother. That came with you into our life.”

“Was that why you did not like the Capulet?” Juliet asked. “Or was it other matters?”

“The feud with the Capulet was beyond that. You need not know of it, for it does not involve you.” Dante looked towards his lover. “With your mother in my arms, I cared not for anything besides her love and our family.”

“I ……” Juliet was still defiant.

“Enough! Your liaison with the Capulet lad and the recent incident of your clan member, Tybalt, being killed, and Mercutio then by the Capulet.”

“Father, Romeo did not kill Mercutio. It was all a …….” Juliet raised her voice.

“Yet he hid from the authorities. If he was not the killer, why hide.” Lord Dante Montague was upset. “He is pursued by Magistrate Javier, whom I know by reputation is a vicious man. What upsets me is the news of you involved in the murder. Are you?”

“I am not. I was not there.” Juliet told her father. “I was told they fought and both died, but Romeo was to be blamed. He is innocent. And for your knowledge, I love him, and he does too. We had rather die than be apart.”

The father was about to say something, but Lady Angeline intervened. She pulled the father out of the chamber. She dragged him to the library.

“She is ……”

“Impetuous in my view. But that is the attitude of the young lovers.” Lady Angeline assured the father. “We ….”

“Young lovers? I hope not. The Capulets and Montagues will never be kin.” Lord Dante Montague made his words known then.”

“Let us move on. What are you doing with the case from… The Impaler?” Lady Angeline looked to the man.

“Nothing. Vlad Tepes ……” Almost saying that the ex-Voivode was alive. “His surviving family may ask for it.”

“Have you considered if the jewels exist? Bargain it for ……” Lady Angeline smiled but was cut off from her words.

“If it is there, it does not belong to me. I know Gencio valued the jewels to bargain for his son’s life, but I have no interest. Now let me get on with my other concerns.” Dante Montague left the library. Another person appeared there to meet the lady.

“Abram, I have a task for you.” Lady Angeline looked at the personal guard of the Montague. “Find out the whereabouts of one named Vlad Tepes. He is here in Genoa with his family.”

“Vlad Tepes? The Impaler? I thought he ……” Abram was stunned.

“Do not believe in what you may know. Find out more and report to me.” Lady Angeline walked to the desk. She paused there, looking at the drawer. It was not for her to open it, but the case on the desk was at her disposal. She opened that and took out the bag of ducats.

“For your trouble.” Lady Angeline handed the bag to Abram. “Meantime, check on the whereabouts of the Capulet lad.”

Abram left the library with the bag of ducats. He was puzzled but knew that to get what he needs to know, there were the other mercenaries he could rely on. He was to meet the friar, who was then on the walk in the city. The friar was everywhere and welcomed to most homes for his patronage.

“Friar Lawrence, how do you fare?” Abram asked the other.

“I am good. How are you?” Friar Lawrence asked. “I have not seen you much at the marketplace.”

“I have been busy at the Montague’s home. I may have a question for you.” Abram smiled. “Have you seen any strangers in the city? Some… other people’s?”

“Others? Genoa is a thriving port for many. Of course, there are others. Perhaps you should ask the magistrates. They may have more knowledge on that. Did you hear of the capture of one named Andre Bassanio Tito? He was involved in the killing of several dock workers.” The friar sighed. “I was denied access to him to offer my prayers.”

“Andre Bassanio? Was he not the one who took the loan from Shylock Judas?” Abram asked.

“I believe so. The tale was told by the others behind the back of the Judas. Now he is under the custody of Magistrate Javier.” The friar said. “Abram, it has been some weeks since you held your confession with God.”

“It was a one-off event. I am a Jew. I do not confess to …… or the rabbis.” Abram looked away. He did it once to the friar; it was an eventful time when his soul was troubled and the friar was there. “I was drunk and thought that God was ignoring me.”

“God does not ignore his believers.” The friar smiled. “It is us who ignored him at times. I am sure he heard your prayers for your love and your son, Karl Tov.”

“Pray do not even mention that again. It was a personal pain of mine. I must go now.” Abram walked away. The friar looked at the departing man. The man’s secret was known to him, as were many others he had listened to.

“Friar Lawrence. I need to talk to you.” The friar heard the call and turned. It was Jessica, and she was with a hooded man. They were standing in the shadow of the nearby alley. The friar approached the duo and was stunned by the appearance of the hooded man.

“Romeo Capulet, you fool! Why are you here?” Friar Lawrence was upset. “You were to remain hidden.”

“I came out for I was to find Juliet, but I cannot get in. I cannot see here or there. I asked Jessica to assist me.” The fugitive from the authorities whispered to the friar. “I am hooded and may not be recognized. The Montague house is well guarded.”

“You fool!” The friar pushed the man to the wall. “You are causing harm to Jessica. If ……”

“Jessica was to get inside the house and find Juliet.” The man pleaded. “I miss her.” “Was it worth it if you were to die before her eyes? You are a fool.” Friar Lawrence sighed. “Why won’t the young ones hold more sensible thoughts in their heads instead of lustful thoughts?” “Help us, Friar.” Jessica said. “I have not seen Lorenzo for a few days.”

At the mention of Lorenzo, the friar fleeted to the image of Karl Tov and Abram. He paused in his act and then told the duo to return to the cottage. He was undecided on his action then. He had not told Lady Sofia the identity of Abram.

“God, I hold too many secrets in me.” Friar Lawrence sighed. He was gradually accepting his role then and forgetting what he was before. A boy approached him then. He was passed a note. He was to meet the Janissary who knew him from his past. He was to meet someone nearby.