Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 65

 

65.

 

Portia sat by herself in the kitchen of her home, sipping the tea she had made. She had dismissed most of the servants, for the house will be empty soon. She has decided to travel to Florence and from there to the north. She fancied no intention to stay at Genoa. Bassanio had tried to contact her, but she had denied him her replies. She sat there thinking of the event that made her choose a lover.

It was her idea to her dying father then.

“I will wed the person who made the right choice on me. It will not be wealth or fame, but sincerity in love and to cherish me.”

“Will you be the same?” Lord Belmont’s raspy voice asked. “You are the Belmont’s lady.”

“I will.” Portia smiled. “Whatever it was, it will be decided then.”

“You met Andre Bassanio?” Lord Belmont asked.

“Yes, I did. He is a nice man. He is new to Genoa.”

“He likes you. He may be a good choice.”

“The choosing of mine is… complicated, Father.” Portia sighed. “In the world of trades, a lady… the role of the woman is… different from that of the man. She has little choice. She was to obey, or rather, was commanded.”

“Portia, you are not any lady. You have been at my side, standing equal with me in negotiating the terms of trade.” Lord Belmont smiled. “You did well.”

“And we lost some good trades due to that.” Portia laughed.

“You cannot win them all, my darling. But we did well. You will do so with the trades. Let no man stop you.” Lord Belmont smiled. “I am dying, and one day all this is yours.”

“Get a good partner in your life. Do not compromise.” Lord Belmont reminded the lady. She did then and had taken a liking towards Bassanio. He was not perfect but likeable. It was also then when Nerissa shared her thoughts on Gratiano.

“They are not of Genoa.” Nerissa said. “We knew most of the traders in Genoa. Most of them are … at best, to be met across the table, and never at our side.”

“Nerissa, why are you so mean? There are some good men… here.” Portia sighed. “Not many I can like, but then we are not the most likeable ladies in Genoa for now. Some said we are …… unteachable.”

“Unreachable, you mean. Did you know once Lord Schnidt tried to peek down my tunic? Deplorable it was. The man was as old as my grandfather.” Nerissa sighed.

“Maybe he was looking for something there and ……” Portia smiled.

“What was there to see?” Nerissa leaned over towards Portia, exposing her bosom. “These have been given to me by my mother.”

“Perky …” Portia laughed. “Not mine; they are flattish.”

“Oh, please……” Nerissa sat back and laughed. Those were some of the things that Portia shared with her good friend. Ever since they met Gratiano and Bassanio, they had shared their thoughts on the men, but during the crisis with wares, Portia developed her misgivings.

Bassanio was a good man but seems to lack some qualities she wanted in her man. Portia sighed at the thoughts of hers. She had announced the breakup of their engagement without a second thought. Enrico, the ‘jury,’ was caught off guard by her call. The ‘juri’ had his moments when he wished he could be with Portia, but again, she did not see him as her lover.

“Jean…” Portia muttered. A servant walked in and smiled at Portia. She was grateful to be retained.

“Maria, please pack the table wares. There will be no guests to serve it now.”

“Yes, Mistress.” Maria proceeded to open the shelves to pick the table wares. Nerissa stood aside and then said.

“He is not here, Portia.” Nerissa interrupted Portia’s thoughts with a smile. “I heard Jean is on the run from the authorities. He was said to have helped in the escape of the Judas’ lady.”

“I did not know. Where is …… How is he?” Portia asked.

“I have not heard since. Maybe he is … on the run.” Nerissa said. “We are not to speak of him.”

“Yes, you’re right?” Portia with her eyes on Maria. “Some others will assume we know of his whereabouts.”

“Are you to leave Genia?” Nerissa asked.

“Yes, I think we must. There are too many events that I want to forget from here.” Portia smiled. “Get my items packed and ready to leave. As for you, please stay on to clear what's needed here. Then place the house on sale and find me. Your company will always be welcomed.”

“I will do that. Once, I did all that was needed.” Nerissa sighed. “We are without any baggage to hold on to.”

“How is Maurice?” Portia asked. “You know the officer that was here?”

“He is …… I do not know. I have not seen him since. His colleagues do not know of his whereabouts.” Nerissa looked at Portia. “I am a jinx when it comes to men. They die before their time.”

“Shun that thought. He will turn up.” Portia smiled. “He is a good man. Sings well too.”

“Alas, the young Ms. Belmont praising another man here. I thought you were to speak of Officer 24802. He is a fine officer and… a gentleman.” Nerissa smiled.

“Jean is a fine man. I ……” Portia blushed. “He did rescue me then.”

“Yes, as recalled by me. You were to be ravished, and he came in like a… hero to rescue you. I wondered if he saw anything that he should not.” Nerissa smiled then. “Perhaps a lifted hem.”

“Hush, woman. I am …… I was dignified then, and he is a gentleman. He will not peek.” Portia defended the other.

“No need to hush me, lady. I am just stating the obvious.” Nerissa laughed.

“Leave me and take care of the house. I need to rest now.” Portia looked away with her cheeks red. It will be sad to leave Jean out of her mind.

Leaving was on the mind of the friar. He sat by the tree stump looking at the path he had just taken earlier. It led back to the basilica. At that moment, he was unsure of his actions. He had in his mind to rescue Romeo and then reunite the lovers, but if he does that, he will incur the wrath of the Chorbaji and the Capulet. Or he could leave the matter alone.

“I cannot.” Friar Lawrence muttered. In his role as the friar, he had been told of many things, and on occasion he had to act for them. He held many secrets, and some of them may lead to fatalities. The simpler ones were to help young lovers to elope or halt some bad affairs, but killing was his last resort.

For Lamin, killing was an art to the name. He had done it before to silence the enemies when ordered by the Sultan, but of late, he had remained quiet until Benvolio. He had killed Benvolio to avoid the latter exposing the Wallachian. Did he regret doing it? No, he did not. He asked for forgiveness later in his prayers.

Prayers came in different ways. One was when he united father and son; Abram Tov now knew of his son. It may not be too late. Lorenzo did meet his father at the home of Jessica Judas.

That was one lovers’ issue resolved, but he was unsure about Juliet and Romeo.

It was then the friar saw the shadow of the man whom he had seen some time back. He knew the man as a vagabond at the marketplace, and that place was far from where he was then. His instinct as an assassin kicked in.

Friar Lawrence took to his feet and proceeded back to the city. He passed the man who was seated there by the path, pretending to rest. The friar continued his walk and then reached the quiet stretch. He knew the place well and took off in a hurry to the bush nearby. There the friar waited with the dagger drawn.

“Do not scream, or you will be dead here.” Friar Lawrence had his left arm over the neck, and his right hand held the dagger at the rear.

“Do not kill me, friar.” The man pleaded. “I was just……”

“You were following me. Why?” Friar Lawrence poked the dagger at the man’s back.

“Some rich lord asked us to follow you.” The man uttered. “We were to know where you were going.”

“Did you follow me back then? How long?” Friar Lawrence asked. “Did you tell anyone?”

“Some time back.” The man nodded.

“Unhand that man!” The call came from the front. Two men were approaching the friar. He had seen them before; vagabonds most times and unscrupulous lots other times. Friar Lawrence took no chances of doing otherwise and thrust the dagger at the man’s heart from the rear. The man struggled and then dropped to his knees.

“He killed Dino!” The leading man approaching the friar drew out his dagger.

“Aye, we kill then.” The second man called out. “For Dino.”

“He is a friar.” The leading man called out. “We will be sinned.”

“He still bleeds. Let us do it.” The second man held a dagger in his right hand. He rushed at the friar, but the latter was prepared for the attack. The friar sidestepped and thrust his dagger at the inside of the right elbow. The dagger cut into the forearm and caused the attacker to drop his dagger. The friar followed on with the right elbow knock on the right side of the jaw of the attacker. The attacker reeled to the left, and the friar followed through with the stab into the right ribs.

“What manner of a friar are you?” The remaining man called out.

“The one whose devotion was not to God anymore.” The friar rushed at the second man. The latter turned to run but was stopped with the thrown dagger in the back. He fell on his face, and the friar was on his back, removing the dagger and having it levelled at the neck.

“Who sent you? And what did you say?”

“I ……. I do not know. It was a rich lord, and we send… Ernest to show him the basilica.”

The mention of the hideaway triggered the kill instinct in the friar. He thrust the dagger into the neck and severed the jugular veins. He then stood up from the dying man, wiping the blood off his hand onto the frock.

“Forgive me, God. I have sinned.” The friar sighed. “Romeo…… I must get him out.”

The friar rushed back to the basilica.