Free Cortigiana (A Vamp Life Prequel) by Jez Strider

the
weather.”
    “ I hope you recover
soon.”
She nodded. “So the arrangement suits you?
With Dante? You are simply radiant today.”
Mother had warned me about the dangers the
hearts of men posed. I looked down at my hands and didn’t answer.
As hard as I tried, I could not find a good way to phrase what I
wanted to say.
    “ It’s the other. The dark
haired, young one.” Her perception shouldn’t have surprised me, but
it did.
I nodded without lifting my gaze. “Yes.
Dante has been out of town. Perhaps, I should tell him the truth,
but I’m afraid of him. Sometimes he is kind, but others, there is
something dark that I see.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her bite
down on her lip as she thought about it. “No. It would be a severe
insult.”
    “ What do I do?”
    “ Keep it a secret.” She
stated flatly. “You would not be the first girl to marry a man she
did not love and find happiness and true love through an
affair.”
Unfortunately, they weren’t the words I
wanted to hear. Nodding and exhaling a sigh, I reluctantly agreed.
“Antonio says the same. I worry that I cannot do it.”
    “ You will because you have
to.” A fit of coughing caused her to reach for a cup.
    “ Rest.” I said softly,
picking up the drink and handing it to her. Suddenly, I regretted
bringing my troubles home. “You are right. The love would no doubt
be less appealing if it were not forbidden.” I wasn’t convinced,
but I wanted to give her a reassurance.
    “ I am proud of you, Evelina.
I know life is far from perfect, but you are smart and a good
woman. You deserve to be happy no matter what it takes.”
    “ Thank you.” I reached out
and patted her hand. “I will come see you when you are feeling
better. Maybe tomorrow if you are not busy.”
    “ I would like
that.”
During my previous visit, my mother had been
vibrant and healthy. I knew I should have spent more time with her
instead of focusing on my life with Dante and now Antonio. How
could I have known time was running out on the relationships that
meant the most to me?

On my way home, I stopped by the alleyway
where I had seen the prostitute the first night I had stayed with
my aunt and uncle. I’m not sure why exactly. Maybe it was to
convince myself of how far I’d come since then. The filth in the
corridor, the lair of dark deeds, gave off a stench like
death.
Out of some weird respect, I headed to the
front door of the house. What I saw made me take a few steps back.
A large red cross marked the door. My hand went up to my mouth. The
force of my palm against my trembling lips did little to stop them.
I’d heard stories about the plague. This was a different era.
Surely, the red mark had to mean something else. As much as I had
disliked my aunt and uncle, I would have never wished such a
horrible death on them.
Lingering around a quarantined home was the
last place I needed to be discovered. I made my way back to Dante’s
mansion and went straight to my room. Giulia called out in her deep
voice from behind me, but I didn’t stop running until I was safely
behind my locked door. Hurriedly, I stripped off my dress and
tossed it out the window into the water below. Slowly, the fabric
became saturated with water and disappeared from sight.
    “ Guilia!” I knew the woman
would no doubt still be fuming outside my room. “Will you send a
servant with items for bathing, please?”
    “ You bathed this morn!” She
yelled back.
I opened the door and glared at the brute.
“Do it, now.”
In a huff, the bodyguard called out to the
nearest servant girl and ordered her to retrieve the necessary
items. “Do not think I will hide your behavior from the master of
the house.” Giulia said when she returned to guard my door.
    “ Yes, I am quite certain he
will want to hear your complaints instead of enjoying the sensation
of my lips against his skin.” I slammed the door in her face while
she looked on in surprise at my behavior.
A short time later, the