Her hair is a fiery red. Her skin is pale as the snow.
Her smile is radiant but now it's gone.
She lays down on the ground, broken and alone.
The looming darkness emerges, ready to take her soul.
I can feel my body in pain. Too dizzy to see my surroundings. I can hear the faint crashing of metal, and the screams of agony as the grassy ground tickles my skin.
My left-hand feels itchy but I'm too weak to scratch it. With more determination, I open my eyes to see my hand bleeding. Past my hands are men fighting against each other. One with a cape and armor, the other wearing a tunic and chainmail.
Someone suddenly yanked me upright, to see a woman with red hair and pale skin wiping something from my face. I could barely hear her but her eyes started to well with tears. When she buried her face in my neck as she cries, I saw someone standing a few meters away from us, wearing a white robe that covers most of her face.
It's her.
Her lips turned up into a cryptic smile then points to my right. When I slowly look over my shoulder, I saw standing stones being destroyed. One of them bears a familiar symbol. It's the symbol.
A knot in a circular shape.
I sat up abruptly, jolting my head to move forwards. Panting, I try to calm myself by breathing deeply while wiping the sweat around my face and neck. My mind is in complete blankness. I could barely remember my dream even then, I can feel the fatigue in my body.
I then look at my hand, I can barely close it but there's no mark whatsoever. Confirming that it's just a bad dream. Sighing, I get off the bed and walk towards my window. The wind caressed my cheeks, cooling me down.
This nightmare is rather different from the ones I usually have. It's almost sunrise. The sky darkens the city. The view is exquisite. No electrical lights in view, giving way to the illuminating light of the starry sky. This is something I can never see in the 20th century.
"Madonna, your bath is ready," Franzia said. I took off all of my clothes, pooling around me as they fell on the floor. I step out of them and carefully get in the warm bath Franzia has prepared for me. Feeling calmer, I closed my eyes in relaxation. When I open them again, the water turned red with blood. Jolting upwards, making me scream. Franzia immediately came toward me with concern. "Antonia, are you alright?" She asks. When I look back down, the blood disappears, only to realize that it might have been my hair I mistook for blood.
Massaging my temples, I nodded my head yes and said, "Yes, I'm fine. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
Despite confirming that I'm alright, Franzia's concern only grew. "You're so pale. You look as if you have seen a ghost." She said, checking my temperature with the back of her hands.
"I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind is all." I lied. Whether she believed me or not, she chose not to say anything.
After dressing up, I immediately went down the stairs and towards the parlor for today, we go to church. Every Sunday, the church will be filled with Florentines to hear the homily.
On the first pews, the great families sit including the members of the Signoria. My Aunt Simona and I are seated a few rows back from the Medici pews.
While everyone is silently listening to the homily, I couldn't help but think about the dream I had followed by the vision that I saw as I bathe.
I can sense that my Aunt knows something's on my mind, she holds my hands and tightens her hold to reassure me that she's here for me. I look up at her and smile in gratitude.
When the mass has ended, everyone slowly exits the church. My mind was still wandering about my dream when someone called my name. When I turn to my left, I saw Giuliano's tall form smiling at me. "Good morning, Simona." He said, nodding towards Aunt Simona who smiles at him. "Antonia." He continued, shifting his eyes towards me from my Aunt.
I force a smile and replied, "Good morning."
"If you don't mind, may I ask your permission to stroll around the city with your niece?" He said towards my Aunt who only nodded in response. When she and Franzia left, I noticed a handful of women looking our way. Perhaps looking at the handsome man next to me.
When I look back at Giuliano, I spoke. "You're back."
"Forgive me. The matters in Milan took longer than I expected."
"You don't need to explain, Giuliano. I understand. You didn't always have to spend your time with me. I know you're a very busy man."
"Yes, but I want to." He said with sincerity and resolve.
"It can't be helped. You're not a mediocre man. You have great responsibilities resting on your shoulders." I said as I tap playfully on his shoulder. "You missed Tre Rane's opening day though."
His face hardens. "Come, let's walk." He said. His mood suddenly changed. Even then I decided not to say anything. As we walk in silence, He began to continue. "What have you been doing while I was away?"
Odd question, but then I decided to answer. "Well, I have been reading the manuscripts. Strolling around the city, and also visiting Leonardo and Botticelli in their new inn. Too bad you missed it. I discovered that the two are incredible cooks!" I said laughing a little. Despite the humor, Giuliano's face stayed serious. "Is something wrong, Giuliano?"
He suddenly stops, making me a few steps ahead. I patiently waited for his response when he looks up at me and says, "So you have been spending time with Sandro."
It sounded more like an accusation than a statement. "Yes. Along with Leonardo."
"I must admit, I don't think I like you spending so much time with him more than you do with me." He said as he presses his lips into a thin line.
"Giuliano, he's my friend. So as yours. How can you say that?" I said in disbelief.
"I'm not sure if you're aware but this has happened once before. Botticelli and I liked Simonetta at the same time. We never acted upon it because she was married." He said his brows furrowing as he looks down. When he brings his eyes back up to mine, his face softens. "Now, meeting you, I know this must have been divine intervention. A chance for me to finally act upon what I feel." He slowly closes the gap between the two of us and brings my hands to his. "I do not have any intention of sharing the same feelings as him. Not this time. You have bewitched me, woman." He said, smiling cheekily at me.
With the mention of my mother's name, I suddenly felt weak. He's just the same as Botticelli but his intentions are clear. He's very forward about it. Even then, I couldn't help but feel a little bit taken by his words. His sincerity and boldness spark an interest in me.
A busy important man such as himself finds ways to be with me because of his feelings for me. It's something that flatters me. "You have nothing to worry about. He's just a friend. As far as I'm concerned, you're the only man who asks permission to court me." I let go of his hands and walked. "Walk on, Giuliano," I said without looking back at him as a smile crept up on my face. I heard his footsteps getting closer and walking side by side with me.
After strolling around, mostly around the river, Giuliano walked me home. He kissed my hand one last time before letting go and walking away.
At supper, Aunt Simona is eyeing me constantly. "What is it, Aunt Simona?" I ask as I take a bite of my meal.
"So, Giuliano..." She said, purposely lingering her voice upon mentioning his name. "I wasn't aware that you have received the attention of the man all Florentine women desires."
Suppressing a smile, I responded, "I'm not sure how it happened either."
Her face turned serious in a blink of an eye. She places her utensils down and looks at me. "Giuliano is a kind and nice young man but I must warn you of the following attention you will be receiving."
Confused, I jerk my head to one side and say, "Whatever do you mean, Aunt Simona?"
"What I mean is that just because one Medici is good doesn't mean you'll be welcomed by the family as a whole."
In bed, I continue to think about what my Aunt mentioned during our supper. She has been well-liked by almost everyone she meets and it has greatly benefited me. Her warning is very cryptic. I wonder who she's talking about.
Then the next day, the rain decided to pour into the city. With everything going on in my life, I decided to take a stroll as I wear a hooded cape to relax my mind. Recently, I have been seeing blood on my hands ever since I had a nightmare.
It started to interfere with my day and my anxiety grows each passing time. I still don't remember much about anything about the nightmare but I do remember how bloody my hand was.
In the muddy street, I suddenly saw a woman wearing a white robe. I walk towards her, hoping to ask some questions. Just when I was about to reach her, she disappears. When I look around, she's walking away. I kept my distance as I trail her. For some reason, I know she's leading me somewhere.
After a few minutes of walking, I found myself walking towards the Church of Ognissanti. When I went inside, the woman is nowhere to be found. I try to look around for her but she's disappeared yet again.
How does she do that? Then something glimmered by my mother's tomb. When I walk closer, I saw something that resembles a necklace or a bracelet. I kneel and pick it up. It was made of gold. Why would someone leave it here? Then by the end of it, I saw an inscription.
Ailbe. Just like that, I suddenly remember the name being spoken by Botticelli and Aunt Simona. Ailbe knows of the stone. I may be closer to the truth after all.