Location: Italy, Rome.
Time: 4:05pm
Marcel's private jet landed safely at the airport in Rome- Flumicino International Airport also known as Leonardo da Vinci. A black range rover came to pick them up from the airport and drove them to an elegant looking mansion which happens to be one of Marcel's properties.
"Welcome boss," the house attendants welcomed Marcel and her guest Ella in.
"Is this where the art exhibition will take place?" Ella asked in a rather confused state.
From the way she was looking around one could tell she was impressed by the structure and designs of the mansion.
"No. This is my house," Marcel replied, leaving Ella amazed and shocked.
"Your house?"
Just how rich is this man?!
"Yes. One of my houses," Marcel replied plainly and Ella's eyes dilated.
"How many houses do you have?" She asked.
"As many as I need," he replied then turned his attention to one of the servants.
"Please see my guest to her room," he instructed.
"I thought we were attending an art exhibition. Why did you bring me to your house?" Ella said her voice filled with suspicion.
"The event is not starting till 8pm. You have four hours to rest and freshen up so I suggest you follow her to the room prepared for you," Marcel replied calmly and without waiting for a reply he walked away to the corridor.
Ella wasn't too trusting of the whole situation but regardless she went with the maid up the stairs...
"This is your room..." The maid showed me to my room however her deep Italian dialect made it a bit difficult to comprehend her clearly.
"Thank you," I forced a smile then closed the door shut when she was gone.
What's really happening here? I don't really understand. This morning I was told I was accompanying Marcel to an art exhibition and now in the evening I have found myself in another country and continent in entirely something I dreaded the most.
Are we really going to an art exhibition or have I just been trafficked??
I wasn't comfortable at all nor was I relaxed. I know I have always been a captive of Marcel but it's one thing being a captive in your hometown than being a captive in a strange land with a strange people and language however I was really tired from the journey and even though the private jet was design with comfort in mind l, nothing beat a good old fashioned bed.
Looking at the large well prepared bed made me feel even more tired and I slowly sat on it then laid down and before I knew it I was fast asleep...
I don't know for how long I slept but I know it was just enough sleep that my tired body needed and slowly I started becoming conscious till I opened my eyes.
Huh what is this?
I could see a new golden black dress laid beside my bed with a little note on it that reads. 'Put this on.'
I thought this dress I was currently putting on was for the event, I guess I was wrong.
As I sat up straight my eyes drifted to the small table beside the bed and there was a tray that wasn't there before when I slept. The tray contains covered plates and bowls. There was also a small note attached to it that reads.
'A little snacks'
Standing up, I walked towards the table and opened up the covered bowls and plates and it was filled with cupcakes, doughnuts and biscuits.
Is this what he calls little?
This is almost like a mountain but I couldn't help but smile. I reached for the bowl and took a piece of cupcake. Bringing it closer to my mouth I took a bite and the sweetness melted in my tongue and down my throat like ice.
Absolutely amazing!
I took another bite until I ate everything in my hand then took another cupcake and walked to the bathroom- eating it on the way.
I need to freshen up so I can get into the new dress Marcel had brought for me. I don't know why but it was looking like too much work getting dressed twice for just one event.
Hope it is worth it...
Meanwhile
Marcel could be seen standing discussing with a man in his early forties who appeared short from afar but is actually an average height for a man; standing at 5,11 and only seemed short because Marcel is quite tall, being 6ft4.
"Here," Marcel said, handing him an envelope.
"Is this the letter?" The man asked, his tone low in a secretive manner.
"Yes," Marcel replied in his usually calm tone.
"I want you to tell me if it's the same handwriting as the others," he further added and the man nodded.
The man opened the envelope and brought out the letter from inside. He then put on his reading glasses and carefully glanced through the letter, paying close attention to the text styles and pattern and after some lengthy seconds he came to a conclusion.
"Yes. It is the same as the rest," he replied.
"I thought as much but I needed to come here to be sure. Thank you Dr Lorenzo," Marcel said calmly but his expression showed a little sign of worry.
"You still have no idea who has been writing to you all these years?" Dr Lorenzo asked, evidently curious to know although it was clear he was familiar with the subject but just wanted an update on the latest situation.
"Yes I still haven't but I have to. I need to," Marcel answered with a determined tone.
Marcel has been getting letters from this unknown person since he was 10 years old back at the orphanage home and ever since then he has been trying to find out the identity of the person who was sending him the letters but to no avail. The person seemed almost like a ghost, untraceable but suddenly the person stopped sending him the letters. For 5 years Marcel got no letter from the unknown person and he was starting to think it had ended until this particular letter came. The letter he had asked Ella to read for him...
When I was done bathing I got dressed up in the new gown Marcel dropped for me and strangely I think I love this one much better than the previous dress when I checked myself out in the standing mirror. Climbing down the stairs biting and chewing one of the doughnuts I met Marcel discussing with a man but it seemed they were done talking as they shook their hands and the man put what looks like an envelope into his coat inner pocket and walked away.
The man's eyes swamp over me admiringly as he walked past and he greeted me with a pleasant gesture which I greeted back with a smile.
"You are awake?" Marcel said.
"Yes. What says the time?" I asked as I couldn't find any wall clock in the building.
The mansion literally has everything except for a damn wall clock.
"7:40pm." Marcel replied without even checking a clock or his wrist watch.
I wanted to argue how he was sure that was the time but the conviction in which he said it made me believe he was right.
"So are we going to the art exhibition now?' I asked and he smiled faintly.
"You seemed more excited about the exhibition than I am," he said rather mockingly and I frowned.
"I am not. I just want to get over with it so I can return back home," I replied and he stared at me in an uncomfortable manner for some seconds before...
"Let's go." He said....
After 30 minutes on the road we finally arrived at the hotel where the art exhibition was taking place. It was a large hall and you can see various paintings of different designs- animate and inanimate objects. They were all so intriguing to look upon. I would have said I haven't seen so many paintings in a single place but that would be a lie because Marcel's Mansion back in the States is filled with beautiful, unique paintings as well.
"Are you also exhibiting any of your paintings?" I asked Marcel while observing the paintings that were lined up.
"Yes. One of them," he said and we went to have our seats.
I wonder which of his many paintings he is exhibiting? I suddenly became curious.
"So where is your painting?" I asked but he kept me quiet for some seconds before.
"There," he said and I followed the direction of his eyes.
My gaze landed on a man dressed in all black but what caught my attention was what was in his hands. He was carrying a covered painting with its stand and he walked to the center of where the other paintings were being displayed and then mounted the painting with its stand on the ground in the middle.
The painting was still covered with a white cloak so there was somewhat like an unspoken tension for the painting to be unveiled as everyone present eyes were on it and almost in a slow motion movement the man took off the white cloak that covered the painting revealing the work of art ..
".." There was a loud silence as everyone was captivated by the intricate design of the painting.
It was a complex drawing of a beast that had four heads. Heads that look like a mixture of wolf and man and each head having different eye colors. Bright blue ocean eyes like spirit. Red bloody eyes like flames of anger A golden yellow eyes like jealousy and lust and lastly silver, gray eyes like a plague of death.
The heads shared one body with two arms and legs but it had four separate tails with three tails moderately lengthy while the fourth one which is the tail in the middle was significantly longer than the rest and the background was pitch dark like the darkest night.
The painting was truly captivating and fascinating but on my part I felt something else on sighting the painting. It was almost like I had a flashback.
I could suddenly see the figures that have haunted me in my room at night- the blue and golden yellow eyes figures. It came to me like a touch flash in my eyes and my heart pounded as Marcel's paintings were exactly the figures.
Thinking about it now I just realized this is the same painting I saw in Marcel's painting room back then when he was still working on it. Back then he had only drawn the head of the beast with blue eyes. I had never imagined the rest of the painting would be this. While people were busy admiring Marcel's painting and even taking pictures of it I turned to face him.
"Your paintings...they are alive. They appear to me in the night," I said to him in a cracked voice but he gazed at me like I had run mad.