25. Camela
Camela
Chapter 25
I sit by the couch near the fireplace. The evening is warm, without a need for fire, but the corner is cozy. I take a sip of my tea, and a deep, calm wash over me; I think it’s because I know that Vincenzo is truly beginning to feel like I’m his.
This relationship no longer feels one-sided. I knew he had a desire for me from the very start, but I questioned whether that desire ran as deep as mine did for him.
After last night, that question is no longer an issue. His forgiveness was as simple as the exhalation of a breath. After losing his gift, my emotional state and my inner fears were much more important on his list of priorities.
I turn the page of the book, picking up from the first sentence. What was it I read on the previous page? I sigh and slam the book shut, casting it on the table beside me.
I tuck my legs up under my thighs and cuddle under the blanket, now choosing to indulge in the solitary activity of sipping my tea and thinking of Vincenzo. He’s made it impossible for me to think of anything else.
Memories of last night take precedence on the pages of my mind. His warm breath on my neck, the feel of his strong arms around me, and the safety I suddenly found in his embrace.
I’ve never been able to let my guard down like that before or even let someone get close enough to make me feel something other than a sense of duty or responsibility.
But with Vincenzo, I felt an overwhelming pull to be vulnerable and open. He’s turned me into a person I never knew I had the capability of becoming.
Just then, the door creaks open. I turn to find him standing there. Even from this distance, the vivid blue of his eyes looks right at me, and the eyelashes on the corner lid are so thick that I can see them flutter.
“Hi there,” he whispers, his hands in the pockets of his brown corduroy trousers. The sleeves of his cream-colored shirt are rolled halfway up his arms, and I can see the bulge of muscle on his forearms. He’s got black suspenders on, and his tie is loose.
“Are all your meetings for the day done?” He’s been holed up in his office all day today, leaving me with the pleasure of my own company for breakfast and dinner.
I’ve seen one man after another rotate through his office, and I was worried if Vincenzo would have a chance to catch his breath.
“All done,” he sighs and rubs his forehead, trying to blink away his fatigue. He comes over, giving me his hand and pulling me up from the couch. He twines his arms over my shoulders, pulling me close.
I tuck my hands into his pockets for warmth but mostly closeness. He kisses the top of my head. “Forgive me for not giving you company today.”
“Work is important,” I whisper back.
“Not as important as you. Get dressed.” He leans down and gives me a quick kiss on my lips. "You’ve been holed up all day. We should head out.”
“What? But Vincenzo,” I argue, trying to find a way for us to stay in. “Crowds make me nervous. What if the professor’s killer finds us?” What I really want to say is that I know these people, and we’re much safer here, indoors!
“We’re going for a private viewing, my love,” he whispers. “I’ve pulled some strings. Tonight, you and I have exclusive access to the historical grounds of the Roman Forum. We’ll have our own private tour, free from prying eyes.”
My jaw drops to the floor…almost.
“The Roman Forum? But it’s impossible. It’s closed off to the public at night.”
“I’ve got friends in high places. It’ll be just you and I. So, what do you say?”
A private tour of the Roman Forum sounds incredible. Besides, it won’t be crowded. The threat level will be near non-existent. We’d be in our own private bubble.
I look up at Vincenzo and smile. “Let’s do it.”
Our convoy approaches the entrance to the Roman Forum, and we get off. “We’ll take care of security from her, Sir,” Mario confirms with Vincenzo, who nods in acknowledgment.
At the main entrance, a security guard waits to grant us access. This private viewing is a rarity. I wonder what bribes Vincenzo had to pay to get the manager’s consent.
The moment we step past the gates and into the ancient ruins, I congratulate myself on making the right decision.
The entire collection of ruins spread out over sprawling grounds comes alive right in front of our eyes. I’m awestruck. Vincenzo seems to understand my silence as he stands by my side and slides his hand through mine.
Neither of us says anything. What words could do justice to such staggering grandeur?
We’re in the middle of a garden, overlooking about a dozen ancient structures. While reduced to just stone and marble, the temples, basilicas, triumphal arches and what used to be government buildings, still make an impressive sight.
“Can you imagine,” Vincenzo whispers. “This was a vibrant city once?”
I shake my head and take a step forward, Vincenzo’s hand still in mine. “It truly makes me question,” I say.
“Question what?” he asks.
“The significance of us, of life,” I whisper back. “Back then, the Roman Forum was the center of this city, where everything happened. And now?”
“It’s a relic of the past,” he finishes my sentence, understanding just what I’m trying to say.
The moon casts its silvery glow over the crumbling stone pillars and archways, bathing the forum in silver light. In the distance, I hear a bat screech. The air is still, quiet, almost eerie, as if we've stepped into a different world entirely.
Our footsteps echo on the ancient stones as we weave deeper into the labyrinth of ruins. I run my fingers along a broken column, imagining the centuries of history encapsulated here.
We come upon a crumbling temple, moonlight spilling through the gaping roof onto a mosaic floor. I gasp at the sight.
"Imagine the civilization that walked these halls worshiped these gods," Vincenzo muses.
"It's like we've stumbled on their forgotten world," I reply. I feel Vincenzo's eyes on me as I take in the view.
I'm admiring the intricate details of a marble frieze when I hear footsteps behind us. I gasp and turn with a sudden jerk, my training and fear coming back.
A woman emerges from the shadows, her icy blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun.
“You must be Mr. Consolini,” she smiles at Vincenzo and offers him a thin, bony hand.
He accepts her hand. “And you must be the guide, Miss?”
“Veronika,” she confirms with a nod. I observe her firm grasp and the intensity in her eyes as they dart between his as if committing him to memory. Once she lets go, Vincenzo withdraws his hand, shaking off the lingering touch.
I frown. There’s something intense about her. Shouldn’t guides be more amiable?
She’s wearing tight black trousers, with a black shirt tucked in. To my surprise, she’s in heels. Not just heels but stilettos. What kind of guide dresses in high heels for a tour through ancient ruins?
“Shall we proceed?” her eyes flicker over me for just a brief second and I see a smile cross her lips. It’s not directed at me because her eyes move across my face towards an alley on the Western end of the Forum. “We can begin with The Temple of Saturn.”
That smile, it’s haunting. And her accent? It’s not Italian. It sounds vaguely… Eastern European.
“Please, lead the way,” Vincenzo says, in that gentleman-like manner, coming closer to stand beside me. Veronika walks ahead, never once turning back to see if we follow.
Vincenzo hurries, pulling me along to walk beside her.
Veronika's high heels click against the stone path, echoing hollowly in the quiet night. She moves with a confidence that borders on arrogance, her gaze flickering over the ruins as if they’re not worth her time.
Something doesn’t add up. I can't shake off the unease that’s settled in my gut from the moment she appeared.
We approach the Temple of Saturn, the colossal columns rising like silent sentinels against the moonlit sky. Veronika gestures towards the entrance, and through it, her smile never quite reaches her eyes.
“Largely reconstructed, the temple today has eight surviving columns. Originally built in the 5th century BC, during the early years of the Roman Republic, it was dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture and wealth. It underwent several redesigns, and the ruins we see today primarily reflect the changes made in the 4th century BC, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. The temple was of deep importance to rulers and played a prominent role in religion when the empire suffered from famines.”
"Intriguing," Vincenzo murmurs, his eyes roaming the ancient structure. I can see the historian in him now, as he makes deductions most visitors wouldn’t.
"The importance of agriculture and wealth to the ancient Romans is evident in the grandeur of this temple. It exemplifies the strong foundation for a civilization."
Veronika looks at him and smiles. Cold, detached. Like she’s playing a role. She offers no comment and I feel something clutch my heart.
“Come,” she says, turning her back to us to take us further.
"Excuse me," Vincenzo says suddenly, releasing my hand. "I need to use the restroom if you don’t mind."
"Of course," the guide replies, her eyes now warm. She smiles sweetly at him and extends her arm to the right. "I'll show you where to go so you don’t get lost."
I can feel my instincts kicking in, a warning that something isn't quite right with this woman.
"Vincenzo is perfectly capable of finding his own way," I interject, putting a whine to my voice. "Besides, I still have so many questions for you! Please, won’t you stay?”
The guide hesitates for a moment, then shakes her head. “He could get lost.”
“I’ll be quite alright,” Vincenzo says warmly, placing an arm across my waist to give me a quick kiss on my cheek before pulling away. “I’ve been to the Forum many times during my student days, and I believe I remember most of the pathways. I’ll catch up with you both; don’t worry.”
There’s a tense silence, and Veronika’s eyes narrow. “As you wish,” she says curtly.
As Vincenzo disappears around a corner, I turn to face the guide. Who is this woman, and what does she want? The air between us crackles with tension, waiting for one of us to make the first move.
Or perhaps I’m being paranoid. I can’t just attack her unprovoked. If she’s innocent, it will be front-page news by tomorrow, and Vincenzo would have a lot of questions. I need to get a good read on her.
If she is an assassin, she’ll make the first move.
I take a step to my right, pretending to look at the carvings on a marbled pillar. From the corner of my eye, I observe her movements. Her eyes track me like a hawk, one hand hovering near her waistband. Is she armed?
My senses heighten, scanning for other threats. But we appear to be alone among the ancient monuments.
“So,” I begin. “This structure–”
But before I can complete my sentence, I catch a glint of metal. I jump to face her, my arms outright in a position to defend myself and see her fingers clutching a blade tucked within her pants, her shirt lifted ever so slightly.
Neither of us move, and her eyes latch onto mine.
I was right. She’s here to harm Vincenzo. She’s an assassin. Giulia.
"Is there something you'd like to share with me?"
"Nothing that concerns you," she replies coolly, her eyes fixed on mine.
Taking a deep breath, I lunge forward and shove the guide with all my might, catching her off guard. She stumbles but quickly regains her balance, fury flashing in her eyes.
"Is that what you want?" I challenge her, my voice icy. "To see what I'm truly capable of?"
Her lips curl into a sinister smile as she takes a step toward me. "You have no idea who you're dealing with, Huntress."
So, she knows my name.
"Neither do you," I retort and spin in a quick circle before delivering a spinning hook kick to her head from the heel of my foot. The guide staggers back and falls to the ground, clutching her head and gasping for breath.
I take the opportunity to turn and run into a maze of small alleyways. My heart races as I dart through the narrow pathways, monstrous ruins of administrative buildings hovering over me.
I need her to follow me, to draw her away from Vincenzo. I think I’ve angered her enough to do that. I melt into the shadows and soon hear heels clicking against the ancient stones as she gives chase.
As I weave through crumbling archways and toppled columns, I can hear the anger in her footfall, her voice, and I know she’s here to kill. “I’ll find you, Huntress!” she hisses into the night.
I need her to follow my trail before Vincenzo finds her. I grab a small stone from the path and toss it against a marbled wall. It makes a brief, delicate sound before I turn another corner. I peek back to see her coming into the alley I just came through.
"Where are you leading me, Huntress?" Giulia calls out, her voice echoing off the ancient walls. "Do you really think you can outrun me?" Despite those heels, she’s fast.
I don't respond, just duck behind a massive stone pillar, pressing myself flat against its cool surface, my heart hammering in my ears.
"The Handler always said you were resourceful," Giulia taunts, her voice growing closer. "But I didn't expect you to be foolish enough to challenge me, сука."
Bitch. She called me Bitch, in Russian. Suddenly, I know who I’m dealing with. The Temptress.
She’s one of the most coveted Russian assassins. I’ve heard of her from the Handler. Her signature move? Slamming her stiletto into her victim’s throat.
I won't let her hurt him, I think fiercely to myself.
I weave through the tangled maze of ruins, using the monuments as cover. My feet are silent on the ancient stones. I can hear the click of the Temptress’s heels behind me, moving steadily closer.
She's trying to herd me into a corner. But this is my terrain now. At a fork, I feint left, then double back to the right. Her frustrated curse echoes through the empty forum as she loses my trail.
Giulia's voice suddenly rings out in the darkness, echoing off the cold stones.
"He will be back soon, you know."
I freeze, pressed against a pillar. She's trying to rattle me, throw me off my game. I force myself to breathe steadily, listening for any hint of Vincenzo's approach.
"What will you do when your lover finds you here, hands stained with blood?" Giulia taunts. Her accent curls around the words. "Will you kill him too?"
My heart pounds. I can't let her get in my head. But the thought of Vincenzo witnessing this sinister side of me fills me with dread.
No. Focus. I push away the distracting thoughts. This Giulia is the threat now. I’ll just dispose of her and tell Vincenzo she had a family emergency and left.
I slip from pillar to pillar, edging closer to the sound of her voice. In the distance, I spot a dark opening in the ruins, cordoned off by a construction barrier claiming “Do Not Enter.”
Perfect.
As Giulia's footsteps approach, I dart forward and whisk away the sign, then melt back into the shadows.
Giulia rounds the corner. I hold my breath, pressing myself flat against a column. She passes by my hiding spot, focused on the now unmarked and open passage before her. Her shiny heels click over the threshold into the darkness.
Now, the cat has become the prey. And she has entered my trap.
A sudden flash of inspiration strikes me, and I scale the wall.
"I know you're here, little mouse," she calls out, her voice bouncing off the walls. "Why don't you come out and play?"
I don't take the bait. Patience is key. I need to lead her exactly where I want her.
Perched on top of the wall, I follow her movements from above and see her moving slowly forward, back pressed against my wall. Behind her is a large piece of flooring with what looks like lattice mesh. It seems to act as roofing for something underground.
I press myself down into the wall and test a theory. I throw a stone at the flooring behind her.
It clinks, and the roof vibrates. The Temptress turns towards the sound, taking four steps in that direction. Swiftly, I jump off the wall, landing right behind her.
In a blur, I lunge forward and grab her by the throat, turning her around and walking her backward toward the lattice roof. She lets out a choked gasp, eyes wide with shock.
I kill two stones with one move. I’ve brought her closer to her death since I figure the roof cum floor is unstable, and that is the section closed off for restoration.
Her face twists into a snarl. With surprising strength, she wrenches free of my grip and pulls a broken stiletto from her waistband. I barely dodge the swipe of the sharpened weapon and step backward towards the roof. She keeps moving forward, lunging towards me.
I turn my neck back briefly and spot my trap up behind - the weakened wooden lattice covering a deep pit. Just a little further.
Sweat drips down my temple as I narrowly avoid a swipe to my throat. This Giulia is tiring of our game. Her strikes come faster, more reckless. She wants to end this.
"You should know by now, my pet. Even the Huntress can’t remain on top forever."
I clench my jaw. She's right where I need her.
I smile at her.
"Why don't you come to take my title then?"
At this moment, I see my opening. I feint left, then dive right just as she stabs. Giulia overextends, momentarily off-balance. Before she can recover, I kick out sideways, knocking her squarely onto the fragile lattice.
The wood splinters under her weight. As she drops, I seize her wrist. Our eyes lock.
“I’ll kill you,” she shrieks into the night, even though we both know she’s lost.
"Remember this, Temptress," I warn, my voice cold and steady. "You should never have come for mine."
With that, I release my grip on her arm and watch as she plummets down into the darkness below. A scream echoes up the pit, then fades away. My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, all I can hear is the pounding of my own heart.
"Camela… what have you done?" a voice whispers from the shadows.