CHAPTER 14
Senora Draco headed out to the field to fetch Arlana. The Dom and Dona had decided to eat in the main dining room and she needed the flowers right away. She heard a scream and froze in place. “This cannot be good,” she muttered quietly to herself. She thought she heard a male voice yell out. She grabbed a broom from the side of the house, steeled herself, and walked as fast and securely as her aging body would allow her to without falling.
“Shut up!” Antonio yelled and tried to cover Arlana's mouth with his hand. “This will all be so much easier if you'd just be still!”
Arlana started shaking her head and bit down on one of Antonio's fingers. Antonio cried out in pain. He pulled his hand away and then backhanded Arlana in the face. Arlana tried to run from Antonio but he grabbed hold of her skirt and pulled her back. She fell on the ground and he toppled onto her. He pinned her arms to the side. “Now I've got you just where I want you,” a sickening smile spread across his face. Arlana tried to move away from him but his weight was too heavy on her. She cried out for help.
“Get off of her right this instant!” said a panting, red cheeked Senora Draco.
“Do you really think you can stop me old woman? Get out of here now or I will make sure you lose your position in this house. Go! I'm trying to have some fun here. ”
Senora Draco pointed the broom towards him, “Get off her now!” And with those words she began hitting him frantically on the head. Antonio grabbed her foot and Senora Draco stumbled.
“Leave her alone!” Arlana found her voice. With the distraction she managed to get out of Antonio's grasp. He tried pulling her back towards him and Senora Draco once again resumed her broom assault.
The ruckus became louder and louder and soon there were a number of footsteps racing down the path towards them. Salvatore ran out ahead and reached them first. When he first came upon the scene his mouth hung open in shock. Then his eyes blazed in outrage as he took in Arlana's ripped and dirtied dress as well as the reddened marks across her face. He did not speak, did not ask any questions, but instead went straight over to Antonio and punched him in the face. Antonio fell over into blackness. As he was falling the Dom, Donna, and Marco arrived.
“What is going on? Salvatore, did you just hit my brother?” the Dom asked in confusion. Alicia pushed past him.
“Ruth, Ruthy, what has happened to you!” She cried out. Alicia pulled Arlana into her arms and held her close. “What has happened?”
Senora Draco put her hands to her mouth in astonishment. “This is Ruth?”
“This is my baby sister, what is she doing out here like this, what have you let happen to her?”
The Dom went to comfort his wife, “Come let's go inside, let's take care of her wounds and get her something to wear. We will find out what happened. Salvatore, pick up my brother and bring him to his room.”
Salvatore picked up Antonio. He was so shocked, “The Dona's sister,” he mumbled in disbelief.
Arlana was stoic as she was lead into the house. Alicia was openly weeping over her. Senora Draco was still in shock and feeling the after effects of her battle. After Salvatore dropped Antonio onto his bed and none too gently, he headed out to the main room. He saw Senora Draco still standing next to the front entrance. It was so unlike her to not be doing anything. And as he looked at her feeble arms and her aging body his heart welled up with admiration that this woman was so brave to try and rescue Arlana all on her own, with her broom. He walked towards her and took her arm gently. “Senora, why don't you come sit down?” He led her to the couch and poured her a glass of water. She took a sip and looked up at Salvatore, “The Dona's sister,” she spoke softly, “thank goodness you came when you did.”
Alicia led Arlana up to her and the Dom's room. “Ruthy, come here, lie down and rest, it will be alright.”
Alicia wondered inside if it really would be alright. After just coming back from her ordeal to find her sister here, at her own house, injured and looking so forlorn. She smoothed Arlana's hair away from her face. One of the servants brought in a basin of water and a towel. Alicia dipped the towel in the water and began to clean the dirt and blood off of Arlana's face. “Ruthy, I am so sorry, I didn't know you had already arrived, I am so sorry you were hurt, who did this to you? Did Antonio do this to you?” Arlana gave a quick nod yes as a tear slid down her cheek. As she looked at Alicia, she was so glad to be found, that someone knew who she was. And yet, when she looked at Alicia she did not recognize her and she had no more feelings as to knowing who she was. She reached for Alicia's hand and squeezed it, she wasn't sure if it was to comfort Alicia or herself. She did not speak. She was not ready to come out with it, the fact that she had no idea who any of these people were, not even her own sister. She took comfort in the fact that at least now she was safe.
The Dom strode through the house towards Salvatore. “What is going on here, tell me everything.”
He looked strained but he still spoke with an air of authority and composure even after all that had happened.
“I heard screaming, and yelling. I ran to find out what was happening and I see your brother Antonio attacking Amber and Senora Draco, while Senora Draco is attacking him with a broom. I walked up to him and struck him down, that is all that I know.”
“Wait, who is Amber?”
“I am sorry, I mean Ruth, the Dona's sister. I had no idea, we all thought her name was Amber and that she was a servant in this house.”
“What? How did this come to be?!” The Dom looked pointedly in Senora Draco’s direction. Salvatore began to regret that he had mentioned her being a servant, he did not want Senora Draco to take blame for that.
Senora Draco sat up in her chair. She looked at the Dom and replied, “I am so sorry sir, I did not know. But I should have guessed, I knew they resembled each other but she claimed to be someone else. She came here with Lilliana, a servant we recently hired, she may know more. I take full responsibility, I understand if I have to leave.”
“Oh no Senora Draco, I would not ask you to leave. You protected Ruth, with your life. For that I am so grateful. I am appalled that my own brother would behave in this way. I will take care of him, he will pay the penalty, not you. You deserve a reward, as do you Salvatore. Senora Draco, you have done enough for today. I want you to take the rest of the day off, get some rest, whatever you need. Salvatore, I could use your help in getting things straightened out with my brother.”
“Anything you need, I would be glad to be of assistance.”
“Thank you Salvatore. I am going to have Gabriella take Senora to her room and make sure she has everything she needs. Please just watch Antonio for now, if he wakes up don't let him leave the room. I am going to go find Marco and ask him if he will make sure my wife and her sister are comfortable and looked after while you and I take care of this. After that I would like to speak to this Lilliana.”
Salvatore nodded to the Dom and headed off towards Antonio's room.