With a glance out of window in our library, I noticed that a large carriage was making its way into the courtyard outside. I frowned and with a little sigh I turned on my heel and started my way downstairs.

I checked myself over as I hurried down the dark corridors of the mansion, making sure that I was presentable for my father's arrival. He could be a harsh man at times and I certainly needed things to go smoothly so he wouldn’t discover the fact that I had hired someone new.

My heels made quick clicking noises as I tried to rush down the halls while still looking dignified. I couldn't be late. Lucio should have informed me that it had gotten late so fast. I would have to scold him about that later, after dinner.

The front hallway that led to the main door was opened for me so I rushed down steps, high taps ringing through the air as my heels hit the hard marble, trying to get down to the base as fast as possible. I could already see my father’s carriage rolling up towards our mansion, shaking as the wheels hit the cracks in the bricks. The carriage came closer and closer every second, and I felt a shudder run through me.

He had been gone the past week, and he therefore had no idea about Enzo. I would not be telling him about Enzo now either. Not because I knew my father would mind that I had acquired a new slave, when we really didn’t need one, but because I wanted to get Enzo more under my control before I told him. Enzo was to be my secret for now. My dirty little secret.

The carriage came around the fountain that was in the middle of our courtyard, spewing out water from a trumpet that an angel was blowing, and came to an stop five feet away from me. His carriage was as different from mine as it could be. Where mine were pitch black, only set with small stain glass windows, his was gleamingly white, painted in with Siena’s Coat of Arms on both sides. For this carriage, which he would always use when he was out on business trips, he used two ashen white horses.

His personal coachman quickly slides down from his seat in front-moving with a slight limp, I noted- and got around to the door on the side in a few careful strides. He opens the door and out of the carriage steps my father right before he is struck with my father's walking stick.

I raise a questioning eyebrow as to ask what the slave had done wrong, but I didn't need to ask. My father started to yell at the cowering man.

"You kept me waiting for far too long!" he shouted, glaring. His dark brown eyes were harsh. "You're lucky I don't dismiss you from your duties at once!"

My father was definitely an intimidating man. He was tall, towering over most people with his stature. He was very thick around his middle, a sign that he was wealthy enough to have extravagant feasts whenever he pleased. A permanent frown was etched onto his face, along with small wrinkles here and there from age. He didn't look his age though, except for that and the little bit of gray hair he had showing up.

I decided to interrupt, despite what I'd been taught my whole life. I coughed quietly and my father's gaze slipped over to me and off of the servant.

I nodded my head and put on a polite smile. "Welcome back, father. I hope your time spent traveling was well?"

While I spoke, the servant scurried off as fast as he could before he was scolded more.

"Hm?" My father seemed to acknowledge my presence at last and cleared his throat while he straightened his back. "Oh, yes. Everything went well. I want nothing more than to sit down in the library for some time by myself. Have a slave collect me when dinner is ready."

He turned and left the courtyard swiftly. I let him get up the stairs and in the door before I followed him with swift movements, the toes of my shoes barely touching the ground before I have taken the next step. My dress was flowing out and around me, swirling. When I reached the top of the stairs, the massive mahogany doors opened for me and I continued to find my way up to my chamber, taking light steps, swirling over the floors, up the stairs and into my chamber.

My chamber was once again lit up by ivory candles that shone up in a warm way, giving my rather cold looking chamber a bit of a homier look. Since this was one of the only rooms in this place that wasn’t draped in linen or satin, but had been kept bare, it was quite dark. Bricks made out a pattern on the walls, and the light from the candles only enforced this pattern of long lines.

By the fireplace stood Beretta, my old maid. Her crocked figure was bent over the fireplace, lighting it up. Crackles can soon be heard as the wood catches fire. I move over to the chairs that’s situated besides the fireplace, letting my body fall down in one of them.

“Is there anything you need, Miss Bella?” Beretta asks me, and I shake my head slightly and she bows lightly in front of me before scurrying out of my chamber. I let out a sigh of relief as the door shuts behind her, and I am alone with my thoughts for once.

My father was home again, which meant that I needed be more careful with my business, especially my business with Enzo. My father had never really liked the way I was with men; I wasn’t married, as I should have been. But, the wedding that was planned for me had been cancelled as my mother died in childbirth. My father didn’t want me married away straight after, and it had angered the father of the guy I was promised to. So he pulled out of the deal.

There had been talk about getting me wed after that, but no more than that. It hadn’t been because I hadn’t been attractive, but because my father hadn’t approved of the joining. He didn’t approve of anyone actually. Which had led me on my own hunt.

I probably had more men in my bed than some of the hookers around this town, and by now it had become known in the city to a certain extent. They didn’t know who had been with me and they didn’t know what happened. Which was good, though it also had resulted in some nasty rumors. Rumors that unfortunately my father had heard.

My father resented my choice in men, and to be honest, I could understand him a bit. My father was very Christian, my mother had been as well. They had believed in innocence for girls who weren’t wed. I didn’t care about this at all, never did after my mother’s death and never will. It won’t help me in the end anyway, and I wasn’t about to be wed anytime soon, if not at all. So I did what I wanted.

Since my father knew about my nightly visitors, he would know something was up with Enzo. The boy was useless in cleaning the house, cooking and trimming the gardens. And he had taught me many years ago that we don’t keep slaves that are useless unless they have some special purpose. Which, indeed, Enzo had, and I knew my father wouldn’t like it. He had to be kept a secret.

I don’t know for how long I sat there, slumped in my chair, watching the flames flicker in front of me. To be honest, I didn’t care for how long I’d been sitting there. I knew that nothing interesting would happen before Beretta would come to tell me it was dinner anyway. So I just lent my head back and tried to relax some. If my plans went as I wanted, which they usually did, I would need my strength later. My head dozed off from the warmth that radiated from the fireplace and my body relaxed into the chair.

A while later, I heard the door creak open, and I turned my head to see who had entered. A crooked face, full of wrinkles and pigment spots beamed back at me.

“The dinner is served, Miss.” The old woman’s voice is full of friendliness, which I know is only meant for me. The maid cannot stand anyone but me, and she’s not very subtle with it either. She prefers to only deal with me, and since she’s so old, my father have agreed. Though, Lucio does all the hard work, while she gets the easiest. Calling me down for dinner for example.

I leap out of the plush chair, rushing towards the door, simply saying a small thanks as I pass Beretta.

When I got down to the private dining room that we only used when it was just the two of us or if we had one or two guests, my father was already there. He was sitting in his usual place at the end of the table, waiting for the servants to get his dinner in front of him. He doesn’t look up when I enter, just nods, marking that he have noticed me.

“You are late.” He states simply.

“I’m sorry, father. I didn’t watch the time. It won’t happen again.” My answer comes out automatically, as we both know this have happened before, and it will probably happen again soon enough.

I walk over to my place at the other end of the table, where’s there already a servant who’s holding the chair out for me. As I sit down, he pushes it in place before he leaves. I stare out and over to my father who doesn’t take notice of me in any kind of way anymore. We sit there for a couple of minutes in silence and I wonder if I should break it, but knowing him, it would be a mistake.

Luckily, two servants soon comes rushing out to put our dinner in front of us. A silver plate with chicken, potatoes and fried vegetables. My father looked up from his plate and up to the servant that stood beside him. Redness started to spread from his neck slowly. The servant seemed to notice and backed away a little.

“Is this all?!?!” His voice screeched and the servant stepped a bit away, avoiding the spit that came out of my father’s mouth.

“I’m sorry, sir, but the chef didn’t have much raw materials to work with.” The tame excuse comes out of the servant with fast words, and once again he backs away when he sees my father’s face go even redder.

Without a word, my father turns his head towards me, points a finger at my face, before he spits, “You! You need to get a grip on the staff here!”

“Yes, father.” I smile sweetly back at him, knowing that there’s no good in protesting. After that, the rest of the dinner goes in silence. I do not dare to ask him anything, due to the fact that his face is still red with anger. As fast as I was done with my dinner, a servant was by my side, removing my plate before disappearing again. I shuffled out of my chair, said a quick ‘goodnight’ to my father before walking back up to my chamber.

Once again the door was opened for me, and this time a subtle darkness welcomed me as the velvet curtains were pulled over the windows. The room was only dimly lit. Beretta had kept the fireplace alive while I’d been gone and the room was relatively warm. I went over to my chairs again and slumped down in one of them, letting my body rest and my mind wander.

My first thought went to my father, as he probably was still down in the dining room, eating his food while scowling at it. The truth was, that he hated everything that wasn’t extravagant and wasn’t served at a party. Everything that was served as a common meal displeased him and the chef knew that, but still he chose to do so. I would not tell Beretta to keep a better order on him, since it was all his fault anyways.

My next thought went to Enzo, and the fact that he should soon be here. It would soon be dark, which meant that the next stage of my plans would be fulfilled. And to be honest, I was looking forward to it. The boy would very soon know what it meant to serve me, and he would soon enough learn that submission was his place here, and submission to me would give him more than he could ever dream of. He would be mine, in every way I want him to.

As long as I could keep him away from my father, everything would go as I planned. Not that it should be a problem at all. I would let him go before noon from my service, and call him back to sunset. In the meanwhile, he could do whatever he pleased for everything I cared, as long as he didn’t do anything that would put shame to my name. But, judging from what he had told me, he would use this time to tend to his brother.

I slumped even longer back into my chair, let my head fall.

Lucio’s P.O.V:

I walked stiffly up the last stairs to Mr. Donatello’s library, thinking closely on what I was about to tell him. I needed to present my problem right, or else it could be stowed underneath a carpet like every other problem he got presented. It needed to make an impact on him. I needed it to do so, or else I would soon be without importance here.

I stop outside the door, hesitating a bit before I knock three times on the oak door.

“Step in, Lucio.” Mr. Donatello’s voice booms through the massive door, and I open it, walking slowly in.  He is sitting behind his desk, a big furrow on his forehead, looking down at some papers. When he notices that I’ve entered, he lift his head and looks directly at me with an icy stare.

“What do you want?” His question comes in the coldest tone, and I know that I only have one shot at explaining him the situation.

“Well, I don’t know if you know this, but there’s a new servant in this household.” I started off, knowing this would catch his attention. His head, who had gone back to the paper in front of him snapped back at me.

“No, I did not know that.” He states.

“Well, then I need to inform you of this, sir. He worked with whatever we put him to for the last week, until yesterday, when your daughter found something new for him to do. I do not know exactly what that is, but I do know that both Beretta and I have to leave them alone while he works. This has me a bit worried, sir.”

He doesn’t say anything to my statement, just stares out into the air for the longest time.

“Sir, should I do something about the case?” I ask him cautiously.

“Here’s what you are to do, Lucio.” He says sharply. “You are to find out what this new servant does for my daughter, then you shall report back to me. Nothing more, nothing less. Understand?”

I only nod, before he motions for me to get out of his library.

Bella’s P.O.V:

It had been dark for a little while now, and Enzo was still not here. I had been expecting him to be here to dusk, not a long time after. I felt a bit aggravated that he was not here yet, because this ruined my plans for him for this evening. But, plans could always change when needed, and right now, my plan had changed a lot.

Enzo would soon learn not to come late again.