Carnem Levare Read Online Free PDF Page A

His
guest finally stopped humming.
    “ Stefano, I will always love you,
but we must move on—”
    “ Never!” he screamed at the top of
his lungs. Waves of echoes reflected back.
    His lover gasped. “Take me back . . . now, Stefano.”
Her fingers spanned across her upper arms. Though her dress’s heavy
material was restrictive, she continued to squeeze.
    “ Do not be afraid, amore. Forgive
me. I only want to love you.” He paused, lowering his eyes to stare
into her face. It was difficult in the darkness, but he had
mastered the art of seeking out her sky-colored irises from any
angle. And when she didn’t respond or relax, he moved to be at her
side. But it was a fruitless attempt because they only rocked,
nearly toppling over.
    Anastasia became frenzied. She began waving her arms
and twisting away from Stefano’s advances, the gondola started
rocking even more so than before. This did not deter Stefano, as he
now knelt before her, pressing down on the lower portions of her
gown, cutting off the flow of her blood.
     
    “ You were born for me,” Stefano
pleaded. He rested his head in her lap. “You are mine.”
    “ I am afraid . . .” Anastasia was
barely able to speak. Her dress constricted her circulation. She
gasped, but Stefano would not withdraw. He remained kneeling at her
lap.
    As the moon evaded their surroundings and darkness
threatened their emotions, the silence was torturous. Anastasia’s
pupils reached wildly for a nearby escape, while Stefano reckoned
to remain forever. His fingers reached upward to caress her chin.
She pulled away. Her hands clasped, removing any further hope of
advancement.
    “ Take me back!” she commanded. This
time her words were quick and rang through the air.
    Stefano shook his head. He could not believe that
she really wanted to be taken back, returned to a life of
sacrifice. For Stefano, love meant everything . . . family meant
nothing again.
    “ No . . . no . . .” He wanted her
to believe that their lives would be forever intertwined. He
resolved in his mind that tonight would be their flight. She had
promised always; he had promised forever. Tonight would begin their
always and forever.
    “ Get away from me, Stefano. I want
to go home!”
    As her body shook, he only clicked his tongue
against the roof of his mouth. Quick sounds that were meant to
settle his intended ran against the waves. Beyond the docks, dim
reminders of carnival’s festivities carried on the night’s air. But
the square was too far away and the participants were perhaps too
far-gone to recognize the difference between a woman’s joy and poor
Anastasia’s pleas.
    “ I will scream,” she calmly
warned.
    “ For what reason would you? We are
lovers.” Stefano knew that she could not possibly want to ward him
off. He only needed to reassure her that he was capable of being
her everything.
    He drew closer. His chest tipped fully onto her lap.
She wiggled unsuccessfully. Her feet wailed beneath her dress.
    She spat at his mask.
    He removed it.
    There was not a trace of anger on his face, and
certainly not in his words.
    “ I love you,” Stefano announced.
His lips touched her nose, sank down to her lips and reached over
to a cheek. “I’m the only one to love you, Anastasia. I’ve sampled
your delicacies. I’ve cherished you from birth. And now, I will
make you happy for eternity.”
    She shook wildly. “You’re a madman! I no longer want
this. I no longer want you. I am getting married to Anto—”
    “ No!” His chest pounded again. Not
for love this time, but for anger. For whatever reason, Anastasia
was trying to upset him. He couldn’t understand why. They had come
together, practically unified as husband and wife. And now she was
speaking of another man? “No!”
    “ I do love you, Stefano, but I have
accepted my fate. My future does not lie with you.” With each word,
she grew stronger. Her expression became firmer than before. Her
position turned upright. She no longer