Sapphire - Dona Of Lorenzo Giordano

Chapter One

Years Later

"Mama! Mama, please wake up! Dad! Daddy!"

Tears pooled from my eyes as I held onto my parents' cold hands. They were blue, lips dry and chapped. They were... lifeless. I sniffled as the smoke from the fire stung my eyes.

My eyes searched frantically for my siblings. I rushed to them on my weak legs. They were also dead, swimming in their blood. I crumbled at their feet and shook them violently.

"Ranzo, Raya, please..p..please wake up. You...you said we were going to play g...games together. Wake up!" No matter how much I cried and begged. It was of no use.

My parents were gone.

My siblings were dead.

Our fortress had crumbled in a fire.

My whole world has crashed before my eyes.

"Muuuumm!" I wailed, my heart stringing with so much pain. I should just die with them. I took a broken mirror piece close to me and raised it to pierce my neck. The piece was about piercing my skin when someone grabbed my hand and then, I woke up.

I gasped, my heart thumping hard against my chest as my chest rose and fell in deep breaths filled with fear. I rubbed away the sweat dripping down my head and sat up abruptly. The smell of chemicals and sanitizers shot through my nose, making me nauseated. My head feels like crap, I feel like I would pass out.

Something tugged my wrist and I looked down at it. An IV? I touched my face and felt something over my mouth. I took it off and looked at it. An oxygen mask. I looked around the white room and then at my body. I couldn't mistake the place for somewhere else. I was in a hospital. How did I get here? What happened? The last thing I remember is...

"Run, Sapphire!"

"Don't look back!"

"Go without me, I'll be fine."

"Raven!"

I held my head as memories came rushing in. I remember now. I was escaping...no, we were escaping. We were being chased down by wild dogs. I lost contact with my peers in the middle of the way. I remember being chased by them and falling down a hill. I hit my head pretty hard. I'm surprised I survived.

I should get out of here. I was deciding on my plan of escape when a man in a lab coat walked it. I guessed he was the doctor.

"Great heavens, you're awake!" He gasped, rushing to me. He placed his stethoscope on my chest and pulled down my eyes. I slapped his hand off in annoyance when his check-up became unbearable.

"I can't believe you're awake! I thought you would stay in a coma forever."

"C..coma?" I asked, my voice coming out thick and coarse. I cringed inwardly. I could barely recognize my own voice.

"Yes, you've been in a coma for six months."

My eyes widened in shock. "S...six months?"

I regretted talking again.

"Yes."

I frowned. Who brought me here? How did I leave the woods?

"A nurse will come in shortly to attend to you, okay? You must be thirsty."

I touched my throat and nodded. I was so confused I didn't notice my dry throat until now that he mentioned it. "She'll come in now." He told me with a smile and I rolled my eyes mentally. His wrinkled smile made me sick.

As he said, a nurse came in shortly after he left.

"Congratulations, Miss." She smiled at me. "My name is Daila, I've been taking care of you since.."

Her words became muffled as I scrutinized her body. She's a few inches taller than I am but less curvy. Her shoulders aren't so broad and her bust is almost the same size as mine. Her uniform should fit perfectly. She came to me and proceeded to change my IV.

"...It's nice seeing you awake." Her words became clear again as I paid attention to them.

"How are you feeling?" She asks and I faked a smile.

"I'm feeling a little bit of pain here." I touched my neck, feigning hurt. She came closer and pressed the spot at the back of my neck.

"Where? Here?"

I hit her on the side of her neck and she fell unconsciously on the bed. I detached the IV and stepped to the ground. My legs felt like jelly at first, must be because I'd been lying down for six months. I got control of my legs and took off the patient's uniform I was wearing. I took off the nurse's uniform and wore it. I wore her mask, gloves, and beret and wore her the patient uniform. I put her to lie on the bed and I wore her shoes.

I don't know who brought me here but I know it's a bad idea for them to see me awake. I carried a tray and exited the room. I passed by several doctors but I didn't stop. I simply greeted them with "Doctor" and went my way. When I made sure no one was looking, I tossed the tray in a trashcan and walked to the entrance.

"Going for lunch?" I paused when I heard someone ask. I turned to the owner of the voice and nodded.

"Cool! Let's go together."

Bitch, what? She linked our arms and began to pull me out. Who the f**k is this bimbo and why is she getting in my way.

"Garam!" I heard someone yell. "You're needed."

The Bimbo groaned and left my arm. "I guess you're going alone."

Thank goodness.

She jogged back and I increased my steps. I shut my eyes unconsciously as I felt a bright light hit my face. I slowly opened my eyes and closed them back again. I've been locked up in darkness for so long that the sun seems like the brightest thing that has ever shone on my face. I opened my eyes and my vision became clearer as I began to adjust to the light.

Chills covered my dry mocha skin as the afternoon breeze blew by. I had forgotten how this felt. I sighted several kids playing with kites and childhood memories flowed in.

"Daddy, come help me with my kite."

"Coming, sweetheart."

"Aw, dad, you only fancy Ivy. I've been calling you for a while now."

"Ha ha ha. Coming."

"You're just jealous of me."

"Hahaha."

I closed my eyes to shut out the memories. I shouldn't be recollecting fickle things like that. Those times mean nothing to me now. Childhood Ivy is dead. I am Sapphire now. The bloody assassin.

I opened my eyes and crossed the street. I need to move away from here. Those people are fast. They could have already traced me here. I sighted an SUV by the road and I tiptoed to it. I checked around for anyone before I stepped into the open truck. There were sacs filled with something all around. I opened one and took out its contents. Potatoes.

I saw an empty sack and I squirmed inside. I had a small frame, so wearing the sack was easy. I heard the door jam close and I stiffened. I felt the van begin to move and I stood still at the back.

After a while, we came to a stop. The front door opened and I heard approaching steps.

"Ciao, brother."

"George, pensavo avessi detto che saresti andato da qualche parte oggi. (George, I thought you said you were going somewhere today)?"

"Che può aspettare. Hai sentito la notizia di Emilio Giordano? (That can wait. Did you hear the news about Emilio Giordano?)"

"Di lui che ha donato 100 milioni per aiutare le madri single? (About him donating 100 million to help single mothers)?" He laughed. "chi sta scherzando? (Who is he kidding?)"

I listened closely as the two Italians conversed. I could understand them. Italian was one of the languages we were forced to learn at "The House". Emilio Giordano. I could never forget that name. The old hag who bought me. The motherfucker that dared to slap my cheek. He donated what? The f*****g irony!

The doors to the truck opened and I waited as they dragged the potato sacks out.

"Perché è questo fottuto pesante? (Why is this one f*****g heavy?)" One cussed as he dragged me out.

"controllalo. (Check it.)"

"Bene Okay."

I immediately shot up and grabbed the chubby Italian by his throat.

"W..who are you?"

Oh, so he understands English.

"Answer my questions if you do not want your friend here to die."

"Y..yes."

I looked around where we were. It was a secluded area. No other person was in sight.

"Where is this place?"

"It's a location on the outskirts of Sassari. P..please, let him go."

I tightened my grip on his friend and he quickly got on his knees, begging profusely. "W..what do you want?"

"Emilio Giordano. Where can I find him?"

"I...I don't know."

I glanced at the tattoo poking out from beneath his collar and I smirked. f*****g liar.

"Answer me!"

"I...I really don't know but I guess that he'd be at Siren today. He goes to a casino named Siren to watch Purple Ivy perform and..."

"Wait! Purple Ivy?"

He nodded vigorously. "She's a jazz singer. The best performer there is. She performs for the higher-ups."

I hummed. Purple Ivy, huh?

"Where is this Siren?"

"It's at Niedda. He'll be there tonight. 10p.m."

I smirked. "I see."

"Let my brother down now."

I smirked and snapped the neck of the cubby.

"Noooo!!" He cried as the lifeless body of his brother fell to the ground. "Y..you b***h!" He spat and reached for his shoes. Before he could pull out anything, I sent a kick to his head. The sound of something breaking was satisfying. I bent in front of him and grabbed him by his hair.

"You're not just a potato transporter, you?"

He strained out a cough. "Bitch."

"You should never reveal the information of your brothers." I told him before I snapped his head back.

Not everyone knows the schedule of someone like Emilio. The only person that can know it is his right-hand man or the people of the mafia that are close to him. So it's one of two things. One : this guy is close to Emilio's or two : Emilio's got himself a spy. I did him a favor by eliminating him. I checked his pocket and took out his wallet. I counted the money he had in it and hissed.

"Twenty bucks? Broke bitch." I spat on his body. I took out the knife in his boot and went into the SUV. Siren, here I come. Get ready for me, Emilio.

***

I parked a few safe distances away from the casino. I adjusted the black jumpsuit I was wearing and wore my mask. I found the jumpsuit and a loaded gun at the back of the bus. I got down and approached the casino stealthily. I hid behind a car as I watched a white SUV pull into the driveway. There was a purple Ivy flower printed at the back of the bus and I knew immediately that that was the performer.

I searched my eyes for any CCTV and I sighted three. Shooting the three shouldn't be a problem. I followed Purple Ivy's car and hid behind it. A huge man I guess to be the bodyguard stepped down from the car. He had his back on me so I hopped on his back. Before he could react, I suffocated him with a handkerchief. I had a small frame so he couldn't grab me and flip me over. He slumped on the ground.

The other bodyguard must have noticed me as he alighted and pointed his gun at me. I slid under the car and shot his leg. He didn't get the chance to cry out in pain before I sent a bullet to his head. I slid open the SUV and pointed my gun and trembling Purple Ivy.

"Now, darling, calm your t**s. I only need to borrow your identity." I told her and she nodded. Good, she's cooperative. I held her upper arm and dragged her down. I made sure I placed my gun at her side as I led her in. She led the way into her dressing room and I slammed the door shut when we got in.

"What are you wearing for today?" I asked her and she pointed her shaky fingers to the closet. I sighted tape on the dressing mirror and I used it to tape her mouth. I bound her hands and legs too with it and shoved her in the closet.

"You won't die. Suffocate, maybe, but you won't die." I took out the stone-adorned purple evening gown and a purple mask. I shut the door in her face and sat in front of the mirror. Different make-up products were lined on the dressing mirror so I got to work. I did heavy make-up and wore an evening dress. The dress was strapless with two splits on each thigh. I wore a purple mask and put on a purple perm wig.

By the time I was done, I looked so unrecognizable. If there's one thing I've learned in "The House", it's how to make a man bow at my feet and have him do my will. Emilio, get ready for me.