Alessia And The Dark Prince

Chapter 1 A Dangerous Alliance Raindrops pelted against the ground, echoing in the empty garden. Alessia trudged through a poodle, her sandals squishing with each step she took. "Madamé Alessia!" Gertrude, her maid, a middle-aged brunette dressed in white scrubs, called for her. Alessia ignored her, running to the flower beds and plucking them with her hands. Dirt got into her nails as she dug them out from the ground. Sooner, they splashed against her white dress and freshly permed auburn hair. "Alessia, come out of the rain or you'll catch a cold!" Gertrude called out again. Alessia was done picking the flowers. She got to her feet and ran to meet Getrude. Her face drooped with sorrow as she showed the woman the drenched flowers. Getrude could only shake her head. She patted Alessia's wet hair to comfort her. "It's going to be okay, Alessi. No one expected the rain not even the weather man. He said it would be sunny today." Alessia sobbed and Getrude put her arms around her. "Come on, let's get you warm." Alessia refused to follow her. She stomped her foot on the floor. Getrude palmed her face. "Alessia, come on. You'll get cold if you don't get warmed up. Leave the flowers. We'll buy lilies from the market later." Alessia shook her head, crying a river. Getrude caught her lowerlip in her teeth. Alessia was always looking forward to this day. It was the 16th of September - the death anniversary of Sir Roberto Bianchi, Alessia's late father. And Alessia had a tradition for putting purple lilies on his grave stone every year. No rain had ever ruined the moments Alessia spent with her father but this year, it did. The cold shower ruined the lilies Alessia had personally planted and she was sad. "I'll ask Giovanni if we can dry the lily flowers but for now, let's get you cleaned up." Getrude gave her a reassuring smile. Alessia's hazel eyes sparkled with delight as she gave the flowers to Giovanni who had come to collect them. "Help me with the lilies. If you can't, just buy new ones." Getrude whispered to him. Then she turned to Alessia, "Shall we?" She stole her hands into Alessia's. Before they would turn to the staircase, Donna Ciara, Alessia's step mother, was approaching. "Where have you both been!" She thundered and it startled Alessia. Getrude began in a soft tone. "Apologies, Signora. Alessia was gardening." "In the rain? Is she insane?" Ciara shot Alessia a hostile glare. Her mismatched eyes scrutinizing the young girl standing in a poodle she made with her drenched clothes. "Roberto would turn in his grave if he saw this. Get her upstairs now! There are guests waiting for us." She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Yes, Donna." With a humble bow, Getrude took Alessia's hands and pulled her up the stairs with her. "What guests are here?" Alessia asked in sign language. Getrude replied in the same manner. "I don't know. We can only know till we get to her office." "Okay." They got to Alessia's bedroom. "I'll draw up a bath for you, Alessi. Go change into your bathrobe." Getrude drew her sleeves to her elbow and motioned to the bathroom. Alessia peeled off her wet clothes and pulled her robe from where she hung it on the rack. She tied the belt around her waist and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. The rain had stopped falling and the sun was out of the dark clouds, letting in natural light into the room while offering a mesmerizing view of Milan. She fisted the draperies hooked beside the window. Her father had loved watching the sun rise. Now, he was no more. Getrude walked in. "Ma'am, your bath is ready." Alessia spurn around with filled eyes. "Oh child, don't cry. It'll be alright." Getrude crossed the room to hug her. After Alessia had her shower, Getrude helped her into her dress, a knee-length white gown, the satin simmering with diamonds and radiating exquisite beauty. Alessia sat on the red plush couch stationed by the walls where red draperies hung from as Getrude styled her hair. When she was done, she passed the mirror to Alessia. Her eyes brightened up and she smiled. "Shall we?" Together, they walked down the stairs hand in hand. Alessia trembled as they approached Ciara's office "Go in, Alessi." Getrude told her. Alessi knocked softly on the door and it clicked open. She took a deep breath and walked in. Her heart raced as she approached further. She hated being summoned in her stepmother's office. It never boded well. "Alessia, come here!" Ciara ordered, her voice dripping with malice. Alessia hesitated, her feet felt heavy but she knew better than to disobey her stepmother. "You summoned me, mom." Alessia said with a handsign to Ciara. "Yes…You're getting married." Ciara announced, both her eyes carrying a sinister light. Alessia's world went dark. Married? How? "Getting married? I can't get married. Look at me!" Alessia felt a lump form in her throat as she made the hand sign to her stepmom. "You are getting married and my decision is final!" Ciara banged her fist on her mahogany desk, pushing back her office chair. Tears filled Alessia's eyes. She never wanted to get married. Not like this. Not when she was a mute. Ciara marched towards Alessia and grabbed her face, pressing her nails into the girl's skin. "You are going to get married. Do you hear me? Refuse me and I'll deal with you mercilessly!" Alessia sniffles softly as more tears followed. Ciara let go off her, wiping her hand with a kerchief. "Let's go. We can't keep your husband-to-be waiting." Alessia scrubbed her face with the heels of her hands. "Who am I getting married to?" She asked with a handsign. "Don Marco." Ciara replied. Alessia's eyes widened in horror. The Mafia? No! But Ciara's face was set as a stone. She had already made her decision and there was no backing out.