Stravaganza: City of Lost Hearts
All right, so you guys asked for it! Here's the sequel to Stravaganza: City of the Flower's Deception.
Rules: No Flaming
Ask Questions if you're confused
Disclaimer: I don't own, Stravaganza or any other books related to Stravaganza. I only own the characters that I made up in this story.
Prologue
Arianna stood at her window, staring out into the street. Thesnow fell heavily upon the street and everything else not sheltered.
Arianna's four year-old son stood next to her. He looked at his mother and didn't dare smile. Even though he was young, he knew what day it was. It was the day his father died.
Four years ago, Arianna was not aware that she was pregnant at the time of Luciano's death. Only a few weeks after his death did she realize that she was pregnant with her son. Her son went two weeks without having a name, but the Duchessa finally decided to name him Julian. She thought it was a name Luciano would have loved.
Her son looked up and she smiled at him. He knew it was okay to smile now. A huge, goofy grin spread across the young boy's face and he laughed.
"Mama, why is it snow?"he asked in a baby voice.
"Hm? I don't know... That'sa question you should ask your Grandfather... Would you like to go visit him today?"
Julian nodded his head furiously and Arianna smile grew. My dear son... You've turned out so well to not have a father... My lovely boy...
Julian tugged at his mother's dress. "Mama, it stopped! It stopped!"
"What stopped, Julian?"
"The snow! The snow!" Julian's adorable baby voice warmed Arianna's heart. She lifted him up and held him tight. "Would you like to go outside?"
Julian shook his head and his smile faded. "It's too cold." There was a brief pause and then Julian squealed. "Look, Mama, a rose!"
Arianna looked down at the street and sure enough-there-in the middle of the street laid a beautiful, deep red rose. It was identical to the one Luciano had given her four long years ago. Arianna's broad smile faded and she fought back the tears threatening to fall.
"Mama, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, sweetie." Arianna set Julian down gently and tucked him into his bed. "Why don't you take a nap and when you wake up we'll go visit Grandfather."
"Okay," Julian answered happily and quickly drifted off to sleep.
Arianna smiled again and walked out of her son's bedroom. The snow is so beautiful. It's much better than the rain... That rain...
Tears fell from Arianna's eyes as she walked down the hallway to her own bedroom. I love you, Luciano...