Venetian Moon: The Illusion
By: Bunniko
Disclaimer: I own no rights to Sailor Moon by Naoko-san or "Dangerous Beauty" of Regency Enterprises.
Summary: 16th century Venice. The Lunar Court is reincarnated in a Paradise of sorts.
Note: Due to the setting, the English names from the translated manga suit my needs best. (With the exceptions of the Generals.) This is Part 5. I recommend you read the Introduction, Part 1: The Encounter, Part 2: The Connections, Part 3: The Beginning and Part 4: The Seduction first.
"Venice, 1583 - the richest, most decadent city in Europe. Its women were treated as property – few even knew how to read.
But there were some who enjoyed a different fate . . ." ~ opening of "Dangerous Beauty"
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By the time the noon sun had risen, all five of the couples had parted company. In each bedroom, a similar mushy scene was played out as the young man took his reluctant leave of his fair companion. Each promised to return after certain arrangements had been taken care of. By noon, each of the girls had contentedly curled up in the center of their big beds and enjoyed at least a one-hour nap. At noon however, all five were roused by Leila, Mother Petrucho and Matilda. Quickly, each of the girls was told to go into the Roman style bath that was a silent tribute to Leila's wealth and taste.
The Roman style bath was a four-foot deep square, lined with expensive white tile. It was large enough to hold at least eight people comfortably. Each of the girls sank into the warm, rose scented water with a contented sigh. Steam curled mistily in the air, curling all the girls' hair and flushing their cheeks.
Amy lay back, her head resting on the curved tiles where the bath met the floor. Her blue-tinted hair curled closely about her face. Her eyes were closed, her mouth curved in a soft smile. As the warm water lapped about them, she softly murmured, "Mmmmm."
Raye, reclining against a wall sideways, her long purple tinted hair caressing her face before cascading into the water, head resting on one arm that was propped up on the floor, agreed. "I second that." she declared, starry-eyed.
Lita was sitting in the shallowest part of the bath, on the lowest step. Her auburn hair was soapy as she looked up from washing her hair. "I agree totally, Netheniel . . ."
Mina interrupted. "I'm in love." she stated dreamily. Her long blond hair swirled in the water as she spun about on her knees as if dancing. An arc of water left her hair, splattering all the girls.
"Hey!" the other four protested as one, but Mina didn't seem aware of it. Bunny scooted up behind her and ducked under water, grabbing both of Mina's ankles and pulling just hard enough to knock Mina off-balance. Mina, oblivious, went down suddenly and came up just as suddenly, choking out rose flavoured water. The others laughed and Mina splashed them all. In mere moments, the languorous atmosphere disappeared beneath shouts of laughter and protests and shrieks as a five way splash war erupted.
The joviality ended however, the moment Matilda slammed the door open. The large wooden door banged back against the solid rock wall with a doleful bang. The girls froze, laughter dying a quick death as they looked at her glowering face. "Get washed and get dressed." she snapped, looking at them with disapproval. Somehow the girls didn't think it was because of the mess they'd made of the bathing room.
Quickly the girls rinsed their hair. Only while they were drying off did Amy break the silence. "What do you suppose she's so mad about?"
Raye spoke softly, "I wonder if this is because of Jerome." It took her a moment to realize that her four friends had said nearly identical sentences at nearly the same time as she did. "Wait, what do you mean?"
They naturally deferred to Amy to speak first. "Well," she blushed, "Vin asked me to be his mistress."
Raye gasped, "So did Jerome."
Lita chimed in, "Netheniel did too."
Mina grinned, unconcerned with the tension, focused only on the romantic notion. "Matteo asked me also." She couldn't believe their luck. All four turned to stare at Bunny, who was lost in her own little world.
Blinking, Bunny noticed she was the center of attention. "What?"
"Well?" came four impatient voices.
"Um, yeah, Darien asked me too." At least, she thought he'd asked. She couldn't get that image of his face when he'd first said he loved her out of her mind.
Each of the girls left the bath, thrilled that they all had met their soulmate but nervous about what had upset Matilda. They dressed hurriedly, pulling on one of their normal gowns and doing their damp hair simply.
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They were all too nervous to go down one at a time, so they descended en masse. Amy wore a simple gown of faded blue, Raye a dull purple, Lita a severe gown of moss green, Mina a dress of pale orange and Bunny a dress of washed-out pink. All five dresses were threadbare and less-than-flattering, especially compared to the gowns of the previous night. Amy's hair was simply combed back from her face, shining wetly. Raye's was braided back. Lita's was pulled up in a high ponytail. Mina's was done up in a bun at the nape of her neck and Bunny's was up in her favorite hairstyle, her twin buns. Though they once again looked the part of street urchins, the five men watching them still found them entrancing. When the girls noticed the guys, each gave her favored man a look of pure love, one that not even the normally reticent Matteo could resist returning.
Seated at the table and not smiling, were Mother Petrucho, Leila and Matilda. Each of them pinned the young girls with an icy stare. The girls lowered their gazes slowly to the ground. Even the five men felt compelled to look away, turning their gazes instead to the three women barring their path.
Leila was furious. She was certain she knew what would happen to the girls. After only one night of attention by the fickle upper crust, they would be whisked off to the Mancuso estate Darien had inherited on the day he wed. Oh, she was sure it was a beautiful place and would provide the five couples with all the seclusion they could want. However, the day would come when they were no longer beautiful enough or interesting enough and they would be returned to Venice proper, forgotten by all and wanted by none. Indeed, should any of the girls be unfortunate as to get with child, she could quickly see her cast off. At least when she herself had found herself with child, she had been well established so that her year of absence didn't impoverish her!
Mother Petrucho was warring with herself. A part of her rejoiced that these men claimed to love her girls and she had seen plainly that her girls loved them. Though being a mistress wasn't a legal bond, at least it wasn't quite the same as being the lover of a different man each night. She had to admit that the terms the men were offering were incredibly fair as well. In a way, they were asking to outright buy the girls, but then also stated that should anything happen to them, the girls would be left enough money to survive comfortably. However, another part of her heeded Leila's dire warnings and feared for her girls.
Matilda was angry because she thought of the girls as hers. She'd been hired on when Bunny and Mina had come to live with Mother Petrucho and she thought of the four girls as her own and Amy as practically her own. She remembered skinned knees, tears over arguments, and childish hugs and smiles as clearly as if it had been yesterday that she had caught Bunny and Raye arguing over a hair ribbon or Amy reading something to her as she baked or Lita trying to filch a cookie or Mina hugging her goodnight. She simply couldn't imagine life without the girls around. In her mind, these five men were taking her girls away!
The three women began to interrogate the girls, so to speak. For over an hour, they gave their reasons against and the girls argued their points back. The men had left them by request, pacing in another room. They had never imagined this would be so hard! Eventually, they were allowed to come back in. As if by tacit agreement, they ignored the older women, each one making a beeline for his beloved. Darien, standing behind Bunny, studied the three women's faces and knew that they had lost the battle.
Leila's face was colder than ever. Matilda was crying and Mother Petrucho was looking at them with dismay and hope intermingled on her careworn features. It was an awkward silence that echoed throughout Leila's home as the ten left. The girls didn't even take anything with them. But before they left, Bunny turned and said, "We love you." The other girls murmured the same, but there was no response from the three they left behind.
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In spite of the painful beginning of their relationship, the girls were very happy with their new lives. The house they were all living in was huge! Acres upon acres of lush green land, some of it made into labyrinthine gardens or heavily forested, stretched away from the massive house in all directions. The house itself was large enough that each couple had a large portion to themselves. It took Bunny and Raye's breath away when they raced from one end to the other.
They spent the days in whatever way appealed to them. Amy's favorite pastime was curled up beneath a large tree with Vin, reading and discussing what they read. Raye and Jerome still argued quite a bit, but they found fencing to be a very interesting way to spend free time. Lita and Netheniel would go for long rides, with Lita shocking them by wearing pants and riding astride! Mina and Matteo would spend their days on the lake, boating, swimming, or whatever else came up. Bunny and Darien spent a lot of time in the rose garden, where one could get lost for hours in its ingenious twists and turns.
Whatever they did, there was always love and laughter. The girls also came up with various ways to entertain themselves, especially when the guys had to return to Venice. Bunny and Mina staged plays. Raye orchestrated singing competitions. Amy took charge of their schooling. Lita baked marvelous meals. The weeks passed by like a perfect dream.
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A month after the girls were installed as their mistresses, the guys were recalled to Venice. Each one left unwillingly, but duty called. Upon returning home, Darien found a very angry father demanding how he could abandon his wife! "You dare risk offending her powerful father?" he yelled. "You are a Venetian noble! You must have an heir!"
Darien sighed, knowing his father was right, but dreading even seeing his wife. Slowly he made his way up the steps to her rooms, wishing he was going to be seeing his warmly smiling blonde rather than the icy Beryl. The moment he opened the door, he knew he was in a hell of his own making.
Beryl wasn't beautiful by any standard when she was calm. When she was angry, she grew even less attractive. Her eyes glared accusations at him. Her face was twisted in an unbecoming snarl. Her frizzy red hair was sticking out and she definitely looked as if she had been crying. He approached their bed, feeling as if he was somehow betraying Bunny, when he knew that legally, each night in her loving arms was a betrayal of his wife.
She didn't say anything as he blew out the candles and lay down on the bed. When he moved over her, she felt a vindictive joy at knowing that at least this night his little whore would be the one to spend a lonely night. Not that she particularly craved Darien's company, it was just a burden wives had to bear. But she took a cruel joy in knowing that she would be the mother of his heirs.
That thought twisted her lips in a cruel smile that stayed with her long after she drifted off to sleep, curled up on her side of the bed. She never noticed that Darien chose to sleep on the divan in the outer room.
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The guys were gone for a week and the girls missed them terribly. But when they returned, it was as if all the sadness and loneliness of the past week had never happened. As soon as the guys disembarked, each one found his ladylove clinging tightly to him, her face radiating love like the sun does light. They feasted on a light meal before each couple slipped off for some time alone.
It was well into the next day before the first of the couples emerged from their rooms. It was, of course, Raye and Jerome. Embarked on yet another one of their little arguments, Raye was chasing Jerome out into the courtyard when a carriage pulled up. Raye and Jerome immediately straightened up their act and wandered curiously over to the just-stopped conveyance. Almost immediately a man stepped out, overly foppish and quite soggy about the midsection. He stared at the two of them with a decided air of annoyance. Jerome could only glance back and forth between the visitor and Raye.
Raye felt the back of her neck prickle. Her palms grew sweaty as she recognized something in this man. Her sixth sense was ringing like a bell, but she was too dazed to pay it much mind. Her lips were slightly parted, eyes wide. She stood stock-still as the man ran his impudent gaze over her assessingly, riling Jerome's temper.
The man's cold purple-black eyes studied the young girl before him, hunting out every secret he could on her face. He had recognized Jerome as the second son of the house of Trentini. He knew the boy was not expected to do much, unless some tragedy should happen to his brother, so he dismissed him as easily as Jerome's parents always had. No, it was the girl that interested him.
Jerome was in awe of the powerful Senator Verocu. He'd never met him before, nor even seen him, but he had heard about the man from Darien. Darien's description of him had forgotten to include "intimidating" and "unnerving". He gulped audibly; only too aware of his low status as the second son of a family that was only moderately aristocratic. It was Raye who gave him the impetus to stiffen his spine as she gave him a bolstering glance.
"Well, I see it is true after all." He looked up suddenly as eight other people spilled out of the house. "It would only be proper to invite me in." he stated with a chilling smile. Raye merely nodded her head and led the way into the dining room, past eight pairs of eyes in varying states of confusion, shock and awe.
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Senator Verocu definitely made himself at home. By his command, Raye sat at his right, Bunny and Mina on his left, Lita on Raye's right and Amy at Lita's right. Darien had deliberately taken the other end of the table, displaying his own power and wealth. In fact, if he were not the heir of Mancuso but the head, he would equal Verocu in power. To his right sat a nervous Jerome and a confused Vincenzo. On his left, Netheniel's eyes never left Lita's face and beside him, Matteo sat as if nothing of import was occurring.
Raye studied the man she instinctively knew was her father. After a hasty mini-conference with the girls, the story of how she had been found, in all the detail that they remembered had been spilled. Anger radiated through her at the callousness of this man, yet she knew that his behavior was normal. Not natural, but normal for men of this time. Yet logic could not dull the pain of his betrayal.
Verocu was not used to a woman's anger. Still, he was aging and she was his only child. For this reason alone he had sought her out. She was female, and therefore, she could be bought, he thought confidently. He would take her away, find her a wealthy husband who would overlook her lack of innocence and content himself with the knowledge that the house of Verocu would live on, if not in name, then in the blood of her children.
"Raye," he began sonorously, "I am pleased to finally find you, my daughter." Ten eyes swung to him disbelievingly, but he ignored all but Raye. "I have come to take you home."
He expected tears of gratitude and excitement.
What he got was a look of pure contempt. "I am home, Father." When he started to interrupt, she rose to her feet, gesturing to the four girls about her. "This is my family. These four have been my sisters. Though we aren't related, they have given me their love and friendship and I return it. Throughout the cold nights and the hungry days, the arguments and the laughter, we have always been there for each other! You left my mother to die. You left me to die." She strode away from him, heading for the other end of the table. She rested her hand on Jerome's shoulder. "This man is the man I love. I will never leave him willingly." She ended her little speech with a defiant toss of her head. Jerome lifted her other hand to his lips, impressed. She smiled down at him, her heart in her eyes.
Verocu's face changed interestingly. Bunny and Mina were fascinated as his face changed from red to purple and veins stood out in stark relief against his skin. He stared at the impudent wench who dared to defy him. Lita and Amy both readied themselves to aid Raye, not certain what they would do, but determined to protect their friend. His voice was in stark contrast with his appearance. Deadly calm, he spoke in a deceptively quiet voice. "You will go to your room and pack whatever you own and then you will return with me at once."
"Never."
The two stared at each other for a long moment before Verocu broke down. "Fine, here is what I am offering."
"I don't want it!"
"Don't be so sure!" Raye fell silent and Verocu took a calming breath. "If you will return as my heir, I will arrange a marriage between you and Jerome." He waited.
Raye was speechless. Everyone was speechless. It was Darien who took charge. "I believe that would be for the best." Jerome and Raye swung him equally disbelieving looks. Matteo gazed at his goblet of wine, mulling over the day's events. Vincenzo and Netheniel stared in shock. Mina smiled softly, finding romanticism in even the bullying nature of Raye's father. Bunny watched the way Darien just took control, as if it were perfectly natural for him. Amy nodded at the logical and rational outcome. Lita merely stared.
"Do I have your word on that, Father?" Raye demanded suspiciously.
"Yes."
She turned to Jerome, but didn't have to ask. "Yes, my love." he whispered softly. Her smile was brighter than the sun and she turned to pack.
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In a matter of days, the girls had returned to Venice proper to witness the vows of Raye Verocu and Jerome Trentini. Because of their status, the girls were separated from their lovers. Matteo, Vincenzo and Netheniel attended with their families. Darien had the added burden of his wife. It was only later, when the girls made a brief appearance at the reception, that Bunny got her first look at her rival. Beryl also got her first view of Bunny.
Bunny and Mina were waiting for Lita and Amy to hurry up and join them so that they could leave. It was a long ride back to the Mancuso property and they weren't exactly warmly welcomed by the aristocracy who had come because of obligation. Now that Raye and Jerome were on their way to the bridal chamber, they were no longer being shown the simple courtesy due the bride's friends. They strained to catch a glimpse of their friends in the crowd, when suddenly Bunny gasped. Mina turned to her sister, then followed her stricken gaze.
Darien was dancing with Beryl, as was expected. She was graceful, but then, she had been raised to be so. He wished she'd been raised to be someone else's wife, he thought bitterly. Happy as he was for Jerome, he bitterly resented that fate hadn't given him the same option with Bunny. Indeed, if he wasn't married, he would first force that obnoxious Senor de la Cruz to acknowledge his daughters, and then force him to let Matteo and himself wed the girls. However, fate had bound him to this snake of a woman.
Bunny had learned how to read Darien's face by now and she could tell he harbored not one iota of concern for his wife. She also could read Beryl's face well. She could practically feel cruelty and unkindness roiling off the woman. She was a plain little thing and proud. Instant dislike simmered in her heart, hating the woman for having any bond with Darien, resenting her for being fortunate enough to be wed to him yet cold enough to not love him. Jealousy reared its ugly head for a moment, before Bunny ruthlessly quashed it. The only thing that woman had was his name. She would never have his love.
Darien could feel her gaze. He stopped suddenly, swinging Beryl about as if she were merely an object he had completely forgotten he was carrying. He scanned the crowd, knowing he was being obvious and not caring. He needed to see her, to sense her love. There! Over by the door, with her sister! His heart swelled at the sight of her. He was completely unaware of Beryl following his gaze. She watched, hate seething with in her as she saw the object of his attention. Bunny gave him a smile, which said more than she perhaps realized, and his eyes shone. Beryl, having never seen love, classified the look as lust and her contempt grew. She sank her talons into his arm, snapping his bond with the slut as effectively as some more cruel options she had conjured up would have. He looked at her in annoyance and when he turned to find Bunny again, she was gone.
Almost as if on cue, the moment Darien had broken eye contact, Lita and Amy had finally joined them. Mina grabbed Bunny's arm and pulled her away. They headed back to the home, each of the girls but Bunny knowing that their lover would be following shortly.
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Darien had to stay home with Beryl that night in yet another unpleasant attempt to create an heir. The moment the millstone round his neck was asleep however, he slipped out of the house and headed for Bunny.
It was almost dawn when he finally made good his escape and drew up to the house. He quickly found himself the bathing room, to make sure nothing of Beryl remained to ruin his time with his true love. Then he slipped silently into their room, sliding under the sheets and kissing her awake.
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Gabriella de la Cruz had attended the wedding and had seen her daughters. The pain of giving them up as well as the disease that was slowly killing her made her decide it was time to bare her soul. That night, trembling, the barren woman confessed her sin to her husband. He took the news rather well, delivering her a beating that was less than usual. Perhaps he sensed that she would be gone in a matter of days. Perhaps he had mellowed as he had aged. Whatever the cause, de la Cruz set out the next day to find his daughters. He supposed they should at least get a chance to say goodbye to the woman who had birthed them.
When he pulled up, Mina and Bunny were both astonished. De La Cruz was obviously the parent they got their fair hair and eyes from, though little else of him marked them. He didn't demand to come inside, or offer either of them his name. He merely told them that their mother was dying. In a matter of moments, the girls and guys were all ready to go, with the exception of Raye and Jerome, who were on their honeymoon.
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Bunny and Mina entered the darkened room nervously. They had never before been in a sick room. As they gazed down on the sleeping woman whose beauty had been consumed by years of neglect, despair and loneliness as well as fruitless attempts to bear anymore children, they could still see that she was the one they resembled. When she awoke, her pain-dulled brown eyes filled with tears and she held her hands out to them. They knelt on either side of the bed. In a halting whisper, Gabriella tried to tell them why she had sent them away. Tears ran down each of the three faces and the twins assured their mother that they didn't hate her, that they had led good lives. They brought in the men who loved them, assuring her that they were happy and well loved. Darien and Matteo stayed by their sides as the girls introduce Amy and Lita and told their mother about Raye.
"I'm glad you are happy, my darlings. I tried to give you that." A cough racked the woman's frail body, and all could see that she was fading fast. Her husband leaned in a corner, shadows hiding his face, concealing his thoughts. "I love you." she murmured, the faint light in her eyes fading as she spoke.
The twins quickly vowed their love for her as well, and a soft smile crossed the woman's face before death swooped in gently to carry her away from all the pain and sorrow of her life. The girls could only mourn the passing of the woman who had risked so much to give them life. Amy and Lita wept as well, for their own reasons. Amy wept for her friends' loss, but also for herself. She wished her mother had cared for her. Lita wept for her friends, in empathy. She also wept for herself as she was reminded so clearly of her parents' deaths. Eventually, Matteo and Darien drew the twins up, away from their mother. Netheniel and Vincenzo held onto their lovers, attempting to comfort them as best they could. Netheniel, Lita, Vincenzo and Amy excused themselves, to give Bunny and Mina a few moments alone with their family.
De La Cruz stepped out of the shadows suddenly, blocking the path of his daughters. "You love them?" he questioned in a tone that implied it wasn't really a question. Both blondes nodded. "Well, then, you must be wed. It would make her happy."
Mina stared up at him, hope in her eyes. Matteo froze, but knew that his parents would accept the offer if the de la Cruz name went with it. Bunny merely studied the floor. Darien stiffened beside her, cursing his family. De la Cruz beckoned them out. "Let us talk elsewhere. She must be made ready." Without a backward glance at either the woman who had been his wife or the four staring at him, he swept away.
They sat in his office. Matteo and Mina had already confirmed that they would wed as soon as the proper arrangements were made. Darien, however, had pointed out that he was already married with icy words. Their father's eyebrows had lowered in ominous disapproval. A war of words ensued, while Bunny turned to the window to fight off fresh tears. She couldn't even look at her sister; the compassion in her face was enough to drive Bunny mad.
"Serena!" her father's voice was angry and she assumed he'd called her more than once. She turned to look at him and felt Darien squeeze her hand reassuringly. "Serena, I want you to move in here and I will make you a suitable match."
"I can't."
"What?" de la Cruz's voice resembled a thunderclap.
"I won't marry someone else when I love Darien."
De la Cruz stared at her oddly. "You would prefer to be a mistress." Bunny only nodded mutely. Her father sighed. "Oh whatever, I really only need one heir. Mina is the oldest anyway." He effectively dismissed his unnecessary daughter and turned to Mina and Matteo, plotting their nuptials. Bunny and Darien slipped away.
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The next week was frittered away planning Mina's wedding and then attending it. Once again, the mistresses were separated from their lovers and snubbed the moment the bride and groom slipped behind closed doors. This time, Beryl came too close to Bunny for comfort and she was shocked by the depth of hatred in the woman's eyes. At least this time, Amy and Lita were close at hand and they left quickly.
Early that morning, Darien returned to Bunny's side, to find that she had cried herself to sleep. He decided not to awaken her, contenting himself with just holding her.
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Over the next two weeks, life started to return to normal for the couples. Raye and Jerome and Mina and Matteo returned. Love and laughter again bedecked the mansion and all ten were convinced that the days of pain and loneliness were past. Even when news came that Beryl was expecting, the light in Bunny's eyes was not diminished. Things continued well for over a month. With Beryl pregnant, Darien's duty was temporarily filled and he didn't leave her side again.
The idyll was shattered though, when on a perfectly beautiful day, a rider approached. With him came missives requiring all five men to report to Venice for posting. Venice was at war with the Turks at last. The French fleet had arrived. They quickly got their gear, instructing their girls to stay put and reminding them that this was their home, they were safe here. With passionate kisses and vows of love, they disappeared from sight, noble warriors off to fight for the sanctity of the Republic.
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Two weeks after they had left for war, Venice began to reel from the worst outbreak yet. The plague had finally hit. The next week saw the arrival of Beryl, Signora Mancuso, and many other ladies escaping the cesspool that had once been the fairest city in Italy. They descended upon the house like a horde of vultures. In a particularly ugly confrontation, Beryl demanded that Bunny, Lita and Amy leave the house. "I will not bear such whores in my husband's house!" she had screamed. Indeed, she would have liked to demand that Mina and Raye leave as well, but their mother-in-laws were in attendance. Mina had declared that no one would send her sisters away.
They would have still been locked in an ugly battle if a missive hadn't come round the next day. Mother Petrucho wrote to them, telling them that Leila and Matilda were dying. It was the first letter they had received from any of the three women since they had left. Without even speaking a word, each girl had raced to her room to quickly pack before rushing to be with their truest family.
Beryl watched them go with a smirk, knowing exactly what awaited them. Not only was the plague killing everyone in its path, but the zealots were whipping the survivors up into a murderous frenzy. It was the courtesans who were taking the majority of the blame for what had befallen the once-proud city. Even if the plague or the riots didn't finish off her husband's little whore, she had one more trump card. The Doge had invited the Spanish Inquisition to come and it was due to arrive within the month.
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AN: MWAHAHA! A cliffhanger of sorts hehe. Whew, this one doesn't follow my sketch at all, but then Chapter 4 was so much longer than expected that this chapter wasn't even originally a chapter! Well, I had originally planned this with the ending all planned out, but now I'm not sure if it fits so well, so I can make no promises on when Chapter 6 will come out or if it will even be the end. I also want to thank all of you whose wonderful reviews give me the encouragement to keep writing! ~huggles to you all~