Two Thrones

This wasn't right. She wouldn't look at him in the eyes. She whimpered, coming down to her knees. And for once he didn't stop her reverence. Though it wasn't necessary. They were family, after all. Yes, he was their employer and in front of others it was important that the people understood without a shadow of doubt that he was the one in power here. That these were his men and women. His High Guard. He said jump, they asked how fucking high and liked it. Or he'd terminate their employment. Terminate their lives. The latter an empty threat. He wouldn't dare. He wasn't a savage like the Russians or the Chinese. He was an Italian man. And the Italians were men of honour. He had a reputation to uphold after all. His family name was at stake. He still lived very much under the Table. Under Gianna, under Lorenzo. Where shit actually gets done. He watched the man named Marquis. Looking from him to his apparently unwanted  bastard daughter. And it ripped his heart apart. The way they definitely looked similar. Biologically similar. About the eyes... the nose... She was much finer in her features, smaller frame, compact and powerful, even if she was a whimpering mess in Hector's loving arms. Ares did tell him she was taking pills. Some sort of herbal remedy to steady her nerves. She looked terrible. A nervous wreck. That scar on her neck... where he'd cut his initial into her flesh for her hateful indiscretion, it wasn't healing properly. Just like her broken collarbones. My god! This man said he didn't want her. He wasn't ready to be her father.. and now he had his own children. That tiny little girl. What was she? Seven? Eight? She looked like her father. Marquis left without so much as acknowledging him. Hector raged in fury. Christov and Ares and Curtis... they all bristled... pissed off. Wanting blood for making their sister in arms cry like this. He stepped aside and this man named Marquis passed him. "Figlio di puttana." (Son of a bitch.) Said Santino as he passed his shoulder. Loud enough that he knew clearly, that he was being addressed, even if Marquis did not understand Italian. It didn't matter. "Boss...." That was Christov again, tattooed hand on his shoulder. Tense... his pale eyes that he made paler by wearing those white blue contacts that gave the impression that he was a wolf in snow were unsettling. But they didn't hide the truth from Santino. He knew what was going on here. He shrugged himself away from Chris' hand. "Apetta un minuto." (Wait a minute.) Was his reply. He knew he had a plane to catch. That he was already forty minutes behind schedule. He'd have to make alternate arrangements at the airport. At this rate he'd as good as missed his first class service to Vienna. He didn't care. He'd catch a connecting service and accept the stop over. He'd settle for business class if he had to. Travel always made him tired anyway. But nothing made him as tired as this game they were playing. For...how long? Three weeks? A month? Six weeks? She was crying in Hector's arms. He held her through it all. The temper tantrum, the rage.   Ares signed to him now, 'Please Tino... She's dying slowly. Every day. And it's your fault. You keep this up and she's going to walk out on you. On us. And we're not gonna stop her. You're not gonna stop her. Because we will stop you. We have to. We're family. These are the rules. Your rules. Can you just apologize, please?'

Tony joined them now, catching the tail end of her quick gestures. Yes. He'd seen the text as well. God.. that's what this was all about?! Their boss took off on a business trip, she got bored and hooked up with some girl. Who cares?! Big deal. So hook-ups and break ups happen all the time. They'd all done it. They'd all had flings, two-timed other girls, other guys. Except maybe Hector. He had better morals than all of them put together. And now he was glaring daggers at Santino while he held his dancer and kissed her head and shushed her gently.

All five of them left his side.... left him standing there. Alone. Abandoned him. His family turned their back on him. They made it clear where their allegiances lay. They'd had enough of his angst-ridden bullshit. The entire Camorra High Guard went to stand in a line beside Lalienna. Hector, Ares, Christov, Marcus, Tony, Curtis. They stood beside her. Protecting her. From him. Hector spoke first. His heart was breaking. He'd had enough of this. "Santino D'Antonio. You have been my employer for almost ten years. I have stood beside you. Assembled your men and women. We have fought, bled and cried on the battle field. And in each other's arms. I've tasted your lips. Your blood. Your tears. I've tasted your suffering and your joy. I was there when you fell from grace. I was there to stop your father and sister killing you over what you did, when you did it to Marissa Conti. But I'm telling you right now... you fucking Italian cock-sucking prick...  That I won't stand by a minute longer and let you keep torturing this poor girl over an indiscretion."

"We know, boss." Said Curtis. "We all know now, exactly what happened. And why you're so pissed off with her. Now it makes sense... where that mark on her neck came from."

"You're a pig sometimes, motherfucker." That was Christov. Imposing in his tattoos. Angry. "You didn't want her to go hook up with some other bitch from a past life, well you should have taken her with you to Vienna. Rather than being such a hard ass and leaving her here." "I left her behind to protect her. She's not ready for the world." Santino snapped. "Shut the fuck up, dickhead. We're the one's doing the talking now. Not you." Christov fired back.

"Who do you think you are anyway?" Marcus added in aggravated questioning. "Prince of Rome? Really? You.... When you act like such a piece of shit? Didn't we tell you we'd cut off your balls if you hurt her? You're lucky we let it go on for so long, fuck face. We could have called Gianna any time and had your fucking ass reamed... And you know she'll tear you a new one. Just like she did for Miss. Conti. And that took you two years of cock sucking your daddy before he let you back out of your filthy cage, you cunt."

"I'll have you all killed for this..." Santino whispered, breathless.... Impossible....his own men were turning against him. This was mutiny! Dereliction of duty. Blackmail. Would they really call Gianna? "We'd like to see you try, Prince of Rome. Come on... let's take it outside. You wanna mutilate a girl, because you're a real man? Well we're real men too. Hell, Ares has a bigger pair of balls than you do right about now. Ain't you, baby girl?" Said Tony bitterly.

'You're out numbered, boss. Time to fold 'em. You've lost this hand. And we're not sorry. You're a good man sometimes, but this time... we have to take you down. And we don't need guns, knives or money for it. We're in your head. Under your skin. You let us in. Like vampires. You knew we'd always turn against you if it meant we had to protect one of our own. We're the Camorra High Guard. Lalienna is our solider as much as she's our sister. You don't fuck with the Italians. Santino. You don't fuck with us. Now say you're sorry.' Ares signed in passionate sweeps of her hands.

"Say you're sorry!" All five of them demanded at once. Like dogs... They had a bone in their mouths and they refused to let go.

"Don't make us tell you again." Said Hector. His eyes were pleading. He knew the truth. That Lalienna was pregnant with Santino's child. That she'd lose the baby if he kept tormenting her like this. Santino himself didn't know yet. It was up to the dancer to tell him. Only if she wanted to. If she didn't make arrangements to abort the baby first. Because it was still too soon in the affair. Santino had only started dating her seriously about two months ago. And he hadn't made the moves to buy that engagement ring he was looking at in the Crown Jewelers of London.

It worked. Their fire. Their fury. It was his fault after all. He'd trained them to be like this. To protect their own. They were Italian after all. They had different surnames, different backgrounds, different nationalities. Sure. But they were all raised and grown in Italy. And you don't fuck with the Camorra. His Camorra. He was supposed to be the Prince of Rome. Under Gianna. Under Lorezno

The Prince broke down.... The tears he'd been holding back all morning finally fell like rivers. Over his waterline... against his cheeks. Hitting his shoes... His shaking hands. Sable's words playing over in his head as well. No... he couldn't afford the cost of excommunication. He couldn't afford anything right now. He'd never been so poor in his entire life. Nothing mattered. The clothes, the cars, the money, the jewels. He felt empty. Empty without her. He cried bitterly. The tears fell like rivers.... And he came at her then. Dropping his bags, his overcoat flying off his shoulders as she rushed her and took the dancer in his arms and cried... and cried... and cried.... "I'm sorry.... Lalienna..... Please.... forgive me... I'm begging you... I'm so fucking sorry....I can't.... I'm not living like this any more... I'm dying without you. You're killing me.... Save me... There's nothing left.... I've no soul left to sell because I gave the last piece to you.....Please.... Please.....Lalienna.... Perdonami." (Forgive me.)  

Tears formed in her jade eyes, lip quivering slightly. She held back a sob, taking a breath.

“You…you never wanted me?” It felt as though her heart was breaking. Literally. The strings of her cardiac muscles were snapping, leaving her in the worst pain she’s ever felt… and she’s felt a lot of shit. She’s been through the worst, through hell. But this…this was worse. She couldn’t catch her breath. Her lungs wouldn’t produce the oxygen needed to stay alive. God, make it stop. Stop it! She couldn’t handle it. She clutched her heart, squeezing the fabric of her shirt in her fists. Her eyes broke. They relayed how she felt. So so so so ruined. So torn. So…worthless. Thrown away.

————

@f0rtis-fortuna-adiuvat // here is your angst. Do with it what you will. ;) have fun, my angel of sadness.

Bleed like me.

Keanu Reeves’ filmography: John Wick (2014)

Darth Maul-line art and colors by me using Procreate

     Know Your Roots

    . In The Blood

Dark Academia Ask Game: I was born in 1834 to a seamstress and barber in a back-alley dilapidated Victorian townhouse in Whitechapel, London. At 14, I committed my first murder, wherein I broke into my neighbor's yard and killed his prized Australian Lorikeets because the damned things sat outside my bedroom window early of a morning and chanted their irritating songs. it was not my first murder. I since regretted my poor fortune and have worked to make amends in a new secret society. Who am I?

finding eachother with bloody hands, whispering in dark alleys and running from people who aren’t really there. conversations increasing in volume and secrets stumbling out between meaningless words, considering if friendships are even worth the effort anymore. do i want to kill you or be you? should we run away or put in the work? societies either end in glory and redemption, or snapping eachothers throats to stop more birdsong from waking us up. 

The Incredible Marble Bar, Sydney, Australia. Iconic, heritage listed, dated 1893. - Photographed 5th September 2019, Spring

Jagged Edges

Even Gods may bleed out

Against my hands

In love

Out of hope

Out of time

Out of my mind

Stay...

Artist: Alla Bartoshchuk

- Buddhist Affirmation

"It is from the mud that the lotus blooms."

“Daddy’s TRYING to WORK! Puttanas! Can’t you bitches keep it down!? I’m in the middle of something important and you dykes are constantly causing me so much trouble!” - Santino - Reluctant Godfather to two very frisky young women. One he’s trying to fuck, the other whose only ever fucked him over. That’s right Ares. I’m looking at you, bitch.

----

Ares was thrilled! She had a new friend. A new girlfriend. Alright, Lalienna was strictly the boss's' girlfriend, but what he didn’t need to know... well, he didn’t need to know.

God these guys were such a pain in the ass. Always on her tail between jobs. She wanted to let loose in the club. Reign was the BOMB! Like seriously! This was the best club she’d been to since she partied in Rome. And Tino let her party a lot. And when he didn’t, she faked a period and got the night off... and partied all the same.

 Now she was pulling the same kind of bullshit behind his back. Well sort of. Everyone kinda already knew about it. Tony, Christov, Hector... stuck up prick... Marcus... Curtis. Yeah, even the boss knew. Tino knew.. right? He did, totally did, didn't he?

 "Boss... you have to put a lead on your girls... muzzles or something.... Chastity belts maybe" Said Hector, wiping his hands in the kitchen whilst his employer was busy working on reconciliation reports for collateral damages against The White Women. The figures were high... Athena would not be pleased. He knew he shouldn't have pulled out the grenade launcher this time.

"Hm? What are you talking about, amico? I'm trying to work here, can't you see I'm busy? "

"Yeah boss, I know you're busy but it's the girls. Lali... Ares... They're in deep together. Too deep. I think they're fucking."

 Santino stopped typing. Took off his reading glasses and fixed his commander with a withering glare.

"Corri di nuovo oltre." (Run that past me again.) It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Hector didn't like it when Santino made statements. It made him nervous. And it meant there would be bloodshed. He changed gears...

"I think, Ares is romancing your lover. Lalienna."

That glare got darker. He stalled completely.

"Nevermind, forget I said anything."

 Tino slammed his books shut and threw his reading glasses across the desk, pacing the room on rapid steps. Feeling his pockets.

There it was, his phone. It was under his coat on the sofa.

He picked it up, opened the messaging app and picked up his conversation with Ares.

'Vanguard. Front and centre. Right now. Bring Lalienna.'

They were in the pool together, topless, drinking French champagne and kissing each other passionately. It was Lali that noticed her friend's phone lighting up first. She fixed her girl lover with another heated kiss before mounting the stairs out of the pool to pick up the flashing phone. Ares was too busy watching her girlfriend's ass. Alright, it wasn't her girlfriend. It was her boss's' girlfriend. But she seriously didn't fucking care. She'd eaten that pussy. And it was delicious.

"Um... babe.... I think we're in trouble."  Lali looked worried, having read the message. Ares didn't hesitate. She put down her glass and was out of the pool and grabbing her phone in a flash.

'I'm fucked.' She signed. Quick, dirty gesture. Lali was picking up sign language fast. But she could work out most of the swearing from Ares' expression, the way she mouthed the words or her extremely suggestive hands. Oh those hands... they made her wanna cum.... The way Ares laid with her and rubbed her off.... Until they got off together.

 This wasn't going to be pretty. Ares draped Lali's form in her bathrobe before putting on her own. Both girls made their way upstairs. To room 768. Santino's apartments. As they were about to knock on the door, Hector was just exiting and fixed them both with a disapproving glare.

"I'll be back... to pick up the bodies."

 "ARES! LALIENNA! IN HERE... RIGHT NOW!"  That was Santino. Thick Italian accent. Oh shit. They were in for it now. He never raised his voice. Not... unless he was really pissed off.

The girls held hands and shuddered as the hotel door was shut and locked behind them. They were in the dragon's den.

When they both padded into his office, they were forced to immediately put thier heads down under the heat of his glare.

He was standing now. White shirt, partly unbuttoned. Sleeves rolled up. Angry, flashing eyes.

"Ares." He began. The young woman snapped to attention beside her friend. "What have I fucking told you? Are you hard of hearing as well as mute? Puttana?! What part of stop causing scandal in my family didn't you understand the first time?"

 'Look I can explain-' She signed quickly.  Tino wouldn't have it. He cut her off.

"The only thing you can explain is why it is that the rest of my guards are under the impression that I'm a cornuto! (cuckold) Figlio di puttana!" (Son of a bitch!) He came at her now, closing the space between them at an alarming rate.

"So I'm going to ask you once. Nicely. Are you fucking my girlfriend?"

"Papi...Ares isn't-"

"Shut up, I'll get to you in a minute." Tino cut off Lalienna too. That meant he meant business. And he wasn't in the mood to fuck around or mince words.

'Boss... we're... just friends.' She punctuated that last word diligently. 'Really, there's nothing going on aside from what you already saw and what you already know.'

"Answer me, Ares. Are you having penetrative sex with Lalienna."

"Papi!"

"God help me bella, one more word from you and you're gonna be shitting teeth for a week, capisce?"

 Lalienna dropped her struggle. She wouldn't win this battle with him like this. She kinda wished she'd given him head this morning after all. It might have eased his nerves a bit.

'Look... Boss... It's just flirting, really. We kiss, cuddle, sleep together. Touch a little. I'm not jacking her with a dildo or anything, really.' Her hands stilled. She wanted to though. She really kinda wanted to. She took the slap to the face instead. And it hurt. Really hurt. Why did it hurt so much? Tears stung her eyes as she rubbed her cheek and glared at her employer. Her boss. Why did it feel like he was a pimp sometimes? He rounded on her girlfriend. Because yeah, Lalienna was her girlfriend.

 "Okay... you start talking now. No bullshit. You just watched me clear the dust off her face, don't think you won't get it either, amante, because you will. Talk."

 "Papi... we haven't gotten that far outta hand, honest."

"Do you want to?"

"Papi!!!" She whined, clearly straining and squeezing Ares' hand. In support, in apology.

"Answer me."

"No! Papi... nothing inside me. I promise." Ares tensed. That was a lie. She'd finger and tongue fucked Lali only the night before. She kept her face down. Used the excuse to rub at her smarting cheek. That was gonna bruise later for sure.

"You keep this up, Lalienna... you keep embarrassing me in front of my men.. word gets back to Rome, to Gianna about what you girls are doing... I'll excommunicate you both. Personally. Sable won't be able to stop me throwing you bitches face first into on-coming traffic. And pray, you're hit by something heavy. Because if you survive, I'll come after you. Feeling me?"

 "Si Papi. I get it. We're sorry. We'll behave. Honest."

 "And you?" He pushed at Ares' shoulder, roughly. Sending the girl off balance. "You're older than her. You should be her guide, her big sister. Not leading her down the path of depravity and ruin. It looks bad on me, it looks bad on you. It looks bad on the family. I've told you before. There are certain lines you don't cross. This is one of them, Ares. I mean it. Lalienna's not your toy. You don't use her. You protect her."

 'But you can use her, right?' Ares' eyes bored into him. Angry. Hurting. She snapped her hand away from Lali's grasp. Clearly not in the mood to be pushed around anymore.

"I'm not using her, Vanguard. I'm in love with her. There's a difference. Lalienna's my willing lover. We have an arrangement. An agreement. An understanding."

 'What you have, is slaves... that's all we've ever been to you. You snap your fingers, and we come running to wipe your ass because you're too scared of your big sister shutting your ass down. Well listen to me, faggot: I'm tired of you telling me what I can and can't do with my life. I'm tired of being told who I can and can't love just because you're afraid. I'm worth more than that! I'm not your slave.' She was crying now. The tears fell from her lashes and stung her eyes.

 "I never said you were, Ares. You're taking this too far. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I'm not trying to control your life, but I need you to understand we have rules in this world. Rules in the Camorra."

 'You just wanna be in bed with everyone and you're jealous and nasty when you don't get your fucking way.'

 "Ares... take the night off. Actually, take the rest of the week. You're not fit for duty like this. You need to come down. And if you don't. you need to go home. Not to your rooms upstairs. I mean back to Rome. With Gianna. Where she can control your raging emotions because clearly, I'm failing here."

 'You're a real cunt sometimes, you know that?'

"Ares! Papi, she's sorry, she didn't mean that. Really, you've scared her. She'll behave. We both will."

 "Get out of my sight. Both of you. I've had enough. Vai a fanculo." (Go fuck yourselves.)

 Humiliated, Ares grabbed Lali's hand and tugged the girl roughly out of the office. They ran together. Down the hall, through the living room, to the door where they paused and almost knocked Curtis over. They separated a moment and dashed past him, streaking down the hall and into the elevator before the doors shut. Ares had not once let go of her girlfriend's hand. And when the doors closed and the lift began its decent back to the pool room, she turned to Lalienna and kissed her again. Hard... on the mouth. Forcing her back against the elevator wall.

To mark her territory.

Even if it wasn't hers. It felt wrong. And so, so right... It felt good. She'd take a tongue lashing and beating for this girl any day of the week. It was worth it.

She understood why Tino wanted her as his lover. She was special. Her kind of special. And she didn't feel that way about just anyone.

But she'd be careful next time. They'd have to be more chaste. More private. More discreet. They had to avoid suspicion. They were going to get caught otherwise. And Ares really didn't want to live a life in Rome without Lali at her side.

She was her friend. Her new sister in arms. Her sometimes... lots of times...naughty lover.

IM CACKLING. @lalienna-dementriento I’m outing you on your thirst! 😂😂

THIS IS WHY MOM *santino* DOESNT FUCKING LOVE YOU.