Chapter Five

One last dance and she would be free. One dance, and  then she could close her eyes to this nightmare. It was all Sophie told herself as she went with Dante to lead the customary opening dance.

But when they stood to take their positions, Sophie was a bit intimidated. She was wary, but Not so much as because of the height difference as it was owing to the fact that she had noticed the new edge of indifference in him. Almost as though he had added several layers of ice since the last time she they spoke, Which of course was at dinner. He hadn't spoken much... well, infact, he hadn't spoken at all. Not since their last squabble at the table, where he had teased her, then sort of threatened her right after in not so many words. She wondered what was up with him. She had hated it when he teased her and urged her to speak up and act more lively, but his silence bothered her most. His face was closed off. Almost hostile, and she couldn't read him at all. It made her terribly nervous.

And now she was supposed to be putting her hands to his shoulder while he held her waist, so they could be practically in each other's arms as they glide to the music. But she was tensed and she couldn't quite bring herself to move.  He just stared at her wordlessly. Well, not at her directly. He was just focusing his attention on some invisible spot between her brows.

She was half expecting him to say something smart or weird or just anything to distil the tensed atmosphere. The seconds were ticking and as the silence stretched between them, she literally had to hold herself still to prevent herself from twitching.  But she couldn't stop herself from being immensely aware of him though. Not as if Dante was an easy person to ignore, but she had been managing well enough until now.

She seemed to be noticing all of a sudden how tall and masculine he was. And he was very masculine. Much as she hated to admit. With his firm jawline, chiseled facial features and formidably squared shoulders_He had taken off his black tuxedo sometime during dinner, she supposed, which she hadn't even noticed until now.

She groaned inwardly.

She didn't want to notice things about him.  She wanted to forget he existed entirely, but the music was coming on and Dante was putting his hands on her waist to pull her closer, and well, she couldn't stall any longer.

She awkwardly put a hand to his shoulders and as he pulled her even closer to begin the waltz, her senses were flooded with the scent of him. He didn't smell of nice expensive masculine cologne as Sabastain had. He didn't seem to be wearing any infact, she realized as she reflexively inhaled and held her breath. There was just that fresh clean scent of soap and raw man. His pure masculine essence. Which she found oddly comforting. It took her a moment to realize she was basically snuggling into him, but then she pulled herself away almost immediately, aghast, as she looked up curiously to search his expression, wondering if he had noticed her leaning into him. His face was still the cool unreadable mask though and he gave no indication whatsoever that he had noticed her sniffing him. She looked quickly away when he turned his face to look at her, least he saw how hard she was blushing.

" This round is over now, so unless you want to stay for the next one, we can leave.." he was saying and it wasn't until then she noticed that they had come to a stop and people were clapping even as the songs changed.

"Oh... Uh, okay!" She stuttered as she let her hands slide down his shoulders

"Oh" she gasped as the palms of her hand came in contact with the firm mold of his chest and then grazed over the  hard ridges of his abdomen before she snatched her hands away as though she had been burnt. Her heart beating fast and her cheeks burning hot. She didn't even bother looking up at him this time. She simply pulled away and as he let go of her waist, she turned tail and fled, but not so fast though. In her hurry, she tripped over herself and nearly fell to ground but for Dante's quick reflexes, as he put out a hand to grab her firmly.

"Careful" he hissed under his breath

"T-thank y-you..." She stuttered as she righted herself and then waited so they could walk off stage like any other normal couple would.

"Where are we going to?" Sophie asked moments later when she had changed out of her long flowing wedding gown into a more comfortable blue dress, said her goodbyes and was driving off with Dante to God knows where.

"To the airport.." Dante answered

"Wait what..?" She gasped in shock, turning fully in her seat to gawk at him and then at the driver.

"Where else did you think?" He traded

"Uh.. I don't know.. at a hotel maybe?" She suggested expressively and Dante arched a brow at her, as though to say she was being very silly.

" Don't be silly Sophie, we are scheduled for a seven O' clock flight to Brazil, or have you forgotten about that already?"

"To Rio de Janeiro" She stated rather than asked

"Glad you still remember " Dante said with an expression akin to an eye-roll.

"But why..?" Sophie cried

"What do you mean "why..?" Sophie?" Dante asked in exasperation. He was regarding her with a look and a tone one would use when addressing a particularly slow but curious child.

"I mean Why are we going there?" She asked

"Because that's where we are supposed to spend our honeymoon.." Dante pointed out

"Well, yes, but Not Us together; as in you and I..." Sophie mumbled under her breath, consciously trailing off as she seemed to remember that this was a topic similar to the genesis of their last quarrel.

She wouldn't say she was relieved that Dante was speaking to her again, but she just might agree that it was less unsettling when compared to his brooding silence. His words were almost like a gift_a sour, sarcastic and provoking kind of gift, but a gift all thesame.

Dante on the other hand, was frowning and grounding his teeth to keep himself from saying what he would regret

" Well tough luck Sophie, it's me you're stuck with, and the earlier you start accepting it, the better for everyone " he snapped and Sophie jumped in her seat, surprised at the harshness in his voice. He had tried not to lose his temper, but somehow, a bit of it had still gotten through. And he felt like a heel for startling her, even though she had been the one to provoke him.

"I'm sorry Dante.." Sophie said after a moment.

"It's just that, I really don't want to go there anymore. Not wit..." She paused, took a deep breath and rephrased;

"...Not after today."

She had been going to say "not without Sebastian.." or "not with you" Dante knew, but he appreciated the fact that she had been sensible enough to hold back. Even if it still grated on his nerves that she was still thinking of Sabastain up till this moment. It was crazy. He would have thought she would be doing anything to forget him.

"Well, it's just a place Sophie." Dante spoke more calmly now.

"And it would probably do you some good to get away from all this for a while.." he added on a more positive note.

             *.                    *.                   *.   

It was almost midnight by the time Dante and Sophie made it to Rio de Janeiro.

There had been a bit of an issue. Pedro, The pilot who had been navigating the Castillo's private aircraft that was to deliver the couples at their honeymoon destination, had said something about some aerospace gibberish that Sophie hadn't exactly understood, but which had obviously made perfect sense to Dante because he had gone ahead to assist Pedro out of the minor difficulty. Which was a surprise, because Sophie didn't think he could fly a jet. Infact she didn't think he could do anything at all. She barely knew him. Even though they had known each other for the last ten years. She hadn't paid attention to him, and had relegated him only as Sabastain's older half-brother who was brooding and anti-social. Sabastain had always been the one in the media eyes. Taking out the private jet on occasions. Going to wild parties and engaging in all sorts of debauchery. 

Anyway, with the unforseen contingency rearing it's head, they had had to maneuver their way and take a redirecting route through Sao Paulo. And then, Dante had picked up a rental car to drive them all the way to Copacabana while Pedro had booked a motel room close by to spend the night before setting off the next morning as per Dante's advice. He would be back in a fortnight to collect them from their honeymoon.

Sophie thought it was ridiculous and totally unnecessary that Dante had insisted they would be staying at the honeymoon lodge near the beach_as originally planned_ which had been booked online, weeks ago; when she had still thought she would be marrying Sabastain. But now every thing had changed. Her life had been turned upside down in a matter of hours.

"Sophie..?" Sophie felt a light nudge at her shoulder

"Mhmm.." She mumbled in response as she lazily lifted her lids to see Dante peering down at her.

"We're here!" Dante told her softly and it wasn't until then that she realized the car had come to a stop.

"Oh.." she said. She must have dozed off for a bit.

"Common, let's get down" Dante said as he opened the side of his door and got out, then came around to open her side of the door. She shivered slightly as she stepped out of the warm cocoon of the car, thus, Dante automatically draped his suit jacket over her shoulders, which was quite a relief as she discovered the night air was a bit chilly. However, She wondered suspiciously at his gentlemanliness and unsolicited chivalry. That was until she caught sight of the elderly couple approaching them and decided he was probably just keeping up an act.

"Bem vindo Senhor Castillo.." The man said in welcome as he reached them, with his wife closely behind. He had a very friendly smile and looked genuinely pleased to see them. He was   dressed very casually in faded khaki shorts and a multicolored Hawaiian shirt, while his wife was wearing a beautiful yellow grown that reached way down to her ankles, with a brown handknitted scarf wrapped around her shoulders.

"O meu no'me e' Aarush, y 'esta es minha esposa Lorena.." He continued, introducing himself and his wife.

"Obrigado Aarush," Dante replied, extending a hand for a polite handshake.

"Desculpe por chegar tarde, houve um atraso" he added, apologizing for their lateness.

"Sem problemas" Aarush assured kindly, as he accepted Dante's handshake.

Sophie stared at both men a bit perplexed by their exchange. She didn't know Dante spoke Portuguese. But then again, she admitted, there was very little to nothing she knew about him.

He must have sensed her confusion at that moment, for he turned to offer an explanation.

"This is Aarush and his wife, Lorena... The housekeepers.." he told her

" Oh, okay." She nodded.

"Uh, holla.." she waved awkwardly at the couples and received their warm welcoming smile in return.

Dante turned again to speak briefly with Aarush and his wife before turning back to Sophie once more

"Go on ahead with Lorena, I and Aarush would take up the rear..." Dante urged her.

Sophie nodded once more and went along with Lorena.

Although it was nearly midnight and the surrounding area was almost totally covered in the encumbering darkness of twilight, save for the luminous glow of the full moon high above and the florescent lights coming from the beach house ahead.

The place was as beautiful as she had seen it in the photos when she had been trying to book online. Tall palm trees stood on each side of the house, almost obscuring it, with their wide impressively spread palm fronds swaying and swinging in the night breeze. Alongside the harmonious chittering and bickering of the nocturnal animals which serenaded the night.

It was strange, she had half expected it to be less beautiful. Less appealing... But Somehow, it was still as breath taking as it had been when she had first seen it. She wished she could tour round the place already. But it was quite late and she was very tired too. At this moment, All She just wanted to do was to drop into the nearest horizontal surface and sleep for a thousand years.

But first, she needed to use the restroom.

Though, She wasn't exactly sure how to communicate her needs to the elderly lady beside her.

She wondered if the woman spoke Spanish too or a bit of English at least..?

Luckily, Lorena spoke up at that moment, saving Sophie the trouble.

"Come, I show you the house.." She said pleasantly.  Lorena's English might not be exactly flawless, but it was somewhat understandable still, and that was better than nothing.

Sophie smiled back at her in relief as she followed her unto the front porch of the house and waited for Lorena to open the door and let them in.

The inside was as beautiful and wonderfully breathtaking as the outside.

A three piece set of upholstery sofas in bright warm colors of brick red, accompanied by plumped up throw pillows adorned with beautiful intricate designs of daises. A square claw footed wooden table was strategically placed at the center with a clear blue flower vase still holding what she suspected to have been freshly plucked daises from earlier on in the day.

There was a nice Tv set a few feet across on one side and a cosy fire place with a mantle piece, just opposite.

She wanted to lazy about, explore and take in the beauty, but her bladder was crying for relief.

"Uh, Lorena..?" She called out hesitantly

"Sim..?" The elderly woman turned to her

"I uh.. I need to use the bathroom.." Sophie said

"Sim Senhora! Come this way... I show you." Lorena said, leading her onward.

She followed the elderly woman through an alcove and into a beautifully spaced bedroom with a four poster bed gracing the center, covered with white and red silken sheets. An accessible multi faceted wardrobe by one side and a dressing table by the other side close to a door leading to what she supposed was the bathroom. A wide window on the opposite side, overlooking the beach which shone in the moonlight from a distance and seemed to be calling out to her.

"Here it be.." she was distracted by Lorena's voice calling out to her as she held open the connecting door to the bathroom.

"Thank you" Sophie smiled at her and she nodded with a smile

"I go out now!" Lorena said

"Alright Rena, thanks again " Sophie said

"Parab'ens Senhora " Lorena said once more at the door with the sweetest smile. Sophie wasn't sure, but that sounded like Lorena was saying congratulations again, so she simply smiled back and said

"Thanks!" Finally, Lorena turned and walked out of the room, giving Sophie some privacy.

It wasn't until Lorena had left and Sophie had eased herself that the position of things started dawning on her.

They were at their honeymoon beach house, but as nice and beautiful and spacious as it was, it had only one room. One room with a huge significantly looking bed.

"Oh my God!" Sophie groaned in horror.

Slapping a hand against her forehead. Of course it was going to have one stupid room with one freakishly large bed. And a beautiful bathroom with a wonderfully cosy bath tube and an extra see through bath stall... It was a honeymoon lodge for Christ sake. It was specially designed for lovey-dovey couples who couldn't keep their hands off each other.

She hurried out of the room and back into the parlor as though running from the sensual suggestions of the bedroom.

She got down just in time to hear Dante waving off Aarush and Lorena

"Boa noite" She heard Aarush call back and then Dante stood a moment longer at the door before closing it shut.

Sophie swallowed hard. It felt awfully much like he was locking her in. She almost wanted to call out to him to not lock the door... To let her out so she could run far away from here.

"They left already..?" She asked instead as Dante walked back in towards her.

"Yes" Dante answered "We kept them waiting long enough already as it is, they only stayed back as a matter of curtsey.." he explained

"Oh. Um.. I just thought they were staying!"

"Where? Here?" He asked incredulous

"I don't know.." she shrugged, avoiding his gaze. She was just realizing how silly her assumptions were. Where had she thought they would stay?

"Do they live close by?" She asked instead

"Yes, not too far away from the beach resort!" Dante said, then paused in the act of picking up their bags which had been left beside the sofa.

"Why are you asking all these questions anyway..?" He asked

"Me? Oh, nothing. No reason " she lied but when he looked as though he still was not buying her story she added

"I was just curious, you know." She said, settling for a half truth

"I mean, I wouldn't want them stressing themselves coming every day from a long distance and all.." she shrugged again.

"Well, you can rest easy Sophie" He said "They live close by, and they don't have to come in every day, Lorena might only check in once in a while, mostly to fill out on groceries and such... We are pretty much on our own every other day.!"He said and pretended not to see the way she swallowed hard.

"On our own...?" She gulped

"Yes mi corazon" He assured her with exaggerated sweetness

"isn't that just lovely?" He asked sarcastically, finally picking up the bags and heading past her, towards the bedroom.

"I still don't think coming here was a really great idea" she called after him

"Why, We can't get a refund at this point anyway, so we might as well just use the place!" He told her.

Like she cared about the stupid refund. She just did not want to be here. Especially now, more than ever.

"And don't worry Sophie, am not going to kill you and lock you up here for someone to find weeks after!" He threw behind his shoulders as he took the corner leading to the room and she eyed the back of his dark head as he disappeared briefly out of sight.

Although she admitted she didn't particularly feel like going back home yet. Infact, She just wanted to be far away from everything and everyone... even herself at this moment_but that wasn't really possible, was it? So she suppose that when she did come to think of it, Rio de Janeiro was a lesser evil when compared to Cartagena right now.

But she was loathe to admit that Dante was right in a way.

Still, she didn't think she could face her family or deal with her friends just yet, especially her cousin and best friend; Janet.

She had spent the whole of her wedding and it's reception avoiding Janet, which was a difficult task, seeing as she could not completely extricate herself from her maid of honor.

At first, Janet had been curious and inquisitive, but some where between the wedding and reception, she had been more understanding and willing to give Sophie some privacy.  Sophie suspected she must have probably spoken to Marko at some point, because once she had seen the sympathetic way Janet had looked at her when she didn't think Sophie was looking. And then there had been the occasional pats Janet had given her as though to offer some quiet comfort.

And then just before Sophie had stepped into the car heading for the airport with Dante, Janet had hugged her tightly.

"I am here if you need to talk Sophie... Whenever you are ready!" Janet had said with a peck to Sophie's cheeks. Sophie had hugged her friend back and tried not to cry.

Sophie sighed, she didn't think she would be ready to talk for a while yet.

She hardly even understood what was going on with her to start with. She needed some time to process, and she supposed she would have to start by figuring out the mystery behind Sabastain's sudden disappearance. She didn't have all the answers, but she sure as hell knew someone who would: Dante Castillo!