Vita Nostra Novels & Stories

You will know them as the Matelli Group'. 'Matelli Group is a respectable group that contributes a significant part to Italy's economy'. A spirited looking black-haired vault toned herself forward with her coven behind her. 'Should this multinational company be led by … what did you call them ? Vampires ? We do not even know if these beings exist. Vincenzo Matelli is a reputable man and highly esteemed in Piedmont. Throughout the country !'

***************************** INDEX: prandium- lunch time vidua misera - wretched widow thermopolia- stalls of foods servus- singular form of servi (slave)

“What is this?” She retreats to the corner, unfolding it. Alessia follows quickly, peering over her shoulder. Rowan soon moves in, his expression sharp, and Bianca joins, still fuming but curious. Rina stands alone now, shaking, the cup trembling in her grip. Her voice cracks. “Signore Moretti. Please. Have mercy on me. It’s not what you think.” Luciana looks up, holding the sheet of paper between her fingers. “Dante, what is this? What is… Aconite?”

It looks like every other overdecorated temple of vice. White marble, golden chandeliers, secrets bleeding from the walls. I glide through the ballroom, laughter coating my lies. Signora Vescari is all silk and steel. “Caterina Sartori. What a pleasure to finally meet you. You’re absolutely glowing my dear.” “You’re too kind. I’ve been looking forward to meeting the fabled Vescari matriarch. You have to tell me all your secrets, so I can be just like you someday when I grow up.”

One year later. The hills of Tuscany rolled like waves, golden and green under the early spring sun. Olive trees whispered in the breeze. Grapevines stretched in neat rows across the valley. And nestled between two dusty roads, a villa stood with sun-washed bricks and a hand-painted sign: “Terra e Vino — Cucina. Amore. Famiglia.” (Earth and Wine — Kitchen. Love. Family.) Amara stood in the open courtyard, her hands dusted with flour, a baby on her hip, Giulia Belle DiLorenzo, now six months old and already grabbing for bread crusts.

Vi‍l​la Moretti. The Courty⁠ard Recept‍⁠io⁠‌n‍. 6:00‍ P​M. The recept‍i​o‍n w‌as​ a‍ m​aste⁠r​piece o⁠f Si​cilian jo‍y⁠.

I took the bottle of L'Eredità dei Rossi from Marco. "You should do it Hannah" he said. I took the bottle of L'Eredità dei Rossi. It felt heavy. The bottle of L'Eredità dei Rossi was cold. Water drops started to form on the glass. I looked at the name: Rossi Heritage. 2026. It said Estate Grown. Community Owned. The bottle of L'Eredità dei Rossi had a label.

Sifting through the pages revealed that it was a journal filled with excerpts and prose, possibly love letters of intimacy exchanged between two people. "Without which, not." Nancy spoke. Across from me sat her and Nicolas, Alex standing at a chalkboard as he drew out different plans for the remodel. Retreating my gaze from the book and meeting Cordelia's, I raised an eyebrow at her statement. "She's talking about the book you're reading," Nicolas picked up on her comment, filling in the gaps. "Sine Qua Non is Latin for without which, not.” "It's another way of saying without something, something else is impossible," Alex explained, his back still facing us.

"I'm sorry for the outburst. Noah is like my own son. He is rude, cold, and hotheaded. He misbehaves too. Because we have spoiled him too much. But he is not weak. He is never afraid of anyone. Am sure he would have tried to finish the punishment till end only if he had not lost his strength. SOTUS, means to bring everyone together. The freshmen need to understand the meaning of the activity that it's a symbol of unity. You are scaring them. They need to be punished only if they don't obey the rules. Not if they stand for each other. This way no one will attend SOTUS. It's a tradition passed on to every freshman for decades. You guys are ruining it.

Zara The dress arrived at exactly an hour to the dinner but not exactly the way I expected it to. True to Viv’s words, I was totally blown away. Valerie was just making some finishing touches on my makeup when Emily, our housekeeper, walked in with a box. The inscription on the box read ‘ HN’ which is Viv’s brand name.