edroom, but it felt m

n feeling as though it were

le, a ragged gasp against

e armchair, nur

his head, wreathing hi

awake,"

. His voice was devoid o

flatly. "Sofia wants to hear music. Speci

ut the searing pain

I rasped, m

l," he c

id, using his formal

e hated when I

warned, his eyes narrowi

owness, I put on

ose on my

least ten po

overed the band

I arrived at th

expensive perfume a

of the Cap

ed to b

r mouths and tittered

len queen," one

e, forcing one foot

egs

n Giovanni, Dan

what he loves, h

as r

ante e

m went

ofia on

triumph

a stark contrast t

prized pet, patting h

e le

d up at

he m

y violin t

Adagio in

sad, he

ral dirge for

room, silencing the

t, Dante lo

ly look

a stood up

houted, her voice pierci

g us with this

oom g

nte la

ually

and took S

loud enough for everyone to hear.

ately struck up

Sofia to

ound, full of

stage, my bow hangi

host at m