Charlotte

"Sssh Beastie, you'll wake the dead," Campbell places his index finger to his lips and drops his backpack on the tiled floor.

"What? Why? We're alone in the villa for a week aren't we?" I question and pat the walls on either side in search of a light switch.

Our connecting train from Chanti to Siena had been delayed and as we didn't know when it would arrive, we stayed at a bar next to the station's platforms for six hours tasting some of their locally made wines.

So, I may now also be a little bit.... tipsy.... again!

"Ghosts of past flag contestants who died in the Palo race." Campbell whispers.

"Really, and you think just because I'm a woman, I'll be afraid of a little ghost? I've just punched a guy in the face remember, so I think I can easily handle some friendly ghosts."

Campbell sneaks behind me and whispers close to my ear, "I didn't say they were friendly Beastie."

Campbell continues with, "Maria told me, that many years ago her ancestors would compete in the Siena horse races and win most years. Their nemesis, the Volpatti family grew mad and jealous of their continual winning streaks so they poisoned her families wines and her great, great grandfather dropped dead, the night before the race. He and his wife Sofia now haunt the villa hoping for revenge of his death."

Campbell grabs my hips with both of his hands and swings me around to face him then shouts, "BOO!"

"What are you, like five? As I said, I'm not scared of ghosts. What could a ghost possibly do to harm me?" I push him away and find the light switch which floods the hallway in light. "There we are. See, no ghosts."

The hallway is a rectangular shape and the creamy white washed walls complements the apricot square tiles that cover the floor. It has two large sets of timber double doors at end and to the right, sits a long 1800 century walnut side table with a large painting hanging above it.

I assume, after hearing Campbell's story, it's Maria's great, great Grandfather holding his families flag while sitting on his horse. He's smiling, like he's just won the race and surrounding him are other contestants on horses holding their brightly coloured flags. In the background, is the renown Siena Tower of Mangia and it's structural details has been perfectly depicted by the artist.

"Race you upstairs to find the best bedroom," Campbell squeals, opening the double doors at the end of the hallway and bolts right, climbing the stone staircase two steps at a time to the landing above.

"You are only five. What ever happened to ladies first?" I question.

"Beastie, you ain't no lady. Ladies don't punch a man in the face and break their nose," Campbell snorts.

"It was necessary. He was on top of me, grabbing my breasts. What should I have done? Let him strip off my top and do me on the floor." I shout over my shoulder now running up the left side stairs.

"Next time, grab their balls and squeeze as hard as you can. Doesn't leave a mark and they won't be able to have sex for at least a couple of days," he yells.

Damn, I didn't think of that at the time. Of course!

"Well next time, I'm attacked on a nightclubs' floor I'll try and remember.... Squeeze the balls. Don't punch the face," I giggle

I walk down the left side of the villa that reveals two small bedrooms facing the valley and one small bedroom plus a family bathroom facing the street, on the side we entered the villa.

Each bedroom is spotlessly and consist of a single bed with white patterned bedspreads, one antique side table and paintings of what I assume, is more of Maria's family portraits. The small family bathroom has white marble tiles and an antique iron crawled bathtub with a shower fitted above it. There's also a single marble hand basin attached to the side wall.

"The bedrooms are tiny this end of the house. What's your end like?" I yell and my voice echoes throughout the villa.

"Oh Beastie. Come check out my bedroom. I've definitely scored. It's so.... sweet."

As I walk back on the landing I look down and can just make out the large open plan lounge room with a impressive stone fireplace to the right and floor to ceiling sliding timber and glass doors that open to a tiled courtyard outside.

The google map showed we're walking distance to the main village and behind our villa should be a valley, so the views will be spectacular in day light.

I'm excited, as my weather app is predicting sunshine most of the week. I hope we have time to watch the sun set across the valley from our courtyard one afternoon while we're here.

"Wow," I gasp while entering Campbell claimed bedroom. "That has to be the biggest bed I've ever seen."

This room is more modern than others and has a large king size bed with a light grey padded headboard and the bed end is facing windows framing a glass door that opens onto a Juliet balcony with views of the valley. On the balcony sits a small round antique wrought iron table and two wrought iron chairs.

"This must be the master suite Maria was taking about," Campbell grins like he's been told a secret that I'm yet to find out.

On either side of the bedhead are two antique sides tables and next the them, two doors that have been left open. One door, leads to a full walk in closet, that's bigger than my entire bedroom back in Brooklyn, and the other, leads to a floor to ceiling marble tiled bathroom with a spa bath suspended in a bay window, also facing the valley.

Now I understand what he's grinning about.

Next to the spa bath sits a bottle of champagne in a silver ice bucket and a plate of strawberries wrapped in cling wrap.

"So if I'm your cousin, what's the champagne and strawberries about?"

"Maria daughter was here last night and waited until lunchtime to greet us but had to leave for Rome by three."

"You mean greet you, not me, with champagne and strawberries.  What happens if she was ugly? What would you have done then?"

"Firstly, it not always about the looks Beastie. She might have a spectacular personality and secondly, you did see her mother right? How could she be ugly with those genes running in her family?"

"Man-whore.  I'm going to bed," and I walk downstairs to collect my backpack from the hallway and contemplate which of the small single rooms on the other side of the villa I should take for our stay.

"Charlotte, you take the master bedroom and I'll take one of the others. I sleep like a log anyway so it won't make any difference where I sleep," Campbell calls and follows me down the stairs to the front hallway.

"Are you sure?

"Sure am Beastie. I'll leave my bedroom door open in case you get lonely or scared in the middle of the night."

"Never going to happen."

"Never say never Beastie."

"In your dreams."

"Oh and what a dream it is. Would you like me to tell you about it? It will keep you from thinking about the ghosts haunting the villa in the night?"

"No. Goodnight Man-whore," and I turn right to head back up the stairs to the main bedroom to sleep.

"Goodnight Beastie. Sweet dreams."

~~ 💤 ~~