Out of the Shadows
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'Out of the Shadows' by Jessica de Battista Excerpt from chapter 1 As one in a trance, I made my way quickly to the arched walkway where I had experienced that strange phenomenon. I still harboured hope that the 'prince' that I had met was actually flesh and blood. A sprinkling of tourists loitered about making me feel illogically resentful towards them, almost as if they were intruding into my personal life. I set up my easel and started to sketch the spot where I had had my encounter with the man of my dreams: yes that was it! I must have dreamt that face and that is why he seemed so familiar. But no, he seemed more than just a face in a dream. I knew him somewhere, sometime, and he knew me. The loggia was empty of any human activity. I was thankful that it held no appeal to the insensitive visitors who preferred to bask themselves on the lawn. My pencil jealously recorded every detail: the walls, pavement, columns, capitals and arches; the vault sporting valuable frescoes and fine sculpted relieves, which enhanced the Renaissance architecture. Wanting to regain the image as I had seen it the day before, I started to draw in the 'prince' as my mind's eye perceived him and I watched as the drawing emerged without any seeming effort on my part. His perfect likeness was there, on paper, and it seemed so precious to me. His smile was as enchanting as I had seen it yesterday. Feeling rather exhausted after my frantic urge to pin that apparition on paper, I carefully put away the picture, packed up the easel and then made my way out onto the lawn. A secluded shady area some distance away tempted me towards it and feeling pleasantly drowsy I sank down on the welcoming softness of the turf and in a twinkling was fast asleep: or so I believe, for I drifted into a dream - and there he was. "Vanna," he called, softly as he extended his hands towards me. I reached out to take it and it felt so solid and warm. "How do you know my name?" I asked, mystified. "You have to find that out for yourself." A hint of regret crept into his voice. "My time is running out." "What do you mean? who are you?" "Do you not remember me?" His soft brown eyes grew sad as they peered inquiringly into mine. "I am not sure. You seem familiar, but I cannot understand. "You will eventually, but you have to seek your answers elsewhere." "What do you mean?" "I cannot stay. My time is running out." he repeated for a second time. "This is history and you are part of it. I cannot stay," he said yet again, and his eyes grew even softer with longing while his arms spread out in a gesture of futility and fatality. I could feel his presence drifting away. " Do not tie yourself to a man unless your love is as overwhelming as ours once was." And with those words he left me. I woke up with a start still feeling his presence, knowing that this was no dream but something that was trying to communicate with me. Deep nostalgia for a precious something that was lost to me, tugged at my heartstrings. A comforting wave of contentment, however, followed and lingered on. I had to try and find out what this all meant. My mind seemed very clear. I could remember exactly the words we had exchanges. "This is history and you are part of it," he had said. "Do not tie yourself to a man unless your love is overwhelming as ours once was," "What did he mean? There must be an explanation to all this.
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About the Book
A gripping tale rushing through various time-frames as it unravels a tragic family history through a series of poignant love affairs. This book houses two different stories from different eras that running parallel and, at times, interweave to trace a past that still has the power to haunt the present. In this book, a young man who had died tragically at the hands of his wife's would be rapist appears centuries later to Vanna, a young Maltese artist who is holidaying with a friend in Florence. the mysterious encounter takes place in the loggia of a Renaissance palace in Florence and the youth, wearing the period costume, does not create discomfiture in Vanna except for the fact that he is troubled by her imminent marriage to a long-time sweetheart. He warns her not to get married unless her love is as overwhelming as theirs once was. Uncertain but intrigued by his heartfelt plea and by the fact that he seems familiar to her, Vanna starts investigating the paranormal occurrence as circumstances lead her to a mine of information, which goes back to the 15th century. In the course of her investigation, she falls madly in love with a man married to a woman with a closely guarded secret. She breaks off her engagement but knows full well enough that her passionate affair with her new love cannot lead anywhere unless destiny intervenes. Told with candor and shows the angst and anguish of the human condition even when homosexual and lesbic love cannot be overtly displayed, this tale is a series of love stories that connect to each other with an aura of mystery that sets the mood and hovers over passages of unbridled passion, brutal murder and heart-rending pathos. A 600 page novel, "Out of the Shadows" transports its readers back and forth in time and place.
About the Author
Jessica de Battista studied art at the Malta Government School of Arts, and later received a B.A. Hons. degree in History of Art at the University of Malta. She has been active in the artistic scene in Malta for more than twenty-five years with a substantial amount of work behind her. Her two dominant passions; the practice of visual art and writing, have moved in tandem. In 1999, she was appointed editor of ARTNEWS issued by The Malta society of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce. she has regularly contributed essays and articles of an artistic nature to the said publication. She has also published articles in the leading newspaper in Malta. Since 1986, she has taught and lectured art at secondary and post secondary level. She lives with her family in Malta.