Bella Notte (41 page)

Mike put his head
down.

“
Whatever. I
don't even know what I'm doing talking to you.” My emotions
were flooding through me and I wanted to scream, to run and escape
the pain.

His hot head was
touching my hand, and that was all I needed to know everything. He
was loyal to his people and he had to take care of them. He wished we
were still friends but would never admit it because he did still love
me. I was overwhelmed with thoughts and memories.

I pulled my hand
back as though it was burned, but the thoughts were still there. They
teased me as they settled in for later examination.

His brows pulled
together.

I opened my mouth to
say something, but what could I say? I knew everything. Instead, I
reached out and patted him on the head … and then I ran.

I ran as fast as my
feet would carry me. I heard him try to follow, but I moved faster
and wasn't hindered by lack of knowledge of these woods.

I ran to the mines.
The darkness swallowed me whole. I slid down the side behind the
elevator and crawled down the shaft. If he really wanted to find me,
he would have to locate my scent. The problem was that my smell was
on everything outside and in at this place and many like it in the
area. I doubted he could find me.

When I got to the
bottom, I walked straight toward my room of sparkles. I wanted to see
my 'vampire star' and to remember a time that was less confusing. I
could smell that someone or something had been in here but had long
left. I wondered who would come to such a spooky place if they were
normal.
Normal?
What's that?

My bitter side was
present when I finally found my room. The darkness never scared me
here and the small light that found its way inside was a miracle. But
it hit the right spot and the glittery crystals lit up the wall. Then
I was fine.

I remembered my date
with Mike and his discomfort at this place and I compared it to my
adventure with Dominic in Italy. Both memories told me so much; Dom
and I were similar creatures both in species and in preference,
whereas Mike and I either grew apart in two weeks, or were really
that different from the beginning and neither one of us saw it.

A tear rolled down
my cheek as I realized how wrong we were about our dream and our
connection. All four of us were connected for some strange reason- a
reason I hoped was not the prophecy as I did not want either Mike or
me to die. I tried to think about it some more but I was bombarded
with images from Mike's brain. I knew everything in his mind, and I
was able to recall the information if I wanted to. The question was;
did
I really want to know?

In truth I didn't. I
didn't want to know if he really did love me still, I wanted to be
free of it all. Instead, I focused all my thoughts on how I had
healed the bird and what had triggered both connections. With the
bird I was really sad that it had died, and I had cried. With

Mike I was in pain
at having to look at those eyes that didn't trust me anymore.
I
cried both times, maybe that's it?

I don't think so
Emma
.
The voice echoed in my head as I heard the footsteps come closer.

Dom? How long
have you been here?
I didn't want to think that I had hurt him again.

Long enough. But
I think I have figured out your gift somewhat. It is your emotions as
you had said. But it isn't just sadness. I think it is the extremes
,
he thought as he walked into the room and sat down next to me.

“
Of course!”
The words were out before I could even think them.

Dom smiled at me and
then reached over and hugged me. “Tough day, huh?”

“
You don't
even know the half of it. No, I take that back, you do.” I
tapped my head.

He scoffed. “I
know it's invasive, but I always check on you. I am generally a
silent observer. I watched you save that bird and I felt every
reaction you had to Michael.” The pain ever so slightly colored
his words.

“
Oh, Dom. I am
so sorry. I won't see him again. I'll change all my classes.
Anything. I'm sorry.” The words flooded from my mouth like a
dam breaking.

“
Mia bella
,
calm down, please. There is no reason to get so worked up. I believe
that he and Acacia have both changed classes already.” He
paused to see how I would handle this newest betrayal.

“
Oh.” I
tried not to let it get to me.

“
I don't think
that we will be seeing much of them in the future.” He took a
breath. “Oh, I forgot to tell you that Kelly called and would
love it if you would call her back, or email her.”

“
Am I allowed
to now?” I thought about the email I had gotten before from her
that asked how I was doing and such.

“
I believe it
would be fine since you will be in school tomorrow.” Dom's
smile was bright against the blackness of the cave.

We were silent and
still for a long while, then Dominic took my hand and kissed my inner
wrist.

“
Cara
mia, ti voglio bene
.”
He
whispered the words into my pulse as though he was speaking directly
to my heart.

Even though I didn't
know Italian, I knew what he'd said. “Dom, I love you too.”
I kissed him gently on his knuckles.

“
Emma, you
don't understand. Before you were back in my life, my life was like
the night sky without stars.
But
you …
tu
sei una stella
…
you are a star.
La
mia stella
-
my star. And now that you are here with me, my life is like this
'vampire star', as it pulls everything into it. You are my
everything.” He wasn't looking at me, I figured because of his
confession.

“
Dom, I don't
know what to say. I mean, you know how I feel. My world was
completely different before you strolled into it. It was like you
threw a damned monkey wrench into all my plans … but I am
grateful for that. I would have never known your love, or my life as
it is now. I would be raging against my parents to see
him
.
Or if Acacia came and I was left because of her, I would have been
completely broken. You saved me from it all. And you did it by being
you and allowing me to be me.” I flushed as I stumbled blindly
over what I was trying to say.
You
know what I mean.

Of course I do
.
He kissed my cheek once more.

How about we go
home? I am starving
.
I lowered my fangs for emphasis.

He laughed at me.
No
biting. At least for now.
He winked at me.

I rolled my eyes and
playfully shoved him.

We raced back home
once we got out of the mine. I would have easily won if I hadn't
stopped to check in my little bird friend; it was fine and cuddled up
close to its mother.

I smiled the entire
way back home as I moved like a flash of light through the trees.
Dominic beat me by a few seconds- quite a lot when you think of our
speed as vampires.

When I got there I
realized he looked out of sorts.

What's wrong?
My voice went an octave higher than usual.

Nothing
,
he grumbled.

I decided to test
our theory about my emotions being the key to unlocking my gift and I
fell into my concern. I let it color every thought as I vividly
imagined all the things that could've happened.

I reached out and
took his hand- the link took instantly.

I pulled my hand
away after a minute with all the information I needed. I burst out
laughing.

Emma?
Dom was confused.

A bear? Can't we
smell them quite easily?
I giggled to myself as I watched the mental image of him racing
smack-dab into a very unhappy bear. It was hilarious.

I was busy
thinking about beating you; I wasn't paying attention to my
surroundings- something that the youngest of vampires are taught from
square one.
I
could feel his pity party. “Oh, take a chill pill. Drama
queen.” I rolled my eyes at him and walked into the house.

“
That is so
messed up. You break into my mind, and then you tease me about it,
and then call me dramatic when I explain myself.” Anger flashed
in his words like a tornado warning across the screen.

“
Grow up and
let it go.” I didn't even turn to look at him but kept walking
into the kitchen.

He growled …
like full blown growl.

I started laughing
uncontrollably; I couldn't believe he actually growled at me.

This set him off and
he took off out to the sun room again.

Big baby!
I shouted at him.

I giggled myself
through my dinner alone. Apparently everyone had something to do
without me. I hated not even being asked to join in all the little
endeavors that go on in this household. I sighed as I rinsed my plate
off and put it in the dishwasher.

Dom?
I wanted to see if he was talking to me yet.

No response.

Fine, act like a
little kid.
I knew I was doing just that, but I didn't care.

I went upstairs and
took a long bath. The hot water helped to ease out some of the
tension that the day had brought. It was hard to sit in the tub
without searching into the new information I had acquired from Mike.
I let little bits slip through the wall I had mentally built around
it. I knew he still loved me- I felt my heart pang- and it was hard
for him to stay away. He wanted to be able to leave me alone, but
even though he was with his kind, his life was changed without me.
Another pang. Acacia was his perfect werewolf mate, but she wasn't
the kind of person I was. He still
loved
her. Pang. I wasn't sure if this was a good idea as my heart was
painfully throbbing in my chest. It didn't stop the flow of his
thoughts and feelings. His family was forcing him to stay away and to
take his place amongst his people. I felt the resentment; it must
burn inside of him like the fuse of dynamite- just waiting to
explode. I wanted to fix all these feelings in him, to set everything
right, but I wasn't ready or willing to make it happen. I was still
hurt, and my pain won over the desire to heal him. My water turned
cold.

I got out of the tub
and wished I would've taken a shower and kept the stupid wall in
place. I immediately patched every hole that I had allowed things to
seep through. I would not feel it again unless I was ready and wanted
it. I felt a presence in my mind.

Em?
Dom's voice was filled with remorse.

Yes?
I didn't think it was fair to make him suffer too much.

I'm sorry. I was
a jerk and over-sensitive. Forgive me?
The hope flowed through every word.

Of course. Where
are you?
I was worried he had left town or something.

In
the
backyard. I didn't want to come inside without being forgiven.
Besides
non posso vivere senza voi, siete la mia aria.
I
can't live without you, you're my air
.
His Italian was beautiful in my head.

Oh, come inside,
you big ogre
.
I laughed at him.

Ti
amo, la anima gemella.
I
love you, my soul mate
.