The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) (38 page)

“I can assure you a battle between Heaven and Hell is far more gruesome than the likes of this painted glass.”

“Oh trust you to bring blood and gore into it.” I teased nudging his arm to which he just gave me a coy smile in return.

We continued round and it was like having my own personal guide. He would tell me about the history of each Altar statue, sarcophagi, and plaque we came to which were situated under each big window along the sides. The centre was dominated by row after row of pews and there was a forest of pillars that dominated the inside. I looked up and even though the arched ceilings were plain it worked well so as not to distract from the top of the pillars. Each one was enriched by a large number of statues of saints and martyrs that encircled the tops of every pillar, causing your eyes to dance between each one.

“I think I could spend hours here.”

“Wait until you see the roof.” On hearing this I gasped in excitement.

“We can go up on the roof?!” He laughed at me as we cut across, what Draven informed me was called the Transept. Then of course he had to explain that a Transept was the shortest arm of the church that is shaped like a Latin cross. So basically it’s an aisle cutting across the length of the room.  

“Yes, it is an unusual feature I agree, but on a clear day the views seen from up there are spectacular.” He said referring back to the roof. We walked to the south side passing tourists as we went and even though I was sure they weren’t allowed to take pictures, I couldn’t say I could fully blame them. It was just one of those places that made you want to take those picture memories away with you so that you could impress your friends when you got back home.

“I can’t wait to see it…oh…that’s…that’s…” I said coming to a dead stop at the statue that was now in front of me.

“That’s St Bartholomew.” Draven said obviously amused by my reaction to seeing it.

“Uh…What’s wrong with his skin?” I asked wrinkling my nose.

“He’s wearing it like a piece of cloth.”

“Eww!” I said but even as I made the noise there was just something about it that drew you in. It was a masterpiece there was no two ways about that but it was as gruesome as it was stunning. The man stood almost proud with a book in one hand that rested open on the top of his thigh. His skin had been completely removed and on closer inspection his face rested at his back, his hand was next to his boned hand and the same with one of his feet. It was incredible as even the marble that had been used had a blue running through it that gave the appearance of veins on the muscle.

“Who was he?” I asked but Draven started to lead me away.

“Just someone who studied anatomy. Come, the lift is this way.” I frowned behind Draven as it was the way he said it that I knew there was more he wasn’t telling me. I looked back one last time and for a split second I could have sworn I had seen him move.

But wait…Hadn’t that book been open before?

Once on the roof I found yet another astonishing sight, only this time it most definitely wasn’t man made. Although the roof to the Cathedral was in itself a masterpiece, allowing you to see the spires and statues up close. But Draven had been right, the view was incredible. The snow-capped Alps ran along one side and looked almost too surreal to be actually there. Almost like the snow on top could be low floating clouds or the mythological stories of Mount Olympus also came to mind.

“You can see the whole city from up here.” I said and then had to look around for Draven as it seemed I was talking to myself.

“Draven?”

“Right here, love.” He spoke in my ear at the same time his arms came round me, which they had been doing a lot lately. Didn’t he understand what it did to me every time I would feel his arms around me, holding me to him like he never wanted to let me go?

“Hey, relax…I’ve got you.” He said when he felt me tense in his arms as these thoughts of confusion filled me to the point where I wanted to pull away. It was beautiful cruelty and I was just about to tell him as much when he spoke again,

“This has always been one of my favourite places in the world and I think the words of Alfred Tennyson best describe its beauty…would you like to hear it?”

“Uhm…yes please” I said after first needing to clear my throat.

“Very well, let me just engage my elephant memory,” he teased first and gave me an affectionate squeeze as I laughed.

“Don’t give yourself a headache now,” I replied back and found my hand going to his at my front to hold onto where he automatically entwined his long fingers with mine.

“Since when did you get so cheeky little one?” He asked into my hair.

“Since I met a big Alpha male who needs keeping on his toes and bringing down a peg or two.”

“And that is something you certainly do well, sweetheart.” He finished and walked us forward just a few steps until we came right up against the marble arches that ran the full length of the roof like a medieval fence caging us in. The one hand that wasn’t linked with mine then lent against the arch in front of us, which created a little private space for us that felt far too intimate for friends. This was proved even more so when he started reciting the poem in a soft, luring voice that instantly made me give him more of my weight to hold. 

“I climb’d the roofs at break of day;

Sun-smitten Alps before me lay.

I stood among the silent statues,

And statued pinnacles, mute as they.

How faintly-flush’s, how phantom fair,

Was Monte Rosa, hanging there

A thousand shadowy-pencill’d valleys

And snowy dells in a golden air.”

“That was lovely,” I said feeling breathy and swallowing hard at what this moment was meaning to me.

“It was made even lovelier saying it with you in my arms.” Draven responded with his lips at my ear. My head went back on his chest and I couldn’t hold it in any longer. He was cracking my walls and seeping his way in once again. I just hoped I could hold it together just a little bit longer…I only needed a little longer.

“Draven, I can’t do this again.”
I said on a plea, turning my head to the side and I felt his hand leave the marble arch to cup my face.

“Can’t do what again, Keira,
tell me?”
He asked and I turned in his arms and looked up at him with pleading eyes before I finally whispered the truth of my heart,

“I’m falling for you again.”
I braved saying but getting this off my chest wasn’t what lifted my heart and made my breath catch. No, it was what Draven said in response to my bravery, to my honesty and to my greatest wish in all the world.

It was the gift of bravery, honestly and a single wish that he gave back to me, with five words that would change the world…

“Then let me catch you.”

Chapter 25

Ask Me Anything

The rest of the day went by where I remained in some hypnotic fog of confusion and bliss. After our moment on the roof we had both just held each other and I knew that if I had only looked up he would have kissed me. And this knowledge was an internal battle that raged on within me, tempting me into sin and placing me on the line I knew I should never cross. Because as easy as it would be to simply step over that line, to do so still meant putting myself out there and under his mercy to once again crush me. No, not just crush me but this time something a lot worse because this time I just don’t think I would have survived it again.

So I ran scared. I pulled myself away and one look at his face said he knew it too. I was even a little surprised that he allowed me to withdraw from him. All he had done was run the back of two fingers down my cheek and said,

“Hey, it’s okay,” then he smiled, took my hand and we left the magical rooftop to continue our day. After that we continued our day like tourists, with Draven taking me to his favourite places in the city and explaining all of its history to me. I would allow myself at my weakest moments to be weaved deeper into his spell and because of this most of the day was spent hand in hand.

We would jump on and off the busy trams which Draven used as an opportunity to wrap a protective arm around my waist and one hand on the bar above to hold me steady. He would point out different buildings through the window I faced but in reality in these moments I rarely took anything in other than the feel of him at my back, holding me close.

At one point I had Draven pulling my hand back and pulling me in to this old traditional ice cream parlour that the Italians called gelato. There were so many flavours I was stood there umming and ahhing for a small age. Draven just laughed at me and picked his own flavour of Grand Marnier, which I teased was such a posh choice. I ended up being torn between three flavours, so in the end Draven just ordered me all of them, chocolate, mint choc chip and for something a little different, toffee with amaretto.

“I hope you’re planning on helping me finish these?” I had asked at the time which was precisely what he did. We sat at a window seat together watching the Italian world walk by and I regaled him with funny stories about working at the library. He showed no restraint in telling me how he didn’t care for the way my boss had spoken to me that day, making me smile.

We had then moved on and it was me being the one to drag Draven into the next place. It was a big souvenir shop that had a dressing up section at the back. I made a bee line for it and started picking up wigs and trying them on.

“Oh no…no, you don’t!” Draven had said backing up and putting his hands in the air to fend me off. I giggled harder and continued to come at him with the Elvis wig, complete with sideburns.

“Oh come on, you know you will look hot with any of these wigs…you’re not scared of looking foolish are you, oh mighty King?” I said in a way that clearly taunted him. This was when he raised a single eyebrow at me and crossed his arms as if thinking about it.

“Ok, I will play but you have to wear the ones I pick.” I gave him a beaming grin and held out my hand.

“Deal.”

“You should be careful who you make a deal with, darling.” He said winking.

“I am not afraid of you, now put this on and play a different type of King.” I said going up on my tiptoes and placing it on his head. I stepped back and burst into a fit of laughter. Of course it was made even worse when he started trying to do the Elvis’s famous leg move, saying ‘Huhuh’, causing my laughter to hurt my ribs as I bent over double.

He pulled the wig off laughing with me and then went to pick out my own. He came back to me smirking and I knew it was going to be funny. He placed it on my head and then turned me by the shoulders to face the mirror. It turned out to be a massive black Mohawk so I started playing on my air guitar, using my leg at one point making Draven, like me, bend over double laughing.

We ended up being the shop for ages and thanks to Draven’s powers of persuasion no one took any notice of us. So after a blonde mullet, monk’s bald head, black afro and the Mohawk I made him wear, I was forced through the clown’s rainbow wig, red plaits, pink bob and of course not to be left out, the blonde mullet!

After laughing and giggling at each other like loons and me using feather boas and Draven putting on giant glasses we finally left the shop with two matching key rings to remember the shop by. I think my cheeks were still aching the rest of the way round Milan from smiling so much. It was just turning out to be the most perfect day ever and I found myself never wanting it to end. I think if I could have picked my Groundhog Day then this would have been it.

In fact I was just thinking about asking what Draven had planned for dinner as we were making our way back up in the lift to our suites when he beat me to speaking.

“So I have something I have been meaning to ask you.”

“Ok, go for it.” I replied as we came to my door and I bent sideways to pull my key card out of my back pocket.

“I wanted to know if you would come with…” Draven was abruptly cut off when my door was suddenly opened.

“Alex?!” I said in shock at seeing who the intruder was.

“Catherine…oh and look, how surprising to see who you’re with!” He snapped and I felt like I had been caught with my hand in the preverbal cookie jar!

“Draven I will see you later.” I said pushing Alex back and storming into my room.

“Oh I just bet you will!” Alex snapped but I ignored it and instead had to give Draven a small shake of my head as he looked to be holding back his Demon’s wrath from finding his hands around Alex’s neck. 

“What are you doing in my room?” I asked turning the emphasis back on him and wondering what in fact he
was
doing in my room. I slammed the door and stood with my arms folded waiting.

“Well, I was obviously just about to interrupt something between you two, that’s what!” Was his sharp retort.

“Oh don’t be ridiculous, we are just friends.”

“Yeah sure you are…is that why he followed you all the way to Italy!? Don’t be so naive and foolish Cathy.” He said rolling his eyes.

“Don’t be so dramatic, we spent the day together because he didn’t like the idea of me spending it alone in a city I didn’t know.” I said knowing this was actually part of the reason because he told me so himself.

“It’s Milan Catherine, not the Middle East for fuck’s sake!”

“Yeah well at least he cares enough. So far all you have done is take me for one meal and then gave me a night of you acting stroppy!”

“Stroppy?!”