Bequeathed

by Melinda Terranova

  I wake disorientated, the pillows vibrating under my head. Blinking to clear my eyes from sleep, I realize my phone is still stashed under the pillows where I left it earlier. I pull the phone out and stare at the screen. It is Dominic.

  “Hello.”

  “Meet me downstairs, sleeping beauty.” He chuckles before he hangs up.

  I scramble out of bed, throw on a pair of jeans and my leather jacket over my pajama top, and slowly open my door to my room. I use my phone as my light source and sneak out the front door. The stairs are dimly lit and I manage to make it to the bottom in record time. The oversized door creaks loudly, echoing its music into the still night. The piazza is deserted. My eyes are drawn to my left where I see Dominic standing in the dark. With a wave of his hand, he motions for me to join him in the shadows.

  “What are you doing here?” I stare up at him.

  “I thought I’d say a proper goodbye,” he whispers. I notice his eyes, darker than before, glow in the dark and there is a certain alertness to them.

  “Oh.” I think back to my last text. “Why are you here so late?”

  “I just finished work.”

  “It’s three in the morning.” I look at him, bewildered.

  Dominic places his finger on my lips to hush me and traces the same finger down my chin, over my throat, leaving tingles on my skin. He hooks his finger into the lace of my pajama top and possessively yanks me into him. His mouth finds mine and I am lost in the mixture of his embrace and the electricity coursing through my body. He pulls away leaving me wanting more again.

  “That’s an effective way to stop me from talking.” I grin.

  “I’ll have to remember that.” He laughs.

  I playfully slap him on the arm. “I can’t stay out here for too long; my aunt wakes up just before sunrise.”

  “How long are you going for?” he asks quietly, never averting his eyes from mine.

  “I’m not sure? The festival is all weekend. I’d say we will be home by Monday the latest.” I shrug.

  “I can deal with that.” He nods.

  “What are you doing over the weekend?”

  “Probably working and trying not to be distracted by thinking about you.” He grins at me; his perfect teeth glow in the streetlight.

  “You are too sweet,” I whisper shyly as I look at the ground.

  Dominic lifts my chin, so I am looking into his inky eyes. “I am far from sweet,” he growls. His eyes grow darker as his mouth sets in a hard line.

  I am confused by his statement and the sudden change in his mood. I blink hard as I rack my brain for a response. Dominic must sense my confusion and steps closer to me, towering over me, invading all my personal space. I can feel the heat from his body radiating toward me. I reach up to touch his muscled stomach, but he grabs both my wrists and wraps them around his waist, holding me against him.

  “I hope I haven’t frightened you. I’m sorry.” His eyebrows knit together.

  I pull back, and he lets go of my wrists. Looking up at him I can see he is churning something over in his head and there is anguish behind his beautiful eyes. “No, you didn’t frighten me. You just confuse me a little,” I reply. I want to say your mercurial behavior is confusing the shit out of me, but I bite my tongue.

  Dominic runs his hand through his hair in frustration and looks out past me into the piazza. “I don’t mean to confuse you. I’m just, it’s complicated. I’m complicated and I don’t want you to get entangled in my tortuous life,” he lets out in one breath. “I want to keep you away from all that, but I can’t seem to keep away from you.” His eyes are intense, and he is staring at me with resolve.

  “I don’t want you to keep away from me.” My voice quivers.

  He takes a step closer to me so that our bodies are touching. My heart thrums in my chest as he laces his arms around my waist and kisses my lips tenderly. “I couldn’t even if I wanted to,” he breathes into my ear.

  “I have to go upstairs before they wake up.”

  Dominic lets out a long breath. “Enjoy your trip and know that I will be thinking of you.” He kisses the backs of my hands.

  “Please be careful when you’re out late at night,” I plead, holding on to the door handle.

  Dominic steps up to come face to face with me and kisses me one last time. “I’m not the one that you need to worry about,” he says as his eyes darken before he saunters off across the piazza toward the Pantheon.

  I manage to sneak back into the apartment and into my room undetected and flop onto the bed still wearing my jeans. A couple of hours later I rise just before the first light of the day and surprisingly feel good. My only ailment is the constant insatiable hunger. I shower quickly and get dressed in my ripped jeans, white cashmere jumper, and white Chuck Taylors. I am ready for our road trip, my bag already packed. I join Sofia at the island bench, and she nudges me with her elbow.

  “How’s lover boy?” She grins wickedly.

  I cannot help but smile back at her. “Good.”

  “Are we ready, girls?” Maria enters the kitchen with her bag draped over her shoulder.

  “Are we going to eat first?” I ask as my stomach growls at me.

  “We will get food on the way. Grab something quick to tide you over.” Maria points to the fruit bowl.

  Traveling in the car for all of fifteen minutes, Maria pulls up in front of what I presume is a shop of some sort. The double doors are dark wood and stained with gloss, a large brass knocker sits in the center of the left door, and a bronzed gargoyle face hovers proudly in the center of the right door. Without knocking Maria enters, and Sofia and I follow her down a set of stone steps in to the darkened shop front. The shelves are filled with small bottles of different-colored liquids and oils, jars with dried herbs, and an array of leather-bound books. Herbs hang in bunches over the dark wooden counter and I look around for a white owl. This shop reminds me of the old wizard shop at Movie World. I turn toward the noise coming from the back of the store. A short old lady shuffles out from a back room and greets Maria with a kiss on each cheek. Snow-white hair hangs in a long plait to her waist; the contrast to her olive skin is distracting. Her hunched shoulders are draped in a shawl with large bright red poppies, and her fingernails are painted red.

  “Sofia,” she chants and kisses her on each cheek.

  The old lady’s grey eyes meet mine, her stare intense and analyzing. “This must be Katalina?” Her eyes float to Maria.

  “Hello.” I smile politely.

  She shuffles toward me and kisses me on each cheek. “Welcome.” She takes my hand in hers and instantly lets it go. I see a flit of concern cross her features before she shuffles back to the counter.

  I focus my uneasy feeling on the many jars and odd things on the shelves, ignoring Maria and the old lady talking in Italian.

  Sofia suddenly appears right beside me making me flinch. “A little jumpy today?” she teases. “This is where we get our herbal remedies and other necessities.”

  “That old woman is making me feel uncomfortable,” I say under my breath and pretend to read a label on a jar.

  “She should; she is a very powerful witch. Usually she doesn’t deal with vampires; however, Maria saved her daughter from the hands, or should I say fangs, of a rogue vampire many years ago and so she feels indebted to provide Maria with what she may need,” Sofia explains.

  “How old is she?”

  “Probably around one hundred and fifty years old. She could live to be five hundred if she uses her witchcraft to keep her alive,” Sofia whispers into my ear.

  My eyes open wide in amazement. “What? Wow!” I exclaim a little too loudly.

  “Let’s go, my girls.” Maria heads up the stairs toward the exit.

  “Bye.” I wave at the old lady who nods her head in response before disappearing into the back room.

  The traffic in the usually-busy city is nonexistent this morning. The car purrs through the streets and I settle into the back seat. Maria h
as not mentioned the old lady or what she bought from the strange shop, and I have no intentions of bringing it up just yet. I retrieve my phone from my bag and text Dominic. “We are on our way. I’m guessing you are still asleep?”

  We stop at a service station for coffee and food for me. I try not to think of the last meal Sofia and Maria ate. As I stand and wait for my coffee I notice the way people react and respond toward Maria and Sofia. It is as though their human instincts have kicked in and they can sense to keep a little distance between themselves and the two beautiful vampires. I sip my coffee at the bar and eat three pastries before Maria returns from the deli section. She has bought a smorgasbord of salamis, cheeses, olives, and breads.

  “Are you nearly finished, sweetheart?” Her nostrils flare sniffing the air.

  “Nearly. Just let me quickly drink my coffee,” I reply.

  “We will wait in the car for you.” She turns on her heel and flies out the doors.

  I look around to see if anyone saw her quick exit, but the few patrons in the shop are too busy to notice. I drink my coffee in one gulp and head back to the car. Sofia is already sitting in the passenger seat, her shoulders stiff with agitation. I glance at Maria in the driver’s seat; her face is impassive.

  Maria turns in her seat toward Sofia and sighs. “You could have been seen. Why are you so careless?”

  “Because it is exciting. I love the rush of almost getting caught,” Sofia snaps.

  “I will not have you behave this way when you live with me. You are putting all of us in danger,” Maria admonishes.

  “I was not in any danger of getting caught. No one else was around. Besides he was more than willing once I hypnotized him. You worry too much, Maria.” Sofia leans back in the chair. “I’m sorry. Sometimes they smell too good not to have a taste.”

  My stomach churns as I realize what they are talking about. Leaning my head against the door I close my eyes as the bile rises in my throat. I concentrate on breathing evenly and blocking out the conversation going on in the front seat. I hear the car start and keep my eyes closed as we drive out onto the open road.

  The pain in my neck wakes me from my dreamless sleep. I have not moved since we left the petrol station. I slowly sit up straight, allowing my shoulder and neck to adjust, the sharp pain quickly subsiding.

  “How long have I been asleep?” I yawn.

  “Nearly three hours,” Sofia answers. “I’m sorry about earlier. I don’t usually feed during the day. I should have controlled myself better.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I say, unsure what the proper response is in circumstances like this. “Where are we?”

  Umbrella pines are scattered throughout the hills in the distance, looking like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. An old castle sits atop a hill surrounded by a stone fence with goats grazing at its base. My attention is turned to a fleet of Ferraris speeding past us in a flash of red.

  “We are heading to a small seaside town called Praiano. We will stop so you can stretch your legs and get something to eat.” Maria looks at me through the rearview mirror.

  “Sounds good to me.”

  By mid-morning we are sitting under the shade of a blue and white umbrella high above the azure sea below. Waves crash against the shore carving into the golden rocky ledge. Lemon trees in pots are scattered around the rooftop deck and a vine with fuchsia flowers seems to have taken over the railing. Maria has ordered enough food to feed at least ten people. She sits sipping her champagne with her black, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses shading her face from the bright sun as the plates of food keep coming. Sofia has found her human appetite and I watch her as she slowly devours everything within arm’s reach.

  “Are you going to be sick from all that food?” I ask with a smirk on my face. “I think you have eaten more than I have.”

  Sofia raises her eyebrows at me and smiles, showing her perfect row of white teeth. “I need to quench my hunger and besides, you can’t talk, you have cleared a few plates too,” she accuses as she throws a grape at me.

  I try to dodge it, but my reflexes are too slow and it hits me on the nose. We both burst into giggles.

  After scoffing more food than necessary, I stand and make my way to the balcony to take in the view. As I look down at the ocean it starts to spin causing me to grab a hold of the railing for support. Squeezing my eyes shut, my head still spins in circles and I lower myself to the floor. Sofia is at my side at once.

  “Are you okay? What happened?”

  “I don’t feel so good. I’m dizzy,” I whisper.

  “Sweetheart, drink some water.” Maria has joined me on the floor and holds out a cold glass of water toward me. I gulp it down and feel the coolness slide down my throat and enter my stomach.

  Maria places her hands under my arms and gently lifts me to my feet. She guides me to my chair where I sit, exhausted.

  “I don’t know what happened. I looked down at the ocean and my head started spinning.”

  “How are you feeling now? Are you still dizzy?” Maria asks with concern.

  “It seems to have passed.” I rest my head on my hand.

  “Will you be okay to explore the village, or would you rather sit here?” Maria looks out past me toward the ocean. I can sense she is deep in thought. Something must be troubling her.

  “I’ll be okay.”

  We walk the steep, narrow roads down to the center of the small village, stopping in all the quirky shops to browse the locally handmade goods. Once we have descended to the beach, the dizziness is but a memory. Taking off my shoes and rolling up my jeans, I wade through the icy water. Standing looking out to sea, I close my eyes and breathe in the salty ocean air. I feel a presence next to me and I turn to find Sofia standing in the water beside me. “I didn’t hear you approach.”

  “Maria has headed back up to the car. Are you ready to leave?” she asks, not taking her eyes off the waves.

  “It’s so beautiful here. Do you think Maria would stop here on the way back?” I wonder out loud as we head back up the steep roads and endless stairs to where the car is parked.

  “I don’t see why not. Maybe we can stay overnight and check out the nightlife?” She grins at me mischievously.

  “I didn’t think we were allowed out at night.”

  “It should be safe here to mingle with the locals. I doubt any of them are too dangerous.” Sofia grins. “You haven’t had any real fun yet. It’s all been doom and gloom.”

  “It hasn’t been that bad, really.”

  “Apparently the festival in Craco goes for three days, and the last night is the big feast with dancing and music,” Sofia explains.

  “You have never been to one of the festivals?”

  “No. Maria has not attended for more than fifty years. I’m unsure of what has captured her interest after all this time.” Sofia shrugs.

  We leave the small seaside town and head inland toward our destination. My phone chimes and I take it out of my bag.

  “How’s my sleeping beauty?” Dominic texts.

  “Wide awake. We just left Praiano and are heading inland. What are you doing?” I reply.

  “Eating lunch in Piazza Navona.”

  My mind wanders back to the night I found out about my family and our past. The night Dominic and I ate chocolate cake under the light of a thousand twinkling fairy lights in Piazza Navona. The night he helped me forget all about the curse, even if only for a few precious hours. “I think Piazza Navona is my favorite.”

  “Why is that?” Dominic instantly texts me back.

  “It has something to do with chocolate cake.”

  “Oh, the chocolate cake was my favorite part too. I will have to let Savia know that you liked her cake,” he teases.

  “Best cake I have ever tasted. The company wasn’t too bad either.” I quietly chuckle to myself in the back seat.

  “Why thank you. I think?” Dominic replies.

  “What have you planned for the rest of your day in beautiful
Rome?” I quickly type.

  “Picturing your plump lips and that perky little ass in those tight jeans!”

  Did he just text me that? “I thought you were a gentleman?” I reply, giggling out loud.

  “What is so amusing back there?” Sofia looks back at me.

  “A text from Dominic,” I answer. My phone chimes and I wait until Sofia has turned back around before I read it.

  “I never said I was. I think you were the one who called me that.”

  “So, you’re not sweet and you’re not a gentleman. Then what are you?” I bite my lip as I hit send. I stare at my phone waiting for his usual instant reply. I am left waiting and sense Sofia’s eyes on me. I look up.

  “What are you two lovebirds texting about?”

  “Dominic was just telling me what he is doing today.” I grin as I feel the flush spread across my face.

  “Do I want to know?” She laughs.

  “Nope.” I shake my head.

  “Young love. So sweet it makes me sick.” Sofia grins at me and winks.

  “Don’t listen to her, Katalina. Enjoy your holiday romance.” Maria reaches back gently squeezing my hand.

  My phone vibrates next to me. I hesitate for a moment before picking it up.

  “It’s a secret.”

  “Are you going to share?” I wait for his reply.

  “Never,” Dominic replies.

  “Can I guess?”

  “No. Even in your wildest nightmares you wouldn’t be able to guess.” He is broody even in his text messages. I picture him sitting with furrowed eyebrows and running his hands through his hair.

  “A hint?” I ask.

  “Merciless.”

  I read his response a couple of times and cannot fathom why he would describe himself in that sense. He sends two more texts.