“I'll stay then. But I'm going up to my room. Take all the time you need, and if you want to talk you know where to find me.” I turned and climbed the stairs.
I threw my bags on the floor, grabbed out some sweats from my closet and went to my beautiful bathroom. The water poured down on me just as my tears broke free. I knew he wouldn't take it well, but I had hoped that things would've gone more smoothly. I hugged myself as my body was wrecked with sobs. How could I've been so stupid? What was I thinking? I shook my head at myself. I let the water wash away all my tears and calm me. I knew tomorrow I would be back at school. I started earlier than most because of the screening I would be starting the day with. I pulled myself out of the shower and slowly toweled off. My sweats were comforting and familiar. When I put them on it was like pulling a security blanket on. I sighed again and headed back into my room- Dom was sitting on the bed.
He held up his hand in surrender. “Look, I'm sorry. I didn't handle that well. I realize that must have been hard for you to tell me. But it still hurts, Emma. I don't like the idea of sharing you with a werewolf. I really don't understand exactly what has happened between you two, part of me really does not want to. But I figure that is something we can discuss at a later time. You shouldn't have been so reckless- what if the stories about werewolf blood were true? You would've died, regardless of your healing abilities. I would have lost you, completely.” His eyes were tinged with tears.
“I understand your reaction, you don't have to be sorry. I'm sure I would've been worse if you had told me something like that. I'm sorry that I couldn't think of a better way of talking about this. I figured that telling you in one go and bluntly would make it over quicker- thus making it hurt less. And just so you know, yes, I did think of the consequences to my actions- but I knew, deep down, that I was making the right choices.” I went and sat next to him.
“Will it always be like this?” I could see his mind trying to accept things.
“For as long as necessary, yes, it'll. If you can't accept that, I'll and do understand, Dom. It is a lot to ask of anyone. I know this better than most would. Remember, what I've done to you, I've also done to him and he has done to me. It is a bitter place we're stuck in, but it's what's necessary. It is something that is accepted or rejected- I accepted my fate as I knew rejection would only hurt my people.” I took his hand.
“Emma, I accept you. I accept that you're torn between two worlds, and two parts of yourself. I also realize that you can't choose between us even if you wanted to- it's not how our cards have been played. But I can honestly tell you, that I'll never do this to you. You should always know that. I can be your rock in all this chaos.” His smile was tentative but warm- the hurt was still there, but it was slowly retreating to the dark corners of his mind.
“Thank you, Dominic. I really do love you, you know.” I kissed his cheek.
“As I you, and I always will.” He pulled my lips to his into a deep kiss.
I breathed in his scent and realized that he was as much a part of me as Mike, and that I could never lose one without it breaking a part of me. It was a harsh realization, but something else that I needed to know about myself.
“Now, you sleep. You will need your rest for tomorrow.” He smiled at me.
“Stay. Please. I don't want the night terrors to come. Not tonight.” I knew if he left my mind would pull me into the dark void of how things could turn out very poorly from here on; I didn't want to have to deal with it, not tonight.
“As you wish.” He pulled down the blanket and ushered me into the bed and then he laid down next to me holding me ever so delicately.
“Thank you, Dominic. Night.” I curled against him and felt some of the stress that had taken root in my very soul leave my body and drifted off to sleep.
Morning came too soon. I hadn't set my alarm, but Dom woke me. I rolled back over and grumbled at him.
“Uh-huh. Your butt is getting out of that bed, Emma Mary Hutchinson. Or I'm going to drag you from it.” Something in his voice caused me to look up at him.
“Excuse me, caveman. But civilized people don't drag their beloved from their nice warm beds so early in the damn morning!” I chucked a pillow at him and hit him square in the head.
“Oh yeah?” He grabbed my ankle.
“You wouldn't?” My eyes slitted at him.
“I wouldn't?” The challenge had been accepted and he pulled- not hard enough to pull me out all the way but my leg was off the bed up to my knee.
“You beast! Let go!” I laughed as I flailed my legs about and grabbed hold of the mattress.
“Nope. You're getting out of that bed.” He laughed and pulled again, and I lost my grip, sliding so my butt now rested on the edge of the bed.
“Dominic, if you pull one more time I'm so going to whomp you from here to China!” I snarled at him as I tried to sit up.
“I always wanted to see the Great Wall with you.” His laughter burst from him and he pulled one last time and I went tumbling from the bed; I would've landed right on the floor if he hadn't caught me.
“Oh, you're soooo lucky you caught me.” I pulled him into a kiss.
“Apparently, I'm.” His eyes smiled down at me, and I was thankful that he had let something go.
“Put me down so I can get ready and get the devil out of here.” I mumbled.
“Hmm, that isn't a very good attitude to have for your first day.” He nuzzled into my hair.
“Mmm.” My mind felt fuzzy warm.
“We could see about waking you up more.” There was a sly glint to his eyes.
All of sudden pain flashed through my body. “Oh my GOD!” I clutched my face.
“What's wrong?” He stopped playing and set me down on the bed.
“I don't know. Is... is there something on my face?” I winced as I pulled my hand away.
“Emma, I don't know if you're gonna believe me, but you have a flaming red hand print on your face, um, even a little claw mark that is starting to bleed. I don't understand.” He gulped.
“I think I do. Can you get me an ice pack and the first aid kit?” I asked.
“Yeah, I'll be right back.” He looked back one more time and then rushed out of the room.
“Damn, Acacia.” I went straight to our link and I knew Mike had told her.
Hey, you okay?I didn't know if I should tell him about my matching mark.
I've been better, but hey, I told her. Are you okay? I felt you last night, I knew you told him. His words were soothing.
Yeah, I'm fine. Dom didn't react quite as strongly as she did. I've got something to tell you. I decided he should know that we had a physical bond as well.
I'm listening. Concern colored his words.
It's about our connection, we, eh, share more than mind and spirit. We share a physical bond as well. When she slapped you, she slapped me too. I've got a nice little mark to prove it. I tried to sound like it didn't matter.
What?! Oh, shit, Em. I didn't know. Is that all you got? Mike seemed worried.
Well, I haven't been in front of a mirror or anything, but that was all I felt. I just got up. Why? What else did she do? I suddenly was worried for his well-being.
Oh, her temper is, eh, pretty snarly. I have a black eye, the slap print, and an almost dislocated shoulder. He listed his injuries like they didn't matter.
Hmm, maybe we're only physically linked when we're awake? I just don't know. Are you okay? Do you want me to call Moira so you can stay there? I wasn't sure I liked the idea of him staying around her.
Yeah, I'm fine. I don't want my kind walking about over there. She's calmed down a bit. I'm giving her more time before I try to talk to her again. He sighed.
Yeah, probably for the best. I laughed. I've got to go get ready, first day as a screener. Let me know if you need anything. I love you.
Love you too, and don't worry I'll be fine. Good luck today. I know you'll do awesome. He sent me warm thoughts.
Thanks, bye. I let the
link fade.
Dom walked in the room holding an ice pack and the first aid kit. I took the ice pack and placed it to my cheek.
“Okay, I understand the ice pack, but why the first aid kit when you can heal the wound away? And are you going to explain this to me?” His curiosity colored his concern.
“Well, the ice pack is to numb it before I start trying to heal myself first thing in the morning. The first aid kit's for just in case. And this is a result of the bond I share with Mike. He, um, told Acacia this morning. She didn't take things quite as well as you did. But I only got the tail end of it.” I held the pack gently to my cheek as the ice froze the swelling.
“Wait, what?! How is that even possible? And what do you mean the end?” His eyes looked like they might bug out of his head.
“Well, I don't know. We're still learning about the bond. Apparently, if one of us is asleep and the other gets hurt only our mental and spiritual connections are effected. I was only awake for the slap, therefore that is all I got on my end.” I put the ice pack down and concentrated on healing the claw marks and throbbing hand print- I felt them slowly vanish.
“Damn, Em. Do you know what this means? If he dies or anything, you might die too! That goes against the prophecy!” He shouted the words I had already thought about.
“Well, then it looks like I'll have to be asleep anytime he gets hurts then, doesn't it.” I smiled up at him.
“Emma, this isn't a joking matter.” Dom's voice was stern.
“Look, I realize this creates some obvious issues, but as for the prophecy, we don't know how it'll effect it. Now I've to get ready. Can you go make me some cocoa to take with me?” I batted my lashes at him.
“Fine. Go get ready, but please let me know if you need me.” I think he was concerned that I might end up with another injury.
“Scout's honor.” I held up three fingers and crossed my heart with my other hand.
He shook his head as he walked out the door.
I let out a long breath and walked into the bathroom. The mirror shows no other visible damage. I rotated my shoulders and found one to be stiff and sore but not painful. This caught my attention. I leaned into the mirror and realized that my left eye had some light bruising. I sighed. Damn. I healed my eye and took the stiffness out of my shoulder.
I walked back into the room and grabbed my clothes- today I would be dressed in the part of a professor. The student vest was no longer required of me, and whenever I was in my classes I would be allowed to wear my new status marking attire. Part of me hated how I would just be drawing more attention to myself.
I got dressed and did my makeup lightly. This day was already proving to be on the difficult side of life. I pulled my Doc Martens on over my fishnets. I had refused to give up some of my signature fashion pieces.
My messenger bag was loaded with the files of the people I would be screening today, all staff. It also held my new course schedule and my teaching schedule. The classes I had excelled in would now be the ones I taught, with the difference of how I understood them. I still had the two classes about my people and the history and learning to live like a vampire, but my healing class was gone, as was my mental training class. I was given the option of taking a different class than tracking, but I decided to stay in it- it would be more of an independent study class for me. I let out a long breath and picked up the bag and headed downstairs.
Dom was pouring the hot chocolate into a travel mug for me and had, what smelled like chocolate croissants, wrapped up ready to go as well.
“Mmm, smells good. What about you?” I realized there was one set.
“I think I'm going to go back to bed for a bit. I'll be by later to see you. I promise.” He smiled and kissed the tip of my nose.
“Ugh, sleep whore. I wanna go back to bed... but oh, no, someone dragged me out of my bed just so I could be on time. Ugh, that's what I've to say about that.” I grimaced at him.
“You are going to end up loving today, especially once you get to teach your two classes with your handpicked kids.” He smiled at me again and walked me to the door.
My Jeep was waiting for me, with the top pulled up as it looked like it would probably rain.
“Aw. You pulled it out for me and got it all ready. Thank you. But that still doesn't make up for the extra sleep you're stealing.” I pouted and walked to my car.
“I'm sure the tasty treats I packed for you will.” He laughed and blew me a kiss.
“Go back to bed, slacker.” I laughed and climbed into my car, ready to start on my newest adventure.
My morning flashed by as I mentally waded through all the people on staff. I found several more healers, two people that had some of my mental abilities, a tracker that had never transformed before, and a handful of other talents that hadn't been seen before. I suggested that some of these people join in my classes- it was up to them whether or not they wanted to unlock their true potential. For the others that I didn't have the abilities to teach, I wrote out my suggestions for each one and submitted them to the school head, Mr. Spawling. Many of the staff were relieved to find that they had no special talents that had been overlooked. However, all of them had secrets; some were pretty dark. I tried not to think about any of this as I rushed from the main building over to the secondary greenhouse.
I requested that all the herbs and medicinal plants be moved into the other greenhouse, as we wouldn't have need for them. I wanted the light and warmth. I had managed to get floor cushions brought in, as well as a few desks. In the back of the room I installed a small waterfall to help the atmosphere. I knew that the class would be a mix of young and old, and that it would continue to grow as I discovered more people. Dom had managed to get the thick drapes I had asked him to get put up, and they even managed to make the room entirely black if needed. Yes, this semester is going to be interesting.
I sat on a green overstuffed, squashy cushion and pulled out my tentative roster. Charlie, Leland, and Daniel were all registered to be in my class. I wasn't sure which of the people I told this morning would come to class, but I had put it out there. I knew that the other healing students from Lily's class that I felt might do well with my type of healing might be transferred over to me if I screened them- something else that would take part on one of these earlier morning days. The other names on my list I didn't know, or were surprised to see. Lily had wanted into the class, but I knew I couldn't teach her to do things like I did- we just healed differently. I had made sure to have this class at the same time as her class to ensure I wouldn't have to make an example of a professor. I took a calm steadying breath.
The door opened gently and Charlie, Leland, and Daniel walked in together. I smiled warmly at them.
“Welcome. Sit wherever you'll feel most comfortable.” I gestured to all pillows on the floor.
“Thanks.” Charlie said as he sat right in front of me.
“Ditto.” Leland took the pillow to his left.
“I'm very excited and thankful that you allowed me into your class. I'm also a little disappointed that you won't be in my class anymore, Emma.” Daniel's words were warm.
“I think that you and I learned things very differently, Daniel, and as such, I would be of better use teaching students and others that I've found to hone their natural gifts that aren't really recognized or brought out in other classes.” I smiled at him.
“Very true, and wise.” He nodded his head in agreement.
“Charlie, have you been feeling better lately?” I looked at the student in the room that I knew for certain could master his ability to heal like I had.
“Yes, thank you so much. I feel like a new person. I've also been practicing focusing my energy.” He beamed at me.
“That will be very useful in this class. And I'm glad that you decided to listen to me. Don't ever worry about getting ahead, I can always tailor individual lessons for each student as I only have two classes. But I'll make that announcement to the entire class when we start.” I gl
anced up at the clock- ten more minutes.
“Leland, you sure you're up to the challenge?” I winked at him.
“Darl, if I survived you slicing me open like a tomato then I can survive this.” He laughed.
“Getting cut open and learning how to focus your living energy- your life force as it were- to heal another are entirely different things.” I raised an eyebrow at him,
“Hey, hey, I never said I couldn't do that either. It's all a matter of practice. I had the other form of healing down, I'll get this one too.” His voice told me he was ready for the challenge and his hazel eyes glinted with excitement.
“Good. I'll expect that kind of attitude from everyone. If they'd show up.” I turned to the door.
“They will. I think some of the people are nervous about discovering that they didn't know a part of themselves for so long and the students are awed by you. They will all come around.” Daniel's voice was comforting and I had a feeling he was trying to compel my feelings in that direction.
I fell into silence. The boys began talking amongst themselves. At about two minutes until the class was supposed to start, I saw them in a large group walking toward the room. I let out a sigh of relief. The five people I had screened this morning walked with several of the students I had screened from Daniel's class. I also saw some of the students from Lily's class coming this way. Uh-oh.
I let everyone into the room before I started talking.
“If you haven't been screened by me and want to take this class, please come to the front of the room.” As I said this, five of Lily's students came forward.
I realized that there were still three people that I had not screened and hadn't come forward. “Could you three tell me why you're here if you don't want to take the class?”
A tall mahogany colored man stepped forward, “ We're here to observe, nothing more- nothing less.”
“Can you clarify?” I wasn't sure why I was being observed.
“When a new professor position is created, as this one has been, observers are sent out to watch. We will be here for this first week, after which we will make our report on your progress with your students, your teaching abilities, and how we feel you have done overall. You will have three others in your next class as well.” The man stepped back, his voice was flat with minimal inflections.
Bella Vita Page 24
