Bella Vita

by Jesse Kimmel-Freeman

  I wobbled my way down the stairs and made it to the kitchen before the world felt even funnier and I knew I had to sit down. I was hungry though and that was enough to drive me toward the fridge.

  “Emma! What happened to telling me when you need something?” Dom's voice sounded hurt.

  “I made it this far, what was the point of asking for help when I'm already in the fridge? You gonna chew my food for me?” I knew I shouldn't snap at him, but I was not enjoying being hounded and treated like a fragile eggshell!

  His face went taunt for a moment, and I could see him debating whether or not to actually say anything in return. I turned back to the contents of the fridge to let him think of something brilliant to say, I was damn hungry. I pulled out some leftover pasta with what I hoped was spaghetti sauce on it, but you never know in this house. I wasn't sure if I could handle the thick texture of blood and I didn't really feel like heating up the food.

  Instead I sat down with a fork and began nibbling at it. It tasted all right to me. Dom sat across from me and handed me some fresh bread. It smelled delicious!

  “Thanks.” I said around a mouthful.

  “No problem, mia bella. I do wish that you would let me take care of you when you're not entirely well. How are you feeling?” He reached across the table and took my hand- my instant reaction was to bite him.

  “A little out of it. Not myself. I don't really know how to describe it. Maybe a little crazy.” My laugh was weak and shallow. What the devil is wrong with me?

  “Hmm, maybe some more rest would help? Or we could go sit outside on the patio?” His eyes twinkled at me.

  “How about we combine the two, and I rest on the patio with you there for company.” I smiled at him, trying to find my normal self again.

  “Sounds good to me.” He helped me out to the patio and went to get a blanket and pillow for me.

  There was a nice ocean breeze blowing across the patio area and the wind chimes danced in it. I closed my eyes and listened to the crash of the waves below and the small beautiful tinkles of the chimes. This is so nice. I let my mind wander and I could feel my connection with Mike grow stronger and I was suddenly swept into his world.

  Hey, Em. How you feeling? Mike's voice tickled my thoughts- he was out running. I could see the countryside blurring by him.

  I've been better. Is it nice to be home? I missed him already.

  It's always better when I'm with you. I did miss this place. What's wrong? He could sense that there was something not quite right with me.

  I don't know. I feel off. I could feel our connection weaken as the breeze now smelled of the sea and not of sweet grass.

  If you need me, call me, and I'll be there- no matter what. His words were fierce in my mind.

  I know. Thank you. I let the connection break.

  “Where did you disappear to, my Little Emma Bird?” Dom's eyes seemed to reflect some of the ocean's deep green hue.

  “Lost in my mind, trying to figure out what's going on with me, and what to do about tomorrow.” I sighed.

  “If you're not up to it, then don't go. They won't mind. People get sick.” He smiled at me and shrugged.

  “People get sick, not vampires. We just don't. I'm a freak.” I shook my head- wondering if I would ever fit in amongst my people.

  “Hey, you aren't really sick. Something is just fucking with you. You are like the rest of us, Emma Hutchinson. You belong with us, with me. This will stop and you'll be okay.” It was rare to see Dom swear in English, I actually had to suppress my laugh.

  “Yes, sir. Dominic, sir.” I saluted him and then burst out laughing.

  “I'm serious, you know.” He mumbled at me.

  “I know. And I appreciate the sentiment... it was just put in a very no nonsense kinda way... which hardly ever applies to the real world, Dom. You know that too.” I smiled at him.

  “Probably, but I want you to be okay. I don't know how to fix you, I'm not a healer or anything like that.” He frowned and I suddenly realized what was going on.

  “Oh! Dom... I don't need you to be a healer, I love you for you... silly. I think that they already did the best they could do for me- as untrained as they all are. I could try to see if Betty could do anything more, but I doubt it. I'll be okay, it'll just take the next couple of days. You'll see.” I decided that our wedding would go on as planned, even if I had to use a walker to get me down the aisle- he had been through enough with me.

  Chapter nine

  The next days passed in a blur. I didn't get to go teach because even though I was feeling better, I fainted just as I got to the bottom of the stairs that morning. I got vetoed on the teaching. I spent the rest of the day downstairs in a bathrobe- mainly out on the patio, drifting between Italy and Ireland. I didn't know the time of day anywhere, but I felt at ease. I realized that my bond with Mike was straining my body as well as the attack that I had survived- I needed him now. It was a strange feeling to know that I needed someone so completely, that it could physically affect me. I didn't want to ask him if he was having any reaction because I didn't want him to come to Italy just to try and cure me.

  They say the day before your wedding all sorts of chaos breaks out, but I didn't experience any of it. Instead I was stuck out on the patio as the house got ready for the after wedding party we were supposed to be hosting. Any questions that Dom couldn't answer were brought before me like some sort of regal queen. Sitting around on my duff was not what I had expected for the day, but is what I was forced into. I was even sent to bed early. I mean, seriously, who gets sent to bed early as an adult?!

  The day of my wedding brought rain. I wasn't entirely surprised. It didn't really matter since we were having it indoors, but I still felt like it was some sort of bad omen. I love the rain and all, but for the day of your wedding to have a freak rain storm break out- it's gotta mean something.

  I sat in my bed and stared at my window, I had left the shutters open and now I watched as the rain pelted the window. I sighed. So, today is the big day, Emma. Did I really need a pep talk from myself? Hell yes. I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my chin on them.

  How did things get so complicated? How is it that months ago all of this woulda been like a really funky story, and now it's my life? I blew an exhausted breath out.

  I loud squeal came from outside my door, and I was instantly pulled out of my reverie. The sound came again, and then my door banged open. Kelly stood in it with her beautiful blonde hair cut short and dyed pink. Raindrops clung to the ends making a glowing halo around her pixie spikes.

  “Ohmifuckingod! WHY AREN'T YOU OUTTA BED YET?!” Kelly was shouting at me and waving wildly.

  My sleepy mind decided I was having some sort of mental breakdown and I pulled the blanket over my head, “um, Kelly-like hallucination, please go away and stop shouting.”

  “I'm... soo... sorry... Em, I... tried... to... keep her downstairs.” Dom puffed behind her.

  I tugged the blanket down enough to eye him, and then eye her, “so, she isn't a hallucination?”

  “No, I'm not, and I'm standing right here, HELLOOOO!” Kelly was waving again.

  “What the devil did you do to your hair?” My first thought after I asked was maybe it was an accident.

  “You don't like it?” Her blue eyes dulled with hurt.

  “Ya I do, but it's more something I would do. So why the change?” I didn't like to see her hurt.

  “Um, before you two go on forever about hair, and clothes, and other girl things I don't want to hear about, I'm going to head back downstairs. Your grandmother already phoned and said to remind you that hair and stuff would be starting around ten-thirty or eleven.” Dom shook his head and went back down the hallway.

  “The change is for a punk magazine shoot I'm doing. Since I was coming to your wedding and I get to do the Halloween thing here, I figured I would get it done before I came.” She beamed.

  “Aw, it's wonderful and you're going to be the most beautiful mai
d of honor vampiress out there.” I laughed.

  “Okay, Miss Bride-to-be, let's get your big butt outta that bed.” Kelly actually snapped at me.

  “Excuse me, Miss Model, but in civilized worlds, we DO NOT snap at people.” I rolled over and pulled the blanket tighter.

  “Well, some of us were never raised in civilized society..” I didn't hear her coming but I felt the shove she gave me.

  “Give up. You won't get me outta of this bed.” The challenge was clear.

  “Don't be so quick to dismiss me.” She shoved again.

  “Kel, you couldn't get me outta here if you had a forklift.” I snuggled deeper into my bed.

  “Oh, yeah?” I could imagine her perfect brow going up.

  “Yep. Simple fact.” I laughed.

  I thought she would try to shove again or something similar, I was very surprised when I found myself floating in the air.

  “What the fuck?” I shouted.

  Kelly's eyes had shifted to a light gray, so gray it was almost white. A small breeze fluttered her tiny spikes. I watched as she raised her arms slightly more and I went even higher.

  “Okay, Miss Witch, put me down now. I get it... you can move me.” I tried to sound nonchalant about it.

  “Oh, come on! That is all I get! I show you my BIGGEST SECRET and that is all I get!” Kelly sounded disappointed.

  “I've seen worse. Hang on... I need to ask Dom, something.” I closed my eyes.

  Dom?

  What can I help you with? His voice was smooth.

  Can I tell her about me? My voice sounded pleading.

  I thought we already talked about this, it isn't safe...

  I know what we said, but she is a WITCH! She just levitated me out of my bed! I knew I was shouting in his mind.

  What the hell are you talking about? I wanted to laugh at his reaction.

  Come upstairs. I broke the connection.

  “Um, do I even wanna know what just happened?” Kelly's brows had pulled together.

  “Wait, I need you to show Dom... I know you don't wanna as it's your secret and all, but I need you to show him. Okay?” My eyes pleaded for her to understand.

  “Only him, no one else.” She nodded.

  Just then Dominic walked in the room. Kelly raised her hands and the lights went out. Soon a strange eerie glow was coming from her side of the room. The mystery breeze had picked up again and I could see my best friend glowing like a Glow Worm.

  “Ooph.” I heard Dom say from somewhere near the door.

  The lights came back on and Dom was stuck to the ceiling. His brow was cocked and he was grinning.

  “Welcome to the family of freaks, Kelly.” He boomed from his perch on the ceiling.

  Can I tell her? I asked.

  “Go ahead, if she tells anyone, they won't believe her and we have her secret as well. Now please put me down, Kelly.” I watched in silent fascination as Kelly slowly lowered Dominic back to the floor. “Thanks.”

  He left the room after he nodded to me.

  “HECK YEAH! I get to tell someone my secret. Come, sit on the bed with me.” I cooed at her as I made my way back to the bed.

  “Only if you promise that after we talk you'll put some clothes on because we're running out of time.” She checked her watch.

  “Fine. But come, sit down.” I patted the spot next to me and crossed my legs.

  “So now you know, I'm a witch. What's your secret?” Kelly's grin was cocky- like I couldn't top that.

  “I'm a vampire.” I slid down my fangs and smiled at her.

  “Holy shit...” She fell off my bed as she jumped back with shock.

  “Well, gee, thanks.” I wasn't hurt at all, I knew it would shock her.

  “Well, shit, Em. You can't just drop something like that on me. Are you undead? You don't need my blood right?” Kelly's hand flew to her neck.

  I laughed.

  “I'm serious. You aren't going to, like, eat me, right?” Kelly's eyes had gone a little doe-eyed.

  “No, I'm not even interested in your blood. Seriously. And I'm not undead... just different.” I smiled.

  “So how long have you been, you know... like this?” Kelly was having a moment.

  “I was born one, only we start off as human. I guess you could say, I kinda had to die to fully change.” I didn't know what I should tell her and what not.

  “Oh, shit, the day on the bridge! I get it now. Did you really die?” A strange fascination seemed to take over her shock.

  “No, not entirely. Only, I got as close as possible and then the change happened.” My mind drifted back to that day.

  “Wait, so are Mike and Dom vampires too?” It seemed to just occur to her that others were part of this.

  “Um, I can't... Mike isn't a vampire. Dom is, our families are... and today, you'll be surrounded by them.” I beamed at her.

  “If you guys are vamps, then what's Mike?” Apparently she had caught that.

  “I can't tell you, it's not my secret to tell.” I hung my head.

  You can tell her, Emma. Mike's voice cycled in my mind.

  Are you sure? I wasn't sure how he knew what was going on.

  Yep. I know she won't tell. His voice was confident, I wasn't sure if I would hear from him today.

  “Okay, Mike said I could tell you. He's a werewolf.” I sighed.

  “Wait, what? How did Mike say anything? Werewolf?” She swallowed.

  “Yep. And him and I are blood bonded.” I smiled at her.

  “I'm not even going to ask.” She shook her head.

  “It's kinda hard to explain, I think... maybe it's easy and I just don't realize it.” I shrugged.

  “I really don't wanna know, I swear.” Kelly looked like she might burst if I told her anything else.

  “So, eh, when did you figure out you were a witch?” I was generally curious about her ability.

  “Oh, I've always known, it's passed down in my family.” She beamed.

  “Wow, that's kinda freaky, but cool too, ya know?” I didn't exactly know how I felt about my friend having a lifelong secret and knowing about it, when I had one without knowing for so long.

  “Okay, so like, enough chitchat, we've got to get you into some sorta clothes and out the door!” Kelly's squeal was of excitement, but I didn't feel the same way.

  “I know, I know. I'm moving. Jeesh, you guys are worse than the army.” I rolled my eyes as I rolled out of bed. Why do we have to start already?

  “Come on... I wanna see what happens next! You've gotta cheer up too. I mean, seriously, it's your wedding day! HELLO!” Kelly gently shook my shoulders- like it would snap me out of whatever funk I was in, I merely tried to smile in return- the world just wasn't sitting right today.

  Mike? I sent the message to him before I even realized what I was doing.

  Sup? I felt my lips pull back into a familiar smile.

  I'm feeling funky. Am I, you know, doing the right thing? I felt so completely and utterly lost on the day that was supposed to be what all girls dream of.

  No one can really answer that question but you, Em. You know that. But you also know that you'll always have me- even if I end up married to a she-Bitch.. I could feel him rolling his eyes.

  She's still pissed? I laughed slightly.

  That is an understatement. And before you even ask, yes, we're still going to get married. I could feel that he was having the same thoughts that I was- the maybes and what ifs.

  I'm sorry, that she is, you know... I didn't really know how to phrase what was going on with Acacia- I only had one side of the story.

  It will pass. She is one of those people who rage until they have spent themselves and then they're right as rain. I could picture his shrug as he said this.

  Okay, but know that you always have a sanctuary from her- always. It was the best I could do.

  Now, how about you go and get your beautiful arse ready for your freaking awesome wedding and stop spending time in your mind- I'm sure that you'r
e totally ignoring Kel, you know she flew in from here. Mike was forcing me to face these fears of mine and to do it the way I should- with composure.

  Really? I thought it was somewhere else. Hmm. Okay, I love you. I didn't know what else to say.

  I love you, Mrs. DeDominico. I could hear the slight annoyance in his tone and I let the connect slide back into the recesses of my mind.

  “So, what were you doing in Ireland?” I asked now curious.

  “I was, eh, learning some of the punk culture in England and popped over to see Mike.” Her answer was honest enough, but it wasn't entirely truthful- I let it drop.

  “Okay, so where are we supposed to be going?” I blinked slowly- feeling every fiber of my being yearning to head back to my bed.

  “Well, now that your lazy ass is dressed, we're heading down to the car that is waiting for us.” She practically squealed again.

  I let her led me out of my room and down to the car. Dom was nowhere to be seen, so I sent him a silent bye.

  As soon as we were out of the house, my world was thrown into a whirlwind of activity. My mind felt numb, while my body was being molded into what was originally agreed on. I'm secretly glad that I had the forethought to make all of these arrangements in advance. I don't think that I would've been much help to anyone if anything serious needed to be addressed.

  “Okay, Earth to Emma?” Kelly said as she snapped her jungle red nail polish at me.

  “Huh?” I felt like I was walking in Jell-o.

  “Where are you? What's going on in that mind of yours?” Her bright eyes were shaded with concern.

  “I don't know. I'm just still outta sorts. I'll be fine.” My voice was balanced and completely wrong.

  “Yeah, right. What the hell is really wrong? Are you having second thoughts?” She looked over both her shoulders before she whispered the last question to me.

  “I don't even know how or where to begin...” I suddenly felt lost and so confused.

  “Okay, we will handle this.” Kelly told the women working on us that we needed a moment and had some strong coffee brought in, “okay, talk to me.”