She sighed. No panic, just acceptance: I’m a wolf…again.
Cold black eyes stared down at her. Fur prickled and stood along Pita’s back, and her tail rose slowly. Muscle tensed and a low rumble began deep within Pita bursting forth as a growl.
Before her stood the Matriarch.
“So, Pita Sedgwick, you have managed to shift.” She stepped forward. Pita growled and snapped.
The woman back peddled.
“You have no idea what any of this means. Remember this if nothing more, your ignorance is your security.” She raised her hand and waved it above Pita’s head as if blessing her…or casting a spell? Then the Matriarch turned her back on Pita, exhibiting no fear at all. Continuing to snarl, Pita bared her teeth and assumed a crouch ready to attack. Instinct told her she had two choices, fight or flight. Pita chose.
The woman turned around and raised her arm in a threatening gesture once again. Pita didn’t hesitate. She leapt and was airborne careening toward the Matriarch, ready for battle. The cold eyes widened in surprise. Then the sickening thud of impact…
Chapter Twenty-two
Pita sat up in the bed, gasping for breath, her heart thumping like a jackhammer in her chest. The sudden movement caused every receptor in her brain to scream a painful message to the rest of her body. It took her a few seconds to grasp the fact that she had been dreaming.
Slowly, she lay back down wincing with each movement. The room lay in darkness. How long had she been sleeping? She glanced at the little clock on the bedside table, 9:23. Pita had been out a good five or six hours. Why am I so sore? What happened? Why can’t I remember? She balled her hands into fists and pummeled the mattress in frustration.
The last thing she remembered was standing in the woods near a lake, then the old woman helping her up off the ground, and the rest a total blur. Even the walk home with…Silvi? Was that her name…? Pita’s memories were sketchy at best.
A rap at the door interrupted her thoughts.
“Come in,” she called as she attempted to fluff the pillows behind her. With caution, she leaned against the headboard.
Dorina entered carrying a tray with tea and biscuits. “I bring bite to eat. You must be hungry.” Worry lines etched her normally cheerful face. “What happened?” She set the tray down on the table near the window.
“I don’t know. All I remember is everything got quiet, and I felt strange like something was inside me and needed to get out. Then I passed out. Next thing I know, the woman, Silvi? helped me.” Pita heaved a helpless sigh. “I really don’t know what is going on with me.” She took the cup of tea Dorina offered and winced as her muscles protested the movement. “Every inch of my body is sore. I don’t know why. All I did was drop to the ground, but I feel as if I’ve taken a tumble down the stairs or something.” She tried to smile, but her anxiety would not allow any more than a pitiful, failed attempt more resembling a grimace.
“Poor child.” Dorina sat heavily in the wing chair near the window. She mumbled something Pita couldn’t understand, though the one word sounded like mooloo? Dorina appeared troubled.
“What is it?” Pita asked before she took a welcome sip of the tea.
Dorina snapped back from wherever her thoughts had taken her with one of her bright, endearing smiles. “Nothing child, just an old woman’s mumblings. You had two telephone calls.” She added effectively changing the subject.
“I have? Who?” Pita asked, intrigued. Must have been Sasha. But Dorina said two… Who else?
“Yes…Sasha and someone, a boy, Niko…” Dorina said curiously. “Who is this Niko?” She smiled. She pronounced the last ‘ees thees’, which made Pita smile.
“Niko?” her heart skipped not one beat but two. He’d called… She felt the familiar warmth spread deep within her when she thought of him. “Oh, Niko? I met him on the plane, and we spent some time in Munich together. Did he leave a number?” Pita asked, trying to push down her growing excitement.
“Yes. I write it on board by telephone in kitchen.” She looked amused. “You like this boy. You light up at mention of name.”
Pita lowered her head and studied the tea swirling in its delicate china cup. A wave of heat crawled a blush into her cheeks. “What did Sasha say? Is she coming? How is her dad?” Pita fired questions back at her rather than respond to Dorina’s insightful ones.
“She asks that you call her. She say her Papa fine, but still some problem of getting away. She give all detail to you. She say she sorry not to see her favorite auntie.” Dorina smiled. “I have not seen Sasha since she child of eight, I think.” She sighed and took a sip of tea.
“I’m sure she will do everything she can to get here. At least I hope she does.” Pita slid over to the edge of the bed and gingerly stood up.
“No. You stay.” Dorina jumped up. “What you need?”
“I’d like one of those biscuits, please, and more tea.” Pita sat back down on the bed. Dorina crossed with the tray and set it on the nightstand. Pita munched on a tea biscuit while Dorina refilled her cup. “Has anyone ever told you that you are a mother hen…a very good mother hen?” Pita laughed.
“Ah, yes, Tomas. He tell me stop jumping every time he needs a thing. He say, sit! I do it myself.” Dorina screwed her face up considering for a moment, then she chuckled and said, “I make him…how you say…crazy?”
They both laughed then Pita said, “I’m okay, really. I’d like to go downstairs and make those phones call if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, child, come we go together, I take tray and guide you down.”
****
Pita listened to the static of the overseas call as it rung through. Perched upon a kitchen chair next to the wall phone, she mused at the fact that she didn’t think these things even existed anymore. Apparently, not everyone in Romania has the luxury of cordless, or maybe they had no need.
The line rang three more times before she heard Sasha’s familiar voice on the outgoing message of her answering machine.
“Hey, Sash, it’s me. Call me back.” She hung up. Damn.
Pita inhaled and held the breath for a couple of seconds. She picked up the handset again, exhaled nervous jitters, and began to dial the number Dorina had pinned to the wall. Her heart beat furiously in her chest and fingers trembled as she dialed. She hesitated, her finger hovering over the last digit on the rotary. Pita edged the handset away from her ear to hang up, but instead dialed the last number.
Her heart thrummed and felt as if it were in her throat. It beat so loud, she almost didn’t hear Niko’s “hello?”
“Niko?”
“Yes…” Then, “Pita? Is that you?”
She could hear the smile in his deep, velvety voice. Pita blew out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding until now. “Yes, hello, how are you?”
“Great, now. What are you up to? I just got in and thought we could see each other…soon.”
“See each other?” she repeated. “Are you here in Romania?” Her heart started thumping again like a wild thing. She even wondered if he to could hear it.
“Yes, I’m not far from you. Actually, I could be there in an hour to an hour and a half.”
“That sounds great. How about tomorrow?” Pita did a silent, shuffle dance of excitement.
“Okay, I’ll be there about one, okay?” She heard paper rustling and then, “let me have the address.”
She rattled off Dorina’s address for him. They talked about what each had been doing the last couple days and then said their goodbyes.
Pita sat silently under the wall phone for a few more minutes trying to catch her breath. Oh my God. He’s coming here. Oh…I didn’t even check with Dorina.
Pita stood up but dropped back into the chair as her sore muscles objected. Damn, why am I so sore?
She stood again, but with more care this time. Pita found Dorina in the sitting room embroidering. She joined her and gingerly sat on the sofa. Before she could open her mouth, Dorina smiled
and asked, “So the boy that call, is he coming?”
Pita burst out laughing. “Dorina, you are priceless. Yes, Niko is coming. Tomorrow, if it’s okay with you.”
Her wide grin in place, she said, “Of course, it okay. Why not would it be? My home, your home.”
Pita stood, careful not to jar anything, then went and gave Dorina a big hug.
Dorina gave her a tentative pat on the back and muttered as if to herself, “Armaya, bi-lacio” under her breath.
Pita stepped back and thought about asking Dorina what she’d said, but decided if she’d been talking to her, Dorina would have translated. She opted to let it go, but silently repeated the phrase to commit it to memory. She would ask later. Exhausted, she wished Dorina a good night and went upstairs to wash up and go to bed. It had been a long and eventful day. Tomorrow would be another day full of surprises—at least one very good one…
Chapter Twenty-three
Pita thought the morning would never end. Time seemed to drag on. Tomas arrived home early and whisked Dorina out of the house for the Saturday morning routine trip to the market. This left Pita plenty of time to primp for Niko’s arrival. Excitement coursed through her at the prospect of seeing him again, but her stomach quivered with nervousness, and she continued to have some residual muscle stiffness and tenderness from yesterday’s incident. Though, she still had no clue as to what had happened.
She’d laid out several casual outfits, but settled on a pair of dusty rose cotton twill hip huggers and a short-sleeved knit top with the same color muted into the striped pattern of rose, mint and white. The V-neck didn’t dip too low, nor did she appear matronly. She stepped into low-heeled white sling strap sandals and sprayed a light scented perfume behind her ears and on her wrists. Never one to fuss too much with make-up, she applied some black eye-liner, a light base foundation, blush and pale rose frosty lipstick. Less is better, she thought smiling at her reflection.
Pita was doing a bit of last minute primping, when she heard the knock on the front door. She took a deep breath to relax the wild flutter of butterflies in her stomach then descended the stairs to answer the door.
Hand upon the doorknob, Pita rolled her eyes heavenward, blew a last puff of nervous air from her lungs while the butterflies took chaotic dips and swirls in her stomach. She pulled the door open and there he stood in all his casual glory.
“Niko,” her voice came out breathy. The sun cast him in a golden aura and lit his hair with amber highlights like a halo. He looked ruggedly handsome in tan cargo pants and a brown pocket T-shirt snug over his lean chest. On his face was the trademark lopsided grin. Pita wanted to jump into his arms, but she didn’t dare.
“Pita, you look beautiful.” She stepped aside as he came in and closed the heavy door. He took her into his arms, kissed her forehead, then said, “I’ve missed you.”
Pita’s knees trembled and threatened to give way forcing her to lean into him. The contact brought on that deep feral awakening again. A buzz of power vibrated against her body every place their bodies touched like a static massage. It lulled her and compelled her to relax. He nuzzled the nape of her neck and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Pita parted her lips slightly giving him the opening to deepen the kiss. A flush of heat flashed through her as Niko drew her closer, molding her body to his as his tongue explored and twirled a sensual dance with hers. Niko’s hands slid up Pita’s sides and cradled her face as he ended the kiss, his eyes echoing the passion streaming within her.
Pita’s heart beat an erratic ditty in her chest as she fought to catch her breath. She stepped back on unsteady legs and inhaled deeply. “I’ve missed you too.” Her voice sounded low and sultry, unfamiliar to her own ears. “Come in. Sit down.” She took his hand, ignoring the constant jolt of current that ebbed at their touch, just as it had in Munich. Pita wanted to ask him about it. Surely he noticed, though he gave no outward sign. She’d never experienced anything like it before. That is, until their first physical contact on the plane and then again, faintly when Tomas touched her, but with Niko, the phenomenon was much stronger. So many strange things have happened since she’d left home, puzzling things. She needed to talk to someone. Sasha wasn’t here and who knew when she’d get here. Dorina radiated trust and genuine concern, though she still wasn’t comfortable opening up totally to her. But Niko… somehow he drew her out. She sensed she could tell him anything. No, she hadn’t known him long, nor did she know him very well, but in her heart she knew he would understand even offer support or an explanation. She didn’t know how she’d come to this conclusion, just that it felt right. But she wasn’t ready…not yet.
“What are you thinking about?” Niko asked brushing her hair behind her ear.
“Oh, how my life has changed so much in such a short time.”
“For the better, I hope.” He smiled placing a finger under her chin and tilted her face eye-level with his.
“Yes, but very confusing.” Then she smiled and gazed into his greenish golden orbs. “I am so glad you’re here”
“Me, too.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips then sat. “What is so confusing for you, Pita?”
“So many strange things have been happening to me.” She still stood. “Where are my manners? Do you want something to drink? Tea?”
“Sit.” He patted the sofa beside him. “No thank you, we’ll go out soon. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
Pita dropped onto the couch beside him. Their thighs brushed as she turned to face him, creating a low thrum of excitement to course through her, a warm wash of desire tightened her belly and lower—or was it that blasted energy every time they touched? Didn’t matter, her body seemed to awaken, in a good way, whenever he was nearby.
“No, not now, later, let’s talk about you and how you found your family. Was everything okay?” She wanted to confide in him, but reserve and worry still held her back, some deep-rooted fear that she would drive him away with her weird antics with wolves and the strangeness of her dreams. She just wanted to enjoy his easy companionship again for as long as she could.
“My family is well. As you know, they are northwest of here closer to the Hungarian border. Perhaps while you are here in Romania, I could take you there. It’s like a page out of a history book. They haven’t quite made it into the twenty-first century.” He grinned.
Pita loved his crooked smile and that dimple in his chin. She grinned and said, “I would like that. I read an article in a magazine before I left about a small area in the Carpathians where they have no modern conveniences and live as people did hundreds of years ago. Is this where your family lives?”
Niko chuckled. “Yes, they are simple people. The most important things to them are family heirlooms, and they still use the barter system for trade.”
“Hard to believe people still live that way today,” Pita mused.
“My people have no interest in the material things important to so many people today. They are happy living from the land and cherish only what can be taken with them should they choose to move on.” He sighed. “They are known as wanderers. Though don’t get me wrong, modern life slowly seeps into the villages and the young want to taste this new world. The younger generation is pulling away from the old ways. They leave to get educations and learn about the evolved lifestyles, as I did. The older people are content to live the lives they’ve always known.”
“It all sounds so quaint in comparison to life in the States. I can’t imagine such simplicity.”
“It is a different and a very simple life style, but remember, Pita, they know no different. They have nothing to compare it too, so, in essence, they aren’t missing anything.” A thoughtful expression softened his features, “I myself appreciate modern life to my family’s somewhat backwards existence, though, it is always nice to go home for a visit and escape the stresses of technology.” He laughed.
“Jeez, and I thought life was simple here.” She grinned.
He placed his arm around her
and pulled her closer. Pita leaned her head on his shoulder inhaling the musky scent of him. She sighed, content to stay there forever. Niko kissed the top of her head and gave her arm a squeeze.
“Come let me take you out for something to eat.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The restaurant, a strip center affair, boasted a plate glass front and a bell to acknowledge activity at the door. Natural sunlight coupled with the fluorescent ceiling bulbs created an overly bright interior.
Niko and Pita sat facing one another on plain wooden chairs at a small white linen covered table in a semi-private corner of the wide dining room. Scuffed black and white linoleum tiles covered the floor. For all its lack of luster and adornment, the one thing that stood out to Pita was the immaculate cleanliness of the place. Everything sparkled from the snow-white tablecloths to the windows. Not a fingerprint or smudge on the glass anywhere. The din of conversations and the clink of cutlery and stoneware filled the space.
Pita picked up the laminated menu, but it offered no English, so she set it back down and caught Niko watching her. “Not as lavish as the American restaurants you’re used to, huh?”
“Functional and busy, must mean the food is delicious.” She countered. “Generic, yes, but so clean.” She commented and swept her arm out just as a waiter stepped up to the table causing him to jump back to avoid frontal attack. Pita withdrew her arm and said, “I’m so sorry.”
She turned to Niko, face warm with the flush of embarrassment, and he immediately asked the waiter for a moment. The waiter excused himself, or so Pita assumed, then turned and walked off. When out of earshot, they burst into laughter. Once they collected themselves, the waiter reappeared. Niko ordered Salau mic pane, breaded perch and Legume asortate cu unt, assorted vegetables sautéed in butter for both of them along with a bottle of white wine.
When alone again, he reached across the table and took her hands into his then asked in a low tender voice. “Okay, what’s bothering you? Talk to me.”
Curse Of The Marhime Page 10
