Bella Vita (26 page)

He was alone when I finally got to him. He
was walking around a lake of sorts. His beautiful auburn hair was
slick with the light drizzle. His bright green eyes were lost in
thought as he threw stones onto the gray surface of the water. I
wasn't sure how to approach him.

Mike.
I sent the word to his mind.

“Emma?” His eyes came back
to this moment, but he shook his head like he had imagined
it.

Mike, turn around.
I was behind a tree close to the edge of the
water.

I watched him turn slowly. I stepped out
from behind the tree. His face lit up. I stood my ground- I wasn't
sure how he would react. He took a timid step towards me, then it
was as though he decided the hell with caution and ran to me. He
caught me in a hug.

“Emma! How did you get
here?” His scent was so familiar that it made my heart
pang.

“Well, I didn't walk all
this way, obviously.” I laughed.

“No shit, Sherlock. When
did you get here, how long are you staying? Damn, I've missed you.”
He pulled back and stared at my face- his thumb rubbed my cheek
gently.

“Whoa, whoa. Slow down,
Cowboy. One question at a time. I got here this afternoon, I'm here
for a week. And I've missed you too.” I took his hand and led him
further into the trees I was using as cover.

“How about we walk by the
water?” He smiled his crooked smile at me, and my heart
melted.

“I think it might be safer
if we stayed closer to the tree line.” I tried not to say that I
was worried that his werewolf buddies would rip my heart
out.

“Oh, shit. That's right.
What are you doing here?! Em, it's dangerous!” His brows pulled
together.

“Hey, hey. This was my
choice. I needed to see you.” I knew I needed to tell him about the
wedding.

“But if they find you here,
I don't know how they will react. This area is vampire-free. Your
scent will be everywhere. Shit.” Worry was clouding his
eyes.

“I've got something to show
you, but you have to promise not to freak the devil out, okay?” I
looked at him with big eyes.

“Em, I know that look. You
know you can trust me.” He crossed his arms across his
chest.

“Okay, stay right there.” I
stepped behind a larger tree and took off my clothes. I changed
into my wolf form.

“Alright, but what are you
doing back there?” His voice was curious.

I stepped back out, in my black wolf form.
He jumped.

“Emma!” He yelled for me. I
stepped closer to him.

Mike, it's me.
I sent the words to him.

“What the...” He bent down
and looked me in the eye.

I promise, Michael, it's
me, Emma.
My tongue lolled out of my
mouth.

“How?” He stepped back, and
I sat back on my haunches.

Well, surely you know how
vampires can shapeshift. Well, I'm the first that can shift into a
wolf.
I smiled at him.

“Wow.” He got closer and
smelled the air. “You smell so... so wolf like. Maybe you should
stay like that.” He nodded to himself.

Um, what about my
clothes?
I knew my scent would be on them
as well.

“Your clothes...” Mike's
face flushed a brilliant crimson.

Yes, my outer wear. I can't
shift in and out with them on. Do you guys?
I was generally curious about werewolves, even more so
because I had this talent.

“Well, some can. I can't,
yet.” He looked down at his scoffed Docs.

Hey, clearly you aren't
alone.
I yipped at him.

“Let me grab your clothes.
Then my scent should mask yours somewhat. I've just missed you so
much, Em.” He walked behind the tree and grabbed my
things.

I know whatcha mean. I've
got something else to tell you.
I didn't
want this nice conversation to spin into something uncomfortable,
but I needed to be honest with him.

“You know you can tell me
anything and I'll accept it. So shoot.” He had my clothes in his
hands and he was rubbing them up and down against
himself.

I'm getting married at the
end of this month. But I had to see you. It's like part of my very
soul calls out for you. I think I'm damaged.
I sighed out a long breath.

“Wow. I had heard
something. Why come though, Em? You know how this all ends. It
doesn't matter if you love me or I you, we have roles to play.” He
sat on a rock by the edge of the trees, I padded up close to him
and nudged him.

I don't know, Mike. But I
had to come. Maybe I'm just selfish, but I needed to see you... it
wasn't just a want. I don't think I could do anything else. It was
time to come.
I felt his hand begin to
stroke my fur.

“You're really soft.” He
laughed.

That isn't how all of you
guys are?
I wasn't sure if he was changing
the subject or just distracted.

“Not this soft. It's
nice... I know what you mean, Em. I was just out here thinking of
you. It's been so hard not contacting you. I swear I saw you the
other day. But it was like you were there, but then you weren't. I
completely know what you mean.” He looked out over the
water.

I'm making things worse for
you. I'm sorry. How's Acacia?
I hoped
things were going well for him with her.

“Well, we're going to be
married next year. I love her and all, but she isn't you. Dammit.
Emma.” He sighed into his hands.

I grabbed my clothes from him with my teeth
and rolled over on them a few more times. I moved back into the
cover and shifted back. I walked out smelling like a dog. It was an
interesting experience.

“Look, Mike. I'm sorry. I
really didn't mean to cause more problems. I don't even know what I
was hoping to find here.” I walked over to him and bent down in
front of him.

“It isn't your fault. You
know that. It's like we were born in the wrong lives or bodies or
something. If I wasn't this and you weren't that... then we'd be
together.” He was gesturing wildly with his arms.

“Yes, but if we weren't us,
then we wouldn't be the same people either. It's part of us.” I
smiled at him, I really had missed him

“Ugh. Why do you have to
say the right things, right now? Can't you lie to me? Tell me I'm
right. That for once, even though there's no way now, if life had
been different we could've been together, Emma?” He grabbed my
arms, his eyes were desperate.

“I'm not going to lie to
you, Mike. I've always tried to be honest with you. You've been
through a lot with me. You are part of me. It doesn't matter that
I'm a vampire and you're supposed to be my sworn enemy. No, that
doesn't matter. You've been a part of me since I was a little girl.
When no one else was there, you were- in my dreams. I know at times
it feels like it would be easier if they could be erased, but it
would change us. You've helped to make me, me.” I reached up and
placed my hand on his cheek.

“Dammit, Emma.” He shook
his head.

“Don't worry so much,
Mike.” I laughed.

“Look, I've got to head
back in now. Where are you staying? I'll come to you. It's too
dangerous for you here. I don't know what I'd do if anything
happened to you.” His green eyes turned soft.

“I'm at the little inn on
the other side of the hill. I could say the same for you, you
know.” I stepped back.

“Walk towards the other
side of the lake. Then shift and head back the way you came. If
your scent is strong enough, they will come after you. It really
isn't safe for you here.” He hugged me again.

“Okay, don't worry, Mike.
I'll see you around.” I walked away.

Getting back into my room unseen took a
little ingenuity. I figured if I was seen running around naked that
things wouldn't look so well for me. I had checked the garden area
for a place to change back, but there were people in the back. I
waited near the door, in the shadow of a storage shack. When I saw
Moira walk out, I shot out from behind it and into the house. I
made sure that no one was ahead of me and rushed into my room. I
dropped my clothes on the floor and shifted back into my human
form. I grabbed the robe from the back of the door and went to my
window. I could see Moira shifting the dirt around- gardening.

“Excuse me, Moira, is it
okay if I take a shower?” I shouted down to her.

“No problem. Go right
ahead, honey, I was just about to get dinner started.” She smiled
up at me.

“Thank you.” I smiled back
at her, and then grabbed my bathroom stuff from my bag and went to
get cleaned up.

The entire experience was different than
back home. The shower hung over an ancient, yet beautiful,
crawl-footed bathtub. There was a clear plastic curtain that
wrapped around it all. The water itself was soft, but not the same
feel as home. It was like I was suddenly in someone else's shoes. I
wasn't sure how I felt about that either.

When I got out of the shower I felt more
like me. I smelled like I did, no longer like I was trying to mask
my scent in dog. I knew that when I was in my wolf form, I didn't
smell entirely like Mike did- not even close, but I also didn't
smell like a vampire either. I was something else- something
different. It was strange to feel like an outcast amongst creatures
that I always thought were fictional, but I knew the feeling too
well.

I shuffled down the hallway in my warm robe,
and I felt like that the happiness I had experienced earlier had
been zapped out of me. I sighed.

In my room, I pulled on some comfy jeans, a
tank top, and a large hoodie. I wanted to go to sleep, but I knew I
needed to go and eat some of the delicious smelling food. I was
certain that Moira went out of her way to make something special
for me.

The steps creaked ever so slightly as I
walked downstairs. I followed my nose into a small, but quaint
dining area. I was in need of some blood, so I mixed a few drops
into the cranberry juice that was sitting on the table for me. I
went to ask if she needed any help, but I found her talking
animatedly to a tall gentleman with deep reddish color hair and a
beard. I quietly stepped back into the dining area and sat down. I
could hear their merriment. Moira had told her husband what I had
said about having a boy, it was clear that she believed me- the
husband was happy, but trying to make sure that Moira didn't get
too carried away. I could feel for the guy, but I knew that he
would have nothing to worry about- and that he would get to play
ball with his son every Sunday after church. It warmed my
heart.

The door opened and Moira's husband came in,
his mind circled the possibilities that they would have a boy. His
head was filled with excitement.

“Oh, I didn't see yah
there.” He nearly dropped the serving dish he was
carrying.

“No worries. I'm Emma
Hutchinson.” I smiled, rose, and stuck out my hand.

“Nice to meet yah.” He put
the plate on the table, his face dimpled as his smiled while
shaking my hand. “I'm Patrick. I've heard quite a bit about yah,
Miss Hutchinson.”

“Please, call me Emma.” I
laughed.

“How are yah enjoying yer
trip so far, Emma?” As he shifted things on the table, his strong
arms cut into my view.

“It's been nice. I have a
friend up at the school.” I was trying hard not to think about the
chaos I might be causing for these nice people.

“Did she come down?”
Moira's bubbly voice drifted in from the kitchen.

“Aye, she did.” Her husband
shouted back.

“Oh, hi Miss Emma. Did
everything go well with the bathroom?” Moira smiled as she brought
in another platter of food, her cheeks were flushed- her husband
took it from her.

“Yes, quite well. I love
this place.” I gestured to the inn.

“Aye, we do too. Oh, where
are my manners. This is my husband Patrick. Patrick, this is Emma
Hutchinson.” She beamed at us.

“Thank you, but Patrick
introduced himself to me before you came out.” I
chuckled.

“Well, see there are some
good manners in yah yet, Pattie.” She laughed.

“Yep. I was just talking to
Emma about the things I've heard about her.” There was something
dark about the way he said it, it made me want to probe his mind
for what was there.

“Please, Patrick, the
things yah hear at the pub aren't true.” She shook her head and
rolled her eyes.

“But...” He
started.

“No, none of that nonsense
at my table. Please just ignore him. He heard stories at the pub
that he's now convinced are true.” She sighed.

“About me?” I was
semi-curious.

“Yep.” Patrick
said.

“I'd like to know. I
promise to tell the truth, if they're true.” I smiled at
him.

“Are yah sure, Miss Emma? I
told him earlier to just let it alone.” She was shaking her head
again as she began to serve the food.

“Oh, I can do that, you
look a bit tired, Moira.” I reached for the plate.