Bella Vita (55 page)

“
What?” She looked at him as if she hadn't even felt him in
contact with her.

“
We saved you. You're at the vampire palace in Italy. You're
safe.” I knew what would come next and I didn't want to have to
tell her.

“
And Jack?” Her green eyes bright with tears held that
defeated kind of hope in them.

“
He... didn't... make it.” I tried to think of a gentle way
to say it.

“
Nooooooooooo!” The wail came out of her as though part of
her had been cut from the Earth, and part of me knew that was how
she felt.

“
Issy, I know this hurts, but we need to know what
happened.” I wanted to get up and hold her.

“
I have no idea. If I could tell you what happened, I would,
but I don't know.” Tears rolled down her cheeks- pregnant with her
sorrow and rage.

“
Isabella, we can't help if we don't know what we're up
against.” Dom actually chided her.

She glared at him, and I stared at him
open-mouthed.

“
I think what your idiot brother is trying to say is that
anything that you can remember would help us fight this, and clear
you.” I didn't want to have to beg for information or to take it
forcefully from her mind.

“
Maybe you two don't speak English, but I can't tell you
because there was nothing to see. The world got very quiet, Jack
stopped and then he bled. End of story. Why him and not me? Why
didn't I die too?” She was shouting at us now.

Dom was so shocked he let her go and she
bolted for the door. I wasn't sure where she was going, but I knew
that if she left in this state she would do something stupid and
rash. I spelled her once more and she fell to the floor.

“
Emma!” Dom leapt to his sister's aid.

“
She's fine. She's in a type of stasis until we can have a
proper room set up for her and establish a guard and some kind of
help for her. We can't fight her as we try to help her.” I hailed
Yasmin mentally.

“
Yes, Mistress.” The woman appeared in cheery yellow- it
looked good on her olive complexion.

“
Please send Derrick to us, and have the staff prepare a
room for Miss DeDominico that is
extra
safe.” I saw the understanding register
and Yasmin nodded.

“
Yes, ma'am.” She stepped out of the room.

“
Emma, how could you just leave her like this, in front of
people?!” He felt humiliation for his sister.

“
Dominic, I'm taking care of what needs to be done so you
have a sister. She isn't right in the head right now. She has
either been spelled not to remember or the witches have figured out
a way to stop time! Do you not understand the severity of the
situation! Your sister is fine, she'll grieve. And Yasmin has and
will see enough that feelings humiliation or embarrassment are
pointless.” I shook my head in disgust at his lack of
comprehension.

He glared at me, and for once I questioned
whether Dominic could lead his people without emotional
complication.

“
Issy was my best friend when we were kids, I understand
your distress, but we have
all
our people to care for. Dom, once the room is
ready for her, I want you to make sure she's comfortable and that
we get the best care for her. I've got calls to make. Once we have
the proper people here to help her deal with this, I'll take her
out of this state. Until then watch over her if you want. I'm going
to call Mike and Kelly and see what I can find out.” I stood and
left my husband staring at me as though I had grown a new head and
sprouted horns from them both.

“
Bonjour, mademoiselle
Kelly Winters,
s'il vous plaît
.” I said to the French hotel
clerk.

“
Un moment, s'il vous plaît
.” The woman said and then I hear her switch the
lines for me.

“
Ugh,
Hello... oh, shit,
bonjour
?” Kelly
grumbled into the phone.

“
Hey,
sweet thing.” I laughed at her greeting.

“
I get
the whole vampire thing, but do you know the time?” In all reality
I hadn't bothered to look at any clocks.

“
Nope, I
work on my own clock. This is important.” The laughter left my
voice.

“
Okay,
let me splash some water on my face. Hang on.” There was a thud as
the receiver landed on the bed, and I could hear her movement
around her hotel room- there was a slight shriek when I assumed she
got the water on her face.

“
Now,
what's up?” I listened to her grumbling her way back to the bed
about ungodly hours and such.

“
Can
witches bend time?” My question was blunt and to the
point.

“
What?
What do you mean?” Kelly was instantly alert.

“
Can they
stop time, speed it up, anything like that?” My patience was
running out.

“
Um, I'm
not sure...” She replied.

“
Is it
that you aren't sure if they can do it or unsure if you can tell
me?” Anger licked my words.

“
Maybe a
little of both.” Kelly seemed indifferent.

“
Isabella, Dominic's sister, was almost killed tonight and
her fiancé was murdered. I need to know how it's possible that in a
time frame of less than five minutes, she can't remember how her
man ended up in pieces and dead!” I didn't care that I caused her
to gasp- shock could motivate people to tell you things.

“
Shit. Is
she okay?” Her words rushed out of her mouth.

“
No. I
still need to know, Kelly.” I wouldn't be distracted from my
goal.

“
I can't
tell you. I'm sorry. I just can't.” Her voice pleaded for me to
understand.

“
You've
been allowed to see ceremonies from this community that no outsider
has witnessed, and you can't answer a question that might save
those people?!” My voice was incredulous.

“
I'm
sorry.” Her voice quivered.

“
Goodbye,
Kelly.” I had no time to sit and listen to her apologizing for her
stubbornness- I hung up and called Mike.

“
Emma,
love, what's wrong?” Just the right answer I needed.

“
I don't
even know why I called.” I laughed into the phone.

“
Old
habits die hard. What's wrong?” Mike's voice rumbled with sleep as
he asked again.

“
Jack is
dead. I barely got Issy out of the mob that was going to get their
justice then and there. It took less than five minutes to
completely destroy him. But Issy can't remember it, it's like it
didn't happen for her. I scanned her memories briefly to make sure.
I called Kelly to find out if witches can bend time, and she
wouldn't tell me. Can they, Mike?” My words flooded from my
body.

“
Well,
shit. This isn't good, Em. Jack was top in popularity. The wolves
will want blood for this. Shit. I think witches can bend time, but
I can't. I think it's like what you do with the future and past,
but different. At least that's what I think. Did she tell you why
she couldn't tell you?” He was thinking.

“
No. She
didn't. We left the body.” I felt bad for leaving Jack lying dead
in a London alley.

“
I doubt
they would have let you carry it away with you. I'll send someone
to the scene. You think the witches did this, then?” I could hear
him giving orders to someone in the background.

“
Yes, I
do. Issy didn't do it. I couldn't get to her, I was blocked with
some sort of force field or something- yes, I know that sounds
crazy.” I huffed.

“
Not
crazy at all. It does sound like the witches. What happened with
the wolves?” He wanted to know anything I could tell
him.

“
They
circled, said mean shit, threw rocks... I got mad and zapped some
of them and then got us out of there using energy as a protective
bubble.” I knew I probably shouldn't have lashed back at the
people.

“
Don't
worry about what you did. You're the flipping Queen of the
Vampires. What the hell were they thinking?! I can't believe they
threw stones! Are you hurt?” I could feel him probing my body for
injuries through our bond.

“
Just a
minor cut to the head, it's almost gone now. Issy is in a form of
stasis, she's a danger to herself and us right now. I've got help
coming for her and then I'll pull her out.” I figured Mike should
know the state of our star witness.

“
Damn.
And she really can't remember anything?” He was wistful when he
asked.

“
Not that
I can find. She said the world went quiet first and then he was
dead.” I felt so bad for her, but that would have to
wait.

“
Em, you
coulda been killed. Why did you go there alone? Where was Dominic?”
Mike sounded like he wanted to hit Dom.

“
I sent
him back to the club for my purse. I had a bad reaction to the
spells on the place.” My face burned just thinking of
it.

“
Oh... I
… see.” Mike laughed out loud.

“
Gee,
thanks, poohead!” I huffed at him.

“
Like you
care. Anyways, so you think the witches or witch froze time in the
little bubble they created and then killed Jack, slipped away, and
then unfroze everything?” It wasn't that far-fetched.

“
Yep.
Basically.” I smiled at the phone, it was easier to talk to
him.

“
Well,
shit. I don't know, Em. This is really bad. I don't really know the
witches here, the wolves usually try to keep to themselves.
Everything I know, I've learned on my own. But this does look like
another ploy to try and case us against each other.” He was trying
to figure out what to do next.

“
I've got
nothing. We need to investigate the area. I'll send people to check
it out, and I request that some of your people be part of the team.
We must show our peoples that we're working together. Maybe we'll
get some answers. We also need to figure out what to do about
Issy.” I had no idea how to save her from the wolves if we couldn't
prove that she didn't do it.

“
Keep her
with you until we have something. Don't let her leave that place.
Have her watched. My people will probably be there first, unless
you have people in the area already?” Mike didn't want to step on
any toes.

“
I'll
check and let you know if I have people to add to your team then.
Mike?” My fear leaked out of me.

“
Em?”

“
Why do
you think someone would want us pitted against each other so
badly?” I couldn't fathom why we were so hated.

“
Well,
we're different, that makes us a target. And if you can take out
two by just turning their fragile relations against each other- so
much the better.” I could see him shrug as he said this.

“
It just
seems so extreme.” I wanted answers and I only had more
questions.

“
Yep, but
not everything is as it seems. I'm sure we're missing something
vital.” He yawned.

“
Okay, go
back to sleep. I'll send someone to meet your team as soon as I
have a good person. I'll send you a message once I do.” I wished I
could hug him right then.

“
Okay,
but only because I'm so tired and this is just going to lead to no
sleep. You should get some rest too.” He yawned again.

“
Night,
Mike.”

“
Night,
Em.” I waited until he hung up.

Dom, do we have any trustworthy people in London right
now?
I
wasn't sure where he was.

I believe so. Let me check with Derrick and I'll let you
know. What do we need them for?
He was mildly distracted.

Mike has a team going down for cleanup and investigation.
I'd like to have people on this team ASAP.
I didn't want to have to snap at him
again.

Okay, let me go find Derrick and confirm who I believe is
there. I'll let you know within half an hour.
He broke away from our
link.

It took him the full half hour, but we had
three good vamps to send to the site. I didn't know what to do. I
let Mike know who to expect and then I sat in the library.

Three hours later, I was still sitting in
the library. I needed something to do, but I didn't know what. Just
as I felt like I was going to fall into a deep hole of despair for
our situation, Leland came in.

“
Your Majesty.” He bowed formally.

“
Cut the crap, whatcha need?” I sneered at his
bow.

“
Nothing. I know that Dominic is currently occupied with his
sister, and that you disappeared and had not left in hours. I
figured you might need some company.” His smile was
brilliant.

“
Company would be nice.” I conceded.

“
What's the plan, mate?” His Australian roots always showed
in odd moments.

“
Quite frankly, I don't really have one. But I need one.” I
pouted.

“
Well, let's see if I can help ya out, darl.” He came and
sat next to me.