The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) (29 page)

Dominic.    

Dominic,

I thought for a long time how to start this letter. I mean how does a letter like this even start, as I have no clue, for I only know how this letter should end.

Reading your own letters felt like hearing your voice for the very last time, which was as much beautiful as it was soul crushing. Because that’s what it feels like without you. It feels like someone has taken a piece of me away and left an empty shell in which no heart needs to beat to keep alive.

The pain is unlike anything I have ever known and I think we both know I have known my fair share of pain. But this? I guess the simplest way to put it is that it fills my days with moments that are hard to breathe.

I don’t know whether or not it’s easier that I don’t have a body to bury or even a way to say goodbye, so this was the only way I could think of. But I wanted you to know that I can no longer wait for a normal life I don’t ever want to happen to come and find me. I can’t choose that path to walk down because I already know my destination is you. And whether it be in this life or the next, I will stop at nothing until I join with you again. Because, my Dominic, I would give my life for you and would brave going against the Fates at every turn.

And do you know why? Because you are my fate and that is all that matters. That and my everlasting love for you that I believe with every beat of my heart, that our love is the most powerful force in my world and yours. I believe our love can silence the Fates and defeat any Gods that stand in our way. And I leave on my quest to find you and prove this to you.

I am coming to save you and I know I will succeed because all I need is my love for you.

For I will never stop and I can only pray you feel the same. That you never give up in the only truth that matters and that is us being together Fates be damned.

So I say not goodbye in this letter but only that I will see you again soon and to trust in your love as I do mine.

The greatest love I possess is forever yours as am I.

Your Keira.
 

P.s I left you a gift that only you deserve for the happiness I saw in your eyes whenever you held it meant the world to me as did you. Keep a piece of me safe and with you always.

“So know you finally see.” Vincent’s voice filled the void and I looked up completely unashamed as my tears ran freely.

“Now I see.” I finally managed to say as I stood up gripping both pieces of my girl in my hands. I walked over to him and looked out seeing the view in a completely different light to before.

“And?” He prompted making me turn to look at him. I felt as though my heart was going to burst as these new feelings coursed around my vessel making me feel human for the first time in all my long life. I momentarily looked down at her hair wrapped around my fist and then to her words I held in the other.

The decision was made and there would never be any going back…not this time.

“Dom?”

“We go to Italy.” I said looking at him and seeing the first real smile light his eyes since this all began.

“And the Fates?” I knew he had to ask and he knew he had to ask but now as I looked back at the sky and the sun starting to set on this day, I knew now there was a mighty difference…

“Fuck the Fates!” 

Keira

Chapter 19

And it Begins.

“What do you mean there is a problem?” Alex snapped at the poor receptionist who had repeated herself twice now. I placed a hand on Alex’s forearm and for a second I wasn’t sure he wouldn’t shrug it off in anger. Thankfully he must have thought better of it because he took my hand in his and squeezed it before continuing on in a calmer tone.

“Please, if you could explain it to us again.”

“I am sorry Sir, but we must have had a problem in the bookings department as it seems on the system your room has already been allocated to another guest.” She looked about ready to get her head bitten off again and before this could happen I started speaking.

“Okay, so we understand that these things happen but can you help us in any way or even recommend another hotel?” I asked in a kind manner even when Alex scoffed when I said ‘we understand’ which clearly
he
didn’t. I was happy to say she smiled at me and seemed more than pleased she was no longer dealing with my irate boyfriend.

“Well, we do have a sister hotel I could check for you, however it is…how do I put this…?”

“More expensive” I finished for her, obviously guessing right when she blushed.

“Yes Signora.”

“Great!” Alex said with frustration making the poor girl jump.

“If you could call that would be great.” I said choosing to ignore Alex and his abrupt ways. I mean yes, this was the hotel’s fault but that didn’t mean that this particular girl was to blame. I felt like pointing this out but I could tell it would fall on deaf ears at the moment. I was just happy when she nodded and picked up the phone.

We stood there waiting as other lucky guests came and went with their key cards in hand ready to start their holiday. I can’t say I didn’t envy them and not just because we were seemingly stuck in Italy with nowhere to stay. No, for me it started when I walked into the airport like a zombie thanks to Draven’s abrupt dismissal. I never thought on closing my eyes I would then open them again to find Draven walking away without one word of goodbye. That was when my world went dark. It was as if someone had taken my sun and pushed me forward saying, ‘now time to get on with it girl!’

So that is what I did. I turned around and walked straight into the nearest bathroom and cried for twenty minutes. It then took me a further ten minutes to sort myself out thus making me half an hour late. Needless to say Alex wasn’t impressed. To be honest at the time I hadn’t given a wet welly for his mood and was more than tempted to just wheel my suitcase out of there and go home. But after sensing my own mood he quickly changed his tune and was once more my sweet and attentive Alex. Now though…not so much.

“I have some good news.” The receptionist brought me out of my dark place and I turned to see she looked slightly shocked at the outcome.

“Our sister hotel has agreed to give you both rooms for no extra charge and as a way of apology is sending a car over to take you there personally.” My eyes widened in surprise and just as I stepped forward to thank her Alex put an arm around me and said,

“Now that’s better” I couldn’t help frown at his tone and hissed,

“Alex.”
This was something he ignored of course.

“Thank you so much for sorting that out for us and it’s very kind of them to send a car.” I said making the woman smile at me.

“You’re welcome and once again we apologise for any inconvenience. If you would like to wait over there in that seating area a car will be with you both shortly.” I smiled again at her and gripped my suitcase to wheel over to the plush chairs I was getting desperate to sit in.

It had been a long flight and one made even longer thanks to the past few days. That’s the problem with flights. It gave you no other excuse than to face your problems. You can’t pass the time with work or hanging out with friends. Or even throw yourself into course work and studying for exams like I had done. No, it gave you a cage the size of a seat and forced you to sit there and reflect on all the things you really didn’t want to think about.

Well for me it was always the same thing and those thoughts didn’t include the man who had sat next to me snoozing most of the way across the pond. It had only included one face. One perfectly handsome face that had long ago become painful to look at. It was like every time I saw him it would then throw me stumbling back in the rabbit hole of wonders. It would transport me back to all those times I had touched that face, kissed those lips and simply marvelled at the sight of his smile.

Of course by the time we landed all those visions of splendour had manifested into only one sight and that was his back as he walked away. I vowed from that moment that on that the sight of him leaving was going to be the very last time. I simply couldn’t do it anymore. He had broken me for the last time and I knew deep down that a man who could do that didn’t love me like I had once thought. From this I then concluded that no man deserved your love when they themselves couldn’t ever love you back. So that was it…

Draven and I were done. Finished. Dead.

“Well I am glad that got sorted.” Alex said sitting down in the chair next to mine. I wanted to roll my eyes at his tone but managed to hold back enough of my foul mood to refrain.

“Hey, are you ok? I’m sorry I lost my cool back there but I just wanted this trip to be perfect for us,” he said taking my hand and suddenly making me feel like the biggest bitch for my moodiness.

“Yeah I’m fine, just tired I guess.”

“You didn’t manage to sleep on the plane?” He asked giving my hand a squeeze. I just shook my head making him lift my hand to his lips and kiss it.

“Aww my poor Cathy, should we get to the hotel sooner rather than later then you should have time for a nap before our plans.” He informed me looking around the corner no doubt for our transport.

“What plans?” I asked trying not to be disappointed that I wouldn’t be having the early night I was hoping for.

“I wanted it to be a surprise but I guess knowing will give you something to look forward too as well.” I gave him a smile that for some reason I knew didn’t reach my eyes.

“I bought us tickets to a gallery auction.” As soon as he finished I gave him a beaming smile this time I knew reflected back in my eyes and threw myself at him. He laughed as he opened his arms and hugged me back.

“Thank you, that was so thoughtful of you.”

“You’re welcome ma chérie.” I pulled back and looked into his piercing grey blue eyes to see he looked happy. I was just in that moment about to lean in and kiss him when my name was being said from the hotel’s entrance. For a brief second I thought it was Draven but then I looked up and saw it was obviously our driver.

My done, finished and dead heart still dropped.

Later on that day I found myself staring around what was to be my new home for the next two weeks in utter awe. Not only was Milan one of the most beautiful cities in the world but it seemed we were now staying in one of the most beautiful hotels in the world as well.

It had a timeless and classical elegance but with a modern twist. There was pale marble that shone like water all throughout the reception with luxurious duck egg blue velvet seating areas dotted here and there. The flower arrangement alone must have cost the same as buying a decent second hand car!

But the shocks just kept on coming when I was informed that my room was in fact a suite. I had asked if Alex would be staying in there with me but found that ‘my’ suite was one of the few that only had one bedroom. Alex was disappointingly staying in a room on the other side of the hotel and on the bottom floor. This also meant he literally couldn’t get any further away from me considering I was on the top floor and with an amazing view of the city at that.

He didn’t look happy at all but considering the fact we had been upgraded at no extra cost and were now nearer to the centre of Milan, there wasn’t much to complain about. We had always planned to sleep in separate rooms anyway due to his feelings about sleeping together before marriage. But we had booked the rooms next to each other at least.

Well, I had to say that taking in all the splendour that was my hotel suite, I couldn’t find myself caring much that Alex was in a different part of the hotel. I felt a little guilty about this but also couldn’t supress the naughty giggle that escaped with the thought. Poor Alex, his eyes looked like they would pop out of his head when he saw my room compared to his own. I could only hope that he got over his man paddy by the time we had dinner and the gallery auction tonight.

I was getting excited for the evening ahead, even though I was dog tired from travelling. In fact the sight of the bed was looking more and more tempting. It was a huge four poster bed only it had a feminine oriental feel to it.

The curtains that hung down from the pale wood were a sheer champagne colour that matched the sheets. And then the vibrant splash of colour was crimson red added with the comforter at the bottom and two scatter pillows set diagonally at the top. This was then finished off with rectangles of material hanging in place of a headboard with delicate butterflies in shades of red and gold which were embroidered in silk thread. And it was utterly perfect.

So no longer could I supress the urge as I threw myself backwards onto the bed and landed with a little bounce.

“Mmm heaven,” I hummed as I folded my arms behind my head and closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again I knew instantly this time that I was dreaming. The bed I lay in was the same but only now a broken version. The sheer curtains were torn and in tatters. It also looked like someone had splatted them with black paint. I look down and saw it wasn’t only the curtains that were shredded as now the covers I lay on were in pieces. It looked as though a wild beast had gone berserk in his dreams and ripped into the bed with his claws.

I sat up cautiously and held my arms around my belly as a gust of wind suddenly blew the curtains horizontal, casting them to look like the flags of a defeated side. I shivered and decided, like with most of my dreams, that I couldn’t just sit here and wait for the something to happen around me. No, I knew this was always something that I would have to get up and discover, like it was some kind of test that always faced me in this damaged world.