| Dark Heart By Mommints and Adriana |
| ~*~ Chapter 8 ~*~ Bianca rose from her sleeping lair purposely early, sensing Luciano was also in his and teleported herself down to another level of the villa, a safely hidden compartment that he didn’t know about where she kept all her dirty little secrets. Shackled to one wall, anemic and weak from hunger, Geppo no longer resembled the handsome young man Bianca had picked up two nights ago. His eyes were dull and lifeless, his body’s youth and vitality almost sucked dry by the vampire that now stood over him, an unholy light of triumph in her eyes. He didn’t even raise his head in acknowledgement of her presence. “Il mio bambino povero, il mio ragazzo piccolo povero. Avete fatto il vostro la cosa migliore per mostrarmi che cosa un uomo voi era ma alla fine, il vostro niente ha confrontato a me. ( My poor baby, my poor little boy. You did your best to show me what a man you were but in the end, your nothing compared to me).” She crooned like a mother to a frightened child and knelt down, gathering the man in her arms as she prepared for the final transfer. “Ora avrete un altro scopo, dato che ancora vi ho uso per ancora. (Now you shall serve another purpose, for I still have use for you yet).” Bianca murmured and gently pulled his head back, exposing his neck where two small puncture wounds were showing near his jaw line. “E non prometto dolore, solo ectasy quale defies il explaination. (And I promise no pain, only ecstasy, which defies explanation).” And she sank her fangs into his neck, drinking deeply and lustily, ignoring the spasmodic twitching of the man beneath her as she drank away his life’s blood. When she finished, she let the body fall back to the straw covered ground, satisfied that the changes were already taking place and that by this time tomorrow night, after a full 24 hours, she would have the desired results she wanted. “Per il vostro sacrafice, era il minimo che potrei fare. Arrivederci caro Geppo. È stato divertimento. (For your sacrifice, it was the least I could do. Goodbye dear Geppo. It's been fun).” And a second later, she vanished from the chamber sensing Luciano was stirring from his lair. She arrived at the Villa Maravegie within a heartbeat later and after a quick mental search, discovered why the occupants weren’t there. And Bianca couldn’t contain her glee as she vanished and reappeared back at her villa, patiently waiting on the terrace for Luciano to appear. She was rewarded a few moments later when he appeared at her side. “Someone’s been already a busy bee tonight, bella.” Luciano commented, as he adjusted the collar to the silk black shirt from Gucci and tucked it into the waistband of his slacks. “What mischief are you up to now?” Bianca displayed her prettiest pout and lovingly adjusted the collar to his shirt. “Why Luciano, I don’t know what you mean.” “You look like the cat that just ate the canary. Tell me, what has you so happy?” “Oh nothing.” She tried to look innocent and failed. “Now you tell me, what are your plans for this evening, tesoro (darling)?” “Nothing that would interest you.” Luciano stated and vanished a moment later to feed. Bianca waited for a second, and then vanished as well, veiling herself from Luciano as she followed him, watching him feed from afar. Then as she knew he would, he disappeared again and materialized outside the same hotel where Adriana was staying, mentally checking to see if she was there and being shocked when he realized she was gone. His lips curled back in a slight snarl at the possibility of her running away from him but he brushed aside that absurd thought, for she had promised herself to him, why would she run now? Bianca appeared by his side. “Hmmm, isn’t that odd.” Bianca commented and looped an arm around his shoulder as she leaned against him. “She’s not here. Guess your little bird flew off on her own tonight and left you behind.” “And I’m sure you had no knowledge of this?” Luciano snapped, barely keeping his temper under control over the loss of not seeing Adriana tonight. “Lo ferite profondamente, il mio amore (You wound me deeply, my love).” Bianca pouted again. “I have no idea what you’re talking about....all I know is what you know, she’s not here.” “Why are you following me?” He asked through clenched teeth, his temper still simmering close to the boiling point. “Not following you, I felt your anger. Remember, we’re attached mentally you and I since our bonding all those years ago. Even now, I can sense your rage coursing through your soul unchecked and I dare say, it may be well founded.” She whispered into his ear, her tongue flicking like a serpent’s tongue as she started to paint a picture of love betrayed. “For all you know, she’s probably meeting another handsome young man in Rome and out on a date this very evening. I’m sure she’s enjoying herself, laughing and drinking wine with him as he whispers sweet nothings in her ear. He wants to take her back to his room but she protests at first, too sweet and shy to make love to this stranger.” Bianca danced around Luciano, her eyes glittering with jealously and glee as she continued to torment the vampire standing rigidly before her, her pale arms weaving a spell that threatened to snap whatever control he had left of his temper. “But eventually we both know, l' pontenza di amore conquista tutto (the power of love conquers all) and I daresay, they might be eating breakfast together tomorrow morning. And where does that leave my poor friend, Luciano?” Without warning, Luciano’s hand shot out and wrapped around Bianca’s neck, effectively cutting off any more of her dark taunting and she gasped into silence. “Tread lightly, cara and heed my warning well. Whatever new game you play now, stop. Or we will both regret the consequences. Leave Adriana alone. Leave me alone and go fly away on your broom, I refuse to suffer from your innuendo’s any further. Love does indeed conquer all and I’ll show you right now.” He abruptly released the panting vampire and with all the power he had in his soul, he thought of Adriana and mentally called out her name, the force and desire of his thought pouring out of him almost in a white blinding arc of light. Bianca hissed and shielded herself from the pure glare, but still watching mesmerized as Luciano stood before her, arms stretched out to the sides as his soul call echoed through the long, lonely corridors of the night. ~*~ Taking a nap in her hotel room, Adriana tossed fitfully in her sleep, plagued by odd dreams and visions. The one dream that troubled her the most was where she dreamed she was elegantly dressed in a shimmering gown of satin, colored a rich sable brown. It highlighted her hair, which had been swept back and gathered at the base of her neck, a profusion of curls that tumbled down her spine and swayed gently as she danced a waltz with Luciano. He looked exceptionally handsome, dressed in black Wellington boots, dark brown britches and an auburn colored jacket over a white ruffled shirt. He held her hand as he gently twirled her across the ballroom floor and Adriana could feel herself getting breathless and laughing, for having such a strong partner as Luciano made her feel giddy and carefree. The deep baritone laugh of Luciano’s vibrated through Adriana and he said, “ Il mio angelo balla come è su una nube stasera ( My angel dances like she's on a cloud tonight ).” “ Finchè li ho per tenerli, ritengo come sto ballando nel cielo (As long as I have you to hold me, I feel like I'm dancing in heaven.)” She replied. They spun around the room again and again until she became dizzy and sensed something was happening, something bad. To her horror, the walls started to bleed, spilling out from behind wall sconces and paintings, oozing down until it puddled at the base of the floorboards, then onto the dance floor itself in a parody of a red carpet. Like a slow red tidal wave, it crashed against Adriana’s slippered feet and she screamed in fear, looking at Luciano in terror and a mute appeal for help. Suddenly they stopped dancing, and stood in the center of the ballroom, Adriana still being held fast by Luciano’s hand but trying to free herself so she could run away. “Luciano!” She screamed. “We must get away from here, now!” He laughed at her, throwing his head back with a hearty roar and then showed her his fangs, iridescent and sharp in the candlelight of the room. “Non ci è necessità di temere il mio amore (There's no need to fear my love), the winds of change are blowing and you’ll like the breeze!” He exclaimed and held out his arms, asking the other patrons of the ball to join him. They were all vampires, hissing and wildly laughing, pointing at the young woman who stood in their midst, like an innocent lamb amongst wolves and with a strangled cry, Adriana covered her ears from their cruel mirth and ran from the room. She ran as fast as possible but the slippery floor made it hard for her to escape and she slipped and fell several times before reaching the door. With a strength born of desperation, she grabbed the handle and wrenched it open, only to be stopped short by Luciano standing in the doorway. He was different than the one she had just seen and without a word, he held out his arms, a soft loving look on his face as if he understood what she had just been through. “Il mio amore, il mio angelo, sono qui per voi (My love, my angel, I'm here for you). Come to me and let me shelter you with my love.” Adriana hesitated, unsure and not believing in what she was seeing. And then, she heard his cry. “Adriana!” She woke up with a gasp and bolted upright on the bed, confused and disorientated by the dream. She looked wildly around the room and slowly realized it was a little past seven o’clock and she had been taking a nap while Tatianna had been visiting with Cynthia and Greta. With a deep and shaky breath, she scooted off the bed and went to the bathroom, washing her face and staring at herself in the mirror. In her reflection, she saw something that almost made her cry out in alarm, but instead all she could do was stare in shock and frantically tried to remember what she did before taking the nap. Adriana had gotten undressed a little, putting on a comfy tee shirt and shorts before going to bed, leaving her hair undone since she was going to wash it later when taking a shower. Now she stared in amazement when she turned her head and saw that her hair was now back in a ponytail gathered at her neck, something she knew she hadn’t done before retiring. On shaky legs, she stumbled out of the bathroom and somehow made it over to the terrace doors where she walked out a moment late into the cool night air. She made it over to the railing but failed to appreciate the view of the city, instead she hugged herself to ward off a chill and tried not to remember anything from her nightmare. “Adriana.” Came the whispered plea and she felt it wrap around her heart. “Luciano.” ~*~ Luciano crumpled to the ground, the extent of his connection to Adriana almost draining him but he knew Bianca was still next to him, cowering into herself from the glare a few minutes ago that he had produced. He was weak, and knew he needed to feed again and soon but first, there was one more thing he needed to clarify and he reached out, grasping his reluctant maker by the arm and pulling her towards him. “You said Rome, didn’t you. You’ve known all along where she went but you didn’t want to tell me. Why Bianca, why?” With a snarl, Bianca pulled herself away and rose up in all of her vampire glory, snarling and hissing at her own foolish mistake. “I explain nothing to you, Luciano. Nothing!” She spat. Then she leaned down and grabbed the weaker vampire by his collar, her face close to his and she murmured, “Do what you must to rid yourself of this girl. She’s making you weak, irrational and ruining our relationship. We do have one, don’t we tesoro (darling) or are you willing to forfeit that too for her sake. Remember who I am, and what I’ve done. Remember and heed my warning as well.....if you don’t make her go away, then I will.” And with her arms raised over her head, Bianca disappeared into the night, already planning the next step in her process to make sure Luciano stayed where she’s always wanted him to be with her. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dark Heart - Chapter 9 |