chapter SIXTEEN
I needed a nap. Hell, even though it was only six in the evening, I could probably sleep the rest of the night. My stomach growling reminded me I hadn’t eaten since I woke, and that food was more important than sleep. I was too tired to cook, and didn’t feel like talking to Kevin just then, so I called for Chinese delivery. I ate, but was too tired to taste the food. I left the half-empty cartons on the table, then collapsed into bed. I had to wake up early to meet Samuel for another lesson in power control.
Sleep had barely taken over me when I was jolted awake by my cell phone. I sat up in bed abruptly, annoyed at the call, and fumbled for my phone on the bedside table. “What?”
“Elena?”
“Vittorio!” His voice caressed my body, even through the phone. I sighed happily, and settled back against the pillows.
“How are you? I have been worried.”
“Exhausted. I was just falling asleep.”
“Forgive me. I do not mean to rob you of your rest. I will call you tomorrow.”
“No, it’s alright. Please don’t hang up.” My exhaustion erased any chance of me pretending to be calm and collected.
“Samuel said you did well today. I am very pleased to hear that. Already, I miss you terribly.”
“I miss you too,” I found myself admitting. I hadn’t even known it was true until the words escaped my mouth.
“I hope to see you again soon, but do not want to risk a replay of last night.”
“Yeah, me too. That was scary.” After a moment of silence, I asked, “Vittorio, when did you discover your power?”
“I was five years old.”
“How did it happen for you?”
He was silent.
“Vittorio?” How I loved saying his name.
“I am here. It is a hard story. I would prefer to tell you in person. I do not like the phone for serious conversations. Can you wait to hear it?”
“I guess so.” I didn’t want to, but if that’s what he wanted, I would respect that. “What did you do today? Why aren’t you at The Chapel tonight?”
“I did not have the heart to go without you by my side. And I, too, am tired from the day’s activities. I spent the day with my teacher for more training. It was a humbling experience. It has been a long time since anyone has been able to break through my defenses.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Do not be sorry, Elena. I had grown complacent. It is a good thing, in a way, this happened. It is not safe to let oneself become too secure in one’s abilities. Sadly, I had done so. Perhaps had I not, last night would have been less difficult for us.”
“Who is your teacher?” I realized I wanted to know everything about this man.
“A close friend of mine.”
“Will you tell me about him?” I asked, then yawned into the phone before I could stifle it.
“I will, but now I should let you sleep, mia bellezza. You need your rest. You will not be far from my thoughts until I can see you again.”
“What does that mean? Mia whatever?”
“My beauty.”
I smiled at that. “Good night, Vittorio.”
“Good night, Elena. Ti amo.” He hung up before I could ask what that meant, though I had an idea. How could he love me? He barely even knew me.
Guilt washed over me. Vittorio seemed like a good person. I hated lying to him, but if my suspicions about the Elizabeth whom Samuel had taken to the premiere were right, then Vittorio could help me find Courtney. And now that I knew about magic, I understood my instinct that no one at The Chapel would readily tell me if they knew Courtney. Did she have power? Is that what Ms. Carmen meant by getting into something worse than drugs? Did she know about magic?
So many questions, and not a single answer.