chapter SEVENTEEN
The next two days consisted of more grueling training with Samuel, this time at his house, which was no less grand than Vittorio’s. Where Vittorio’s mansion looked like a miniature medieval fortress, Samuel’s was very modern, all clean lines and simple, yet elegant, decorations. It was almost sterile, as if he had designed the house for Zen Millionaires Today, then never gotten around to adding a personal touch after the photo shoot. I looked for photographs, but found none. I had hoped to find at least one of him and Elizabeth to confirm my suspicions, but had no such luck. There weren’t any collections on display, nothing to match Ms. Carmen’s story about his interest in Caribbean art or history.
In fact, there was almost no personal touch to this house. If there was, it was hidden from public view. Samuel was careful to keep me away from certain areas of his house, and that alone made me suspicious. I only found one area that showed any hint an actual human being instead of a sterile robot lived here, and part of me wished I hadn’t.
After taking a wrong turn to a bathroom, I found myself in a small room, not much bigger than a walk in closet. The room held a shrine. That’s all I could call it. A small table, like an altar, held photos of a beautiful young woman, though they were older. It looked like they were from the 70s and 80s. The woman held a small boy in some of them, and as they progressed I could tell the boy was Samuel. They stopped when he looked to be about ten years old. An urn sat in the middle of the table.
“You seem to have taken a wrong turn.” Samuel’s voice behind me startled me.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“My mother. She died when I was ten.” He paused, lost in a memory. “Come, I’ll show you the way again.” He grabbed my arm a bit roughly, obviously angry at my intrusion, and led me to the bathroom.
When I returned - I was very careful not to make any wrong turns this time - Samuel had composed himself and acted as if nothing had happened. Strange. I didn’t like talking about my mother, but I didn’t have a shrine or act as Samuel had.
Unfortunately, practice to envision the wall to protect myself, and to keep my own power under control, left me little time for any other snooping. I made mental notes of areas to investigate further if I ever go the chance, but that was about it.
When I arrived at Samuel’s the fourth morning, he seemed tense. He clenched his jaw, and nervous energy radiated from him. “What’s wrong? Is Vittorio okay?” My pulse quickened at the thought something might have happened to him.
“He’s fine. In fact, he’s on his way over here now.”
“He is?” Exuberance and apprehension battled within me. I was excited to see him, but did not want a replay of the other night.
“Yes, I think you’re strong enough in your control to see him. But we’re going to try it here, with me present, in case I’m wrong. I need you to remain calm. You absolutely must keep your focus.”
“Thank you, Samuel.” My dislike for him had lessened, but hadn’t dissipated entirely. If we had been better friends, I would have hugged him.
“Save that for later if this doesn’t go horribly awry.” It seemed as if the dislike was still mutual.
We sat in Samuel’s living room. I closed my eyes and meditated, proud of myself for remaining calm. I opened my eyes when I felt Vittorio’s warm energy fill the room. I jumped from the couch and ran to him, but Samuel stepped between us, stopping me from leaping into Vittorio’s arms.
“Elena, remember what I said about remaining calm?” Samuel said.
“Oh. Right. Sorry.” I looked down sheepishly. I wanted to make Vittorio proud; I was off to a horrible start.
“Do not be sorry. I would love nothing more than to sweep you into my arms. I understand how you are feeling,” Vittorio said.
“What now?” I asked Samuel.
“Try holding hands. I think that would be the safest way to start.”
“You think?” I wanted him to know beyond a doubt it was the best way to start.
“I can’t be certain of anything. Magic is not always predictable, especially in those who are just learning to control it. We have to start somewhere, though.”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and concentrated. Even though I had done well with my concentration and focus, I wanted as much control as I could muster before touching Vittorio. I reached out and held my hand in the air, waiting for him to take hold of it. When he did I drew a sharp breath. My body tingled, but that was all. I opened my eyes, keeping my hand in his.
“Good,” Samuel said. “A very good start, Elena. Now, take his other hand.”
I did, and the tingled intensified, like an electrical current that had gone full circle, but nothing bad happened. I remained in control of my power.
“Very good.” Samuel looked at Vittorio, asking him a silent question. Vittorio nodded.
“Elena, I would like to try to embrace you. Do you feel strong enough for that?” Vittorio asked me.
The thought of feeling his body pressed against mine made my heart race. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my breathing. “I think so.”
“I want you to be certain. If you are not, we should not attempt this.”
I wanted nothing more than to hold him, but I thought hard about whether I could maintain control. “Yes. I can do this.” I kept my eyes open. Vittorio moved slowly toward me, each step causing the tingle in my body to intensify. I kept my breathing slow and even, picturing the stone wall around me. The wall seemed so real I wondered how Vittorio would step through it to hold me. Of course it didn’t work that way.
He closed the distance and tentatively wrapped his arms around me. He was within the wall, yet still the wall held his power out.
My heart raced, and I felt my power come alive within my body. He held me gently, and even though I wanted to wrap myself around him as tightly as I could, I resisted the urge, concentrated on the power in me, holding it in check. When I felt strong enough, I wrapped my arms around Vittorio, lightly at first, then lost my self control.
I held him tight, and rested my cheek against his chest. Vittorio stood still, allowing me to take the lead. The power rose in my body, but this time it did not feel as if a wild thing was trying to tear out of me. It felt like a great, warm wave, washing from side to side within me. The air around us filled with energy as Vittorio’s power responded to mine.
An instant later, Vittorio’s power was gone, his shields firmly in place, but mine was still alive, hot in my body. We held each other for a few minutes, and when it was clear I was able to keep my power under control, Vittorio gently let his go again. I felt my power leave my body, a slow warmth rising from me. I looked at Vittorio, alarmed.
“It is all right, Elena. Hold onto it, yet let it go at the same time. Do you understand?”
My brain didn’t understand, but something deep within me did, so I nodded. I stared into his eyes as I let my power go to his. Our powers swam around us, electrifying the room. I could see them merge, his a green the shade of a peridot crystal, mine a warm amber. Our powers met and became one, and I felt as if I could see into his soul, and he into mine, though it did not feel like an invasion as when Samuel had pushed at me with his power. I kissed Vittorio passionately. The world around me disappeared; there was only the two of us, surrounded by green and orange energy.
I don’t know how long we kissed. When we parted, I fell to the couch.
Vittorio sat more ceremoniously, but he didn’t look much stronger than I felt. I didn’t feel bad. I felt alive, exhilarated, but exhausted. I looked at him as if I were seeing him for the first time. “Wow.”
“Yes, mia bellezza. Wow.”
I laughed. Then I looked at Samuel, who had also collapsed onto a chair. “Samuel? Are you okay?”
“Yes,” he said weakly. “Your powers merged together is a force to be reckoned with. I was not expecting that, and am quite drained. When one is confronted with such strong power as Vittorio’s - and it seems, yours - especially combined, one must be prepared. I was not, so it took more effort for me to control my power, to prevent it from rushing to join yours. It also took more effort to keep your powers out of my psychic field.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It was an amazing experience.”
I looked down, heat rushing through my face. I knew what it felt like for me. I didn’t want Samuel to be part of that.
“Don’t be ashamed, Elena. I don’t think I experienced what you and Vittorio did. I simply felt a rush of great power, but it was no more than power. There was no sex in it for me. I only mean it isn’t often that one is confronted with such a force.” Samuel studied us as if he had never seen us before. A hint of distrust and jealousy gleamed coldly in his eyes.
Vittorio reached for me and cupped my face in his hand, distracting me from what I saw in Samuel’s eyes. I was relieved to feel nothing but a tingle. “I am so proud of you, Elena.”
“Is it going to be like this every time we kiss?”
“It will not. This is the first time our powers have truly been introduced to each other. It is always the most intense the first time. We will have to practice controlling our powers together, however. It will take concentration to not experience this every time.”
“Practice, huh?” I grinned at him.
He smiled. “Yes.”
“No offense, Samuel, but will you have to be here when we, um, practice? It’s just that this is kind of personal, and I’m not really the show and tell type,” I said.
“From what I saw just now, I do not think so. Your control is strong. But in the beginning, I think it would be best if I was close by. Not in the same room, but close enough that if it gets out of control I will hear you call out and be able to come help.”
“Can you accept that, Elena?” Vittorio asked.
“Do I really have a choice?” He didn’t say no, but I could tell that was the answer. “Yes, I can handle that. I just prefer not to be in the same room. I’m a private person.”
“I understand,” Samuel and Vittorio said in unison.
I wondered if they could read each other’s minds, but was too exhausted to give it much thought.