chapter THIRTY-FIVE
Vittorio left the study briefly after receiving a phone call from Samuel. I used the time to ponder what he told me. Aspects of witchcraft appealed to me, something to replace the feelings of loss and abandonment from my childhood. My Catholic upbringing seemed so cold to me, and when I tried going back to church after cleaning up, the congregation greeted me with judgment and scorn rather than the acceptance and forgiveness they preach. Religion lost its appeal, but I now wondered if perhaps this could be the path for me. The position of Sacerdotessa seemed daunting, though; it could be more responsibility than I was ready for.
Vittorio returned, brow furrowed. “It seems as if we were correct; those who would stand against me are already organizing an effort to force me out of the coven. Your display the other night frightened them even more than I suspected. I wanted to spend more time this evening working with you to control your power, but need to go to The Chapel now. I must maintain a strong presence.”
“Why do you have to go? What’s going to happen?” I stood and went to him.
“Most likely, nothing. It will be a night like any other, with drinking and socializing. But if I am absent, it will be viewed as a sign of weakness or fear by some. It is all mind games. I find it quite silly, but unfortunately, must play along.”
“What about me?” I didn’t want to be left behind.
“That is your decision, mio amore. I will not ask you to decide on what we talked about, but I do need to know if you will stand by my side through this. I wish I could change what is about to happen. Unfortunately, I cannot.”
“I told you I would stick with you.” Why were men so dense sometimes?
“Yes, but I do not want to assume you agree to be part of this fight.”
I stood to face him, as much as I could, being so much shorter. “Vittorio, I love you. Whatever you need, if I can do it, I will. If that is standing by your side through this, that’s what I’ll do.”
He embraced me. “You cannot possibly understand what that means to me, mio amore.”
“Isn’t that what people do when they love each other?”
“Yes, but I have not had much support in my life such as you say you will give me. It makes it all the more precious, especially coming from you.”
I understood what he meant. It was like how much I appreciated Kevin never writing me off. The gratitude and love in Vittorio’s eyes made me want to fly to the moon and back if that’s what he needed. My heart raced with love for him. He trusted me to stand by him and help him in this fight. Me, who he had only just learned had deceived him. I would die before letting him down.
In keeping with Vittorio’s desire to show a unity of our power, I wore the purple gown he bought me, and he again wore the fantastic tux. I had discovered the last time it had a satin feel to it. It was so soft I had a hard time keeping myself from stroking his arm or back to feel the fabric. Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the only reason I had a hard time keeping my hands off him. I tried to behave, though, because I knew I would need every ounce of control I had, and still wasn’t sure it would be enough.
As we ascended the stairs to the balcony, I felt his power gently reach out from his body. “What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Simply a show of strength.”
“Can I help?”
“Not tonight. You need more training, and I want you to conserve your strength.”
“Won’t that make us look weak?”
“Perhaps, but it is a risk I am willing to take. If things get out of control later, and you have depleted your energy on a display such as this, it will make us look even weaker. If anyone comments on it, tell them they are not worth it for you to expend any energy on.”
“Well, that’s the truth. From the little you’ve told me, I wouldn’t give these people the time of day if I had any choice in the matter.” I shook my head.
“I agree, but unfortunately, we do not have a choice.”
When we reached the top of the stairs, we found Samuel sitting in an armchair facing an empty love seat he had saved for us. Everyone turned to stare at us, but Vittorio kept walking as if we three were the only people in the room.
I tried to follow suit, but couldn’t resist surveying the occupants from the corner of my eye. I was uncomfortable, unused to situations where tension so completely saturated the air.
The three from the other night sat at the opposite side of the balcony from us. When we sat down, I asked Vittorio their names, even though I already knew Elizabeth’s. She had been with Samuel six months ago. It did not seem as if they were still together, but that fact made me even more suspicious of him. Or perhaps that is what had driven them apart. Or maybe her accompaniment to the art museum had been a friendly gesture. I would have to find out what their relationship was.
“Jonah, Neal, and Elizabeth. Elizabeth will have even more animosity for you, as she has been trying to win my affections for years, and I talk to her as little as possible.”
“Great,” I muttered. “And she thinks I’m trying to steal her position.”
“This will not be easy, Elena,” Samuel said. It seemed as if Vittorio had filled him in on some of our discussion while I was getting ready, but found I did not mind. All I cared about at that point was making it through the night without losing control of my power.