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AN: Thanks for the reviews, story alerts, and author alerts.
Just wait until you reach the end. Lol And no cheating by jumping to the bottom. XD
Oh, and to esme22, my name for livejournal is volleyball908. I'm kinda new to livejournal, so let me know if you can't access it and I will see what I can do. :)
Chapter 2:
I woke up late and I felt this overwhelming feeling of dread and sorrow. Instead of getting better, it seems to amplify every day. This was hell. I have no reason to live.
I got up to get ready and do my normal routine.
Romero greeted me enthusiastically.
"Buongiorno."
I smiled, "Buongiorno."
" Would you like to hear a joke?" he asked with a smile.
He tries everything to make me happy. Bless his heart.
I smiled at him, "Sure."
"Okay. This rabbit walks into a bar and asks the bartender, 'Do you sell carrots?' The bartender looks confused and says, 'No. We don't sell carrots. This is a bar.' The rabbit walks out. The next day the rabbit returns and asks the bartender, 'Do you sell carrots?' The bartender said, 'No! You just came in yesterday and I said no, we don't sell carrots.' The rabbit walks out sad. The rabbit returns the next day and asks the bartender the same question, 'Do you sell carrots?' The bartender became infuriated, 'NO! We don't sell carrots! If you come in here again asking for carrots, I will take a hammer and nails and nail your ears down on this counter!' The rabbit walks out. The next day the rabbit returns for the fourth time. The bartender sees him and watches him closely, drumming his fingers on the counter. The rabbit asks him, 'Do you have any nails?' The bartender looks confused, 'No! I don't have any nails!' The rabbit smiles innocently, 'Do you have any carrots?'" Romero said with a smile.
I smiled before it turned to a laugh, "Grazie, Romero. I needed that. I haven't laughed in-"
"Years." Romero finished
I nodded, "Yeah."
"What are your plans for today, Mistress?" Romero asked
I shrugged, "Nothing much. I figured I'd relax until tonight."
"I wish you the best of luck tonight." Romero said
I nodded, "Grazie. I will be sure to catch it this time."
Romero nodded, "Well, I will be getting back to work." Romero turned and walked away.
I went down to the basement and walked to the fridge and opened it. I pulled out one of many blood bags and took it upstairs.
I went into the kitchen and put the blood bag in the microwave and heated it up. I poured it in a cup and I took burba weed from the cupboard. I mixed the burba weed in with the blood and stirred it.
I went down to the library downstairs with my cup. I looked around the library and smiled. No matter how many times I come in here, I am impressed.
I went to a book shelf and grabbed the book, 'Romeo + Juliet'. I walked to a chair and sat down and read.
After a while of reading for hours, I decided to take a break. I put the book in my hand down on top of the pile with the other books.
I got up and decided to head out, grabbing my coat for protection.
I walked to a musician's store and went to the piano section. The great thing about this place is the wide selection. The store was enormous! It's the biggest I've seen.
I browsed around looking at the different pianos. My eyes fell on a beautiful grand black high gloss piano. I walked over to it and ran my hand along it. It was flawless. I loved the feel of it. It was so smooth, almost as smooth as…
I shook my head, getting rid of those thoughts.
I thought about purchasing it.
A man in his early 30s walked up to me, "Hello miss. May I help you?"
I looked up at him at his lust filled eyes and tried not to cringe.
I noticed his name tag. He was the manager.
I nodded, "Yes, how much is this one?"
He smiled, "We just got that in today."
I did my best not to roll my eyes. Why does every seller insist that we don't know that that is a lie? They always say, 'oh we just got that.'
"How long have you been playing?" he asked with a smile
I know this question. He's asking to see if I know the value of different pianos. Was he trying to rip me off?
"For a while." I couldn't tell him the whole truth. If I were to say since before he was born, he wouldn't believe me.
"I see. Well, we were thinking along the lines of $85,000."
Did he not want me to buy it?
I looked at him as if he was ridiculous, "Let me see how it sounds first."
I took a seat and began playing a song I wrote a long time ago.
The sound of music flowed through the air and around the store. It was beautiful. Everyone turned to look to the source and was in awe.
I was very impressed with how the piano sounded. I decided to buy it. I turned to the manager and was startled when I found him in tears.
"Are you alright, sir?" I asked
He shook his head to snap out of it, "Miss, who wrote that song?"
I smiled warmly at him, "I did."
"That is a beautiful song. I decided to lower the price to $50,000."
"I'll take it, thank you." I said and got up.
"We can deliver it to you today if you like?" he said
"Wow. That's very fast. Yes, that would be nice." I said with a smile
"Great. Follow me please." He said
He led us to the counter.
"Do you play any other instruments?" he asked
"A few." I said while taking out my credit card.
"What else?" he asked
"I play the guitar, violin, cello."
"Do you sing?" he asked
I nodded, "Yes."
He looked at me in amazement.
If I could blush I would, "I have a lot of free time on my hands."
"I see. Well, how about using some of your free time and spending it with me over dinner?" he said with a smile.
I gave him a small smile, "Thanks, but I-"
"Oh, you have a boyfriend?" he asked
I shook my head, "No. I-"
He looked at my left hand, "Oh, you're married?"
"Something like that." I said
"He's a lucky guy." He said sadly
Instead of correcting him, I sighed, "Thank you."
As promised, the piano arrived later that day and I decided to put it in the extra room which I use as a music room. I polished it and took a step back. The piano was in the middle of the room, while the other instruments were on the side of the walls. My wooden desk that I use to store written songs of mine was facing the wall.
My piano looked even more beautiful in this room. The wooden floor looked perfect with it. The full length windows let in some dim light. The room looked like a room of royalty.
I decided to write some more music, now that I had more instruments. I grabbed blank pages of music sheets and wrote music notes and testing them out. I first started out with the violin as the introduction and added more instruments including the cello and violin.
Hours later, I put them all together in the order I wanted and was quite pleased with the results. It was probably the best one I've written. It was even better than the one I sold.
I decided to record it and was grateful the track sounded professional.
There was a soft knock at the door, "Come in."
Romero came in with a smile, "Salve, Miss Granger."
I smiled, "Hello, Romero."
"I couldn't help but hear that music. It sounds beautiful. Did you write it?" he asked
I nodded, a little embarrassed, "Yes."
"I haven't heard you play in a long time. No need to be modest. You should take pride in your work." Romero said with a smile
I nodded, "I do. I just don't like to…flaunt it."
Romero laughed, "You should. It would be a shame not to let other people hear your work."
"I don't like to let other people to know it was me." I said
"I can understand that. If you were to be famous, everyone will notice there is something different about you." Romero said
I nodded in agreement, "The one I sold was probably a mistake."
Romero shook his head, "I wouldn't say that. No one knows it was you who wrote it. Just give a false name again and people will hear it and you won't have to reveal yourself."
"I don't know. My music is for me. I would like to keep some songs private." I said
"Well, whatever you decide, I will support you." Romero said
"Grazie." I said
Romero looked behind me and his eyes flashed.
"Is that new? I don't remember this piano." Romero asked
I nodded and smiled, "Yeah, I just bought it today."
"It's beautiful." He said in awe
I nodded in agreement, "Thank you."
"Why? Did you have something to do with it?" he teased
I lightly hit him on the shoulder and he laughed.
"Are you still planning on going out tonight?" he asked
"Yes. I will stay out all night if I have to. I can't let anyone else get hurt." I said
"Well, it is almost nine. I will pack you a drink if you like?"
"Oh, no. That is very generous of you but I can do it myself." I said, remembering the last time he tried to do that. He saw the blood and passed out. He just wants to help.
"Nonsense I can do it. It won't be as bad as last time. I've gotten better." He said and left
I smiled.
I got my coat and heels and started down the stairs.
I was approached by Romero holding a thermos.
"I bought a thermos for you so that it will stay warm." He said
"That is so sweet of you. Not that I don't appreciate this, Romero but I'm a little worried about you. No human should have to go through this." I said
"None of that. It's my choice." He said
"Grazie." I said and gave him a kiss on the cheek and he blushed.
I headed out and was walking around the streets.
I was feeling terrible. I had to make myself feel better by reassuring myself that I will catch this animal. Doubt was eating away at me. No matter how many times I told myself I will succeed in this, another voice in my head was telling me I won't.
For hours I walked, had I've been human, I'm not sure I would last. It was late already. Almost everyone was at home sleeping. There were just a handful of people out.
This made me feel a little better knowing this because perhaps I had a better chance finding the animal. The problem was the humans were spread out. They were too far from each other for me to be everywhere in the same place at the same time. When were people going to learn to stay at home during these hours, especially when they've heard and read what was going on around here?
I sighed.
I caught a whiff of something I was all too familiar with…fear. One of the perks of being what I am is that I can smell when someone is afraid.
I turned and ran towards the direction. A scream was echoing through the city. I ran as fast as I could. I smiled; I knew I was going to make it. I was going to catch it this time.
I stopped dead in my tracks and saw a young man around the age of 16 or 17. He was on the ground clutching his side to where his wound was. I stepped back trying to control myself. After the beast in me was detained, I walked up to him.
"What happened?" I asked, grabbing my shirt and ripping it, placing it on his wound.
He yelped. "I-It was some s-sort of m-monster." He stuttered
"Did you see where it went?" I asked
He shook his head.
I sighed, "I'll get you to a hospital."
I went to pick him up and then came up with a plan.
I took my thermos and set it down on the ground not too far from the boy. This was a risky plan but I felt I had no choice.
I went up to him and whispered in his ear, "I won't be far. I'll have my eyes on you. I promise."
Before the boy could reply, I was gone, hiding.
I could only wait for a little while before I would have to give up and take the boy to the hospital before he bled to death. It hurt pained me that I couldn't take him to seek medical treatment and he had to suffer a little longer.
I waited on the rooftop; my face looked like I was in agony. I wanted to cry for the boy. His whimpers and cries were so loud and filled with pain.
Finally, I heard something. I kept absolutely still, holding my unneeded breath.
I heard a wind sound that I couldn't quite place. What was it? I heard claws scraping against cement. The claw sounds were getting louder. The animal was getting closer.
The boy's eyes had a look of horror. He started screaming.
I saw a shadow with huge wings. I decided now was the time to strike.
I leapt off the roof, landing on the ground and in front of the boy, protectively.
I bared my fangs and stopped.
I examined the animal. The animal was standing with its long, big, blue wings were stretched out, glowing red predatory eyes were staring back at me, its beak resembled that if an eagle.
I knew this animal. It was a Veela. Disbelief ran through me that it was my deceased wife.
My eyes softened. "Fleur?" I asked softly, my voice breaking.
AN: So what do you think? Please let me know.