WOOO!
Chapter 9!

I NO OWN NOTHING! except for...umm... pablo


Chapter 9

Espana Is Real

"What in the world?" I said, looking up through the curtain of rain to see a large building, maybe 8 stories up. The sea salt smells were there even when no sea was near. How come this place always smelled like that even though Madrid was smack dab in the middle of the country? Shivering, wrapped by arms around my chest. "What is this, Pablo?" I asked, taking my hand and covering my eyes trying to sea the top of the building with little success.

Sighing, he held tight to the umbrella that was over my head. I thought he was going to ignore me like he had in the café but he must have decided better of it and just shook his head. "That Bella, the girl with all the questions and hardly any answers, is where Emilia used to stay with her sisters. I know she isn't home. She never is home…not anymore anyway…" he said drolly, his eyes looking even more exhausted than what they had an hour ago. Watching him wearily, I had a feeling something was up.

"What are we here for?" I couldn't help but ask, incredulous. Why bring me to the apartment that belongs to the vampire that tried to kill me?

"She won't expect you here," he said, watching me from under his bangs, "like I said, she owns it but doesn't stay here anymore. Rosa pays for it but the girls live with her and her mate. Emilia and Luisa have not lived here since their sister died. Too many haunting memories I suppose…" he said, walking up to the doors and leaving me exposed in the rain for a moment or two before I sloshed through the puddles and under the canvas. I couldn't believe this.

"When was the last time they were here?" I asked, looking up at him curiously.

"About 10 years ago I believe but they won't look for you here, besides, it has a phone and everything you could ever want. Call your parents, maybe?" he hinted as we strolled in the front door into the wide marble entryway, a man sitting behind a counter while a woman in a black pant suit walked out, her heels clicking on the floors.

"And tell them what, Pablo? That I am out gallivanting with a strange Spanish man in the Madrid while I am supposed to be getting married at the end of the summer", I spat irritated, "Besides, how are you going to get in? Isn't like you got a k--" I started to say, stumbling as I saw him take about a dozen keys hanging on a chain out of his pocket. I just gawked and stared.

"What? Are you coming?" he asked, throwing the closed umbrella at me and out of instinct, I held it, rather awkwardly, while the rain on its surface leaked through my tank top and chilled me to the bone.

"What's with all the keys?" I managed to say through chattering teeth and running to catch up with him again, almost tripping on the frame of the elevator. "Don't tell me you vampires own like 12 houses or something? And why would Emilia let you keep her key if you hurt her so bad? In America, you would have a restraining order," I gasped, clenching my teeth, trying to get them to stop.

"She never mentioned it and I didn't find the urge to bring it up," he said, pushing the button to the 6th floor. He then looked at me strangely, "A restraining order? Huh," he puzzled before turning to look at the glowing lights above the door "We own mainly apartments and land out here, but yeah, I have a key for everything though I doubt I will in a day or so," And when it finally opened to a bright, warm, well carpeted hall, I was pleased.

"You're going to die if she catches you?" I asked, as he moved forward again and down the hall like he knew the place well. Like it was an old haunt of his and I had to trail behind desperately behind his fluid movements.

"I can't answer that question," he answered back, stopping at a door and sliding the key into the lock. "She might just banish me. I like to think she might like me enough to spare my worthless body," he gaffed, almost a growl as the door swung open easily. The insides of the room were dark without any lights. "Here," he said, taking a step in and flipping the switch so we could see in a large room. We stepped into a large entry way, looking up at the stairs to the second floor.

"This, Pablo, is no apartment. This is a flat," I wowed, putting my hands over my mouth and looking at the chandelier and marble floors. Everything glittered and sparkled and shone brightly though the place spoke of sadness and woe.

"Call it what you will," he said, closing the door and starting off across the breeze way and through the door to the left. I followed obediently only to find a kitchen though Pablo wasn't going to say anything. He had gone to sitting on a stool with his head in his hands, silent as if someone had cut out his tongue. I went to digging around in the room, examining cabinets and drawers, finding nothing but plates and silverware, before sitting on the stool across from him and observing him.

"Pabloooo", I called, keeping my spirits high no matter how hard it was before taking a wooden spoon from the large utensils basket and poking him in the arm repeatedly until he lifted his head. His lip curled back in a snarl at me and I stopped, taking the spoon and laying it in my lap so he couldn't see it. "Sorry, I thought you had zonked out on me there," I whined, trying to seem innocent.

"Bella…" he growled, dropping his hands out from under his chin and slamming his forehead into the table with a loud crash. I jumped back from him and the glasses that threatened to fall on my head because of his outburst.

Slowly, he lifted his head and looked up at me, a sly grin on his face. "What?" I drew my lips together in a firm line and crossed my legs defensively.

"Your face was priceless," he laughed, falling back genuinely and onto the floor causing the stool to flip over on its side and hit the counter top.

"Hopeless", I growled back, jumping off of the stool and walking around him. Bad move. As quick as lightning, he snatched my ankle and made me fall onto the ground, my arms in front of me to try to absorb some of the shock. And quicker than he could imagine, I spun around and smacked him on the head, right between his eyes. "Idiot!" I spat, getting up and kicking him in the ribs before stomping out of the room.

"Hey, you might actually hurt yourself doing something like that," he said, laughing, and when I didn't respond the way he wanted me to, he grabbed me around the wrist and spun me around. "Hey, can't you take a joke?"

I crossed my arms around my chest and glared. I must have looked real threatening in my sleep pants and shirt with black flats sticking out from underneath the depths of black and white flannel. "I liked you better when all you could do was talk in Spanish. Señorita this, and Señorita that," I said, yanking away and going to sit on the couch. Leaning back and with my legs crossed, I found the perfect place to stand my ground against his dark, deep eyes. Men.

But there he was, and with one gracious movement, sat on the ground cross legged in front of me. How awkward it could be staring down a vampire. Suddenly I sobered and leaned forward, "You used to do stuff like this with her didn't you?" I asked with a pained look on my face. He just stared at me for a moment, all signs of a smile evaporating from his face. And with that, he got up and walked away, disappearing from my line of vision. I then heard a door open and close and then reopen again.

Following, I came to the balcony doors that swung slightly back and forth in the rain and the wind. Pulling back the drapes, I found it empty. And so, I was alone. With nothing but the empty flat ringing in my ears.


haha. burn!

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