La luce della Luna
Disclaimer: Gabriel is mine. Elizabeth is mine. The Cullens? Not so much. All recognized Twilight people are Stephine Meyer's. I'm just playing with them.
Summary: The companion piece to The Stars and The Sun. This is to that as Midnight Sun is to Twilight. All of this will be told from our beloved Gabriel's POV.
Author's note: Yes, FF is totally screwy right now. If you are seeing this, it means the fix I found worked! Feel free to email me at isabelladangelo at gmail dot com if you are having trouble uploading chapters as well to your own stories.
IF thou art sleeping, maiden,
Awake and open thy door.
'Tis the break of day, and we must away
O'er meadow, and mount, and moor.
Wait not to find thy slippers,
But come with thy naked feet;
We shall have to pass through the dewy grass
And waters wide and fleet. –Gil Vicente (d. 1536)
The hitting of a thousand drops of water upon the generic tiled floor was too much for the other monster within me to control himself. Rather, I needed to take myself out of the situation and decided upon a small walk around the perimeter of the hotel. If nothing else, I could convince myself that it was necessary in case the Guard were near. I would hear their approach better from outside. That, and the small sable fur that Elizabetta did love so greatly would most likely have needs of the outdoors as well.
I approached the animal quickly, placing the hooked rope about the metal loop on her collar in less than a second. By the time the creature had known of what I had done, and began to bark because of my actions, I already held the colorful rope in my hand by one end, the sable fur attached to the other.
Hearing her pet's distress, Elizabetta did raise her voice through the walls though she had yet to partake in her bath –or shower as they now call it. "What are you doing to Ginsie?" she inquired. I was much amused by her accusation for she was correct that I had something to do with her pet's loud barking.
"I placed her leash upon her to take her outside," I explained. Silence lasted but a second from the water closet.
"Just bring her back in one piece and alive," Elizabetta answered as I heard a bit of cloth fall to the floor. I tried hard not to think of how her jeans must look falling off those curvaceous legs, dropping to a puddle upon the floor, Elizabetta standing….
Gently did I pull upon the leash to lead the dog outside. It was sunny today, a problem if I walked outside of the shadows but not if I stayed within them. A pair of leather gloves, of which I had, and a reasonable hat would be enough to cover me within the car. Perhaps a pair of sunglasses as well, given the lack of shadows in Elizabetta's vehicle. I should check if there were any cloudy areas within the vicinity of this state or a neighboring one.
The walk was a short one, simply upon one side of the building, within the shadows were demons such as myself do lurk. How odd it must be to see a loathsome beast such as myself walking a most precious pet of an angel; the goddess Diana incarnate as I did think of Elizabetta. Could the most evil upon this plane of existence even truly be redeemed? How so, when I have killed even as a human man, when I have killed a holy man of God? How many countless others have I been the last witness to their time on Earth? Why should something as soulless and deplorable amongst all creation fall for that which was so far above him? Something that should be out of his reach? Why was Elizabetta my mate? Was it only through my own faults for I knew of none that, once they had truly found their mate could go back upon such a declaration, such a feeling. Of any truth that I did know, that Elizabetta was my far better half to have found was one.
Yet, should I burden her with such information? Not now, of course, but perhaps later? If she could get use to one such as myself? Then again, how could an angel ever become comfortable with the devil? Unless, perhaps, if the devil begged for forgiveness from God himself? Even then, could even God forgive given the horrors that had been wrecked upon the world? Would not God sentence the devil to some sort of punishment? Correct the wrongs he had done in some way? If it takes another five hundred years, then so be it. I would do so just to even have a scrape of worthiness of my Elizabetta.
But could Elizabetta await that long for me? She would have to be turned –which again begged the question if she wished for such a fate- and she seemed to have no children, no family outside of the Cullen clan. Would she not wish for one that was already of the vegetarian lifestyle? How could one who is still human possibly see anything other than a murderous monster in one such as myself? Truly, never before had there been a situation like this –the Beast falling for Beauty. But I would not change into a magnificent Prince, but change the Beauty to a Beast as well.
I walked back to the room, assuming but a few minutes would Elizabetta need at her toilet and bath. Carefully, I listened to the sounds within the room to which both I and my savior had occupied the previous night. I heard bits of shuffling and the television but no water.
Quickly I opened the door and hurried the sable fur within the confines of the room only to see Elizabeth's face ashen suddenly, a towel about her head as if she were from the Near East, and reaching towards the table, too far away from her reach. I looked at her, worriedly for I had not heard nor smelt the Guard in the vicinity. Looking to her telephone as it lay upon the table; I saw it was still dark. Had her family called her already and warned of some approaching Death?
I took but a step towards her and, before I could utter a word, Elizabetta stomped her foot at nearly the same time as the door closed behind me. "Good Lord, Gabriel!" she stated in a raised tone as her face regain a good bit of it's color. Again her eyes narrowed into a glare towards my visage. "I coulda turned you into charcoal!" she stated, gesturing backwards towards the table that was still a bit too out of her reach. Ah! There was a lighter there. She would not have made it had I wished to harm her.
"I apologize, my dear," I said as I relaxed my posture and continued into the room. Elizabetta turned from me, revealing her lusciously long locks hidden in the hotel towel she had about her head. Haphazardly, she threw the towel to a random wall, rather wet, before going towards the mirror. Wet with her shower, her hair was not straight nor was it the dark brown I had seen earlier –the water made it look black with but a few dark red highlights interwoven at random spaces about her scalp. Her hair tumbled down her back in black waves, to the point that they might be curls with no more than the fairest amount of help. With her pale skin and dark hair, I recalled the stories of Snow White who was the most beautiful of all the land.
"Ugh," Elizabetta uttered as she looked in the mirror. She made a most curious face, her nose scruntched up as if she smelt something terrible –though all I could smell is that of soap, dog, and Elizabetta's scent, which, within itself was nearly overpowering. I doubted it was her dog that caused her nose to wrinkle in such a manner though I did not voice my questions.
Without a further word, my savior began to pull back her wet hair into a plait, a band of stretched cloth encircling her head; worn in a similar manner to the ladies of my day. I recall my Mother wearing her backless coif, lacing it beneath her bun as it encircled most of her head and covered her ears. Women were to cover their heads within my human life, though but the barest minimum of cloth was often used by even the most devout of women. Not so in the modern world and not so for at least two generations. What the goddess Diana before me used was but to keep her hair away from her perfect green eyes and not out of religious devotion unto God.
Yet still, I could not keep my eyes away from her form as her fingers nimbly parted and plaited her hair back into the style that ladies within my day wore. The soft waves disappeared into the plaits, which I believed should be decorated with pearls and other gems as was done in my day. The nakedness of her head as it was before me, with only a thin bit of stretched cloth encircling her head to go beneath the plait as well as the band upon the end of her rope of hair, made her look as if an unfinished masterpiece –beauty in it's own right but without the final touches. She needed the gems in her dark locks and upon her neck. My savior needed more than the simple clothes she donned and she needed more than this simple room. Though I could not yet out rightly admit my love for her since it went against all human rules, I could express it in other ways. My mate deserved all the gifts of the Earth and I would not settle for any less.
Peeking from the side rather than looking full on at her reflection in the mirror as she placed but simple faux pearl earrings in her ears –I would switch them for real ones as soon as I could find them- Elizabetta gave me a most curious look. "What?" she stated with irritation.
I looked to the various items in the room and realized that I could easily use a bag or three as cover to the truck if the sun was upon it. Any of these items would act well as a shield. "I shall load your vehicle, little treasure," I began and reached for a bag that did not look to have been touched through out the night. I wondered why she brought it in at all. Seeing as it had what looked to be denim, I recalled my own predicament in regards to clothing. "Would you mind stopping at a clothing merchant's? I believe I need to acquire some garments if we are to be on this journey for several days," I informed her.
My savior turned her precious green eyes to me, looking me over with but a hand upon her rounded hip. "We can go to the mall 'cross the street if you want. I'm sure they have something there," she stated to which I smiled. Leave it to a woman to know precisely where the merchant areas are no matter where she is located.
I loaded the vehicle with ease as it was still parked within the shadow of the building for which I was thankful. My Elizabetta, as I much suspected, was not pleased at my driving her vehicle but allowed me to do so as we headed to our next destination after I did buy some new clothing. I also bought several suitcases that should help my savior to better organize her items –I was surprised that her family had not done so in the past but again was prepared for Elizabetta's irritation at my having bought anything for her; even if one suitcase was red with black polka dots. I have seen her smiling at the item upon us entering the store at the mall as if it amused her. I learned that she thought it looked like a lady bug but she was still displeased at my insistence that she have such an item. Any attempts to prove the usefulness of such an item were meet with much resistance on her part.
So did much of the day go. We did travel to the mountains, to a place of whose name I had not heard in many years –Harper's Ferry. I saw a hint of a smile upon my angel's lips as she spoke of the place. Although no family did she have in the area, she had spent many a fall afternoon within the mountains and trails. It was clearly a place she loved.
Remembering my promise of earlier, that Elizabetta only have the best, I asked her in regards to each hotel in the area but she knew little. She had lived so close to this area that there was no need of such things and she believe that most were what she referred to as "B & Bs" -bed and breakfast establishments. Those would not be good enough. I was unsure of myself in the close quarters of a bed and breakfast establishment for, although being around Elizabetta was getting easier, a new smell may not be as grand. It would be easier in a hotel –where humans did not interact as much as they did at an inn- for me. There was also that the rooms tended to be better at the higher quality hotels though none seemed to exist here. The strange little town looked not much changed from the days when I entered this country if not long before then.
Though not sunny, the branches of the trees and the curvature of the mountain provided enough shade that I may join Elizabetta on a walk later, if she so wished. I believe the sable fur would be enough of an excuse and that the Guard was still after us. My only reassurance was within this Alice for she did reiterate upon the phone that she was looking out for us.
"The Guard won't come after you yet. They aren't sure if you are telling the truth or not and think that you and Elizabeth are more dangerous than you really are, sort of," the vampire witch informed me in a rather cheerful voice. "They are planning a mission but don't worry. It won't work. Elizabeth has a much better plan," she continued. It was moments later than Elizabetta took the phone and smiled as she talked to her clan.
I watched her carefully; not so much her words –or even their words- but the tones and the expressions that Elizabetta made when speaking with them. It had already been clear to me that she loved them, that she had no wish disappoint the leader of the clan, but what I also saw was the joy she had in talking to Alice, the worry when she talked to Esme, and the amusement when she talked to some of the others. The clan truly was her family. It was as if, in these few minutes that she spoke to them, all her burdens were lifted –even when spoke of them.
When she closed the phone, my savior's face fell slightly. I doubt she even realized how she frowned at the now silent phone as she placed it in the cup holder. Wishing above all else to see a bit of the smile that was present upon her lips just seconds before as she spoke with Esme, I decided to ask Elizabetta more about them.
"Tell me of them," I more stated than asked. I felt the goddess's eyes upon me instantly.
"What?" she said curiously as she reached back to pet the ball of fur in the back seat.
"Describe them to me. I have only met Edward, none of the others," I informed her. If she thought upon her family, if she thought upon what they looked like, perhaps that would again bring the smile to her lips and the laughter to her voice?
Biting her bottom lip, my angel looked upon me. She was silent for a minute before looking down at her porcelain hands. I thought she would not answer, and I did not press, when she spoke in but a whisper. "Carlisle is about the same height as you. His blonde hair is short and I think it's only because he cut it sometime in the 19th century but I haven't bothered to ask yet," Elizabetta stated, her voice coming out stronger as she continued.
"He's a doctor and he's overly generous," she continued, annoyance coloring her tone. I suppose that he must try to place gifts upon her as well only to have them either grudgingly accepted or outright rejected; yet, I could still hear the love in her voice.
"He's married to Esme," my angel spoke, looking up at me. I took but a glimpse of her as I knew to look too long would allow me to get lost in her eyes. I needed to allow her time to know more of me before I even considered declaring my love of her. Still, I could not completely ignore my own needs either. I needed to see those emerald green eyes surrounded by that ivory soft skin, the small button nose betwixt the eyes she had and the lips dipped in rouge. I needed to see the dark hair, now dried, framing the very edges of her face as it was pulled back into the plait. I needed to see my mate and know that this was not but the voice of an imaginary angel in my head; that she was real.
"Esme is thin but she's not petite," Elizabetta continued once I voiced a simple gutterly "um hm" as I had heard many humans do before. It seemed to have encouraged my little treasure enough for she turned slightly in her seat towards me, playing with her bracelet upon her right wrist as she did so. "Her hair is sort of a buttery brown and wavy. Even though she's younger than me physically, she reminds me of my Mom," my angel stated sadly.
Not wishing for to think upon those things that may cause her pain, I thought upon a way for her to continue to tell me about her family. "Do you have a picture of them?" I said, hoping to keep her upon the subject but also to see a smile upon her face. Though she had been looking upon her hands once again, Elizabetta suddenly looked up and smiled a bit.
"Oh, yeah!" she stated as if she remembered something that brought her joy. Turning so she was nearly facing the pup, she pulled upon a tie dyed bookbag –as I was told earlier it was called- that had many key chains upon the zippers and smelt of Elizabetta, pencils, and plastic.
With a thump, it ended up upon her lap. My savior quickly opened one compartment, for this bookbag had many, and pulled out her black laptop that I had seen in the hotel earlier. Throwing the obviously heavy bookbag to her feet, she opened the laptop and quickly started the item up muttering about how she needed a car charger for the computer if we were to spend so much time in it. It took but a few minutes for her to find what she wanted.
"This picture was taken a couple of years ago, I think, but you can see everyone," she stated as she turned the screen so I might look at it as well. I quickly noticed seven individuals in the clan and zeroed in, automatically, upon my old acquaintance of Edward. He stood near a man close in height but clearly older with blond hair. Given the smaller women upon the other side, with light brown hair, I guessed them to be Carlisle and Esme. I knew not of who the others were but knew that my Elizabetta would tell me.
Seeing my look upon the laptop screen, Elizabetta began to point to various vampires in the picture –it was abundantly clear that all were vampires which made the case of Elizabetta even more curious-, a smile upon her lips. "The tall blond girl is Rosalie. She doesn't like me much," she stated almost fondly which I found odd. The woman she pointed to was as beautiful as she must be deadly. She was to the aurora as Elizabetta was to the evening sky. But it was the goddess Diana incarnate that I found the more beautiful for my Elizabetta not only possessed beauty in form but in mind as well. Though I did not know this Rosalie, I could not think of any one as being more lovely for who but an angel would save a demon from the fires of Hell?
"Or, I guess, she doesn't like humans much," my angel continued with a hint of laughter in her voice. "She wants to be human again so for a human to know that vampires exist really makes her angry." At this, Elizabetta looked up, a smile upon her lips similar to the one she wore upon speaking on the phone to her family. I intended to keep it there and not inquire further upon this Rosalie.
"The tall man next to her with the blond hair? Is that her mate?" I asked non-chalantly as possible. I only wished to Elizabetta talking upon things that clearly made her happy. She should not spend a single minute in worry or sadness.
The sound I heard next shocked me for its beauty. It was higher than I expected it to be but like a mix of a babbling brook and bells; my savior laughed. "No, that's Jasper," she stated. Though I needed no reminder of who he was, Elizabetta still hedged, "Your 'Southern general'?"
My face fell, I was sure, as I turned to look towards the road and away from the computer. So he was the one that had threatened to kill me, that I had spoken too, that so clearly wished to protect my mate. Though I said nothing, Elizabetta continued.
"He's married to Alice," she said, pointing to a small girl who looked more like a figurine in comparison to the others than a vampire. She was far smaller than I expected and looked no more harmful than the dog that slumpered behind me was, despite being a vampire. Perhaps the Southern General had taken it upon himself to protect small creatures, helpless ones? Though Elizabetta was hardly helpless and I doubt this…fairy witch was helpless either. She was a vampire after all.
"He just pretends to be Rose's twin," Elizabetta stated before shrugging. "It makes life easier."
"Then the one more similar to Goliath is mate to Rose?" I asked, seeing the large brute of a vampire upon the other side of the blond woman. Again, Elizabetta laughed and I wished to know the secret as to how to make her do so again for I knew not of what she found humorous.
"That's Emmett. He's mostly harmless," she stated in a loving, almost as if indulgent way –which was odd for what reason would a human be indulgent to a vampire? "He's strong, of course," she continued. "But he's more interested in playing pranks and with Miss Ginsie than anything else."
This surprised me –not that the beast of a man was gentle in Elizabetta's eyes, but that he played with the sable fur behind us without incident. "The…Ginsie does not mind him?" I asked curiously.
"Oh no," Elizabetta spoke, shaking her head. I noticed a few small stray hairs bounce about her head, framing her face and accenting her creamy skin more perfectly. "Ginsie is fine around all of the Cullens," she stated. "But with Emmett, he'll play with her and buy her new toys, try to teach her tricks," she stated with a shrug. As if this was a normal occurrence! I had thought the sable fur had some presence of mind to know of the danger which a vampire was but it seems that it was only me and not my vampire nature that caused her discontentment. The pup was not taking cues from her mistress; she was as crazy as her mistress for what creatures could be near a predator such as myself and be as comfortable as they were? Elizabetta clearly held no fear of me and her pup slept but within a distance that I had only to reach for her.
Taking no notice of my changed mood –or pretending not to-, Elizabetta continued with explaining about her family. She moved a creamy white finger towards the small one again - I was surprised that the witch was so tiny- and spoke thusly of her, "Alice is annoying but sweet. It's hard not to love her."
"The fairy witch bothers many?" I asked. Elizabetta nodded in response.
"It's an off day if she isn't annoying someone. Her favorite game to annoy Edward, I think. If she's not annoying him or anyone else, there's something wrong," my savior continued. I could not help but smile at that. The witch did seem to have such a personality and an ability that she could be both loving and irritating at the same time. But to hear of the interactions as Elizabetta's words and tones described them; this was truly a family. Far beyond their common love for the human at my side, it sounded as if they truly loved one another. Was this possible? With a diet of animals, could it be that love beyond that of a mate was possible for monsters such as us?
Upon reaching our destination, tucked well within the mountains, Elizabetta gave me further directions to a Visitor Center. It was a mere six dollars to enter the park land the Visitor Center sat upon which I easily handed over to the startled lady. My savior had attempted to hand me a crumbled up five and one that she pulled from her black leather wallet but I refused to even acknowledge her offer. Upon paying the lady and driving to the open parking lot, Elizabetta gave me a grumbled "Thank You" as she placed her own bills back. She would not have want of anything nor have need to pay for a single item for not only was she in my care –away from those that loved her- but I loved her as well. Anything I owned was hers though I had no way to tell her this as of yet.
Though the day was sunny, I saw enough shadow that, should I pull to the front, I would be able to walk into the Visitor Center without any difficulty. There was also a cloud overhead that currently blocked the sun but I could not count on a single cloud to hide my form from the sun's rays for long. Thinking about how quickly I should enter and come back, I heard the click of Elizabetta's seatbelt followed by a sigh. Turning, I looked to her curiously.
"I'll go in and get brochures for all hotels to see what they have. It's too bad they don't have Wi-Fi yet," she muttered before looking back at her pup. "Wanna get out, girl?" she asked the sable fur before I could form a question.
"I should go in," I began to tell her before Elizabetta's green eyes met my red ones. She shook her head at me.
"Too much of a risk. Just hang out for a second and I promise I'll be back," she stated as she got out. The slightest hint of a smile played on her lips as she helped her sable fur from out of the confines of the vehicle, wrapping the leash tightly about her wrist. "It is my truck after all," she stated almost mockingly.
It went against the newly awakened man in me; to allow a lady to go into any place without escort. But what could I do? The shadows were thin were they existed. Had we come ten minutes prior, perhaps I could go in as well. Elizabetta was right; it was too much of a risk and I could not allow my needs to watch out for my mate at all times –any irrational need- to outweigh the risk to all our kind. Elizabetta would not like it if her family was placed at risk.
The minute and a half she was inside –she tied the pup up outside for that time- was grueling. I could not see her and looked to the phone many times; relying too heavily upon the uncertain accuracy of the pixie witch's visions to my tastes but also trying to remind myself that the Guard also could not come any way but this. They would not risk exposure.
Still, it made no matter to me nor to the human inside me nor to any of my demons. The one whose blood smell still lingered within this space, the one whose body I wished so badly to simply touch, the one who I should defend and love with all my being was in a place I could not go. Perhaps that was for the best in a way –perhaps that was what she should do. Yet, what place was there that vampires did not exist? She was safer with either myself or her clan.
Relief only washed over me when came back out, her arms filled with various pamphlets, each one more colorful and mostly likely more boastful than the next. I would call and discover which place would be best, if Elizabetta would allow it. Perhaps if I set her to walk around this area with her sable fur as I called for reservations, my savior would not mind as much.
She opened the back door first, awaiting the pup to enter the vehicle. The sable fur took to her seat and promptly growled at me, as well as let off a couple of half hearted barks. "Hush, Ginz," Elizabetta admonished her without much interest before handing over the various papers.
"There are a ton of old inns and stuff. I really haven't ever stayed over night here before so I don't know if any of them allow dogs or not or what is good but cheap," she stated. I took the offered brochures but stopped Elizabetta as she parted her red lips to speak more.
"I will call each of these places if you would like to walk around a bit? I am sure your Ginsie would appreciate a longer walk here," I informed her. I could see her easily in this open space and the grassland that surrounded it. Rather than argue with me, as I much expected, Elizabetta's attention turned towards a field to the left of us, covered in shade about 20 or so parking spaces down.
"You don't mind?" she asked as if this task was some bothersome thing. I smiled softly at her and, once more, picked up her hand gently to place it at my lips.
"I will drive closer to the shaded grove if you wish to walk around there," I informed her. Biting upon her bottom lip, my dearest angel nodded. Within another minute, she was back outside of the car but well within my visual range with the vehicle now parked in a thicker shaded spot; her pup at her side as she walked.
As I watched Elizabetta, I called each inn to see if there was any room and if they allowed pets. Rooms were available as if a glut on the market but ones that allowed pets were far more scarce. In way, I was glad for many of the inns were nothing more than Bed and Breakfast stops –small, confined houses to which man people would be up and about. I wished for a hotel that may allow for greater privacy.
The only place I was able to see from the brochures Elizabetta handed me that qualified for both my needs as well as allowed pets was a hotel out away from the heart of the town called the Quality Hotel. I did not understand what was quality of it for the rooms looked generic at best in comparison to the more antique styles upon the other brochures. I called it though and reserved a room. They allowed pets for an extra $50 service fee per a night. I cared little of such a thing and would not mention it to Elizabetta. All she would need to know is that her sable fur was welcomed.
I looked out to my dearest treasure upon receiving confirmation of the reservation. She was happily talking to her sable fur, patting her hands against her legs in a rapid motion that made the dog jump about wildly. This is what I wanted to see. My savior content and happy.
A glance towards me in question from her and I nodded. All frivolity was lost from her being as she walked back to the car and placed the dog inside before, once more, taking her seat. "Did ya get reservations?" she asked quickly as I started her vehicle again.
"Yes, the Quality Hotel accepts pets and is near here," I informed her. Elizabetta nodded.
"How much?" she asked as she pulled out her wallet once more. This time, I was prepared.
"For you, free," I informed her as nonchalantly as possible. It did not work. I could feel the glare before it was even fully upon my form. Not moving, I continued to look straight ahead upon the road.
"How much, Gabriel?" Elizabetta demanded. Would there be a time when it was no longer odd to hear my name upon this angel's lips?
"Nothing, my dear," I told her.
"Gabriel," her voice did raise as she stated my name in warning. It mattered little; to hear my name from her lips no matter the tone was joy enough for me.
"You have wish to argue over this? You have no need to spend money upon those things that are basic necessities. I shall cover them for it is because of me that you have need to run from the Guard," I informed her fully.
Elizabetta huffed and crossed her arms in her seat; allowing me to earn yet another growl from behind me. "You can't pay for everything, Gabriel," she muttered. I smiled. I could.
We arrived at the hotel quickly for it was just down the road. I helped Elizabetta to carry in the bags she claimed she needed –I still did not comprehend why she needed so many for a single night when she would be mostly sleeping- and realized that it was only mid day at best. We still had many hours until night would fall and my mate would have any want of sleep. So, Elizabetta suggested a run to the town and various sites.
The town itself was quite nice and we did manage to stay within the shade when Elizabetta wished to walk around. She knew her way around quite well and explained once more that she, along with her pet, came often during the fall. It was no wonder that my savior wished to come to this part of the world when the Guard were upon us –she truly did know this place well.
Many establishments had places to eat outside. Though the day was not warm, it was not overly cool either and Elizabetta insisted upon eating in the outdoors due to Miss Ginsie. The pup could stay with us if we sat upon a balcony or porch but not if we went inside so Elizabetta may eat. The compromise was that Elizabetta would allow me to pay if we stayed outside. I would pay either way but this way would be without complaint so I gladly took it. The restaurant Elizabetta wished to eat at gave the pup a small bowl of water and the waitress did seem to genuinely like the pup. I gave her an extra tip for being kind to both my mate and the creature my mate loved so dearly.
Rather than wishing to go back upon the setting of the sun –I was grateful when it finally slipped behind the mountains- Elizabetta seemed to long to stay a bit more. It took a bit but I managed to get out of her that she wished to go on a ghost tour of sorts and take pictures of the graveyards to see if any strange things may appear. I told her I was the most ghastly thing that she would see with her camera but my beloved angel would have none of that. She seemed pleased to go about one of the graveyards in the dark, aimlessly taking photos of whatever she fancied. I saw no harm in it as I could see her easily in the moonlight.
Late was the hour we did return. So late that Elizabetta curled up upon her bed and once more fell asleep in her day clothing. Curious as to whether I should wake her or not –seeing as she did not seem pleased this morning to be in her day clothing- I moved to gently press upon her shoulder.
"Elizabetta?" I whispered. I received a wordless groan that I took to meant go away.
"Do you wish to sleep in your day clothing?" I asked her. If I did receive a similar answer, I would let her be. If not, I would try to wake her for her own benefit.
Rather than groan, she sighed and sat up, glared at me, and proceeded to the bathroom with a pile of cloth and various toiletries. I tried not to listen, as hard as it was. For no wish had I to hear the clothing falling to the floor. The hit of metal buttons from her jeans against the tiles, the scrap of fabric against fabric, the sliding of material against the tiles; I searched in vain for something, anything, to distract me. All I could find was the most Holy Bible.
In great hast, I picked up the paperback book that would serve as this demon's distraction. I could not allow the monster of lust that lurked inside me to overtake my sense. The human side of me would not allow it. It was too soon. She was too human. I would kill her if I tried to satisfy my carnal desires. Lust and Bloodlust were too lost, too mixed up in my own head.
I flipped through the book at random, hoping for anything to distract me from hearing her in the next room, through but one poorly insulated wall. The first story I came across was that of Susanna in which the elders spy on her as she bathed. It was too close to what I was doing –though Elizabetta knew well that I was here- for me to read. I flipped through the Holy book, some part of me afraid that my fingers would turn to ashes for touching it, and tried to find another story in which to read. I turned to Proverbs only to find it filled with imagery of what I now felt. "Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes," the passage began. I closed the book only to look across the way. The sable fur laid on the bed across from me stared at me. Still I could hear the scrap of fabric against that porcelain skin…
I turned my attention to the television for that would provide noise as well as a distraction. Carefully, I placed the Holy Book back in its place, before turning my attention to the dark box inside the handsome armoire. Standing before it, I looked for a button or a knob of some sort, as all these boxes seemed to have though I had not used a television much in the past decade or so. They were always on in any coffee house or internet café I might frequent.
This box did not seem to have one. I saw the red light upon the bottom left corner but it was not a button. There wasn't a button upon the face of the television that I could see. Perhaps it was behind it somewhere?
When Elizabetta emerged from the bathroom, I stood upon the middle of the room with the large black box in my arms. I assume the television would be much to heavy for a human to hold and must look awkward to her eyes for she immediately narrowed her eyes upon my form.
"What are you doin'?" she asked, tightening the belt of her robe about her waist.
"I could not find the knob in which to turn it on," I informed her, curious as to what she must think I was doing. Elizabetta mouthed the word "What?" before shaking her head, a smile gracing her lips again.
"Put the TV back, Gabriel," she muttered as she went towards the nightstand that was between her bed and my own. I did as she asked, curious as to what she might do about turning the television. Did she not wish to watch it? Was she truly that tired? Now that she was out of the bathroom, I did not believe I had reason to distract myself except that she would sleep soon and bring forth another round of much necessary distractions.
"When is the last time you actually dealt with a TV?" she asked as I turned to face her. Elizabetta pointed a long black object towards me, as if some sort of magic wand with many colorful buttons. I was curious as to the object's use and realized I had seen something akin to it before. It was a remote control. But did not the television have to be on for it to work?
"They have them in the cafés," I answered, unwilling to give a date. My savior pointed the remote control in such a manner that it was to the side of me. As I moved to the opposite direction, I heard a click and ringing noise nearly a half second after she placed her fingers upon a button. Turning, I saw an image upon the screen followed by sound coming out of the box soon after. It was the news but I was still startled. Had the technology advanced as such that no one had any need to leave the confines of their chair ever?
"They stopped making TV's with knobs sometime in the 1980's, I think," Elizabetta told me, clearly much amused as she sat upon the edge of her bed. I grimaced slightly as I took to my own seat for much of the night; the bed across from Elizabetta. I held out my hand for the remote so I might place it back upon the night stand.
Rather than handing it back, Elizabetta smiled and held it out so I might see it as if she wished to show me something. "You can have the TV on while I sleep. It won't bother me at this volume. Just don't change it from that, okay?" she asked. I looked at her curiously.
"You are sure?" I asked. My angel nodded in response.
"Much lower and the ringing sounds of the electricity through the tube bothers me but the voices on the TV or music tends to cancel it out pretty well," she informed me. I did not think humans, particularly those that were no longer children, could hear such tones.
Pointing to the buttons, Elizabetta explained how to change channels and how to turn the television off if I wished. Before I could thank her, she laid down beneath her blankets, reaching up only to turn off the lantern that I turned off for her to darken the room. As my hand touched hers in that instant, I could feel her warmth once more and realized that even with the distraction of the television; this night would be long indeed with but a few feet between myself and my mate in this room. As she fell into her rhythm of slumber, curled within the clean sheets and blankets, her sable fur at her feet, Elizabetta again looked to be the picture of innocence. The curves of her body, the thin membranes of cotton were all that hid that silken flesh.
I turned my head away and realized that, the next time we are to stay somewhere, I would have need to see if they have a suite of some sort, the biggest of rooms available, for this –for her to be so close in the night, my goddess of the Moon was to risk temptation of my demons. The further she was from lust and bloodlust, the safer Elizabetta would be as she slept. I could not allow harm to come to her, and particularly, from me.
Author's Note: I apologize if it seems a bit rushed at the end. Gabriel wouldn't hush and Elizabeth wanted to sleep! And we all known about Grumpy Lizzie! Review please, or I'll send Grumpy Aunt Sissy after you! ;-)