Chapter 17: Reawakening

Two days had passed and Bruce had not recovered. He was still unconscience and muttered things I couldn't decipher. I stayed with by his side for two whole days, I was afraid to leave him. I wanted to be the first person he saw when he woke up. My mind was once again in a flutter and to my surprise I had not thought about Batman at all. I was so worried that I guess I forgot to think of anything else. But I was sure that if I encountered him again my ifatuation would reawaken.

I looked down at Bruce as I lay beside him. His face seemed calm but also in pain. What was tormenting him? I wanted to know so badly that my head was about to explode. I wanted to help him. But the secrets just resurface whether we want them to or not.

I caressed his cheek, hoping that he would wake up today. I had a feeling that today was it. I turned to hear a light tap at the door. I slowly crept out of bed and walked over to the door. I opened it and stepped out into the hallway with Alfred.

"Is everything all right?" I said as I quietly shut the door behind me.

"Yes, I went back to your apartment and gathered some clothes for you. I also found this letter on the entrance table by the crystal vase." Alfred dug into his breast pocket and pulled out an ivory envelope with my name elegantly written on it.

I took the letter and brushed my fingers along my name. I opened it to read its contents...

Ms. Violet Montgomery,

Your particular interest in the arts has captured the attention of Ms. Lillith Vespacelli, one of our esteemed ladies of Volterra. She has more than enough taste to assure a hefty observation of your acquired works and I am most pleased to tell you that she wishes to purchase some of your paintings for her own, personal pleasure. She will be arriving with a few of our escorts. You cannot miss her as she is bound to make an impression on your tightly knit circle of elite. I have faith that you shall take care of her and allow her to survey your magnificent works of art.

Yours truly,

Aro, Volturi

"What is it?" Alfred asked curiously as my features became surprised.

"This will be the key to my sucess of the opening of the art gallery." I beamed excitedly for the first time in two days. "It's a letter from an old aquaintance from an ancient city in Italy that I visited when Bruce; well you know what happened." I placed the letter in the envelope and sat down on a silk chair facing the window.

Alfred nodded and understood perfectly. "It seems that you and master Bruce traveled the world to rid yourselves of eachother. But it didn't work because you are back in eachother's arms once again. But do tell me of you adventures."

I smiled and looked out the windows into the cloudy overcasted sky. "It was a beautiful city, Volterra is the name. Its actaully somewhere I stumbled upon and found the most magnificent of things. I met this aqauintance, Aro, and he taught me all I needed to know about art and the beauty of the most simple things." I faced Alfred who was listening intently to my every word. "And...for a minute I didn't think of Bruce. Its like some sort of calm tyrant washed over me and for a while I was content and stayed in Volterra for a long time. Aro also told me of this young woman named Lillith, her beauty and her story. She was a character from another world that I so wished to be at times, to be lost in it and never comeback to my harsh reality. I never got to meet her, but I heard a great deal of this princess of darkness."

Alfred rose his brow. "Why of darkness?"

"Her life was not easy and she sort of locked herself away from the world, so thus princess of darkness is what I called her. Aro seemed to like it and I think it stuck to her. Anyway, she is coming to Gotham to see my work, which means I have so much to do and so little time." I stood and headed towards Bruce's room.

"Miss Violet?"

"Yes, Alfred?" I turned to face him again.

"I had a few of your things brought over so you can work on them, there was this painting in particular that I brought back. It seems that it is a family portrait." Alfred said with curiosity.

"It is a farming family painted by — actually I'm not sure who painted it, but whoever it was did a spending job. It was painted in 1554. I found it in this old antique shop." I replied as I recalled the day I found it. I was so astonished to find a piece like that, it was my little knick knack.

"Will you be selling it?"

"Oh no, I will display it though. I want Gotham elite to see the classic side of Violet Montgomery." I smiled.

"They will, I am sure they won't forget a haunting painting such as that." Alfred walked away shaking his head in amusement.

I shook my head as well and opened the door to Bruce's bedroom. He was still in the same state to my dismay. I floated across the room and dragged a chair by his bedside and grasped his hand tightly. What I wouldn't give for him to be awake and see him incandescently happy to be with me. I was so exhausted of these little things that would stop us to be together. It was forbidden and that is what attracted me to keep pursuing this, maybe that is my situation with Batman, that's it...it was forbidden as well. Maybe I can get over Batman and just focus on Bruce. Yes, that is what I will do.

My thoughts lingered in the empty air as I watched Bruce. What will happen next?

"Still no signs?" I turned to see Lucius Fox enter the room.

"No, unfortunately." I stood and shook his hand. "Can you help?"

Lucius showed me the antidote for Bruce. "That's why I am here for."

I smiled and nodded. "Thank you. I will leave you to tend to it. I have a few things to work on." I left without another word, but before I opened the door, Lucius spoke again.

"Don't take too long for he would want to see you." He offered me a kind smile as I left the room and shut the door behind me.

I walked to where Alfred put my materials; the salon that once belonged to Martha Wayne. It was the best room in the entire estate. It was so classical, something out of the Petit Trianon that I absolutely adored. I went around and looked at all the paintings I had finished and quickly found my way to that particular portrait of the 16th century. It was beyond what anyone had seen in this world, it was astonishing. And I loved it; the attention to detail was stunning. I lingered at it for awhile, and then I decided to work on my landscape I was working on.

I pulled out my materials and set the canvas on the stand. I took a deep breath and resumed painting. I dabbed a few greens here and there, making it come to life. I went on for an hour or so, I didn't really look at the clock for I was in another world. I turned to get a little more color on my brush when a hand brushed on mine. I looked up to see who it was. Bruce.

I dropped my brush to the ground without realizing and scowled at myself for it. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay; it is my fault for startling you like that." Bruce picked up the brush and placed it on the table.

I composed myself and looked at him. "Are you better now? Bruce I was so worried!" I embraced him tightly. He crushed me onto his chest and I could hear a steady heartbeat.

"I'm fine you don't have to worry anymore. I see that you had to move your work here, I'm sorry for that." He looked around and was amazed to see my accomplishment.

"No, no it's fine. I just wanted to finish as soon as possible. I have a few guests visiting from Italy." I replied getting out of his embrace and clean the mess up.

"Well are you done?" He asked as he helped me.

"Yea pretty much why?" I rose my brow.

"Then there is no problem with the opening being tonight."

I was not entirely happy with the opening being tonight, but it was best to do it. I wanted to meet Lillith and see her. Bruce wanted to show off my artistic side to the whole elite of Gotham, but we had to be careful on our affections for each other in public. Everything was going smoothly; the place was nice and spacious for only about seventy guests. No general public tonight. People mingled here and there while smooth jazz music played in the background. Champagne flowed all around the sea of elite. Bruce was talking to a couple of people, looking like the god that he was in a traditional Armani suit with an ivory tie. I smiled in his direction when he raised his glass to me.

Just then I felt a gush of cool air sweep into the room. I turned into the direction of the door and was in utter awe when I laid eyes on three gorgeous people. One man and two women. I glanced at Bruce who was still busy talking. I decided to make my way over to them. My eyes flickered upon the petite woman in the middle. She wore an off the shoulder black satin gown that draped down to the floor, I believed I saw it in a Dolce and Gabbana boutique two weeks ago. She put my navy blue Carolina Herra dress to shame with her Italian couture. The woman was flawless, skinnier than a model; pale skin that I think was paler than mine. Her black-topaz and, I swear they sparkled purple, eyes scanned the room and then she met with my sapphires. She floated towards me on a cloud of black energy.

"You must be Violet Montgomery. My name is Lillith Vespacelli." Her voice was that of a chorus, ringing into everyone's ears so that they turned to see where the voice was coming from. She offered her hand to me, which was like touching an ice cube, a very sturdy ice cube. I didn't comment because it frightened me. How could something so small have such strength? And it seemed as if she was being gentle with me, careful, like a bubble. "This is Demetri and Jane, my colleagues." The other two beautiful individuals nodded and scanned the room. Everyone was staring at them. That's when I noticed that Jane was a mere child, but a mature child she seemed to be. I felt as if I shouldn't look into her eyes or she might torment me with them.

"You may call me Vi." I smiled at her.

She smiled a more radiant smile and flashed her pearly whites at me. "Then in that case you may call me Lilly."

"Would you care for champagne?" I offered.

"No thank you, we don't drink."

"Very well." We stayed silent for a few moments until Demetri leaned into Lilly's ear and whispered something quick. She nodded and both Jane and Demetri turned to me, what haunted me was there red rimmed eyes that had bruises underneath, as if they didn't nurish themselves. But they were complimenting on Lilly. Another fact that was out of the ordinary.

"It was nice meeting you Miss. Montgomery, we will be looking around the gallery to see what arouses our interest, which to tell you the truth everything does." His laugh was of pure symphony.

"Of course." They both left me and Lilly alone. "Um, there is someone I would like you to meet."

"Mmmm." Lilly raised her brow and walked a little faster than I did. I didn't answer until I reached where Bruce was. I took hold of his arm and he excused himself form the conversation.

"Bruce, this is Miss. Lillith Vespacelli. Lilly this is Bruce Wayne." I introduced them and they shook hands. Bruce was amazed to see such a lady. She was truly from another world.

"It is a pleasure to meet Mr. Wayne." said Lilly, she seemed as she tried to read Bruce. Well, the both of us, she sensed that something was between us.

"Believe me it is all mine. Now if you will excuse me, I have something to tend to." Bruce left our side.

"Come, show me your work." Lilly said as she swept my arm and I led her around the gallery. We walked around for a little while, she was explaining to me about her small room of antiques she kept in Volterra, but I was not paying attention to what she was saying. Bruce was nowhere in sight, I looked around but nothing. We came to the end of the gallery, close to where the balcony was and to my surprise the bat signal shined brightly.

"You're tense." She had no emotion in her voice, but it was nice to know she cared.

"I am fine." I was such a bad liar.

"You are involved with Mr. Wayne." It was no question, it was fact.

"Is it that obvious?"

"I read humans quite well." The way she said that sent me chills. I got the feeling that Lilly knew more about the world than anyone in the room. Before I could question her, she spoke, her lips curved into a smirk. "You remind me of someone I know all to well." She turned to see my painting that I had acquired in Volterra and whipped around, too quickly for me to comprehend her sudden mood change. "Where did you get this?" She asked in a voice that was tinted with a growl.

I shook my head and looked at it. "In Volterra in an antique shop. Why?"

"Are you selling it? I need this painting; I will pay anything, along with a few other paintings that caught my eye. But I want this one." She brushed her slender fingers along the painting. "Hide it for me."

Without another word she swept into the sea of people and never turned back. I couldn't tell her no as she was to be our biggest patron, but I didn't want to sell it to her. I adored this painting. Looking back at it, I noticed something particularly odd about it. There were three women and three boys. One was obviously the mother, having large waist though she was wearing a corset. She was tending to two boys who were harvesting the field behind the tall father. In front was a small girl of about six with luxurious, black, curly hair. But in the far left, by the woods, was a woman that sat lazily in the sun, her long hair crowning her face in a sparkling glory. She was beautiful, stunning and — looked exactly like Lilly. That was impossible. That couldn't be. But the more I looked at it, the more it made sense to me. Yes! It was her.

"We must be leaving now." A dark voice came from behind me. I didn't want to look. My heart was pounding as I creaked around to face Lilly and her cohorts. "How much should we make out the check?"

"Seven million." It was expensive, but I wanted to see how far she would go for this painting as it obviously held her in the painting.

"Done."

Demetri held out a check faster than I could see him press it into my hand. "Thank you, Miss. Montgomery."

I didn't see them leave and I most certainly didn't see the painting leave my sight. But, as I turned around, it was gone. I knew I would never see it or Lilly again.

A/N: Wow!! That was really out of the ordinary but cool, if I do say myself. Just something for my lovely readers to see of Violet and to know what she was up to in Italy. A BIG thanks to "DazzledInDarkness" for letting me borrow Lilly and for her help! Thanks to all who review and love this story, those who add them on the alert lists and faves. So can I have some reviews PLEASE with A Cherry on Top? Please!! There is so much more to come! I am guessing you all want to know right?