14. SEPARATED

Corin was finishing putting in the last bits of bedroom furniture in Abby's room for her. He had even gone out to the town square to buy linens and padding for her bed. She was nervous to see him go. He was her only friend here. Even the twins had all but abandoned her. They now spent all their time under Aro's advisement. She hardly got to see them at all.

"Do you really have to go?" Abby asked Corin as he finished setting up her dresser.

He sighed heavily. "I'm afraid so. But don't worry. I spoke to Aro privately afterwards and he gave me his word that he wouldn't make any decisions on what to do with you until I got back. I'm sure they'll all come to like you as much as I do."

Abby grinned. "You like me huh?"

"Well, you're kind of like a lost puppy. Who doesn't like puppies?" Corin joked.

Abby walked him to the front entrance where they met up with Eleazar and Carmen. The couple couldn't be happier that they were leaving together. Corin couldn't be more depressed.

"Stay out of trouble." Corin told Abby.

"Yes sir." Abby smiled up at him.

He wrapped her in his arms to hug her goodbye, though he wanted to do more. "I'll be back soon, a couple months at the most."

"I'll be here waiting. Hopefully." Abby added sarcastically.

"You will be. Take care of yourself." He looked at her beautiful face one last time, taking in the image, committing it to memory. Then the door opened and he followed Eleazar and Carmen out into the street.

Abby sighed. What should she do now? She wandered over to the mahogany counter and again admired the woodwork. Meanwhile, outside Heidi was herding over a group of people when she passed Corin on the street.

"So since when are you into humans?" Heidi teased.

Corin scowled. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Heidi laughed scornfully as she flipped her mahogany hair over her shoulder. "Come on Corin, you don't have to have my ability to see what your desires are. It's written all over your face whenever you're around her."

"Just be nice to her, will you?" Corin pleaded.

Heidi smiled. "Oh Corin, don't ask me to make promises that I can't keep." She blew him a kiss and waved goodbye, then walked away to catch up with the group that she was guiding to the castle. She opened the front door and ushered them in. She smiled when she saw Abby sitting at the counter with widened eyes of horror.

Heidi directed the herd to go up the stairs in Italian. Then she leaned over the counter and looked down at Abby who was sitting. "If you plan on keeping this job as a receptionist you might want to wipe the fear off of your face. Honestly, you scare them more than we do." She let out another laugh and then followed the group up the stairs to the turret.

Abby sat there dumbfounded. All those people were about to die and she was just going to let it happen. Part of her wanted to warn them but another part of her won out; the part that told herself that she'd better get used to it because this is what vampire life entailed. All part of the package, as Corin would say.

It didn't take long for Abby to get bored. She had already done her duty for the day of sitting at the desk looking human. She decided to go out into the Piazza dei Priori to buy some food. The castle was void of any kind of food that she could eat so she would have to fend for herself. She approached a fruit stand and started inspecting some apples.

"How much are these?" She asked the vendor.

The old man began speaking in Italian but Abby couldn't understand a word he said.

"You're new here, aren't you?" A deep unfamiliar voice asked in an English accent.

Abby looked up and saw a handsome man looking back at her. He had long blond hair tied neatly behind him and soft hazel eyes. His features were soft and kind.

"Actually yes." Abby answered.

The stranger turned to the vendor and exchanged a few words in the foreign tongue and then he paid for Abby's apples.

"You're all set." He told her with a friendly smile.

"Oh no, I can pay for them. You don't have to do that." Abby started to reach into her purse to pull out some money.

"No, no. I insist. You don't know how refreshing it is to bump into someone who speaks English. My name is Adam." He reached out a hand and Abby gave it to him. He brought it to his lips and gently kissed it.

Abby blushed. "Well thank you very much. I'm Abby."

"Pleased to meet you Abby. I take it you're from America? Your English is a little off." He continued to smile.

"Yes, Salem Massachusetts to be exact."

"Salem? Never been there but I'm sure it's lovely."

Abby shrugged. "Well thanks again for the apples." She started to walk away but Adam just kept walking along side her.

"So what brings you to Volterra?" Adam queried.

Abby tried to think of an answer that wasn't as crazy as the truth. "I was offered a job here and I took it."

Adam laughed in surprise. "A woman that works?" The idea was so alien.

"Well I have a niece and nephew that I look after now since they've been orphaned. All the rest of our family is dead. Someone needed to provide for them and I'm all they have." Abby defended.

Adam looked at her with astonishment. "Well then Abby, you truly are amazing. I applaud your courage and strength."

Abby scoffed. She had never considered herself courageous or strong. They reached the front door to the castle. She walked up to it and said "It was a pleasure meeting you."

Adam paused and looked up at the intimidating building. "You work here?"

Abby nodded.

"Perhaps all those rumors are false then."

"What rumors?" Abby could have guessed but she wanted to hear it out loud.

"It's just that the family that lives here doesn't come out very often. You know how people talk. Some say they are monsters, some say ghosts, some say witches."

Abby cringed at the last word. It was a terrible reminder of everything she had been through and everything that she wanted to forget. "Yup, all false," Abby lied. She opened the door and started to go inside.

"Wait, when can I see you again?" Adam asked anxiously.

Abby smiled. "Perhaps tomorrow." She went in and closed the door behind her. The smile continued to brighten her face. Adam was handsome and kind and was interested in her. Perhaps he could be her new friend in this dark place.

Abby went and ate her lunch in the courtyard. She wandered down the pathways in the garden admiring the beautiful marble angels. Seeing them made her miss Corin even though he had just left.

She found a new part of the garden that she hadn't yet explored. In it was a sort of hammock with flowers and vines weaved into it. Abby laid on it and gently swung back and forth. She continued to smile as she thought about Adam's handsome face and friendly personality. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

The courtyard was suddenly darker though it was still day. As if the clouds had blotted out the sun. Abby found herself running through the maze-like paths of the garden. It felt like she was moving in slow motion as her dress blew out from behind her. Again, she had the feeling that she was looking for something. As she ran she looked around the once beautiful garden. It had now been smothered in ivy. This was not unlike her dream before. She wondered if she would stumble upon her body again.

Finally she saw someone standing in the garden. It was a woman with her back turned to her. Abby tried to call out to her but again, no sound escaped her lips. Abby walked closer to the woman with her back turned. There were marble angels on either side of her. Abby slowed her pace as she got closer.

Then the woman turned to face Abby. It was Abby herself but different somehow. She was staring at a perfected version of herself. Her hair was longer, her body more voluptuous, her skin more pale. Abby saw blood trickling down this apparition of herself. She looked, trying to find the wounds. Where had she been bitten this time?

Then it occurred to her. The blood was not her own, but the blood of her victim. It trickled from Abby's mouth and this demon version of her seemed to relish in the ecstasy of it. Abby was horrified at herself and the monster that she had become. She began screaming again, wishing that someone could wake her up from this nightmare.