17. CECINA
"Wake up Abby!" Athenodora tried to gently shake her awake.
Abby finally snapped out of it. She looked around the room and realized she was still in the library and not in the garden at all. Then the tears began. "Oh Athena, why won't these nightmares stop?"
Athenodora lovingly put an arm around her shaking shoulders. "Shhh. It's okay. It was all just a dream."
"No," Abby argued through the tears, "it's more than that! I feel like someone is sending me messages but I don't understand what they mean."
"No sweetie, dreams are just nonsense. It's just our subconscious mixing up the things that we know in real life." Athenodora tried to soothe.
Abby thought about it for a moment. "Maybe that's why I keep seeing that cross."
Athenodora's body tensed. "What cross?"
"The one in Marcus' room. The one I picked up and wasn't supposed to. I've seen it in a couple of my dreams now."
Athenodora chose her words carefully. "In the dreams, what happens with the cross?"
Abby closed her eyes and tried to remember the dreams. "The first time I was in the garden and one of the angel statues was wearing it. But then the angel began to cry tears of blood. The second time, which was just now, I was in the garden but I found it on the ground. I picked it up and spiders crawled from it onto my hands. And then I ran into your mate, Caius. I felt like he wanted to kill me."
If Athenodora could have gone any more white she would have. "Well, like I said. Dreams are just nonsense." She tried to hide her reaction.
Abby nodded sadly. "Perhaps you're right."
The next day Abby met up with Adam in the Piazza dei Priori and told him about the good news with her being able to go away with him. He was very excited and insisted that they leave at once. She considered going back to the castle to pack but realized that she really had nothing to bring with her.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you have anything and everything you need." Adam smiled. He escorted her to a carriage and they began their journey to the beaches of Cecina.
The buildings and homes were the same as Volterra but the Mediterranean Sea was something to behold. Abby was astonished at the clear blue of the water. It was nothing like the wicked Atlantic that she had lived beside back in Salem. The sun was shining brightly today and it felt very warm. They were lucky because no one else was on the beach at the time. Adam took her by the hand and guided her down to the shore.
"Have a seat." He instructed her.
"In the sand?" Abby was surprised.
He laughed. "Yes, don't worry about your dress; I'll buy you a new one. I'll buy you ten new ones if you like!"
Abby smiled and sat in the sand as he ordered. He knelt down in front of her and pulled her shoes off. "Now come and walk with me."
Abby took in a deep breath as he pulled her up into a standing position. He carried her shoes for her and led her down to where the waves lapped at the sand. Abby felt a new sensation as the wet sand filtered between her toes and the water washed over her feet. "This feels amazing!" Abby laughed.
Adam smiled. "You are so easy to please. There are so many things I want to show you, just to see that look on your face."
Abby's smile grew wider. She reached down and took his hand in hers. That made him very happy. They continued to walk hand in hand down the beach. A big wave rolled in and Adam picked Abby up to keep her from getting wet and he carried her to higher ground.
Abby laughed. "Oh, I wish it didn't matter if we got wet."
Adam looked at her with his jaw hanging open. "Well we can, it's just that I've never met a girl who didn't care about getting wet before."
Abby shrugged as he lowered her to the ground. "Well then today is your lucky day." She looked at him with a smile as he stared at her, watching her unbutton her dress and letting it slid off her shoulders into the sand. She still had her white under slip covering the center of her body but it was still more skin than Adam had ever seen of Abby. She was breathtaking.
She started running to the sea and jumped into the warm, clear waters. Adam just watched, still in awe. Then she turned around and said "Aren't you coming in?"
Adam pulled off his shirt clumsily so that his chest was bare and he dressed down to his underpants which were white and knee length. He dove into the waters to join Abby. Since he was taller, his feet still touched the sandy bottom where she had to swim. She moved over to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
Adam was utterly shocked. "You've suddenly become very bold, haven't you?"
Abby smiled mischievously. "Something about the sun and the water I guess." Another big wave rolled in and it carried their bodies high off the ocean floor. Abby gripped more tightly onto Adam who was obviously the better swimmer. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he placed his hands on the outside of her thighs to keep her there. Once the waved rolled through they were gently lowered to the sandy bottom where Adams feet could once again touch down. Though the danger was over, they stayed in place.
Adam leaned towards her so that his forehead was pressed against hers. Abby's mouth was just slightly open, trying to breathe normally while her heart was pounding in her chest. She moved in just a little closer so that their noses were touching. Adam closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to hers. His lips were soft and gentle. This was Abby's first kiss and she couldn't believe it was happening, nor could she believe how good it felt. She moved her hands from his shoulders up into his hair as they kissed more passionately.
Abby pulled away for a brief second to catch her breath but Adam continued to kiss her neck. Her eyes remained closed as her head tilted back. Adam pulled her body closer against his. Her body was having feelings that she had never felt before. Hours went by with them kissing like this but it only felt like a few short moments. It wasn't until the sun began to set that they noticed how much colder the water had become.
Adam carried Abby out of the water back to the beach. He set her down even though he didn't want to. He never wanted to leave her touch again. He built a fire to keep her warm. Then he ran back up to the carriage and retrieved some food and blankets and dry clothes. Adam turned around while Abby changed into one his long shirts. He also changed and the two of them cuddled under the blankets together while they ate dinner and watched the fire. They continued to talk and laugh. Abby loved the way that Adam took care of her. The way she felt safe with him. The way that he was warm to the touch. The way that he was so human.
It wasn't long before she fell asleep in his arms by the warmth of the fire. Adam was still awake and he nuzzled his nose close to her ear. "I love you, Abby." He whispered. Then he closed his eyes and fell asleep next to her.
The next morning Abby woke up to Adam feeding the fire, trying to keep it going. She yawned and stretched between the blankets. Then she bolted into an upright position.
"Is something wrong?" Adam asked, full of concern.
Abby looked at him with shock on her face. "Did I scream in the night?"
Adam cocked his head to the side and laughed. "No, were you supposed to?"
Abby couldn't believe it. She had gone a whole night without dreams or nightmares. She had been able to just sleep. She had never felt more rested than she did now. "I didn't have any nightmares!" Abby exclaimed.
Adam chuckled again. "Well I should hope not. I'd hate to think that spending time with me would give you nightmares."
For the rest of the day Abby was absolutely happy. Adam took her back into the city of Cecina and bought her a new dress, as he had promised. He wanted to buy her more things but she declined. The dress was of a different style than she had ever worn before. It was the type of layered dress that the Italians wore with brightly colored fabrics to mimic the brightness of life. The couple walked the streets hand in hand, having the time of their lives.
When evening came again Adam checked them into an inn. He didn't want to make her sleep on the beach again although he would have loved to been able to sleep with her in his arms once more. But out of respect for her, he booked them two separate bedrooms. Adam showed her into her room.
"This place is beautiful Adam!" The room was decorated with bright colors and sea shells, and a large soft bed was in the center of it. Abby walked past the bed onto a balcony that overlooked the Mediterranean Sea. Even in the dark it was still beautiful.
"I'm glad you like it." Adam smiled, still hanging behind near the door.
"I wish we could stay here forever." Abby mused, still enjoying the view.
"We can." Adam said.
Abby turned to face him. "No, we can't."
"Says who? If it would make you happy then I would see to it that you would never have to leave this room again." Adam now walked further into the room, closer to her, the person he desired.
She still stood on the balcony. "Adam, you know I can't…" Her face was now sad and she looked at the floor.
He closed the distance between them and pulled her body against his once more, the way he had been longing to do all day. "Don't say that. Not tonight." He leaned down and brought her lips to his once more. Their mouths moved together languidly, like the soft waves of the sea.
Abby knew that he had another room waiting for him but she didn't want him to go. "Stay with me tonight." She whispered.
Adam's lips curled into a smile while still kissing her. "If it would make you happy."
Abby pulled him onto the bed with her so that he was lying on top of her. Their legs were entangled and his hands ran smoothly up and down her sides. Her fingers gently held his face as he continued to kiss her passionately.
He pulled back and locked his hazel eyes on hers. "I love you." He whispered for the second time.
Abby felt like she already knew. "I love you too." She whispered back and then brought her head up to kiss him again.
It never went any further than this. Adam respected her and wanted to keep her virtue intact. Again, she fell asleep in his arms and never knew a sweeter peace. If she dreamt at all she did not remember the dreams. Nothing but tranquility came over her that night.
