The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5)

by Stephanie Hudson

  “In fact I don’t know what is more distracting, you teasing me or your blushing skin.” Well in response to that statement I know which distraction he received.

  “Ah Giuseppe Mengoni! I knew I would remember.” Draven said startling me as we neared the massive archway onto the Paizza del Duomo.

  “Congratulations, you have officially hit elephant status on the memory front.” I remarked but once again spoilt it by giggling at my own joke. I was still laughing when I noticed he had stopped walking alongside me and I turned to see that bad boy grin come out to play, telling me I was in trouble.

  “Elephant status?” He asked.

  “Uh…” Was the only intelligent thing my brain came up with as I watched him stalk towards me.

  “Draven behave,” I warned on a whisper and I looked round at all the people, hoping we weren’t causing a scene. But in the end I had no hope so decided ‘oh to Hell with it!’ I turned around and ran out of the massive archway laughing like a maniac until I felt arms grab me from behind.

  “Gotya!” He said with his lips to the top of my head and I was left panting in his hold, which wasn’t only down to exertion. It was the feeling I got whenever I was in Draven’s arms that was hard to describe. Of course being hugged by Alex was also nice but there was just something else about being in these particular arms that felt…more. The word ‘more’ was the only word I could use. It was more strength, more warmth, more affection and most of all I was always left wanting more.

  “Look up.” Draven murmured into the back of my hair as I was still looking down at my feet being shy. I did as I was told and for a second the sun blinded me but then Draven’s hand came up and shielded it for me to see.

  “Oh my!” I said in total awe. The shopping mall opened up right onto the square and facing me now was the utter breathtaking view of the Duomo, Cathedral of Milan.

  “You like it?” Draven asked me softly and the shiver that wriggled up my spine wasn’t only due to the imposing beauty before me but the way his hand brushed some of my hair back from my neck.

  “It’s incredible,” I said and it truly was. In fact I doubted there were any words known to man that would have been able to do it justice. But what was the most profound truth about this imposing sight was that it just proved that some beauty in the world was man made and that in itself was a beautiful thing to know. To see something that human hands had crafted in sight and faith of their God was a feeling that warmed my heart in a way I couldn’t explain. But the one thought that kept repeating was what escaped my lips,

  “I think that anytime the Gods looked down at this they would simply smile.” I felt myself being turned and I looked up to find Draven smiling himself down at me.

  “I think you’re right…Shall we go inside?” Draven then asked and I nodded enthusiastically making him smile once again.

  As we walked up to the pure white marble Cathedral I was trying to take in just how many spires and columns made up the Gothic building. But it wasn’t just the multitude of these mighty structures surrounding the building like protective soldiers standing guard. It was the large arched windows, the flying buttresses and the extravagant sculptural decoration that almost consumed every square foot of the place that had your mouth hanging open in awe. It was also the overabundance of statues and as Draven informed me as we got closer that it had not only 135 spires but each and every one all supported a figure of the saints.

  I had to smile as he reeled off all the structural facts which made me turn to him and say,

  “You seem to know a lot about this place.”

  “I called Milan home for a time.” I stopped walking as I thought about this. It was such a strange thought for me to contemplate and I wasn’t really sure why. Thinking about it there must have been so many places that Draven had called home in his many lifetimes I don’t know why I was so surprised. If anything it just made the probability of us meeting in the first place seem like fate. Which I guess all things considered it was the Fates that had thrown us in each other’s paths. But this in itself just made what happened even more confusing. Why would they have bothered if we were only ever meant to be friends?

  Was it that one day there was something more in store for us or just that we had had our time, no matter how brief but no less precious. Was that all that was in our fates? Whatever the answer was it was a depressing thought.

  “Keira?” Draven calling my name shook me out of my thoughts and I managed a fake smile.

  “Sorry, it’s nothing.”

  “I very much doubt that.” He said holding his hand out to me to take, which of course I didn’t think twice about doing.

  “So how long ago did you live here?” I asked ignoring his questioning looks.

  “Um, let me think…see those doors there, well they were still wood when I was here but they were damaged in the 1943 bombing of Milan, then they were replaced with ones made of bronze.”

  “Oh God, but the thought of any of it being damaged is a horrible one.” I said looking at the dark greenish doors that were highly decorated and looked as if they had always been there.

  “Well now, that’s the great thing about humans...”

  “And that is?” I asked when he didn’t carry on and I knew when I looked at him that is what he had been waiting for, he wanted my eyes.

  “Their strength in fighting for what they believe in…for in what they love.” Upon hearing these words I had to swallow the lump it caused but it just wasn’t the words that affected me, no, it was the complete sincerity in which they were spoken.

  “And um… when exactly did you realise this?” I asked my voice thick and uneven.

  “I believe since I first met a certain human girl that touched my heart deeply enough it changed the way it beat within my chest…”

  “Oh God,” I whispered feeling the tears clog my throat before they reached my eyes. Then he made it beautifully worse with his next statement.

  “However, I didn’t really understand the full extent and power of those words until ten months ago.” I bit my lip and raised myself up on my tiptoes. I then pulled off his glasses and cupped his face with one hand before thanking him with a kiss on his cheek. I felt his arm come around me and for a moment it felt like he was locking me in place.

  “Keira I need…” I never got to hear what he was going to say because a flash of light cut into our moment with cruel reality. It was one of those guys who obviously took pictures of tourists in the hope of selling his photos and lived his life through a camera lens. In that moment I envied him as I couldn’t help but wonder what he saw when taking that picture. A happy couple caught in a loving embrace on holiday together? Well that was certainly a prettier picture painted than the one that reflected the pains in our life together.

  “Excuse me.” Draven said and walked over to the man. At first I thought Draven’s temper at being interrupted would come out but I was pleasantly surprised when I saw him paying the man. Then he waited for the picture to be printed from the portable printer the guy carried with him.

  “Souvenir?” I asked as he walked back over to me, obviously being admired if the backward glances from the female population was anything to go by.

  “One to add to my collection.” Was his cryptic answer.

  “Collection?”

  “Let go inside” He said ignoring my question and instead taking my hand again.

  “I can’t believe this place.” I said after being far too absorbed in its glory and splendour for the first ten minutes. Walking inside was like being transported into a different time and one where we as a race still took the time and expense to create places like this for the world to witness a nation’s triumph. The years, the manpower and the endless hours of craftsmanship that went into building this place were incomprehensible.

  “It is quite magnificent isn’t it?” Draven said by my side as we walked first along the left side.

  “Just look at the stained glass windows and the way the sun is cast
ing rainbows of colour on everything.” I said feeling giddy in a way only an artist gets when finding something they want to paint.

  “Oh wow, Draven look at this one!” I said grabbing his hand and pulling him over to one of the side windows that was definitely different from all the rest. I heard him chuckle at my obvious enthusiasm.

  “Well this is definitely more your scene.” I said laughing and looking up at the most vivid scene of Heaven battling Hell. It was cut into two sections and at the bottom Demonic figures were raising their tridents and spears to the onslaught above. At the centre was a creature with what looked like at least five serpent heads and a horned Demon that was being held back by emerald green chains wrapped around his limbs. Then my eyes took in what everyone would depict as the ‘good guys’, as Heavenly figures rain down their gold tipped arrows to the monsters below. There was even a white horse draped in an emerald robe with its rider the saintly warrior ready to strike.

  “I can assure you a battle between Heaven and Hell is far more gruesome than the likes of this painted glass.”

  “Oh trust you to bring blood and gore into it.” I teased nudging his arm to which he just gave me a coy smile in return.

  We continued round and it was like having my own personal guide. He would tell me about the history of each Altar statue, sarcophagi, and plaque we came to which were situated under each big window along the sides. The centre was dominated by row after row of pews and there was a forest of pillars that dominated the inside. I looked up and even though the arched ceilings were plain it worked well so as not to distract from the top of the pillars. Each one was enriched by a large number of statues of saints and martyrs that encircled the tops of every pillar, causing your eyes to dance between each one.

  “I think I could spend hours here.”

  “Wait until you see the roof.” On hearing this I gasped in excitement.

  “We can go up on the roof?!” He laughed at me as we cut across, what Draven informed me was called the Transept. Then of course he had to explain that a Transept was the shortest arm of the church that is shaped like a Latin cross. So basically it’s an aisle cutting across the length of the room.

  “Yes, it is an unusual feature I agree, but on a clear day the views seen from up there are spectacular.” He said referring back to the roof. We walked to the south side passing tourists as we went and even though I was sure they weren’t allowed to take pictures, I couldn’t say I could fully blame them. It was just one of those places that made you want to take those picture memories away with you so that you could impress your friends when you got back home.

  “I can’t wait to see it…oh…that’s…that’s…” I said coming to a dead stop at the statue that was now in front of me.

  “That’s St Bartholomew.” Draven said obviously amused by my reaction to seeing it.

  “Uh…What’s wrong with his skin?” I asked wrinkling my nose.

  “He’s wearing it like a piece of cloth.”

  “Eww!” I said but even as I made the noise there was just something about it that drew you in. It was a masterpiece there was no two ways about that but it was as gruesome as it was stunning. The man stood almost proud with a book in one hand that rested open on the top of his thigh. His skin had been completely removed and on closer inspection his face rested at his back, his hand was next to his boned hand and the same with one of his feet. It was incredible as even the marble that had been used had a blue running through it that gave the appearance of veins on the muscle.

  “Who was he?” I asked but Draven started to lead me away.

  “Just someone who studied anatomy. Come, the lift is this way.” I frowned behind Draven as it was the way he said it that I knew there was more he wasn’t telling me. I looked back one last time and for a split second I could have sworn I had seen him move.

  But wait…Hadn’t that book been open before?

  Once on the roof I found yet another astonishing sight, only this time it most definitely wasn’t man made. Although the roof to the Cathedral was in itself a masterpiece, allowing you to see the spires and statues up close. But Draven had been right, the view was incredible. The snow-capped Alps ran along one side and looked almost too surreal to be actually there. Almost like the snow on top could be low floating clouds or the mythological stories of Mount Olympus also came to mind.

  “You can see the whole city from up here.” I said and then had to look around for Draven as it seemed I was talking to myself.

  “Draven?”

  “Right here, love.” He spoke in my ear at the same time his arms came round me, which they had been doing a lot lately. Didn’t he understand what it did to me every time I would feel his arms around me, holding me to him like he never wanted to let me go?

  “Hey, relax…I’ve got you.” He said when he felt me tense in his arms as these thoughts of confusion filled me to the point where I wanted to pull away. It was beautiful cruelty and I was just about to tell him as much when he spoke again,

  “This has always been one of my favourite places in the world and I think the words of Alfred Tennyson best describe its beauty…would you like to hear it?”

  “Uhm…yes please” I said after first needing to clear my throat.

  “Very well, let me just engage my elephant memory,” he teased first and gave me an affectionate squeeze as I laughed.

  “Don’t give yourself a headache now,” I replied back and found my hand going to his at my front to hold onto where he automatically entwined his long fingers with mine.

  “Since when did you get so cheeky little one?” He asked into my hair.

  “Since I met a big Alpha male who needs keeping on his toes and bringing down a peg or two.”

  “And that is something you certainly do well, sweetheart.” He finished and walked us forward just a few steps until we came right up against the marble arches that ran the full length of the roof like a medieval fence caging us in. The one hand that wasn’t linked with mine then lent against the arch in front of us, which created a little private space for us that felt far too intimate for friends. This was proved even more so when he started reciting the poem in a soft, luring voice that instantly made me give him more of my weight to hold.

  “I climb’d the roofs at break of day;

  Sun-smitten Alps before me lay.

  I stood among the silent statues,

  And statued pinnacles, mute as they.

  How faintly-flush’s, how phantom fair,

  Was Monte Rosa, hanging there

  A thousand shadowy-pencill’d valleys

  And snowy dells in a golden air.”

  “That was lovely,” I said feeling breathy and swallowing hard at what this moment was meaning to me.

  “It was made even lovelier saying it with you in my arms.” Draven responded with his lips at my ear. My head went back on his chest and I couldn’t hold it in any longer. He was cracking my walls and seeping his way in once again. I just hoped I could hold it together just a little bit longer…I only needed a little longer.

  “Draven, I can’t do this again.” I said on a plea, turning my head to the side and I felt his hand leave the marble arch to cup my face.

  “Can’t do what again, Keira, tell me?” He asked and I turned in his arms and looked up at him with pleading eyes before I finally whispered the truth of my heart,

  “I’m falling for you again.” I braved saying but getting this off my chest wasn’t what lifted my heart and made my breath catch. No, it was what Draven said in response to my bravery, to my honesty and to my greatest wish in all the world.

  It was the gift of bravery, honestly and a single wish that he gave back to me, with five words that would change the world…

  “Then let me catch you.”

  Chapter 25

  Ask Me Anything

  The rest of the day went by where I remained in some hypnotic fog of confusion and bliss. After our moment on the roof we had both just held each other and I knew that if I had
only looked up he would have kissed me. And this knowledge was an internal battle that raged on within me, tempting me into sin and placing me on the line I knew I should never cross. Because as easy as it would be to simply step over that line, to do so still meant putting myself out there and under his mercy to once again crush me. No, not just crush me but this time something a lot worse because this time I just don’t think I would have survived it again.

  So I ran scared. I pulled myself away and one look at his face said he knew it too. I was even a little surprised that he allowed me to withdraw from him. All he had done was run the back of two fingers down my cheek and said,

  “Hey, it’s okay,” then he smiled, took my hand and we left the magical rooftop to continue our day. After that we continued our day like tourists, with Draven taking me to his favourite places in the city and explaining all of its history to me. I would allow myself at my weakest moments to be weaved deeper into his spell and because of this most of the day was spent hand in hand.

  We would jump on and off the busy trams which Draven used as an opportunity to wrap a protective arm around my waist and one hand on the bar above to hold me steady. He would point out different buildings through the window I faced but in reality in these moments I rarely took anything in other than the feel of him at my back, holding me close.

  At one point I had Draven pulling my hand back and pulling me in to this old traditional ice cream parlour that the Italians called gelato. There were so many flavours I was stood there umming and ahhing for a small age. Draven just laughed at me and picked his own flavour of Grand Marnier, which I teased was such a posh choice. I ended up being torn between three flavours, so in the end Draven just ordered me all of them, chocolate, mint choc chip and for something a little different, toffee with amaretto.