Bella Notte

by Jesse Kimmel-Freeman

  Mike stared after me for a few minutes and then he ran to catch up to me. “Hey, wait for me.”

  And just like that all was quieted- at least for now. The week passed uneventfully. I didn't talk to my family- I avoided them at all costs. I found that I couldn't forgive them for my birthday and that horrid boy. Mike and I hung out and started to plan for the Halloween dance that always seemed to come out of nowhere. I was excited because it was Mike's birthday as well. I got him his present already and all I wanted to do was tell him what it was. I had to have it custom made- it being a silver bracelet with a scene etched into it. I thought that a little full moon with the silhouette of a wolf and a bat against it would be awesome. I, of course, was right. The twisted black leather band had been worn so it was comfortable to wear. And the back said, “We're quite an odd pair that surely will last forever.”

  The town turned from its normal dullness to the perfectly haunted Halloween town. Everything was decorated and took on an eerie atmosphere. It was absolutely splendid- of course Christmas was like this too, but then I wanted to toss my red and green cookies.

  You see, Halloween will forever be my favorite holiday- it's the one day when I can be myself and no one gives a damn. Everyone- well not everyone- becomes like me. It's absolutely marvelous.

  Mike and I decided that he was going to be Wolfman from the old black and white movies and I was going to be Dracula's bride. The next week we spent all our spare time getting the costumes made and we had to special order custom accessories. It was so awesome to have a pair of real fangs sent to me. But he had fangs. I felt like I had lost my mind. I put them on as I followed the directions to a T. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I found something strangely familiar. I smiled and the fangs looked so natural.

  “That guy did an awesome job,” I said to the mirror as I touched my reflection. Looks like my vision of my birthday.

  I shook my head at the thought as I had chosen to ignore the happenings of that day. But I knew I had not managed to do that as I could feel my temper burn bright within me. I needed to do something anything to make me feel like I was in control. I grabbed my cell as I headed downstairs to my Jeep- fangs still in place.

  “Hey, Mike.” It sounded slightly slurred and sharp.

  “Em. What's a matter? Have you been drinkin' or somethin'?” He sounded concerned.

  “No, I just got my fangs and I forgot to take them out. I'm coming to pick you up, get dressed.” It all sounded a little snake-like to me and I had a mental image of me with a forked tongue- I giggled.

  “Okay, where are we going and how do you know I'm not dressed?” It was almost as though I could hear him lift his eyebrow with a smirk.

  “Ugh. You perv! It's Sunday so I know you're sitting on your butt, watching t.v. or something, now get dressed. I'll be there in twentyish minutes. Bye.” I smiled at my phone knowing I'd won this round.

  There was no traffic so the ride went quickly. I pulled up to the gates outside his house and he was standing there. I blushed as I gave him the once over. He was in black cargo pants, his combat boots, and a tight black tank. God, he is sexy.

  “Are you just going to gawk at me, or can I get in the car?” His eyes were bright with excitement.

  “I thought I'd gawk a bit more, but if you're gonna whine- get in my beast,” I said as I leaned across the seats and pushed open the door.

  “So, what's up, Em? You look like you mean trouble.” He always could tell what was going on with me.

  “Let's go get tattoos.” I blurted out- I had clearly not thought this through all the way.

  “How about we have a chat about what's up, and then maybe we can get tats?” He looked at me with concern again.

  “Sorry, mate, this is a live free vessel and I'm the cap'n- so you in or not?” I didn't want to discuss what I didn't even understand.

  “Okay- never call me mate, it should be matey, you dork. And what are you getting?” He knew it was a moot point to argue with me right now.

  “Alright may-tee,” I drew it out. “I'm getting a bat on my inner wrist- what about you?” I eyed him as we pulled away from his house and headed for the highway leading away from the town.

  “Well, if you're getting a bat then I'll get a wolf howling silhouette.” He smiled at me and lightly brushed a hair away from my face. It's those gestures that make me crazy on the inside.

  “Then we're off to see the wizard,” I said as we hit the highway like a bat outta Hell.

  It takes an hour to get into the city, but it is bustling with life and I knew the drive was worth it. Every time I had gone to the world outside our little haven, I was amazed and most of all- happy. This was one of the few places where I could be myself and not be seen as the freak. Mike seemed to have paled by the time I'd found parking.

  “Oh, don't be such a baby. I'm sure it won't hurt at all. Jeeze, boys are such wimps!” I leaned over and punched him lightly in the arm.

  “Em, I'm not a baby. I merely enjoy not thinking about being stabbed repeatedly over and over again with needles,” he said as he hopped out of my Jeep.

  “Baby,” I said as we walked across the street.

  The sun was bright- like once we left our protective bubble, the sun was able to shine. Every reflective surface was like a mirror of glare. Nothing was as bright as the neon flashing purple signs trying to lure people into inkings or piercings. I was sold at the giant bat on the sign boasting the name, “Dracula's Dungeon,” with the cute slogan of “we'll slay ya!” I couldn't have hoped for something better.

  “Isn't it awesome?” I asked as I stared open-mouthed at the beautifully black building with tinted windows.

  “I don't know, Em. It gives me the creeps. Don't call me a baby. Maybe my sense of survival is better than yours.” He smiled at me but his eyes held the caution that his voice expressed.

  “So, you don't want to go in?” I sighed.

  “I know better. Besides, you'd go without me and I'd never hear the end of it.” He grabbed the door handle and opened the door for me.

  The cool conditioned air shot out the door and seemed to slap us in the face. I looked at Mike and caution seemed to cover his entire face now. I stepped inside the florescent haven. Everything was either black leather, blood red velvet, or a shiny metal surface. I love it!

  “Oi, what can I do fer ya miss? Oh, it's you. I suppose ya want yer family crest. Yer pup is lookin' a lil' green around da gills there.” The guy was tall, pale, had a Mohawk ... and fangs!

  I stared at his teeth as I ran my tongue over my own set of fangs. “Um, my family crest? I don't understand.” My mind seemed to float on a cloud of confusion.

  “Well, ya turned eighteen- that be da time when y'all normally get it. Was there somethin' else then?” He raised his perfect pierced brow.

  “Eh, yeah. I want to get a bat silhouette on my wrist- what's this family crest?” I looked up into his violet eyes. Wow.

  “It's yer family markings. Look, obviously they didn't tell ya yet- but I believe all things happen for a reason. I'll put yers on ya under ya bat, okay?” He nodded for me to follow.

  “Hey wait. What does it look like- this crest? And what about Mike's tat?” I asked as I shifted my weight on the glass topped counter.

  “Here. That's yer crest. This is mine. And we don't usually tat them- but since he's with you, I'll do it. Whatcha want kid?” He turned those bright eyes on Mike as he showed me his wrist.

  Wow this is awesome. The elaborate lines that formed the two crests were beautiful and intangible. At the bottom of the sheet of paper it said, “Hutchinson's.” It was utterly frightening and amazing at the same time.

  “I want to get the silhouette of a wolf baying against a full moon,” Mike said as though he didn't even hear the pun about his kind.

  “Right, mate. I suppose ya want yer family's pictograph as well?” His brow arched once more.

  “My family's what?” Now Mike's brow shifted up as well.

  “Wait, d
o you mean my runic symbol?”

  “Yep. Apparently someone told ya something. But you're older right- at least a year. It'll happen soon- ya know- fer both of ya.” He smiled as he reached for another sheet of paper.

  It was different shaped- more primal or tribal. But it was still elaborate and beautiful. What's he talking about? At the bottom of this paper, written in elegant and spidery script it said, “For Michael O'Shanold- should be with Emma Hutchinson.” Weird.

  “Did my mom drop this off?” The shock was written on his face- he certainly recognized the writing.

  “Yes, da lady. Don't worry I'll get da other guy to do yers. He can show ya his marks as well. Oi, Pat- da O'Shanold boy is here!” he shouted to the back as a well inked, bald giant of a man came out.

  “Thanks, man.” Was all Mike said.

  I followed my guy into the back as I watched Mike follow Pat into another room in the back as a girl walked to the front.

  “So, little princess- why da bat?” He smiled at me and his fangs glinted in the light. “My name's William- please call me Will.”

  “Hi Will. I'm Emma- but you already know that, right? How might I ask by the way? And to answer your question, I love the creatures of the night and such, so I thought I'd get a bat. Do you think it's a bad choice? Is Mike going to be okay?” I asked as I looked at the door.

  “He'll be fine. Mike's in gentle hands with Patrick. Yes, I know yer name- Emma Mary Hutchinson. I can't tell ya exactly how I know as I know they've not told ya anything. Da bat I feel is apropos.” His eyes smiled and shined bright.

  “Okay, I'll accept that, as I get it a lot. Thanks Will. Let's get started.” I smiled.

  I watched as he pulled the cold metal tray close to the place where my arm rested- palm up. He placed a paper towel on the tray and removed several instruments from their sterilized homes. The blue and clear films broke away from the tools that were both alluring and deterring. I watched as he squeezed globs of KY jelly onto the tray to hold the smallest paper cups I'd ever seen. He filled one cup with black ink and the other with red ink. He quickly traced out a bat silhouette with my family crest under it. He held it up briefly for me to nod in approval. Then he placed a sheet to my wrist and when he pulled it away there was a purple tracing of the designs left behind on my skin.

  “Will it hurt?” I asked as I chewed on my bottom lip.

  “It might feel odd and ya might be getting a twitch in an odd place- don't move. I don't know whatcha did while ya was younger but it feels like scrapin' a safety pin across yer skin. Eventually it just becomes numb. Yer a tough girl though.” He smiled as he assembled the tattoo gun and tested it. Each pulse of it seemed electrifying and scary as Hell.

  When the needle came down on my wrist, I managed to keep still as my mind was screaming at me that I had some serious problems.

  I felt the hot burn of having the bat etched into my skin with ever deepening black ink. Each wipe he took at the bat more of the purple was replaced with swelling and angry black lines. Eventually he finished with the shading and minute details and the bat appeared carved into my flesh. It's beautiful.

  “It's perfect” I squeaked as he switched the needle for a new one to use with the red.

  “Ah, little princess gettin' all emotional over yer first ink.” He smiled at me.

  The family crest seemed to magically appear on my skin. It didn't seem to swell as much as the other. The red against my pallor seemed to glow for a minute and then settle into place. I stared at it in awe.

  “They always do that in the beginning and don't ya be askin' me why as I can't tell ya.” He looked at my crest and then at his.

  He smeared some jelly onto my wrist and then covered it with plastic cling wrap, which he taped into place. “Now, leave that on til' ya get home. Here are the care instructions and some goop to help it heal,” he said as he handed me a small tin and a sheet of paper.

  “Eh. Thanks. How much do I owe you?” I reached my left hand into my purse and immediately felt the intense burn of the tattoo being pushed against. That's nauseating.

  “Easy there- yer lookin' a lil' pale. Here- sit. I'll make up the receipt as it's already been paid fer.” He nearly pushed me back into the chair.

  “Alright,” I mumbled as I felt my stomach begin to settle itself.

  I stared at my newly bandaged arm in shock and awe. I wonder what they'll say?

  Once everything focused and the pain dulled back to a simple pulse, I got up and walked back to the front. Mike was waiting for me.

  His same wrist was similarly wrapped and I could see the yellow moon, black wolf, and green symbol mixing with his blood- it was very similar to the bracelet image I had given him. He looked paler than earlier, but well at least.

  “Thanks, guys!” I smiled at the two tattoo artists and I grabbed Mike's arm and headed for the door.

  The hot air assaulted every ounce of my being. The heat also seemed attracted to the cling wrap and quickly caused my tender flesh to sear under the now oppressive sun. The car was hot and the black leather interior burned all skin it could come into contact with.

  “Okay, so now I'd be grateful for a little cloud covering. How you feeling?” I wiped the sweat from my brow as I found the right air conditioning setting.

  “Damn, it's hot! I'm okay. Wasn't that bad. Shouldn't we put the top up?” He looked at me and my struggle with the stupid air conditioning.

  “Left it at home. No rain suspected this week,” I sighed as the high blast of cold air hit me in the face.

  The drive back was silent. I could only guess that we were both thinking about what had happened and how our families would react.

  The heat died away the second we reached the county line. The sky was filled with thick, fluffy clouds that acted as a filter for the sun. Even in the lightly filtered sky, Mike's house didn't look as foreboding as ours did. His house always seemed to be a mishmash of pieces- but it wasn't. It was a perfect 1870's second empire style home. The angles and windows gave it lots of space and light. But it still seemed like it held secrets- just like our house, like my family has from me.

  I pulled up to his gates. Always open, unlike ours. I leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek when he turned his head and I caught him square on the mouth.

  “Eh, right. Have a great evening. I'll see ya tomorrow.” I grinned stupidly at him.

  “See ya, Emma. Make it home safe okay?” He smiled at me and hopped out of my monster.

  I watched him walk up his drive and get greeted at the door by his mom. Sometimes I wish someone cared enough to meet me at the door, worried. I sighed and drove home in silence.

  To my surprise, when I pulled into the driveway my father was waiting for me. Man he looks pissed- good! I got out of my Jeep and put on my tough face.

  “Emma, darling, I need to talk to you about that piece of art work you got on yourself today.” He sounded strangely calm.

  “What, Dad? It's just a bat and the family crest, or something. I never knew we got our family crest tattooed on us. Why didn't you tell me? Do Grandpa, Grandma, and Mom have one?” I lifted my arm to show him my cling wrapped wrist.

  “Emma, yes, we all have one. We have the ability to mask ours. I do wish you would have waited for the right time. You're always so quick to do things when you get an idea.” He sighed.

  “I might wait if anyone ever talked to me. All of this mysterious crap is beginning to annoy me beyond words. And if you think that I've forgotten my birthday Dad, you are sadly mistaken!” The knot in my stomach tightened, my fanged teeth bit down into my lower lip, and I knew my eyes were burning bright in rage.

  “Emma Mary Hutchinson. I will not tolerate such behavior from you! You will be told what you need to know when the time comes. I will not be bullied, by my own daughter, into telling you things that you would not understand. And as for your birthday, Dominic has been reprimanded for his behavior and he is quite sorry. He was only trying to help- after all. Our families are very close
and nothing is going to dissolve that relationship.” His voice was frighteningly calm now, but his eyes seemed to glow with his temper and, where his sleeve was rolled up on his left arm, the family crest appeared on his wrist and seemed to glow dimly.

  “What do you mean? I'm not going to be some sacrificial lamb for you to serve up to ensure some family friendship. That is just damn nonsense.” My temper was raising and I wanted to break something. Has he forgotten what that stupid guy almost did? The mirror in the garage cracked suddenly. What is going on?

  “You will not talk to me in such a manner and you will do as you are told!” His voice boomed in my ears to the point where I wanted to cover them- and then he left.

  I sat on the cold concrete floor of the garage and brought my knees to my chest. I won't be forced to marry some jerk to keep my family happy. The tears spilled over the brim of my eyes and cascaded down my cheeks- the mirror seemed to cry with me as it released its broken pieces to the floor. I cried with all the sorrow and anger I felt deep within my soul. I cried until my eyes held no moisture.

  Once the tears had gone, I sat holding myself in shock in the darkening room.

  When my mind became clear again, I vowed I'd live my life- no one would live it for me. I walked into the house, grabbed some food on the way to my room, and refused to see anyone.

  Monday quickly faded into Tuesday. Ah, Halloween. My favorite holiday- nothing could ruin this day. All memories faded of Sunday as I got ready in my costume. Mike and I decided that we should wear different costumes during the day than what we intended to wear that night at the dance.

  I slipped the tan stockings on and was amazed at the apparent color on my skin. I sprayed an instant tanner on myself so that I looked sun-soaked. I pulled the pale pink mini-skirt up over my rump and zipped it shut. The soft white cashmere sweater felt nice against my skin, but it felt very foreign. I took the large plastic curlers out of my hair and it shook into large bouncy curls. The bubblegum pink lip gloss caused my lips to stick together in what I thought was a silencing trap. My eyes were no longer surrounded by my beloved black liner- instead the lids were powdered a gentle pink, the lashes were curled and mascaraed, and I had only the slightest brown eye liner on. Absolutely perfect. The thought danced around me as I slipped on my white Mary