The Broken Angel

by Monica La Porta

  An hour later, they were bathing the night’s remains from their bodies under the steady jets of his shower. Exiting Giulio’s apartment had proved easier than she had thought possible. None of the neighbors had been about. When Samuel saw she could barely walk, he had carried her in his arms and deposited her safely inside his car, then buckled her up and tucked her in under a blanket he had taken from the apartment.

  “I love you.” Samuel had lathered his hands with soap and was now meticulously washing her. He passed his soapy fingers over the length of her legs, raising one at a time.

  “I love you.” She gasped when his fingers brushed her between her legs. His touch was soft and slow, but she still yelped when he touched one of the red welts on the inside of her thigh.

  Samuel’s hands went to her shoulders and he bumped his forehead with hers. “I wish I still had my healing powers.”

  She turned and rested her back against his chest, then raised her chin to receive a kiss from him. “You’ve been healing me since the day we met. Your presence is enough to make me feel better.” She was mentally exhausted and her body ached everywhere.

  He turned off the water and took a big towel from a hook just outside the shower stall. She happily sighed when he dried her skin by tapping her body with the fluffy cotton. He dried himself with a second towel, then, discarding both his and hers, he passed one arm under her knees, another around her back and carried her to his bed.

  Her eyes went immediately to the painting of the wings on the ceiling and pointed a finger at it. “Now I understand this.”

  “I don’t need to sleep a lot, but I like to lie here and rest. Sometimes, I imagine I’m flying over Rome.”

  “Do you remember what it was like?”

  “I can’t forget anything, but I wouldn’t want to forget either. Before making love to you for the first time, the most beautiful memories I had were of the time when I could still fly.”

  She gave him a smile, brushed his arm, and made circles with her fingers.

  He let out a soft moan.

  “I could get lost on this bed.” She stretched on the duvet, savoring the firmness of the mattress. “You don’t want to know what I thought the first time I saw it.” She laughed.

  He lay by her, resting on the side, elbow bent, his head on his hand. “What?”

  Martina felt her face redden and covered her eyes with her splayed hands.

  “What?” He poked her on her belly.

  She looked at him from between her fingers. “I thought you needed a bed so big because you were into orgies and stuff like that.” She laughed again, this time more out of nervousness.

  He shrugged. “But that’s exactly the reason why I had this bed custom made.”

  Martina’s mouth opened of its own volition, but the only sound that came out was a choked “What?”

  Samuel snickered, then flattened his back on the duvet, his arm over his eyes, his stomach contracting with each laugh when he couldn’t hold them in anymore. “You should’ve seen your face. Priceless.”

  “You make jokes.” Martina started laughing with him. “That was the first time I’ve heard you joke.”

  His hand reached out for hers and he intertwined their fingers together. “Well, before, we were sparring partners and I had to focus on not hitting you too hard—”

  She brought their united hands to her lips for a peck. “And here I thought I had to be gentle with you.”

  “I couldn’t wait for our sessions. Every time, I fought the urge of caressing your beautiful skin. There were moments when you were under me on that mat and I was crazy with need, and I would’ve peeled away your tiny, too-tight tank top and lowered those infuriating yoga pants of yours that left nothing to the imagination—”

  “But the gym is always full of people.” Martina felt the heat rising at the image he was painting, remembering those sparring sessions where she often forgot they weren’t alone because he created a safe environment for her to be herself.

  “Oh, that wouldn’t have been a problem.” His fingers slowly pressed on her wrist in circles.

  Her breath hitched. “How so?”

  “I can still summon an occlusion shield. I could have undressed you before the whole of Rome, and no one would’ve been the wiser.” He paused, his gaze on her mouth. “I would make love to you in the Coliseum, against a column, a full moon illuminating your naked body responding to my touch.”

  She could barely think straight. “You could do that.”

  His fingers travelled up and down her arm and made her shiver. The light in his eyes was mesmerizing. Despite her tight upbringing, she knew she would let him do all the things he was talking about if he asked. The thought was shocking. And liberating. And had her mind add details to his words.

  “I can do that. It takes lots of energy, but it would be worth it.”

  She was breathing hard, but so was he. “With people strolling by.”

  “Hmmm.” Samuel moved on the bed until he was on his side, facing her. “Those sessions with you were heaven and hell for me. I lived for our next moment together, and then I had to restrain myself from acting on any of my fantasies.” He inched closer still. “Once or twice, I almost lost the battle and came close enough to kiss you.” He leaned to kiss her mouth.

  She took his lower lip between her teeth, then released it. “And why didn’t you?”

  “I was a cripple and you were this beautiful, independent mortal woman.” He took her free hand and pressed it against his heart. “You were way out of my league—”

  She couldn’t help but interrupting him by snorting out loud. “Really?” In a gesture that was becoming a habit where he was concerned, she pointed first at herself than at him. “I was too good for you.”

  He solemnly nodded, which elicited a shake of her head and a laugh from her. “And also a taboo,” he continued, as if she hadn’t said anything at all. “Mortals are not supposed to know we exist, and I should be the one enforcing the rule. I would’ve never started anything with you if I couldn’t show you my true nature. As much as it was torture to me not having you, I wasn’t going to lie to you. I could only worship you from afar. Then, all of a sudden, the decision was out of my hands, and here we are. I couldn’t be happier, but I wish things had been easier for you—”

  She shushed him with a small peck. “What happens now that I know about you and all the rest?”

  He kissed her slowly and thoroughly, before answering, “I don’t want to think about that now. We’ll keep quiet for a while, until I find a way to make it right and official for us.”

  She pushed her elbow to the mattress and rested her head on her hand. “What do you mean with official?”

  “I want to be able to shout to the world you are mine and have a ceremony to commemorate my pledge to you. If you’ll have me.” His voice had lowered at the last sentence.

  “Even if I am mortal.”

  He nodded, his hand reaching for her cheek. “It’s you I want. Nothing else matters.” He brushed her nose. “Please, say yes.”

  She leaned on his hand. “I think I’m dreaming. There’s no other explanation for you. You are my dream.”

  “Say yes,” he whispered to her mouth.

  “Yes.”

  They became lost in a series of kisses that progressed from tender to frantic, their hands searching for each other. Then they slowed down once again, laughing between stolen breaths.

  “I was already falling for you, you know? Back then, during those initial sessions, I think I already knew we were meant to be together.” Martina rolled up, then sat on him, straddling his large frame as she locked eyes with him. “The first time you sent me to the mat and afterward you reached down and helped me up again, I felt something stir inside at your touch.” She lowered herself on him, then leaned to kiss him, her hands around his neck. They began moving, at first slowly, caressing each other, then their rhythm changed to match their increasing desire. Samuel crossed his arms over her back, pr
essed her to him, and moved both of them until she was lying on the mattress, his mouth latched on hers in a deep kiss, his hands roaming up and down her body, brushing her nipples. Then he stopped and raised his torso on his straight arms, his head tilted to the side. Without a word, he was out of her.

  She was about to complain when she saw his worried expression. “Did you hear something?”

  He propelled himself out of the bed, his eyes to the door. “Close yourself in the bathroom. Now!”

  ****

  With his senses addled by Martina’s scent and moans and his building pleasure, Samuel had almost missed the noises coming from his living room. His bedroom door burst open a mere moment after Martina had taken refuge inside the bathroom. He counted at least a dozen vampires storming into the room. The last vampire to enter was the one he had fought against at the Orange Trees Garden, Duilio Carta.

  Samuel stood and towered over the group. “What do you think you’re doing? You know you can’t touch a liaison without repercussion from the Immortal Council.” He stepped closer to Carta. “You better leave. If you run back to your nest right now, I might not report you.”

  Carta looked at him as if he were daft. “You should’ve never meddled with Claudius’s business. But you’ll learn your lesson tonight.” He raised one hand as he scanned the room, a cold smile on his lips, his fangs already protruding. He nodded to the other vampires. “There’s a human with him. Find her and bring her to me.”

  Samuel launched himself at the closest vampire, propelling both of them on a second, then a third who was standing by. He knew he was stronger than each of them individually, and he would have won against six or seven of them. But fighting the whole group while keeping all of them out of the bathroom was a Herculean feat. He focused on removing as many opponents as he could from his path, but he couldn’t keep track of the whole lot. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one trying to sneak toward the bathroom. He hit the man with a roundhouse kick as he smashed another man’s nose with his open palm. In a matter of seconds, blood sprayed in every direction, but Samuel kept punching and kicking those who stood back up after he had sent them to the floor.

  ****

  Martina found herself huddled on the bathroom floor. The sounds coming from Samuel’s bedroom were the stuff of nightmares. She strained her ears and listened for his voice, but couldn’t hear him amidst the cries and grunts. Their discarded towels were piled by the shower stall. She grabbed one and stood to hastily cover her nakedness. The door was hit by something, someone. More cries. Someone swore in a language she had never heard before. The wall rattled and the door seemed to cave in. She stepped back toward the window, looking for a way out. Unfortunately, the opaque, double-paned glass was only meant to let light in, but the window didn’t open. And even if she could find anything to break the glass with, she remembered that the façade of Samuel’s building didn’t have any cornice on which to stand if she wanted to leave the bathroom. She wouldn’t survive the fall. One eye on the door that shook from another hit, she stepped behind a bamboo cabinet, knowing it wouldn’t hide or protect her, but hoping to use it to stave their attack off long enough for Samuel to come in and save her.

  The door finally opened, but it did it so slowly, and a furtive figure skulked in.

  ****

  Still fighting several of them at once, as he hit the vampires and killed a few, Samuel counted the ones left in the room. Panic rising in his chest, he saw the bathroom’s door ajar, and ran toward it, mowing down anyone who tried to stop him with enough strength to perforate chest cavities and leave the rest of them fighting for their lives. Finally the only one standing, he barreled inside the room, his heart slamming against his chest. When he saw Carta hunched over Martina, his worst fears became reality. Samuel grabbed the vampire by his collar and hurled him against the wall, incapacitating him by breaking the vampire’s neck. Blood flowing from several wounds Samuel had caused him earlier, Carta pooled to the floor, his eyes glazing over. Samuel turned to Martina who lay on the floor, pale as a porcelain doll, her expression one of terror as she gulped air in through her mouth with great difficulty.

  “Are you okay?” He crouched by her, scanning her vitals and confirming what his eyes had already told him. She was scared but unscathed. The vampire hadn’t bitten her. Once again, he had arrived just in time.

  Martina blinked, then nodded. He took her in his arms and caressed her back, soothing her fear as well as his. She was trembling and cold to the touch. Legs shaking, he stood cradling her and brought her to the bed, where he covered her nakedness with the coverlet. Then he let himself down, his heart still beating too fast and a chaos of confused thoughts in his mind. He needed to call for help. After scanning the room for his cell phone, he remembered he had left it in the living room.

  He took Martina’s hands in his and massaged their extremities to warm them. “I need to make a few phone calls.”

  She raised her chin to look at him. “Okay.” Her eyes went to the heap of what once had been one of their attackers and was now nothing more than dust and organic material. She shuddered.

  “I won’t leave you here.” He swaddled Martina in the coverlet, and she let him handle her without a comment. When he took her in his arms once more, she burrowed closer to his chest, her face against his skin. He took a few steps toward the door, but a hissing sound stopped him.

  Crawling on the floor, hearts exposed through broken ribcages, the only two vampires he had left alive reached for his ankles. Samuel lowered the heels of his feet on their chests, then moved to the hallway before they exploded, and finally reached the living room. There, eyes on the hallway, he laid Martina on the white couch. He reached for the land line phone he kept on the coffee table. Beside himself, he had to punch Alexander’s number twice, and when his friend answered, he could barely talk. “We were attacked. Call Marcus. Meet me at my place.”

  He hung up with the intention of dialing Barnes next, but a crashing sound coming from down the hallway made him run toward his bedroom. The room was empty. Blood was everywhere. Dark red stains marred the once-immaculate walls, and what was left of the vampires lay on the floor rapidly deteriorating. Samuel checked the bathroom, already knowing Duilio Carta had escaped. One look inside the room confirmed his guess. A trail of viscous blood painted the way the vampire had taken to reach the bathroom’s window that lay broken. From his dresser, he grabbed a change of clothes for him, and one button down shirt and a pair of basketball shorts for Martina. He wore his pants and shirt as he walked back to the living room.

  “Something clean.” He showed Martina the clothes and sat on the couch, his body angled to face her.

  She looked at him, cocooned in the coverlet and still too pale, then she extricated one arm to take the change he was holding out. “Are they gone?”

  “You’re safe now.” He gave her a reassuring smile, but inside he was still shaking. “How do you feel?” He reached his hands inside the coverlet and caressed her neck and shoulders.

  “I don’t know how I feel.” Her eyes watered. “Will they be coming back?” She struggled to don the shirt.

  “No, they won’t. I’ll make sure of it.” He opened the coverlet and uncovered her. “Let me help you.” He lowered the shirt over her head and raised her arms one at a time to slide them into the sleeves. Once on her, his shirt reached past her thighs. He made her step over the shorts and pulled the legs up. Even tying the shorts’ string didn’t make them stay up on her trim waist.

  She sat on his lap, her arms around his neck, her head under his chin resting on his shoulder. “I want this night to end.”

  “I’ll end it. I promise.” He was furious with himself for having put her in danger’s way soon after her ex-husband had almost kill her. “I’m sorry—”

  “None of this is your fault.” She raised her legs and snuggled closer to him.

  Samuel rested his cheek over her head. “It doesn’t feel that way.”

  Martina kissed the
hollow of his throat. “Don’t say that.” She brought her hands down to his chest and pressed them on his heart. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” She murmured a few more words, then relaxed in his embrace and drifted to slumber.

  He waited for her breathing to become regular, placed her on the couch, grabbed the coverlet from where it had landed on the floor and covered her. Then he called Barnes. “I’m going to Castel Gandolfo after the vampire who fled from my apartment. Clear my way of any bureaucracy crap,” he said after summarizing the attack. Finally, he made the most important call. “Ophelia, I need you to watch over Martina as Marcus, Alexander, and I take care of something.”

  “Samuel—”

  “And please, could you bring a complete change of clothes for her?”

  Ophelia’s answer wasn’t immediate. After a moment, she said, “Anything for you.”

  Samuel thanked her, and closed his eyes in the knowledge his friends would arrive soon. In his long life, he had never asked for help. Used to solving his own problems, he had never experienced the solace only a friend can bring in times of trouble. After a millennium spent in exile, he had forgotten what it meant to be part of a group. Despite what Martina had seen in him, a man surrounded by friends, he hadn’t realized oneness could be found in the arms of a lover or in a, “Yes, I’ll be there for you,” from someone who cared what happened to you.

  When Alexander and Marcus arrived, Samuel had worked out a plan of action he explained to them.

  Chapter Ten

  Martina dozed on and off the whole time Samuel spoke to his friends. She heard the knocks on the door and the greetings, but she was too tired to keep her eyes open. Samuel sat by her and caressed her back as he, Alexander, and Marcus waited for Ophelia to arrive. She wasn’t sure she wanted the werewolf to babysit her, but what had happened earlier proved she didn’t have a chance should any other paranormal show up uninvited. She mused about that particular myth being unfounded after all. In real life, vampires didn’t need permission to enter someone else’s property. In a moment of lucidity, she also realized she was in deep shock. Otherwise, she would be as scared as Samuel sounded. Instead, she could only focus on his nearness and his touch. Brief anxiety possessed her when he moved and she didn’t feel his hand on her, but he was soon back, and she relaxed once again.