Bella Vita (38 page)

EMMA!
I heard Dom and Mike in my mind, before
everything turned black.

Chapter
eight

There is a strange place between the living
and the asleep, I want to think that I had slipped into that middle
place. As the pain racked my body, my mind escaped into itself. I
no longer was connected to the world. I knew I was still at school,
and I'm sure if I had focused I could've heard the sounds going on
around me- but my mind couldn't register any more information.

I was lost to blackness and
blinding pain. It was like nothing I ever experienced before, and I
knew in my very core that I wouldn't be able to trace it. I would
never know who had attacked me with what could've been
magic.
Magic?

A part of me realized as
soon as I thought, I was getting my payback for unlocking Mike.
Someone knew.
If I'm in danger, then he
might be in it as well.
The thought was
like cold water in my veins. I tried to break through the pain, to
surface, but as the waves crashed over me again, I decided I had to
wait it out.

I don't know how long I sat there in the
darkness of my mind, trying to flee from the inescapable assault on
my body, but suddenly it just stopped. I felt my connection to
reality begin to materialize once more. Sounds surrounded me, they
all were panicked.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Once I recognized the
sound, I knew I was in a hospital. I listened to the voices around
me- Grandpa, Dom, and several others were whispering; and then I
heard him- Mike.
There is no way I'm
hearing Mike here. He couldn't be?
I was
suddenly very worried for his well-being.

I tried to blink my eyes
open but the effort was too much. I wanted to scream in
frustration. I attempted to move my fingers, but my body didn't
want to respond to me.
Dammit
!
I
mentally shouted and let out a frustrated mental sigh.

Dom?
My words felt thick in my mind as I tried to send them to
him.

No response.

Panic began to take me
over.
What if I'm in a coma?
My link to Mike was my best shot now. I struggled
to bring the connection that hummed gently in the back of my mind
forward.

Mike? Please tell me you
can hear me.
I pleaded through our
link.

Em? Oh my God! We thought
you were going to die! What happened? Why are you only talking to
me?
His frantic words shot through me like
lightening.

I'm so glad someone can
hear me. I can't connect to Dom or move my body or anything. What
is going on? One minute I was sitting waiting for time to pass, and
the next I'm being assaulted by pain. Oh, crap, are you
okay?
I wasn't sure how our physical bond
would react to something like this.

Obviously I'm fine. Can you
hear us though? I don't know what happened. I called when I
couldn't reach you. Dom said you told him you had a weird feeling
and then he lost you. And here we are in the hospital.
He let out a breath.

I can hear all of you, not
as crisp as usual, but I can still hear you. I was shocked when I
heard your voice.
I laughed at
him.

“
Hey, you guys. Emma is
with us. But there is something wrong... she can't move or
communicate, even through your mental talking stuff.” I heard Mike
explain my situation to them.

“
How do you know?” My
grandmother's voice was cold.

“
It doesn't matter,
Winfred. What matters is that she is in there, but can't talk to
us. Michael, does she have any idea what happened? Or how we might
go about fixing this?” Grandpa's voice was calm and
level.

“
I'll ask.” I could imagine
him nodding his head as he said this.
Em,
you heard your grandpa, right?

Yep. You aren't going to
like this, but I think it's payback for unlocking your magic.
Someone knows you have your gift. I don't know what it is, or how
to fix it. Maybe some of the energy healers could be brought in-
Leland and Charlie, oh and the new girl Emmaline. If anyone can
help me get to the point where I might be able to heal myself it
would be them.
I didn't have any idea what
else to do.

“
Um, she thinks that the
attack was in retribution for her unlocking something that was
magically spelled away from me. She isn't sure what it's or how to
fix it. But she suggests that you bring in Leland, Charlie, and
Emmaline- energy healers, to try to help her get to a point where
she can heal herself.” Mike's voice was colored with shame, he was
obviously taking the blame for this.

Don't you dare blame
yourself for the actions of others, Michael O'Shanold. If I were in
control of my body I would so be kicking your arse right
now.
I threatened him.

I don't doubt that, Sweets.
Let me see what I can do about getting you these people.
He laughed at me.

“
Em, I'm so sorry I wasn't
there. I don't know if I could've done something, but I'm so
sorry.” Dom was whispering at me.

Mike, can you please tell
him that it wasn't his fault. I hate all you damn guys thinking you
can blame yourselves for some idiot's actions against me. Tell him,
I'm sure he came as soon as he could.
I
suddenly wanted control of my body, if only to knock the two males
closest to me around.

“
Eh, Dominic, she said that
you shouldn't blame yourself as it wasn't your fault and she is
sure that you came as soon as you could.”
Mike mumbled.

“
Thank you, Mike. I'm sure
this is an uncomfortable situation for you.” I could hear the
respect in his voice.

Mike, what day is
today?
I feared that I had been out for
weeks and my wedding had been pushed away- breaking the vampire
tradition.

Friday. You've only been
out for about sixteen hours. It's morning here.
He was trying to help soothe my worries.

Okay, thanks.
I drifted into silence as I listened to the
people that cared about me.

A slight tingling sensation brought me out
of my almost sleep state- if consciousness can sleep. I was
beginning to feel things in my body. There was a physical pull now
trying to tie me back to my body. It was like a cool breeze had
been let into an old house. My heart beat and pushed the blood
through the veins I couldn't feel before. I still couldn't move or
anything, but just having physical sensations was
awe-inspiring.

Dom?
I tried again to talk to him.

Nothing.

Mistress Hutchinson?
Emmaline's voice drifted in my mind.

Emmaline?
Shock rocked my mind.

Phew. We were worried we
weren't actually helping. How are ya feelin'?
Her voice made me think of sunshine.

Well, I still can't
communicate with others. But I'm getting some sensation back to my
body. I feel... more tied to it.
How are
you guys doing this?
I wanted to know how
my very beginning students had managed to reconnect me to my
body.

Hey, darl. I said this is a
bit much for beauty sleep. Dontcha think?
Leland's smug voice filled my thoughts.

Are you guys working as
one?
I was confused about how the voices
had changed so easily.

Yes, Emma. We pooled our
energy to try and heal you. I'm glad it's working.
Charlie's voice was proud.

I'm impressed. You can take
energy from the world around you as well. But I guess I never had a
chance to really teach you how to apply it. I'm glad to have such
talented students.
I laughed.

Darl, is there anything in
particular we're supposed to be goin' about doin' in here? Or is
just sending healing vibes to you enough?
I could hear the concern he was trying to keep out of his
voice.

For now, you're doing all
that can be done. Once I'm fully attached to myself, I'll be able
to guide you or possibly get it done myself. But don't exhaust
yourselves. Promise me.
I didn't want them
to hurt themselves while trying to help me.

Promise.
I heard their voices echo.

I waited patiently as I felt them working.
Several times I thought that they had stopped for the day, but it
seemed that they had set up some sort of break schedule. My sense
of time was shot, but I never tried to engage them in conversation.
I didn't want to use more of their energy. It took hours before I
knew I was back in my body.

Leland, Charlie, and
Emmaline, I'm completely back in my body. I'll try to restore
myself without putting more stress on you guys. Should I need help
I'll let you know.
My words were warm and
full of thanks.
Thank you guys so
much.

I didn't wait for them to respond- I gently
pushed them from my mind. I needed them to rest. I went through a
mental inventory of myself. Everything was present. My body was
still unresponsive to me. Frustration rolled through me like
thunder.

Well, this is just
stupid.
I didn't know what was
wrong.

I started to think about
Mike and what I had done to him.
What if
this is a spell?
My experience with magic
was very limited, but I knew I could find it if someone had spelled
me. I sank further into my thoughts, searching for what I now
believed would be there.

It was darkness again. If you could imagine
a thick, sticky, spiky web- that's what it was. I found it spread
like peanut butter on toast all over me. I wasn't sure if I should
mentally touch it, but I didn't really have a choice if I ever
wanted to get out of this situation. I knew I could call on the
others for help, but something told me not to. It was as though if
they got involved with getting rid of this mess it would jump on
them; like the spell had been safeguarded.

The beginning of the spell was thick with
knots- meant to stay put. I took a deep breath and cleared my mind.
My energy wasn't as strong as it usually was, and pulling the spell
away from me was draining me fast.

Leland.
I hoped that I could quickly teach them to share
energy.

Emma, darl. What's
up?
His voice sounded concerned in my
mind.

I need help. But I can't
ask you guys to break this spell, I need you to share your energy
with me.
I wasn't sure if I should explain
the whole spell thing or not.

Not a problem. That's why
we're here, babe.
I could feel his smile
and then rush of power flooded me.

Thank you.
I broke away from our conversation with new
determination.

I had to believe that I could rid myself of
it and it would be gone. I went back to unweaving the darkness from
my system. Small pieces were loose, and others began to break away.
Slowly, very slowly, I felt life rush back into my body. I didn't
try to move anything, I wanted to make sure I got rid of the
craptastic spell. I scanned my entire body- searching for any
hidden darkness. When I found none, I relaxed. I sent the borrowed
energy back to my three healers. I beamed with pride for them.

My toes were the first things I wiggled,
then my fingers. Once I was sure they were working, I blinked open
my eyes. Light rained down on my unsuspecting pupils. Tears welded
up and coursed down my cheeks, as my eyes tried to adjust.

“Eh, could someone, eh, hit
the lights?” I squeaked out.

Instantly the room was darker and I was able
to see again. People crammed up against my very tiny hospital bed.
Relief was present in everyone's eyes.

“Hey you guys, whatcha
looking at?” I tried to smile, but my lip cracked and blood tickled
down my chin.

“Aw, Em. I'm so glad you're
okay!” Mike came closer to me and gently put a tissue to my
lip.

“Good to know I was
missed.” I chuckled.

Grandpa gently patted my head, “We were
worried about you. It pleases me to see that spark back in your
eyes.” He smiled.

“You know nothing can stop
a Hutchinson.” I stifled a yawn.

“
Mia bella
, I was so worried. I'm so
sorry.” Dom put his head down next to mine.

“Hey, you should've figured
out by now, I'm one tough cookie.” I smiled at him.

I looked over at my three healers that had
drifted to the edge of the room, allowing my family to close in
around the bed. My feelings were all over the place, but I knew
that these three had helped to save me.

“Hey wallflowers, come bask
in your glory... because you guys seriously kicked some ass!” My
voice only rose slightly, but I knew my words made it to them by
the smiles on their faces.

“Thank you, Emma.” Charlie
actually bowed to me.