L'Anima Ladro, InkWeaver [summer beach reads TXT] 📗

of room to offer.” He had a good point, I relented.
Then I saw the room he’d chosen for me. It was as big as his own, and came complete with an entertainment system; a huge, four-poster bed; its own master bath; and a computer.
“You have got to be kidding me.” I mumbled.
“You don’t like it? I could try to find a better room for you.” He said, seemingly hurt and confused. I quickly corrected him.
“I like it. I mean…its great and all…” I said, “It’s just that… I don’t need anything this fancy. A stable would be perfectly fine.” Romeo brightened, and started laughing.
“You are the strangest girl I’ve ever met. What girl doesn’t like fancy techno stuff?” He laughed again.
“I don’t know…probably a werewolf. But most vampires would be dying to take it apart and see how it works. I have to admit, I’m not getting any urges to do that.” I joined in his laughter this time, and didn’t voice any more objections about the room. Of course, I had some, but I didn’t tell Rome that. He seemed to be trying to please me.
I have to admit, though, I did sleep good that night.


Chapter 14

I woke at dawn. Not a big surprise. Werewolves, contrary to popular belief, need little sleep, and could be classified as both night and day creatures.
What did surprise me, though, was the bundle by the foot of my bed. Clothes, jeans and T-shirts. Perfect.
I laughed at Romeo’s choices. There were a few wolf shirts from the zoo, and more than a few ‘team Jacob’ shirts. The jeans strayed anywhere from dark to light, shorts to pants, but they all had something in common; no designer labels. I sighed in relief.
Then a servant came in. “Mr. Anima requests your presence at his table.” I gave him a look.
“In English?” I asked, slightly irritated.
“Mr. Anima requests your presence at his table.” The servant repeated again, if slightly slower. I stood, having already dressed. And followed the man, since that seemed to be what he wanted.
Apparently he meant that Romeo wanted me to eat breakfast with him. The servant looked a little skeptical when all I took from the food offered was the hot chocolate. (I was fond of chocolate, not poached egg). Only after all the workers left the room did Romeo speak.
“Did you like the clothes? I had my girlfriend pick them out.” He said, “Sara has good taste.” I sputtered through a sip of hot chocolate, barely managing not to dump it down the front of my shirt. I started coughing. I glared at Romeo when he started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I finally managed to hiss.
“I was kidding, Nik.” He replied still laughing. Okay, it was too early for this. I might not be tired in the mornings, but I was cranky.
I lunged at Romeo, growling. It wasn’t a blow that would have seriously hurt him, but it would probably break the chair. But I never got a chance to figure out what would happen; Romeo simply stood and caught me.
“Good morning to you too, sunshine.”
“Bite me.”
I didn’t expect Rome to actually growl at the comment. But he did. And a split-second later, I was pinned under him. It happened so fast I didn’t even know what hit me.
Romeo seemed to realize this, and grinned wickedly. “Don’t tempt me.” Then I was on my feet, and it was as if nothing had happened.
I glared at him again. “Guys.” I muttered darkly.
“Somebody needs food.” He retorted.
“I ate yesterday.”
“A rabbit? For two days?” That shut me up. He was right; even the fattest hare wouldn’t satisfy a wolf for more than half a day, maybe even a full day, given my size.
Rome read my look and disappeared through a door. I sipped my hot chocolate, and waited, expecting him to be back any second. When he didn’t return I realized that he must be going at human speed.
It took him a few minutes to return, and when he did, it was with a backpack filled with two extra sets of clothes, one for each of us, and stuff to clean up with. Smart.
He grabbed one of the numerous sets of keys off the wall and said a quick, “Let’s go.” And then we were in the Jeep.
“Why a car?” I asked, confused. We could run faster than this car could go.
“Do I look like the hiking type to you? A servant is bound to be suspicious if he sees me walking off with no money, no car, and you.” Romeo laughed. “Besides, we have a little time to talk this way, even if you do try and bite my head off at every little joke.”
I pointedly ignored his last comment. “You’re right. But a Jeep? That Jaguar would go faster.” Rome sighed.
“It would…but I dented it yesterday. It was my favorite car too...” I sucked in a breath. I’d almost forgotten. I felt rather bad bringing it up again.
“Yeah. Anyway…we’ll reach a good spot soon.” Romeo continued. “Then we’ll hunt.” I nodded, and leaned my head against the window, feeling the coolness of the glass even through my thick hair.
We pulled off onto a path not long after Rome said this. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he said ‘soon’. “Food…” I mumbled excitedly. Now that I was getting a chance to hunt, I realized just how hungry I’d been. That hare really hadn’t been that big.
“I’m going to leave the backpack in the car. Meet me back here when you’re done.” I grunted, already in wolf form. He followed my lead and dropped to the ground. Soon we were both darting through the trees.
We were faster than anything imaginable, as wolves; faster than those so-called ‘vampires’ on Twilight. Romeo himself was even faster than me, since he was a gargoyle. He kept his pace matched to mine. I was happy to have a chance to clear my head; amid the peace and serenity of the forest.
All the harsh light dropped upon us from the sun was muted into a sweet green glow; as glow as the trees whose leaves the canopy was made up of. Moss sprouted, clouding the darkest of the browns. It was spring, and everything was bright.
It was made even better when I sunk my teeth into the buck that we shared. It took three more deer to fully satisfy us, but we enjoyed the chase, even with a prey as pitiful as these.
Yum. Rome rumbled in his deep mental voice. I’ve never really like deer before. I guess I had all of the flavor cooked out. He let out a coughing howl that I was just able to call a laugh.
I don’t think I’d be wise to order raw meat, Romeo. I told him jokingly. He pounced at me, and I ducked. When I felt nothing, and heard Rome laughing, I glanced up. He was standing over me, still with all paws placed flat on the ground. I didn’t even feel the tickle of his longer-than-average fur.
You’re shorter than my stomach. He told me.
You’re fatter than a king. I retorted.
Then you’re all the shorter. I growled at his response, and jumped up, knocking him off his paws. We rolled over and over until he had me pinned, simply because he was larger.
Then he did something surprising; he morphed back into his gargoyle form. I wondered why he changed, but decided that I’d ask questions once I myself was back in human form.
I morphed quickly. “Why did you change?” I asked worriedly. I wondered if I upset him.
“You didn’t do anything wrong. I just remembered something I’d like to show you.” He walked closer and pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear.
“You might want to get some clothes on first.” As I informed him, I realized that his cheeks darkened into a kind of gray. He blushed!
I didn’t get much longer to study the flush of his skin, and he was gone. This time it only took a minute for him to return. He came with a bundle in his fists, clothes for me. I was about to blush myself, when I realized that I still had my wolf-skin under-dress on.
Even so, I slipped on the clothes without complaint, and rather quickly too. “So…” I began, “What do you want to show me?” He cocked a gracefully pointed ear.
“I believe now would be a good time; there’s not that many people around.” He informed me, “Do you know anything about a gargoyle’s structure?”
I didn’t ask why he questioned me, rather, I replied, “I’m surprised you have to ask, given the fact that I usually have to remind you to put on your clothes after you change back.” He blushed and I laughed.
But suddenly he became serious again. “Do you know that we have wings?”


Imprint

Publication Date: 05-03-2010

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
I dedicate this to all the lovers of the writen word.