Atlantis (34 page)

“
Che vuoi fare, Miele? (What would you like to do honey?)” Elliott asked. Raindrops fell from his chocolate hair. I looked up into his hazel green eyes and smiled.

“
Come? (What?)” I asked.

“
Niente. (Nothing.)”

It hadn’t occurred to me when Elliott spoke. But when another language flowed from my tongue I was taken aback as this memory played out in my dreams. Here we were, in the Italy of 1719. It only made sense that we spoke Italian. No, I spoke Italian. But as the present-day spectator me watched this movie play out, I realized that I probably had been speaking Italian the last time I dreamt of this era. Since I already knew it all, my thoughts automatically translated. Weird, but cool.

“
Why are you looking at me like that?”

I smiled. He was speaking Italian and I was understanding every word. As I had been distracted by my little discovery, my 1719 self had been distracted by something much better, Elliott’s face.

I gave myself over to my other self and watched history take place.

“
I love you Elliott.” The words flowed from my mouth and I could feel the truth of them resonate in every fiber of my being.

“
I love you too.”

I nibbled my bottom lip as I gazed up into his eyes. “So what do you want to do?” The rain continued to fall on us in the moonlight. “Do you have all night?”

“
All night.” Elliott winked at me. “Actually, there is somewhere I would like to take you.”

“
Anywhere is fine by me. As long as we’re together.” I hugged him close. Our wet clothes clung to our bodies. It was summer now and it was a warm night rain. The gardenias growing up the columns perfumed the cloister and our clothes. It smelled amazing.

He didn’t say a word as he looked down into my blue eyes. His powerful hands cupped my face and neck and then he kissed me as the sky fell down. As Elliott nibbled my bottom lip, his hand moved down my neck, down my shoulder and followed my arm down until our hands were locked. Only when he had me locked in another sort of embrace did he finish the kiss. I followed him as he led me into the church and out of the rain.

We weren’t out of the rain for long, however. Elliott led me silently down Via Duomo. All I did was follow with anticipation.
Where was he taking me?
After five or six blocks I still couldn’t fathom where we were going. I looked ahead as we walked, the moonlight glistening off the wet cobblestones. The rain continued on in a soft drizzle. I couldn’t wait any longer.

“
Where are we going?”

Elliott looked back at me and winked. “Not far my love. It’s a surprise.” His face was alive with as much excitement as I felt. Our energies coursed through our joined hands and increased the butterflies of anticipation every step of the way. I’d always enjoyed the energy of rain, and it was peculiarly intensified with him beside me.

Elliott stopped only once in La Piazza Nicola Amore. A big beautiful rose bush grew up one of the building walls. He paused only to pick me the biggest white bloom and present it to me with a kiss before continuing to pull me towards my surprise.

We walked another six blocks or so before I realized where we were headed, the bay. Elliott slowly led me down to the waters edge. He couldn’t stop smiling. Every time our eyes met, it was like an electric shiver up my spine, tingles.

I stood on the shore, just out of reach of the waves as the tide rolled in. Elliott turned to me and held both of my hands in his. His honey coated voice filled the air. “Lillianna.”

“
Yes?”

“
Close your eyes.”

I scrunched up my face and one of my eyebrows raised.

“
Please, Lillianna.” No one could resist that voice.

I closed my eyes. The smell of the salt water seemed more potent now that I was paying attention. His hands let go of mine and I peeked out of my left eye.

He was watching me. “Keep them closed. You don’t want to ruin the surprise, do you?”

I re-shut my eye. In the darkness I listened as the pebbled shore crunched beneath his feet. He moved away from me but he didn’t go far. The waves were making it difficult to distinguish individual sounds. I did hear something swoosh through the air like a sheet beating on the clothesline. But then it went away, leaving the music of the ocean.

The rain was barely a drizzle now. I felt fewer and fewer drops hit my face. It hadn’t been more than a few moments, but I have never been the most patient person. I was about to peek when the tingly sensation hit me hard and strong on my lips. My eyes flew open in surprise as Elliott pressed his lips to mine. He smiled at me, but didn’t stop. He grabbed my neck to pull me in closer. His warm hands sent more waves of electricity down my spine. I couldn’t help but swoon.

When he pulled away, I could only stand there bitting my lip and staring into his emerald eyes. Elliott’s teeth shone bright as his smile reached his ears. “So, what do you think?”

I had been too caught up in Elliott that I had completely spaced the surprise. I looked over, and in the water was a small row boat with a big umbrella propped up at an angle coming out of it. I smiled back at him.

He took my hand and led me to the place to step into the boat. “After you.”

“
Thanks.” I took a seat under the umbrella. There was a blanket and bottle of wine on the floor beside me. Water continued to fall from the sky.

Elliott pushed the boat away from the shore, getting wet up to his knees in the process. He climbed aboard and assumed the rowing station. We were silent as he rowed us out into the gentle waves of the protected bay. I think we were both enjoying the atmosphere of love and raindrops too much to clutter it up with words.

When we were out a ways in the bay, Elliott quit rowing to come and sit beside me. He wrapped the blanket around both of us, more for comfort than warmth. Just being near him was enough heat for me. He popped the cork of the wine bottle.

He tilted his head down to look me in the eyes. “Sorry, I forgot glasses.”

He handed me the bottle. “That’s alright.” I took it and took a sip. “Thanks for everything Elliott. This is amazing.” He cuddled closer.

“
I thought you would like it.”

We both looked out over the water. The reflection of the moon bouncing on the waves while the moon itself was busy being our light. The salt water filled the air. I put my rose in my lap and took another sip of wine. “This is the best surprise ever.”

Elliott took the bottle as he looked at me with a funny expression on his face. His eyebrows knotted up in confusion before he took a sip and smiled.

“
What?” I asked.

“
This isn’t the surprise.” His tone was even as though that should be obvious. I looked around trying to figure out what he was saying.

“
I don’t think I get it. What is the surprise then?” My shoulders shrugged up.

Elliott leaned in and whispered in my ear. He was so close I could feel his lips brush my skin. “I’ve found a way for us to be together.”

I whispered back with a soft sarcasm. “We
are
together.”

“
Forever.”

Chapter 16. Raindrops

The next thing I saw was nothing. It was utter darkness. There was a musty smell of stale air and dirt. A soft powdery texture was under my fingers.
But wasn’t it raining?
I rolled over as dim rays of the setting sun broke through the still cracked door.

I hate when I wake up in the middle of a really good dream!
Especially since I was certain it was more than a dream. A memory maybe? But much, much more vivid. I let a low groan escape from my lips as I crawled my way to standing. I felt my way towards the opening. Pushing open the heavy wood door, I squinted my eyes in preparation for light, but there wasn’t much. It must be late. How long had I been asleep?

The crunch of the dead leaves sounded under my feet as I slowly walked home. So many things were racing through my mind. Elliott, Italy, and my fight with Nicholas were at the top of my list. I found myself glancing down at the ring on my hand when a certain memory came flooding back into my thoughts.

The camera!

The beats of my heart made time with my feet as I ran the rest of the way home. I wasn’t thinking about anything but getting to that camera as fast as possible. I didn’t even break from the trees to the street in stealth, as I usually did. I should have been more careful.

I made it up to my room without encountering my mom, Soph, or Nicholas (an even more amazing feat). The desk drawer was opened in a flash and I quickly snatched the camera out, grabbed my red tattered journal, and tucked myself in the solitude of my closet.

Quiet as a mouse, I turned the camera on. There was a message.

I’m okay. See you soon. Hopefully.

Miele. What happened?

I dropped the camera in my lap and flipped through my journal to a blank page.

Sorry. I was taking a bath and something happened. Did I project on my own?

I crossed my fingers and took a picture of the words I had just written.

Sorry. I was taking a bath and something happened. Did I project on my own?

You’re getting close mia amore. I can feel your energy more clearly every day. Can I tell you something? I have a theory that might help you project.

I couldn’t write the words fast enough.

Yes! Please! Anything that will help me figure it out would be great!

Click. View.

Yes! Please! Anything that will help me figure it out would be great!

I hate to say this...

What!?
Elliott can’t seriously leave me hanging like that. But there was no more. I zoomed in to see if I had somehow missed part of his message. Nope. Nothing else. I wrote: