Hadrian's Wall (60 page)

“Hello?”

There was a moment of silence before I heard
the unmistakable sound of his voice...

“Are you okay?” The hoarse, deep voice
vibrated next to my ear, causing a shiver of pleasure.

I noticed a hint of anxiety
in his, but also irritation. Well, I had a right to be irritated
too. It was he who said in words that sounded more “friendly” that
I need to take charge of my life. So...what happened to all of the
talk about “making free choices outside of his influence”?
Was it just blah, blah, blah?

I took a deep breath, trying to not let
everything I was thinking spill out of my mouth.

“I’m fine,” I tried to say
as casually as possible...
blasé,
actually
.

I heard an exasperated sigh from the other
side of the line.

“So as soon as I turn my back and you
immediately try to jump off a cliff?”

“Very funny.”

He laughed without humor.

“I didn’t realize that the party was a
warm-up for the Olympics,” I added.

This time he really laughed.

“If you had used half of the sarcasm with
Verano that you use with me, he probably would have left you alone.
Poor Stephen almost had a heart attack!”

He seemed playful,
soft...too soft...as if a storm was building up between us, hidden
behind his attempt to be gentle. I could
feel
the intensity of lightning, but
I didn’t know when I’d hear the rumble of the thunder.

“So, you know I’m shy with strangers.”

I could swear he was smiling despite his
annoyance.

“This is good...” His voice sounded more
relaxed, confirming my previous impression.

“What’s good? Being shy with strangers?”

“That’s also good...but it’s nice to know
that you don’t consider me a stranger anymore. Therefore, I accept
your sarcasm as a demonstration of affection.”

I shuddered at the sudden
change in atmosphere.
From calm to the
storm?
No way! He was flirting with
me.

“I hope I’m not calling you too late.”
Suddenly he seemed genuinely embarrassed.

I did not want him to hang up so soon, so I
hastened to say, “No, I just got back from the shower room. I was
starting to read the diary that your father sent me.”

I thought he’d make some comment about the
codex, give me some advice or explanation, but instead he was
silent. When he spoke again, he caught me completely off guard.

“The bath was nice?” There was something
different in his voice.

“Wonderful,” I responded with false
naturalness.

My face heated up until I feel my eyes burn,
like when I had the flu. Thank goodness he couldn’t see me.

“You’re dressed for sleep?”

I took a deep breath. Apparently he heard me
and laughed softly.

“Just curious,” he quickly explained.

Of course, a girl with a little more
experience with guys would find the situation funny and more
importantly, she’d be able to respond appropriately, but at that
stage of the game, my brain couldn’t come up with a witty response,
nor could I play the role of a provocative woman. I could only tell
the truth.

“I am.”

“I bet you’re wearing one of those jerseys
that Charity chose for you,” he murmured, his voice sounding like a
caress.

I took a long time to respond. My heart was
galloping in my chest.

“...a demure sweater...with embroidery at
the neckline...” he continued, his words slurring a little.

I knew which sweater he was talking about.
It was lovely. The label said it was silk and came from Paris. It
was deep inside one of the bags that should not have been in my
room when I arrived.

“No,” I said petulantly. “I’m wearing my old
faded T-shirt—the one that says ‘Don’t puke on me!’ and holes that
you would find very sexy.”

He laughed throughout my description. It was
a low, mocking laugh.

“Melissa, you slay me!” He
grunted sounding like someone who’d say:
I’ll get even with you!
“I need to
meet your T-shirt...up close.”

I leaned against the headboard and sighed.
My body was on fire.

“I thought I wouldn’t hear from you for a
long time,” I said, trying to divert the conversation to a less
dangerous subject.

“I know,” he whispered. “I became worried
when Stephen called me. I have a long night ahead and I wouldn’t be
able to calm down until I heard your voice.”

“Did it work? Are you calmer now?”

“On the one hand, yes, but on the other...”
He sighed again. “I’d give anything to listen closely to the sound
of your heartbeat...”

I gripped the phone tightly until my
knuckles started to ache.

“Where are you?” I asked tentatively.

He fell silent.

“Far from home,” he replied evasively.

“Are you coming home soon?”

“Is that what you want?” He asked in a
mocking tone of voice.

“No!” I said breathlessly.

I could hear him take a deep breath.

“I’ll try to be there by the end of next
week, but I can’t guarantee it,” he added with his usual
arrogance.

“Do you promise to do everything possible to
come?”

He was silent for a long time.

“You know I will move heaven and earth for
it.”

I shivered at the passion that I heard in
his voice. I wanted to ask about what he was doing, but decided not
to be nosy.

“Do you like McPherson House? They are
treating you well? How was your day?” He pummeled me with
questions.

I laughed. Apparently, he had no qualms
about being nosy.

“Yes, yes, and good. My day was good, aside
from the shock at Verano’s party.”

I had not finished speaking and I had
already repented. I shouldn’t have brought up this subject again.
What I feared most happened...his mood changed.

“I want you to tell me something and I want
you to be honest,” he said very seriously. “Did Joe Verano hurt
you?”

Hmmm...
Stephen must have told him about the episode in
vivid terms, including the fact that Verano had led me to the edge
of the rock with the intention of pushing me off.

“Look, Melissa...for years Verano has been
trying to get an audience with my father and depending on what you
tell me, my attitude will be one...or another.”

“What does he want with your father?” I
dared to ask, curious.

I thought he was ignoring my question, but
no...

“He wants the family files,” he said,
sounding very annoyed. “The same codices that you’re accessing
right now. I don’t know how he heard about them, but the fact is
that Verano believes the codices can prove the existence of the
Panthers.”

The silence stretched, leaving me restless.
Before he could guess the reason, I decided to distract him.

“I want you to try extra hard to get here
next Saturday.”

I heard him catch his breath and as I
predicted, he was quick to ask, “Why, is something wrong?”

“No, quite the contrary,” I smiled to
myself. “Because I have something to give you...”

I made a mental note to find a frame shop as
soon as possible.

“A gift...for me?” Now he seemed like a
curious child. “What is it?”

“I guess you’ll find out when you get
here.”

He laughed softly, slightly sinister
sounding.

“Not even a hint?”

Revenge is a dish best
served cold
...and I was
delighted.

“Patience is a virtue,” I fired back.

He burst out laughing.

“I bet you waited eagerly to tell me this!”
he said.

“You bet.”

“What a vindictive girl! You finally found
that movie...” He continued to challenge me, but I was
prepared.

“Of course!” I pretended an
offended tone. “It’s the speech of Evelyn in
The Mummy
.”

“Very good!” He praised in a condescending
tone.

“I wouldn’t imagine you liked adventure
films.”

“Why not?”

“Well, how can I explain... I thought you
liked intellectual movies.”

“Again, I have the impression that you think
I’m a boring guy,” he laughed. “Well, I liked the movie, yes.”
Naturally, the whole time I was rooting for poor Imhotep.”

I laughed softly.

“You had to root for the villain, of
course.”

“I don’t exactly see him as a villain,
rather as a tortured soul for loving too much. I could identify
with him,” he said in a wistful tone.

Hmmm
... This talk was getting serious and I couldn’t handle it.
Besides, I wasn’t interested in knowing anything about Adrian’s
love affairs.

“If I remember correctly, the actor who
plays Imhotep is quite charming. With his manly bare chest...” Oh,
God! I started laughing before I could finish my sentence. I meant
to sound sexy, but I only managed to sound affected.

“By chance, are you giving me an indirect
order to take my shirt off for you?” He imitated my pathetic
attempt at sounding sexy.

One of the things I liked most about Adrian
was that he knew how to pick up and run with the joke.

“You bet your life,” I answered in an
insolent way.

“Be careful...” he growled, pretending to be
dangerous. “You might end up with more than you can handle.”

“Promises, promises...” I shot back with the
same casual tone even though I was quivering with excitement.

He chuckled and then, silence enveloped us
again. I didn’t know what to say in order to resume the
conversation and apparently, he didn’t either.

“I wish you were here,” I confessed.

I heard the sound of his breathing get
heavier.

“I know,” he replied gloomily. For just a
second, his voice emanated sharp pain. “I have so many things to
resolve, things that require my attention, but being with you, even
virtually makes me feel better.”

I should thank Joe Verano. I might even buy
him a gift! If Adrian didn’t think that I was in danger, I suspect
he would have taken much longer before he contacted me.

“I miss you,” I said
anxiously. I
really
wanted him to believe it.

He hardened his voice a little. “Don’t do
that. You have much to occupy yourself. Be disciplined, try to
study hard, do your work...” His voice was losing its hardness and
becoming playful again. “Brush your teeth before bed. Put on your
old, sexy T-shirt... preferably over red lacy lingerie.” His voice
was now just a sensual whisper. “Red looks good against your
skin.”

“Ah, but I have cotton panties that are
breathtaking. Bloomer short model, you know?”

We burst out laughing.

“All right, Dad!” I said as soon I recovered
my breath. “I promise to study, brush my teeth and everything
else...”

“I hope so... I have to go,” he said,
suddenly sounding tired; however, he made no move to
disconnect.

“What a shame,” I replied, not knowing what
else to say. I could tell that he didn’t want to end the call, but
I didn’t want to seem clingy.

“No, you have to rest,” he said, now more
decisive. “By the way, are you still feeling some pain in your ribs
or having difficulty breathing?”

I shook my head and then remembered that he
couldn’t see me.

“No, I’m fine...just a little tired.
Maybe...” I hesitated, amazed that I would resort to whining just
to talk a little longer. “I’m feeling a bit feverish tonight.”

I thought I heard a low moan from the other
side of the line and I immediately regretted the low blow.

“The winds that blow over the lake at the
top of the skull are usually cold,” he muttered. “And you just had
a bout of pneumonia. You shouldn’t have ventured over there.”

Oh, how nice to be
pampered
... I’d never had this kind of
attention before.

“But I’m fine now.” The feeling of guilt
prevailed. “It was only a scare. Actually, since taking my shower,
I’m feeling great.”

He paused again. When I started to think
that the call had been dropped, he spoke.

“Promise me you’ll take care ‘til my
return.”

“Sure, sure. I’ll wait until you’re here to
be reckless.”

“Cute.”

“Bye.” I decided to take the initiative,
before I became too sentimental.

“Bye.” He murmured, but he still didn’t
break the connection. Then I understood that he expected me to do
it first. It was with regret that I closed the display.

I spent some time looking at the unit,
feeling myself walking on air. The compulsion to call back him was
almost irresistible, but I decided not to yield. I jumped out of
bed and did a happy half-pirouette.

I fell onto the bed, laughing, even though
my ribs protested.

“Adrian isn’t dating Asia
Chadwick! Adrian isn’t dating Asia Chadwick!” I joyfully repeated
over and over until I was gasping for breath.

22

BACK TO
REALITY

I heard a click...

Almost immediately I felt the evening breeze
rustling my hair, confirming that the window had been opened. But
how? By whom? Although I did ask such questions, my brain was too
slow to order my body to seek the answers—or maybe I was afraid to
unravel the mystery.

Anyway, I could not get out of the stupor I
was in. It was so much easier to take refuge in the dream world!
So, I stayed quiet until someone began to move inside the
bedroom.

As incredible as it seemed, I wasn’t
afraid.

I clearly heard the sound of clothes
rubbing, followed by almost imperceptible footsteps. The
anticipation of what was to come made my heart race and I could no
longer ignore the intruder. However, when I finally mustered enough
courage to open my eyes, all I could distinguish was an athletic
figure standing among the ancient bedposts of my bed.