[ Mark's penthouse - the next day, early morning ]
" No! Mama! Don't leave me! I'm scared!"
Arabella twisted and turned on that super soft and cozy bed, yet utterly uncomfortable. Her eyes shut tight, sweat beads forming over her forehead… her fingers held tightly onto the pillow… and then…
" Mama, nooo! " A strangled cry escaped her lips as Arabella jolted upright.
Her chest heaved, drenched in cold sweat as if she had been running for miles through that hellish dreamscape.
Eyes wide, she scanned the unfamiliar space…the tall glass walls, the minimalistic dark decor, the soft hum of silence.
Mark's penthouse… nah damn… she was in Mark's room… well, his secondary bedroom to be exact.
Reality trickled in slowly… the dream…a twisted…harrowing,haunting moment from her childhood…retreated like smoke through fingers.
Her heart, still thudding in her ears, slowly started to calm down.
"Just a dream..." she whispered to herself, though her voice trembled with uncertainty. "Just a dream, Bella."
She reached for the glass of water on the side table with shaky hands.
She knew the anxiety had not subsided when the rim clinked against her teeth as she drank. The cool liquid grounded her,gave her some relief but when she blinked her eyes open… her gaze fell upon herself.
Her sleeping gown had slipped slightly from her shoulders ( she definitely had been thrashing in her sleep) , revealing neat white bandages tracing her side, another across her collarbone. More, hidden beneath the silk fabric.
She stilled.
Her fingers moved slowly, instinctively pulling the gown tighter around herself…only to pause halfway.
Her mind had already betrayed her, yanking forth the memory she didn't want to revisit.
And now it was doing so,once more…but this one was more pathetic than before…she remembered the warmth of Mark's hand brushing against her bare skin as he dressed her wounds.
The flicker of hesitation in his eyes when he gently tied off the bandage above her ribs.
The way his breath too had caught, if only just slightly ( or was she imagining…whatever)...when her hand had accidentally brushed his wrist.
"Turn around," she had mumbled , even half conscious, wincing as he disinfected a deeper wound.
"Don't worry I am trying not to look…How am I supposed to dress your wounds if I turn around? I don't have eyes behind my head!" He had muttered, clearly struggling to maintain professionalism…or anger…or annoyance…it was difficult to analyse exactly what Mark felt because he didn't let his emotions show on his face. Not quite often.
"I am trying…but you are not making it easy,girl.Stay still! Stop squirming around. You said you could handle the sting, didn't you?!"
She remembered smiling through the pain, half embarrassed… half wanting to run away… but what happened after that, she didn't remember at all… maybe she blacked out…On second thoughts, well, she actually did!
Now that she was fully awake, her face burned.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of her nightdress.
"Damn it," she muttered, half cursing, half blushing… her cheeks were red hot for no reason… well maybe just feeling the lingering haunting of his touches, creating fresh goosebumps all over. " What's wrong with you, Bella! " She hurriedly stood up as soon as she realised the blunder.
Her eyes darted towards the enormous windows across the room, catching the shimmer of early morning sun casting long golden lines across the hardwood floor.
She walked forward, resting her hand over the glass…and pressing her forehead against the cool surface… looking at the beauty of nature…
When suddenly there was a knock… on the window itself…
Arabella jolted back…before freezing.
She couldn't see anybody… anything… but that knock was unmistakable…
And then…
Another knock…this time, louder…and it echoed from the window's lower level…
Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly searched down.
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to look for what was outside… another vampire? She couldn't rule out the possibility now that she saw two, terrorising in broad daylight!
Arabella's eyes remained fixed on the glass, heart still racing…
Then came another tap , louder this time…
She blinked, inching forward cautiously, each step measured. Her fingers curled by her side, ready to grab anything remotely useful as a weapon…not that a glass of water or a pillow would do much against a vampire. But still…
She leaned forward.
Squinted.
"What the…!!!"
It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the glare.
And then she saw it…A pigeon.
A rather fluffy one, pecking the glass with determined force, as if it had flown a thousand miles to reach her and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.It clearly wanted in…
Arabella stared, mouth slightly open, confusion washing over her anxiety.
"A pigeon?" she muttered, incredulous. "Seriously? I nearly had a heart attack because of you?"
It let out a defiant coo and pecked harder.
"Awww! Little fellow! So cute…Okay, okay! Relax, you stubborn little blob," she murmured under her breath, undoing the latch with a clack… not able to resist that cute aggression.
As soon as the window cracked open, the bird waddled in like it was his house. Its feathers were ruffled, wings slightly drooping. It looked exhausted… but still adorably squishable.
Arabella held her palm out hesitantly. "Hey... you okay?"
It blinked at her with beady eyes, wobbling forward and collapsing right into her lap.
She gasped.
The moment her fingers brushed its feathers, a strange calm fell over her. Her chest, tight and aching since the nightmare, softened.
She cradled the pigeon gently. "You... you are one of Grandpa's birds, aren't you?"
It did respond by tucking its head further inside her palm, of course. But it didn't need to.
"I remember you guys. You always sat on the far ledge of the old cathedral roof." She smiled wistfully. "I used to sneak bread to you, remember?"
She poured some water into her empty glass and dipped her fingers. The pigeon eagerly sipped from her hand, cooing gratefully.
"I can't believe you are here…Did you actually come looking for me?" She whispered, half amazed.
A strange sadness crept up her throat at the remembrance of those innocent old days…
Her hand moved slowly, stroking the bird's soft chest feathers. "You came looking for me because you miss him, don't you? I miss him too, you know. Grandpa. Every single day."
Her voice cracked at the edges.
As she pet the bird absentmindedly, her fingers brushed against something odd beneath its body. It was hard, cold…not a part of the bird's anatomy at all.
"What's this?" she muttered, narrowing her eyes.
She gently shifted the bird and uncovered a small, metal bound object tied to a thin gold chain…an amulet?
Arabella's brows furrowed. "You… were carrying this?"
The pigeon shifted again, cooing softly as she unhooked the tiny clasp. As soon as the amulet was free, she spotted a tiny scroll tucked tightly into its hollow center.
Her heart thudded.
She sat up straighter.
With slightly trembling fingers, she unrolled it.
The leather was old, edges singed at the corners, but the ink was bold, clean and clear… still absolutely legible.
Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes moved across the elegant handwriting.
" To my darling princess Arabella,
If you are reading this, it means the old coot finally kicked the bucket. Don't look so sad, love. I lived more lifetimes than I was owed, and raising you was the finest part of it all. You made this world feel a little less broken.
I know you are probably crying…or yelling at me…or maybe both. I can almost hear you calling me a stubborn mule. Well, you are not wrong. I was stubborn. But so were you. That's how I knew you would survive anything life threw at you.
There were days when we barely scraped by, when the power flickered and we huddled by the stove, pretending it was camping. You always smiled through it, even when I couldn't. You made my gray world gold. And I never told you this enough, but I was proud of you…not for surviving, but for living, even when it hurt.
Now, don't go punching walls or hunting revenge on my behalf. Save your fire for what matters.
But…and here's where you stop sniffling and pay attention, troublemaker…there's something I never told you. In the vault. You know the one. Bottom drawer, red box, basement...old key I told you never to lose. I wasn't just being dramatic. What's inside... It's important. You are important, my little warrior. And the world's about to remember that… but that isn't necessarily a good thing.
However, it's important you know your legacy and what's about to come, so you are prepared well. I have sheltered you for as long as I could.Now it's going to be you vs the cruel world, you might as well be prepared!
Lastly, forgive me for leaving you alone again. I never wanted this day to come. But if I have one request…smile for me once in a while. That crooked little grin of yours could raise the dead.
I love you, my little Bella. Always have. Always will.
Your annoying Grandpa.
P.S. If there in afterlife, it turns out I am wrong and there are indeed unicorns like you always insisted, I will send you a sign. Maybe a flying sock.A rainbow rock. Keep your window and heart open.Live well, my love. "