Hair, Greg - Werewolf 03 (9 page)

Chapter 18: Requiem

It was dawn the next day, the day of the wedding, when a gondola silently slipped up to the dock on Poveglia.

“Ryker, hun, there’s lots of hotels in Venice. Why is everyone staying here? The building is so rundown?”

“We’re trying not to attract too much attention. Renting entire hotel floors and such.” Ryker’s mind had been racing to provide logical answers to Annelise since he’d reconnected with her at Burghausen.

“This is Alessandro’s home,” said the Italian. “A beautiful home, it is.”

“Sometimes you remind me of some character from a science fiction movie,” Annelise said. “A little, green guy with big ears. I can’t remember his name.”

Ryker looked back at Alessandro who had a puzzled look. He then looked at Katarzyna, who sat closer than she needed to Alessandro.

“Don’t worry,” said the Dane. “I know who she’s talking about. It’s okay. He’s a good guy.”

The four disembarked from the boat, and approached the Octagon, the main building on Poveglia.

“Annelise!” cried LillyAnna from a second-floor window in the Octagon.

Seconds later, the werewolf was outside, running into Annelise’s arms. Ryker turned, looking for Alessandro’s assistance with LillyAnna, but found the Italian vampire had disappeared. Katarzyna approached to help.

“Why are you crying?” asked Annelise. “I missed you, too, but are you upset about something?”

“Well, yes—you, and everything you—“

“We are so sorry, Lilly,” began Ryker, “that we are late in joining you guys on vacation. We were tied up with some things. I can see that you’re still upset that we didn’t come down when you did, but we’re here now. So, let’s say nothing more. Where’s Landon?”

“Hi, I’m Katarzyna,” said the Polish vampire, extending her hand.

LillyAnna, shaking the woman’s hand, gave Ryker the same puzzled look that Alessandro had given Annelise.

“Landon’s inside,” she said.

“Will you please take my wife to our room, and tell her about all the shops you’ve already found since you’ve been here. I know she’s eager to go shopping with you. I need to speak to Landon about certain…behavior modifications, now that we’re down here. Katarzyna will go with you, and quietly fill you in.”

“Umm, sure.” LillyAnna wrapped her arm through Annelise’s, and led her, and Katarzyna, into the building.

About an hour later, with word having traveled around the tiny island about how to act with Annelise, Ryker walked with Landon toward the other end of Poveglia.

“We’re near the field,” said the werewolf. “I think we’re close. There’s a slight charge starting to fill the air.”

“I don’t know why he just vanished like that.”

“I’m gonna have to get back soon. Got a wedding to get to get ready for, you know. I can’t believe I’m actually getting married tonight.”

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. By the way, do you have everything you need for that?”

“Everything but a priest. The guy that works for the church we’re using is out of town. It was kinda short notice on our part.”

“Well, we’ll find one. We always get what we need when we’re supposed to. By the way, thanks for showing me the video, of Jamie’s wedding. I’m sorry now that I asked to see it, but a couple of vampires had mentioned it, so I needed to see it. I just wish now that I hadn’t.”

They stopped in the middle of the field at the other end of the island.

“He’s here,” said Landon. “But I can’t get a lock on him.”

“He’s moving, fast, behind the trees surrounding the clearing. I think he’s trying to throw us off, like he doesn’t want to be found. You know, he was actually acting strange on the way back to Venice. I just wasn’t really paying attention. Had Annelise on my mind.”

“Alessandro!” called Landon. “We know something’s going on. We can’t help if you won’t let us. Come on out and talk to us.”

Silence answered him for several seconds, then suddenly, Alessandro appeared in flash, standing before them.

“Alessandro wishes to not talk to anyone, right now.”

“Well…too bad,” said Landon. “We’re your friends, and we want to know what’s going on.”

The Venetian vampire lowered his head, almost in shame.

“Alessandro is remembering things. Before I was the way that I am.”

“You mean before you were turned?” asked Ryker. “You’re remembering your human life?”

Alessandro nodded.

“What is it you remember?”

“Alessandro does not know the year of his birth, but knows he is very old. He was a man of God in the beginning.”

“The beginning?” asked Landon.

“The Church, I think,” said Ryker. “Is that what you mean, Alessandro? You were a priest in the early Church?”

“Yes. Then Alessandro became a man of medicine, as well. In the region of Mugello, north of Florence, Alessandro lived.”

“Mugello region? Why does that sound familiar to me?” Ryker asked, almost to himself.

“What is it?” Landon asked.

“I don’t know. It’ll come to me in a minute. Go on, Alessandro.”

“And I met my beautiful wife, Carina. The most beautiful woman who ever lived.”

“Did you hear that, Ryker? He just used ‘I’.”

“Probably because he’s going so deep within.”

“We were married there, in that region of Mugello, where I called home. And we had children. I am a father. Or, was rather.”

Ryker suddenly snapped his fingers.

“That’s it. I know where I’ve heard the name Mugello.”

“Well, what is it? What’s the big deal?” asked Landon.

“Landon, standing before you, though I don’t think he knows it, is the original Medici. Alessandro is the founding member of the powerful banking family of the Renaissance, those who commissioned great works of art, and produced popes and queens. Our Italian friend, here, is living history.”

“That is all Alessandro remembers, now. The rest is very dark.”

“Probably because your memories are nearing the point when you were turned, and you’re still blocking that,” said Ryker.

“Listen, Alessandro,” began Landon, laying his hand on the vampire’s shoulder, leading him back toward the Octagon, “everyone here is your friend. Don’t carry this burden, the weight of these memories, alone. People here are helping me, and we’re helping Ryker with Annelise. We’re all helping Bianca. Understand? We’re more than friends, we’re family. We’re your family, now. Don’t be afraid to talk to us. We need each other now, more than ever, and helping each other to shoulder their burdens will only make us stronger, not weaker.”

Landon looked over to see Alessandro crying.

“Is there anything more, Alessandro?” he asked.

“Yes. One other thing.”

“I think I know what it is,” said Ryker, stopping the threesome’s progress toward the main building. “Is it Katarzyna?”

“Oh, yes. Yes, it is.”

“You haven’t felt what you’re feeling in quite some time,” said the Dane. “And now that you’re feeling them again, you don’t know what to do with them, and you feel guilty. Am I right?”

“Oh, yes. You are right, my friend. I fear…”

“Betraying your wife?”

“Yes.” Alessandro lowered his head, appearing to feel shame.

“It’s okay,” said Landon. “There’s nothing wrong with you feeling this way. You will always love your wife, always. She knows that, and she would want you to be happy.”

“She will not be angry with Alessandro?”

“No,” said Ryker. “And I’ve seen the way Katarzyna looks at you. I can tell you that there’s something stirring in her, for you.”

“Don’t worry,” said the werewolf. “We’re here for you in any way that you need us. It’s been so long since you’ve been down this road. We’ll guide you. But, let’s wait until after the battle, when we get back to Venice, okay?”

“Oh, yes,” said Alessandro. “It is best to wait.”

“By the way, Alessandro” said Ryker, “you mentioned you were a priest?”

Chapter 19: Requiem

Everyone from the small island of Poveglia gathered inside the tiny nave of Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Tiny for a Venetian church, anyway. Ryker, in his black tuxedo with a Windsor tie, his blond hair and beard more prominent than usual, stood at the entrance directing guests where to sit, though there really wasn’t much to that job.

“I’m not sure what side to sit on,” said Catalina. “I’m a friend of both.”

“Yeah,” began the Dane, “we’re not really applying that rule tonight. You sit where you want to. That’s all I’ve been telling people. But, if you’re looking for someone in particular to sit next to, we put Bianca in the front, next to Annelise.”

“I thought she couldn’t walk. Where’s Jacinda?”

“She can’t. We carried her here. And Jacinda’s in charge of music.”

Catalina stepped inside, making her way toward the front pew.

Ryker looked around outside for any late-comers, then stepped inside, closing the large, heavy doors behind him, and motioned to Jacinda. As people stood around the two rows of wooden pews, still talking, she pushed a button—Fiona Apple’s version of Across the Universe began playing.

Landon and Alessandro, both in black tuxes, the former, like Ryker, in a Windsor, the latter being the only one in a bow tie, stepped out with the first guitar notes, as Ryker walked up the marble steps, which were split by a red carpet, toward the altar.

Landon watched the various images of his wedding night unfold, almost in slow motion, as he listened to the song.

Liam and Mara ran in and out of the pews, chasing each other, as Catalina now tried vainly to catch and seat them. The smiles of those in attendance, as they talked and laughed, made him forget what was yet to come, in the next few days.

Moonlight broke through the large round window behind him, shining on the three men, and Annelise, who stood above all others, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

A hundred candles lit the marble walls, making the prophetic figures on the ceiling dance to the joyful noise that rose from below.

Finally, the song nearing its end, Alessandro cleared his throat, and all the guests, even Liam and Mara, who were being ushered by Catalina, one child in each hand, took their seats.

“Did you find a couple of rings?” Ryker whispered in the ensuing silence as they waited for the bride.

“Yeah. I got ‘em.”

“Have you seen the dress?” the Dane asked.

“No. Have you?”

“You just shut your mouth,” Ryker said, smiling, shaking his head as if he’d seen something Landon wouldn’t believe. “Hang on. What’s your favorite color, again?”

Landon looked at him, almost annoyed by the clues he’d already given, then cast his gaze on Alessandro, who appeared to focus his attention, at the moment, on Katarzyna.

Ryker then gave a nod, another cue, to Jacinda.

Suddenly, the beginning instrumentation of Enya’s Caribbean Blue, began. All those in attendance rose to their feet, and turned toward the church entrance.

The doors opened as additional instruments came into play, the notes falling like water droplets on soft ears. No one entered. Enya’s voice began, uttering names in the Greek language.

Then, as the songstress began English incantation of her musical spell that washed over all who could hear, LillyAnna appeared in the doorway.

The Venetian sun, aligned perfectly with the nave of the church, cast its rays upon LillyAnna like a celestial spotlight. To Landon, she appeared as only an angelic silhouette approaching out of the light of God.

Her deep Mediterranean blue, form-fitting dress, allowed her brown, shoulder-length pixie hair to graze a gracious amount of skin at the bottom of the neck. The opening in the front of the chest area projected heart-shaped cleavage.

A silver and blue bracelet shimmered and draped over hand as she held a blue and white bouquet. LillyAnna’s blue shoes peeked out with each step, playing hide-and-seek, and sparkling to those who had a chance to glimpse them.

A medium-length train trailed behind her as she made her way up the red-carpeted marble stairs. When she reached the top, Landon took her arm in his then, only for a second, looked to her back—her bare back that shone, like an ethereal glimpse of heaven, through an opening shaped like a cat’s eye.

He noticed Annelise smiling at him, and returned his attention to the front, just as the song reached its end.

Catalina loudly hushed Liam and Mara, who sat in their pew pestering each other.

“Dearly beloved,” began Alessandro, “you have gathered with Alessandro, here in the beautiful Santa Maria dei Miracoli, to bear witness to the loving union of LillyAnna and Landon in holy matrimony.

“And so, do you, Landon Murphy, take LillyAnna to be your wife? Do you promise to be true to her, to love her, in good times and in bad, all the days of your life?”

“No,” said Landon. A loud, collective drawing of many breaths washed through the church. “I will love her beyond all the days of my life.”

A collective sigh of relief.

“And do you, LillyAnna McCourt, take Landon to be your husband? Do you promise to be true to him, to love him, in good times and in bad, all the days of your life?”

“I’ll make it simple, and not put anyone on edge,” she said, smiling. “I do.”

“Then by the power vested in me, a long, long, time ago, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Landon wrapped his hands around his wife’s back, pulled her in, and kissed her with every emotion his soul could muster. He pulled her in closer as he felt her begin to swoon, becoming heavier, as she nearly passed out.

He finally released her and they turned to face the crowd as Ryker gave a last cue to Jacinda.

The piano that begins Enya’s Book of Days started, leading the bride and groom down the steps, and out the church, as the song reached its stride.

Later that evening, everyone gathered back on Poveglia around a long table draped with a blue and silver spread, and crowned with a towering blue and white cake, topped with a miniature version of the famous Eros and Psyche statue, dominating the scenery. The teens, Connor, Jacinda, Catalina, and Bianca, sitting in a chair, staffed the table. Placed around the cake, and extending down the table that sat in front of the Octagon, were various Italian finger foods. David Gray’s Be Mine played throughout the scene.

On one side of the cake, among the many delectable delights that those in attendance could enjoy, were fava beans and pecorino cheese; stuffed olives; skewered grapes and cheese; and orange-flavored prawns. Strecthing down the table, flanking the other side of the pastry tower, were biscotti; grissini, or breadsticks; thick, little slices of toast, called crostini; and tiramisu.

Lining the walls of the Octagon, were silver carafes of fresh blood.

Landon, watching LillyAnna, still in her blue wedding dress mingling with friends, was pulled aside by Ryker.

“Congratulations,” said the Dane. “Are you two going anywhere? I mean, for the night, of course. Like a hotel, or something.”

“No,” said Landon. “I mean, yes, we are tonight, but as far as an actual honeymoon, there’s no opportunity. There’s just too much preparation to do. We’re going across the way, to a hotel, tonight, but we’ll be back tomorrow. I know I just got married, but I can’t lose sight of the larger issue.”

“Yeah, I figured. When this is all over, you guys can take the longest vacation ever, just disappear for a while.”

“Yeah.” Landon’s volume dropped, nearly to a whisper, as if to himself. “When it’s all over.”

The werewolf walked away, joining his bride who stood talking to Annelise and the teens. He gently pulled her toward a waiting gondola, passing through a parted, waving crowd on their way to the dock.