Separated by the Sea

Broken Pieces

Dez POV
I stood there, frozen.
“What?” It was a whisper. “How?!”
“He lost a lot of blood and was really hurt. Almost every bone in his body was broken. I'm sorry, but we did everything we could.”
I hung up the phone and threw it at the door. I didn't even know how to react. I wanted to cry, scream, kill people, die, but instead I fell to the floor and laid there in silence. He was gone? My mind couldn't really comprehend things like this. Like when my father died, it was the end of me. He was my world as a child, and Piero was my life as a woman. My life had no purpose without him. What could I possibly do now?! I could hear Eleonora and Maria crying loudly downstairs. That dreaded phone call from the hospital. I'm going to kill that lady and burn that wretched hospital down.
I hate how the last memory I have of him is me holding him in my arms and looking at how broken he was. I wish I could have said goodbye, in a more happy environment, but I would never get the chance. He was so young and there were so many things he never did. He deserved to have it all, but he quickly gave it all up for his sister.
My heart was aching, my chest felt like it was caving in, and I couldn't breathe. He was really gone. I cried remembering the small amount of times we were together. The concert in LA, our 1st date, him inviting me to his home, that magical evening at the castle, Piero's failed attempt to show me how to drive, when he told me what he was, how he was totally brave and rescued a kid from a pedophile, how he managed to stay patient with me when I turned, and that epic battle with Darren over me. He couldn't be gone. There was no way…
I showered for a long time letting my tears mix with the water falling onto me. After, I zombied over to my room and fell onto the bed. I just laid there, not even trying to sleep. How did it all happen so fast? The vampires attacking us, Maria getting taken or lost, Piero going after her, and then he gets killed. I held onto a pillow and ripped the cover on it into shreds. I pondered possibly going hunting in my wolf form, but never tried before. Why not? Life is short anyway, I might as well try new things.
I jumped out of the bed and quietly went out of my room.  Maria's door was a crack open and Chris was in there with her, holding her as she cried. I don't know who he is and I hated to see him so close to Maria. Meh, it was her business. It's Piero's job to take care of her-. I choked a sob. Was his job. I scrambled down the stairs wanting to get as far away from here as possible. His scent was everywhere, his things, his memories.
I threw open the front door and sprinted into the woods, shifting into my majestic form. The air was crisp and felt wonderful sifting through my fur as I ran to nowhere in particular, leaping over fallen trees and wildlife. I lost track of how far I went and found a clearing. I sped up a hill and perched upon a stone. The forest was below me and I could see Piero's house in the distance. The sounds of nature were calming and the stars spotted the sky around the glowing moon. My inner wolf cried out in a mournful howl against the injustices of life. I was lost, my other half gone.
“Wow someone's being dramatic.”
I turned to see Gianluca sitting on a rock near me.
“Did you follow me?!”
“Of course I followed you. I'm not going to let you just run off so you get lost and eaten by bears. I promised Piero I would watch out for you.”
“You did?” Why would he of all people offer to take care of me?
“Piero is my best friend and I will always look out for him. That is, I'm doing it for him, not for you.”
Now that made sense.
“Fair enough. You can leave now. I can see myself back on my own.”
“I know you're still mad at me and I hate us being this way. I want to apologize for being a bit of a jerk and insulting you and your mother. I have been dealing with someone lately, and I can't seem to get her out of my head.”
I tried to smile, but my wolf just bared her fangs. “A girl? Oooh, Gian has the hots for someone!”
“No, it's not, it can't be, that way. Yeah I'm attracted to her, but it could never happen.”
“You're just scared she doesn't like you back.”
“No, well that too, but, ugh.”
“What then? Oh don't tell me, she's human.”
“Worse. A vampire.”
“A vampire?! After all they've done to us and you like one of them?! They killed Piero!!”  I snarled and glared at him.
“No, I don't like her. I don't know what it is-”
I ran past him and sped into the trees. How could he?! He was going to join their side?! I wasn't watching my surroundings and a branch sliced my side. I howled and tripped over a protruding tree root, falling and scraping my face on the earth. My fur was wet and it hurt to move. Every twitch made blood gush out more. Gianluca caught up with me, still in his human form.
“What did you do?!”
He looked at the gash and grimaced.
“Is it that bad?”
“Yes. I'm going to carry you back, okay?”
I nodded and he gently lifted me up. I whimpered as the cut burned with the movement.
“I'm sorry. I'll try to keep you as still as possible.”
I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. He carefully treaded back through the trees, probably back to the house.
“I'm sorry about my drama, Gian. It's your life and you have the right to love anyone you want. It wasn't your fault Piero was killed. I shouldn't have blamed you for it. Thanks for not just leaving me here to bleed out and die, even if I deserve it.”
“You can be a pain sometimes, but you don't deserve to die. Neither did Piero.”
His warm chest and the rhythmic pounding of his heart began to lull me to sleep.
“No Dez! Don't fall asleep!”
He picked up speed and the extra movement made the gash bleed more.
“Don't go so fast, you're making it bleed more!”
“Then stay awake! You lost too much blood and you might not wake up!’
My eyes were getting really heavy, and I  knew that I was in Gian’s arms, but for some reason my subconscious thought they were Piero's. I was safe in his strong embrace, he would take care of me…
“Destiny!”
As I dozed off, I naturally shifted back into my human form. Gianluca shrieked and set me on the floor.
“I'm not looking!” He pulled off his shirt and covered me. Gian shook me until I woke. I tried to open my eyes, but they were too heavy. He picked me up again and ran the rest of the way back. His hands were warm on my bare skin.
“I'm sorry I had to do this. I know it's inappropriate, and Piero will probably kill me for doing this.”
“Piero…” I muttered in my dreamlike state.
Gianluca kicked the front door open and called for Clover and Maria. Maria came running down the stairs wiping tears from her eyes and Chris was behind her. Clover stumbled out of her room, shaking out the drowsiness. Maria was shocked to see my state and Gian holding me that way, also not wearing a shirt. Chris glanced at me and quickly turned away.
“I didn't see anything!” he shrieked.
“What happened?!” Clover cried, looking at the large gash on my side that was still bleeding.
“She got cut by a branch out in the woods,” Gian explained as he set me down in Clover’s bed, which was the nearest room. “Can you and Mariagrazia take care of her? I don't think I should be seeing her right now.”
They nodded and Gian sped out of the room. “Gian! Get some cleaning supplies!” Maria yelled.
“On it!” he called from outside the room.
Clover frowned looking at the cut. “What were you doing out there this late?!”
“I couldn't sleep, so I went out for a run.”
There was a knock on the door.
“I got the stuff,” Gian said through the door.
Maria opened the door a crack and grabbed the supplies. “Thanks.” She brought the materials over and spread them out on the bed.
“So, first we have to disinfect the cut. It's going to hurt a lot, ok?” Clover asked, worried.
“Do whatever you gotta do ladies,” I stated.
Maria handed Clover the disinfectant, grimacing as Clover cleaned the cut. The stinging was unbearable and I was groaning and crying the entire time. Clover finally applied the bandage and I was surprised I didn't punch or kick her after. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my side and I laid back down.
“How am I going to get to my room? Where will you sleep?” I asked Clover.
“We’ll just swap beds tonight,” she said with a small smile. How was she always so cheerful, even in the worst times?
Maria brought in some of my clothes and they helped me put it on.
“Can you get me some aspirin for the pain?”
“Sure.” Clover left to get it and Maria sat next to me on the bed.
“I can't believe he's actually gone,” she said, staring at the wall.
“Stop reminding me. It's so awful.”
“I don't think I'll be able to survive the funeral.” She started to cry and seeing her cry made me cry too. We just stayed there crying like a bunch of freaks until Clover came back and then she started crying too. It was so ridiculous that eventually we started laughing at the nonsense.
“Well, thanks for the help ladies. See you in the morning?”
“Of course!” they said in unison and giggled.
“Now get out of here you hyenas. I'm tired.” I smiled as Maria shut off the light and closed the door. They are such great people and deserve the world. Hopefully they have the chance one day to achieve everything they ever dreamed. 

Author Babblings:

Sorry for the short chapter, it was mostly a continuation of the last one.

If you had a chance to talk to Piero Barone, what would you say? Comment plz!

Also, Happy Holidays!! 🎄🎁🎉