Returning Shadows

(12) The Power of the Vase Compels You!

CHAPTER 12

The Power of the Vase Compels You!

(Alexis's P.O.V)

I slowly opened my eyes, blinking repeatedly until my blurry vision cleared.

Where the hell was I? Dreaming? I took in my surroundings: I was lying on a comfortable double bed, splayed out on slippery beige coloured silk sheets. The room was decorated in coordinating earthy colours, with matching silk curtains drawn across the windows.

A small lamp in the far corner of the room gave off a dreamy dim glow, casting shadows behind all the objects in its wake.

I turned and rolled over to my left, still convinced that this was just a weird dream.

"And finally Sleeping Beauty awakes. I knew that kiss would work."

I screamed, immediately sitting up and crawling as far away from the guy sitting in the chair next to the bed as I could.

"Oh relax, I didn't actually kiss you," he said impassively with a roll of his dark brown eyes.

I grabbed the china vase on the bed stand next to me and drew it back threateningly. "Stay back! I will use this!" I warned, trying not to sound scared.

The guy leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankle over his knee, obviously unconvinced. "Meow! Someone woke up in the wrong side of the bed...no pun intended."

"Listen, Italiano. You had better tell me exactly why I'm here or I'll—"

"My name is Federico," he interrupted, sounding irritated. "And you should be thanking me. Don't you remember what happened?"

I thought back to when I was in the graveyard. I tripped over, and someone caught me...

I brought a hand up to feel the back of my head for any signs of bruising.

"No, I didn't hit you over the head, gattino. You fainted." He rolled his eyes again as if this was the most boring conversation of his life.

Well then it was his fault I fainted. He shouldn't have sneaked up on a girl in the middle of a graveyard at night. Of course I'd be freaking scared! "Why am I in your bed?" I demanded.

"Because I'm a gentleman, and gave up my bed for the damsel in distress." He fixed his eyes on the vase held above my head and sneered. "And look how you repay my generosity."

"What were you doing at the cemetery at night?"

"I'm sorry, but I refuse to be interrogated in my own home, by a girl threatening me with a damn vase." He suddenly stood and swiped the object straight from my hands before I had chance to react. "And it happens to be antique. I would be extremely pissed if you broke it." He placed it carefully onto the bookshelf behind him.

I scrambled off the bed and backed up against the wall, fumbling behind me for the door handle, horrified when it wouldn't open.

"Looking for this?" Federico pulled a silver key out from his pocket. "Here. Take it."

I eyed it sceptically in my hyperventilated state.

He tossed it onto the bed, and my eyes followed it like a cat with a mouse as it landed on the soft sheets. Quickly, I rushed over to it, snatching it up in my hands.

"Just know this; I know people, people you won't like. If you breathe a word about any of this to anyone, I will personally make sure that you live to regret it... or rather, don't live to regret it," he added with a devious smirk.