Chapter 16: When In Rome
Thousands of colours seemed to swirl seamlessly in my mind like a rainbow river going down a celestial plug hole. As they billowed and spun in the invisible wind all that was left behind was a beautiful view of ancient Rome. The scenery seemed like one out of a travel brochure. I rubbed at my eyes in disbelief as people shuffled by in a buzz. I whipped around in search of Angelo or maybe stupid Cupid, but only saw unfamiliar faces in the crowds. Just as I was about to ask someone about where I truly was, a girl with long dark hair bumped into my shoulder roughly.
"I'm so sorry, mister."
My mouth fell open.
Was this girl blind? How on earth could she have mistaken me for a man?
I turned to tell her off properly but the words got stuck in my throat at the sight of her.
Her skin was so pale that as I drew closer to her figure it almost blinded me. She had a long white gown on and straight black hair on top of which a small flower crown sat daintily.
"I didn't mean to run into you. I hope you will be kind enough to pardon me. I am in a hurry you see."
Each syllable she said sang with its own sweet sound.
She tore out her eyes wide like a child after brushing her hair which had fallen in her face upon our collision and that was when I saw it.
Holy shit.
This girl was me!
A less tanned and pure version of me.
I stood there in shock and she took that as a silent confirmation of me forgiving her. After one sweet smile of appreciation, she was on her way.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?"
I jumped as the breath of someone brushed against the nape of my neck.
I looked up to find Angelo, his silvery eyes following my doppelgänger with an expression I had never seen before. It was almost as if he was smitten. Something about him being interested in her caused my skin to itch.
"Not really. She looks a bit too pale for my liking. It easily makes her come off as being sickly, but if you're into those types of girls..." I gave a noncommittal shrug.
"I prefer the term 'moonkissed', but you do realize that you are insulting yourself, right?"
He saw the shock register on my face before I could hide it. A small smile played on his lips, I guess he expected that much. "It is not a secret that there is no logical way of getting to ancient Rome within the span of minutes other than time-traveling. I said I was going to show you and that is exactly what I am doing. Now come," he beckoned for me to follow him. "Let's trail her. It will be impossible for you to be able to see how we met if we lose track of her at this point in time."
I didn't complain when he crossed the line and took a hold of my hand to lead the way.
It was mainly because after all that shock settled down inside of me, there felt like there was something weighing down on my brain...and body. I was basically dragging my feet behind him because of such an inexplicable fatigue.
We finally caught up to my raven-haired doppelgänger and when we had it was just in time to see her staring up at the stone building before her in awe. Her eyes twinkled with newfound curiosity before she took a piece of paper and started writing down something.
"She's making a journal entry so that she doesn't forget the feeling of being in this moment." Angelo explained, his eyes fixated on her.
"How boring."
"Really? I find it endearing."
My eyes narrowed at his open attraction to her. "If you like her so much why don't you go talk to her? I'm sure she'll find you just as endearing. Some girls really dig the whole out-of-my-mind but still hot thing you've got going for you."
"Oh, I'm going to do much more than that."
My eyes twitched at his compliance but then I got what he was saying when I saw two dots floating in the air. They lowered in a graceful fashion from the sky until I distinguished it to be none other than Angelo himself. Only this time he had something amazing attached to his back.
A pair of pure white wings.
My eyes switched to him in surprise. "Don't tell me you're a-"
His eyes twinkled with confirmation and I almost fainted.
For real this time.
He caught a hold of my body as it staggered and steadied me. Staring down at me in concern, his hand wiped at my forehead. "Your body is perspiring more than usual. I reckon that means it's already in the process of tiring due to exposure in this heavy environment."
I wanted to speak but couldn't with how dehydrated and hot I was suddenly feeling.
"W-What..." It came out in a faint and inaudible breath.
"Do not speak. Just watch. After this I will take you out of here safely." His eyes gestured to look back in the direction of the other version of myself.
She was at the edge of the boardwalk this time, still too busy writing in her journal to look where she was going. It wasn't a surprise then that her feet had missed its steps and she tumbled over to the side, busting the safety rails to the side and heading overboard. Her body fell into the surrounding water with a big splash and there was a sense of panic among the onlookers. However, nobody was skilled or daring enough to take the chance in saving her.
The angelic twin of Angelo gazed around from the sidelines, a look of understanding registering on his features before he dove in to save her.
It didn't take long before he emerged to the surface and with him was the unconscious girl.
Everything was strange after that.
It didn't seem like anyone had noticed his heroic appearance.
They were all still frantically looking around and calling for help. Their faces were red with alarm as they stared into the distance where the girl had first fallen.
Meanwhile, the girl was being lifted into the arms of Angelo's twin to the further side of the board pathway.
He put her gently down onto the surface and brushed the hair out of her face. Seemingly stunned, his eyes didn't look away for what felt like an eternity before he brought his face closer. He nodded to himself after listening to the sound of her heartbeat, then leaned back onto the heels of his feet.
With the most relieved expression, he propped his hand beneath his chin before mouthing something.
Obviously, I couldn't hear because of how far away we were.
"It would be a big loss for the world if someone as beautiful as you were to drown." Real-time Angelo said from beside me almost perfectly in sync.
I couldn't take my eyes off the two of them.
It was like a picture out of a children's book or a fantasy show.
A pretty girl unknowingly being admired by an angel.
My eyes strayed onto the man before me. "Is that actually us? Like the version of us you've been telling me in your made-up story all along?"
"As you can see it's not 'made-up', it's a reminiscence of the past. Our past." His eyes burned into me and I felt my knees weakening.
"How do you expect me to believe all of this?" I queried with short breaths, my hand reaching up to clutch at my chest.
His gaze followed the act worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"How do you think I'm supposed to take all of this?"
"Isabelle, stop talking." He ordered in a state of discomfort.
"I-I don't wanna believe this! It's too insane for me to! Past lives and reincarnation? Screw all of that! I'm Isabelle Crew. I have been all my life. Now you do this and have me questioning all of that in one moment. If I'm not Isabelle, who the fuck am I?" I chuckled darkly at his grief-stricken expression. "Oh, don't tell me. I'm Elisabetta aren't I? At least that's what the guy who claimed to be Cupid said earlier."
"That is it. I'm getting you out of here. Cupid!" He called into the distance towards no one in particular.
"I don't want to be confused about my existence," I started to sob into his chest. "I've already been so lost in the life that I'm already living. I don't want to be thrown into a new one."
He patted my head affectionately. "I'm sorry, Isabelle."
"No, you're not." I snapped feeling my blood pressure rise. "You're not sorry. You're only concerned with getting back your beloved Elisabetta not knowing how that will affect me. What about what I want? What if I don't want to remember you and whatever we had?"
He faltered, eyes becoming cloudy with a layer of moisture. "You don't?"
"I-" My confidence lowered at the sight of him looking so heartbroken. "I don't know!"
He frowned.
"You confuse me. You confuse the hell out of me! One moment you make me feel like I shouldn't even be talking to you. You're a warning sign. You shine so much, with such an alarming light, it doesn't take much to realize the fact of the matter. You make me immensely uncomfortable with the way you seem to know every little trait and habit of mine. The way you steal glances at me makes my heart flutter like a fool because I know I shouldn't allow someone I know absolutely nothing about to affect me this way. You know, taking into consideration that you have these inhuman abilities I can't make sense of. I should scorn you, run away and seek help from the unlucky presence of you."
Despite how fast my heart was thumping within my chest, he went against his better judgement and asked. "Then why don't you?"
Tears were rolling down my face at this point in time. "Because a part of me wants to believe you," I quietly admitted as if it was a secret.
One that he was supposed to keep for the rest of his life.
"A part of me wants to trust that what you're telling me is the truth because I've always thought there was more to this mundane life I'm living. All I do is eat, sleep and go to work then the process repeats itself. Nothing brings me a sense of excitement nor joy. I mask my emptiness with attention from other people but even that makes me feel ten times more hollow than before."
"You're nothing like that, Isabelle. You're much more special than this world leads you to believe. Trust me."
"This what I'm talking about!" I pointed out. "You make my heart race at such amorous words and you say them without missing a beat. Something like that shouldn't happen between two strangers. It just doesn't make sense."
"That is because we are not strangers."
"Then tell me who you are!"
Angelo's expression stiffened, jaw clenching. But I didn't care. I needed to hear it from his own mouth to know that I wasn't making ridiculous guesses here.
"Who are you, Angelo?"
He grimaced as if he was in agony.
A decision appeared to have been made inside of him as he studied me stating, "Like the name suggests."
My throat constricted in a terrible way. "And what exactly does that mean?"
"I'm..." He took a deep breath, eyes becoming tired. "I'm an angel."
The nausea swirled unrestrained in my stomach. My head swam with half-formed regrets. Then my heart felt as if my blood had hardened as it struggled to keep a steady beat. "Y-You're a what?"
Angelo's eyes shifted down to my chest, specifically at my heart that was slowing to a detrimental pace. "Don't speak. Let me get you out of here."
"I-"
"For Christ's sake, Isabelle. Please."
At the desperation in his eyes, I decided to yield to his wishes.
Also I was feeling too exhausted after everything that had exploded from inside of me.
"Okay. But when we get back, you have some explaining to do."
He nodded in relief before his hand rested over my eyes, shutting them close. "Now sleep."
***
Do as the Romans do.