Chapter 22

HAND under her chin, Callea looked up at the bats hanging on the ceiling of the attic.

The sun was starting to set and the bats were starting to wake up and create squeaky sounds. Any moment they would take flight to find food. They were hunters of the night and as a mistress of the night, she was fascinated with these understood mammals. Silly people were scared of these animals due to the horror stories that were told about them. They were not even aware of their benefits to the environment. They became a permanent resident at the Villa Callea.

"Oh! There's a baby bat there. It has been days before I went up here again and you got additional cutie in the family."

She didn't allow Luna to come up at the attic because it would bother the bats. The bats are also her friends. She can get inspiration from them. Even Marina and old caretaker don't bother them.

"Ah! Grandma Celesta told me a story about your ancestors," she told the bats. "I will read you a story." She turned to the old book of stories written by her grandmother. All were fictional and she wanted to pass it on to her children and her grandchildren to remember her by.

It was starting to get dark and she couldn't see the letters in the old paper anymore. She lit the candle. There a light bulb in the room but she still preferred to use the candles when in the attic. She wanted to go back to how her ancestors did things.

"This is it. You listen to me first before you leave," she said and picked the candle holder in one hand and a book in the other.

She paused with her storytelling him when she was bothered by a knock. "Callea! Callea!" called by Deive.

"Just wait there," she said and set the book on the table. She opened the door, holding a candle in one hand. "Yes?"

"Whoa!" exclaimed Deive and suddenly stepped back. "Callea?"

"What? Do you think I'm a ghost."

He breathed deeply and cupped his chest. "Why did you put the candle on your face?" He took the candle holder from here. "Is there no light bulb in here or electric connection? What if you cause a fire?"

"Not really! Where have you been, by the way? I was worried about you earlier because you just left this morning without a word. " She was excited to give him a tour around the house and she even cleared her schedule. So she was concerned when he didn't come during lunchtime and he hadn't returned yet. She thought that he totally scared him off and he no longer had plans to get to know her more and marry her.

"I am back! Didn't I call earlier that I just need to do something important?"

"I'm sorry. I was worried," she whispered in a sad voice.

She was excited to give him a tour. She even asked everyone to clean up so it won't be embarrassing to present him the mansion. Then he just bailed out. Just like the first time when he didn't arrive for dinner.

"Maybe you haven't eaten yet," Callea added with worry.

She was looking for his company. Maybe she was just looking for someone else to talk to with different ideas and experiences. She learned a lot from him.

"I met up with my brother, Keiran. We already had lunch. We just had someone important issues to settle." He entered into the room and pressed the switch of the light. "I heard your voice a while ago. Who are you talking to?" He glanced around the room with suspicion. When he didn't see anything strange, he closed the window. It interrupted the bats and flew above their heads. "Bats! Bats!" he yelled and started to panic.

He pulled her hand and run out of the room while still carry the candles. He didn't stop until they were down the second floor. It was as if the devil was running after them. He was running out of breath so was she.

He touched her shoulder then her arms. "Are you okay? Did those monsters bit you?"

"What monsters? Those are just bats and they are harmless."

"What if they become vampires and suck the blood from your neck? What if they turn you into a vampire as well?"

"You believe in one?" Callea let out a light laughed. "They are just harmless nocturnal flying mammals."

He tightly in her hand. "I am serious. I am just trying to protect you."

As they walked down the stairs, he held her tightly against his body then looked back every now and then to check if the bats were following them. He volunteered himself as her human shield.

She wanted to reprimand him and tell him to stop overreacting over a bunch of bats. But she also love the feeling of being caged in his arms. She was used to being independent and fending off herself. She smelled his manly cologne and his natural scent taking over her senses. How could she say no to this sensation?

He only calmed down when they reached the living room and released her. "Look. I have something for you."

At the living room, several paper bags with logo of different clothing line. He pulled out each items inside the paper bags with glee. The dresses were colorful and fresh. The prints were fun and youthful. It was definitely not her style. "I shouldn't have bothered buying stuff for me. I have many clothes ... "

"I want you to wear this. You will look beautiful in it."

"Okay," she softly answered and accepted the dress. She didn't have the heart to say no to him. She surely won't melt if she wore it once.

"Who are you talking to earlier?" Deive asked.

"Ha?" He had heard it. She can no tell him its the bats. He would definitely drive her to the mental hospital. "I read the book by Lola Celesta. I prefer to read them out loud. She had many different old books. And some of them, she made herself. That's what she read to her kids. I think I got my writing talent from her." She looked up to the paintings of Lola Celesta hanging in the living room. "We look alike. That is why I love this House. I also feel protected here."

His eyes sparkled as if something dawned in him. She was not prepared when he suddenly pulls her and hold her tightly against his body. "I will protect you, too, Callea."

She stood still for a while, savoring the heat of his body. After a while, she slowly closed her eyes. She embraced his promise. She also would like to have someone to protect her.

But does she know Deive completely? Can he protect her from the ghosts that she feared? She would forget about those ghosts first. Now, she is just a normal woman. She will return to her real world tonight.

But for now, she wanted to feel free at the cocoon of his embrace.