Chapter 25 - The Reunion

Chapter 25 - The Reunion
“Where am I?” Blinking a few times, Amanda took in every detail of the room: the light fixtures, the color of the walls, the furniture and the carpet. Indeed, she wasn’t in Cord’s hotel room or even in her own bedroom and this brought her pulse working double time.

She sat up straight, frowning, immediately knowing what this exactly meant.

“Oh no, ” she said, clenching her teeth. “Matteo just wasted what little trust I have for him.”

Luckily, he had the sense to leave her clutch bag on a bedside table. She rushed to take it and pulled out her cell phone from the secret chamber.

“No signal, great, ” she huffed after unlocking her phone screen. Calling Noman now would have been a good idea. Not like he could save her from being imprisoned inside a house again, but calling him about the status of the Vitalis Master would have been vital. The time registered on her phone was eight in the evening and she was supposed to be back inside the hotel room to take care of him.

She sighed and sprinted out of the bed with her clutch bag in hand.

“Seems like there’s no barrier around the house, ” she murmured to herself as she tried to sense Matteo’s magic in every square inch of the place. “I think I can leave.”

After finding the door, she unlocked it by crystallizing the locking mechanism. It was so easy, but Amanda found it suspicious. If Matteo wanted to keep her inside the house like the last time, then he would have heightened his security.

She rushed outside the room and into a hallway with wood paneling. It had two paths, right and left. Amanda chose the one on the right were at the very end of the hall showed a well-lighted room.

Just as she was about to step inside it, her breath was immediately caught in her throat. Her eyes rounded. Her body froze.

“Oh God...” It was the only word that she could speak.

Standing some distance away from her was a woman of familiar beauty and grace. She had the same height as Amanda, the same brown-violet eyes as her and the same shape of face. The woman’s skin was just as rosy and healthy as Amanda remembered it to be before death claimed her and her sun-kissed brown hair, although with highlights of gray, was just the same as it was.

Amanda couldn’t believe her eyes. Her mother, thought to be long dead, was standing next to the fireplace of the room, happily arranging flowers.

“Mom?” she muttered, her voice unsteady.

This got the attention of her mother.

“Amanda!” Eloisa cried out as she turned to her daughter. Her mouth reshaped into a big smile as she dropped the roses she was holding and crossed the room to give her a hug. “My little marchioness! You’re finally here!”

Amanda, frozen on the spot, received her mother’s embrace like a mannequin. She couldn’t will her hands to move. She couldn’t bring herself to reciprocate the gesture. She was too shaken to even process a warm response. Like the usual, her mother called her a ‘little marchioness.’ This was always her pet name and nobody, not even her biological father knew it. It was enough to sway her to truly believe this was her mother in the flesh.

“M...om... Ho...w?”

“Shhh, shhh...” Eloisa shook her head and comforted her with a pat on her shoulder. “I can feel you shaking, my dear. Take a deep breath. It’ll help you.”

Amanda did as told. She took a deep breath first and then studied her mother’s face again.

“I’m...I’m out of words...” she said.

Finally, she was able to move her right hand and touched her mother’s cheek. They felt supple and warm and solid hinting that she was truly alive and not a ghost.

“You...you’re supposed to be dead. How?”

Eloisa gently swept a loose strand of hair away from Amanda’s face and graced her a warm smile.

“A good mage resurrected me from my grave, Amanda, ” she answered.

This caught Amanda off-guard. “What?” her eyelashes fluttered. “Matteo did this to you?” Without even giving a name, she already knew who her mother was pertaining to. “Why?”

Eloisa’s forehead wrinkled.

“I’m surprised you’re doubtful, Amanda. You of all people should be happiest knowing I’m alive again.”

Amanda looked down and briefly felt ashamed.

“I am just surprised, mom. I don’t think Matteo could actually resurrect someone.”

“Mages like him are rare in this world, Amanda. We are blessed to have him in our side, ” Eloisa said, touching her daughter’s cheek again as tenderly as a mother could.

“I don’t know what to say, ” Amanda took her mother’s hand and sandwiched it with her own. “I’m happy you’re alive but isn’t this prohibited?”

Eloisa sighed. She pulled her hands out of Amanda’s hold only to squeeze her daughter’s hand instead. “Amanda, I’m back. I’m here for you. You don’t need to be alone anymore that’s what’s most important, ” she said in the calmest tone Amanda had always been accustomed to hearing from her mother. “Now, won’t you give your mother a big hug?”

Amanda, still feeling unsure, broke out into a brief smile and gave her mother a welcome hug that she deserved.

“What a heartfelt mother-daughter reunion. I’m feeling out of place, ” Matteo’s voice broke the silence in the room and captured the attention of the two women.

Amanda was the first to pull away and stared at him, the question of ‘why’ in her head remained unspoken.

“Matt...”

“I was going to surprise you, Cait, but it seems the cat is out of the bag now. When I resurrected your mother sometime before the NASCAR race in Bath, she asked me to see you immediately, but I couldn’t let it happen yet.”

“I was so frail, ” Eloisa continued. “I needed his magic’s nourishment in order to return to my former healthy self. I am what you see now because of his proper care.”

Amanda, despite feeling uncomfortable with their words, nodded her understanding. Something was off with her mother, but she couldn’t pinpoint out what yet.

“Thank you for doing this to us, Matt. I’m sure you’re breaking an important rule by doing this.”

“I’ll do everything for you, Cait, remember that, ” Matteo swiftly replied.

“Oh, seeing you two makes my heart warm up, ” Eloisa clapped her hands and beamed a smile. “I know I haven’t been present for quite a good amount of years, so I’d like to be updated.” She turned to her daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Amanda, dear, could you fill me in? How’s your dad? The business? And oh, I remember promising you to Matteo as a bride.”

She glanced at the aforementioned man and giddily asked, “Had you proposed, Matteo? Had I missed the wedding bells? Or am I still on time?”

“Er, I’ll start filling you in with dad and the status of the company, mom, ” Amanda butt in as quick as she could. She cast a fleeting look at Matteo, her eyes telling him not to spill anything about the truth.

“Oh hush, ” Eloisa flipped a hand in the air, “don’t be coy on account to me. I do love to hear your love story.”

“Amanda is right, Eloisa, ” Matteo stated, acting cool. “No need to rush. After all, she is free. No engines to fix and no race cars to test. No...prior engagements to go to.” This time, he was the one sending her cryptic messages with his eyes. “Time is what she have aplenty.”

“Matt... I have to go somewhere, ” Amanda frowned. He was trying to convince her by using the innocence of her mother and that didn’t please her at all.

“Now, now, ” Eloisa cut in. She placed a hand on Amanda’s waist and guided her to the sectional sofa of the room. “Let’s start catching up before the two of you start your lover’s quarrel.”

Amanda didn’t complain in the end. She had after all missed her mother so much and would want to spend time with her. She stole a glance at Matteo as she sat down the sofa. He was already staring at her, the corner of his lips turning upward, looking pleased.

“I’ll give you both some privacy, ” he stated and then walked out of the sitting room towards the kitchen. A couple of minutes later, a maid entered carrying with her a tray of refreshments.

For the whole hour, Amanda recounted everything that happened after her mother’s death. Eloisa was so engrossed with it, showing delight and satisfaction in her eyes. Laughter filled the room. Amanda was having fun, but never was there a time she forgot about Noman and Cord. At the back of her head, she had always wondered how they were doing.

“Uhmm, mom, I need to return a call. Can I have a moment?” she stated when at one point she decided to check her cell phone. Luckily, there was reception now. It was faint but at least manageable.

“Sure, Sweety, go ahead, ” Eloisa nodded.

Amanda stepped out of the sitting room and into a mini garden outside. What surprised her was seeing her phone screen registering ten missed calls from Noman. She pressed the call button to return his call, hoping he’d pick up at the first ring. He did.

“Hey, Dom—” she started but was quickly cut off.

‘What’s wrong with you?!’ Noman cried out. ‘Why are you not answering my calls?’

His strict tone caught her off-guard.

“I’m sorry. It’s been a surprising day so far for me. You wouldn’t believe who I met tonight.”

‘What? You saw Master Vitalis already?’

“Ye—wait, what did you just say?” Her eyes rounded, not sure what she just heard.

‘Cait, that’s what I was trying to call you for. Master Vitalis is awake! You said he wouldn’t be conscious for two days or more, but he—’

“How is he?! Were you hurt? Did he attack you?” Amanda suddenly trembled. She gripped the phone tighter and paced back and forth on the grassy clearing.

‘He is fine, Cait. He has returned to his normal self if being broody and intimidating is what you mean by normal, ’ Noman answered after a long sigh.

“He...he is not craving for blood anymore?” she muttered and then released a heavy exhale. “That’s a relief.”

‘He is craving for you though, ’ Noman quipped. ‘The determination in his eyes to look for you is so strong.’

Amanda unconsciously bit the inside of her cheek in response.

‘And oh, speaking of eyes, I think your blind lover is gone, Cait. Master Vitalis could see now.’

“What?!” her jaw dropped the second time. It was the one news she didn’t expect to hear.

‘Where are you anyway? He just vanished in front of me a minute ago, so...’

“Oh no, ” Amanda stated, looking back at her mother through the French glass door. A sense of dread coming over her. “I better get out of here.”

‘What’s wrong, Cait? Your voice doesn’t sound reassuring,’ Noman stated.

“I’ll explain everything to you later, Dom, ” Amanda squeezed her eyes shut, trying to process a good plan. “Anyway, you must get out of the hotel room. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt if in case he turns back to his rogue self again.”

Noman was quick to understand the meaning of her words.

‘Copy,' he replied, 'and Cait, please be safe.'

“I will. Thanks, ” she answered and then ended her call.

She returned to the sitting room where by now Matteo was already conversing with her mother. She hissed inwardly at the timing, not really liking his presence in the most crucial time of the night.

“Mom, Matt, I’m sorry but I really need to go somewhere. It’s urgent, ” she stated pointblank, not wasting another second.

“So soon?” Eloisa remarked with a sad face. She stepped forward, touched Amanda’s elbow, and gave her a pleading look, “Please stay here, Sweety. I want to spend more time with you. Matteo needs to talk to you about the wedding too.”

Amanda tried her hardest not to blanch in front of her mother. She glanced at Matteo who showed a secretive smile on her way.

“I really need to go, mom, but I’ll be back. I promise, ” she stated as sternly as she could.

Eloisa relented. “If you say so.”

“Let me drive you then, Cait, ” Matteo stepped in and offered.

Amanda was quick to shake her head. “No. It’s not necessary. I have my own car remember?”

“But are you sure you could find your way through the road? This house is pretty much secluded to the rest of the city, ” he pointed out.

If it wasn’t for her mother, Amanda would have sent him a sharp glare. Instead, she just lifted her chin and gave him blank look.

“The last time I checked, we were in a restaurant, Matt. So don’t think I overlooked that. Just give me the keys to my car, and I can manage on my own.”

“How about let Matteo transport you to wherever place you want to be? As a mage, he could do that. You don’t need to drive all the way back to the city, ” Eloisa chimed in. If she sensed the animosity between the two, she didn’t show it.

Amanda briefly smiled and shook her head. “Thanks for the advice, mom, but I really prefer to be on my own for now. I’ll see you again soon.”

Eloisa touched her daughter’s cheek, a swell of pride hit her. “You sure have become an incredibly independent, beautiful woman, Sweetheart.”

“You made me into one, ” Amanda replied. She then turned to Matteo again and extended her hand, palm up. “Matt, the keys please.”

“Come with me, ” Matteo answered after a brief pause.

After a kiss on the cheek, Amanda left her mother. They passed by another hallway where it led to the garage area of the house. Matteo pressed four numbers on the keypad attached to the door frame and then the metallic door automatically opened with a buzz.

They both stepped inside with Matteo entering first. He took out a key from the key holder bolted on the wall at the right and handed it to Amanda.

“Thanks, ” Amanda stated. She stepped past him without so much as a goodbye kiss and unlocked her car with the remote.

She started the engine, did a couple of revolutions first, but just as she was about to step on the gas pedal, Matteo materialized next to the driver’s side window and leaned forward towards her.

Amanda looked up and gave him a questioning look.

“Remember Cait, ” he said, his eyes aglow. “Your mother doesn’t know about you and the Vitalis Master. Let it stay that way.”

She pressed her lips firmly and clenched her jaw.

“She may hate the vampires for now, Matteo, but I intend to change that very soon.”

And then, she drove the car out of sight, leaving Matteo clenching his fists.