perceptive. It didn’t take magic to read a person’s body language if you knew what to look for.
“I think I’ll go to bed now. Thanks for letting me stay here,” she said.
“You are most welcome. You can stay as long as you like if you will feel safer here,” I said as I led her to the guest room.
“I think Courtney has been through something rough,” I said, finally in Vittorio’s bedroom.
“Why do you say that, mio amore?”
“She’s good at keeping her facial expressions in check. And she’s very perceptive. She knows when to ask questions, and when not to push a point. Do you think she might be able to read people’s minds or emotions?”
“I do not think she can read minds. That is a rare ability indeed, and is hard for the person possessing it to be unaware of. She shows no signs of it. It is possible she is an empath, however. Time will tell.”
I waited for him to say more.
“Are you going to ask me?” He raised his eyebrow.
“Ask you what?” I didn’t want to push him, either.
“How I protect myself.”
“Oh, that.” I tried to be nonchalant, but wanted desperately to know.
“Mio amore, do not play coy. I know you are curious.” He smiled at me, and pulled me to him.
“I just figure if you want me to know, you’ll tell me. I do find it interesting I haven’t seen it yet considering what we’ve been through,” I said, cuddling close.
“I have two combative skills. I am able to block power attacks, and turn their power back on them. I try to limit it to that.”
“What’s the other one?” I pulled away a little so I could look at him.
“I can drain one’s life force.”
“What do you mean?”
“Essentially, I can drain their energy and take it into myself. If I limit how much I drain, it will merely leave them weak. If I am not careful, it will kill them.”
“That’s how everyone’s combative power works, isn’t it? Too much and you kill your enemy?”
“Yes, but this is a little different. Bringing my enemy’s energy into myself is usually unpleasant. Many think it would be a wonderful ability, because it makes me stronger. But it is someone else’s life force, and it is often a negative force that I do not want in myself.”
“Can’t you drain them without taking their energy into yourself?”
“I have not figured out how, if it is possible. Imagine taking Neal’s power. Neal is hateful, evil. That would leave a stain on your psyche. Once will not affect you strongly, but if you drain too many people, even a little, it will build up. I do not like the power. I would almost rather have no combative ability.”
I shuddered at the thought. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For asking. I can tell it causes you pain.”
“Do not apologize. You deserve to know. It is the one aspect of myself which I have not been able to accept.” He looked lost in a sad memory, but I did not push for details. I put my arms around him and kissed his cheek.
“You have the power to drain life, and I can give it back.”
“I had not thought of it like that. An interesting observation, mio amore.”
Interesting, indeed. I still wanted to know what all this meant, why he said I could do great things. “I’m scared of my power, Vittorio.”
“It is nothing to be afraid of, mio amore.”
“The power to bring people back to life, in particular. I mean, if word of that gets out, everyone and their dog will want me to bring their loved ones back to life. I can’t do that.”
“We will keep that a closely guarded secret. But I do not believe it works like that. I believe you have to have a close connection to the person, a strong desire for them to be alive.”
“I hope you’re right.” I huddled close to him, as if he could make the Big Bad Monster go away. “Sometimes, I wish I could go back to being normal.”
“I understand.” He looked a little hurt.
“But then I remember it’s all this craziness that brought me to you, and I wouldn’t change a thing.” That earned me a smile.
CHAPTER SIXTY
The next day, Vittorio gave me a quick rundown of the members of the coven, who was on our side, who was on Samuel’s, and who he was unsure of. There were far too many in the last two groups. We decided to go to The Chapel that night;