Pello Island: Cassia Read Free Page A

Amatus/Barnaby before he took off for Aspen.
     

Schuylerville, New York
     Amatus/Barnaby was in his room packing when Cassia knocked on his door.  He yelled, “Come in,” and she entered.  She was once more taken aback by the sight of him.  He was so tall.
    “I remember you pulling in the nets along the Tiber,” she said.  “You looked just like this then.”
    “Isn’t it amazing we can remember that?  Do you think they did something to us, to help us remember?”
    “I wouldn’t put it past them.”  Cassia sat on the bed while he packed.  “Can I call you Amatus?  I just can’t get around Barnaby.”
    “I’ll allow you to call me that.  But just you,” he said and smiled.  He had a wonderful smile. 
    “What was wrong with me, Amatus?  You are so handsome.  Why didn’t I see it sooner?  I wasted so much time.”
    “You were very young, Cassie.  Besides, your father screwed with you so much, how could you possibly make a good decision?”
    “My father, oh God, I hadn’t thought about him in ages.”  Cassia grew quiet.  Amatus looked over at her.  She was crying.
    “He was a real shit, Cassie.  You might have made a different decision if he hadn’t interfered.”
    “Aspen is far away, Amatus.”
    Amatus closed the suitcase and sat next to Cassia.  He put his arm around her and she began to sob.
    “I’m a phone call away.  We have our own plane, Cass.  All you have to do is hop on it and come over.  Come on, stop, please.”
    Cassia used her T-shirt to wipe her face.  She looked up at Amatus and smiled weakly.  He looked at her and almost changed his mind about leaving.  Suddenly, he stood up.
    “I have a plane to catch,” he said.
    “You’re not taking ours?”
    “I’m leaving it here in case you need it.”
    Cassia followed him down the stairs to the foyer.  He took out his cellphone and called Manuel.  He turned to Cassia and hugged her.
    “She said I have to marry him,” Cassia said.
    “Oh, shit.  Why didn’t you tell me that right away?”
    “It’s okay.  I think I can handle it.  It’s for Dulcie,” she said.
    “Where is she, anyway?”
    “Morta said she’s where she needs to be for now.  Whatever they have in mind hinges on me being married to him.  She said we’ll all have a long life and die for good at the end.  She also said the marriage wouldn’t last too long.”
    “Listen, I can change my plans if you think it would help.”  Amatus was still holding her.
    “No, you go ahead.  I can handle him, really.”
    “He’s such an asshole.  I’m sorry you got stuck with this.”
    “Me!  You shouldn’t even have been there.”
    “I made the choice.  I’ve never regretted it.”
    Amatus kissed her softly.  She kissed him back and held him close.
    “I’ll come back at the end of the month, for Christmas,” he said.  “Call me anytime of the day or night.”
    The horn of the limo beeped and Amatus grabbed his bag.  He touched Cassia’s cheek and then turned to leave.  She put her arms around him and whispered, “Goodbye.”
     

     
    Cassia wasn’t hungry.  She was tired and wanted to go to bed early, but she knew Darius would expect her at dinner.  It was six o’clock, and dinner was usually at eight.  She decided to grab a nap in hopes it would renew her appetite.
    As she approached her room, she glanced into Amatus’.  Everything in it reminded her of him.  Amatus had held onto his Roman heritage and his room had several statues of Roman gods. There were couches and pillows everywhere.  She was sure his home in Aspen reflected the same.
    She walked into his room and lay down on one of the couches.  It felt like home.  Maybe Amatus was right.  Maybe they had implanted some sort of memory chip in their brains to remind them of the past.  Those memories were so vivid, but she was having a hard time remembering her last life.  She felt herself growing tired and soon she fell asleep.
    She woke to Darius gently