Fated but Forgotten

Chapter 6 - Aria

Current day

I awoke to a gentle pressure upon my head, making my heart race, and my body freeze in terror. Then I became aware of someone gently stroking my hair. The way my Mama used to do when I was a little girl… as she told me bedtime stories as she would so often stroke my long blond hair… something that so frequently would send me to sleep… was my Mum here? Had she finally come to help me?

I felt hope building within my stomach. My eyes instantly opening, only to be met with the big blue eyes of the man that had been by my side since the moment I had awoken. My heart fell. Where was my Mum? Had she not been here with me? Was she not the one stroking my hair the way she did? Or was that purely my imagination?

“Aria?” his voice seemed a little hoarse today. Not as smooth in the least. He cleared his throat a little, as he stood from the edge of my bed. “How are you feeling?”

I found my eyes darting over him. Taking in every detail of this man in front of me. Tall. Tanned skin, like he enjoyed spending time outdoors, like my father did… his hair was a beautiful shade of brown. Shaved at the sides, but longer on top. A strong jawline, and handsome facial features… but they were all so overpowered by those eyes. Eyes of piercing blue. Eyes that seemed unable to tear themselves away from me. This was why I was sure he was paid to watch me…

Today he was dressed in simple black jeans and a white t-shirt. A t-shirt that clung to the muscles of his arms and his chest... the skin of his arms was decorated with tattoos. I could only guess he had to be in his late twenties at most. The sort of man me and my friends would giggle over… admire… but right now, I was not admiring a man I feared may have kidnapped me.

I raised my eyes back to meet his, and found those pools of icy blue were watching me with a hint of amusement. I felt my cheeks flood with heat at the fact I had been caught all but checking him out. “Are you okay?” he questioned again.

I swallowed heavily. Still unsure if I was able to speak. My last attempt had certainly hurt my throat. More to the point, I was unsure if I even wanted to speak to him. But, in truth, he was the only one that had even tried speaking to me. The doctors spoke to him rather than me. I found it all quite peculiar…

“Wh… Wh…” my throat felt tight. Sore even. I tried to clear my throat.

His head tilted as he looked at me adorably, almost like a confused little puppy dog. “Do you want some water?” he offered me a glass of water from the table that sat alongside my bed, and I nodded. I don’t think I had drunk since I had woken. Everything had been given to me through drip, but my mouth was certainly dry. “The doctor said you could have a little if you needed it.” he added as if in explanation, telling me he had been discussing my progress with the medical team.

I attempted to ease myself up to allow myself to drink it, but struggled. My whole body ached from the movement, and the strain was far too great. The man I knew now was called Rocco, placed the glass back on the table and rushed to my aide. He hooked his hands under my arms, and gently eased me upward in one easy movement. But what took me more by surprise was the comfortableness of his touch... and how my body shivered at his touch…

With a pounding heart I flinched at the shock of his touch. The feel of his skin upon mine. Why did he think it was okay to touch me? I did not ask for his help. But he had turned away and reached for the glass once again, before offering it to me, like he had thought nothing of touching me. Like it was nothing more than a daily occurence...

“Just take it slowly.” He suggested as he brought the glass to my lips. As he leant forward, all I could smell was the strong scent of his aftershave, I assumed. Spice and cinnamon… manly… strong… the most addictive scent I think I have ever smelled in all of my life. And one that smelled oddly familiar... was it a famous fragrance?

I sipped a little water, coughing a little as it went down. Before looking back towards the man watching me with curiosity. “Wh.. where “ I paused to catch my breath. Trying to talk was proving harder than I thought. Or perhaps it was the fact I feared what this man might say to my question that was making me reluctant to ask… “are my parents?” my voice was almost a whisper, but Rocco had evidently heard me, as his face paled at my words. His eyes dropped to the floor as he fidgeted nervously with his hands.

“What?” his voice was the whisper now. The calm and collected voice I had heard just a moment ago was gone. He looked suddenly uncertain, which filled me with apprehension. Had he hurt my parents to bring me here? I felt my breathing increase at the thought….

His hand reached for mine, but I pulled away. Not wanting for him to be touching me. Fear took over as my body shook. Had I been right all along? Had they taken me from them?

“Aria.” His voice was stronger now. Emotion dripping from his words, as his eyes did not want to leave mine. “Angel. Your parents died. A number of years ago…”

His voice hung heavy in the air. It felt like time had stood still. I dropped back onto the pillow of the bed, looking to the eyes of this man. I heard the words he had said, but I could not accept they were true. Where would he come up with such a notion? He had to be wrong didn't he? I felt my hands trembling... tears prickling my eyes at the prospect of a life without them in it... I was only young. My Mum and Dad would not leave me. They could not be dead.

No. This man had to be mistaken. How was a young girl meant to continue life without them?

My body shivered where I rested, as tears filled my eyes, and once more panic took over me… no… he had to be lying…