Bella Notte by Jesse Kimmel-Freeman Page A

confusion.
    “ Well, ya
turned eighteen- that be da time when y'all normally get it. Was
there somethin' else then?” He raised his perfect pierced brow.
    “ Eh, yeah. I
want to get a bat silhouette on my wrist- what's this family crest?”
I looked up into his violet eyes. Wow.
    “ It's yer
family markings. Look, obviously they didn't tell ya yet- but I
believe all things happen for a reason. I'll put yers on ya under ya
bat, okay?” He nodded for me to follow.
    “ Hey wait.
What does it look like- this crest? And what about Mike's tat?”
I asked as I shifted my weight on the glass topped counter.
    “ Here. That's
yer crest. This is mine. And we don't usually tat them- but since
he's with you, I'll do it. Whatcha want kid?” He turned those
bright eyes on Mike as he showed me his wrist.
    Wow this is
awesome. The elaborate lines that formed the two crests were beautiful and
intangible. At the bottom of the sheet of paper it said,
“Hutchinson's.” It was utterly frightening and amazing at
the same time.
    “ I want to get
the silhouette of a wolf baying against a full moon,” Mike said
as though he didn't even hear the pun about his kind.
    “ Right, mate.
I suppose ya want yer family's pictograph as well?” His brow
arched once more.
    “ My family's
what?” Now Mike's brow shifted up as well.
    “ Wait, do you
mean my runic symbol?”
    “ Yep.
Apparently someone told ya something. But you're older right- at
least a year. It'll happen soon- ya know- fer both of ya.” He
smiled as he reached for another sheet of paper.
    It was different
shaped- more primal or tribal. But it was still elaborate and
beautiful. What's
he talking about? At the bottom of this paper, written in elegant and spidery script it
said, “For Michael O'Shanold- should be with Emma Hutchinson.” Weird.
    “ Did my mom
drop this off?” The shock was written on his face- he certainly
recognized the writing.
    “ Yes, da lady.
Don't worry I'll get da other guy to do yers. He can show ya his
marks as well. Oi, Pat- da O'Shanold boy is here!” he shouted
to the back as a well inked, bald giant of a man came out.
    “ Thanks, man.”
Was all Mike said.
    I followed my guy
into the back as I watched Mike follow Pat into another room in the
back as a girl walked to the front.
    “ So, little
princess- why da bat?” He smiled at me and his fangs glinted in
the light. “My name's William- please call me Will.”
    “ Hi Will. I'm
Emma- but you already know that, right? How might I ask by the way?
And to answer your question, I love the creatures of the night and
such, so I thought I'd get a bat. Do you think it's a bad choice? Is
Mike going to be okay?” I asked as I looked at the door.
    “ He'll be
fine. Mike's in gentle hands with Patrick. Yes, I know yer name- Emma
Mary Hutchinson. I can't tell ya exactly how I know as I know they've
not told ya anything. Da bat I feel is apropos.” His eyes
smiled and shined bright.
    “ Okay, I'll
accept that, as I get it a lot. Thanks Will. Let's get started.”
I smiled.
    I watched as he
pulled the cold metal tray close to the place where my arm rested-
palm up. He placed a paper towel on the tray and removed several
instruments from their sterilized homes. The blue and clear films
broke away from the tools that were both alluring and deterring. I
watched as he squeezed globs of KY jelly onto the tray to hold the
smallest paper cups I'd ever seen. He filled one cup with black ink
and the other with red ink. He quickly traced out a bat silhouette
with my family crest under it. He held it up briefly for me to nod in
approval. Then he placed a sheet to my wrist and when he pulled it
away there was a purple tracing of the designs left behind on my
skin.
    “ Will it
hurt?” I asked as I chewed on my bottom lip.
    “ It might feel
odd and ya might be getting a twitch in an odd place- don't move. I
don't know whatcha did while ya was younger but it feels like
scrapin' a safety pin across yer skin. Eventually