Authors: Jess Parry
He felt the pull just as Marcus did; he watched Marcus’ eyes cloud
ing
with lust. Growling he watched as Marcus leaned into Siobhan. A whimper broke him out of the dream
looking
down to see Jason shivering as hoarfrost began creeping up his body.
Cursing softly, Ash pulled his hand away from Jason. He silently stepped away to gather his emotions. He took in every emotion that washed over him reminding him of tonight’s events. Simon and his blasted loss of control, Marcus lust for chaos, Moira’s treachery with Jason. He let the anger consume him for a moment, before he shot his hand out
freezing
the desk before him. Hoarfrost coated everything on the desk. The soft light from the bathroom illuminat
ing
his reflection
to him
in the
hoarfrost stopped him in place
. His angular face, lips thinned in frustration
,
his
glowing green eyes stared back
at him with contempt
.
The shock of golden blonde hair always left him momentarily frozen, he could make out the blue and black streaks running rampant among the gold. It had been so long that his features had been this way; he was still amazed at how it never stopped startl
ing
him.
He turned back to Jason
placing
his hand back onto his forehead
he
whispered quietly. Jason whimpered once then rolled over lost in a dreamless sleep. Turning, he clicked the temperature gage up several degrees before leaving. The heat clicked on sending warmth through the vents hitting the frozen desk. A muffled dripping sound began as the hoarfrost began to melt slowly
pooling
into the carpet.
Lastly, he stood over his beloved. She was curled under the covers her face serene as she was lost in a dream. He watched her for several minutes, lost in the beauty of her. The longing that seeped into him, was a welcome reprieve to the chaos. Ash shook silently as yearning to touch her shook him to the core, letting his control snap he sat on the bed
next to her
. His hand sh
aking
as he tenderly caressed her cheek.
He was pulled into the dream
instantly
. Ash was
suddenly
in
familiar
woods, his forest; he felt the strength of his steed underneath him. He caught the scent of wild flowers blooming under the moon, heard the twinkling laughter surrounding him. A groan of pain slipped past his lips as the longing of his lost home enveloped him.
Then he felt the fear, Siobhan’s fear, she was running ahead, stumbling along the forests path. She was glancing behind her, searching for the ones chasing her. He could feel their lust washing over him in waves; he wanted to tear them to pieces.
Turning
his stead
, he
kicked lightly at his
thick
sides nudging him to head into the direction the fear called to Ash. Who was this girl that was calling to him, she was human that much he could sense, but how could she call him…
Suddenly she burst through into the clearing; she stumbled as she passed through the unseen wall separating them. Curiosity ran
rampant
through him, how was she able to cross? He pulled the reins on the stallion, urging him to move like the wind. Rearing up, the black stallion whinnied
before landing gracefully as he dug his hooves into the ground
fl
ying
thr
ough
the clearing towards her. He felt the wind whipping through his hair, stinging his face as he sailed towards her.
Tugging
the reins at the last minute
, Ash
command
ed
the stallion to stop short
before barreling into the girl
.
The great horse
whinnied but halted just a hairsbreadth from her.
She didn’t flinch, but he sensed the rush of her fear wash over
her
again as she looked at the stallion stamping impatiently before her. He watched her take in the power of the stallion as he followed her gaze. She was slowing looking up, he saw her eyes widen as she
met
his
gaze
.
Deep green eyes hiding nothing of him as he saw himself reflected through her. Hunger punched through him as he felt his world beginning to tilt towards her in that brief moment.
Pulling himself sharply out of the dream he pulled his hand away from Siobhan’s cheek. Anguish
ed deep
longing rippled through him as he watched her. He felt the sharp pain as energy shot through him; he was lost to its power.
He had to hurt something; he yearned to watch something die by his hand as anger pulsed through his veins. He pushed up from the bed and ran to the window, throwing it open he vanished into the dawn light.
Siobhan whimpered quietly as the dream changed, she was enfolded in the warmth of the darkness around her. She heard someone screaming her name, but the warmth was urging her to sleep, to forget, to embrace the nothingness it provided.
She felt the wind rush around her as she fell; she arched her back to the impact of the water as she raced towards it. The shock of the cold hit her first; her body going into shock as it filled her. Opening her mouth to scream, she gulped in the salt
y
water of the sea. Coughing she tried to push her way to the top, but she sank deeper, her lungs screaming for air.
She felt her feet touch the sandy bottom of the sea floor. She opened her eyes
only to
be
surround
ed
by blackness, pushing up; she kicked as hard as she could. She had to break through the waves, her lungs screamed for oxygen. She felt the blackness pulling her down, its strength unyielding. She felt the stabbing pain of her heart breaking. The salty water was stinging her eyes, her strength dissipating; she gave in to the numbness. Closing her eyes, she expelled the last breath of air from her burning lungs
letting
the water fill in
to
the space. The
last
bubble
of Siobhan’s air
rose silently to the top breaking free of the waves, bursting into a scream that sailed towards the heavens.
Siobhan woke to a screaming wail
realizing
the heartbreaking sound was coming from her. There was a pounding on her door
as
someone yell
ed through it
if she was alright. The voice
sounding
urgent
,
Siobhan threw the covers off the bed
sprinting
to the door. She flung it open
staring
at an older gentleman standing before
her
looking harried. His sleeping clothes rumpled
,
eyes wide with terror, he took in the pale face staring back at him.
“I’m sorry” Siobhan stammered “I was having a bad dream; I didn’t realized I was screaming”
“Your blood curdling scream damn near stopped my heart” he bellowed at her “I thought someone was killing you” Shaking his head, he took in the circles under her eyes, the pale cheeks
,
the slightly blue twinge of her lips. “Miss
..
are you alright? You look like a ghost”
“Yes, yes I’m fine” Siobhan mumbled hoarsely “I just stayed out too late
, which probably brought on the
nightmare. I’m so sorry I scared you”
“I will never understand the young today, in my day we respected the people around us” he grumbled as he turned to walk back to his room.
Siobhan shut the door
,
lean
ing
her forehead against it. Shivering uncontrollably she clicked the lock
into place. S
tumbl
ing
into the bathroom
, Siobhan pulled
the maxi dress off
quickly.
T
urn
ing
the water on as hot as she could
, she sat shiver on the edge
watch
ing
the tub fill. The steam rose around her as the hot water began pooling in the tub. She turned to look in the mirror
,
hiss
ing
at the reflection staring back at her.
Pulling off the rest of her clothes, she turned the water off
as she
tenderly eased herself into the hot
bath
. The heat burned as
it crept into her aching body. G
rumbl
ing
an oath she slid farther into the tub
, letting
the water surround her
soothing her aching muscles
. Raising her arm she
idly
watched the steam billow up from her as it met the colder air of the room.
Slowly, her skin turned a bright pink as the heat soaked into her, her cheeks gain
ing
a slight rose blush. Her eyes grew heavy as sleep began to crawl into her, yawning, she pulled the stopper
rising
sluggish
ly
from the water. Toweling off, she wrapped the warm terry cloth rob
e
around her stepp
ing softly
into her bedroom.
Her breath misted out
in front of
her, the temperature was freezing, looking around the room, she caught the open window. Dashing to it she threw down the sash
locking
the window.
Climbing
into bed
she
pulled the covers up to her neck. The previous night’s events
began
r
unning lazily
into her mind, flashes of
distorted
images,
surging
emotions cloud
ing
her
thoughts
. She knew she had a lot to sort out, but sleep was overpowering her. Yawning, she
snuggled
into the comfort of the covers
closing
her eyes
in exhaustion
.
L
oud knocking against the door woke Siobhan, sitting up she blinked as the knocking continued. She heard a click of the lock disengaging as the door creaked open slowly
“Housekeeping” a woman called out in lilting voice
pushing
the door open wider.
Entering with her back to Siobhan she pulled a cart into the room with her, turned
gasping
in surprise as Siobhan stared at her.
“Oh sorry miss, I’ll come back” the woman turned to push the cart out the door.
“No, wait it’s fine, I needed to get up anyway, give me a few minutes and the room is all yours” Siobhan jumped from the bed grabb
ing
some clothes from her suitcase. She dashed into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, r
unning
a brush through her hair
before
pull
ing
it up into a messy bun on her head. She threw on the jeans and white camisole top.
She opened the door as the housekeeper passed her walking back to the hall carrying her sheets rumpled into a ball. Smiling softly, she eased passed the housekeeper
while
grabb
ing
her white cashmere V-neck sweater, key card and purse. Slipping her feet into the ballet flats she had worn last night she walked down the hall to Sarah’s room.
Knocking
loudly
a few times,
waiting
for Sarah to get up and come to the door. Siobhan knew she slept like the dead, so she kicked the door a couple of times. The housekeeper shook her head
walking
down to where Siobhan was standing.
“Sorry, my friend sleeps like the dead, I can’t get her up” Siobhan weakly smiled as she felt her cheeks flushing.
“Tis no need to kick down the door Miss” The housekeep replied tersely
swiping
her master key,
opening
the door to Siobhan “I’m not supposed to do this, but I figure tis better than you kicking the door in”
“Thank you” Siobhan said quietly
walking
into Sarah’s room.
The drapes were drawn to keep the
daylight from
seeping into the room.
Siobhan could
hear
Sarah’s
light snoring, a telltale sign her friend always gave off when she was in a deep sleep. Sighing, Siobhan walked over to the window
tossing
back the curtains. Light flood
ing into
the room
had
Sarah whimper
ing
then pull
ing
the covers over her head.