Blood.
Blood everywhere.
Where is mommy? Mommy?!
I can't see! It's so dark!
Mommy where are you?!
MOMMY!
I jerked awake as the scream caught in my throat. My eyes darted around the room to reassure myself that I was safe, I was in my house, and there was no blood. Panting I pushed the tangled covers off my body. Sweat was running down my body and my hands were shaking from fear.
Julius, my two year old German Shepard, lifted his head from the foot of my bed. He looked at me and tilted his head.
"I'm fine Julius. Just another nightmare." I reached down and patted his head to comfort him but I think we both knew the comfort was for me.
I had decided two years ago that I was tired of being alone and scared all the time. I had always wanted a dog as a child so I thought getting a guard dog would help. Julius was trained to be a guard dog but he was also my best friend. Ever since I saw his cute furry face I fell in love and a part of my loneliness lifted.
"Well I'm going to get a shower. I feel all hot and sticky." I told Julius.
Sometimes I forgot that he couldn't understand what I was saying. I would often talk to him like another person and sometimes I could swear that he understood what I was saying.
As I rinsed the nightmare from my skin I began to feel somewhat calmer and more relaxed. I hated the nightmares that have plagued me since childhood. I don't remember the first part of my life. The earliest memory I have was the stars. I was six when the police found me in the local park. It was well below freezing and I was lucky that they even saw me. The report said that I wasn't making a sound. I was just lying there staring blankly into the sky. My clothes and skin were covered in blood but they don't know whose. I was abandoned there in that park. No one could find my parents so I was put into foster care. I had some good homes and some not so good homes, but I survived… for the most part.
All of a sudden I was aware that the water had turned freezing and Julius was whining at the door.
"I'm coming buddy. Give me a second."
I grabbed my towel and briskly dried off to warm my body and change into my usual outfit of t-shirts and jeans. I worked as an artist so I didn't have to dress to impress. I also lived far out in the country. I have never been able to tolerate living close to people. I need space and room to breathe. Living so far out I have learned to rely on myself even more than what I was used to. I have my own garden full of vegetables and fruit, plus when I did go to town I buy in bulk. Bags of flour and sugar that weighed 50lbs, bags of 30lb rice, and a lot of cereal. Cereal can be ate at any time of the day so I often went through a lot of cereal. Mmm i think it's time for a bowl.
Stepping out of the bathroom I realized that Julius needed to be let out. He was running all around the house and whining like crazy. Put him in the face of an intruder and he was calm as could be, but as soon as his bladder was full he was back to being a puppy yipping all over the house.
"Alright, alright I'll let you out, just calm down." I don't have to worry about a leash because Julius never went far, the trainers said he might try to wonder off but he never leaves my side. As soon as I open the backdoor Julius is bounding off into the yard. Almost as if a thought occurred to him he turned and looked to see if I was still on the porch. The moment he saw I was still in sight he took off to find a spot to relieve himself.
*knock knock*
Lost in thought I didn't hear the light knocking on the front door.
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK"
Jerked out of thought I glanced at my watch and noticed it was 6:30.
"Who in the hell is here at this ungodly hour and at MY house?!"
Without thinking and mumbling to myself I stalked over to the front door and yanked it open.
"Just what in the bloody hell do you think you are doing knocking on my door at this hour?!" I yelled to stranger standing in front of me. My initial anger had clouded my vision so I didn't notice that the man standing on my porch was drop dead gorgeous with golden hair and piercing eyes to match. He was a good foot taller than my five foot self with wide shoulders that tapered down to a lean waist.
Hearing my yell Julius ran around the small house running straight for the male standing on my porch.
Damn it I forgot about Julius being out. If he bites this man this could cause trouble. Stupid gorgeous man ruining my morning, and upsetting my dog.
"Julius heel!"
Instantly Julius stopped charging the man who was trying to back away slowly.
"Julius come." I commanded.
Julius made his way towards me but kept his eyes on what he perceived to be a threat. Finally he made his way to me but he made sure to stand between me and the unknown man.
"Are you Clarrissa Fray?" The man asked. Damn even his voice was hot.
"Who's asking?"
"My name is Jace Lightwood and I think I know what happened to your mother."
