Dream Calling
Chapter 1
I watched my feet as I walked step by step through the deep, dark, dense but lively forest, so entranced in the way that the leaves sloshed under my shoe's, I hadn't yet even realized I'd strayed far from my usual path that lead to my mansion deep in the forest. A small bark caught my attention and I looked down at the little brown puppy, Max, I was walking. "Yes I know, I know", I told him. "Always thinking with your stomach", I muttered softly. I gasped as I heard rustling in the tall branches of a nearby tree. I looked around me cautiously before glancing up high into the canopy. I blinked twice before I let myself trust my eyes.
There was a very attractive young man sitting in the branches of a tall pine needle tree. It appeared he'd been there a while, the icy cold breath of fear brushed my neck, and a shudder ran through me leaving goose bumps in its wake, my heartbeat drummed so loudly in my ears as blood rushed through me I wondered if this mystery man could hear it?
But after a second of staring he knew that I knew he was there, and I watched star struck, as he gracefully allowed himself to fall to the ground, landing with a soft thud on his feet. I blinked hard, trying to rouse myself from this extremely vivid dream. I opened them again. He was still there! I gasped, he looked at me with a sad, anguish in his eyes.
"Wait" I cried as he turned and ran with unnatural speed away from me deeper into the forest. Even as he disappeared through a thick amount of trees which I had yet to explore, I tried to run after him, and demand he tell me why he was watching me. (Which I know sounds incredibly stupid, dangerous and well just stupid, I really was curious at why this creepy, good-looking guy had the nerve to think he could perve on me) But to my humiliation I stumbled and tripped, "what the hell' I cursed looking for the source of my fall. I wished I hadn't! Lying practically under my feet was the lifeless body of a large male deer.
My scream echoed through the trees and I struggled to stand upright, gathering Max in my arms, I ran in the general direction of home.
As I broke through the trees I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw the familiar-ness of the house I shared with my best friend Laura.
With its cream walls and burgundy roof it suited me and Laura to the letter. But I wasn't in the mood to take in it's splendor as I ran up the cobblestone path surrounded by all kinds of exotic plants and flowers. I flung the burgundy colored French doors open with one hand and slammed it shut behind me. I put Max down carefully, before held off terror closed in around me, threatening to smother me!
I barreled up the stairs, taking them two by two. At the foot of the long hallway I let out a scream. Immediately my life-long friend Laura came out of her room, dressed in white dress pants and a loose fitting baby blue turtle neck sweater. A bottle of special milk in one hand and a small black puppy in the other, a look of worry plastered on her face.
" Rose, what is it, what's happened"? She asked concern evident in her voice.
"I tripped over a dead deer, and there was a guy watching me in the trees and I saw him and he dropped and ran away really, really fast I tried to chase him but yeah I tripped over that ,d-dead thing". I said stumbling over the last words.
"Wow, for you have chased him he must have been extremely hot and sexy and.....Cute" she teased not believing me. "This is serious" I growled, tears stinging my eyes. "And besides I hadn't noticed if he was cute or not", I sobbed. She laughed, "yeah okay sweetie, I think you need to stop drinking red cordial in the morning'"!
At that moment I turned to gaze out of the window to see a large russet colored wolf trot out of the forest, slurp out of the lake at the bottom of the waterfall on the edge of our property, before turning and bounding back into the forest. My mouth fell wide open.
I gasped, "What" Laura asked setting the puppy down in a small puppy basket.
"Your gonna think I'm crazy-" I began, "too late", Laura teased with a grin.
I stuck my tongue out at her. "There was a big wolf down at the stream", I told her. Immediately she turned to stare down at the waterfall. "It's gone now' I rushed to tell her.
She turned back towards me, a frown on her face, "maybe we should take you to see a doctor" she murmured placing a hand on my forehead.
"I'm telling the truth" I snarled, starting to feel the flames of fury and rage licking at my fingers. "How many fingers am I holding up", she asked. "Two. You idiot" I yelled. "Hey don't chew my head off", she spoke quietly in a hurt voice. "I'm sorry", I whispered feeling guilty. I walked over and gave her a quick hug to apologize. "It's just, I'm telling the truth", I grumbled. "Okay, but I'm still making that appointment" she smiled happily and I knew I was forgiven.
"I sighed as I rolled my eyes at her.
"Now come on , we've got to feed the rest of them", she stated. "I shot-gun Misty", I called over my shoulder as I raced down the stairs to locate and pick up a little light grey Alaskan husky puppy. "How's Darling today", I asked Laura when I saw her enter the room, referring to the puppy she'd been feeding when I'd come home screaming. "He's good, he's put on two kilo's", she told me. She bent down and gently picked up a white Maltese puppy called Snowy, while I nodded happily at his improvement. Inside i still was terrified about what i had seen but i pushed it down, concentrating on my duties.
Later that night after eating pizza take-out and watching Wizard of Oz. I gathered my clothes and climbed into the shower. After letting the warm water tease all the tenseness out of my shoulders and back, I turned off the water, toweled dry and got dressed.
I heard the water running that signaled Laura was taking her own shower, as I entered my room.
I walked to the north wall of my room where a large fish tank with little black turtles with orange stripes were swimming I fed them their food and went to sit on my bed. I looked at the room that I'd decorated from scratch,(a perk of taking an interior design course at university), with things I'd collected from my travels with Laura around the world, when our business 'Loved and Unloved Animals', which cared for animals who were endangered or unwanted and needing a home, had taken off. Our mansion was just one of the 136 posts we had around the globe to take care of any animal from dogs to tigers and bears. The most recent that had taken two months to open, after construction had finally been completed, was Giant Panda's in china, which had been a brilliant success with none of the locals wanting the endangered panda's becoming extinct.
Weird paintings of fantasy worlds along with pictures of my little sister's Sara, Clare and Niara, my little brothers Jason, Mark and Steven, along with a few of my mother Mia, my dad Cris, and my biological father Sean with his wife Kyra, covered the walls. For the first few months that I'd left Australia I'd called them everyday but my calls home had become less frequent, in the stress of moving into a new town.
The wooden furniture was all made of red oak including my king sized double bed that was covered in lilac Egyptian silk sheets, with a large dark purple velvet goose-feather doona that protected me from Forks all year round coldness. (Though Forks was quiet and cold all year round, it was small enough to relieve some of the stress of owning a multi-billion dollar company for me and Laura) The pillows that covered the top of my bed were made of the same purple velvet material.
My large closet on the other side of my room also made from red oak could only be opened if it was unlocked by a beautifully brass key. It was one of a kind except for its twin which sat in Laura's room, across the hall. Gifts presented by the governor of Africa after we'd helped save, a rare species of exotic birds.
I turned on my lamp casting a warm familiar glow around me I pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. I reached for the love-story in the first draw of my bedside table; I opened it to the page I'd left off at, but my eyes refused to concentrate on the words. I sighed as slipped the bookmark back into place and returned my book to its rightful home. I reached over and flipped off the light hoping for sleep to come and claim me. Although my mind had different idea's.
I rolled onto my back, gazing at the glowing star stickers on my ceiling. I wondered if there any wolves in the forest let alone one as big as I had seen, and i was pretty sure attractive men didn't go around just hanging from trees!
"Maybe I am seeing things", I admitted to the darkness of my room.
I'm standing in the forest, standing still, wondering what I'm doing here. I feel as if someone is watching me, I spin in a circle, but I see no one. I can feel someone, in my head reading it like a book, discovering my deepest secrets, hopes, and fears. Its like a buzzing or a headache in my temples."Get out of my head" I scream, falling to the moss covered ground.
And suddenly there's no one but me in the darkness.
I fell back against my pillows, sweating, gasping for breath.
Laura came running in wearing her blue floor-length night gown. A baseball bat in her right hand and a fierce expression on her face that said she didn't care how big you were, if you were close enough, you were going to get it."Rose"!. She called.
"I'm okay, I'm fine", I told her in a shaky voice. "Honey, what's bothering you"?
She asked coming to sit on the bed beside me; she stroked the damp hair from my forehead, murmuring soft words of reassurance. "Nothing" I whispered, before falling into a deep sleep, where no dreams bothered me.
"Good Morning, Sleeping ugly" Laura called happily. She pulled back my curtains letting bright sunlight into my room. "Go away" I grumbled burrowing deeper into my blankets. "Oh come on Rose or I'm gonna have to take you to the doctors dressed in that pretty purple nightie your wearing. "Okay I'm up, I'm up", I murmured sitting upright, although my eyes were still closed. "Breakfast is cooking so I suggest you hurry up", she laughed staring at my morning face. I opened my eyes inch by inch. "What are we having"? I asked. ( Laura was a brilliant cook, which was a lot more than I could say for my near non-existent culinary skills)
"Chocolate piklets, with maple syrup and ice-cream". She replied smiling. "For breakfast"? I asked. "Of course" she called over her shoulder as she walked out the room. I hopped out of bed eagerly, already tasting the sweetness of the syrip, I made my bed in record time, heading to my closet.
"Oh no", I grumbled, pulling my new glittery top out of the closet and staring at the big rip in the middle. "Toby" I muttered, recognizing the small Dalmatian puppy's handiwork. I groaned. Discarding the ruined garment, I pondered my choices.
I stared at my reflection wondering, what I could do to make myself look some what presentable. I ran the brush through my waist length, dark brown, wavy hair; I pulled it into a neat ponytail on the top of my head, leaving a few wisps of hair around my face. I added a bit of lip gloss and just the tiniest bit of mascara.
My aqua colored eyes stood out against my tanned olive skin, my slender frame was set off, by my curvy waist and large bust gave me a womanly figure that i could be proud of.
Finally I dressed in a light violet halter neck with white dress pants, a denim jacket and my white walking shoes. Making my way down the stairs, I heard Laura singing one of her favorite songs, Kissed by an Angel. I giggled as I remembered what our nicknames had been in high school, mine had been Princess and Laura's had been Angel, (even though she resembled the devil more).
I laughed as I belted out the chorus, she joined in and I couldn't help but laugh louder. She turned around smiling. "You took forever", she laughed." Hey I thought I did it it in good time", I defended. "Oh yeah, I suppose you didn't take an hour sooo, yeah I can see how you would think that's good time"! She laughed. I poked my tongue out at her.
She was looking pretty without even having to try, as usual, wearing a sky blue singlet, black jeans and a matching black jacket with her light blue and white walking shoes. Her waist length golden blonde hair hung in ringlets, her blue eyes set off by a little bit of mascara. Her slender figure that had stayed without curves all through high school and they had finally arrived through college, much to her delight!
I watched as Laura piled 3 piklets on my plate covered them in ice-cream and topped it off by adding maple syrup. "Thanks", I murmured grabbing my fork and tucking in.
"Hot damn, that was filling and delicious, so don't you ever leave me to cook for myself", I sighed, standing up. We took the plates into the kitchen and stuck them in the dishwasher.
"Come on we got to take off, if you want to make your appointment in time", Laura announced. "Wait you were serious about that"?, I murmured in disbelief. She nodded. Grumbling a lot of foul language, I grabbed my sling over bag and my purse and we set off for the 15 minute walk into town.
"Hey Rose, Hi Laura", people said as we rushed past, muttering a few hello's and bye's. I pushed open the door and heard my name being called, "Yes, I'm Rose Narelle" I told the lady at the front desk, a little breathless from the rush. "Last room down the hall to the left", she replied smiling. "Thank you" I murmured smiling back at her.
Laura knocked on the door softly and we waited for an answer. "Come In" a male's voice called. I opened the door with trembling hands (I hated hospitals, so did Laura) we entered, and I turned to shut it behind me. A young man looked up and smiled at us and I couldn't help but return his smile. He gestured for us to sit.
He had bright blonde hair and golden eyes, I stared at them with open curiosity, they were like nothing I had ever seen before. Looking at his face reminded me of looking at the sun and I glanced away to stare at the floor, nervously I scuffed my foot. "She's seeing things" Laura blurted out.
"Thanks Laura", I muttered, trying to sound calm and not the jumpy mess of wires I was inside. "Sorry, Rose, it just kinda slipped out.", she whispered. The doctor laughed.
He looked at me, "So I take it you're the one who needs seeing to", he laughed.
"Yes", I replied. "So why don't you tell me what happened", he asked.
"Well, I was walking in the forest with one of my dogs, and I looked up and saw a man in the trees and he saw me looking at him and he ran away really, really fast, I mean like not natural fast! I tried to chase after him but I tripped over the body of a dead deer". I finally stopped to take a breath.
But when I glanced up, expecting to see a look of disbelief on his face, I saw him calculating as if he was trying to come up with a solution to a problem.
"I'm sure it was nothing" he said quietly, breaking the awkward silence.
Then he smiled, "I guess I could give you some pills, to stop these……. Hallucinations' he said shrugging as if he couldn't find a better word for my premature elderly insanity.
"No, I'm sure it was just a one off thing", I assured him. Embarrassment turning my face scarlet.
"Let's hope so", he said a smile back on his handsome face.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name", Laura inquired smiling. "Mr. Cullen, or in this case Dr Cullen ", He replied.
"Thank you", I said shaking his hand. "My pleasure, Miss Narelle", He replied.
We turned to leave, "Umm, excuse me", Dr Cullen said stopping us. I turned to face him, "I know it's none of my business, but I would advise against walking in the forest all alone, it could be dangerous", he advised.
"Thanks, but I grew up in forests and the bush before I started traveling, I know how to take care of myself, but thanks for your concern. Thank you Dr Cullen, bye", I called over my shoulder as we walked out of the room.
A question about the new flu vaccine popped into my head, and I turned to walk back into his office. I stopped he was yelling into his mobile in a heated argument, so I thought against going back to talk to him. I caught up with Laura and we began the long walk back home.
"He was nice", Laura stated. We had just entered the thicker forest and my calves were burning form the torture they were receiving. "Yeah", I replied, not wanting to mention the savage tone that had been in his voice when he'd yelled into the phone after we'd left.
"Sooooo what do you think, I mean he's way to hot to be a doctor. I mean I felt like I was practically staring into the sun. He's not someone I can easily picture in a room with stark white walls. I picture him more in old times in a waist-coat standing next to an evil guy who's powerful, and he can't escape from, but like the hero's in my book. I know he will!" Laura said in a rush. I chuckled a smile lingering on my face, "You're crazy, but If you want to go back and perve on Dr Hotness of evil times, fine. Don't let me stop you, I'll just go back to the house and cook really bad 2-minute noodles, which will probably result in the whole house being burnt down. But hey you go ahead and further your love life". Ash smiled and started to turn, "thank-you I think I will". I dropped the bombshell. "It's too bad he's already HAPPILY married", I said emphasizing the word happily. Laura turned, her face falling. "Awww, ah well all work and no play makes Laura a dull girl, still it's too bad I could've seen real potential in him". "Eww" I said covering my ears.
A blur of movement in the trees caught my eye and turned towards the source of it, I gasped, the man I'd seen, the very same man had just run into the shadows not 30 meters away from us. "You, saw that two right", Ashie asked a tremor in her voice. I grabbed her arm pulling her close, "Yes, I did", I told her. I wasn't about to mention to her that, I was on the verge of having a asthma/panic attack.
I heard a hiss and a growl and before it all went black I heard a high pitched scream, and saw a flash of bright orange hair.
I groaned, my head pounded and my limbs felt like lead. I was lying on my back, next to the stream; at the edge of our property, near the forest, I realized hearing the roaring of the waterfall. I heard a low moan, "Laura", I murmured sitting up with great difficulty." I'm alive", she whispered. "Can you sit-up" I asked shuffling around to face her, "Yep" she muttered stretching her arms and legs. I vaguely remembered a blur of fur and something bright red or orange. "What happened", we asked at the same time.
"You were attacked by a bear", a deep, velvety smooth voice answered. My quick intake of breath gave away the fear I was feeling, as I recognized the man I'd seen twice now, as he strode towards us. "You", I hissed. Pushing my and Laura back with my feet. "Who are you", Laura breathed. "My name is Edward", he replied bowing his head slightly. And the first thought in my head was, 'Yeah weirdo alert'.
"What are your names", another voice that sounded deep as timbre asked, making Laura and I jump.
I looked over to see who else was with 'Edward'. My heart seemed to stop and all my insides melted, my legs felt weak so I was grateful to be seated. This man was gorgeous. "I'm Laura, and this is Rose", Laura spoke bringing my out of my trance. "Nice to meet you without you stalking me!", I murmured shaking Edward's hand. "And you are", I asked curiously facing Edward's companion. "My name is Jacob", he replied. 'Jacob', I thought. 'It suits him, makes him that much hotter'.
Behind me Edward laughed, 'okay just a bit creepy' I thought.
"Rose", Jacob murmured, "yeah I can see that".
"It suits you", He said smiling. Bugger if it suits me, I thought wildly I just like the way it sounded coming from his lips. "Thank-you", I laughed, surprising myself on how calm I sounded when on the inside I felt like a love-struck teenager.
"So, are you girls okay"? Edward asked. "Why were you watching me"? I blurted out suddenly unable to handle seeing him fall from a tree and land on his feet unharmed, without knowing how.
"That's a story for another time", he said uneasily, "but in the meantime Edward and myself will escort you back to your house, before we have to be going", He smiled. "I won't just drop this you know"! I said forcefully. "Please, i'll explain just right now I think you've had enough excitement without me adding to it". "Yeah right". I muttered.
"Please stay for dinner", Laura said grinning,as if nothing had just been said between me and Edward. "It's the least we can do to repay you for all you've done", she added. "Done"?,I questioned, and was rewarded with a swift kick to my thigh. 'Ow", I cursed. "Well stop being rude", Laura said frowning. I held up my hands. thinking to myself, 'Well sorry if I don't want a perve in my house"!For the first time I looked around me and saw the sun was quickly disappearing over the horizon, leaving a cold breeze in its wake.
I shivered and goose bumps covered my arm. Without a moments hesitation Jacob was standing close by me not even 10 centimeters away. "Here allow me", he murmured wrapping his arms tightly around my waist. A tremor raced through my body, and my heart jumped into my mouth. "Thank-you", I whispered snuggling closer into the warmth that radiated from his body.
"Oh we really couldn't", Edward said in a reluctant voice. "Oh yes we really can", Jacob said overriding him. "I don't know about you bro, but I'm starved", He finished. "Great it's settled then", Laura said grinning triumphantly. "Hey do I get a say in this", I mocked. "NO", Laura said. I huffed. Edward raised his hands in a show of surrender. And I smiled. 'It's a good thing he gave in when he did, Laura hates it when men won't do what she tells them to do', I thought.
Together the four of us began the not so long walk, back to our mansion. But as we approached the front door I realized I was still locked tightly in Jacob's embrace, and I was surprised that I was reluctant to leave them. Sighing I pulled ever so slightly back, and Jacob sighed as he reluctantly let me step out of his arms. And I stepped through the door.