Chapter One
Is this a dream? was the first thought that flashed through my mind. The area that surrounded me was dimly lit, casting me into near-darkness, and shadows were performing a strange kind of dance by the flicker of candlelight. Candles were everywhere, casting a strange glow across the room.
Where am I? I wondered. Apparently, I was in some kind of cave. The sound of lapping water was nearby, so I knew I had to be near a lake or stream. I looked down, and for the first time, I noticed what I was wearing. Good heavens! What was I wearing? I was in a gown with full, heavy skirts. The bodice was fitted around my stomach, and I felt something hard underneath it when I placed a hand there. A corset? I was filled with shock. A cool breeze grazed my neck, and I realized that my long, brown hair was swept up into a chignon. My feet felt somewhat cramped, and after lifting my skirts, a pair of heels were revealed.
Glancing around again and seeing no one should have made me feel uneasy. Of course, I had nothing to fear; I was simply dreaming, was I not? Still, this was a most strange dream; it was too real.
Shaking my head at my foolishness, I decided to take the initiative. "Hello?" I called into the eerie darkness.
"Hello, Christine," a rich tenor voice answered from somewhere in the shadows. I jumped slightly and turned. A man was leaning against the wall behind me with his arms crossed, smirking. I squinted my eyes with the effort of trying to see him more clearly.
"Who are you?" I stammered. "How do you know my name?"
He chuckled. "My, aren't we inquisitive?" I saw a strange golden glow. Were those his eyes? How very… odd. "This is a dream, so I know far more than just your name, Christine." His tongue uttered my name smoothly and slowly, sending chills down my spine. I blushed, feeling quite foolish. I was dreaming, wasn't I? Therefore, it was only logical that he would know me since this was all inside my mind. He was watching me interestedly as I considered his words. It bothered me that I could not see him but he could see me.
"Could you… would you mind stepping into the light? I can't see you."
"Many things exist that you will never see in this life. You know I am here; you do not need to see me."
His talk confused me but didn't distract my intentions. "Just the same, I would like to see you… please," I added, feeling a lack of courtesy in my request.
Another chuckle was my reward. "Silly child," he reproved lightly. "But, I will acquiesce to your request, my dear." With that, he slowly stepped towards me until he was in the light.
My first impression was that he was very tall. He was wearing, to my astonishment, a tuxedo (then again, I was wearing a fancy gown, so perhaps I should not have been so astonished) that was fitted over what appeared to be a thin frame. My eyes traveled up to his face. A white porcelain mask covered its right side from his hairline to right above his mouth. The mask probably should have disturbed me; masks usually do, but this one didn't seem menacing. The left side of his face - the side I could see - was handsome. He had golden eyes, which affirmed my earlier observation. His nose was straight, and his mouth was well-formed. Dark hair was groomed back from his face on his head. Yes, he was certainly a striking figure. But, upon closer inspection, I saw small lines around his eyes and mouth, obvious evidence that he was considerably older than myself. Not that this information made him any more repulsive physically; it simply added to the mystery of my dream.
He watched me the entire time I examined him. When my eyes rose to meet his again, he smiled. "Is your curiosity satisfied?" he inquired.
"Yes, thank you." I was beginning to feel embarrassed. Staring is considered to be rude behavior, after all. However, my shame vanished upon hearing his next words. "Now, I shall have my turn."
My face turned crimson, and I could feel it burning. "I believe you had your turn while your presence was unknown to me," I countered.
"Nonsense. Come, come. I am not going to hurt you." He slowly sauntered towards me. He moved with a grace that I deeply envied. Then again, that same grace could easily be attributed to a panther as it stalks towards its prey. He circled me once, and I felt the warmth of his breath on my neck. I raised an eyebrow once he was standing in front of me again as if to say, Are you finished yet? His own eyebrow raised, mocking me, and I exhaled with annoyance. I closed my eyes, wishing he would stop.
Suddenly, I felt a hand beneath my chin. My eyes opened as he gently tilted my face upwards to look into his eyes. All signs of mockery were gone now, leaving behind a combination of uncertainty and longing.
"Christine, I am not going to hurt you," he repeated. His hand moved to my cheek and carefully smoothed away a stray curl. Something electric shot through me. Why does this seem so real? I wondered. All I could do was return the man's gaze as he searched my features. "Please do not be afraid of me."
"I'm not," I murmured. A small smile graced his lips, and he opened his mouth as though to say more.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Shocked, I looked around. He looked down, frowning again. What is going on? I wondered as I looked for the source of the sound. I turned to the man, confused. "What is happening?"
He sighed and looked at me again, sadness etched into his face. "It is time for you to wake, Christine."
Posted on September 10, 2010
