Wow, I want to thank you all for your lovely reviews and the alerts I have received. It means the world to me, and I was very surprised. I'm hoping you will enjoy this one. Thank you all for being so kind and sweet, I was terrified of posting online where everyone could see, so I'm very thankful for the result. Hoping this chapter isn't really bad, I'm going to be anxious every time I post one now :P

Chapter Two

Heavy metal music was thumping around from outside the small confines of his office. I could distantly hear the words to the music, it was an old nineties song- only I never really was hearing them. Not while I was staring into his eyes, anyway. Everything else of my surroundings seemed to drift off into trivial significance.

All that seemed to matter to me, was him. Not much else seemed to be getting through to me.

He was the most beautiful corpse I'd ever seen- if you believed what they said about vampires really being the dead reanimated, anyway. His hair was spilling across his back, tucked behind his ears. He had about the most captivating eyes I had ever seen in my entire life, as cheesy as that sounded. Myriads of emotion flitted in them as he held my gaze: Awe, merriment, and billions of others that I couldn't identify.

It was the strangest sensation imaginable.

Usually, being what I am with my little disability- which was a helpful way to look at it- I was bogged down with noises, I could never seem to get a quiet moment to myself, unless alone. But with him, there was nothing but silence. Nothing but him dominating the room, dominating my attention.

I peered back into his eyes and felt nothing but comfort and security in his presence, as if we were old friends in another lifetime somehow. It couldn't have been furthest away from the truth; I didn't know him, really, did I? Perhaps it was just the dreams I had presenting me a false sense of security around him?

It was, no doubt, risky to feel that way. He was a vampire after all, and if you put stock into anything you heard, he was the biggest threat to my life. Only, for some reason, it didn't feel that way. I ought to have been worried about being stuck in a room with only him. I ought to have felt at least some stirrings of self-preservation bubbling its way up to the surface. Only, I didn't. The nerves and wariness I had felt when first meeting him had seemed to dissipate completely into nothingness. There was nothing there in me, but curiosity into the way he was looking at me, almost gently, as well as a whole lot of fascination.

The more I looked at him, I knew beyond the shadows of a doubt that he was the same long-haired man who had featured in my dreams. How and why, was another dilemma altogether. Did this usually happen to people, where they had frequent dreams of somebody they hadn't met before?

Our thighs were still touching, as he sat closely to me in the seat. I felt nothing more than unbridled joy. And then, I felt something else overpower me completely; Another new, intensely nagging need for physical closeness. Without thinking, I reached over slowly and touched the back of his hand. His hands were clasped out in front of his knees. The instant my fingertips scraped against his skin, finding the contact they so desperately craved, it happened.

The second I touched him, the ceiling light in his office shorted out over us, then returned to brighten the room with a crack.

I flinched and cautiously brought my hand away, folding them in my lap. He didn't flinch at all. It was probably because he was a vampire and, as far as I was concerned, he was immortal. Nothing could hurt him, in the way that it could me.

"This is so... strange." I could hardly get the words out.

"What is?" He sounded utterly oblivious to what had just happened, what with the light flickering off and then on in his office again.

I felt my face going red. It seemed impossible to explain, probably even downright ridiculous. But I had to try.

"This entire thing," I managed, and I was not proud by the sound of my voice. It sounded shaky, breathless on me. "I... I feel as if I know you somehow. I don't know why that is, exactly. But I just do. Of course, I don't think we have actually ever met before, but... you just feel awfully familiar to me."

I couldn't even begin to confess to him of the dreams I had experienced. It just seemed as if that would be taking it a little bit too far. Worst case scenario, he would probably laugh in my face. I looked down at my hands, stifling a delirious laugh.

"I don't even know why I felt the need to come here tonight. I guess it was out of some crazy whim. It wouldn't be the first time I've done something crazy. Maybe I'm just as crazy as people believe?" I was mostly talking to myself, in a way to ease my nerves. I was only human, and when I got nervous, my mouth tended to run in a way I couldn't help.

No. You are many things, but crazy is not one of them.

I jolted, startled. What? I looked around, but no one was talking to me. I stared up at the vampire's face, only he hadn't talked to me, either, just then; At least, as far as I could tell, he hadn't. His lips hadn't looked as if they had moved. His expression was much the same as it first had been, when I had dared to look at him. I instantly came to regret looking at him again. There was this indescribable pull in place, all due to his gorgeous eyes. I couldn't look away. I was having trouble, yet again.

Just wonderful. So I was hearing more voices again. I didn't need to feel anymore of a lunatic than I already did. Self-disappointment flooded within me lethally. I was now regretting my impulsive decision to come along to the vampire bar. I suppose I hadn't thought it through rationally enough.

Oh, no. I am most delighted that you made the decision to come to me. I only wonder what has taken you so long to find me.

There it was again, a voice so quiet, a male's voice I could barely hear. It was like it was coming straight from the back of my skull. I felt as if I was definitely going nuts. I heard people's thoughts, yes. But usually, they didn't hear mine. Nor did they respond to me, as if they knew what I was thinking.

Yes, this is a most strange experience for me also.

I looked more closely at the vampire sitting beside me. I was positive it was his voice inside my head. It had to be him. Yet how? Since I had never been around vampires very much, I didn't know whether my ability extended to them or not. Even now, with what was happening, I still couldn't be sure. The vampires face gave nothing away, any tell-tale sign that it was him who was speaking to me, at least through my mind. Why should I be so surprised, though? I have heard voices inside my head ever since I could remember. Why should it freak me out now?

Just to convince myself I wasn't as much as a lunatic as I thought, I tried it out for myself. Frankly, I find you real intimidating, I thought, watching his face closely for any tell-tale sign.

I heard the sharp intake of breath he gave out: A sharp hiss through the gaps of his teeth.

Yes, you should find me very intimidating. Most usually do, and they have their reasons to be. However, you do not need to fear me. I wish you no harm. Causing you harm and losing you twice would be more than I could bear.

Oh, well, wonderful. We were having a conversation, except we weren't. We were inside each other's heads. Not in a million years did I think it was possible. Usually, it was only just me annoying people by getting inside their heads. Now I knew how it felt. I could hear him, clearly, inside my head, as if he was whispering the words in my ear.

Yes, I did not know this was possible myself. This is most extraordinary.

I laughed out loud- almost. This was crazy. Has this happened to you before? Conversing with people through minds, I mean?

A small smile parted his lips, enough that I could see the sharp tips of his glistening fangs. His eyes were alight with humour. Usually, no. You do not seem as surprised as I do? Is this something that has happened to you before?

I wasn't sure if I should tell him, but since he assured me he couldn't bear the idea of causing me any harm, I guess that gave me courage.

Truth be told, I've had to live this with my whole life. I can hear people's thoughts. Everything is always so blah-blah-blah. Guess with you it isn't any different.

He gave a perceptible nod of his head at me, and his blonde hair fell into his eyes. A wry smile curled his lips. Can you hear everything I am thinking? Or just... me conversing with you?

The intensity of his eyes searching into mine deeply became suddenly overwhelming. I looked away. I looked down at my hands, crossing them in my lap.

Nope, it isn't nearly as bad as with other people. I can just hear things you are directing at me, not what you're thinking completely.

That is most reassuring then, he said, and by the way I heard him, it sounded as if he was still smiling. You wouldn't like to hear what I am completely thinking.

I felt my pulse race, with fear. My throat tightened and I had some trouble swallowing. I've had dreams about you. I couldn't bear looking at him, as I admitted that. I kept my eyes on my hands, but tried to gauge his reaction to that out of the corner of my eye. I thought I felt his body stiffen; His shoulders especially.

Yes, as have I.

I couldn't help it; I looked, shocked. You have as well?

Yes. Though he was very still and rigid, I saw a muscle in his throat twitch. A hundred years worth of them.

"But how is that possible?" I wondered, out loud, using my voice again. My voice sounded funny, even to me. It sounded hoarse, croaky, as if I had something stuck in it. A piece of food or something. "I was only born twenty-three years ago? You've really dreamt of me that long, before I even came into the world?"

"Yes." The word was loud, harsh, slipping out through his gritted teeth. He turned his eyes on me, and he looked so incredibly pale. He finally had some identifiable emotion on his face that I could work out. He looked almost stressed. Frightened. His eyes were troubled, like a blue sea before the storm hit roughly. "As to how that is possible, I do not know the answer to that myself. But the reason you feel you know me, is perhaps exactly that. I knew you once many, many years ago. We were lovers at one stage, but you and I had to realize it would never work. Still, I had high hopes to see you again, and here you are. Perhaps you have finally returned to me?"

But that can't be possible, I thought, frustrated, forgetting he could hear me. I wasn't around.

Shock hit me, when I felt his hand slip over mine, tightening. His fingers were calloused, dry, and cold.

Frighteningly, everything around me suddenly changed. My surroundings changed. I was no longer in this vampires office. The setting was completely different, but there was me. Me, in a different time, a different setting. Me, and him.

It was midnight, and the moon was round and full.

She was in the small village market, carrying a cane basket, a sack tied over her wrist that held coins inside. The stalls inside the market were illuminated by a few flame posts. She was inspecting the fruit, selecting tomatoes and inspecting them for any spoilage and bruises with a delicate flick of her wrist. The markets weren't busy at this time of the night, but she enjoyed the time alone. It comforted her. She plopped the tomato down and strolled over to the stall that held round fruits. She picked up a round orange, inspected it closely, then brought it up to her nose, inhaling in the scent of sweet citrus. And then she felt it, as did the winds itself. The flames of the lamp posts fizzled out for one minute, casting everything into an eery darkness, before coming back to life again.

A dark presence was near.

As if she could feel some intangible pull towards her, she turned and looked. A man was standing behind her, pretending to inspect the fruits and vegetables himself. She gave him a mere curious and fleeting glance, before turning away disinterestedly. His long hair was tied back. He had a long piece of barley grass in his mouth, which he was nibbling on with his teeth. She went on, ignoring his presence, while he stared at her, without her knowing. A few times he reached out to touch her, to place his hand on her shoulder, but he lost courage.

Nights passed where he would come along at the markets to admire her from afar. She didn't think anything of it, as he kept himself within distance and sometimes he lurked, far in the shadows, where he knew he was safe from her roaming eyes. Then, one night, he grew enough confidence to approach her. She didn't even see him coming. He came towards her from behind, as she was smelling fruit, getting lost in the scents that washed over her. He placed his hands gently on her hips, after a moment of obvious hesitation, and she stiffened, surprised. He bent down to whisper something low in her ear, and a rush of emotion crossed his features.

She was afraid, but she forced herself to turn and look at him.

And, the instance her eyes met his, she never looked back.

From that day onwards, she would meet him secretly and privately, come dark.

They would stay in many hotels together, before the night hours grew too old. Her family eventually became suspicious. Her mother had interrogated her that day, and when they came together come nightfall again, she had already made up her mind. She was frightened to tell him, and he could sense that. He watched her pace about, his mind overworking like a clock. And then, suddenly, with a strained cry, she broke down sobbing stormily. He rushed to her and held her at arm's length, eager to comfort her. He hushed her with gentle-spoken words. What he didn't know, was that she couldn't be consoled. It was already far too late.

She told him that their affair had to end, no matter how glorious it had been. His reaction frightened her. In a tremulous rage, he began taking things and throwing them across the room. Picture frames smashed and glass bottles broke in shards. She fell down on the bed, covered in the most luxurious spreads of silk red sheets, buried her face in her hands, and cried noisily.

He looked down at her on the bed wildly, and felt shame at losing his temper.

He came towards her, sat on the bed next to her, and pulled her in his arms. This would be the last time, their last embrace, and he knew it. Her heart beat faster and faster as his white face came towards hers. Then he kissed her, long and hard; a kiss bittersweet with goodbyes. At his lips' touch, she blossomed for him, pulling up her dress, and as they made their last act of love, he knew in his mind that he would be changed forever. He would never love another, so long as he lived. And he held within him the obstinate belief that she would return to him, in some form or another, and that the Gods would let him know.

I slipped my hand away from his, and opened my eyes. I could feel my entire body trembling. What was that?

Hoping this one wasn't bad? Feel free to let me know your thoughts. I enjoyed reading them. Thank you!