Ch. 8

Jason found himself standing outside an old Victorian mansion in the middle of lush green countryside. The sun was just setting against a hill and the sky was ablaze with orange and yellow wisps of cloud that huddled above the horizon. The old house was speckled with broken windows and falling shingles, and the encroaching shadows intensified the menacing feeling the decrepit structure emanated. Facing the mansion was an overgrown lawn that sustained mainly dandelions and clover, though the occasional knee high cluster of grass would challenge the weeds. Beyond the lawn was a hedge, taller than he was and badly kept. It ran like a wall at the edge of the lawn and turned at either end to form a square. As Jason slowly walked towards it he realized it was a maze. The entrance to the maze loomed against the shadows directly in front of him and he paused, not wanting to enter the ragged wall of bush as the light was fleeing the sky and casting everything into darkness.

That's when he heard it. A feeble cry coming from somewhere inside the mess of brambles yelled his name and beckoned him inside. He stepped forward, drawn by the sweet voice, and was hastily swallowed by the maze. He frowned and an unsettling feeling turned in the pit of his stomach. Looking back over his shoulder he saw that there was no longer an opening in the hedge behind him: the entrance was gone.

 "Jason…" the sweet voice summoned again, the tone holding neither urgency nor anger. "Jason…" the word whispered around him, swirling in the wind and mingling with the mists. "Jason…" the voice called one last time as it penetrated his mind and infused his senses with a silent command. His feet moved without his asking and carried him on a road that was mapped out by an unknown source. He began to walk with more urgency as he felt his destination approach, and soon he had reached the center of the maze.

The end of his journey brought him into a clearing that was just as unkempt as the rest of the property. The darkness was throwing odd shadows on the surrounding brambles and the wind sailed in his ears and carried the moaning voices of creatures hidden by the night. In the middle of his path stood a woman who seemed to glow with a mysterious energy. Her light held the shadows at bay and her beauty silenced the devious monsters of dusk. Jason moved towards her without realizing his actions. She stood with her arms open in welcome, her white gown snapping in the wind and contouring her body as if she wore nothing at all. Her hair fell in a stream of molten gold down her back and strands ran against her face as they were caught by the gusts of wind. It was Courtney.

Jason walked into her arms and held her face within his hands. He let his lips hover just above hers as he gazed into her pure blue eyes before he claimed her mouth with his own. The kiss was sensual and loving as their tongues met in a rhythmic dance neither had known before it had been created by the other's tongue. She slowly nibbled his lip and forced a smile to touch his face. He returned the favor.

Jason was basking in the warmth of her glow when their kiss began to flounder… he found Courtney licking his face with her tongue and he could no longer find her lips with his mouth. Courtney continued with this strange style and Jason was unable to stop her... his eyes flew open and his sight was assailed with the image of two large brown eyes, a wet black nose and hot rancid breath.

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"Rosie!" Jason moaned as he gently pushed the dog away. With a disgusted frown he quickly wiped off his face with the sheet before he turned onto his back. His eyes slid to the sleeping form beside him and a smile returned to his lips. He lifted himself on his elbow and quietly studied the muse that lightly snored beside him.

Courtney woke to Jason's adoring gaze. He ran his fingers over her cheek and claimed her lips with his thumb. She smiled through sleepy eyes and caught his fingers inside her teeth, running her tongue over their tips. Jason grinned in return as his eyes darkened with desire. He kissed her half opened eyelids and her nose, eventually claiming her lips with his own. She moaned against his mouth, breaking the kiss for a moment to mumble, "You know... I expect to be woken like this every morning." Jason ran his hand through her tangled hair and answered with a voice broken with sleep, "I think we can arrange that. But from now on Rosie sleeps downstairs."

Courtney's eyes opened and confusion swam in their depths, "Downstairs?" Her gaze moved over Jason's shoulder to where Rosie sat on the floor, her head resting on the bed and drool pillowing on the sheet. Laughter filled Courtney's voice as she protested, "Aww, baby, she's just trying to tell you she loves you."

Jason frowned through the smile that caught his features as he looked back at Rosie. "I don't care. The dog is going downstairs." His gaze found Courtney's and he continued, "I would much rather get my good morning kiss from you." He leaned in to kiss her again and grazed her protruding lip with his teeth, "Although Rosie does have better breath than you in the morning."

Courtney laughed as she hit Jason's chest in mock outrage, "Well, then, I guess that means I should get up." She began to climb out of bed but Jason caught her in his arms and nuzzled her neck with his cheek, "No, no. You are staying right here with me." He moved to pin her beneath his body and smiled as her arms twined around his neck. Their mouths met and continued the dance they had begun in Jason's dream. Her hands moved over his back and her fingers outlined his muscles. Jason felt a shiver run up his spine as her light touch tickled and teased his senses.

Afterwards they lay in each others arms glowing from the magic they had just shared. Courtney rested her head in the crook of Jason's shoulder and traced winding shapes over his chest with her finger. Her eyes lazily searched the room and eventually fell on the clock. She suddenly sat upright and the sheet that had covered her pillowed forgotten around her thighs.

Jason watched her with obvious admiration infiltrating his icy blue gaze. "What's the matter?" he wondered, his tone relaxed as he watched her frantically scramble from the bed.

Courtney's tone was tainted with worry, "I have to work this morning! I'm going to be late... damn it, I'm always late. Elizabeth is going to love telling Bobbie about this one." She frowned as she found some clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. A moment later Jason heard the shower start and just as quickly he heard it end. She bustled back into the room with her hair caught up in a ponytail and dressed in a pair of jeans and casual blue shirt. She sat on the end of the bed to pull some socks on, and Jason seized the opportunity to wrap his arms around her from behind.

Courtney couldn't help but smile as Jason's hands rested on her stomach and his head lulled against her shoulder.  "Jason… I've really got to go." She turned her head and gave him a kiss on the cheek before trying to stand up. Jason held her against him and shook his head in disgust, "that pitiful excuse for a kiss won't get you out of here very fast ." Crushing his lips to hers he let her stand after a few moments. "Now that is a goodbye kiss." He grinned when finished, proud of himself. Courtney simply shook her head in amusement as she walked through the door, "I'll be off around 4. Take it easy today."

A smile was still on her face as Courtney bounded down the steps of the penthouse, taking them two at a time. The living room was still blanketed with shadows and she failed to notice the man who sat on the couch. Grabbing her coat and purse she slipped on her shoes and headed for the door. The voice stopped her dead in her tracks as she tried in vain to swallow her fear.

"You can't leave." Sonny said in a tone that held no emotion and little volume. Courtney sighed and turned a pair of angry eyes towards the couch, "Sonny! What the hell do you think you are doing? You scared me half to death!"

He stood and looked at her, his large brown eyes swimming with fear and uncertainty, "You have to help me," he began, approaching her as she stood beside the door.

Courtney watched her brother, trying to decipher the emotions evident on his features. Her voice was mingled with curiosity and worry as she wondered, "Help you do what?"

Sonny took another step towards her and continued to speak as if Courtney hadn't said a word, "I owe Jason my life, I own him everything… but you are my sister. I have to protect you. I have to keep you safe… tell me how I can do that when I owe Jason so much. Tell me how I can protect you and not take you away from him!"

Courtney frowned as Sonny ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. She took a step away from him as his voice began to rise, and worry grew in her tone, "Sonny… calm down, okay? I am safe. You don't have to do anything for me; you don't owe me a thing. You know Jason loves you, Sonny, but you can't force us to be apart. It doesn't make any sense… I am your sister; loving Jason doesn't put me in any more danger than I would be in already. You don't have to do anything."

Sonny's eyes grew erratic as she spoke, and his voice continued to rise as he yelled, "Bullshit! I need to do something! I need to keep my family safe! This is my responsibility!" His arm snaked out and slammed the wall beside Courtney's ear with a deafening thud, causing her to jump in both shock and fear. "Tell me what to do!" He continued to rant, paranoia and helplessness edging his mind towards insanity.

Jason's voice boomed from the stairs as he arrived to interrupt Sonny's ravings, "Sonny! That's enough!" He quickly moved across the floor as he tugged a shirt over his head. He took Courtney by the hand and drew her away from her brother.

Sonny looked at Jason and his eyes filled with shame. His gaze found the floor as he mumbled, "Jason… I'm, uh, I'm glad to see you up…" He trailed off as rational thought evaded his lips and he quickly turned and left the penthouse, leaving both Jason and Courtney to stare after him with confusion uniting their features.

After a few minutes Courtney shifted her gaze to Jason and her eyes searched his for answers. "Jason, something is wrong with Sonny." Jason only shook his head in response, running a hand through his hair as worry penetrated his gaze, "I know… he's never been this bad before. I didn't expect this to happen again."

Courtney's eyes widened in surprise, "again?"