Just before nightfall

Emma was lost in the dream.


The light and warmth of a spring day surrounded her and she wasn't alone. Chupa was there in the garden with her. She could see him, his blue eyes twinkling in the bright sunlight. There was a smile on his face as he beckoned her to him. Playfully, she shook her head and stuck her tongue out at him. With a soft growl, he began to chase her around the small statues that dotted the open areas of the garden. Laughing gaily, she ran from him, occasionally letting him get close and then moving away from him again.

He finally caught her around the waist, swinging her gently in a circle. When he set her down, she turned and hugged him tightly. "It was worth it, wasn't it?" she asked him, looking into his deep blue eyes. "More than you know," Chupa whispered, lightly rubbing his nose against hers as he wrapped his muscular arms around her and held her close. Emma gave him a brilliant smile. "I'm so glad you came with me," she murmured, stroking his cheek. "I am too," he replied softly, leaning down further. His lips brushed against hers, the touch as soft as a butterfly's wings. A soft whimper escaped Emma as Chupa kissed her deeply. Without a thought, she kissed him back with all of the passion and longing that she held inside. With each teasing sweep of his tongue in her mouth, heat rippled through her body. The mere touch of his skin under her hands made her nerves spark wildly. Her fingers lightly stroked the hard muscles of his back as her body pressed against his. She loved the delicious heat of him that seeped through her clothes, the gentle warmth of his strong arms encircling her. She loved him.

A moment later, dark clouds filled the sky and thunder rolled in the air. They parted and Emma's pale eyes watched the sky fearfully as the air thickened around them. When she looked at Chupa once more, horror filled her eyes. Flecks of his skin began to float away from his face, hands and arms. "Chupa," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. He looked back at her, those beautiful pools of deep blue filled with sadness. She reached for him as more of him disintegrated. "No," she cried out, trying to touch him but finding herself unable to reach him. "Please, no. Chupa!"

A split second later, a shaft of brilliant sunlight broke through the clouds and covered him. He screamed in pain and fell to his knees as he began to burn. With agonizingly pain-filled eyes, he raised his hand and reached toward Emma. "Help me, Emma. Don't let me die this way," he gasped as his hand slowly turned to dust. The wind rose, sweeping ashes through the air until nothing of Chupa remained. Emma fell to her knees and screamed.

"Chupa!"


Lost in thought as he passed Emma and Rayn's door, Chupa was jerked from his reverie by Emma's scream. The door, still locked, splintered and flew open under the force of his booted foot. He ran into the room and went straight to Emma. Shaking her, he yelled, "Emma, wake up! It's all right!" When her eyes opened, he was relieved but bothered by the tears and pain he saw in the violet orbs. She stared at him for a moment, her chest heaving with each breath. Without a word, she flung her arms around him, clutching at him as if she were afraid he'd vanish.

Holding her close to him, he rocked her slowly, one hand tenderly caressing her hair. "Shh. It's all right, Emma. It was only a dream," he murmured in a soothing tone. Chupa could feel her body shaking as she sobbed. "It's all right. No one's going to hurt you. You're safe."

Behind him, Rayn, Priest and Verlaine appeared in the doorway. "Is she all right?" Rayn asked, rushing in and stopping beside Chupa. "I don't know," Chupa answered, glancing at her, "I was passing the door and she screamed my name. I broke the door down and came in. It took me a few seconds to wake her and when she did, she was crying." Rayn looked at Emma with concerned eyes. She had a strong feeling that she knew why Emma had screamed. The older woman had seen something that terrified her.

"Is it getting warmer in here?" Verlaine suddenly asked, her eyes scanning the room. Rayn turned to look at her and noticed the small lick of flame among the kindling in the fireplace. "Get back to the door, Verlaine! Now!" she ordered, watching with wide eyes as the flame grew. Verlaine backed toward the door. In a great rush of heat, a pillar of flames burst out of the fireplace. It shimmered in the air, never touching the carpeted floor. "Your task is not complete," came a husky female voice from within the flames, "You know now the price of disobedience. That which you love most will be destroyed because of your misbehavior. Remember this, Emma Kindheart, for you have been warned." Just as quickly as it appeared, the pillar of flames vanished, the kindling in the fireplace cold once again.

When Rayn turned back to Emma and Chupa, she was stunned by the look in her friend's eyes. It was a mixture of fear, sadness and something else. Emma's eyes were filled with hatred, an emotion that she never showed. Rayn watched as Emma pulled back from Chupa's embrace, her violet eyes hard and cold.

Emma slipped out of the bed and crossed the room, stopping in front of the fireplace. "It was a dream. Nothing more," she whispered, her eyes closed. In her mind, she heard her mother's voice whispering. "What's happened? Why is the Mother so angry?" Telepathically, Emma replied, "I dreamt of Chupa. It was only a dream." "You must guard against her, Emma. She's just waiting for you to make a mistake. Be careful." Aloud, Emma murmured, "Don't worry about me, Mama. I will be. She had best do the same."

"What was that?" Priest asked, peeking around the splintered door. "That was the Mother delivering a warning," Rayn answered, glancing at him, "Emma, is everything all right?" She didn't answer. "Emma?" When she turned to look at Rayn, her face was calm and serene. "It's okay, Rayn. I'm fine now." "Are you sure? You don't look fine," Chupa commented from behind her. Emma turned to find him standing close. "I'll get over it," she replied, giving him a weak smile. He reached out a hand to touch her face, his muscles clenching when he saw her flinch. "I'll be down the hall," he told her, turning and striding out of the room. Verlaine looked back at her once before following the tall pureblood.

Once alone, Rayn lightly touched Emma's shoulder. "What happened?" she whispered as tears filled Emma's eyes again. "I was dreaming and Chupa was kissing me. And then he was coming apart and burning. I couldn't help him, Rayn. I couldn't help him and the light burned him to ashes," Emma answered in a soft whisper as tears streaked down her cheeks. "Oh God. You love him, don't you?" the younger woman murmured, looking into Emma's pale purple eyes. "I don't-I'm not sure, but, God help me, I think so," was all her companion could say before she broke down and cried harder.

Rayn hugged Emma close. She understood exactly how Emma felt. What she herself felt for Priest was tearing her apart too.