Chapter 5 Pt 3

My heart is literally in my throat by the time darkness sets over the windows. The later it becomes the more nervous I am. It's all my fault I'm so nervous since it was my bright idea of having a sleepover. This is not a sleepover with a bestie…this is a sleepover with the guy I have strong feelings and attraction to. The very thought of using my changing screen with Hal in the same room makes my stomach knot. No matter how innocent and boyish Hal looks because of his beastskin heritage, he is still a man. Saint of not… and I'm a woman. The possibility of something intimate happening is very slim after everything that happened today. Besides, I'm not so sure the butler side of Hal would allow anything more than a few kisses. Despite it all, I'm anxious; I'm trembling as I change into my nightgown. Hal is still on the loveseat asleep… at least I think he is—hope he is.

Heaving a sigh I come away from the screen and to my bed, pulling back the covers. I pause right as I'm getting in and look toward Hal. I should get him a blanket, he might get cold. Carefully I tiptoe toward him with the blanket that was folded at the foot of my bed. Hal doesn't stir an inch when I lay it across him. Success!

Crawling into bed I lay down, closing my eyes. Pretending I'm not freezing like I'm in Antarctica. Fretfully, I end up asleep and wish I hadn't…

Replays of Silvio haunt me in my dreams. His awful burning touch as he pins me against that bookcase where I'm powerless to escape. The feelings are so real I forget it's a dream. I'm trapped!

"Give me the rest of your soul, Amelia" that awful voice purrs in my ear.

"No! Let me go!" I try to shove him off but he doesn't so much as budge as he pulls my chin up; those yellow eyes keep me immobilized. Silvio is so close his breath ghosts across my face.

The words he says next are unexpected and terrifying and it's all I can do to keep from screaming when fire meets my lips. I simply break.

"Don't scream or I will kill him."

"Hal…? Hal…? Hal?!"

Someone touches me and I shudder away. Familiar arms pull me close. A hand touches the top of my head. I sit there cradled against Hal and bawl like a frightened child. Embarrassment doesn't exist in this moment… later I may feel weird but as of now I'm just thankful to have Hal beside me. Even more thankful that what I heard was only from a dream. I look up into Hal's eyes only to see him scowling in worry. Not saying a word, he continues to soothe me with his actions. Never once saying it was just a dream which makes me panic.

"Hal?" his name is so quiet as it falls from my lips. I'm not sure rather I want to ask but by the awful expression painted across his face my worst fears are already confirmed. I'm in this world; magic can allow people to do almost anything. So the idea that Silvio was manipulating my dreams is not too farfetched.

"He's going to play with you until you break." Those arms holding me close tremble in silent fury. "I won't let him do this to you," voice shaking as he vows.

He's planning to stop Silvio in his own power and it scares me because I know Hal is nowhere near as strong as Silvio. He'd never stand a chance. He would d—"No!" I protest, pushing back from him to stare in his eyes.

Hal's ears go back in shock as he gapes at me. "Amelia?"

"You can't go after him, Hal!" I grip his arm as if to keep him here.

The deepening frown on Hal's face is scary. He's worrying with himself inside and I know he knows I'm right because he also understands that he's not strong enough to take him out.

"We can find another way to make him stop—we could expose him!"

Hal's expression softens as he touches my cheek. "How could he be exposed?" the way he's caressing my cheek almost has me forgetting what we even talked about.

(Concentrate, Amelia!)

"Someone could walk in on him while he's—" before I can even finish Hal has placed his hand over my mouth.

"That's out of the question. I—it's too dangerous."

"But it might work!"

"And it possibly could fail horribly." The anguish in those beautiful eyes pains me for even coming up with the idea.

I leave his words to linger between us as I bring my face into his chest. A wave of calmness settles over me and I can feel myself trying to drift. I'm too sleepy to beg Hal to stay with me but it's on the tip of my tongue.

On the edge of my consciousness I can hear Hal whisper, "Sleep now. I'll be with you."

(I swear you're telepathic)

Every thought that had been solely on Silvio is now focused on Hal.

There will not be anymore nightmares tonight of that I'm certain as I drift off to the rhythm of Hal's heart.