We laid on the floor rug for over an hour, catching our breaths. I'd almost expected Silvio to barrel through the door at any moment to drag me back and finish what he started. By now it had been hours since and still no sign.
Lying side by side on my bed where we migrated a bit ago, I press my face closer into the crook of Hal's neck. He's still asleep but his color is nearly back to normal. I'm so very relieved that I could cry but I keep the tears at bay. I don't want Hal to see me crying even if they're happy tears.
I contemplate getting out of bed but that might be a difficult task. I'm wrapped in Hal's arms with no chance of wiggling free if I wanted to. His strength has come back.
I decide to just enjoy this quiet moment of peace. Sleep comes for me quicker than I expect.
"Little Queen," a voice purrs in my ear.
"No, no! Get away from me!" I'm standing in the library once more but it's smaller than it should be. It's more like a box that's closing in on me. I keep backing until my back slams into a bookcase. Silvio walks toward me. His steps slow and deliberate.
I sidestep away from the bookcase to bolt for the door but there isn't one in sight. Panic threatens to strangle me; making me clumsy. I trip and fall to the floor with a thud.
I scramble to get back up. Silvio yanks my ankle and I crumble back. "Let go!" I scream. I dig my nails into the floor as he drags me towards him. My nail beds are torn until they bleed but I don't notice. I'm too busy trying to survive.
When he flips me on my back and I see his face, I become unhinged. An awful scream pierces the air.
Silvio's eyes are bright red like fresh blood and his grin shows jagged rows of sharp teeth.
"Amelia! Amelia!" I'm being shaken hard and my fists fly up to hit my attacker.
"No! Get away from me!" I scream as one of my wrists are grabbed. Tears stream down my face. "NO! NO! STOP, PLEASE!"
(Why am I so helpless all the time? I want to protect myself!)
"AMELIA!" Hal's scream shakes me out of my night terror and suddenly I'm no longer lying on the library floor.
I'm shaking so hard that I find my voice is gone. All I can think of are those blood-red eyes glaring into mine. The ice in my chest has intensified by ten fold forcing my teeth to clack.
The worry in Hal's eyes is undeniable. We both know Silvio is toying with my dreams again.
I close my eyes and snap them back open. The scene tries to play itself in my head once more. This means I can't sleep even if I wanted to.
Hal strokes my hair, his lips pressed to the top of my head. however soothing it is it still is not enough to quell my fear.
I continue to shake the rest of the night, neither of us getting anymore sleep. We sit on the sofa instead. This makes me feel guilty for keeping Hal awake. Especially after his brush with death. Then again his presence is so comforting that I almost forget about feeling guilty until he yawns; head falling to rest on my shoulder. His ears tickle my face but I welcome the slight discomfort. Maybe it will distract me until daylight.