Chapter 22: A Dream For Us

It became routine, saying goodnight to Lestat in my living room. As much as I hate to admit it he was actually helping. The dreams didn't stop completely, but they certainly didn't affect me the way they had before. He walked me to shows so I no longer lost a chunk of my paycheck to cab fare. I even received a nice check in the mail for the story Dawkins' had bought (though that was something he was never going to hear so long as I could help it). The feeling was strange, to say the least. He was still the arrogant, overbearing, conceited Lestat; yet somehow there was more consideration in the way he acted. The shmoozy charm had been replaced by something more…real.

Still, I was keeping my distance. Everything was business as far as I was concerned. As soon as the "Marcus" problem was taken care of this would end and we could part ways. I was sure that was what I wanted - pretty sure, anyways.

It had been three weeks since the last dream. I was well back to sleeping regularly. Whatever it was Lestat had done was working. I almost decided to tell him that everything was fine, he didn't have to do this anymore, but something told me he would just dismiss the idea.

We said goodnight as always. He moved to touch me as he did every night; and I dodged my way into my bedroom as I always did. It was too much, letting him touch me had turned into this giant wall; if I let him everything would come tumbling down and I just wasn't ready for it.

I had a hard time falling asleep even though I was tired. Despite the fact that I am always loath to admit it, I was thinking about Lestat and how he had seemingly changed. I don't know what time I fell asleep, all I remember is seeing red. Rivers of blood surrounding me and that face, Marcus' face. It was my blood, it was happening all over again. It was so real…I screamed with all my might but Marcus just stood there and laughed. "Where is your Lestat now? It seems he's failed to protect you yet again." He pulled me towards him and tore into my neck. The pain…it was incredible; I could feel the warmth of the blood trailing down my body. I just kept screaming…

Someone was shaking me. I opened my eyes to see Lestat bent over me. I was so startled I didn't recognize him at first; I shot up and pushed him away. He grabbed my shoulders and forced me to look at him. "Evie, wake up, you were dreaming again!"

I was paralyzed with shock. I just sat there shivering looking straight ahead. This time when Lestat pulled me into his arms I had no power to resist. I hid my face in his shoulder and shut everything out. Lestat just said, "It's alright, it's alright," over and over again.

When I regained my composure, fully awake, things became awkward. I pulled my face up and sat back a little. I couldn't look him in the face. I wiped the remaining wetness from my eyes and cheeks. "I thought you…I thought…"

"I thought I had too," he said quietly.

I looked at the clock; it was four thirty. "You have to be going soon," I said to the clock.

"I know, but not yet." He reached out and pushed the tangled hair out of my face. "You can still sleep, I know what's happening."

I wanted to ask, but I was so tired. My mind was a fog, still trapped in that horrible place. I lay back down on my side trying not to let myself become overwhelmed again. Lestat placed a soft kiss on my forehead and got up to leave.

"Wait…" I said hesitantly. He turned and looked down at me. "Will you stay, just until I fall asleep again?" I asked.

"Of course." He climbed onto the bed behind me.

"Above the covers…" I blurted out.

"Of course."

The covers between us, he draped his arm over my waist and pulled me up against his chest. "Go back to sleep," he whispered reassuringly.