Chapter 2

Screams. It was the first thing Rowin heard. When he opened his eyes everything was on fire. He saw cottages burning to the ground, people running all over the place, and the burnt corpses on the ground. The smell of ash and the burnt flesh of the corpses hit his nose. It was a horrible odor that made his eyes water. The screams became louder and louder, becoming a death screech. Rowin covered his ears from the sound trying to block it out. It was so overwhelming that Rowin was driven to his knees. He bent his head down to keep the smell and screams at bay. All of a sudden it stopped. Rowin took his hands off his ears and lifted his head. In the smoke was a face.

Rowin jerked awake in bed breathing hard. His heart was pounding against his ribs and he was afraid it would burst from his chest. When he heard a sigh he looked down and saw that Kazely was still in his arms. Only now Kazely was wrapped around him very tightly.

Just a dream, he thought, relaxing back into Kazely's bed.

Now that he was relaxed, he was just now hearing Kazely purring.

What the hell? Rowin thought, a little surprised. It must be a good dream.

Rowin started to shake Kazely gently and said quietly, " Kaze, time to wake up."

Kazely started to stretch when her hand hit something. She was wide awake now. When she looked up, she started screaming.

She had been ignoring him all day and he was starting to get angry, even after he apologized four times already. After she stopped screaming she jumped out of bed and gave him a tongue lashing, then stomped out of her room and slammed the door. After she had gotten dress she went down to open the shop, which was called "Antique Treasures," where they sold old relics and antiques they got from their "jobs".

Stupid Kazely, he thought angrily, scowling when he heard the little bell chime seeing that a customer came in and Kazely warmly welcoming the customer with a smile. Doesn't even remember why I was with her.

He nodded his head in a welcome when the man looked his way. When he saw his eyes they were a soft purple Rowin straightened from where he was leaning against the wall and watched the guy suspiciously. Purple eyes were very rare and not necessarily a good thing.

The man was tall and had snow white hair with gold highlights in it, that went to his shoulders. He had a hawk nose and his skin was a pale white. From what Rowin could see, the skin looked smooth like it was carved from marble. He looked to be in his 30s or 40s, but what did Rowin know, for all he knew the guy could be in his 300s or 400s. You just never knew with people. He wore a green vest with a cream colored shirt underneath. The pants he wore were black. His shoes were black as well. Rowin could see a theme going on here. When Rowin looked back to the guy's face he saw a gold chain around his neck, but he couldn't see what was on it since it was tucked into his shirt.

Rowin stopped looking at the guy when Kazely started laughing from whatever the man had said to her. A growl started to rise out of Rowin's throat and it took all of his will power to bank it down. Instead he just glowered at the back of the man's head.

Don't even think about it pal. She's Mine, Rowin thought, still glowering.

He blinked and shook his head. Mine, yeah right. Where the hell had that thought come from? He didn't even know if she liked him or not. While he was debating that, Kazely had just said goodbye to their customer.

Weird guy, thought Kazely, suppressing a shudder when the man looked back at her with those intense eyes, nodding a goodbye, turn and left. Cute, but weird.

When Kazely turned around she saw Rowin glowering at her.

"What's that look for?" she asked a little surprised. Rowin never glowered. Well, not when she was around.

"Nothing." Still glowering he went over to her and asked, "Did he buy anything?" his attention now reverted to the door where the man with the purple eyes just left.

"No. He was just looking around," she said. And looking at me, she thought to herself.

Rowin looked at her with his intense stare, seeing if she told him the whole truth. What he saw must have satisfy him, because he nodded. Kazely was about to move around him when he grabbed her upper arm in a gentle grip. She tensed a little and immediately looked back to his face and what she saw was a shock. In his gaze were anger and possessiveness. The anger she could handle, but the possessiveness she couldn't. When she tried to jerk her arm away he only tightened his hold. That just pissed her off.

"Let go," she said through clenched teeth, her anger growing when he didn't immediately let go.

When Rowin saw the anger in her eyes he reluctantly let go. He could see that some of the anger was from this morning. His own anger and the jealousy he felt when he saw her smile at the man was about to rise, but he banked it down. He knew if their angers clashed it would get ugly real fast. With a long suffered sigh he said, "Kaze, for the last time I'm sorry."

She blinked and started to walk away from him. "I didn't ask for an apology," she said softly.

Rowin started to grind his teeth in frustration and started to follow her and said through clench teeth, "Maybe not, but you've been ignoring me all day, and I know that means your mad."

She stopped and whirled around, anger blazing in her eyes and almost shouting, "Wouldn't you be mad if you woke up with someone in your bed, after you've been shot at, and being in a vulnerable spot?!"

He just stood there for a minute and that irritating grin broke over his face and said, "Is that a trick question?" laughter in his blue eyes.

She clenched her hands into fists muttering, "I forgot who I'm talking to hear."

The laughter in Rowin's eyes died a quick death and was replaced with anger. Kazely knew she made a mistake by saying that.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" He shouted.

When she didn't answer he exploded, "Ok, that's it! I've had enough! I won't apologize again! Did you forget that you're the one who fell asleep in my arms? And weren't you the one who wrapped your body around mine? If anyone had their mind in the gutter it was you!"

She flinched, but what he said registered through her and she yelled in outraged, "M..me? I don't know what you are talking about."

When she said that he just yelled, "Oh, yes you do. For crying out loud, you were purring!"

"Purring?" she said in shock.

"Yes, purring. If anyone should be apologizing it should be you." he said, his anger all spent. He closed his eyes from exhaustion, tired from yelling. Kazely was still in shock and everything came flooding back from last night. She sighed.

"You're right." she said at last.

Rowin eyes popped open and he just stared at her for a minute, than finally saying in disbelief, "I'm what?"

Pushing her pride aside she said, "You Are Right. I'm sorry for getting mad at you and for ignoring you. All you were doing was giving me comfort when I needed it the most."

Rowin just stared at her for a moment and finally said, "I want this in writing. You hardly apologize to me."

Kazely rolled her eyes and said, "I'm not putting it in writing… Do you forgive me?" happy the anger from the room was lifting.

Rowin said grinning, "Forgiven, forgotten… Soooo, do want to tell me about your dream?"

Kazely just looked at him and said, "Nope." and turned around and started walking again.

"Oh, come on Kaze! Tell me!" whined Rowin, following her.

Kazely just shook her head and said, "Not in this lifetime. Come on lets close the store for the night." Going to the door and locking it. When the windows were closed and locked she started up the stairs, never seeing a shadow of a figure standing outside the shop.

When she was on the third step she heard Rowin shout, "Don't change the subject Kazely! Get back here and tell me about your dream!"

She looked over her shoulder at Rowin, who was on her heels and said, "For Get It."

"Kaaazelyyy!" Rowin whined, but Kazely just ignored him all the way to her room.

She said goodnight, and closed the door on Rowin's face. She smiled when she recalled the dream. In her dream she was playing with a huge ball of yarn. There was no way in hell she was telling him her dream. And with that she got ready for bed and went to sleep.