Chapter 7: Only Dreaming

Anaya stirred from her sleep, being woken by the feeling of feather light touches on her ankles. Assuming it was leaves being blown over her skin by the breeze, she nuzzled her face into the thick fur she was sleeping on and curled her legs up closer to her chest. She felt that it was still daylight out and that she could sleep a little longer. But as she began to let herself drift back into her slumber she felt the strange brushing on her ankles once more, only this time there was a continual persistence to them. Anaya then felt a few fingers and then a palm- once it registered that it was a person, she jumped up out of her sleep in shock. Her gaze was then met with a familiar pair of calm blue eyes.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Godric said, a little smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He was sitting cross-legged on the ground at the base of her feet. Reaching out, he circled the raised bone of her ankle with one finger. He must have been watching her sleep.

Anaya didn't understand what was going on, nor could she point out exactly what was so strange about all of this. She always awoke before Godric did, not to mention there was something strange about the way he looked to her right then. "Wait," she thought with a start, "Godric, it's daylight out!"

The sun was indeed shining over head- rays of light filtering down through the leaves on the large trees.

"Indeed it is," he replied, seeming to be untroubled by this fact.

Anaya realized that she could finally see Godric in full light. He was beautiful. But in that moment she feared for his safety.

"I thought you said you couldn't be in the sun," she said, her brow knit in confusion. This is what he had told her and yet nothing seemed to be happening to him.

"I can't, little one," he told her as he unfolded his legs and crawled up to lay beside her on the fur.

She then came to the answer on how this could be possible. "Is this a dream?" She asked him, suddenly feeling as if she were in a thick haze; each breath she took was like breathing in a heavy grey fog. She was now very aware of the etherealness of her surroundings and was surprised at how she did not notice it before.

Godric nestled his head onto her bare shoulder, kissing the warm flesh as he did. "Yes, it is a dream," he said, gazing up at her with an apologetic smile, "but it's a beautiful one is it not?"

Anaya weaved her fingers into his hair and grinned in response. He was right, this was a beautiful moment they could share in the sunlight, even if it was a dream. Everything was calm, devoid of any worry or stress. There was nothing to do but to lie on the thick fur and enjoy one another's presence. Anaya took Godric's hand and interlaced her fingers with his.

"There's so much about you that I don't know," she whispered, running her fingers through his messy hair.

Godric rolled on top of her, an arm resting on either side of her head, "ask me anything and I'll tell you." His lips then found the curve of her high cheekbone.

"But how can I know that you're telling the truth?" She said honestly, studying the wide-reaching branches of the trees above them.

"You're going to have to take my word for it," he answered before pressing his lips to hers in a warm kiss.

Anaya wrapped her arms around his shoulders, uncurling her lithe body beneath him. She moaned lightly against his soft lips, welcoming his affections. It had been days since they had any contact like this. Anaya had been focused so heavily on her mission that it was only until this moment that she realized how much she missed it.

"Where are you from?" she asked as he pulled away to cover her neck in kisses.

Godric busied himself with her warm flesh before answering her. "I grew up in a small village very much like yours. My people are Gaul's, like your people."

"What of the mark on your shoulder?" She asked, tracing her fingers over the raised brand.

Godric reached up and pulled her hand away, kissing her knuckles. He did not want her thinking of him as a slave- as someone to be pitied- but he promised to tell her the truth and he would not lie to her in the safety of her own dream. "I was a slave of the Romans, that is the mark of the house for which I served... but I ran away."

"Those Roman beasts think they own everything- my homeland, my brother and sister, you… How does one fight against such evil?" she snapped.

"There are many evils in this world little one, not simply the Romans. Together, we will travel far and wide- our lives will span centuries of unknown history- and you will see there are people like the Romans wherever you go."

Anaya nodded, reaching up and stroking his hair. "How did you escape your captors?"

Godric gazed down at her pensively. "That is a story for another time, but now you must wake up."

She tilted her head to the side in confusion, wondering how she was supposed to will herself awake. "But Godric-"

"Wake up!" The vampire screamed viciously, baring his fangs.

…

Anaya awoke with a sudden start, soon realizing that she was lying on the mossy ground beside the loosened soil of Godric's sleeping ditch. The dream was still fresh on her mind- she could have sworn that it really happened. But how could it? For it was nearing sunset and Godric could not come out during the day.

Gods, she thought, remembering his terrifying outburst. It was quite the rude awakening. What was stranger than that was, dream-Godric knew it was time to rise. There was so much that she found confusing and intriguing about this vampire creature and more confusing still, that she was to become like him. She wondered what she would feel like, how differently she would see, smell, and hear things… what her abilities would be. It was strange that she had not thought of it until now. She wanted to be with Godric, for him to give her a new life, but what was the possible cost- would she be happier? The idea of becoming a vampire was now somewhat daunting.

Pushing these thoughts from her mind, she got off the ground and began moving the soil off of Godric's ditch. She had reached the final layer by the time the sun had set. Seeing movement in the dirt, she hurried to pull her lover out of it.

Godric, dirt and mud covered, grabbed a hold of Anaya's arms as she helped him to stand. He then scraped the dirt from his face and body into his shallow grave. Then he leapt out onto the mossy ground.

"I dreamed of you," Anaya told him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

Godric smiled mischievously, "Was it a good dream?"

She nodded, thinking that it was, for the most part. The vampire ran his knuckled across her flat stomach and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"When you drank my blood, it created a bond between us, little one," he told her, pressing his forehead against hers. "Vivid dreams are a potential side effect."

Anaya grinned, "You were in the sunlight with me."

"What a lovely thought," Godric mused as he held her close, unsure if he meant to be mocking or not. "In the waking world I can only be in the darkness with you."

"I do not mind," she whispered.

After they had packed up camp, they headed onwards. Godric knew that they would intercept the enemy tonight. He could sense that they were very close. That meant that Anaya would give herself to him completely by becoming his child. He could not delay it any longer.

AN: Hey everyone! so sorry I've been lagging behind... a ton. But I' revisiting this story with the intentions of finishing. Please REVIEW and let me know what you think and if you want to read more.

Preview of Chapter 7:

"My sister is a warrior- let her die with honor!" Gallia cried angrily. "Anaya, I know you, I know your heart, tell him what you want, please. You don't have to live in darkness with him. Tell him you want to die a warrior like your tribesmen, like father."

Anaya opened her mouth as if she were about to speak but immediately began choking. Thick blood pooled up from her throat and into her mouth, it flowed heavily down her chin. She was drowning in her own blood and her body shivering in shock.