Shadows of the Night

I followed Ethan's haunting advice and stayed in my room for the rest of the night. A part of me felt bad for not saying goodbye to Ophelia and the others, but I assumed Ethan had come up with some excuse for me. I heard them as they spoke their goodbyes and wished I had super hearing so that I could hear something more than just blurbs here and there. Eventually I grew bored and fell asleep in the four poster bed in the middle of my room.

I dreamt of the woman from the alley again. I ran to help her and she changed, her brow creasing and her eyes glowing red. Her hands flew to my throat and as I struggled to breath she watched with a sick smile. Just as I felt my eyes rolling into the back of my head I awoke, bolting upright in bed and gasping for air.

I looked around my room in panic, searching for the female vampire who stalked my dreams. Dark shapes crowded the room, barely visible in the light of the moon cascading through my window. I waited for a moment, expecting a brief flash of movement in the corner of the room or someone to pounce out from the closet.

My eyes were tired and my body sank into the mattress, desperate to return to sleep, but my heart was beating beyond control. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and leaned my head in my hands, elbows resting against my thighs. Sighing in frustration with myself, I moved to my feet and dragged myself to my window.

I tried to make sense of my recurring dream. I'd heard once that people dreamt about things that are somewhere in the back of their mind, things that they don't think about frequently but still know they're happening or that they exist. This only made everything more confusing, because I was always thinking about that woman. There were very brief moments in my days lately that she didn't find her way into my thoughts.

The grass outside looked almost silver in the moonlight. There was a gentle breeze that blew it back and forth that made it look like waves rolling along the sprawling property as it washed against the shore just at the edge of the forest. I crossed my arms and squinted down at the trees, trying so hard to find the answer somewhere.

The harder I looked, the more it looked like there was something moving behind the trees. I moved closer to the window, my eyes focusing intently on the spot where I could have sworn I'd just seen a hand disappear from around a tree trunk.

"Audra," I heard behind me, but I was still so focused on the forest that I hardly noticed it. My eyes scanned furiously along the edge of the trees, trying to find the person I'd seen there, but failing. Two hands grabbed each side of my arms and I flinched under the strength of their hold. I spun to face Ethan and stared at his pale face, his eyes downcast as they examined my arms, my tank top clearly not hiding the bruises there from the same hands that brushed tenderly over them now. He seemed to be lining up the pattern to his own fingers. "What happened?"

"I had a nightmare," I explained in a whisper, somehow afraid to break the dark silence. "How did you know?"

"Your heart rate was practically at an all-time high," he said lowly, his voice breaking as if it were hoarse. He kept his eyes down, his focus on different parts of my body, and I wasn't sure if it was intentional or if he couldn't help himself. I was only wearing a tank top and a pair of plaid shorts.

"You were worried about me?" I asked, half serious and half joking, but he ignored me. I noticed his jaw was clenched tightly and he looked like he was focusing on something, his brow creasing in effort. It was easy to guess why he was struggling. "Ethan?" He didn't answer. "Ethan, look at me."

He obeyed, his eyes lifting to meet mine. They were black, so black in fact that they looked blue, especially with the reflection of the window glowing brightly inside of them. It wasn't frightening, or even a little scary. In reality, it made me feel guilty, that he should have to stand there starving while an easy meal stood in front of his face.

"How can you stand it?" I asked, watching his painful expression carefully.

"The incredible hunger or the intense desire to kill you?" His voice was still strained, but a new mischievous tone was evident as a smirk crawled onto his lips.

"Both," I answered, turning back to window, glancing down at the forest in hopes of catching a glimpse of what or who I'd seen earlier.

"It's not without great difficulty," he chuckled gravely, "I can assure you." He stood close behind me, his chest almost touching my back. "What was your nightmare about?"

I shrugged, still zoning out. "I don't remember."

"You're lying," he breathed, so close to my ear that I could feel the cool air against my skin. "Why won't you tell me?"

"It's not important. It's just a dream I have sometimes." I crossed my arms tightly, hugging myself as I felt the dream coming back to life. The look in the woman's eyes glowing ruby red as she strangled the life out of me.

Ethan's arms snaked around my waist from behind and he held me against his body. I stiffened, unsure if his gesture had alternative motives (such as getting close to me so he could bite my neck) but I remembered what Isaac had told me. Vampires couldn't kill humans, and for some reason Ethan couldn't even bite me. I relaxed a little, caring little for the fact that usually I would smack him or at the very least put up a fight. I needed to feel secure, to feel a little reassurance, and Ethan's strong, unbreakable hold around me made me feel just that.

"What are you doing?" I mumbled when his head dipped low, his nose falling near the crook of my neck. His soft hair brushed against my ear so lightly that it tickled.

"I'm reveling in your scent," he explained.

"Doesn't that make it harder?"

I felt him grin against my skin, "Make what harder, exactly?"

"Ugh," I groaned, leaning away from him while I tried to pry his hands away. "Gross."

"C'mon, don't try to tell me you've never been with a man," he laughed as he released me, clearly taking amusement in my chagrin.

"A man: yes," I told him. "A vampire: no. Nor will I ever be."

"You certainly seemed friendly with Isaac," his smirk widened.

"I hate to disappoint you, but Isaac was the friendly one," I taunted. "He told me that I smelled 'mouthwatering'."

Ethan's face dropped a little, and I could see the flash of anger that was gone as quickly as it had arrived. "Oh, really?"

"Oh don't worry," I sighed, sitting back down on my bed. "He said that he would never take something of yours."

This time he smirked so powerfully that pride was practically radiating from him. "A good decision."

"I find it funny," I drawled, lying back against the mattress. I could still feel the warmth from where I had been laying earlier.

"Oh?" He questioned, standing over me. "And why is that?"

"Because you don't own me."

I should have expected it, but when he came down upon me so quickly that I could barely see him, I was caught off guard. He lay on top of me, his chest against mine and his hands on either side of me. He didn't look angry or annoyed, as usual, but instead he seemed playful. Impossibly in a good mood compared to earlier, when he clearly told me not to mess with him tonight and yet here I was, doing exactly that.

"I own you in every way possible," he whispered, a small smile playing at his lips.

"Stealing something doesn't make it yours," I challenged.

"You are mine, nonetheless," he assured in a softer voice, much like the winds cool caresses. His black eyes scanned my face while I lay motionless beneath him. It was hard to keep from reaching out to his beautiful face, illuminated only by pearly moonlight. I fought the urge with the determination to have just as much as control as he did.

"Are you going to bite me?" I narrowed my eyes after a moment more of silence.

He immediately threw his head back and laughed a true, hearty laugh that resonated deep from his chest. His brilliant white teeth showed behind his lips pulled back in a smile, something I'd seen only paired with a malevolent look on his face.

"So young and naïve," he teased, stroking a single chilly finger along my cheek.

"Don't provoke me," I threatened, glaring into his eyes and slapping his hand away.

"Au contraire," he pressed, the words coming out fluidly. "Don't provoke me."

I stared at him for a while, trying to understand his unusually good mood towards me despite his obviously aching thirst for my blood. Yet even while he hovered over me, staring back at me just as silently as I was, he was fighting it. As I gazed up into his face I struggled to put my thoughts into question form. His smile faded yet his face still seemed pleasant.

"Goodnight, Audra," he whispered. I felt like crying at how perfectly he pronounced my name, as if he was speaking of something sacred; something priceless. Then, in the next second, the weight was lifted off of me and he was standing near the door. I sat up and watched as he stood hesitantly in my doorway, half wanting to ask him to stay and half wanting to ask why he was still here.

But I remained silent, and he disappeared out of the room.