Page 9

NINE

Ashley

“What’s wrong? Why are you dressed like that?” Andy hollered after me as I stomped down the hallway heading for my room.

His hand caught the door before I could slam it shut. “Rough day at work,” I said.

“I told you they’re assholes. You don’t need that job, come back to work with us.” Andy leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms.

“You know I can’t do that. I’m too old for that shit. You’re too old for that shit.” Crossing my room to my dresser, I tore off the unwanted T-shirt. It smelled like him . The shirt instantly went into my wastebasket.

“Where’s your bra?” Andy stared at me, his mouth hanging open.

“Unfortunate smelting accident,” I drawled, referencing a line from an old movie.

He rolled his eyes. “Seriously? They took your clothes?”

“No, not seriously,” I said, tugging a tank top over my head. What was I going to tell him? He’d go ballistic and the way things looked lately; he’d get himself killed.

“Don’t worry about it, I spilled coffee on myself and took a shower in one of the apartments. This was all there was to put on.” The blatant lies easily spilled from my tongue.

Andy gave me a pointed glance—he wasn’t buying what I was desperately selling. “Whatever. I mean it about you coming back to work with me.”

“Yeah? Well, that’s not going to happen. Sorry, but thank you for the offer.”

He stepped into my room. “Something’s up with you.”

He knew me too well. That’s what happened when you’ve known someone almost your whole life. They knew the ins and outs, the tics, the tells. It was hard to hide from him.

Too bad I couldn’t tell him I’d become a monster’s pet. I’d gotten to the point I wanted to smash my head into a brick wall while at the same time spreading my legs and saying, “Come and get it.”

My response to the man was getting more and more confusing. His little spurts of affection in between the abusive episodes were screwing with my head, hardcore. I could swear I saw a lot more than just hatred in his eyes. There was plenty of lust in them, but when he let his guard down, there was so much more. And it was killing me. To top it off, he’d kissed me, and I’d responded like a bitch in heat. If he hadn’t kicked me out, I would’ve jumped right into his bed.

I wasn’t dumb enough to ignore the fact it was probably all planned, and he was grooming his victim, but I couldn’t dismiss the heat, longing in his gaze, or the electricity between us as we made out like teenagers.

Andy’s gaze contained zero heat even though I was half-naked in front of him. And therein lie one of the biggest problems in the romantic relationship we’d tried to participate in. We were more “bros” than anything else, it seemed like.

“Get out, I need to go to bed,” I said. “No, wait. Have you seen Karissa?” I’d murder Micha with my bare hands if he’d laid a finger on her.

“She’s at a tea party at the Victorian House, I guess. That’s what Mike said.”

“Oh.” At least she was safe. I chuckled under my breath. Not shocking the girl would be at a tea party. Micha wouldn’t dare go after her while she was hanging out with a group of old ladies, would he? The Victorian House was a fancy tea house that, according to Karissa, had live violin music she really loved.

“What now?” Andy asked.

“Nothing,” I replied, shaking my head. “Good night.”

If Karissa might be in danger, did that mean Della was, too? Guilt by association. My thoughts devolved rapidly, imaging scenarios where she’d get blamed. She had higher clearance than me, working with Josiah. If I could’ve, I would’ve asked Micha, but I didn’t dare give him any ideas. He seemed to have enough bad ones already.

Grabbing my new cellphone, I dialed my best friend. It rang and rang. Her voicemail was full, unsurprisingly. The number of messages I’d left her had probably done the job. I shot her a quick text telling her to call me immediately. No response. Next, I typed “SOS”, and still, nothing.

It didn’t make any sense; completely unlike her. I was starting to suspect Micha had something to do with it.

He was so close with Josiah that people thought they were twins. It didn’t help they had similar features, with their longish dark brown hair, sculpted faces and sharp features. They both looked regal and appeared imposing, but the beauty was wasted on devils.

The two of them probably compared torture notes and collaborated.

My brain had gone there, but I knew Della was happy. I’d seen her happy. She was in love, and Josiah showered her with affection and anything her beautiful little heart desired. I’d witnessed it, hanging out with them. She was most likely the happiest girl on the planet and seemed oblivious her love’s best friend was Satan in the flesh.

Della had tried asking me about Micha before, but I hadn’t said a word. The man had it out for me for a while now and I’d handed him my life on a silver platter. It was to the point I had a very vivid nightmare about him having fangs and biting me right on my boob.

Della and I had always loved horror movies, watching nearly every single one upon release. It now seemed I’d watched too many, if I was getting turned on by being torn apart. I told myself it was a nightmare but the state of my body when I’d woken up suggested more of a wet dream than a horrifying vision. It was probably my love of adrenaline because that dream was the most thrilling thing to happen to me in ages, even if I’d thought for a moment I was about to die.

Maybe going back to work with Andy, Mike, and Vincent wouldn’t be so bad. Jail or death? It should’ve been an easier decision, but I wasn’t known for always making the right ones. And that’s what kept me from returning. I’d get in trouble again, my wild streak landing me in a car crash, jail, or worse.

The fact I was self-aware enough to be a responsible adult was what saved me. At thirty years old, I wasn’t a kid, no matter how sophisticated Andy tried to convince me their operation was. A peaceful, calm life was what I needed to strive for. I wasn’t going to be like many of the kids I grew up with, their lives ruined by crime and drugs. Some never outgrew it or escaped the life. I’d managed to through sheer force of will and ambition.

The only thing I could do right now was try and hang on until Della and Josiah got back. I’d spill my guts to her, and she could get Josiah on board to protect me after I explained what happened. If Micha wouldn’t listen, Josiah had to.

It had to work.

Satisfied I had a plan, I climbed into bed. Perhaps it wasn’t the best plan, but it was all I could come up with.

Tomorrow, I could look for more angles, plan for contingencies. It’d be Saturday and I had nowhere to be. I had time.

* * *

Something tickled my nose, causing me to stir. As I brushed it away, I opened my eyes. There were no fancy tassels in my room and the sight of one had me sitting up and sure enough, I was back in the fancy bedroom with all of its Gothic splendor.

The mystery pajamas were back as well, the long silky gown a startling difference to the scratchy cotton shorts I normally wore. Shamefully, I’d gotten up around midnight and dug in my trash can for Micha’s shirt and put it on because what the fuck is wrong with me .

Remembering it now, I had to chalk it up to the stressed out and exhausted state I’d gone to bed in. It wasn’t because he smelled amazing, and I now longed for his touch. Definitely not because I wanted him to play with my hair again.

Or kiss me again.

Or do so much more than that.

There was absolutely no movement in the room, not even the fireplace was lit. I had to wonder how often people dreamed of the same locations. Was this common? Dream recollection wasn’t something that usually featured in my life, so I had no idea if it was normal.

My feet hit the floor, and I went in search of shoes. If I was going to be blessed by being awake in a dream, I sure as heck was going to explore further.

There was a closet on the other side of the room, and out loud I said, “Please let there be shoes and a coat in there.” If it worked with monsters, it stood to reason it also would with something as simple as this.

When I opened the door, there were. My surprise was so great over my request being granted it was all I could do but stand there gaping a moment. Clothing hung from a pole suspended across the width and I flicked through gowns and a multitude of coats and other options.

It was as if the wardrobe were personalized to me, with all the dark colors, velvets, and lace. I found a pair of leather boots and slid my feet inside before grabbing a fur-collared, knee-length coat.

I would’ve loved to try on some of the other clothing but who knew when I’d wake up and this would all be torn away? A sense of urgency had me rushing through my motions, eager to drag out the dream as long as possible.

Really, being awake in a dream was the perfect solution for my impulsivity. I could do anything I wanted, without consequences. Live life without restrictions or barriers and just be as crazy as I wanted to be.

It was a dream come true .

I giggled out loud and headed for the door intent on going outside; all while trying to convince myself I didn’t want Micha to show up again.

What faced me wasn’t the moon-soaked expanse I’d envisioned but rather, the inside of a very large house. It looked old, but well-kept, all marble and dark-stained wood with molded ceilings. Two massive chandeliers covered with glass pendants swung from overhead, accompanied by matching wall sconces, evenly spaced along the walls.

It was nighttime, and many of the fixtures were lit, with waxy candles shedding a soft light. Descending the staircase in front of me, I took it all in, marveling at the view.

A set of double doors stood several feet away from the base of the stairs and I hurried to them. I turned the quartz knobs and opened them, before finally stepping outdoors.

There was a beautifully manicured lawn with white, night-blooming flowers and carefully trimmed shrubs and bushes. Multiple statues, molded into fantastical beasts such as dragons and griffins towered above the greenery, some with ivy scaling the marble icons. My eyes watered, stunned by the expansive beauty. The scene was so gorgeous it nearly took my breath away. The place was heaven. My heart ached, wishing it were real, wanting to keep it and stay forever.

To my utter amazement, there were two moons, just as I’d thought I saw the last time. A lightly tinted mist slowly dragged in front of the dual orbs, coloring everything in soft shades of orange, adding to the ambiance. Tentatively, I took a couple steps, not wanting to do anything to risk waking up and being torn away from the magical landscape.

A light breeze stirred my hair, and I moved forward, eyeing the edge of the forest. Everything was quiet and still, other than a gentle breeze. My concern over getting lost was low, since I knew I would wake up somewhere familiar, so I began to follow the path through the gardens, heading in the direction of the trees.

The forest closed around me and knotted roots littered the ground. Branches stirred above me before a trio of crows cawed, breaking the silence, to take off with a frantic beating of their wings. Pausing, I searched for any more movement. The house was now barely visible in the background, and I had to shake myself, remembering my body was safe in my bed, at home.

I loved a challenge and longed for excitement and adventure, but an unsettled feeling began to trickle into my consciousness. For some reason, this suddenly felt all too real.

Dismissing my concerns, I continued on, eyeing as much of my surroundings as I could under the low light. When I came to a fork in the path, I chose to head to the left. The scenery appeared lusher, more inviting, and seemed like it was choosing me, so I followed I’d felt led.

When I rounded a curve, a figure was standing in the center of the path, jarring me from my musing over the pretty landscape. Startled, my first instinct was to turn and head in the other direction to try and get somewhere safe. But for whatever reason, I didn’t.

Even though I knew I was unconscious, my steps remained careful, as I eyed the man. A woman alone in the woods at night was a great setup for a true crime documentary that I had no intention being a part of.

“What are you doing alone in the dark? Where’s your Keeper?” The man demanded. He was in my personal space before I saw him move.

A rock rolled under my boot, and he quickly gripped my elbow, keeping me from falling. He was wearing a long coat with a hood, and his white-blond hair spilled forward from the movement to steady me. He looked like something out of a storybook.

“Keeper? I’m just taking a walk.” I pulled my arm back. “Thank you for the assist.”

He lowered his head covering, revealing a narrow face with prominent cheekbones and deep brown eyes. He was handsome, and looked strong, judging what I could make of his build beneath the cloak.

“May I walk with you?”

The request gave me pause for a moment, considering the direction my dream was trying to take. I’d been intent on perusing the area on my own, not thinking I’d have a tour guide. “Sure. Do you want to tell me a little about this place?”

He held his arm out for me to hold and for lack of anything better to do, I took it. What harm could it do? This could get more interesting than I expected, and I wanted to hear what he had to say.

“I will do that,” he replied, peering down and examining me. He seemed pleased with what he found, judging from the softening of his gaze, and we started down the path.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Samuel. And you are?”

“Ashley,” I replied. “Are we upstate? Or is this Connecticut? It doesn’t really smell like Jersey. Not that Jersey really smells bad—it just smells different.” Samuel glanced down at me, his expression perplexed. “This is the Second.”

“The second what?” Beyond a shade of a doubt, this was not Second Street.

“Realm. The Second Realm. You appear to have wandered rather far.” Now he looked amused.

Fantasy had never been my thing but that was exactly what it sounded like when he used the word “Realm.”

“That sounds like some magic stuff,” I said.

He grinned. “Oh, yes. There is magic.”

Stunned at this turn of events, I said, “Can you show me?”

He shook his head and looked away. “I wouldn’t want to frighten you.”

“But I’m dreaming so it doesn’t matter,” I retorted. “It's not real.”

The man glanced back at me, eyes narrowing slightly. “Are you certain?”

He took a step closer to me and my pulse began racing. This was the moment I was supposed to wake up .

“Of course, I am. There’s no such place as other Realms,” I said, and laughed. There were thick trees everywhere blocking my view, but I tilted my head down slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of the house between branches in case I had to run.

“You’re going to run.”

“What? Why do you say that?”

He came a foot closer. “You shifted your weight and tensed your shoulders. You thought I wouldn’t notice your seemingly innocent perusal of your surroundings. You’re tense; you’re ready to move.”

I slid backward a few inches. “I thought we were going for a walk.” Great, now I was sweating, and this man was more than he appeared to be.

“Your Keeper is foolish, letting a pretty little thing like you outdoors in the black of night. Tell me—where is he?”

A lump was forming in my throat. What was it with the guy and a “Keeper”? “Everyone’s in the house,” I lied.

“Mm. I’m sure they are,” he drawled, moving even closer to me. I felt like a squirrel in traffic, confused as to which way I should take off as I shifted my weight from one leg to the other. “What are you scared of?” he asked.

Since my pounding heart didn’t seem to be waking me up, I decided to make a run for it, my foot kicking up dirt and pebbles as I tried to scramble away. Before I could put much distance between us, I heard boots slam into the ground directly behind me and then an arm wrapped around my waist, holding me in place. I twisted my shoulders, attempting to remove myself from his grasp.

“Shush, shush. There’s much worse things in the forest than I,” he whispered.

Reluctantly, he released me. “I think I’ve changed my mind about the hike,” I told him.

“I haven’t.”

Torn between wanting to see where my dream went but also not wanting to be assaulted, I paused and gave him another look. “What are your intentions?” I asked.

He seemed to consider my question but instead said, “You do think you’re dreaming.”

His statement caught me off guard and my awareness shifted to the point I questioned my actual location again. “I am, I said that before.”

There was no other explanation for what was going on, I had to be sleeping. Deep down inside, I was truly beginning to doubt my state of consciousness, but the alternative was just too weird.

“I can smell him on you, but you’ve not yet been claimed. You’re merely marked. That means you’re fair game.”

“If you really want me to take a walk with you, you’re not doing anything to inspire my confidence. Stop fucking with me and play your part.” There was no way I smelled like anything or anyone and I just really needed him to not be a creep.

He laughed under his breath. “And what part is that?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be some mysterious and possibly dangerous hot guy in the woods?” He had two of those parts down pat. How dangerous he was hadn’t yet been revealed though I suspected he could fill the role just fine since he’d chased and grabbed me.

Samuel raked a hand through his hair. “Look, I’ll walk you back. I’ll take you exploring next time, if you’d like. How does that sound?”

It sounded nice and an escort would be lovely. “I think I’d like that,” I said. While I was certainly a bit leery of him, I knew there was no way he could do me too much harm.

He held his arm out for me to clasp and I placed my hand on him as we began walking. Crows cawed in the distance again, and the slight breeze danced my curls around my head.

This was nice. It wasn’t often, lately, that I got to spend much time outdoors in nature. Just then, I decided I’d have to convince my friends to go for a walk in Central Park as soon as possible. While the recreation area couldn’t be considered a model of the wilderness, it was convenient and close. I needed to do something other than work, sleep, and hang out at Vincent’s.

Samuel silently walked by my side, occasionally scanning the area as we closed the distance between the woods and the house. “What do you do? Do you work?” I asked.

He glanced at me. “I work for the government. I’m a tax collector, you could say,” he said.

“Oh. Rough job, right? Nobody likes you.” I laughed.

“I don’t need to be liked. I fulfill a role that helps maintain the balance. What do you do?”

Tucking a clump of hair behind my ear, I answered, “Currently between jobs, I guess you could say.” I wasn’t certain I’d be getting paid for being humiliated and verbally abused. “I need a new job as the one I’ve had has become pretty uncomfortable.”

He looked interested so I continued, “My boss sucks but it's hard to find good paying jobs these days.”

“I bet he sucks,” Samuel mused. “If you could do anything you wanted, what would you do?”

The question gave me pause. I’d never really thought about it all that deeply. When I was little, I’d wanted to be a ballerina, but lessons were expensive and frequent, and my parents hadn’t had the money or the time to invest. I’d also wanted to be a race car driver.

The two wishes were wildly divergent but driving fast cars became a reality after I’d met Andy and his friends. However, no racetracks were involved. More like flashing blue and red lights that chased you.

“The things I’ve wanted were always things I couldn’t have. Just stupid dreams.” I looked away from the man by my side. “What about you?” I tossed the question back.

“You can have what you want, Ashley, if you want it bad enough.” His tone made me think he wasn’t referring to speed or dance. Some crazy things I hadn’t thought of, maybe.

I laughed a little, brushing away my discomfort. “I’m a little old for childish wishes. I think now I just wish I could be a time traveler or wave a magic wand and reverse some of my actions. That’s immature, too, so I guess just to make smarter decisions in the future and not hurt people.”

He nodded. “That’s noble of you.”

“You never answered me—what did you want to do with your life?” We were approaching the tree line and running out of time for the man to satisfy my curiosity.

Samuel stopped just as we approached the edge of the grass lawn. “I was born and molded for what I do. I have a role to fulfill, I never had the luxury of a decision as you have. Many are predestined to certain stations, and we are expected to perform our duties upon pain of death. I do not miss what I haven’t known.”

I shuffled my feet. “I guess it could be said there’s some convenience to knowing exactly what one has to do,” I offered.

“It sounds like you, yourself, have a decision to make. There are many opportunities for a beautiful woman like you, I’m sure you’ll find something that makes use of all your best attributes.”

My cheeks warmed, and I rubbed them, casting a glance at the house several yards away. “Maybe,” I conceded, watching the sky lighten in the distance beyond the manor.

“If you’re not happy where you are and you have the power to change your circumstances—do it.”

He’d make a great life coach. “That’s good advice, thank you,” I said.

“It's my pleasure to be of help.” Samuel reached for me and grabbed my hand. “Until next time, beautiful,” he said.

Suddenly, I was back in my own bed, the change occurring so quickly I gasped for breath and sat up. I grabbed my phone and turned it on.

I’d only been asleep for about five minutes.