Deadly Desire

Chapter Nine- Strange Dream

Rachel pov:

Gosh! What a busy day it was! All I needed was some quiet. What made those men pursue me? Who are the guys who saved me? I don't know anyone who would wish to hurt me. The thought of what may have occurred if they hadn't arrived and stopped them is beyond what we want to consider. The strange thing is that, as soon as the cops arrived, everyone had left, as if the incident had never occurred.

I needed to go down to the police station and file a report. I tried to describe the men that chased me, but everything happened so quickly that my memory is fuzzy. Everyone at home wanted to know what occurred after I left the police station. Ash also came over, freaked out. He can handle a lot of things, but if I am injured in any way, he becomes quite protective. I agreed to be extremely cautious and promised to contact Dad or Ash immediately if I faced any trouble.

Later that night, once everyone had cooled down, I had a long, hot shower. Mom arrived and helped bandage me up. Climbing into bed, I was sore and fatigued. She told me I could stay at home for a few days to heal. I realize it's still spring in September, but I put on the warm blanket anyway. The warm bed would be ideal for my aching body. I should not think like this, but I do miss our lives before the accident.

Ryan's smile lit up the room, while Dad was firm but entertaining, and Mom served as our center, keeping us grounded. Our family isn't great right now; it seems like everything is in disarray. I turn over in bed, gripping my pillow. My twenty-fifth birthday is almost here, on November 15th. I keep thinking of something modest and private. It feels like the safer option. I make a mental note of my surroundings before dozing off.

I'm standing in a clearing surrounded by lush green grass and towering, massive pine trees with smooth, brown bark. Small flower bushes of various hues grow at the foot of several of the tree trunks. It smells like fetid soil, and beams of mellow sunlight shine through the canopy like spotlights. Several little animals are scurrying around. I don't identify this location; it's not the park near my house.

How did I get here? Looking down, I'm still dressed in my pajamas. I'm really puzzled right now. Looking around, there appears to be a ground route connecting some of the trees over there. I start walking toward it, steadily closing the distance to the ground route. It's a trail; perhaps if I follow it, I'll get some assistance and a better understanding of where I am. But, as seen in literature and movies, approaching people in an area where you don't know anyone never ends well.

It will be better. If I avoid people for the time being and concentrate on figuring out where I am and how to return home, I can hear a brook trickling nearby. Okay, I'll follow the sound of water and hide if I encounter anyone. I've never been to a genuine forest, so everything is new to me. The trees are so tall that they appear to reach the sun and tower over the sky. The grass is so green, and everything is so bright. I go cautiously, strolling slowly and soaking in my surroundings. A river appears before me. The water is beautiful blue and flows over rocks. I follow the water with my gaze.

Trees and plants line the riverbed, and the sun shines brightly. The birds fluttering around the scene seem peaceful. I see pink and brown in the distance, and I squint to get a better look. Is this a person? It appears like I am moving closer, but I am actually moving between the trees. I move slowly to avoid making any noise. It appears to be a young female, possibly in her teens, and she does not appear dangerous. Perhaps I should approach her and ask her where I am.

My heart beats quicker, and I can hear it in my ears. She is engrossed in a book, sitting on the riverbank under the shade of a tree. Her clothes are incredibly old-fashioned, in tones of pink and brown. I haven't seen that style before; perhaps she is cosplaying a character. I wander around to get closer to her, noticing that there does not appear to be anyone else around. I call out to her. Excuse me, but would you mind if I asked you a question? When she glances up, I freeze because she looks precisely like me! It's as if I'm looking at myself in the mirror. I'm shocked.

With a start, I awoke and sat upright in my bed, my heart racing. That dream seems so realistic right now. As soon as my heart stops racing, I get up and prepare for work. It's breakfast time and shortly rush hour at our restaurant, which opens at seven a.m. When I arrive at the restaurant, I welcome everyone as I see them. I have a lot of preparation to do before we open. I put on my chef suit, tie my apron, and tie my hair up in a bun before putting on my hair net and hat.

Today is Wednesday. I want to go to the market on Saturday since it is the ideal time to buy fresh fish and veggies, especially if you go at five a.m. We set the tables, cleaned the glasses, and turned on the coffee machine. I enjoy the fresh fragrance of coffee. We're prepared and ready for the day. This is my favorite part of the day: buzzing the restaurant and making our customers happy.

I return to the kitchen after assisting with the table setup, and they open the doors. The majority of our early customers are regulars, primarily business folks. As the morning progresses, I receive additional orders: one farm breakfast toast, bacon, eggs sunny side up, and tomatoes with pig sausages. One omelet (without mushrooms) and one breakfast tortilla.

Dante pov:

The devil sits in his office, waiting for the werewolves to assault Rachel again, knowing that if they do, he will have more control over her. He spoke to her on purpose about vampires, knowing she wouldn't believe him, and he knew she'd decline the deal he offered. This situation gives him an excellent opportunity to ensure that the next transaction he proposes will be in his favor.

She passed up the opportunity to take the offer first, which would have been more advantageous for her. Of course, he will still protect her because she was the first carrier he had seen in hundreds of years, and he thought they were extinct. He can be remarkably patient when he chooses to be, and he plans to capture the small carrier soon. No one else will possess her; she belongs solely to him, and he will eliminate anyone who dares to interfere.