Bittersweet (Book #1 Evening Wings Trilogy)

Chapter 14

14

I dreamt.

We were in the clearing, Xander and I, under the icicles that hung from the dark bones of the trees. I was laughing at something he’d said. I guess it had been funny. Nevertheless, what was bizarre about the dream was that I couldn’t hear a thing. It was completely silent.

What struck me was that it wasn’t as if I was looking out of my own eyes, more like watching a show unfold on TV. I noticed that I was seeing myself as others saw me: curly brown hair that cascaded down my back like some kind of waterfall. Light brown skin with a rich, glittering undertone and beautiful green eyes, just like my mother.

Xander wore his regular messy tousle and as usual, he was as pale as the snow itself, with a pair of gorgeous eyes framed by a generous array of eyelashes. He was gazing adoringly at me, like I was the only girl in the world.

Even in my subconscious, I felt an insane love for him.

We sat there for a moment more just laughing again, and I saw myself smile and through the silence, mouth the words ‘I love you’.

Now I couldn’t believe I did that. I couldn’t believe that Xander actually looked surprised. Then instead of telling me he loved me too, he reached out and took a hand.

Naida stood beside him, her green skin and rune tattoos gone, smiling with the most acidic smile in the world. Without her green skin, she actually looked pretty—well, beautiful. My face crumpled with terror and disappointment. As if I had already seen it coming.

Xander disappeared and the clearing went completely white, leaving Naida and I alone…together. She laughed and this time it was audible, and I was back in my body, staring up at her; weak and vulnerable.

Her red tendrils sat on her shoulders, unruffled and as perfect as ever in their vibrant splendor. Her white peasant dress clung to her body perfectly, with just the right cinch in the middle. She looked so innocent—only I knew she wasn’t.

“Sorry Elizabeth,” Naida smiled pedantically. “He’s mine now.”

Before I could say anything to defend myself, I was sucked out of the dream, like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dirt.

“No!” I cried, finally waking up.

Xander, sitting in the desk chair across the room, jolted from his nap, eyes wide with concern, faded black Beatles T-shirt rumpled.

“Holy mackerel, it feels like I was hit with a freight train,” I murmured.

“What happened?” he demanded.

“Oh, Naida just hopped in, I almost killed her and then she knocked me out. Typical stuff.” I shrugged.

“What!” he demanded.

I nodded. “Mmm…”

“I’m going to kill Naida.” He said, pacing.

My heart stopped. “Are you serious?”

 “She hurt you.”

“Can we omit all the violence, please?” I asked. “I hate Naida, it’s true, but you don’t have to kill her. That’s a little drastic.”

“You were going to kill her.” He frowned at me.

“I was bluffing.” I admitted.

He was silent, and I knew I was overlooking the truth.

“Don’t do it.” I begged; not for her this was for me.  If I recall, Naida was also a member of a tribe whose number was a little foggy.

He didn’t speak, holding his breath and looking to the opposite end of the room.