I blinked in the light that filled my vison as we emerged from the other end of the tunnel. His hand, which had clasped mine for the whole journey, loosed it's grip and I stood still and in awe. My blindness was gone, my vision filled with rolling flowery hills and vivid bright skies of cerulean. I drew in my breath...no place in reality was this beautiful, this perfect. I turned around slowly, but the feilds of flowers never seemed to end. Behind us the dark caveren yawned from in the stone wall that seemed to fade into the ground. Then, standing back, I noticed it was not a stone wall at all but one giant stone...a huge boulder that was seemingly dropped into the perfect meadows.
"It's beautiful, isn't it. But come, we're nearly there. Over this knoll is my abode and beyond it the mountains. I am in my own little heaven, between the Barrier and the mountians the meadows surround us." He said to me, beckoning as he led the way. I had no choice but to follow...I had a feeling even if I was brave enough to go back into the tunnel, I would lose my way.
We walked through the grasses and flowers in silence. Even our footsteps didn't make a sound on the carpet lush ground. I sniffed at the fragrant air and wondered how much of this was a dream. It seemed too real for even my subconcious to make up. As we came atop of the gently rolling hill, I gasped in surprise. A manor of some type streached before us, with a huge wall surrounding it that seemed to grow out of the ground. The buildings were cool marble that glowed in the sunlight. Gardens lay inside the spaces between the buildings, filling my sight with colors and life. Groves of trees grew along the manor walls and admist the meadow it lay in. And beyond were more hills leading to mountains that were spiraling lavender shadows in the distance that reached into the lofty clouds.
"It's wonderful isn't it? It's taken me forever and a day to perfect it. But it is my heaven...mine to share." He said softly, casting a meaningful look to me. blushed and stared at the dandilion at my feet. It reminded me of a wish...and that very wish stood before me.
We walked down into the meadow and at last arrived at a tall gate that shined of some material like mother of pearl, but dark like steel. He waved his hand and the gates parted, revealing a cobblestone path through a garden to a large door made of the same stuff as the gate. He again waved his hand and we drifted into a cool marble corridor.
"Your room is this way," He said, and slipped his hand around mine. I didn't protest as I let him lead me. I was too speachless as we passed thin windows that let a cool spring breeze flow through the hallway. A few rooms appeared, with no doors but soft light colored curtains to allow some small privacy.
"I don't believe in doors on my inner rooms. I want to be able to walk where I wish without any blockades. It is my home after all." He said as if reading my mind. I simply nodded.
At last we arrived at a door with a white shining curtain. "I've prepared this chamber just for you, my dearest Renee." When he said my name a chill ran down my spine and in my mind I remembered a vision of a dream that wafted away as he pulled the curtain aside.
Inside the room was a huge window dominating a whole wall. The floor was tile with plush carpets of white covering them. A enormous dais bed stood in the middle, with comforters and pillows in white and soft blues and pinks piled atop it. It was veiled by a gauzy net coming down from the story high ceiling. The ceiling was painted with visions of clouds and stars, dark and light mingling. Against the west wall was an antique and delicate matching wardrobe and desk and vanity with a mirror. The east wall was filled with pastel blue and pink bookshelves holding hundreds of volumes. I spun around and around, taking it all in.
"This can't be all for me," I breathed. "It's so much!" I walked to the bed and sat down, looking out the window. Just outside the single glass pane butterflies danced amongst wildflowers and the mountains loomed like watchful shadows. Dusk was setting in, paining everything in a soft golden glow. It looked like Heaven.
"Yes, it is for you. So I can know you'll be happy. And perhaps even so happy you can forget about the mortal world. Renee," He laid his hand over mine and sat slowly next to me. "I want you to stay with me here...forever."
I felt myself shaking my head. "No. Thats impossible. This is all just some glorious dream. You've always showed me such beauty at the same time scaring me deep down. You entice me every night...but tonight like all others I will awake and everything will fade to just a sweet memory."
"You speak so wonderfuly for such a young girl." He commented, chuckling softly. "Only what...17 now? No no, 18. Dear me, how the years fly. Only yesterday it seems you were an enchanting little girl, playing in a place you should never dare wander. A place where you caught my eye. And never let go." He stroked my cheek and his fingers were cool against my flushed skin. My heart sped up as I felt cold dread gather in my stomach.
"What are you talking about?" I said, feeling the words dry up past my lips. I knew somewhere deep down he was being honest now...and that I was in more trouble than even a nightmare could create.
"When you were about five you used to play in your yard. Innocently enough one summer day while your mother had her back turned, you wandered into the forest at the edge of the yard. You didn't go far...I saw to that. I feared a small unsuspecting mortal girl could be swallowed up before her time, so I used my powers to lead you back home. But not before I fell in love. Something about you, something waiting to grow up, enchanted me. I watched you for a while as you came and went and before I knew it you were growing into a young girl and I was wanting you. Wanting you in every way. Badly." His hand drifted to my theigh and I tensed. "It may seem ver perverse to you but I watched you. And I also found a way to make my way into your dreams, hoping you would become intrigued with me as i was with you."
I swallowed. "So...all those dreams...they weren't mine? You planted them?"
He nodded and looked into my eyes, pausing. His expression was concerned, searching my eyes like he was hunting something deep within. He spoke slowly, his words gentle. "I planned for this day for so long. I wanted to bring you here...to make you mine."
I stood up. "No...NO! You cannot just...take me away! I have a life and I am not just an item or whatever you're wanting. No! Take me home! Wake up wake up wake up!" I crouched on the floor crying, still wanting to believe that I could somehow be home in bed.
He crouched next to me, getting close to my face. "There is no way to take you back. By now your parents know you're gone. People dissapear all the time in the mortal realm. Sometimes they end up dead or reappear from a horrible and long adventure...but sometimes...they never come home. They are here. Never to return again."
"No no no..wake up Renee!" I screamed. Everything was spinning out of control...and then it blacked out. I felt my body tilt, his concerned shout as he caught me. Then...nothing.
