I slowly opened my eyes as the heaviness of sleep left me. I felt so peacful and relaxed and warm, curled up in my bed. That horrible dream had finally ended. I sighed and rolled over, then sat up with a start.
"This isn't my bed," I whispered to myself as I picked at the snowy comforter that had been draped across me. I looked around and the room I had seen in my dream was still here, although now evening had poured in, making the place shadowy. I felt a feeling of dread creep up again and the slow realization made me want to scream. But I swallowed down that fear. If this was indeed my reality, then I couldn't break down like that anymore. I had to be strong.
Then, a shimmering light just outside the massive window caught my eye. I slipped off the bed, parting the cauzy curtains around it. My feet made no sound as I walked across the carpeted floor. I peered out, then gasped in amazement.
Outside the meadow seemed to sparkle with a thousand rainbow colored lights. Yet the lights lived and flickered and moved. And moving among them were three figures dressed in flowing white, dancing in the glow of the moon and the twinkling things. Three women, all youthful and beautiful, danced freely, their bodies shifting to some music I could not hear. I took in what I could make out, one by one. All of them were very different. One was statuesque, with flowing golden hair that shone silver. She had smooth small curves to her body, but dressed in white she looked like some wingless angel. Beside her writhed a small form, with a sweet face framed by short dark curls. She seemed to see me through the darkness and waved at the window. I found myself waving back shyly. There was a third, and she was of middle height, with sharp features and braided red hair. She pranced lightly, focused and yet seemed a little sad too. When she looked up, I saw her eyes peirce into mine. She knew something I did not.
I stepped away and backed into something tall and solid. I whirled around and there he just as dark and strange and enchanting as ever.
"Careful now, wouldn't want to spill this would we?" He held up a steaming mug and I could smell a rich sweet blend of herbs rising hot out of it. He offered it to me but I must have looked suspicious, for he smiled. "It's not poison, just tea. I promise."
I slowly took it from him and sipped it. Hot tea streamed down my throat, warming me from within. I felt more peacful with every sip, and as I sipped at the tea, we stood side by side watching out the window. The scene that played in front of the wondow was hypnotic and enchanting...I couldn't look away from the dancers and the lights playing together in the moonlit meadow.
"Who are they?" I asked at last. He pointed them out to me one by one in reply.
"The blonde there is Saffiren, and the small dark haired one is Azura. The redhaired is Lura. They are my...companions. They keep me company here in this huge place." He smiled halfway and I felt myself smiling too. He seemed to care for them dearly...I could tell from the gentle way he had introduced them. Like they were all his to love.
"Do they live here with their families? Or what?" I said without looking at him. I instead looked at the enchanting girls, who all looked no older than I.
"They live here by themselves. They have no family. Not anymore." He smiled. "I am their family and they are content with that."
"I see." Was all i could reply with. I was enthralled with this place...girls that lived freely with this man and had no shame as they danced in the night. It was alien but beautiful all the same.
"Renee, I have prepared a feast for all of us in your honor. To welcome you to our family." He took my hand that wasn't clutching the mug of tea and I felt myself shake. He looked so darkly handsome in the moonlight. I had the overwhelming urge to taste those lips that spoke so gently to me. I leaned foward and so did he, looking into my eyes. I wanted him...why did I want him? I paused and stepped back, shaking my head.
