Come In

Chapter Nine

I woke to darkness. Unyielding, claustrophobic darkness. I always hated the pitch black because I never knew what was in front of me, or where I was. I patted my hand down next to me, to ensure that I was on my bed. My hand met the soft fabric of my duvet. I breathed a relieved sigh as I rolled lazily out of bed to open my door, to let some light in.
When I could see everything in my room, a wave of calm washed over me. Suddenly, memories of the day knocked into me like an angry wave. I looked around for Cam, but he was nowhere to be seen. Panic rose within me. What if Elios had taken him?
"Cam" I said, almost inaudibly. I felt a soft breeze tickle the back of my neck.
"Is there something wrong, love?" Cam's voice sounded from behind me. His whispers tickled the back of my neck, and sent a tingle down my spine. I instantly relaxed. I turned to face him, and the breath was knocked out of me as I realised just how close his face was to mine. I noticed his eyebrows plunge down into a frown as his lips parted slightly. I also noticed new things about his face. His skin was flawless apart from one small scar under his left eye. I noticed how he had light stubble running along his jawline and above his lips. His face looked as if it was carved from stone, and every time a part of it moved, it seemed like that rock was moving too, rather than cracking. My study of his face was stopped abruptly when he inched his head down, closer to mine. He moved so gracefully, yet so slowly towards my lips, staring me intently in the eyes, showing me that I had the option to say no.
Finally, his lips touched mine, ever so gently.

It was slow at first. But suddenly my lips kicked into overdrive as I moved them against his, my soft lips yielding to his stone hard, expert lips. The only sound was our breathing, and the soft whisper of our lips moving in synchronisation. My heart thudded a love song, and butterflies were trying to make their way out of my stomach. My mind was overcome with bliss and I loved it. I felt his hand climbing gently up my back, to cradle the back of my head. I leant both of my arms on his shoulders, my left hand grabbing the back of his neck, trying to pull him closer, but he didn't move. He was controlling this, and I had no problem with that. His cold breath stunned my senses with its intoxicating flavour. Suddenly, and all too soon, he pulled away. I kept my eyes closed in an attempt to keep the moment going. Upon opening them, I noticed that the waves in his eyes were rolling ferociously. The blue of his eyes was almost icy- they practically glowed. Both the sky and the sea were trapped in there. I melted under his stare.

He gave a gorgeous smirk, and I realised that he was slightly breathless. Yes! I thought. I affect him! And it was true. And I was excited about that. Although, he affected me more- I was practically a heap of jelly, my bones unhinged in my body. I was, yet again, dazed and dazzled.

"It's three in the morning." He said. I turned to look at my alarm clock. I wasn't tired, but somehow, I really wanted to sleep. A yawn escaped my mouth, causing Cam to chuckle lightly.
"Here," he said, sweeping me up into his arms. He planted a chaste kiss to my forehead, then walked over to the bed. Somehow, he laid down, and then set me down so that my head was on his chest. His body was like marble, yet I was the most comfortable I had ever been.

He hummed a soft lullaby as he ran his fingers gently through my hair. It wasn't long before unconsciousness claimed me.

"Back again" a beautiful voice sounds behind me. I whirl to the sound, sending the world into a streaky chaos with the speed at which I turn. It doesn't stop turning and I am beginning to feel nauseous.
"Calm down. Breathe." The voice orders me. I oblige, and the world stays in place. I peer up into the darkness. I am in a clearing again, surrounded by trees. The blades of grass blackened under the shadows of the moonless night. Even the small flowers hold no colour; just a chalky white. I see the man- he's tall, and handsome. He has a beard that is starting to turn white, and his hair, brown with noticeable flecks of grey, falls down to his eyes. He is wearing a long black coat, and his eyes are a blood red, gleaming under no light. His pallor is pale, and his lips are rouge. He looks both young and old.
"Annabeth, dear." I realise that the beautiful voice is his. "It is not a mistake that Cameron's and your path have come together. Things are coming and I cannot protect you yet. You must stick with him, no matter what. He is the only one. Fortis non ferox." He finishes, and with a nod, he disappears into a pillar of black smoke.

I woke up gasping for breath. I was plunged in darkness again. I had no patience for opening the door this time- I reached across to my bedside table and switched the lamp on. Ice cold hands were instantly caressing my sweat clad, hot face.
"Anabeth, love. What's wrong?" his voice calmed me, and as I began to get my breathing under control, I delved into the story of my dream.

Cam frowned now and again, obviously trying to make sense of my nightmare. I touched his hand, which he had clenched into a fist.
"Its just a nightmare. I've had a similar one before." I said, laughing it off. He continued to frown, shaking his head.
"No, this dream sounded... prophetic. You said that he spoke Latin at the end- can you remember what he said?" he asked, scooting closer towards me on the bed, and taking both of my hands in one of his.
"Uh, I think it was 'fortis non ferox'" I said, not confident that I had it right. His eyes widened, and he froze.

"Anna, we have to get out of here."
"What? Why?"
"Because you're more of a part of this world than we both thought. Ill tell you on the way." He said, his voice monotone. He began grabbing clothes and piling them into a bag.
"What are you doing? On the way to where?!" I almost shouted. He was scaring me and I needed to know what was going on.

"We're going to the graveyard."