Death Watchers

To Dream

Getting home felt like a huge relief, despite Clay's constant nagging. Dad warned me not to start anything and I ended up nearly chewing his head off. God, that stupid guy. Cole.

I shuddered. Even thinking his name made me want to cower. What was it with him? No one had ever scared me this much—aside from the Shadow Man, but he was dead. He didn't really count for humans, even if he were living. There was no way that...thing could count as human.

And yet when I fell asleep that night, I found myself dreaming about Cole. We were waltzing through a field of tall grass, laughing as the grass brushed along our hands, tickling our palms. Suddenly, another person joined us.

Only it wasn't a person. It was the Shadow Man, without his cloak. His eyes still looked at me, the grin still on his face, but this time I could see his features. He looked amazing. Jeans slung low on his hips, a tight t-shirt showing off his ripped midsection and muscular arms. It wasn't too much muscle, though, it was just right. His hair was an extremely pale blonde, almost white, and his face was all hard, sharp edges, save his plump lips—those were the only curve on his face. His hair was spiked, reminding me of that one chef who went by "Guy."

"My dear Jocelynn," his voice purred menacingly, "you have been cheating on me? I thought we had a deal."

I glanced at Cole in shock. We weren't together. But when I looked down, I noticed our hands were holding each other, fingers laced and holding on tight. I stepped toward the Shadow Man but Cole pulled me back.

"Joc, don't do it," he begged, his purple eyes boring into me. "Don't become his queen. It will ruin you."

I tried wrenching my hand from his grasp, determined to go to the Shadow Man. Anything was better than holding hands with the man who scared me half to death. But Cole held firm, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I'm serious, Joc. He's nothing but bad luck."

"And what are you?" I demanded. "I don't even know you but I know enough to know you scare the crap out of me."

"There is a reason for that, you know."

"Tell me." My voice was hard as I stared into his eyes, determined not to break the connection first.

"Wake up first, and then meet me at that coffee shop you were at this morning." He looked at the Shadow Man, who had been creeping closer. "Please, Joc. There's so much I have to explain."

"Jocelynn, don't go with him," the Shadow Man purred in my ear. I felt the back of my neck rise in goose bumps. "You know you belong with me. It is your destiny, as it always has been. You can't possibly want this boy when I can give you everything your heart desires."

Cole tried yanking harder to get me away from the Shadow Man but it didn't work. "Joc, don't. I swear. Or I will find you again and I will drag you out of the place he'll be bringing you to. You can't go with him. And I can tell you why. Just. Wake. Up," he enunciated.

I looked deep into Cole's beautiful purple eyes. No one I had ever known had purple eyes, him being the first. I wanted to continue looking at them, wanted to stare into them for eternity, finding out every emotion that could flit through them no matter how quickly. My heart started picking up and I felt my breath catch. He was beautiful.

Pain flashed for a moment in those beautiful eyes. "Forgive me, Joc."

I was about to ask him what for when his hand flew up and slapped my face. I gasped, heard the Shadow Man shriek in frustration, and felt my hand slipping away from Cole's. Desperately, I reached for it, needing its warmth in order to feel secure again. But I couldn't find him.

Cole had left himself with the Shadow Man. Alone.

Before I could panic for his welfare, I bolted awake, the panic at seeing the Shadow Man in my dream overriding the panic for Cole. He could take care of himself though. Right?

Had he really told me to meet at the coffee shop, or was that all a dream—as it should've been—and I didn't actually have to go? I decided I would go again, just in case. Because if he had somehow connected with me, he had information he needed to tell me.

Like who the Shadow Man was and why it was so important I didn't become his queen.

^**^

Was it all a dream? What do you think?

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