Nicola Blu

Locs of Gold

Vibrations cascaded down my body, as a deep harmonious purr sounded near by. It was all so serene. I could stay like this forever. My consciousness tugs me towards the surface away from sleep. Something beside me shifts. Addie must've climbed into bed with me during the night. Turning to hug her closer to me, I come into contact with a big furry pillow. No. It's a warm furry pillow. There's only one thing wrong with this.

I don't own a warm, furry pillow. As I slowly open my eyes, I am met with the coolest blue eyes I've ever seen in my life. They remind me of the arctic ice blended with the clearest blue ocean water. The eyes are blue crystals staring back at me. Its head tilts to the side in wonder. Gaining the rest of my senses, I look closer and let out a scream as I fall out of bed.

Jumping to my feet, I look around for the door and run to it yanking at the knob. It doesn't budge. It's locked. I begin to bang on the door.

"Help! Help! Somebody help!" I hear a thud behind me, followed by the tremble of the floor beneath me.

"I'm gonna die." My heart picks up pace and hammers in my chest. My limbs begin to shake. I can feel it getting closer and closer, as it closes the distance between us.

"Thump thump thump." The floor shakes with every step. I try my best to stand completely still. The hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention as I feel it's breath on my back. A deep rumbling purr sounds from behind me. I don't move. I hear the rumble again. I don't move. Moments later, it sounds again. This time, I feel something cool bump my hand, and my heart nearly explodes. Seconds pass. No one moves. I dare not take my eyes off the door in front of me.The crickets outside the window, play their music in the night. I wonder if I can make it to the window. No way, I'd be dead before I take my first step.

"I would never hurt you." Shocked, I whirl around in search of the voice. Yet, all I see are big blue eyes staring back at me. These rich blue eyes belong to the enormous white lioness standing in front of me. The color of her fur is the purest of all whites. The glow of the dim light chases the shadows along her body. Seconds tick by in silence while we continue to watch one another. Suddenly the lioness turns away, leaps back onto the bed and makes herself comfortable. She takes one last look at me before closing her eyes and falling asleep. Surely she isn't asleep.

"No I'm not, but if it makes you less afraid of me, I will pretend." The voice is coming from inside my head. I can't seem to find my voice to speak.

"My name is Saadia. You are safe here." The only thing I am capable of doing in this moment is try my hardest not to faint. What is going on here? Where is here? Where am I? How did I get here?

"You are in danger. We are in Zaneva. You were brought here for protection." Saadia continues to lay in her pretend state of sleep. While her eyes are closed, I take in my surroundings. I'm in a bedroom that clearly isn't my own.

I'm in danger? Oh no. Jonas finally found me. He will try to take Addie away from me. Suddenly, I hear a rolling growl sound from the bed followed by a thud, and Saadia is once again standing in front of me.

"Who is Jonas?" Wait. What?

"Who is Jonas?" Saadia continues to stand in front of me, but the voice I hear is coming from someone else. I feel him before I see him. Saadia patiently waits for me to answer. Her blue eyes are tainted with an unmistakable threat. I didn't hear him enter the room. His foot steps take him over to a seat near the windows. This room was full of floor to ceiling windows. Through one of the windows, I see a lake in the distance.

"Who is Jonas, Natasha?" My professor is here with me in this unfamiliar room asking me questions about my past. There is a lion right here and Professor Haven doesn't seem to be fazed one bit. I must be dreaming.