Drowning (1st book)

8. I'm a Demon Magnet

I brush my hair into a messy bun and pull on my pajamas.

I am ready to sleep.

I've always loved sleep. Sleeping is the only time when you're dead to the world. You have no idea what's going on. You feel no pain, no guilt or remorse. I personally love that.

Right now I want to sleep because I want to escape my dreaded feelings for Asher.

I plug in a night light, because of what Asher said to me at the lake.

I'll admit, I'm a bit terrified.

I jump into bed and turn the light off.

I fall asleep surprisingly quickly.

----------

A bright light blinds me until my eyes adjust to it.

I'm standing on my dock by my lake.

I look down and gasp at the large and elaborate silky red Victorian-style dress. The corset squeezes my abdomen as I try to breathe.

I hear the creak of a door. I turn to look towards the sound and I see my house, except it's new.

From the door, I see Asher walk towards me.

He's wearing a dress coat and has his long hair pulled back.

He waves to me and walks in my direction.

Why are we dressed like this? Maybe it's his life before he died! But why am I here?

I start to walk to him, but I trip on my crinoline.

I hear his footsteps approaching and he helps me to my feet.

"Miss White, you look beautiful, as you always do," his voice is melodic. He lightly touches my braided bun.

I gulp. What do I say?

"Thank you Mister... Dorian?" I say and it comes out more like a question.

I smile and look into his blue eyes.

They look different. Instead of looking harsh and guarded, they look open and kind.

"I cannot wait until we are married," Asher says with excitement.

I furrow my eyebrows.

Married?

He grabs my left hand and examines my ring finger.

On it, lies a beautiful, gold ring with a small diamond in the center. It's absolutely beautiful! Excitement builds in my heart.

What do I say?

I bite my lip.

"I love you," I tell him. The thing is, at that moment, I'm not acting. Those words come from my heart.

He gradually moves his face closer to mine until our faces are centimeters apart.

He smiles to himself.

"I love you," he says in a lustful tone.

My eyes widen at the words he says. I've always wanted to hear those words roll out of his mouth, and now that I've heard them, I want to hear them more.

It's funny how three small words can change your life. Saying "I love you" could eventually lead to marriage, to children and a new generation of people to continue saying "I love you".