Chapter Two-Andre

The dream came almost as soon as my eyes closed. My name floated across the air and wrapped around me, hugging me in its shadowed arms. I was entranced, wanting to get closer to the one who beckoned me.

A tremble slid down my spine at that realization. How could I want to get closer to such danger when there was no doubt I would die if I succumbed to the impulse?

Terror settled in my chest, causing me to suck in a breath. With the action, the trance was gone. Only terror remained.  

I forced my eyes open, convinced I would find myself sleepwalking again. It would explain the strange desire to be closer to danger if I had still been caught between dream and reality, but as I opened my eyes, cold, dark fear enveloped me, causing a sob to tear from my throat.

I found myself kneeling on soft, dark green grass in the middle of a vast forest. Large, gnarled roots surrounded me in an almost perfect circle. Beyond the trees was darkness so thick, no light penetrated it. My mind shied away from fleeing into its black depths.

Hadn’t I been afraid of this very thing the night before? I trembled as the sounds of hooting owls blended with the wind whipping through the trees. Closing my eyes, I tried to force the thoughts of what might happen to me from my mind.

I whimpered as my shoulders tightened and my fear increased. I bowed my head and looked down with the intention to pray, but for some reason, I opened my eyes.

I saw I wore a black dress. My confusion deepened as I stared at it. Not only did I not remember how I had come to be there, I didn’t recall where I had gotten the dress. I was certain I had not been wearing it when I fell asleep. I frowned, trying to remember if I even owned anything like it. I didn’t think so.

“Aurora…”

My name whipped through the air almost as swiftly as the wind, causing me to tense. I forgot my confusion over the dress or how I came to be in the middle of a forest. There was only one emotion now penetrating every part of my body...fear.

I closed my eyes, pushing away the fear to concentrate on the voice. It was male and sounded as if he stood just a few feet from me. The hair on the back of my neck stood up in warning.

I turned my head and saw nothing except darkness and the shadows of the trees. My heart sped up, slamming hard against my chest as I trembled, still sensing the danger encroaching upon me.

I stood, trying to control my rasping breaths. My bones rattled against each other in fear. In that moment, the urge to run overwhelmed me. I squinted into the darkness beyond the trees, waiting to find out the direction of the voice.

“You can’t run from me, Aurora,” the voice said, as if reading my mind. I spun around, my head cocked to the side, listening. I still couldn’t tell where it was coming from as it echoed through the trees. “I will always find you. Blood will always call to blood.”

“Why won’t you leave me alone?” I asked, sobbing as I tried to guess where he was so I could run in the opposite direction. Tears burned paths down my cheeks as I continued to peer into the darkness. “Who are you? Why do you keep coming for me?”

“Because you are mine, Aurora,” the voice said, cold and ominous. “You…are…mine.”

“No, I’m not!” I cried, shaking my head before I raised my face toward the sky. “I’m not!”

As I lowered my head, I saw a pair of red eyes peering at me from the darkness. They were the eyes of a predator watching its prey. I pressed my lips together to prevent a scream as they moved closer, stalking me. My gaze moved down from the eyes and I shivered. Was that an evil grin beneath the glowing red orbs? As the eyes came closer, I realized my mistake.

A large gray-and-black wolf walked toward me, its glowing eyes ominous and threatening. It bared its teeth, which were sharp enough to cut through flesh and bone. As it walked, powerful muscles moved gracefully, but still ready to attack at any moment. I wanted to move, but fear glued my feet in place, even though I realized if I did not escape, I would die. A growl reverberated from the wolf’s throat as it took two more menacing steps toward me. It tilted its head, studying me. The growl rose in intensity until it echoed through the woods. I took a step back, but it was too late. The wolf sprang. A scream ripped from my throat.

Pain ripped through my shoulder, burning as if a fire had been lit there, tracing a hot path down my arm. I continued to scream as the wolf came at me again and again, taking away more skin with each lunge.

Over my screams, I heard someone shouting my name, rising in intensity until their voice overlapped mine. Concern and anger laced through this voice, making me listen.

My eyes flew open, relief flooding me when I found myself staring into wide hazel eyes the color of caramel with a burst of sea green around the pupils that reached into the iris like the rays of the sun. Long, curved lashes surrounded them. I would have thought they were beautiful…if anger did not pulse from them, confusing and frightening me. Who was this person and why were they angry with me?

I continued to blink up at the man who held me, suddenly realizing those beautiful, angry eyes belonged to the owner of the voice that had pulled me from my nightmare. I frowned as I stared into his eyes. Why was he still holding me? Still, I didn’t move from him because this felt safe. Instead, I continued to stare into his rage-filled, beautiful eyes.

When he scowled, I was finally able to blink as my eyes traveled over his face. He had a long, straight nose and full lips. His long, brown-and-black hair was cut even with his square chin. His look was dark and handsome in a way that made me shiver. It made me afraid. Anger rolled off him, making the darkness more evident.  

I sank farther into the seat that had been my bed for the night, trying to get away from him and the strange sensation that had settled into the pit of my stomach, making my heart race. Pain sliced through my shoulder yet again and I looked down to see him gripping it tightly with an olive-toned hand. I glanced up at him, frightened, not knowing if he posed a threat.

He must have sensed my fear because he released me and sat back on the driver’s seat, as if ready to flee himself. I sat up, almost strangling myself on the seat belt. He reached over and pushed the button, allowing it to retract. I straightened slowly and stared at him, a frown marking my brow. Why did he seem so angry?

“Thank you,” I whispered, waiting for him to speak, but silence stretched between us as he gazed at me through narrowed eyes.

“Where’s my mother?” I asked as my eyes roamed his face, searching for anything that warned of danger. After all, this man could be a serial killer.

A muscle twitched beneath his eye. He glanced toward the door and back at me, as if trying to decide what to say. Finally, he spoke, forcing each word from his mouth, “She’s outside talking to my mother.”

I struggled to understand his answer…and his temper. I couldn’t make sense of it. He seemed as if he were irritated at me, but I had just met him. What could I have done to incur his wrath? I rubbed my forehead, peeking at him from beneath my fingers.

“Your mother?” I asked, frowning. If he would answer that question, maybe I’d be able to understand what was happening right now.

“My mother…Sophia,” he said, rolling his eyes.

I relaxed, dropping my hand from my forehead as the familiar name pierced my memory. Sophia, the woman who had taken my mother in. Sophia, the only one who had helped her when she was fifteen and pregnant with me. She had to be kind. But if she were, there was one thing that didn’t make sense.

“You’re Sophia’s son?” I asked, tilting my head as I studied him.

He nodded in one clipped move and looked into my eyes, relaxing for a moment. He seemed confused as he spoke again. “I’m Andre Brazil.”

He stared at me for a few moments, like he was trying to figure out something. What that was, I didn't know. His eyes burned into mine, and for a moment, I believed he could see into my soul. I shifted once again and searched for something to say.       

“It’s nice to meet you, Andre,” I whispered.

He continued to stare at me. His expression of confusion bled back into anger. He leaned forward, his face moving within an inch of mine, and stared into my eyes. I blinked, surprised at his closeness. I had never been close to any male. My mother wouldn’t allow it.

He became more and more angry, scaring me. When I leaned away, he smiled maliciously. “You won’t think it’s so nice to meet me later.”

He leaned back and stood, walking out the door, slamming it behind him. I stared after him, close to tears. What had I done to deserve his hate? My eyes burned and I buried my face in my hands. I suddenly wished we had never come to Timbly Mountain.