Chapter 2

  "Umm...Leonard you must be seeing a ghost because it's just me and you." A quick glance at the monitor on his security screen and I see that there is someone behind me. A large, intimidating, jacked male.

  

  Turning around slowly, knowing I was already behind the one guard gate that locks in place as soon as someone comes in or out; I felt ok, but not totally safe. 

  

  I looked up into bright blue eyes and almost translucent skin. Fuck. Ghosts must be real.

  

  The ghost stories here are too many to keep track of, although Leonard knew them all.

  

  "Which story is this ghost from, Leonard?" I had a bit of liquid courage left. 

  

  Leonard didn't answer me but I had hope that he'd hit the security button at his desk. It was a silent alarm. 

  

  Then it spoke.

  

  "I guess you could say a ghost and I share a few things in common, but no love, I'm no ghost. Tethered spirits and lost souls are what humans call "ghosts"."

  

  His voice was low and his accent was thick but I couldn't tell if it was Irish, Scottish, Welsh, or a different part of Britain.

  

  "Leonard..."

  

  I took my eyes off of the thing in front of me for a moment and saw Leonard on the floor of his security hut, eyes open, not moving, laying in a pool of blood. 

  

  He looked like he had been dead for some time, so how did I see him a moment ago? How did I get through the gates? What was happening? Did someone spike my drink and I'm having a bad trip?!

  

  Fumbling my way through the next gate, I noticed now that the locks were broken. How did I not see that?!

  

  "You will see what I want you to see."

  

  Can he read my mind?

  

  Silence.

  

  Thank God.

  

  I was running down the dirt path to where the chapel and pub meet at the oldest stone wall on campus. I silently prayed that one of them would be open at this hour.

  

  Before I hit the stone wall there he appeared. Clear as day. Big, menacing, dark creature dressed in all black. Only his very fair skin stood out. And those blue eyes were now black.

  

  His stance was one of a predator about to attack his prey. Why was I his prey?!

  

  My mind went through many thoughts, the first being CALL 9-1-1 but what was the emergency number here?! I had the security offices number but Leonard is dead! I bolt over through the old trees into a spot I know I hide away to read. It's a bench covered in ivy and other overgrown greenery. I stop for a second and look around. When I don't see him I try to find Liv's number.

  

  "Pick up, pick up, pick up..."

  

  "Hello?" She sounded like she had just woken up which alarmed me. She was just wide awake with the Italian guy.

  

  "Liv, I need your help! Can you call the police and tell them to come to Trinity campus..."

  

  "Who is this?" She laughed.

  

  "Liv, it's me, Evee."

  

  "Is this some kind of prank call? Lose my number." And she hung up.

  

  I was shaking uncontrollably.

  

  What just happened?

  

  Was this a dream?

  

  This can't be reality.

  

  I hit my face, "WAKE THE FUCK UP!"

  

  Pinching, hitting, clawing at my skin, begging myself to open my eyes but every time I did, there he stood.

  

  He was laughing, his eyes blue once again.

  

  "Let's go inside and talk, shall we? I wouldn't want you to mark yourself up or rip out your hair." He took a step forward showing me I was cornered, "Although crazy girls are always the best in bed..." He smirked.

  

  Fuck me. He was hot. I was being hunted by a hot psychopath.

  

  "Another time maybe. For now let's just go inside and talk."

  

  I must be dreaming.

  I must be dreaming.

  I must be dreaming.

  

  So what's the harm in allowing him into my room to talk? 

  

  Nothing.

  

  This is definitely a dream or a nightmare.

  Maybe sex dream...

  

  I heard a chuckle that wasn't evil but definitely dark coming from behind me. "Have you ever heard of personal space?"

  

  "I could just carry you."

  

  "No, I'm good. Jeez back off buddy. Woke up on the wrong side of the imaginary bed today?"

  

  "Again, not a ghost or a nightmare. Move it, love or I'll have to punish you. And trust me when I say this wouldn't be a punishment that..." I looked behind me because he stopped talking. He licked his lips as his eyes took me in from head to toe. I'd seen men, and some women, do this to Liv but I wasn't used to it.

  

  "That would what?" I tried to sound seductive and even lift my eyebrow with a come-hither stare. I wasn't very good at flirting.

  

  "Are you trying to flirt with me, love?" He doubled over laughing. LAUGHING. AT ME. "Oh girly I'm not going to spank that All-American, peach or apple pie ass to get you wet." 

  

  Oooh kinky!

  

  He got very serious and that chill ran back down my spine. "When I punish you it won't be to get your panties wet. So let's get upstairs before I literally take you over my knee and show you what real pain feels like."

  

  Oh fuck.  

  

  I unlock my bolted room, keeping the heavy door open for him.

  

  "So what do you want to talk about...umm...I'm sorry I didn't catch your name." Between the sobering sight of Leonard's dead body and the weird kind-of sexual punishment talk, I'm on the verge of laughter. I try my best to hold it in.

  

  "Oisin, but you can call me Master." He nonchalantly says as I sit across from him. 

  

  "So, Ocean, what is this all about?"

  

  "It's pronounced O-sheen but you are to call me Master, little lamb."

  

  "Master." I bow my head coughing to hide my chuckle.

  

  "Why are you laughing? Are you having a psychotic breakdown or something?"

  

  "I dunno, you tell me...Master."

  

  I'm giggling so much I can barely breathe. Taking a deep breath I feel the fit of giggles going away until I say, "I'm sorry, Master." 

  

  "What is so funny, love?" Even his twinkling blue eyes start to sparkle while he tries to suppress a laugh. It seems my giggle fit is contagious.

  

  "Maybe subconsciously I've wanted to be a submissive. Dominated. So I've subconsciously created you in my dream, Master Oisin." 

  

  It's simple pop. psychology really.

  

  "So you think I'm a figment of your imagination? Like some unicorn that shits rainbows?" He stood up and loomed over me. "Ah, lassie, I'm very real. And this? This is no dream but I will make your life a living nightmare, so cut the shit. Even if you were a good girl I wouldn't dominate the likes of you. No matter how often you want to submit to me." 

  

  "Want to submit? S-So this isn't a sex dream? You don't want me?" If this was a dream, which it must be, I'd want him to want me, right? He was scary but his musk was intoxicating, some sort of spice-woodsy blend. His breath wasn't minty fresh but something about it made me want to taste him. 

  

  He grabbed my arms and lifted me up so we were face to face. "Bloody hell, do you have any self preservation?" Oh he looks angry. Black eyes that seem to just keep bleeding in his iris. "You're not afraid a strange large, not human being, who just murdered your friend Lenny back there, is alone with you in your room and that my plan is to take you away from here against your will and most likely, if you have any idea how these things usually turn out, kill you... instead your afraid I'll reject you?" He laughed melodically while his grip tightened. "Lassie, you have no idea how frightened you should be. Your friend and the bartender lad are demons. Tricksters. Watchers. Shapeshifters. Not human. You've seen my true form, so ya can't deny that I'm not human. Your selfish twat of a mum, Kathy, made a deal with the devil. She's allowing you to live out her maternal generational debt that she owes me and my family." 

  

  "W-what are you? How do you know my mom's name? This can't be real! WAKE THE FUCK UP!" 

  

  I felt something hit my head and then there was nothing.