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Dark Dreams

Flashes of memory stretched long over the centuries. A hillside of oleander blossoms. A pure white flower with a very dark secret. Poison running through its veins. Lethal and beautiful. An odd combination.

Darkness followed the scenes of countless deaths. Judgements sanctioned out in dark places. Crimes that were unforgivable. Blood seeped from the hilt of a blade. The darkness was comforting compared to the horrors she had witnessed.

Water surrounded her blocking out all the noises and smells. While most of her face remained above the water line most of her body was submerged comfortably in the lukewarm depths of the water. The lack of sensual stimulation was price less.

This wasn't her body she realized as time passed. There was no softness to her body. No feminine curves existed on this body. The skin was stretched over defined muscles. Scars were stretched taunt on the otherwise flawless canvas.

The light golden flush of the skin was not what you would find in one that was living in the sunlight. The tan was more from natural pigments in the skin than sun exposure. This was the body of a man. Fit and meeting all the requirements for perfection.

At least among her kind.

Muscles stretched over the tall frame made this male appear lean. Like many males of her kind. When in fact the definition of the muscles gave away the strength and power this body possessed.

"I see you . . . " the words hissed out.

"I see you. . ."

Her breaths quickened in fear. It never occurred to her that he might realize she was there studying him. That he was very much aware of her.

"I see you little dame"

Mercurial eyes opened framed by dark lashes . A face with regal high cheek bones framed by dark locks. Lips pressed in a hard line. A glare to rival all glares.

"I see you!"

She rose up with a cry of dismay lodged in her throat. Her body was flushed by fear and adrenaline. She pushed the fall of rich brown hair away from her face. Tendrils of hair fought to stay stuck to her sweat slick forehead. She swiped at them in frustration and rose quickly from her bed.

Padding on silent feet to her wardrobe and pulling out casual jeans and a grey knit sweater. Throwing on a black modern version of a peacoat she pulled on her shoes and was out the window. She managed to get to the nondescript Toyota Camry before the sun rose over the horizon. She pulled on the dark shades and her seat belt.

Turning to back out as she pushed the button she squeaked in surprise to see the imposing figure of Able. His unsmiling eyes stared at her from atop his shades. He was upset with her unexpected day trip.

"My lady you wouldn't be thinking to leave without me?" he he clicked his tongue in admonition.

"How can I leave with out you when you never leave my side?" she asked wryly and pulled out of the garage.

She drove down the long winding drive to where it met the small mountain road. From there she made it to the village. Able said little else but she caught his smirk in the rearview mirror.

She was glad he took her impulsiveness with grace and poise. Most like her father and brothers couldn't stand it for very long. She parked the car outside the tavern. From there she entered and took her usual seat.

Their drinks came with time as they sat amidst the chatter of everyday human life. Vampires were never so chatty or exuberant. They were much more reserved and silent.

Silence. Something she could pretend to appreciate. It wasn't for her though. The silence made her so much more aware of how alone she truly was. Besides Able of coarse he was always beside her. Though his silence haunted her as well.

Being the youngest of her family she had been brought up by the staff and Able. Her sister had been mated for the last 25 years. Her brothers were busy becoming men. When she had turned 24 and came into her juvenile years of exploration and frolicking there was no one to share her adventures with besides the surly hybrid.

The festival of flowers came every 50 years. Her sister would be formally presented to her mate. It was the official marriage for her kind. She felt comforted by the fact. It had weighed heavily on her mind. It was bad to think of being given to a strange male. And even worse for her reputation if she didn't find her mate or pair bond that night.

Mara was the only one that had given her the time of day. She would play with her and spend time talking about nonsense things even though she was 50 years her senior and already a pair bound female. She loved her cousin for that. She could never repay her for those precious memories no matter how short.

She sipped the wine enjoying the unrefined taste. She had tasted much better in her short fifty years of life. It was the aura of this human place that gave her the enjoyment of the wine. Not particularly the wine itself. Able preferred his coffee and they sat with long moments of silence between them.

"Why do you prefer this place among man more than with your own kind?" Able's stock question came up. She smiled at it for a moment.

"I enjoy it because of the way they look at life and the years they lived." she continued on to explain when his look of confusion didn't cease. " They realize every moment could be their last. Every second is enjoyed or hated to its utmost extreme. That is a beautiful thing."

"I tend to disagree. When centuries from now you sit by your fire surrounded by your children and grandchildren you will still look as beautiful as you do now. You will never age and will reman steadfast in your ways" he paused for a moment sipping his coffee once more. "Man is pathetic. They change their feelings from one moment to the next. They age and wither until death. Their memory fades into nothingness as their blood line forgets their names" he finished with utmost surety.

"You see that girl?" she leaned forward nodding to the girl sitting at the bar. Able's gaze followed slowly eyes narrowing with scrutiny. "She will never be more beautiful than she is now. The man beside her will never love her as much as he does now. That way of looking at life; the ability to have a best day of a lifetime isn't possible with our kind"

His eyes widened with understanding. He simply nodded and drank his coffee in thought.

"That my friend is beauty " she added after placing her empty wine glass down. Patiently waiting for her companion to finish his coffee.

"Tell me of your dream that inspired your flight from the clan house " he asked after a while.

She took a breath not truly wishing to remember. Her blue gold eyes met startling lavender.

*************************************

Gideon awoke flush with arousal and in great need. His fangs fully lengthened in his mouth. The shadowed female form he had watched wraith in pleasure. The memories of a lonesome child. A fierce woman. His pair bond.

Her passion had created this within him. The raging need for her to truly be in his arms. for more decades than he could count she had lingered in his dreams. Eliciting memories of lives lived together once long ago. And in recent years of the female she was now.

Never did he see who she was clearly. Only the feel of her pleasure and passion was known to him. He was battered with the memories of her. Dreams he longed to fulfill.

The lukewarm water surrounding him felt cool against his heated flesh. The sound of his own heart though muffled by the water was loud in his resting place. His breaths were heavy and ragged in the still air of his vault. He closed his eyes and tried to make his mind resemble still water.

Only through centuries of practice did he manage it. Opening the vault he rose out of the water gracefully. Grabbing the drying cloth as he stepped down from essentially his bed. If he slept any other way he would be too distracted to find sleep.

The karikon garment lay for him to put on. He wrapped the black linen around his hips securing it with a ornate pin decorated the oleander flower. The top have could remain unadorned with a garment. He choose to but on the short over robe.

Fastening every buckle and smoothing every nonexistent wrinkle he moved to his weapons. Placing his dangers lovingly in their rightful places before putting on his boots. He moved to greet the business in line for today.

Praying to Amaranth his clans goddess and sovereign to take the thoughts of the shadowed female from him. He had things that needed done and had no time for such frivolous thoughts. Cool mercurial eyes studied his desk. Plenty of hunts to keep him busy.

"Which one of you will meet my blade first?" he said aloud his cool velvet voice echoing in his study's emptiness.

End note: Please let me know if anything is unclear. And if you like it. Read vote and comment. Be constructive. Thanks for reading.