“Never tell anyone about the skin and never take it off.  I don't care what happens,” Yaris instructed.  “It is for your protection.  Only you.  Those are your only rules, for now.”

“Are you going to explain what it does?” I questioned.

“Mostly tomorrow.  I will show you one thing tonight.”  I nodded for him to start.  He turned his back to me.  “Take the robe off.”  I took it off.  “Now close your eyes.” I closed them.  “Picture yourself wearing your favorite pajamas.  In your mind, say to yourself that you want to wear those pajamas.”  I started to visualize my favorite PJs, my bunny slippers and my robe, missing them.  In my mind, I said what he told me to.  “Now open your eyes and look at yourself.”  I opened my eyes.  I was wearing exactly what I had pictured.  The bunny slippers even looked a little worn like they were supposed to.  I looked at Yaris, speechless.  “When you want to shower, you picture yourself with nothing on.  When you want to change, you just picture yourself in different clothes.”  “All of my friends are going to want one of these,” I joked.  “You tell no one,” he reiterated, “these are one of a kind.  I have one, and you have one.”  “Why just us?”  “Because we are one of a kind.  We are the only ones left.”  “The only ones left.  What happened to the others?”  “It is getting late.  That is a story for another time.”

He spread a sheet out on the floor by the bed.  Then, he took two of the pillows, making himself a pallet.  He spread a blanket on top, then turned down the blanket and sheet for me.  “Get in bed right here,” he indicated the side closest to him, “trust me.  You will sleep better.”  I did as he said.  “Why do I need this now when I didn’t before?”  “You came of age.  You now shine like a beacon in the night.  Males from all around can see you.  The skin will help mask that.”  “You mean I turned eighteen?”  “Yes.”  “Do you shine too?”  “Yes, but not like you.  It is not as dangerous for me as it is you.”  “Why is it so dangerous?”  “Since we are so rare, we are hunted.  Collectors will pay top dollar for us.  Even more for you.”  “Why more for me?"  "Because you can have babies.”  I started to ask another question.

“Enough questions for tonight.  We are going to need as much rest as we can get,” he cut me off.  I laid down on my side, facing him.  He turned off the light and laid down on the floor.  “Let me know when you are ready for me to get into bed with you.  We will both sleep better.”  No way that is going to happen.  I rolled over onto my other side, facing away from him.  I stared at what I could make out of the lavish artwork, on the wall closest to me, in the dark, for probably an hour.  I rolled over onto my back and stared at the ceiling for a while.  It was a bunch of mirrors.  Who needs a bunch of mirrors above the bed?  A bunch of weirdos, that's who.
I looked over at Yaris in the mirror.  He was watching me.  I sat up and threw a pillow at him, “no wonder I can’t sleep.  You're creepy, watching me like that.”  He caught the pillow, no problem, “you are just so beautiful, I cannot look away.”  “Why are you being such a jerk?”  “I compliment you, and all you do is insult me.  I believe that would make you the jerk.”  I bit back my retort.  “Wait a minute…..you're being serious?”  “Yes.  I find you to be quite attractive.”  “Oh.  I'm sorry that I was insulting you.  I get kind of negative sometimes.  Will you forgive me?”  “Ofcourse,” he smiled that dazzling smile.

“If you will let me in bed, I will show you that you will sleep better.”  “I don't know…..”  “I promise, I will not do anything but sleep.”  “You promise?”  “Yes.”  “Okay.  I guess so.”  I moved over to let him in.  I will just start screaming if he is lying.  I don't detect any deception, though.  I'm usually pretty good at reading people.  He laid down beside me.  “Now what?”  I could faintly smell the lavender and mint.  “Come here,” he motioned for me to come closer.  I did, and he put one arm under my neck.  “Roll over on your side and face me.”  I maneuvered to face him.  His scent was growing stronger.  He put his free arm around me and pulled me flush against him.  There it is.  The apple pie and chocolate tingles everywhere that his skin touched mine.  “Look into my eyes.”  I was already comfortable enough that I could look into his eyes.  Normally, I would be too shy or embarrassed.  “Watch my eyes change.”  I remember seeing his eyes glow faintly, little pictures flowing around.  I glanced at myself in the mirror.  My eyes were glowing, too.  “Look at me.”  I turned back to him.  I opened my mouth to ask a question, and he shook his head no.  His eyes were swirling so fast I could hardly keep up, then they slowed down.  I felt my eyes start to close.  Right before I drifted into darkness, he kissed my forehead, then whispered in my ear, “sleep well, Octavia.”  He knew my name after all.

I immediately fall into a dream of a little girl, around five years old, in a pink princess dress, with hair like mine, carrying around a matching doll.  She runs to a man who looks a lot like Yaris.  He picks the little girl up, spins her around a couple of times, then gives her a kiss on the cheek.  “What has my sweet girl been up to today?”  he asks.  “Tea party,” she giggles, “spin me again.”  He obliges her request and spins her around two more times.  She blurts out that deep belly laugh that everyone loves to hear.

“What have you been up to, Aris?” She asks.  “Oh, the usual,” he answers, “scoping out new planets for us to live on.”  “Did you find any good ones?”  “I found one that I believe shows great promise.”  “That's good,” she squirms a little.  He puts her down.  She grabs his hand, “come play tea party with me.”  “Only for a little while.  I have duties to take care of.  I just wanted to see you before bedtime.”  “Can Anty come tell me a bedtime story since you will be busy?”  “I am sure he would love nothing more than to tell you a story.”  They play tea party for a while, then Yaris stands and says he must go, but he will send Antony in shortly.  The girl runs to him, “goodnight Aris.”  He bends down, and she gives him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  “Goodnight sweet girl.”  The dream ends.

Another begins.  Now the girl is wearing an even fancier dress.  It is canary yellow with white lace trim, puffy sleeves, a puffy skirt, and a sweetheart neckline.  Her hair is in an up do, braided all around the crown of her head with matching yellow ribbons woven through.  She is standing next to an older, beautiful woman with the same hair color and up do.  The woman’s dress is the same style just in lavender instead of yellow.  On the other side is a man in a tuxedo.  His hair is also white and extends down past his shoulders.  He is wearing a dress shirt the same lavender color as the woman’s dress.

“Where is he, Mama?” The little girl tugs on her mother's hand.  “Be patient.  He will be here soon,” the woman replies.  Just then, Yaris enters wearing a black tuxedo with a canary yellow dress shirt.  Several heads turn as he approaches the family.  Women jealous of a little girl for garnering his attention.  Men jealous of what he has and will have.  He seems to notice none of them.  His focus is on the little girl and her parents.  “My King, my Queen, I hope that this evening finds you well.”  “Very well,” the queen answers, “ someone has been waiting very patiently.”  “Me Mama, me!” The girl is hoping up and down.  Yaris crouches down in front of the girl, “have you been good, my sweet girl?”  She nods her head up and down so hard it looks like her head could fly off.  “Today is your birthday.  How old are you?” She holds up a hand displaying all five fingers, barely able to contain her excitement, “five!”  “Well, I have a special present for you,” he produces a small box from his pocket.  She grabs the box and opens it to reveal a beautiful amulet on a silver chain.  Her eyes grow as big as saucers.  “I love it,” she whispers.  “Let me put it on you,” he takes it from the box.  She turns her back to him, and he fastens it behind her neck.  “Never take it off,” he whispers in her ear.  She turns to face him, fingering the amulet, “I won't.”  Yaris stands and extends his hand to her, “May I have this dance, my Lady?  Or is your dance card full?”  “I am pretty sure her dance card has been reserved all night for you,” the pretty lady melodically laughs.  “I am pretty sure Theo will be hurt by that.” “I will dance with him too.”  The girl grabs his hand and pulls him to the dance floor.  This dream ends.

A new dream begins.  This time, there is no little girl.  It is Yaris sitting in a dingy blue chair in a run-down house in a less than stellar neighborhood.  Across from him, seated on a worn gray couch, is a young couple whose clothes have seen better days.  The house is immaculate, just old.  There are no family pictures or artwork gracing the walls.  There is a small artificial Christmas tree in the corner with a handful of wrapped presents underneath it.  The only decorations are some tensile and a string of lights.  There is a fire burning in the fireplace.  The couple silently hold hands as they listen to Yaris speak.

“I have paid all of your gambling and drug debts.  I have set you up with new identities, credit, a new house, and new cars in a new town. You will be given a monthly allowance to cover expenses on the first of each month to be deposited in a checking account with both of your new names on it.  Once she comes of age, healthy and happy, your debt to me will be paid, and you will receive a lump sum payment of ten million dollars.  I will return to retrieve her at that time.  Everything you need is in this envelope.”  Yaris hands a large yellow envelope to the man, who opens it to peek inside.

“There is cash in there for the move.  Are you packed and ready to go?”  “Yes.” Yaris stands, as do they.  The man grabs hold of a black duffel bag that had been sitting on the floor by his feet.  “Is this for real?” the woman asks.  “I assure you that it is,” Yaris hands her a set of keys, “the car in the driveway is yours.  I will bring her to you in two days' time.”

They all exit the house, locking the door behind them.  Yaris walks away without a word.  They watch him round the corner and then smile at each other.  She unlocks the silver Ford Fusion, and they get in.  The nicest car that they have ever owned, with a working heater.  “No more gambling,” she states to him.  “Yes, and no more drugs,” he says back.  “I am not addicted.  I was only selling,” she answers, “He moved us far away for a reason.”  “I know,” the man answers, looking down at his hands, “It will be hard, but I can do it.”  The dream ends, and there is only sleep after.