I sighed, smiling at the warm hues of sunlight shining down on me. Usually, I hated any bit of light pulling me out of sleep, but I was happy, because these lights had pulled me away from the dream, more like a nightmare, "None of it was real," I sighed happily and stretched my arms above head and legs underneath the duvet.
I felt my hair dangling off the side of my bed, but I was in pure bliss to care.
A bright smile stretched my lips as I cuddled the soft covers of my duvet, "I'm safe. No fire…" I mumbled, once again sighing happily, "Just a drunk dream." I giggled happily, hugging onto my duvet.
The fire in the woods; the flames that caressed my skin wasn't real. I didn't have to worry about anything. I probably got drunk after the gala and dreamt the whole thing. My hazy mind replayed short scenes like an old TV, but it was all a mere play of the imagination.
I sighed happily again, as I smiled against the comfort my bed brought me, "I have nothing to worry about."
A spicy-sweet scent filled my nostrils as I breathed in the duvet, I frowned confused, and somewhat disappointed to not inhale my usual fragrance of fresh cherry blossoms.
"I'm gonna fire that maid." I mumbled. Though, surprisingly, I liked the spicy scent that held a bit of sweetness within them, a combination that seemed odd, but it smelled crisp and refreshing at the same time, making it a beautiful combination.
"Is she drunk or…" The sound of someone's voice jerked me fully awake. I gasped, snapping my eyes open, and sat up on the bed in a fast movement like a reflex.
"Woah! She wakes-up like a Vampire!" A voice chuckled. My eyes instantly followed the direction of the voice. I frowned seeing three men stand there, side by side, and staring right at me. Each tall and strong built, they watched me curiously, waiting for my next move. Slight panic rose in my chest as I witnessed the three men. I gulped under their gazes, hoping to escape this situation.
"What're you? Hired murderers?" I questioned, alarmed at the three men looking at me with curious eyes, "I will call the police. You better get out of my house!" I snapped, causing the ones furthest to the left and right to exchange frowns, before they turned towards the man who stood in the middle, who silently and unmovingly stayed put, with his hands inside the pockets of his jeans.
I sighed, shaking my head and ran a hand through my hair, before looking at them again, "How much did they pay you?" I smoothly asked them. I need to handle this delicately, running or trying to escape wasn't an option, especially seeing how strong built they were. I wouldn't be able to outrun these men, I doubt I'll be able to run out from my room before one of them catches me.
I threw in a soft smile, before seriously nodding, "I'll pay you twice as much, I promise." Acting as casual as possible I tried to win their greed, "Whatever they paid you, I'll be more than willing to pay you twice the amount, if you let me go."
The man furthest to the left with light blonde hair suddenly started laughing, throwing his head back, "Wow! Good luck, big boss!" He patted the man in the middle, before walking away while pulling away the other man -who stood furthest to the right- he protested while being dragged away, "But aren't we supposed to stay with him?"
My eyes returned to the last man in the room. He stood there watching me with intense eyes, simply waiting for me to speak again. I frowned, locking my eyes with his. Deep seafoam eyes I have come so familiar with from my dream, stared right back at me, the glints of emerald and black glowed, with each blink of his eyelids. For a second, I felt a rush of heat around my body, filling me with sparks that ignited under his gaze. I took my bottom lip in between my teeth as I remembered the dreams and fantasies with him. It was only then, I truly looked at him, "Oh, you!" I pointed at him, causing him to raise an eyebrow, "Hey, I have…" My voice trailed off as the face in my dream came into mind. Deep unique eyes, sinful lips, a stubble beard that graced his chin, dark hair and the strong jawline..every feature I had dreamed of now right before my eyes.
I laughed, shaking my head, "The guy from my dreams is my hired murderer." The seafoam eyes that I dreamed of belonged to the man hired to kill me, "Can life get any more dramatic?" I asked, knowing I won't receive any answer, as I lifted the covers off my legs.
Swinging my legs across my bed, and placing them on the floor, I continued talking to him, "Too bad, " I said, getting off from my bed and facing him again, "You're really my type." I winked with a smirk, gesturing to his face with my hands.
His lips still made no attempt to speak. He was simply staring at me with those intense eyes that bore into my skin, I sighed, "Now, tell me, how much did they pay you~.." My voice drifted off as I came face to face with a black wall, "What..?" I mumbled, looking around the room.
The room was tinged in dark colours, bold shades of black, with gold scattered about. I frowned, circling, looking around the entire room, black was simply a colour I would never choose for interior decorating. This was most certainly was not my house. The beating of my heart increased as I gulped, "Wow.." I mumbled, "You're good at your job, " I nodded, almost like a compliment towards him, "You kidnapped me," I said, with a humourless chuckle.
Of course, I still received no answer from the man that stood on the other side of the bed. I sighed, looking at him again. My eyes locked with the unique colour of his eyes, different shades of blue and green that called onto me. Taking a deep breath, I tried to not get distracted by them, but it was close to impossible not to be pulled into the blinding intensity they shone with, "Ok, fine!" I started, "I'll triple the price. Just let me get back home and I'll hand you the money, in cash, myself. I promise, you can even drive-"
"No one paid me." He finally spoke, eyebrows knitted together in a deep frown.
Oh, he speaks!
"Oh, no?" I questioned, feeling somewhat confused. I cast my eyes to the side thinking of the other reasons behind this kidnapping, "Ok, then you kidnapped me for ransom. My father won't pay you, I'll pay you myself. How much do you want? Name your price!" I crossed my arms, holding my chin up high.
"I didn't kidnap you for ransom." He grunted.
His voice sounded the same from the dream. Everything about this man was exactly like I dreamt...well apart from the silence.
"Then what?!" I snapped, "If you're some rapist-" But I was immediately cut off.
"I'm not a rapist!" He snapped back, his jaw tightened as he glared at me. An unshed emotion crossed his eyes, perhaps I had offended him.
My eyes snapped down to my clothing, the dress I wore for my gala was replaced with a black pair of jeans and an elegant summer tunic top with crewneck. A soft material with a loose flare, I noted.
"A friend changed you." He said, answering the unspoken questions. I raised an eyebrow, causing him to roll his eyes, "A lady friend. She's my cousin actually."
I nodded, accepting it...at least it was a girl. I never liked to hire stylists or make-up artists to do my work, I liked to keep it to own level of choice from my own company's products.. But this top can do...
"Ok. Then, why am I here?" I questioned, crossed my arms.
He sighed, "You really don't remember?"
In the back of my mind, I did..I did remember the fire that caressed my skin and the foundings Cameron had received and told me on the night of the gala, but I didn't want to accept that reality. I didn't want to accept, I held the element of fire and almost risked mother's life. I didn't want to be considered a monster, or a possible murderer.
"You do." He spoke, noticing my lack of response.
"I don't." I lied, trying to turn a blind eye to the truth. I had woken up thinking it was a sick dream played on my mind, but reality liked to laugh at the comfort one seeked in that mere thought. No wonder the Chinese proverb said 'sleep was the brother of death.'
"Lying won't help." He murmured.
I felt strangely comforted by the sound of his voice reaching my ears. It soothed my frayed nerves and calmed the seas of anxiety that filled me. While his voice was rough and deep, it felt like a soft melody that pulled me from the calamities the world had brought me.
"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, after a few moments of silence.
Receiving no answer, I turned towards him, wondering if he had decided to go quiet again.
I watched as his body stiffen and his eyes cast to the ground, flickering side to side, with thoughts or words to phrase.
"Lying won't help." I smirked, mimicking his words on my tongue.
He rose an eyebrow, the corner of his lips stretching slowly into a smirk. Something sparked with his intense unique eyes. A colour such as those did not exist for eyes, making me wonder if he was wearing contacts, but from the intensity they gave off, I was proven wrong as they stood out alarmingly against his dark hair. His eyes bore into mine, searching for something, just as I searched his. I engraved the colour into my memory all over again, wanting never to forget it, for it gave me a sense of comfort like nothing else could.
I could feel the colour pulling me into their secret depths, but every emotion and every secret remained hidden, just like I hid mine from him. His shields were put up high and strong, and I challengingly and stubbornly, put mine up stronger and higher, not daring to let them break even for a second.
While his eyes did bring me some comfort, I still didn't know this man, and I didn't understand why he reacted so calmingly and appeasingly to the fire, when others gazed at me like a monster before their eyes. And how did he find me?
I don't know how much time passed as the gazes of our eyes locked in place, and simply searching for something, perhaps for any emotion that leaked. But I don't think neither of us knew exactly what we were looking for, but we kept searching for the unknown.
I sighed, finally tearing away from his eyes, and asked, "What am I?" A part of me hoped he knew, for it would give me some comfort, but if he did what was he planning on doing with me? And if he didn't, what then?
"I don't know." He sighed.
"You didn't answer my question from earlier." I noted, turning to him, but I tried not to get lost in his eyes again. He frowned, informing me he had forgotten or didn't understand my words, hence, I repeated the question, "Why did you bring me here?"
He sighed, clicked his tongue as he looked to the side once again. I gulped, biting my lip at the sinful thoughts brought to mind because of his tongue. My dreams and fantasies didn't help with keeping my distance from his man, "You belong here now." He replied.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I snapped, feeling defensive and angry towards this man.
"Ever liked dragons?" He asked, completely ignoring my question.
"What has my likings, anything to do with this?!" I raised my voice at the ignorance he gave me.
"It has everything to do with it." He retorted back.
"Excuse me?"
"You, little human, belong in my realm now. You're my mate." He told me, "I am Tristan Slade, Prince of the Dragons."
Tristan...