•• The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.

- Blaise Pascal ••

I'm shaken awake by Jade, I open my eyes and it's still pitch black.

' Hey.. Lia... Wake up.. You're having another nightmare.. '

I hear faintly as I sit up almost in a panic. I can feel the sweat almost dripping from my face.

' Again.. '

I ask in a groan..

' Yeah.. Same one? '

She asks me.. I nod. It's always the same one. By that I mean the dream always changes but it's the same thing every time.. I'm in a dark castle chamber, sometimes I'm hovering over a man.. Sometimes I'm in the chair in the corner watching him.. Sometimes it's the same only reversed roles.. There's been a few times the scenery has changed but never anywhere less spooky.

The man is beautiful but very daunting.. Sometimes we speak but it's mumbled and almost like we're trying to conversate under water..

I've seen his face for as long as I can remember.. The first time I can remember I was 6 years old.. The kids at the home used to make fun of me and no one wanted to be friends with the spooky girl.. They used to beat me up calling me names - Witch, was the most common one. Between the night terrors and my silver hair and eyes... That apparently wasn't normal, The only kids who ever gave me a chance were my now best friend's.. Jade and Jasper.. Fraternal twins; Counterparts.

The twins both have strawberry blonde hair with dark blue eyes. Both are tall, thin and gorgeous. They're parents died when they were 2, from a car accident, and with no family willing to take them in they came to the home.. They're bold characters, after they got there the kids stopped bullying me due to their protection over me.. Pity goes a long way I'd say..

Now 20 years later we're still thick as thieves. At the moment we all three rent out a basement of an old woman, there's 2 rooms so right now me and Jade are sharing rooms and a bed, not that either of us mind..

I climb out of bed and stare out of the glass sliding door that looks out to the backyard.. Jade is already fast asleep again.. I can't help but feel a deep melancholy. Life has been rough for all three of us, our only savior being each other..

All I can picture is the eyes.. The eyes of the strange man in my dreams.. An icy blue eye and the other one black.. Such a strange combination.. But not unheard of.. Now the horns.. That's what scares me.. I thought about going to see the father at the old woman's church but .. I just can't bring myself to. As much as it scares me, I've grown to appreciate the stranger in my nightmares... In a sick and twisted kind of way.

It's Thursday night well Friday now I suppose, I've got a few more places to go check out for work otherwise we'll be back out on the streets. Muriel might be a sweet old woman but renting out her basement is her livelihood. It's a quarter to 5 in the morning and I decide to take a bath.. I grab a pair of black leggings, a baby doll pink blouse and a black cami before I head into the bathroom.

I start the warm water as I pour in some bubbles and oil before I start to undress, taking a look at the nasty scars among my body. As I let my panties drop the door opens and I instantly cover myself as I see Jasper coming in.

' Shit. I'm sorry Lia.. '

I hear him plead as he backs out and closes the door behind him. I hear him rumble through the door. Something about going to piss outside. It's not the first time he's seen me naked and probably not going to be the last. We fool around sometimes, Plus.. He was my first.. But it's mostly out of boredom and familiarity at this point, we both have dated and seen other people with absolute support from one another..

And as of late I've been a bit more adamant over being ' Celibate ' until I can get onto my feet a bit more.. I had a scare a few months ago and honestly I just can not being myself to even take a chance.. I've got 57 dollars and 12 cents to my name there's no way I can afford any fuck ups right now.

I soak in the warm water for awhile before I wash myself and shave, taking a quick shower after to finish everything else. Stepping out smelling and feeling like a new woman I brush my teeth and dry off before dressing myself.. It's a little after 7 before I get back to our bedroom, I throw on some boots and fix my hair and makeup, I've gotta look decent for today.

By 9 am I'm ready to go so I grab my phone and purse before I go to let myself out but running into Jasper again.

' Where you off to? '

' Still job hunting Jas.. Wish me luck huh '

I say somewhat dryly.

' Well I got paid today so we're good for another month.. I wanted to take all of us out tonight? One of the new persons told me about a secret spot.. Like you need a password to get in.. '

His deep blue eyes are promising.. He's been working under the table for some construction guys he goes back with.

' Sure .. I'll be back home in a few hours.. '

' Alright.. Well see I'll ya later then.. '

Jasper hugs me goodbye, and off I go. There's a few bars and shops in town that I haven't applied to so that's where I'll head even though the bars won't be open for a little while longer, the shops are open so I'll head there first.

5 hours pass and I've had no luck.. I got a maybe from one bar but to them I'm a liability. No car, little job history ect.. I guess Monday I'll try the other side of town, maybe I'll have better luck in the grimier part of town, not where I'd like but I need the money..

Defeated I make my way home and I'm greeted by an excited Jade..

' OMG OMG OMG. Did Jasper tell you '

' Jesus Jay I just walked in '

I laugh dryly practically pushing her jumping body off of me.

' Tell me what. About the club he wants to take us to? '

' Yep. He was invited by some " Hot spooky girl " He met through work.. '

I roll my eyes and she definitely sees this..

' Oh come on.. You don't even like him.. Don't let jealousy keep us from having fun tonight.. It's been too damn long, all we've been doing is working and hustling.. We need this.. '

I laugh before I respond.

' We do this because we have to Jade.. I can't go back to the streets again.. But I already told him I'd go.. '

' We won't go back Lia.. I promise... '

She shoots me a cheerful smile before she continues..

' Well the place is in Ashford so pack your knife.. The doors open at 8.. So we've got time to glamorize ourselves.. '

She says as I follow her to our room. What am I letting them get me into.. Who am I kidding, I want a night out too, Maybe I'll find someone to go home with as well.. Nothing sounds better after such a let down of a day. I know I've been trying to stay to myself but I've been doing good and I need the release.

Jade is in the shower when I put on a short, tight black cami dress along with some black heels, last thing I put on is my knife garter.. Ashford is full of nothing but shit. Theives, rapists, killers and more.. All three of us will be packing some kind of steel tonight just in case. I adjust my makeup just a bit to match my outfit, adding red lipstick to top it off. As I go into the living area I see Jasper finishing a text and putting his phone into his pocket..

I watch as he looks me up and down as he licks his bottom lip before striding towards me.

' You look absolutely beautiful Lia '

I give him a smug smirk.

' Don't even start Casanova '

I say dryly stopping him in his tracks..

He puts either hands on my waist as he pulls me in closely and whispers into my ear..

' She is hot ya know.. I think you'd like her too.. '

I hit his chest hard shoving him back a few steps.

' Even if I was into any of that it wouldn't be with you.. Ass! '

We both laugh as we hear footsteps approaching. It's Jade telling us to give her just 10 more minutes.. We both know she's full of it.. I turn to Jasper as he's now answering a new message I'm assuming..

About a half hour later we're outside as we catch a ride, Jasper tells the man the address and the car starts to move in the direction.. 

Jade who is sitting in the middle turns to her brother..

' So what's this place called anyways.. '

' The Devils Den... '

I gulp as I'm not quite sure what to expect with a name like that.. We pull in front of an almost deserted looking place, the three of us giving a similar look to one another as Jasper pays the man and we get out.

I'm the last one out and I follow close behind Jade grabbing her hand and holding it tightly as we watch Jasper knock in a pattern before an eye slit in the metal door opens and asks for the pssword..

Jasper clears his throat before responding.

' Mortem '

The slit shuts hard and the door opens quickly shooing us inside and slamming it behind us giving me a big jump scare.. It's loud and dark in here, we walk down a long hallway following the music until we reach the main area..

WHAT. THE. FUCK.