Dreamwalker (Persephone's League of Immortals)

by Andrea Heltsley

  He reluctantly pulled away from me and slid up to his elbows, looking down at me with a wicked smile. “We were to make out like teenagers, not porno stars,” he joked. “That is unless of course, I get to make it to second base.”

  I remember Jared and his lips moving to trail my breasts and felt guilty for not letting Boone have an equal opportunity to win me over.

  “I believe second base is a requirement when making out,” I grinned.

  That was all the tempting he needed and he was back to kissing me with desire and need. Our kisses grew intense and my chest rose and fell in excitement.

  Taking my queue, he broke our kiss and sat up. He looked me straight in the eyes as he lifted the hem of my sequined tank. Boone slid his fingers slowly and softly up my stomach and ran his fingers across the lace of my bra.

  I broke contact and lifted my head in excitement, but he pulled me down to watch my eyes as he continued. It was hard for him not to feel the excitement that thrummed through me. I was like a lit match, slowly burning until I was extinguished.

  Boone definitely sensed my excitement and he pushed his hands lightly below the fabric of my bra. I was struggling to keep my eyes on him at this point.

  Finally his gaze broke and he kissed me. Then his kisses trailed from my neck, down my collarbone and settling to meet his hands just below the lace of my bra. A moan escaped my lips and my heart sped up.

  I only had time to enjoy it for a few minutes because he pulled away from me. He tugged my shirt back down and ran his fingers through my hair.

  “Imagine if I could understand what you are feeling when it comes to everything, including the bedroom. That was nothing compared to how things could really go if I ever got the chance to show you.

  “Tease,” I joked. I was too worked up to be more serious than that.

  “I know you feel what I do; I can feel it like a beacon. Jared may not see it, but your choice is clear to me and I don’t think I could live an eternity without you Noel.”

  Before I had a chance to respond to his confession, Sam knocked on the door signaling our hour was up. I straightened my clothes and we start towards the door.

  At the last minute, before I had a chance to open the door, Boone swung me around and softly kissed my forehead. I smiled and he stepped back for me to open the door.

  Sam entered the room and addressed Boone. “Go back to your room; we will see you in an hour.”

  He nodded and gave me one last longing look before exiting the room. Sam shut the door behind her and eyed me warily. We waited until we knew he was far enough away to speak.

  “I am dying to know what happened sis,” she said, pulling me towards the bed. We sat cross legged on top of the plush cranberry bedding. It felt like I finally had my sister back.

  “Ugh, I am not even sure where to start. Jared was like a second date, getting to know me and some making out.”

  “That seems sweet,” she pushed.

  “Then I asked him why he wanted me and I got the answer I wasn’t expecting. He wants me for our similarities. We can dream walk, our souls call out to each other and I am beautiful.”

  “Hmm, good question. Did he hesitate before answering?”

  “Yes, but he still thinks we are meant to be together,” I replied.

  “So what else happened? I need details.”

  “We had a sexy make out session that went further than expected. We talked about ourselves and got to know each other.”

  “Wait, back up. Did you just say sexy make out session that went too far? Define what you mean by too far,” she asked.

  “He made his way under my lace bra and met his mouth with my breast.”

  “You naughty girl, I didn’t expect that from your one hour. He must really want to win.”

  “It felt like he got more carried away than anything. I am no closer to making a decision now than I was two hours ago,” I whined.

  “That must mean things went good with you and Boone.”

  “Yeah, he pretty much professed his love for me,” I admitted.

  “Awe, that is so sweet. How did he react to the question?”

  I cleared my throat and prepared to repeat his answer. “He didn’t even pause. He says I am beautiful inside and out. He loves my spirit. He wants to spend an eternity with me making me as happy as he is with me.”

  “Damn girl that is some answer. I got shivers just hearing it. Then he said he loved you. Boone is taking this contest for eternity very serious.”

  “Before we were captured, he pinned me when we were alone. He told me he was going to fight for me no matter what it took. He said it was even worth his friendship with Jared and he was serious about me,” I confessed.

  “Wow, I have to give him props. He knows what he wants and nothing will stop him from getting it. What else happened during your hour?”

  “We made out like teenagers and I let him kiss his way to second base. It was only fair after Jared’s chance.”

  “You sexy minx, I can’t believe how hard these two are fighting for you. I always knew there was something special about my baby sister, other than our powers.”

  “Now it is time for the million dollar question. Which sexy man are you going to choose?” she asked.

  “I know I am supposed to have an answer, and I know who I am leaning towards. I just think I want to do one more thing first.”

  “What is that?”

  “Well, I know Jared is going to enter my dreams tonight and it isn’t a fair answer if I don’t let Boone do the same. I want to enter his dreams tonight. Then as soon as we get topside, I am going to make my decision.”

  “I hadn’t really thought of that. I guess that is a good call. Plus you won’t have to break any hearts in hell, that is pretty cruel,” Sam reasoned.

  “It is just a hard decision. Jared is the man of my dreams but Boone is the man that is real and gets me on a personal level.”

  “I agree that is a tough decision. The only caveat is that you have to break it to both guys yourself. That is only fair,” she declared.

  “Fine, I guess I can do that.”

  “I am going to check on Autumn and leave you to it. Then I suggest you get some sleep. You and I have a big day tomorrow.”

  Then Sam slipped off the bed and headed toward the door. I took a deep breath and then hurried to follow her. She opened the door and we both stepped through it.

  We broke off in the hallway, and I went further to the left. My heart thudded faster as I knocked on the door. The room was Jared’s and he was quick to answer.

  “Noel, did you make your decision already?” he asked with a note of hope in his voice.

  “Actually, that is what I am here about. Sam and I have discussed the situation and the answer is that I didn’t make a decision.”

  “Why, it should be pretty clear,” he replied, growing frustrated.

  “We need everyone to be focused and to concentrate for our plan to work. I have decided that once we are topside, I will make my choice. I have decided, but it needs to be after the danger has passed.”

  “I understand and respect your decision,” he said.

  Satisfied I gave him a quick kiss and wished him good night. Once I exited the room and the door was shut, I let out a sigh of relief and headed down the hall towards Boone’s room.

  Once I reached his door, I rapped lightly and the door opened before I even had a chance to step back. “How do you do that?”

  “I can sense you. I can sense your emotional signature. I am sorry, that sounds a little weird. Please come in.”

  He shut the door and turned to me, picking up my hand. He traced circles on it, letting me know he was nervous.

  “I will cut straight to the point. I have made a decision, but will not be telling either of you until we are topside. We all need to focus on getting home and I don’t want to make things worse. I promise you will know as soon as we are back in the world of the living.”

  “I don’t like it, but I u
nderstand. I respect your decision and will stand by you no matter what. Any moment that I get to spend with you is one more moment than I had,” he replied.

  I reached up and gave him a hug. “Thank you,” I said as I opened the door and turned to walk away. I felt his eyes on me the entire way.

  Chapter 22: Daring Dreams

  I didn’t dare let my guard down until I slid my door shut and sank to the floor against it. I was mentally exhausted and I felt my eyes droop as the stress of the day caught up with me. I didn’t even care that I was resting in Hell. I just wanted to sleep until this whole nightmare went away.

  It felt like too much work for my frazzled body to change clothes and so I just crawled up into the plush cranberry bed. It seemed that the world faded away in a matter of seconds and I was slipping into another dream.

  When the dream formed around me, I was sure it was one of Jared’s. I was relieved that it wasn’t a nightmare and peered around to see my surroundings.

  I was sitting on a bench next to a beautiful lake with a fountain in the middle, glistening in the sunshine. Mallard ducks were floating in the water and silver tinted red tulips lined the west side of the lake. I smiled at the small gesture of replicating the tulips of our first night together.

  I was wearing a gauzy violet dress that seemed to float on me. It was rich in color and I reveled in its beauty. Silver sandals peeped out from below and my hair was down, wild and free. I felt down to earth and at peace. Then I gathered my composure and searched for Jared. I didn’t see him until I whirled around and came face to face with him.

  His steely eyes warmed at the sight of me and he handed me one of the beautiful tulips. I threw my arms around him in excitement. Just being there in his presence was penetrating my soul. My lips met his and I gave in to an earthshattering kiss that I would never be able to forget.

  Breathless, I reluctantly pulled away. “Are we alone?” I asked.

  Ever since he told me that people could enter our dreams, I had been wary. He must have read it on my face because he smiled before responding.

  “As far as I know we are alone. I can’t tell you how glad it is to see you here with me. I just want us to enjoy this time that we have together, just us,” he said brushing his lips in a gentle kiss on my forehead.

  I answered with a sweet kiss and sank into him, giving myself over to my desires. Just as things started to get hot, it started pouring. I squealed in surprise as the rain came down moderately and steady. My normal reaction was to run to get out of the rain, but this time I just laughed and spun around in amusement.

  My gauzy dress had become almost see through as it clung to my very apparent hourglass form. I didn’t even care as I watched Jared, droplets of water dripping from his face. He smiled and scooped me up in another kiss. Suddenly a rush of emotion ran through me. There were so many things I wanted to tell him and I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject.

  I pulled away once more and looked into his eyes as I form the words I want to say.

  Before I had the chance to speak, it happened so fast. The rain shifted to flecks of water and swirled away into pure blackness. I muttered a curse and strained to see my new surroundings. It was so dark and so cold. I rubbed my arms as chill bumps formed across them.

  I tested the room by offering a questioning “Hello”. I got no response, just silence and inky blackness. It was as if I was nowhere, with nothing around.

  I reached my hands out and was stopped suddenly by a hard surface. I was face to face with wood of some kind. Then I reached out at the sides and realized I was boxed in. Trying not to panic, I banged on the wood. It appeared to be useless and I was all too aware that I was trapped inside a coffin.

  It was creepy and I tried to calm myself, hoping not to suffocate in the process. I had always had this eerie fear of being buried alive. Somehow I was placed into my biggest fear and tried to gain some rationalization. If I panicked, it would only make the situation ten times worse.

  Then I remembered that Autumn was ordered to restore Wren’s powers. Once I realized that this must have been the work of Wren, I was hoping to shift out of the cramped box and into the ether.

  Any place was better than my current locale. This must have been her idea of payback. After several minutes of meditation, I was able to get my surroundings to shift and spin away.

  I tried to focus on Boone. Before I knew it, I was in another dream. This dream was entirely unexpected. I looked around to find that I was in a small studio apartment.

  There was a small Italian greyhound at my feet as I stepped further into the apartment, looking up at me with such adoration. I smiled but was interrupted by a voice. “Here is your glass of wine. How are you? I hoped you would get here soon.”

  Shaking out of the dog’s presence, I looked over to see Boone holding a glass of wine out for me. His smile made me want to melt.

  “Boone, where are we?”

  “Our apartment, so take off your jacket and have a glass of wine. If you don’t, I will skip the wine and just ravish you right here,” he replied with a devilish grin.

  “Why did you choose an apartment for our dream?”

  “I chose this place because it is somewhere I wish I had with you. I can’t tell you how badly I want to wake up next to you each morning. I want to make you coffee and fix you breakfast.”

  He paused before continuing. “When you come home from work, I want to get you to relax, fix you a warm bath and then go to bed with me next to you. I just want you Noel.”

  “I don’t know what to say. It all sounds perfect. I wish this was our real life, not some immortal one on the run,” I said as tears rolled and streamed my face.

  Boone crossed the space between us and had my face in his hands. His lips met mine and he kissed me with such love and passion. It felt as if he was giving me his very heart with that kiss. I never wanted it to end.

  He broke away and pulled me to the couch. He sat down and tugged me on top of him. I saw the peace in his eyes and my breath caught. He was showing me what it could be like for us in real life, not some dream world. I was truly touched.

  “I am completely in love with you Noel Kennedy Maristolla. Even if you don’t pick me, I will love you for eternity.”

  All I could do was lean down bringing my lips to his. I pressed my lips against his cool soft ones. I was aching in desire and admiration as I brought the kiss to a higher intensity.

  Before I knew it, Boone had his hands at the hem of my shirt and was lifting it up. He took his time, savoring every moment. This was a life filled with passion, desire and understanding. I understood what he was truly offering me.

  The apartment soon swirled away, Boone wrapped around me in adoration. The dream shattered into shards and consciousness grabbed me.

  I woke to find Sam brushing my hair back from my damp forehead with a look of remorse on her face.

  “Hey sis, what’s wrong?”

  She sighed before responding. “I never wanted this for you Noel. I am so sorry that I couldn’t protect you.”

  I gave her a weak smile and a small laugh. “Sam, you aren’t superwoman. It was a risk we couldn’t avoid. The bright side is that we are together and I love you,” I told her.

  This made her smile and her shoulders relaxed a little. “I love you too. It is time, are you ready?”

  “Yeah, I think so. I am as ready as I will ever be and I want the hell out of here, no pun intended,” I said.

  Just then, Autumn burst through the door frantic. I instantly shot up in concern. “Autumn, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s Jared, he is gone. We can’t find him anywhere.”

  “Are you sure,” I asked trying to slow the rising panic.

  Boone entered just behind her a grave look on his face. “It’s too late. They have him and we can’t get to him in time. We have to go. This is our only chance and we have to hurry before they come for us too.”

  “I’m so sorry Noel,” he finally said.

&nbs
p; “But we can’t just leave him behind,” I protested.

  “We can and we have to. If we don’t go now, we don’t ever go. Please Noel, we have to hurry,” Sam said with finality.

  “He’s not gone,” I whispered.

  Tears began to blur my vision but I put my grief on a shelf far from reality and tried to regain control. I saw by the look on everyone’s face that I was not going to win this argument. I swallowed hard and said as calmly as possible, “Ok, let’s do this.”