Only in Her Dreams

by Christina McKnight

  Lucessa pressed her back against the wall as she slipped past the man, her bare feet stepped over broken glass. With a push off the last step, she rounded the corner into the kitchen and grabbed for her cell phone.

  The phone was heavy in her hand. Her fingers fumbled as they dial 9-1-1.

  “I would advise you not to make that call.” A voice whispered in her ear as if it floated on a breeze. A chill crept up Lucessa’s spine.

  It wasn’t possible. He’d lain at such an odd angle. Is someone else in my house?

  She spun around and stared into the eyes of the man who’d walked her dreams for years. The only thing she could think to do was hit him again. Unfortunately, she remembered too late that she’d left the bat upstairs. Shit! Her knees were weak beneath her, threatening to give out.

  Goosey hadn’t made a sound as he’d crept up behind her. Double damn that dog!

  She clenched her fists, ready to protect her home and her dog.

  “I would not hit me again if I were you.”

  The tone in his voice was just short of menacing and a shiver ran the length of her body as if his hands caressed her.

  Again, Lucessa found herself speechless as she thought about running or escaping. Anything but stand there staring at him with a dumb expression on her face. She should be scared shitless, but she wasn't. She'd seen him so many times Lucessa felt deep down she knew him. Do I know you? She wanted to ask.

  “Then what should I do?” She must’ve lost her mind proposing such a stupid question after he’d just broken into her house. To be fair, he hadn’t broken in, per se. He’d used the kitchen door she always forgot to lock. Also, to be fair, he wasn’t the first to enter her home without permission. Thinking of another question, she asked, “Why’ve you been stalking me? Who are you?” Smooth, Lucessa!

  “Who I am is not important. But your safety is.” He pushed past her and navigated up the stairs around the pictures strewn on the floor.

  Safety? Lucessa decided to play along and followed him, keeping her distance. The only one jeopardizing her safety was him. She pushed down the feeling of unease as Goosey paced at her side. What was the dog’s problem?

  “What’re you doing?” She called.

  “You are full of inquisitiveness. Please stay quiet; it is for your protection.” The words rolled off his tongue, as smooth as liquid chocolate, as if he hadn’t been rude to her. In her own home, none-the-less.

  Her mind was screaming ‘Call 9-1-1!’ at a deafening pitch, while her body was telling her to not be so hasty. She’d reached a whole new level of crazy.

  As he walked into her bedroom, he grabbed the bat, probably to make sure she wasn’t tempted to use it again before he surveyed the closet and the bathroom.

  “If you’re looking for the guy who broke in before you, he left. He slipped out the back door and through the gate, before you came in,” she blurted, crossing her arms over her chest. She had no idea why she was volunteering information to a man who’d broken into her house, took a bat to the head, fell down the stairs, and then treated her like she was bothering him.

  His eyes swung back to her, his eyebrows lifted in question.

  “Just wanted to let you know.”

  He searched the rest of the upstairs which gave her time to study him in detail. He’d changed clothes since she’d seen him at the coffee shop. He was outfitted in all black; t-shirt, cargo pants, and boots--topped off with an all-black baseball cap. Perfect for a night of breaking and entering. He’d planned this!

  Returning to the hallway, he seemed assured that she and Goosey were the only ones in the house.

  They stared at each other for a moment. Lucessa didn’t mind, it gave her another opportunity to look at him, to take in all that was this daunting figure.

  He’s very handsome. Odd, she hadn’t thought of another man as attractive since before she’d married Greg. He’d been her one and only, her solid rock. She felt like she’d betrayed him with the momentary lapse. But it’d been a year since his death, it was time to move on as Dr. Applegate had pushed her to do. What am I thinking? This is definitely not the guy I’m moving on with. I can hear the question now, ‘How did you two meet?’. ‘Funny story...’. Yeah, this wasn’t happening.

  His crystal-blue eyes traveled from her head all the way to her toes and back again. She must look a mess. Slowly she looked down at her attire, the moonlight filtering through the hall window made her night shirt almost transparent. She pushed past him into her room and grabbed her seldom-used robe from the hook in her bathroom. The material slid across her icy skin, providing no warmth from the chill in the air.

  Returning to the hall, he was gone. She hurried downstairs. What the heck is he looking for?

  “Can I help you destroy anything else in my house?” He’d knocked all the pictures off her wall, potentially dented her bat, and now was searching through boxes in her garage.

  “Do you know what the man took from your house? There was something in his hand when he left,” he said, without lifting his head from the box he inspected.

  “Do you always answer a question with another question?”

  “No. Look around and find out what it was,” he answered.

  The nerve of the man didn’t quit. “I know what he took.”

  His head rose sharply. “What?”

  “Is this how it works? You break into my house, rummage through my things, and expect me to answer your questions? Without so much as giving me your name or a reason except that I’m not safe--what does that even mean?”

  His eyes sizzled into her, obviously trying to instill fear and show his power over her. “My name is Maxim Lucas. I have been sent to look after you.”

  Lucessa let out a loud laugh, startling both her and Goosey beside her. He can’t be serious. The man, correction--Maxim--didn’t even flinch as he made his ludicrous statement. And what’s up with the way he talks?

  “Well, Maxim, who sent you to ‘look after me’?” Lucessa asked.

  “You find this humorous? Your safety is not something to jest about.”

  She stood with her hands on her hips and watched his backside as he leaned over another box, ignoring her question. How can a box be a safety concern?

  “Listen to me. You cannot fall into the wrong hands.” He stood from his search of the box and moved past her and back into the house. “What did he take?” Maxim called over his shoulder.

  Fall into whose hands? He’s crazy!

  She started from a new angle, “Why’ve I been dreaming about you?”

  # # #

  She was full of endless questions about things he wasn’t permitted to answer. His muscles tensed. He expected most of them: why was he in her house, who was he, and what was he looking for. But instead she asked about her dreams.

  Impossible! She can’t remember me. The Oneiroi had worked for thousands of years under the impression humans were unable to remember their presence. He knew she had recognized him at the coffee shop. Now, a decision needed to be made. Either tell her the truth or fabricate a lie to explain his presence--and that of Darius and his men.

  His evening was not going as planned.

  He took the cowardly route. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “Cut the crap. I figure you’re not here to hurt me, you’ve had plenty of opportunities for that. You haven’t ransacked my valuables either, so I’m left wondering what you want. And who the hell were those other guys?” She looked at him, her lips pressed together in a thin line.

  But what a lovely face.

  She wasn’t buying his story. He wanted to curse his brother, wait...make that both of his brothers. One sent him on a fool’s mission, while the other was trying to sabotage it.

  His search complete, it was time for him to leave. The truth was he didn’t want to leave. He’d rather stay. Maybe start a new ‘search’ into what was hidden under her robe.

  Instead, Maxim mentally pushed himself toward the exit. He followed the w
all around and back to the kitchen door. All the while, the girl and her dog followed three steps behind him. The door was within reach, the time had come to make his escape.

  As Maxim slipped out the back door he heard ‘What the hell?’

  She is still full of questions. He glided through the side gate.

  Chapter 5

  Trepidation coursed through her body and her stomach tensed. Her fingertip again massaged the familiar spot in the worn couch. “His name’s Maxim.”

  Dr. Applegate stared at Lucessa. She thinks I’m crazy. Stark raving mad. She had a hard time not believing it herself. Everything was too much to comprehend. Just like his visit to the coffee shop, he’d come and gone with little more than a ‘how do you do’. At least she’d learned his name: Maxim Lucas. It fit him. It was a strong name, confident, and a bit mysterious. And, oh so sexy.

  Emotion after emotion had fought for control of her person since Maxim had fled her home the night before. Guilt over the attraction to another man, anticipation of seeing said man again, and desperation...

  “What’re you thinking right now, Lucessa? Be honest with yourself. This is important.”

  “I’m thinking it’s wrong that I find him so appealing and exciting. Greg’s only been gone a year and part of me feels I’m betraying his memory.” Lucessa took a deep, pained breath and closed her eyes. She didn’t understand why she felt this way.

  “It’s perfectly natural to feel a physical attraction to another person.”

  “Is it?” She slid her eyes open slowly. “Already?”

  “Lucessa, you know I’m a grief counselor and while I don’t have extensive experience in relationship therapy, I do know eventually you will find another person you care about. But it is important that a healthy relationship, one based on trust and friendship develops. Not need and desperation. I think we’ve dealt with your grief over losing Greg, and it’s time for you to move on.”

  “Move on?” Lucessa thought she had moved on. This session wasn’t about Greg, or her loneliness. She’d learned months ago to keep that to herself. No, this session was about the man from her dreams. The painfully handsome man who broke into her house last night. I’ll keep that to myself.

  Lucessa must have appeared confused because Dr. Applegate continued. “I think you misunderstand. We’ve made tremendous progress in the last year handling your grief, but now is the time for you to move on to another therapist.”

  With a sinking feeling, Lucessa realized Dr. Applegate hadn’t believed what she’d been telling her about Maxim. She didn’t know how to convince the therapist that she was telling the truth. Was it even worth the effort? She couldn’t trust her doctor; the woman who was supposed to be helping her through her grief had been patronizing her all along. Not once had Dr. Applegate worried about Lucessa’s safety.

  Lucessa left the therapist’s office, unsatisfied and confused. She also held the card of another therapist Dr. Applegate had referred her to. As she headed down the street to her car, she paused next to a green recycling can. Her fingers trembling, she ripped the embossed card in half and tossed it in the can. If Dr. Applegate didn’t believe her, there was little hope that a new therapist would understand either.

  She’d have to figure this out on her own.

  Chapter 6

  Maxim walked into the cavernous room that was so familiar; from the family pictures hanging on the dark walls to the antique chairs positioned next to the door to the veranda.

  “You’ve something to report, Maxim?” His brother spoke from behind a large desk situated at the far end of the long room. His brother wore an oversized fur-lined jacket meant to ward off the room’s ever-present chill. Their father had used this room to host parties, but now Guy utilized the space for an office.

  “I do.” Maxim halted before his eldest brother. “I located the girl. Since then, things have not gone as planned.” He paused.

  “Go on.” Guy nodded. Apparently, his brother realized Maxim needed encouragement or permission to press forward with his report.

  “First, it was clear she recognized me when I observed her at her place of employment.”

  “At her place of employment?” Guy’s voice rose an octave. “You entered the advertising firm? That was risky and not part of the plan.”

  Maxim continued. “No, I did not seek her out there. But I did follow her to her second job, a coffee shop called The Queen Bean, which I told you about during my last visit. It was there I expected to blend in with the crowd and keep an eye on her. Unfortunately, she spotted me as soon as she looked around. There is no doubt she recognized me.”

  “How do you know this? Because your eyes met?” Guy asked, his eyebrow rose. “Because her gaze locked with yours?”

  He thinks I’m a damn Casanova or something. “No. This was confirmed after I broke into her home.”

  “What in the blazes do you mean you broke into her house?” Guy’s whispered voice bespoke more anger than any yelling or screaming ever could.

  Maxim didn’t know if the anger was directed at him for the break in or at the girl’s ability to remember Maxim. It didn’t matter, his brother’s temper had been ignited and Maxim would most likely receive the razor sharp force of his rage.

  “I don’t know how she recognized me. We have long entertained the belief, while in a dream state, the Oneiroi are free to come and go through the sleeping minds of humans.” Maxim’s own anger rose. “Why don’t you tell me how this is possible!”

  Sadness crept into Guy’s eyes and he lowered his gaze to his empty hands.

  What is he hiding from me?

  Maxim regretted his haste to anger. The torment and anguish Guy had lived with all these years was a pain Maxim could never fully understand. The horror of losing one’s family and having to watch from afar as their lives were put in jeopardy was unimaginable. He’d show his brother more compassion in the future.

  His temper waning, his pulse slowed and his breathing calmed. “Alexander was there, which is why I entered the house in the first place. I arrived in the early morning and kept watch from the backyard. Luc...”. Maxim caught himself.

  “Careful, brother!”

  “The girl’s bedroom window is visible from the garden, and I planned to enter only when I was certain she slept. Within minutes, Alexander left through the back door and met Darius along the side of the house.”

  “Darius was there?” Guy straightened in his chair. “This is far worse than I anticipated.”

  “If it was not for his glowing eyes, I would not have noticed him there. I felt it was in our best interest not to engage them then.”

  “You’re correct. Darius would have forced a confrontation and attracted undue attention.”

  “I do not think my twin will risk your wrath by outing himself in public. Although, I’m not sure what his purpose was in the girl’s house. They fled carrying a metallic object.”

  “It is as we feared. Your twin’s message was no bluff. He intends to harm my daughter.” Guy’s body receded into his overstuffed chair, the thread of hope extinguishing from his eyes.

  “I understand he has gone astray in recent years but I do not believe he will hurt her.” Maxim widened his stance, placing his hands on his hips. Why do I defend him still?

  “It would be wise not to underestimate your brother--our brother. I cannot protect her from Erebos, Maxim. You must fulfill your promise to me.”

  “I know the promise well, Guy. I agreed to it when you answered my summons for help after our father died and I will honor it now in the face of this recent threat.” Maxim recalled that long-ago desperation and his emotional state. His father was dead, his twin was rushing to the throne, and Maxim was helpless. He had little other choice than to travel to Earth to retrieve his estranged, eldest brother.

  With little hesitation, Guy had agreed to accompany Maxim back to Erebos to rule--in his deceased father’s stead.

  A position I hadn’t been man enough to fill. Maxim pushed the tho
ught from his mind. He’d done the right thing, the responsible thing.

  Upon Guy’s return to Erebos, Darius and his followers had challenged Guy. They’d demanded the barrier between Erebos and Earth be lifted, giving the Oneiroi the freedom to visit humans, not only in their dreams, but to walk among them. Guy had refused. War had ensued between his two brothers as they both struggled for power. Maxim had found himself caught in the middle. He struggled between his love for his twin and what would be best for all of Erebos. Ultimately, he’d pledged his loyalty to Guy, and Darius and the other Melas Oneiroi were stripped of their powers and banished to live on Earth, unable to return to Erebos.

  For his trouble, Maxim promised to protect Guy’s family from Darius and his followers.

  “I will do my duty, Brother. I and the people of Erebos have much to thank you for.”

  Maxim turned to leave, but Guy’s voice halted him. “What was it that Alexander took from the girl’s house?”

  “I am unsure. After the girl hit me with a bat, and my unfortunate fall down the stairs, I was preoccupied with placating her and assuring myself no other Melas remained in her home.”

  A smile played on Guy’s lips as his chin raised. Maxim thought he heard him mumble, “That’s my girl.”

  Maxim headed toward the door once again but his brother halted him for a second time.

  “And try to fit in down there.”

  Fit in--What does he mean by that? Maxim exited his brother’s study, shutting the massive door behind him with that cryptic thought.

  He closed his eyes and concentrated on Earth--specifically a certain young, attractive woman.

  Opening his eyes, he stood on an unfamiliar sidewalk. He needed to get his head together. The situation had become convoluted and boundaries had been crossed. His duties entailed keeping her safe and out of the hands of Darius. How to succeed in this without revealing his secrets would complicate matters.

  He weighed his options; he could continue to watch her from afar or he could try some honesty. Without revealing a little of what was going on she was unlikely to accept his offer of protection.