Dreaming of You

by Crymsyn R. Hart

  "You're not fine. You nearly fainted. What were you doing in the bathroom anyway? I thought I heard voices. You hiding someone in here?"

  I looked over at Kasandra. She had heard voices? If she did, it meant I was not crazy and there really was someone in the house with me. A chill passed through me as if a ghost had dissected me. I looked down at my wrist. The bite mark was still there. I ran my fingers over it again. This time it wasn't sensitive as it had been before. The impression of teeth was still clear though. “No. Not hiding anyone. I don't know what you heard."

  All of this was too much. Tucker had somehow come out of my dream and appeared to me. He had said that he had been watching and participating in my dreams for a couple of months, and now he wanted to meet me. Did that mean he was some kind of a dream entity? Was he a regular guy who had the ability to dreamwalk, to visit people's dreams and influence them? I'd read about shamans and medicine men had the ability to do it if they meditated hard enough. I'd also read there were daemons who could do the same thing. Entities that tricked humans into believing they were friendly and killed them in their dreams so they died for real. There were other theories about beings who walked through dreams and fed off the fear that arose from the mortal. I shook my head at all the data I had gathered from doing my paper.

  "Tabby?” Kasandra said, bringing me out of my thoughts.

  "What?” I snapped.

  "I said are you sure it's okay for me to leave you by yourself. You're not going to pass out or fall into a coma are you?” Kasandra's dark gaze searched my face. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a bun. A conservative hairstyle to match a conservative job. But under the conservative façade, she had arms covered with tattoos, she smoked like a bonfire, and there were eight holes in her ears for earrings. My roommate had been a raging rebellious teenager, but hid it well now that she had grown up. She could still have quite a party even though she wanted everyone there two hours early.

  I waved her off. “I'll be fine. I'll skip class and go to the library later. If I feel nauseous, dizzy, or anything else out of the ordinary, I'll go to the hospital and promise not to die on you."

  She gave me one of her crooked smiles and threw up her hands. “Fine. It's your life. Have a good day. I'll see you later."

  Kasandra walked out of my room. I heard her fumbling with something in the living room and figured it was whatever she had forgotten, her reason for returning to the apartment. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. I caught the lump beginning to form and wished I hadn't touched it. I threw my jeans off, grabbed a dry comforter, and crawled back under the covers. There was no way I was going back to sleep in case Tucker decided to come calling again. Even though the Sandman tugged on my eyelids, I found myself lost in TV Land, sucked into the cheesy talk shows and reruns of whatever the networks used to fill the time slots until people settled into primetime viewing. I leaned my head back against the wall and let my thoughts get blown away by the monkey playing a miniature tuba followed by a dancing koala bear that had the nation stunned. It didn't matter what it was. It could have been anything to make me stay awake.

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  Chapter Two

  After lying in a television induced coma for hours on end, my head still hurt a little, but when I stood, I wasn't woozy. My legs weren't shaky, and I really had to go to the library and do some studying. My mind reeled from the morning. Tucker's appearance in the bathroom was all my imagination. Had to be. There was no way a creature could just step out of my dreams to try to entice me. Then again, how could I carry bite marks out of dreams? I pulled off my shirt and absently traced the spot where his hand had rested on my belly. Tucker had a soft touch but it had burned all at the same time. I trembled thinking about him and how he had made me feel. I was about to give into him when Kasandra had walked in.

  I'm losing my mind. I threw my shirt into a pile and pulled on my jeans. Glancing around, I tugged on another shirt, then slipped on my coat, and grabbed my schoolbag. I tried not to think about Tucker. However, on my walk over to the library, my thoughts played over the fact his breath had touched my ear. He had caressed the curve of my throat with his lips almost like he were going to sink his fangs into me. Just thinking about him made me hot. I have to snap out of this. I didn't even see what he looked like. He could be covered in scales or fur. Maybe it was all a ruse to catch me off guard and to try to kill me in my dreams.

  Finally, I got to the library. People struggled to be as quiet as church bats within the hushed halls. I didn't even bother going to find a spot on the first or second floors. All the comfy chairs were already taken. I fought through the crowded bookcases of the third floor, grabbed my books, and then decided to haunt the fourth floor where hardly anyone went. It was where the stacks were. It was also where the no-borrow books were because they were so fragile, to leave the hallowed halls of the library would have been a sin. There was only one staff person assigned to the floor. Sometimes, they slept the day away. It was one of the jobs occupied by a college freshman looking for work to help pay their tuition. I walked by the desk. The guy behind it barely looked up from his girly magazine. I nodded over at him and headed to the far back corner and found my favorite spot.

  It was by a window with an old, rickety table and chair that looked horribly uncomfortable, but when I sat in it, I was in heaven. I dropped my bag to the floor and settled down for hours of wonderful reading. I didn't mind studying. There were times it got so monotonous I wasn't sure why I ever decided to go for my Master's degree. There were so many hours I'd sat writing things in this very spot. I wasn't surprised the seat had an impression of my butt worn into the chair. Oh well, impression or not, I got out my pen and started taking notes.

  For hours, my pen scratched over the paper, filling the pages of my notebook. The muscles in my fingers were starting cramp. Slowly, I unwound my fingers from the barrel of the pen and stared outside. Night had snuck up on me without me realizing it. I got up and stretched, my stomach rumbling. A reason some of the kids stayed away from the fourth floor was some thought it was haunted. I didn't believe in ghosts. Whatever being that had come to visit me this morning was no ghost. His hands hadn't passed through me and he felt so good. Nothing I read today gave me any clue as to what the hell was going on. I shook my head and began reading again.

  After a while the words blurred together. I stopped reading and tried to tell myself I was not going to fall asleep. That was all I needed. When I looked outside, I saw a blur in the reflection of the window. I'm seeing things. I've read so much today. My head was throbbing a little. I needed some more pain killers. Then I was going to drink a pot of coffee and not fall asleep. I got up and put my books in my bag. Leaving the ones I didn't want on the table, I slung my backpack over my shoulder. The lights in the library began to shut off. I checked my watch and saw it was closing time. The click of the lights made me jump. I ducked down a side hallway and took the steps to the side entrance. I'd done this plenty of times before. All I needed was to scan my student ID card and the door would pop open. I dug into my wallet and scanned the warped card. As usual, the door opened. I sighed, relieved that I could now get something to eat.

  I licked my lips at the thought of food. At this point, I was beyond instant mashed potatoes. My hunger was a beast. I wanted rare steak to rip into. I readjusted my backpack, and I stepped outside. Instantly, I was assailed with the scent of pine. I stepped on a branch that cracked in the empty night air. Shock stole my breath. There were no pine trees anywhere on campus. And there should have been the sound of cars and people walking by because the side entrance came out next to one of the busiest parking lots on campus. But there was silence. Cold gripped my heart. I tried readjusting my bag, but it wasn't there. I spun around, and the building had vanished. I was surrounded by towering trees. A loud howl split the silence and echoed all around me. It shivered my spine. I realized then I had fallen asleep. My body was in the library, but my mind was in another world. Some be
lieved it was actually the soul that traveled here, into this dream realm. I wasn't sure what was true.

  The howl sounded again. I didn't know where it was, only that it called me towards it. The clouds parted overhead. There was a full moon above me. Great. Just great. I had to keep my wits about me. Whatever was going to happen I could handle. I could control my dreams. I'd done enough reading about dreams and nightmares. I should be able to control them by now. The howl was coming closer. It was a wolf and I was Little Red Riding Hood. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to calm my racing heart. I thought about nothing but rolling hills. There was shifting under me. The earth rolled beneath my feet. When I opened my eyes, I saw the rolling hills, but it was still night. The moon was still full. The orb spotlighted me. From behind me came a low growl. I turned slowly. I saw was the largest wolf in creation. I started quivering. The beast stood before me, leering at me. I recognized its eyes. Underneath the fur was Tucker. I sank to my knees in the sweet-smelling grass. Defeat entered my heart. I was doomed. Whether he was a daemon or a spirit, he wasn't going to let me go. Tears came to my eyes.

  "Whatever you want, just get it over with,” I whispered to the wolf.

  A furry head butted my forehead. I looked up and saw a pink tongue lolling to the side between its sharp teeth. It yipped at me and planted a wet tongue on my cheek. It made me smile a little and made some of my fear dissipate.

  "Tucker."

  "Yes, Tabby."

  "Why are you hunting me?"

  "I'm not hunting you, Tabitha. Let yourself go. I won't hurt you. Your changing the scenery is wonderful. You're getting the hang of this world, but it's still my world and my rules."

  "What are the rules? Why are you a wolf? Why did you come into my bathroom this morning? What do you want with me?” Tears of frustration slid down my face. I was at my wits end. Should I be terrified of him? He hadn't shown any hostility. Yet, he hadn't told me what he wanted. He rubbed his forehead against my cheek. His fur was warm and made me tremble. Part of me was terrified of him, and the other wanted him to hold me like he had this morning.

  "Tabby, shh. Some things I can't tell you. This world calls for us being wolves. You chose vampires last night. I choose wolves tonight. Come, run with me. I'd never hurt you. Haven't you figured that out by now? You crossed the threshold into my universe a couple of months ago. Most humans don't stay so long. Run with me please, before you wake up."

  "How?” I asked him. Not about the running but how did I get into his universe. How did I find the key to changing it?

  "Let yourself go. Relax. Feel the moon above you."

  Tucker backed away from me. Once he did, the moon had me in its sights. The cold power of the orb filtered down my body. I was shaking and suddenly very hot. I stripped off my clothes, not caring the Tucker saw me naked. It didn't seem to matter at that point in time. It was all natural. This was supposed to be happening. Once I got my pants off, a pain seared my belly. My skin was bubbling and boiling. Everything was growing and breaking. I heard the rearranging of my bones. Then fur grew where skin was. Then I was free. There was nothing holding me back. I could run. Great joy filled my heart with the excitement of being able to run free. The sky was clear and the air smelled clean. I heard the crickets and the wind rustling through the grass. I could hear Tucker's heartbeat thundering like mine. He smelled like earth and wolf.

  "Was that so bad?"

  I barked and jumped on him. I pushed him on the ground and wrapped my jaws around his throat. I bit down playfully and shook my head. Tucker growled, but I sensed it was playful. I leaped off him and then bounded off through the grass, which was taller than me. I spread myself low to the ground and tried to stay as quiet as I could. My behaviors and instincts were natural. It didn't matter that I had been human. Part of me knew I was still mortal, another knew I was dreaming, but I wasn't afraid of Tucker anymore. I was here and I had the night to enjoy. The moon was full and it ruled this form. I was a werewolf. Tucker had said he had chosen this shape, but what would our next encounter bring us? Suddenly, the weight of another was on my back. My heart raced. Then, I was head over heels and tumbling. The scenery had changed and we were back in the woods.

  So much for rolling hills. I didn't wait for Tucker to take me by surprise again. I got up, shook myself off, and sniffed the air. Pine and wet grass clung to my nose now. I caught the scent of a rabbit. My stomach rumbled. I hadn't eaten for hours and it was reaching into my dreams. I licked my lips. I dashed toward the rabbit. But as I began to focus on the scent of rabbit, I caught a whiff of something else. I didn't know what it was. It made me stop. I looked around me and saw a blur in the woods. I stepped towards it. I sniffed again. It smelled like Tucker, but it was different. I tried to go after it, curiosity getting the better of me. A jolt of pain went up my leg. When I turned and growled, Tucker's eyes glowed yellow. Something was wrong.

  "Come on. We have to go."

  "Why? I'm hungry? The rabbit smelled good.” I snapped at the air next to his throat. I wanted to eat and then I wanted to play.

  "Tabby, we have to go! They can't find you here."

  I was confused. Who were they? “What's the matter?" There were howls off in the distance. There was a pack on the way. Tucker bit my leg again to get my attention. I turned around, thrown off by the new weight of my tail. “Who's they?"

  He shook his head. “It doesn't matter. Please. Come with me."

  I heard the urgency in his voice and knew he meant it. Something was coming. I barked once and then leapt before him. He snapped at my haunches, and the wind whipped by me as he ran out in front. “Show-off."

  "Follow me. I know a place they can't follow."

  We ran, my feet barely touching the ground for what seemed like hours. I wasn't even getting tired, but I was still hungry. Tucker kept us at a hurried pace, as if the devil were on our heels. I stopped to catch my breath and felt the others behind us. It was a sense, a change in the air, making it cooler. When I looked behind me everything was darker. It didn't seem like I was dreaming anymore, but was truly in some different world. Finally, Tucker nudged me again and whined. He was getting anxious. I ran along side of him for a while until he stopped suddenly. It was still night, but the moon had sunk lower in the sky. I was tired from the run.

  "What is it?"

  Tucker turned and stared at me. “Do you trust me? Completely? If you don't, I don't know if you can follow."

  I thought about it. My trust in him was a little shaky. How could I trust whatever he was when he kept popping into my dreams and into my bathroom? I felt a quiver of fear in my heart. He had done nothing to hurt me. Even in the other dreams I'd had before, there were scenarios that I had or we had been put in dangerous situations, but he never hurt me. Not even in my dream the night before, when he was feeding off me. It had always been my choice. Now he was trying to protect me again. I had to believe he wasn't going to harm me.

  "Yes."

  He nodded and stepped forward. The air rippled around him. The scenery before us was nothing more than just forest. I breathed in and waited. I heard howls behind me. They were getting closer. I had to trust him. I had to believe. I held my breath and kept repeating that I trusted him over and over again in my mind. Slowly, I moved forward. Instead of the resistance I expected, there was none. I walked through the clearing just as he did. It felt like I was walking through dense fog. The atmosphere stuck to me. When I crossed the threshold, everything shifted around me. I wasn't a wolf anymore, and I was completely naked. When I looked around, so was Tucker. I blushed when I realized I was staring. Tucker looked the same as he had in my dream last night except his eyes.

  They were golden.

  He smiled. I smiled back. He was all chiseled muscles. Not a lick of hair touched his body except the blond mop he had on the top of his head. I bit my lip, was glad to see him naked, but when I stepped forward, he snapped his fingers, and I was clothed again. We were back in the woods, in a valley with a small pond with a cre
ek pouring into it. The birds twittered and it was still night. The moon gave us enough light I could see fairly well.

  "Better?"

  I nodded, a little saddened that he had clothed both of us. I wanted to run my hands over his abs and feel his skin. I needed to know if he was real or if all of this was in my imagination. I also needed to know what he was and what was going on.

  "Tucker, what is all of this? Why were we being chased? Who were they?"

  He stepped across the clearing, put a finger to my lips and shushed me. His intense eyes studied me. I think he was waiting to see if I was going to run away screaming. His other hand touched my head gently, the place where I hit it on the bathroom counter. It was still tender. Wincing at the pain, a warmth began to filter through me. Soon the tenderness was gone and my head felt fine. I took his finger from my lips and moved closer to him. Tucker smelled like a spice rack. Staring deep into his eyes, I leaned up and kissed him. He wound his hand through my hair and cupped my nape. He pulled me closer. His lips were soft as he kissed me. I could feel the restraint in him. He was holding something back. Maybe it was himself. Maybe it was something else. Pressing myself closer, I let him know I wanted him. I ran my hand the length of his dick. I gave him a devilish smile. I wanted him to know he could fuck me, and I wouldn't say no. I'd always been attracted to him, even in all the dreams that I'd ever had of him.

  At first, they had been a typical wet-dream scenario, he and I in bed together. Others he had claimed me from the evil monsters, but in the past couple of weeks, my dreams had turned. Now my dreams were more involved. I seemed to be in a different world. A good example was my vampire dream the last night. He was my minion, and I had turned him. Even then, I was still attracted to him. I didn't know if I had feelings for him. In my dreams I always had. This morning, even though it had been a surprise, my body responded to him. Tucker was warmer than I was, but it didn't matter when his lips scorched mine. I wanted to taste all of him. I opened my mouth wider, ran the tip of my tongue along the top of his teeth, and waited to see if he would respond. And he did. He deepened our kiss and tried to consume me. We went back and forth between our tongues meeting and him biting my bottom lip, until finally I had to break away because I was out of breath.