The Awakening (7 page)

              Raina studied him now, knowing he paid her no mind. He was perfection. Thanatos remark fell short of the mark by about a mile. She looked back to Thanatos, also disturbingly handsome, and dangerous.

              The green eyes were angry now. "Leave her be? You certainly would not return...did not return such a favor! Maybe you should have a taste of your own medicine."

              A simple dip of the chin was the other man’s answer. The muscles in his arms flexed, his marvelously shaped lips thinned in disgust. "You can't hurt her."

              "I'm not planning on hurting her...I want to give her a gift."

              "Gift? Really, a gift?"              

              "Yes. The same gift we have been given," Thanatos smirked. "It’s only right, since I want....her." The beautiful face turned to her. "And not for short term."

              "You can't force that Thanatos...there are rules."

              Thanatos shot him a scowl. "I know the rules...friend." The word friend came out in a hiss of sarcasm.

              "Well now, that’s where you are going to fall short.... friend." This was said in a growl. "I am in charge of her...I am her protector...and I say NO." He placed his hands at his side...they were balled in fists. That small movement made him look taller, stronger......."It would be up to me, and of course.... Raina." He tilted his head toward her, but did not look toward her; his eyes remained on his enemy. "If it ever came to that."

              "Are we claiming rights there? Again? Like when you claimed...her?"

              By the sound of memories in his voice, Raina knew he didn't speak of her.

              "I didn't claim anything. She took."

              Thanatos' shoulders went rigid. "We really want to go there, Nolan?”

              Raina's eyes shot to where her protector stood. Her mouth fell open at the name used. Nolan? Not Gregor? Not Silas? Nolan? "Champion," she whispered with a slight stirring of joy.

              Both men stopped, starring at her in surprise. She blushed, and then sat up straighter.  "Champion?"

              Nolan smiled a warm smile, which took every chill from her body, though goose bumps raised on her arms. "Something like that," he said gently.

              She smiled back.

              Thanatos growled. "So you are playing the protector card?"

              Raina could feel the green eyes on her, but her eyes could not lift away from the silver grey. She felt her heart beating faster, and wanted to go to him. With all her heart, forget the embarrassment of the other day...she wanted Him. She wanted to touch that face.

              He seemed to read her thoughts. He rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. "No, Raina, stay," he whispered, and she heard it from across the yard. "It’s time to wake up."

              "No!"

              With a start, Raina awoke to the feel of a cold wet tongue on her hand. She squeaked with surprise. "My darn imagination," she growled. Her dreams were becoming far too vivid. It was becoming harder to tell where dreams ended and reality began.

              A knock at her front door shook the fog of the dream away. She quickly straightened her clothing, patted Turks head, ushering him in and again entered the home, just as another knock sounded. "I'm coming," she called out, pulling the sliding glass door shut.

              She rushed to the door, and opened it slowly. Her heart caught in her throat when green eyes greeted her. She swallowed hard, tamping down her dream, and her silly imagination. "Clay," she greeted softly.

              His grin was enough to turn a brain to mush, and obviously her tongue too, because she never got beyond his name. She felt stupid just standing there and staring.

              Turk, at her side, growled deeply. He pressed the weight of his body against his master. She wondered at Turks reaction, digging her fingers deep in the fur of his neck to calm him. She returned her stare to the man just beyond her screen door.

              He cleared his throat. "Hello Raina. I-I'm sorry to just show up unannounced, but I thought that you may be missing this." A white gold chain hung from his long fingers, on it was also her wedding band. "I found it after you left the restaurant. I knew it wasn't Emily’s....and well, I read the inscription. Very beautiful."

              "You left before us," she laughed softly.

              He grinned, rolling his eyes..."I forgot my wallet...guess we were both a little scattered that evening, huh?"

              She opened the screen door and stepped out on to the porch. Turk growled deeper, and had to be forced back, so he would not follow. "Stay," she whispered to him. He stayed, but continued the low growl.

              She studied the necklace and ring in his hand, and sure enough, they were hers. "Oh my, I didn't even realize I had lost it." She felt ashamed to not have noticed.

              He took her hand gently and drizzled the delicate chain into her palm. "He must have really loved you...such care in such a place."

              She squeezed her hand over the band. "He was a wonderful person," she admitted. Her eyes filled up. "Clay, thank you," she whispered. "This would be the worst thing to lose...to be without."

              "Of course!" He touched her wrist.

              She felt a chill, and looked up into the vivid eyes.

              Turk bristled, and he drew in a ragged breath.

              For some reason, this made her think of Emily's comment the day before." Turk went nuts for Gregor, like he knew him...he licked his hand, tried to duck under the man’s arm to he held, to be petted."

              Turk certainly did not want this man to pet him....or touch her for that matter.

              The green eyes focused menacingly on the dog, which caused Turk to whine. Raina wasn't sure she liked either reaction.

              "I know what it’s like to have something taken from you...kept from you. It's not a good feeling....but I usually get what I want, so no worries about the past."

              She blinked at him in confusion.

              "So, you met my partner?"

              The change in subject made her words falter for a moment. "Yes...well, sort of. I, well, I kind of fainted in front of him."

              He frowned. "I heard."

              She blushed. "I think I was over tired is all. I'm so embarrassed," she admitted. "He had to carry me into the house."

              "He carried you in?"

              She nodded, closing her eyes and shaking her head, feeling the fool. "I don't know how I'm going to face him again." She looked down at her hands. "I really don't know how I'm going to go to that party.... period."

              He smiled. "Bradley said you had some aversion to public. You did beautifully at the dinner...I think you will do just fine. You will have friends there. Those who will protect you"

              She felt a chill go down her spine then. She looked up at him. "I guess," she stammered. There was something about him that made her not quite sure she could call him a friend. She held tighter to the ring in her hand.

              "Nolan will be happy to see you," he murmured.

              Turk whined when he said this and his tail wagged slightly, but one look from the man before him, and a low growl started in his throat.

              She took in a breath and tilted her head. She tried not to seem surprised at this. "Nolan?"

              He grinned knowingly. "You said you had met him."

              She felt loss of words....the day dream...that’s the first time she had heard that name used on him...."I...I mean...I thought his name was Gregor," she whispered.

              "Yeh, Bradley likes to use our last names...Gregor, Clay...maybe because we have such strange first names...Nolan, not too common, then mine...well, not many mothers would use mine. In my case, my father gave mine after my birth...after my mother’s...passing."  He slipped his hands into his pockets and shrugged.

              "Thanatos," she whispered.

              He didn't seem surprised she knew his name.

              Her mind flashed to her first encounter...the first time she heard his name. She remembered the fear, remembered the threat.....that chill. The chill she felt now...the danger.

              "Death," he sighed.

              Turk barked sharply.

              She nodded and stepped back. Her heart tugged though. His father had named him death? What a thing to do. Or was he just feeding her a line? She wasn't sure. And perhaps, if it were true, his father had been more prophetic than anything.

              Thantos grinned. "I should be leaving."

              She swallowed. She knew she should thank him again, but couldn't form words.

              He started down the walk, then paused and looked back. “You know, he can't be in all places at all times." The comment sounded like a warning, a threat.

              "Who?" Her eyes blinked back tears. She again saw him standing below her deck. It had to have been a dream, it had to have!! But why would he quote himself if it hadn't been real...how could she have dreamed the same remark?

              "My partner...maybe he won't make it to the BBQ...you'll be spared the embarrassment!"

              He had turned that comment around nicely, but there was still a glint in his eyes, a knowing.

              She sighed, "Oh."

              "Have a lovely day Raina," he whispered. "And please be careful......life is full of unexpected things...wouldn't want you running into one of them." He flashed a beautiful smile, and then turned back to his truck.

              She turned back to Turk who stood at the screen door, a growl still in his throat, and his eyes still on Thantos retreating back.

              She looked into the eyes of her collie, and knew...he knew. Dream or not beforehand, she was being given insight to that man’s intentions...something was warning her. In the same right, something was also drawing her to this Nolan...Silas, whoever. That idea warmed her, and chilled her. It seemed wherever Nolan would be, so also would Death...or rather, Thantos, same thing.

              She straightened her shoulders, and headed into the house. The dead bolt clicked behind her. She pressed her back against it, and waited for her heart to quiet.

              Drawing in a deep breath, she went for her phone; hit the first number on her speed dial. She swallowed; listen to the phone ring once...twice, and then a familiar voice crackled on the other end. Overcast days and bad connections were the usual affair, but she had gotten through. "Emily, we have to talk," she breathed. "I'm scared out of my mind."

              Emily was use to these calls, yet this time she knew it was different. This wasn't an I miss David call...there was real fear there. "Calm down Rain and tell me what happened!!"

              "Clay showed up at my house."

              Emily sighed. "I know...I gave him your address."

              Raina’s heart thrummed. "What?" she squeaked out.

              "He called the house...he told me what he'd found."

              Raina opened her hand. She had been holding the necklace and ring so tightly, they had bitten into her skin, leaving their marks.

              "What happened?"

              "He gave me the ring and necklace," she murmured.

              "And?? Is that the end of the world?" Emily began to calm, Raina was okay. She was just startled by the unexpected visit.

              Raina bit her lip, and then slumped on the couch. "I had another dream Emily...just before he showed up. I-I don't think I can trust him!"

              Emily smiled. "Because of a dream Rain? Really?"

              "Look at what happened in my last dream...or dreams rather! Listen Em, I don't know what is going on...but I’m being warned...or, I don't know! But I'm dreaming things, and knowing things I shouldn't!  Just listen to me."

              Emily sighed..."Rain, you know I'm listening...but I'm just as confused as you are...But go ahead. Tell me the dream...we'll figure this out."

              Raina then poured out her vivid dream, her exchange with Clay...the first names she shouldn't have known...Turks reaction. It was all too big of a coincidence. She brought up the first two dreams...the uncanny similarities to the two new men who had entered her life. She poured it all out...even her pull toward Nolan, one that made her confused...guilt because of her lack of thoughts of David.

              "I don't know what to say," Emily whispered. She felt a chill up her spine too. "I knew Clay was different, but not dangerous.......why didn't you tell me that both Clay and Gregor had been the men sponsoring your dreams?" She took in an audible breath. "And the name...Nolan? How? Raina I don't know...this is really really strange. Why didn't you tell me before?"