Chapter Seven

He had caught me with a gentle embrace, and I won't lie it felt good for that half second I allowed it. Then backing away from his massive chest with I am sure a blush to my cheeks. His hands remaining on my upper arms to steady me. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I really need to pay attention to where I am going!'' 

"No worries, Miss Brenna.'' He chuckled. ''You in a hurry?"

"Yes, actually. I think I am running late for Calculus. Aimee just took off giving me instructions on where to find that class and assuming how she practically ran off in the other direction, we both must be running late.''

"Not really. You have about 8 minutes remaining to get just down the hall. She must have a class on the other side of the campas. Would you like an escort to your class?"

Nope. Nope I don't. But my damn mouth got the better of me. Again. What is it about him!?

"Sure." No Brenna, no!!! I scold myself. You can get there just fine on your own. 

"But, I don't want to put you out. You probably have to get to your own class yourself.'' Quick save on my part.

"Actually, this would be my lunch. So, the fates must have put me here to be a guide to your next class." He replied with a wink which sent a shiver down my spine.

Looks like I'm getting a walking partner for the next minute.

"Actually I don't believe in fate. Not to sound rude. It always irked me when people used that word. I believe in luck, but not fate." Clearing my throat. "But you got me, so lead to way to class."

He studied me for a moment and then he turned and we both started walking side by side. It was silent for a solid 30 seconds and then he stopped and turned towards me with his eyebrows furrowed.

"I apologize for asking, but what makes you dislike the word, fate?"

Not what I was expecting, but then again he seems to be the King of asking personal questions. "Well, if I believed in fate that would mean my parents were meant to die and that I was meant to have the remaining years since that death spent the way that it was. So, you see, I refuse to believe in such nonsense. My parents were good people and fate be damned, there was no way in hell they should have been meant to die!''

"Ah. Looking at it from that perspective I get your logic, but I don't believe it was fate that got your parents killed. It was bad luck and maybe bad decisions. But fate my dear, fate, is not what had it's hand in the course of your life at that point.''

I stood there dumb struck at him for a moment. Who told him my parents were killed? I know for a fact I only told him that they had passed away. Was that something else that was in my record that he could possibly read? 

Feeling the start of a headache brewing. I closed my eyes, squeezed the bridge of my nose and counted to three before I looked up at him and responded. "Well, if it was fate. Fates a bitch. And if it falls under the luck catergory...well, I am the most unluckiest person there is." I ended with a sigh. Life is unfair, illogical and a complete pain in the rear. I suppose I am lucky to be here today. Especially after this new dream, if it was real to begin with. But it kinda makes sense even if it doesn't make sense. I'm so lost. But if this all was fate, I wonder what does fate have planned for me still?

I guess I can only hope it's kind to me from this time on. 

"I can practically hear those wheels turning in that mind of yours.'' he chucked. Spapping my head back up to attention. The throbbing in my temples has taken a more dominant approach in this headache brewing and me getting worked up is not helping me. One bit.

Sighing "Just thinking on how unfair life is.'' Rubbing my temples now and strongly feeling a wave of nausea hit me. I back up and lean against the wall.

"Hey, are you alright?" his voice full of concern.

"Umm, no not really. I think I'm getting a migraine. It popped out of nowhere and I am suddenly not feeling well." Slouching down the wall grabbing my head. I feel, more than see him lower himself down to the floor. At this point, thank God, there was no one else in the halls. More proving the fact that I am definitly going to be late for class. He reaches over and places his fingers gently then more firmly against my temples and rubs small circles into them. I take a deep breathe not just from the feel of his hands, but from the relief that it is giving me.

"How's that? Is that helping you at all?" His voice a soft whisper that is so soothing and comforting to me.

I manage to open my eyes and focus a bit. Glancing over to him made me wince with pain. He continues to rub those circles as I once again close my eyes. 

Answering his question "Yes...No....Not really. I don't know.''

But I do know I need to get going to a class that I am already late for. Great first impression I am making. Sigh.

"I need to get going. I am beyond late." I winced once again attempting to get up. I swear I haven't had a headache like this since leaving Jersey. I got them kind of frequently there. Here I thought I escaped them just like how I escaped the state as well. Apparently no such luck there. 

He grabbed me up under my arms and helped me to stand. Keeping his hands on my arms he bent down and looked me in the eyes. "I don't think you are going anywhere except to lay down." Concern filling his eyes.

As I feel completly submerge in his deep blues I start to feel a calm inside me and found myself nodding my head yes to him.

"Good girl." At that he took my bag from my shoulder and I was walking beside him down the halls with his arm firmly wrapped around me.

Next thing I now we are in an office. His office. Now I knew this wasn't a good idea, but I just couldn't bring myself to argue about it at the moment.

Placing my bag down on the floor in front of a couch against the left wall. He then instructs me to lay down and he covers me with a blanket. There was no hesitation in my actions. I just listened and obeyed. Although I don't think I could have not listened if I wanted to. Just the walking alone increased the throbbing making a home for itself inside my skull. I close my eyes and focused on my breathing. I hear him moving around, but I didn't dare open my eyes again. 

My breathing became hypnotic and I found sleep among all the pain. 

The nightmare came hard and fast. Watching my parents fall to the floor and then watching the intruders argue. All the same as last night. Expect when I was in the ambulance and looking around to see all the sympathy and curiosity of my neighbors, I note an unfamiliar face. One full of fury and determination. He was tall and thin with a bald head and penetrating eyes. I didn't know what to make of him, but I do know he was putting a whole other type of fear in me. Was this the man? Was this the man intruder Dave called? 

I get the sickening sense that it was and he was waiting for me. I felt it. It was almost palpable the feeling inside my chest. Suffocating me. His stare never relented and I couldn't seem to turn away. Screaming inside with no voice to be heard. I knew he was dangerous.

I woke up screaming. Looking around and confused as to where I was. A familiar face pops in front of my face. "It's okay. It's okay. It's just a nightmare. You're safe here."

"Where is here?" I ask Viktor.

"In my office, sweet girl. I brought you here because of your migraine. And don't worry I already called your Calculus professor and made her aware of your situation."

I slouched back down and covered my face with both my hands and sighed. "I am not doing good here already."  

"You are too hard on yourself." Reaching over he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and asked "How's that head of yours feeling?"

This draws attention to my head and away from the fear that I just woke with and note that the throbbing had completely disappeared. Thank goodness.

"It's better actually. Thank you so much!'' 

"No thanks necessary. But are you sure you're okay? You even scared me when you woke up screaming like that.'' Worry and questions in his eyes.

"Oh that! That's a normal thing for me.''

''Thats normal?''

Deciding to go full honesty here. "Unfortunatly, yes. I have had the same nightmare for the last 4 years and I was actually getting kind of used to them until last night when they decided to take a life of their own out of nowhere and this new and improved one is scarier than them all combined.''

"If you don't mind me asking, whats changed?" 

I moved to sit up and he took the empty place beside me. As I looked forward staring at the wall of bookshelves I told him. "I keep having the same nightmare over and over of my parents murders. I have always had questions about things from that night. Things I couldn't fill in. So I don't know if the new blanks that are now suddenly filling in are actually real or is it all a figment of my imagination. And if they aren't...why now? Why am I just remembering things now? And when I tell you it's bad. It's bad. I am getting more questions than answers." Tears welling up in my eyes.

Why do I keep crying in front of him. Ugh!!

He takes ahold of my hand with his one hand and with the other he turns my face towards him. I am no longer thrown off by the shock waves that course though me when I feel his touch anymore. Looking at him I easily feel lost in his gaze and I would stay there forever if I could.

"I am so sorry for everything that has happened to you in your short life and if I could remove all the pain you carry with you, I would. But unfortunately I can not. But I can assure you that I will prevent you ever hurting again." He's so sincere it hurts.

But why? "Why? I'm sorry, but you don't even know me. I, you for that matter. I don't even speak of these things with people so I have no idea why the words seem to fall right out of my mouth when you are around. But I don't need any knight in shining armor to save me. I have been doing just fine on my own. Thank you very much."

He laughed and said "Sweet Brenna. I know you don't need a knight in shining armor to come save the day. I am fully aware of your innate ability to cast a way on your own in this life, but there are things you aren't aware of. Things that if I told you, which I will certainly have to, that will make you question so much. I just have to decide when you are ready to hear them. But you need to stop pushing people away it only makes things harder for you."

I mean what the hell?! "What pray tell are these things you speak of? And don't tell me some off the wall bull crap and expect me to just fall into that trap either. I don't work that way.''

"I most certainly know that, but I don't think I can tell you as of yet. In due time."

I'm sitting there agast...no one tells me when I am ready for something. It's seems somehow he has some insight of my life and if he does I would live to know how and to know what it is.

"Don't tell me what I am or am not ready to hear. If you know something and you aren't telling me then we have problems, Sir."

At that he jumps up from the couch and runs his hair through those perfect locks. Looking back at me his eyes are full of turmoil. ''How open minded are you? Honestly.'' he sighs. "Because the knowledge I have of you is extreme and I am worried that everything right now might be compromised and if it is, the sooner you know and accept your fate the better it is for both of us.''

I sat there just looking at him wondering how I got here, in this very moment. How I know without a doubt what he was about to tell me something that would change my life. Flip it upside down and sideways. Don't ask me how I knew, I just did. I suppose this would be the other foot about to drop. 

Would this explain the nightmares? Who am I kidding I know it has something to do with my dreams. I sit here and I want to know everything he knows and yet I don't. I want to be able to walk out of this room and never turn back. I want to escape, but I know I will be found. My life is about to change and once again I feel alone and lost.

"Okay." I said. Not only to him, but to myself.

"Okay?"

"Yes, okay. I want to know. Whatever it is you know, I want to know....but first.."

"But first what?'' he asked.

"Will this explain how I know you?"

He sat down beside me again, head down, resting his elbows on his knees. He looked defeated. "I didn't want it to be this way, but with these nightmares you are having it seems to be rushing everything." His voice was steady, but as I looked at him I knew he was at a war within himself.

He sat up, turned towards me and grabbed my hands. "You feel you know me?"

I shook my head yes...

"It's because your soul recognizes your match. It comes with our bloodlines." he said with a weak smile. I could tell this isn't how he wanted to do this. Then it hit me.

''Bloodlines! You mean we are related!!??" Oh my God, please say no, please say no! The unpure thoughts I have thought and we are related. I was in pure panic and disgusted.

Squeezing my hand and bringing me back to reality. "NO! No we are not related. It's different than that. We have two seperate bloodlines. Different with only one exception."

"And whats that?"

"We are royalty, my sweet Brenna." 

I sat there in silence. I didn't know what to say. I mean how do you respond to that?

I think he was waiting for a response and when he didn't get any he proceeded.

"We both have a royal bloodline. One of which is very well headed for extinction."

Finally looking at him like he is completly insane. I jump up and start yelling "Do you take me for an idiot!? There is no way shape or form that my bloodline is royal! Don't you think my parents would have devoldged that information to me. Or maybe the fact that we lived in New Jersey of all places not some palace somewhere." I stopped pacing and ranting and turn to look at him. ''Listen, I don't know who you take me for and maybe you can pull this stuff on some other newbie girl, but not me. Sorry, but no thanks."

I grab my bag and head for the door only to be stopped by Viktor, who suddenly appeared right in front of me. Out of thin air I might add!! 

"You are no idiot. But haven't you always felt like you don't belong anywhere? Like you have always felt lost and because of that you preferred staying to yourself. Always afraid to let anyone close. Even before you lost your parents. Am I right?"

Still in shock from his sudden appearance out of thin air, I back away. "Most people feel that way." I say to him.

"Not people like us. We prefer our own kind."

Now what is he saying? I'm not human or something? No way I am sticking around for this conversation to end. I'm out.

Attempting to dodge him and head for the door. He grabs me, spins me around and kisses me. I froze. His lips felt so soft, so strong, so demanding. The whole world slipped away and so did my mind apparently as I started to kiss him back. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me off the floor. This felt so right. This felt like home! What is going on?

A moan escaped my lips and he took the oppurtunity to let his tongue enter and graze the tip of mine. He wrapped my legs around his waist and walked us over to the couch. He sat and placed me in his lap without ever breaking the kiss. I couldn't get enough, but then he finally pulled away and we leaned our foreheads against each other, catching our breaths. When I opened my eyes to find him already looking at me.

He spoke slowly and softly. "Brenna, I have known you all your life and I have waited for you all of mine. There is nothing in the world that I value more than I do you."

"I am so confused. This can't be real. It can't be." Leaning back and looking at him. I knew in that moment that he wasn't lying to me. 

"He brushed his thumb across my lower lip and I closed my eyes. "There is so much you don't know, but right now all you need to know is that you are mine. And I protect what is mine. Now more so than ever.''