CHAPTER 3

So, what now? Do I just let this keep going and wait for Kar to marry someone else or do I tell him how I feel and wait to see what he says? Lex was now more confused than ever and Kar was the last person she could go to about it. So, Lex did what she always does and put her journal down, shut off the light, and tried to go back to sleep. But this time it was different. She woke up as Aeden.

“Can’t sleep again. God, I hate this. And I’m freaking sweating again, Dammit! What is going on?” So Aeden got up to check the thermostat. It was at 65, there was no reason for her to be this hot. And of course, Dean was bundled up. So, she knew for sure it was cold in the room. Maybe a cold shower would work. It cooled her down and calmed her nerves, but when she got out she had a very odd nudging feeling that something was different. So, she went to look in the mirror and got the shock of a lifetime.

The face staring back at her was her face but much younger and there was something different about her eyes. They had a feint glow and the middle of her chest was shining. Aeden quickly looked down to find nothing but her chest, normal skin with all her freckles. She looked back up and the image hadn’t changed. She was still all shiny.

“What the Hell is wrong with this mirror?” Aeden said.

“What is she talking about? The mirror is fine. What’s wrong with her?” Lex said.

“What the Fuck?” Aeden exclaimed.

“Gosh she is so weird! And what does that mean? I mean she’s technically me so how come I don’t understand what’s going on with her?” Lex asked herself.

“What do you mean, ‘she’s technically me’? I’m not some shiny teenager! I’m a 28-year-old woman!” Aeden said.

“What does she mean shiny? We’re not shiny! Wait…Can you hear me Aeden?” Lex asked.

“How do you know my name? Who the Hell are you?” Aeden asked.

“I’m Alexis of Haven. And I’m you, well in my dream I’m you.” Lex said.

“Alexis…You’re me in your dream?” Aeden asked.

“Yes, but what do you mean Shiny? You look normal to me. Well your version of normal and I’m 17 not a ‘teenager’, whatever that means.” Lex explained.

“It means you’re not a child but not an adult yet. And what do you mean by ‘my version of normal’?” Aeden asked.

“I mean that I look a little different than you. Your eyes are flat and you have no Core. And you’re full of little sacks of stuff and blood.” Lex explained.

“Sacks of stuff? Do you mean my organs? And of course, I have blood. It’s my life force. And what’s a Core?” Aeden asked.

“It’s what you would call a ‘ball of energy’ in the middle of my chest and it’s my life force. I guess blood would be what keeps my skin alive but I have no ‘organs’. I told you I’m different than you.” Said Lex.

“So, you’re a teenager with glowing eyes and a shiny ball of energy in your chest?” Aeden said.

“By your standards yes that’s what I am.” Lex said.

“Then it’s you I see in the mirror. And you said this was a dream?” Aeden asked.

“Yea. Every night for the past month I fall asleep and start to have a dream within a dream and ‘puff’ I’m you.” Lex said.

“A month huh? Well I guess I know where the hot flashes are coming from. If you’re in my body I can probably feel the heat your ‘Core’ gives off.” Aeden said.

“That sounds reasonable.” Lex said.

“Actually, it all sounds crazy but it explains a lot. Hmm, I guess the psychic was right. I’m two people at the same time but not the same place.” Aeden said.

“What’s a ‘psychic’?” Lex asked.

“It’s hard to explain. Never mind. So, what do you do when you’re me?” Aeden asked.

“I watch through your eyes.” Lex said.

“You just watch?” Aeden asked.

“Yea, well I learn too. I mean everything is different for you, except Dean.” Lex said.

“What do you mean ‘except Dean’?” Aeden asked.

“Well, I know someone that I guess is Dean, like you are me. His name is Karsix, He’s a prince.” Lex explained.

“And is he your husband? A prince huh, well Dean is a movie star which kinda makes him royalty.” Aeden said.

“No, Karsix is my best friend. But I wish he was my mate.” Lex said.

“You’re ‘Mate’?” Aeden asked.

“It’s my equivalent to a husband.” Lex said.

“Oh. Well why isn’t he your ‘mate’?” Aeden asked.

“Because he’s royalty and I don’t even know if he cares for me like that and I’m not of age to marry. Only he is. He’s 21 in my world. That makes him a fully grown ‘adult’.” Lex said.

“Huh, well if he’s anything like Dean than he loves you no matter what, and more than just best friends. Can you not marry him because he’s royalty?” Aeden asked.

“Actually, it doesn’t matter that he’s a prince. That’s not what decides things. I would have to ask him to mate with me and he would have to except and then we would be married by his parents.” Lex said.

“OK, I still don’t see why you haven’t asked him.” Aeden said.

“I already told you! I don’t know if he cares! And I’m not of marrying age!” Lex said.

“All right Calm Down! Why are your eyes and core changing color? And do you have to be 21 to ask?” Aeden asked.

“Changing color…. Are they darkening?” Lex asked.

“Yes, turning black actually.” Aeden said.

“Sorry, when we get angry our core and eyes turn black.” Lex explained.

“OK, cause that’s normal. Do they change different colors with all of your emotions?” Aeden asked.

“Yes and No. The emotion has to be strong and lasting. I’m not sure what all of the colors are. Some I haven’t experienced yet.” Lex said.

“Good to know. But back to Kar, do you have to be 21 as well?” Aeden persisted.

“Well my mom was 17 but she knew my dad loved her.” Lex said.

“How did your mom know? Did your dad tell her?” Aeden asked.

“No. Men aren’t supposed to tell their feelings. At least not until the woman tells. They get looked down on by men and women if they do.” Lex said.

“Huh. Well that’s pretty normal for us too. Hmm…well you’re just going to have to tell him then. It’s the only way. And that’s how Dean and I ended up together.” Aeden said.

“I remember.” Lex said.

“How do you remember, when I never told you?” Aeden asked.

“Because every time you watch the stars together you think about the first time you went on a date with him. You knew it was ‘love at first sight’. But he only notices the stars, or so you thought. You were wearing a pair of teardrop sapphire earrings that caught the starlight in just the right way. He saw you before you saw him and that’s what he told you when you told him you loved him.” Lex said.

“That’s right. But how do you know that and now I have to explain everything to you?” Aeden asked.

“That was the first thing I learned about you both. And today something different happened. I had the normal dream with you and learned that you’re a writer, and it pays good, that Dean is a Director/Producer/Actor, and that food is what you use to re-energize yourself. Then I woke up and wrote about it in my journal, then I went to sleep again and now I’m having my second dream with you which isn’t normal. I usually have one dream a night about you and that’s it.” Lex said.

“I see. So, what now?” Aeden asked.

“I don’t know. I just want to sleep so I can re-energize and I can’t do that when I’m in your head. I end up tossing and turning all night thinking about the dream and then I have to get up.” Lex said.

“Well do you usually wake up when I go to sleep?” Aeden asked.

“Yes. But I don’t know if that will work this time.” Lex said.

“Well let’s try it. Cause I’m tired too.” Aeden said.

So Aeden went back to bed. When she laid down Dean put his arm around her and she was out within minutes. And so was Lex. Lex didn’t dream for the rest of that night. And when she woke up, she was in her bed, in her room, by herself. But she could still feel Dean’s arm around her. And she could recall her entire conversation with Aeden. Which she quickly wrote in her journal. Then she went and looked in the mirror and what she saw was that her eyes were glowing a little brighter than they had been. And her Core was shining.