Man Of My Dreams

Chapter Nine

My first bubble bath was so nice, I fell asleep in the tub. When I awoke, the water was cold. I stepped out and wrapped a towel around my body. I looked at myself in the mirror. I let my hair free from its bun on the top of my head, and it fell down my back. Opening the drawer, I found a comb. It looked like an antique. It was silver with curling designs on the handle. I began running it through my hair.

I brushed my teeth and washed my face. And then I dressed in comfy clothes and sat on the couch in front of the t.v. I noticed a paper sitting on the coffee table and a cell phone. I don’t remember if that was there earlier when I took myself on a small tour of my new home. I picked up the paper and began reading:

Wren,

I forgot to leave this with you when I was here earlier. Every number you need has already been programmed in this phone. Including food delivery options, emergency services, and me. I had Mrs. Nora drop it by on her way home. Enjoy your space.

-Kian

I picked up the phone and swiped the screen to unlock it. Mama had one similar to this. Sometimes, I’d sneak and check it out. I scrolled through the contacts and found the restaurant I had eaten at when I first got here. I decided that burger and fries sounded like a good idea and called to have one delivered. While I waited for my food, I scrolled through the TV channels. Mama made sure we at least had cable. One of our few forms of entertainment. My food arrived and I ate it quickly.

The next week went by pretty much the same. I spent the next day in my little library. I read two novels and started a bigger book. The day after that, I went through all the things Kian had put here for me. I cringed at all the prices still on the clothes and cut them all off. And then I organized what little things I brought with me from the swamp. And the day after that, I watched a cooking show and recreated the recipe. And by the fourth day, I realized I hadn’t left my house.

I was still living like a prisoner out of habit, I guess. I dressed and decided I’d go explore the city today. The morning air was crisp and cool. I was walking through a small, outdoor market when I heard someone with a strange accent say, “Hello.” I turned to find a man. A vampire man. His hair was as black as a raven’s feathers with eyes to match. Pale, perfectly blemish-free skin and… freckles. They dotted his cheeks and nose. “Hi,” I smiled. He smiled back, and I noticed his perfectly straight white teeth. He held a brown paper bag and I wondered why a vampire would need groceries.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around here. Are you new?” I nodded, “I got here almost a week ago.” Strange how time slipped by me while I was unknowingly keeping myself locked up in my house. It's already nearing a week since I escaped that prison of a swamp. “Nice. How are you liking it?” I browsed the fruits, looking for something I had never tried before. “It’s different from what I’m used to, but I’m enjoying it.” If he only knew what my ‘used to’ was. I selected a pomegranate and chucked it in my basket. Kian had left an envelope of cash next to the coffee pot with a note the same night he left the phone promising to get me a card soon to use instead.

“How about you? How long have you been here?” I walked to the next stand and grabbed a hand of bananas and sat them in my basket, as well. “In Vrale, 2 years give or take. I’ve been in this world since I underwent my transformation.” I glanced up at him. He was quite tall. Not as tall as Kian, but close. “If you don’t mind me asking, how long ago was that?” I asked. Learning I was wrong about this species has made me want to know more about them.

He shrugged, “Nah, I don’t mind. I’m only one hundred and two.” Still young then, I remembered from mine and Kian’s conversation that first night here. “My name’s Jack, by the way.” he held out his hand and I took it, “ Wren.” I said, shaking his hand. “What a lovely name, Wren. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I smiled, but my lack of people skills had me floundering for something to say. After a moment, he said, “I need to get these to my roommate,” Reaching into his pocket with his free hand, “but before I go, can I have your number?”

I started to say I didn’t have a phone, but then I remembered that I do have one, and I left it at home. “I’d give it to you but I don’t know the number. It’s new and I left it at home.” I laughed nervously. He smiled and said, “That’s alright, I’ll write mine down for you.” He pulled a small notepad from his pocket and a pen and wrote down his number and handed me the paper. “I hope this isn’t weird for you. I just haven’t seen anyone as pretty as you here before.” I felt the color rise to my cheeks.

We said our goodbyes and went opposite ways. I paid for my things and left the market. But I wasn’t ready to go home yet. I was enjoying the fresh air and lack of walls. Jack was handsome. And he told me I was pretty. I have absolutely no experience with boys. I can’t even count all the years I’ve dreamt of Kian. Any infatuation there was one sided due to him not knowing I was watching him. Truthfully, I was sad that I wasn’t dreaming of him anymore. And I tried not to let myself remember that the shoe was on the other foot now with the dreaming situation.

It was like losing a friend. Technically, I hadn’t lost him. And now that I’m thinking about it, I haven’t had a single dream at all since coming here. Not of him or anyone. Is that normal? Maybe I’d text Kian and ask later. I lingered in the city for another hour or two before I decided I was hungry enough to wander back home and cook something. I have been watching a lot of cooking shows lately and all the different recipes have piqued my interest.

Mama usually did all the cooking. We had a pretty solid routine: I hunt, she cooks. I remember faintly when Mama slowly started being cold and distant. At first, she was kind. She’d smile at me randomly, or when I would get hurt she’d hold me and tell me I would be okay. She’d take me with her into town, with strict rules to follow, sometimes, and even let me pick out a small toy or a candy.

And then one day, without any real reason that I could recall, the smiles stopped. If I got hurt, she’d tell me to get up and walk it off. No more town visits. Absolutely not, she would say when I asked. No more toys, or candies, or anything that brought me any joy. She taught me to read, write, science, math, and all the things that were necessary for me to know. School was the only time she actually talked to me. Anything else out of her mouth to me was short, snappy, and cold.

I tried for a few years to get it back to the way it was. And that only seemed to make it worse. So over the years, I just learned to deal with it. To avoid her at all costs unless absolutely necessary. I walked the straight and narrow, with few and far between slip ups every now and again. She told me she wasn’t meant to be a mother. I wondered what she had given up for me. What did she lose that meant so much to her that she resented me all those years for?

I shook my head to clear the thoughts that were now fogging my brain. It doesn’t matter. It’s over now. I’m out. No more begging for crumbs of love and attention from anybody that doesn’t want to give them to me. I rounded the corner of my street to find a car was parked in my driveway. Kian. I wondered what he wanted. I opened my gate and walked up the front steps. The door flung open.

“Where have you been?” I blinked. And then crossed my arms over my chest, “Just out. Geez, what’s your deal?” His shoulder slagged, and he stepped aside, so I could come through the door. I walked to the kitchen counter and sat all of my things atop it. He walked over to where I stood and said, “A human girl was found dead today. I thought…” I snapped my head up to look at him.

Dead? I thought we were relatively safe here? He looked really frazzled. His hair was all over the place and his skin was glistening with sweat as if he’d been running or something. His gaze met mine and I could see the relief in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” I meant it, genuinely, “I would have brought the phone with me but I guess since I’ve never had one, I’m not used to remembering to grab it in case of emergencies. I’ll try to remember next time.”

“I was about to leave here and go identify the body,” he said. I shivered. “They said female, red hair. And I thought… You’re supposed to be under my care. And I’ve done nothing but make you feel unwelcome and thrust you into a world of vampires.” He shook his head. I had almost fully forgiven him for his harsh words that first night here. He’d more than made up for it.

His hands were gripping the counter. I placed one of mine atop his and for a single second, he looked like he wanted to snatch it from under me, but then his whole body relaxed. “I’m okay, Kian.” He nodded slowly, assessing me from head to toe. I removed my hand and began putting away the things I bought today and pulling out the ingredients I needed to cook supper.

He watched me while I flitted around the kitchen, prepping the ingredients and pulling out the pots and pans I’d need. I started the stove and heated my pans. I’d never had steak before and always wanted to try it. “Are you hungry?” I asked. I grabbed a two pack of steaks earlier. I was gonna save one for another time but Kian was still here, and I’m not gonna eat in front of him. “I am,” His voice was gravelly. He seemed to be in deep thought. I would give anything to know what was going on in his head right now.

I have always wondered that. Never hearing him speak in my dreams made him so mysterious and unreadable. Turns out, he’s nearly the same in real life, as well. So I said, “Penny for your thoughts?” something I’d heard a girl ask another girl on some TV show I watched once. The corner of his mouth turned up a bit, “I was just wondering who Jack was,” I felt the color drain from my face. I forgot about the number honestly. And apparently forgot I left the paper wide open on the counter.