Dark Dreams

Chapter Six

     Before she realized what was happening and retracting the claws and forcing them to change back into her normal hands, with a light smile that hadn’t quite reached her soft sea-blue eyes “is it alright if I go inside?” she asked him softly. “Yes Miss, please go inside and I will show you where I placed your belongings” he responded softly, warmly not wanting to frighten her. “Thank ye Sir, I shall follow ye then” she responded while stepping into the cabin and to the right side of the door, which allowed him to enter his home and lead her to the stairs that neared the small breakfast alcove. He led her downstairs and turning left he wound through a small passageway with a series of small rooms were located. “Here is your room Miss” he spoke thoughtfully to her as he opened up the door leading into a rather spacious bedroom and stepping to the left side of the door, he allowed her to enter the room. Cedric gently pulled the door shut behind him as he turned on his heals and walked back up to the main floor. Turning sharply on her heals as the was shut behind her, Tamra glanced about the bedroom and seeing the large bed with h er backpack on it, she walked over and began lifting it up into her hands and feeling the weight, she had noticed that it had gotten heavier.

     Looking inside it, she found several new items had been added to her backpack, one of the primary items was a small container filled with several bags of blood from a local blood bank. Tamra pushed deep into er backpack and after seeing a small hand carved wooden box, she carefully opened it up and there were several kinds of powders one of which was milk. She placed them back into the box and set them to one side. She continues to look through the many items, including the pouches on the outside of her backpack, as well as the two main pouches on the front side of her pack. When she finally finished going through her bag, Tamra had set it on the floor bear the head of the bed. She rose to her dainty feet and made her way back up to the main floor. “Sir, may I asl ye why ye added those things to my backpack?” she called out as she topped the stairs. He glanced at her, “my name is Cedric Stuart, please call me Tam’ she replied with a gentle smile, with a heavy heart of the memories from her past, she turned towards the breakfast alcove and finding a spot to sit, she slipped into the booth, she sat there watching him.

     Tamra finally let her gaze drift to the floor unsure of what more to say or do in his home. But the again she didn’t understand where she was in life since everyone, she had passed over the next life, or just didn’t care about her. At the same time Tamra needed to be with someone who she could trust, someone who would love and care for her. Just as the thoughts had crossed her mind, the image of the ebony-colored wolf and his human counterpart slipped through her mind, with his warm, soft tanned skin pulled tightly across his thick rope of muscles, she began thinking more to herself about her stalker and how each encounter with him was leaving her wanting more contact with him. Just to get to know who he was if nothing else. And with a light sigh more to herself she lifted her crystal light blue eyes up to Cedric, “so tell me how you knew to go to the small clearing where I was?” she asked him quietly, trying to understand how things around her were unfolding.

     After being alone for the last five years and always on the move, with little to no contact with those around her, her gaze slowly wandering about the cabin taking in the entire wonderous décor. From the simple crown molding to its elegant bookshelves and rich deep blue drapes, and to the lush rich light blue couch with its velvety white cushions. Over the matching armchairs with their robust wood decorations running down the front of each arm. To the soft brown carpet right up to the dark wood floor of the dinning room, that Cedric kept polished to a rich, lusty shine that flowed through the cabin’s interior to the kitchen and back porch. He seemed to know things that made her feel at, and she needed to know why “I have things I do in that clearing, it was just a place I wanted to work in the cool night” he said softly not wanting to reveal much about his reason why he was there at that time of night. He hoped she would not press the issue much further. “I see, but why invite me here?” she softly asked with more curiosity than she truly felt. “You seemed so lonely that first night, I thought that perhaps I could be ready to aid you in some small way” he replied taking a seat on the couch, his gaze resting on her soft features, while he watched her closely for any signs that she might be uncomfortable in his cabin. She began twisting her fingers together under the table “but you don’t even know me Cedric” she said softly nearly afraid that she sounded more scared, “does it truly matter” he asked her in return.

     Tamra suddenly rose to her feet as the fidgety feelings became to much for her to bear, and she began to pace around the kitchen. “But that doesn’t explain why ye would think to bring a total stranger into your lovely home like ye did with me” she said softly as she began peaking around the corners. “I believe it does Tam” he said softly while rising to his feet, he quietly waled over to her and gently taking her wrist into his large rough hand, “come sit with me, and talk to me, as we are the only ones in the dwelling” he said softly, his warm breath brushing against her eye. “Aye” she responded as she leaned her rigid body carefully against him. Her thoughts about her past causing her to act more like a frightened child ready to run from anyone who got close to her, yet willing to try and work through any negative feelings if given the opportunity. “But if you are living here alone, then perhaps ye can tell me why?” she asked him in her quiet tone. “I live here all alone and was hoping that you might consider staying here until winter has passed” Cedric said gently his warm breath brushing past her ear.

     Tamra turned suddenly to face him her gaze locked onto his dark brown eyes, which showed that she had wanted to stay but unsure of how she could, but now that she was able to shape shift unlike when she a little girl. Her family would shape shift around her all the time, “I will stay for a short spell, and if things work out then peris it will be longer” she responded as her fingers slowly wrapped around his wrist. “But I warn ye never to wake me up, and please if I ask to wander around the forest, do not follow me” she continued as she allowed him to lead her back out to the living room, and the large couch to sit. Feeling lonelier now than she had ever felt in her entire life it adds to her earlier feelings and thought she might need to lock herself away from him. Tamra began to pull her hand away from him as they sat down on the blue couch together leaning back, he carefully placed his arm about her shoulders as if to protect her even from herself. “Please” she whispered softly while she pulled herself away from him “I can’t do this” she said softly, nearly jumping out of his hold, “shh Tam its alright just relax and let me hold you for a short spell, I promise nothing will happen” he replied meaning his every work. “But what if we make a mistake and it goes further than we intend it to?” she replied softly while pulling completely out of his grasp.

     “Tamra, come to me my sweet little angel” the telepathic message was sent to her, with her soft blue eyes going wide with shock, she sat on the couch as still as a statue. While she glanced through the living room looking for the sudden intruder but finding no extra person. Just then she moved over to the doorway and pulled open the heavy door and seeing a clearly well marked rock she ran over to it and pressing it up and back at the same time, she was able to free herself from the hidden cabin. With one last glance back, Tamra raced away like a scared child, it was then that she realized it was the other person calling to her, stopping nearly a quarter of a mile from the place, she began looking around for the other, knowing he could not be to far away. Sitting down rather quickly, suddenly feeling tired and needing to rest, her head began to lull backwards causing her to finally lay down and closing her deep-sea blue eyes.

     She wasn’t certain how long that she had slept but upon awaking up she noticed that he was there staring at her. “Names Phelan my lady, and aye Miss Kelso, I know who you are” he said in his sultry tone, causing her skin to come alive with a fever all its own. Tamra could only glance at him for a brief moment while she pulled him into focus, “what have ye done?” she asked softly as she fought to sit up right. Knowing something was wrong for how weak she felt, but she refused to give in the weakness and after several attempts to sit up, she was finally able to manage it. Tam ran her fingers through her long dark silky hair, “I asked ye a question Sir, kindly answer it” she said with more distaste of him than she truly felt.

     When Tamra discovered her hand trembling, she had lowered it into her lap rather quickly “I’ve taken a lot you blood to ensure that you wouldn’t run off this time” he said flatly while sitting down next to her “but there is a way for you to earn your freedom” he continued flatly while he look her directly in the eyes.  “Tell me what it is that ye want and why ye have such a thing to me, along with how ye can do such a thing to any person like myself?” said as cold and flat as she could muster in her current predicament. Tamra’s navy-blue eyes held the promise of death, as the cold stare was aimed at Phelan, with her hands shape shifting to her panther claws, with the claws extended, though the pain was there, this time around it was a bit more tolerable.

     Tamra fought for the change, knowing that it was going to hurt with her body feeling like lead, after several long agonizing minutes of sweating through the pain, she gave up trying to change to the panther that she could become. “Ye still haven’t told me what it is that ye want from me” she growled out between clenched teeth while eye him closely. “I would like for you to think long and hard about becoming as I am the with the land air water and to enjoy your life like you never could before” he said softly while setting his hand lightly on hers. Phelan watched her closely for a moment before he slipped away from her, “what are ye talking about Sir?”  she demanded of him though she wasn’t sure she want to truly know.

     “It’s simple, listen to what I just said” looked at her briefly “I am of the earth, air and water, I have lived many centuries already, waiting for that someone special, waiting for you” he said still watching her with his dark unblinking eyes. Tamra just glared at him with her icy-blue eyes, slowly she managed to whisper, “I see, but do take a guess at what is wrong” she said while listening to her own hear stuttering, to beat. He held his own breath still in his chest for a long moment as listened to her heart stuttering and cursed himself for taking far too much of her blood, but he knew that she had to accept his offer for the last two exchanges in order to her the between them.

     “Listen to me carefully, I can offer what you need right now, but you must accept the gift” he spoke telepathically to her, hoping that she wouldn’t refuse him. “I am too tired to drink anything” she replied telepathically “but I feel almost free, almost as if I am flying” she continued telepathically. The slurred words she was using during their telepathic chat forced him to act rather quickly, knowing that she might hope him for it, but he knew the panther in her would take was he was offering up freely, “Tamra Listen to me, hear my words, let your panther have free will” he spoke gently using their telepathic pathway, more for the panther hidden inside of her.” Hear me now, let the panther out, let her free to roam in your stead” he said again telepathically while he bit into his own wrist and held it out over her mouth, and using light pressure he held it against her slightly part lips. He was hoping that it would coax her out in panther form, just far enough to for her compliance with him.

     Just as the warm blood slipped into her mouth, did Tamra slowly fight to swallow the blood, though she truly didn’t want, she knew it was the panther within herself fighting for the right to live. Finally, after several long moments of struggling had passed, the panther side of herself broke free and lapping at the blood offered to her with mild hesitation. “SSShhh young one, you will feel better very soon” he crooned telepathically but knowing that it was his foolishness to have taken so s much blood from Tamra to start with. Once Tamra thought she had taken enough of his blood she began fighting to push him away from herself, her deep-sea blue gaze flying open “get away from me, how dare ye” she spoke harshly through their strong telepathic link. Very carefully she began to move away from him, the sleek black fur sliding over her roped muscles, though her body felt heavy as she back peddled a few feet to a new location. While he watched her with amusement written all over his face, “don’t ye dare say a word to me” she ground once more through the telepathic link.

     Thinking back about how the change felt, she realized that it had felt like a Mac truck hitting her at thirty miles per hour or more. As the panther took once more look around, Tamra felt a measure of peace even though she had buried herself deep inside the form of her panther. Though the panther hadn’t oved very far either from the pain that the change had caused, or because she was studying Phelan closely, Tamra couldn’t tell. All she knew for certain was the panther had become curious above all else over this other man and how he had aided her. With the blood from his own body and how he knew just what they needed. She shook her head slightly as the panther laid its body upon the ground and watched the man closely. All the while she continually sniffed the air for any possible prey, or possibly enemies, all along her dark navy-blue eyes never left him, as she wanted to know just what Phelan truly wanted from them.

     Lying on the ground from several long minutes she had gathered up her strength and wandering off looking off to find her next large meal. Though Tamra had locked onto his mind and attempted to look at his intention and how he knew of her. After several tries, Tamra had managed to locate the path back to his mind and did her best to remain a small and insignificant shadow while looking through his memories. She even looked at his personal thoughts, and how she played into them. Of how he stayed at a distance and was always watching her through every horrible thing that had happened to her, he even saw all the good times she had. Which had made her so leery of the man and she couldn’t believe for a moment that he had any good intention towards her.

     Several minutes of climbing, jumping, and crawling through the underbrush, the deep rich black panther took to the highway of branches, in the overhead of a thickly covered forest, she found a place to lay in wait for her tannish colored prey. Tamra was both hungry and puzzled by the evening’s events. However, she never left the connection between them fade while she tried to puzzle out his intentions and what he wanted from her. Slowly she had forgotten about the man who was after her for what his reason was, and locked onto her prey, a rather large bull with huge, heavy horns, she stalked him across the open field, even though she had gone up into the canopy of tree’s and stay as close the open field as they would allow. Tamra watched and waited there for the perfect moment to jump down onto the bull’s back and sink her teeth deep into his skill, she was not certain if she would the strength to kill that beast or not, but she was willing to give that part of her the chance at bringing down such a large creature. When suddenly a loud, noise wrang through the meadow, and up into the canopy of tree’s, it sounded very much like a gun shot that dropped the bull up the cool ground with its huge head hitting it with a nasty cracking sound.

     Tamra froze hidden by the branches and leaves, she watched to see what was happening uncertain of whether it was safe to make a run for it or to whether it was wiser to stay where she was. Her panther sniffed the air once, twice, three times before turning around and very silently slipping back into the denser forest before racing away from the open field. She kept to the highway of branches for what might have been hours. Before she finally slipped down along a small trail hidden by the overgrown brush and other flowering plants. She followed a thin rabbit trail that she had never seen before to a nearby stream and dipping her head, she lapped at the water, remembering how her family never went anywhere near the mountains or forests.

     Upon hearing footsteps approaching her position at the stream, Tamra slowly turned around, her long sleek tail swishing as she watched the poacher walk up towards her with his gun drawn. She was frozen in place, only her harsh growl of warning could be heard the eerie quiet of night. About the time he pulled the trigger she jumped to the right side, the bullet just missing her as she saw the heavy-set man go down onto one knee before hitting the ground with a groan of pain, with her footing secured Tamra cautiously approached the rather large man who laid on the ground, gently she nudged him with her soft muzzle, only to see if he was still alive. Suddenly pain burst through her and stumbling backwards she nearly fell down into the small stream at the side of the embankment. Once more Tamra she went over to him and noticed he was now on his side, this time when she nudges him, she was ready for the pain she would feel.

     Once again using her muzzle she nudged him gently trying to get him to respond to her soft touch. When he grunted in pain, she discovered that he was starting to move a tad easier. Laying down next to hi she lightly rubbed her head along the shoulder close to the wound that was near his lung. With all of her attempts at getting him to respond to her she began to shape shift in front of the man, a mistake she knew that could cost her dearly. However deep down she needed to know that this hunter would be alright, alive, and kicking and that he would live, after all she was getting tired of living with death that surrounded her at every turn. Halfway through her transformation she lost consciousness a problem that was sure to have strange consequences.

     Breathing deeply Tamra did her best to try and regain her consciousness however the dream she was having, was so vivid and felt so real that she clung to it instead of forcing herself awake. In the dream she forced Phelan to pick her up and carry her back to Cedric’s cabin, to the sitting room with its plush, soft to lay her down on the blue denim, with its white pillows, his fingers trailed down along her cheek in a light caress. He knew there was a conversation that they had to have but was she ready for it, he stood there watching her for a moment a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye, Knowing what she did for the hunter cost her dearly and she needed her rest just as much as they needed the conversation, she needed to hear him out and to come to terms with what her gifts could ultimately do to her. He waited in the dark patiently for to open those almond shaped deep-sea blue eyes of her.

     He stood facing the darkened forest just listening to the sounds it provided by night, with the full moon shining brightly, he watched the bugs flying around and the young birds sleeping with a light chirping sound. He could hear her heart beating a low, slow thumping sound which worried him. With a sigh he made up his mind to wake her in order to have that long overdue conversation, it had to be now rather than later, and he knew that deep down she would hate him for it.

     Once inside his place he moved over to the couch and laying down upon it, he gently lifted up her shoulders while supporting her head and slipping under her head, he laid her head against his thighs and began to softly call out to her telepathically. Tamra, you one please return to the land of the living for me, wake up now” he had said telepathically with a demand in his voice. “We need to talk about things this night, it’s important that we speak right night” he said with a heavy sigh that was mixed with need in his telepathic thoughts. Even though her long dark eye lashes had begun to flutter, Tamra still hadn’t opened her light blue eyes, “go away, leave me be” she said softly, her voice a mere thread of sound. She struggled to wake up though she had really wanted to stay in her dream, where here parents and sister were still alive and waiting for her to return home from college. Yet that disembodied voice called out to her repeatedly, something about it was waking her up and forcing her to return to the land of the living. Tamra finally managed to fully open her eyes only to stare up into his amber colored eyes that were so fun of concern for her.

     She managed to jump up and spin around looking for the door that led outside, not realizing they were in a tree house and not a standard house. He put this tree house together for his guest to protect them from harm of any kind. Just as Tamra had spotted the door that led outside, she took note of just how heavy the wooden door really was and began to wonder if it was solid wood or something far different to make it appear so heavy. She managed to get outside after fighting to open the heavy door, which to her surprise opened far easier than she thought it would.  While running through the branches of the tree, she felt that familiar sharp pain as she gave herself over to the change to her panther form. She paused briefly while crouching down amongst the leaves on her high branch she was able to gather information of her surroundings using her whiskers, her noses and all other senses to gage what her surroundings held.

     Tamra remained crouched for roughly 15 minutes in the arboreal of the tree branches, her hear was racing, and yet she hadn’t figured out that she was the rarest of her species. With her claws digging deep into the thickest branch where she crouched, she heard him then telepathically calling out to her. “Young one, you need to come to me now, we need to be away from this area” his tone brooked no argument as he turned away from her, she had no idea that he had been following her. Once he hit the ground he changed back into his favorite animal, the black wolf of the forest, his large muscular frame paced around the tree waiting to see if she would follow him. She had heard him then even though she hadn’t sensed his presence anywhere near her, at first, she had looked down to the ground and hadn’t seen him, as he jumped up into the tree, a feat not known to have ever been done by such a large wolf breed, but then again, she hadn’t heard of such a thing ever being done by wolves before.

     Then again, he wasn’t your run of the mill wolf, she knew he was just as lethal and back up to the edge of the arboreal highway, “you Sir will stay far away from me, ye aren’t what ye seem to be” she said telepathically to him while in her panther form, she growled lowing that she had to find a way to hide from this man. Somehow, she knew he wasn't going to make it easy on her, while he slowly advanced with his ear flat, a low, harsh growl filling the air causing the birds to take flight. He knew if he could scare her into leaping down, he might have a chance to get her to cooperate with him, but with each step forward she did her best to step backwards or even sideways to avoid him, but somehow she backed peddled a bit to far and fell from the tree, granted like most large cats she landed on her feet. "Control your panther young one, do it now before there is a tragedy even for you" he growled telepathically knowing he needed her to understand that the panther and her are one in the same. Suddenly Tamra jumped up into a neighboring tree, one with much smaller limbs that barely supported her panther form. "Do no follow me, I don't know ye and I do not wish to either Sir, so leave me in peace" she growled through their telepathic link. Knowing he wouldn't leave her alone even in the midst of this chaos that was starting up around.

     "You will go with me and listen to everything I have to say" he said, taking back his human voice while still in the wolf form. Taking poor Tamra by surprise as she glanced down at him from her perch, she was preparing to jump back into the ground amongst a great deal of overgrown plants and loose vegetation.  "I need to explain all types of things to you, which is best done in the confines of safety, not out here in the open which could-be suicide” he grumbled. Tamra regally lifted her head then, in her panther form she nodded slightly as she moved up behind him and pushed him indicating for him to take the lead that she would follow him. Her gaze never left him as he led her to his cave a few miles away, with its narrow entrance, and the heavy foliage growth surrounding the entrance, nearly hid it from view of prying eyes as the vines reached out to each other creating an archway around the entrance of the cave.