Bloodless Dreams

Chapter Four: Unsettled

Evangeline

Harland left me sitting alone in my room. I wish he stayed here with me, even if it were to talk or just to sit quietly. Bored and slightly hungry, I got up and made my way out of my room only to stop listening to a strange noise coming from Harland’s room. I knew it is better to leave and forget I ever heard a thing, but my heart pulled me into his room. I softly shut the door and walked through the dark room to the washroom where the only light is on. Turning the corner, I can see Harland sitting in the shower with his legs curled up. His body moving up and down as heavy sobs escaped his lips. My heart broke for him. I went over to the shower and slid the door open, climbing in with him. I placed my hands on either side of his face and sat down in front of him. His body stiffened and then relaxed. He did not look up instead he shifted his body, so my legs wrapped around him and his head rested on my chest. I stroked his back slowly with light touches. 

“Shhh…” 

I rested my head on the top of his head and began singing one of my favorite songs until his cries stopped. He shifted slightly wrapping his arms around me pulling me into him more. Wanting to calm him, to soothe him, I allowed myself to be held tightly. I kept singing to him and his body relaxed more. Faint sounds of his breathing surfaced. I looked down at his face to see him fast asleep. I wiggled my way from his grip and went to get a towel, laying it over his body, then I shut the water off. I need to find someone to help me move him to his bed. Leaving the room, I went and knocked on Viktor’s door he is one of the nicer, less intimidating men in this house. He opened the door looking at me confused. 

“I am sorry to bother you so late. But I need help.”

“What is it?” 

“Harland was upset in the shower and I went to comfort him he ended up falling asleep in and I cannot move him back to his bed.” 

“Of course. Let’s get another brother to help. Harland is heavy.” He said with a slight laugh. 

I took a step back, letting him pass me. He went to Damian’s door and knocked loudly. Damian swung the door open with a furious look across his face. 

“What do you want, brother?” 

“The little human requested our help.” 

“Evangeline. That is my name, not little human.” 

They both looked at me and then smiled. 

“Evangeline needs our help brother.” 

“What is it?”

Suddenly Damian’s face dropped. Concern and fear covered it like a thick blanket. 

“Harland fell asleep in the shower and I cannot move him myself.” 

“Why did he do that?” Damian asked, confused. 

“He was upset, and I went to comfort him. He ended up falling asleep.” 

Damian nodded his head and left his room. I followed them both back into Harland’s room, finding him right where I left him. While the men picked him, I went and pulled the blankets back so they can lay him down. I watched them carry him with so much care, laying him down. I stepped in front of them and pulled the blankets up to his chin. Harland looks peaceful. I turned around and looked at both men with a serious look and then motioned my hands to shoo them from the room. They both looked at me and smiled, each shaking their heads as we walked out of the room. I shut the door softly behind me and then went to my door. 

“That is an exceedingly kind thing you have done for our brother, Evangeline. Thank you.” 

“It is nothing. I would do it for any of you.” 

They both looked at me surprised and then nodded. 

“Goodnight gentlemen.” 

“Goodnight Evangeline.” They said in unison. 

I gave them one last smile and went into my room straight to my bed. I need to try escape again, no matter how kind these people they are still not human and no matter how many times they tell me I am safe, and they will protect me I still do not want to accept this as my reality. I rolled over onto my side and stared at the door trying my best to fall asleep. 

*        *       *       *

I woke up to someone knocking on my door and then the creek of the door opening. I watched a dark large dark figure slid into my room shutting the door behind it. The figure stopped and turned towards my bed. 

“Eva? Are you awake?” 

Harland. 

I said nothing I want to see what he will do if he thinks I am still asleep. He walked over to the other side of my bed and got in under the blankets, placing a pillow between us before settling. I listened to his breathing steady. The bed sank as he relaxed completely, before long he fell fast asleep. I slowly rolled over to face him. The pillow blocked my view, so I pushed it down enough to see his face. His face is soft, untroubled. He is truly remarkable. I laid there watching him sleep until my eyes closed and drifted off into a peaceful sleep. 

*        *       *       *

Harland

Against my better judgement, I left my room and went to her. To the woman who soothed me, the women who calmed my beast soothing him back into his slumber. Laying here next to her, I feel the peace I use to before my curse. I cannot help but think she is the one who may save me after so many years alone, fighting the beast away, fighting my demons every night. Crying alone because the men I killed, the men and women I could not save. They all haunt me, but not when she is near. The demon's hide in the darkness when she is near. 

“Are you alright?” 

I opened my eyes to see her leaning over the pillow, her eyes filled with dread and sadness. She reached over, rubbing the moisture from my cheek. I expected her to withdraw her hand, instead she rested her palm to my cheek, gliding her fingers over my temple to my eye and then back again. Such a simple gesture has greater meaning to me. I smiled at her weakly before I got out of her bed and left the room.

To many feelings, too many emotions, he began stirring inside of me, making her unsafe. I need to leave this house before it is too late. I stood in the hallway and closed my eyes, teleporting myself out front in the large snow-covered field. I can feel him moving under my skin, trying to escape. 

“Brother…”

King Kachelsis said behind me. 

“Stay back, brother.” 

“Breathe. Calm yourself.”

Damian whispered softly. 

I closed my eyes and took steady breaths, willing my body to relax. It is to late he is here, and he will not be pushed down any longer. 

*        *       *       *

Evangeline

He left me again. Why does he keep doing that? I got out of my bed and went upstairs to see all the men running out of the house franticly. I followed them out to see Harland standing in the middle of the yard with his brothers surrounding him. Steam is rising off him, his skin shaking. He pushed his face into his hands with a pained look. I started walking towards him when he looked up at me with bright blue eyes. His face calmed, but the steam did not stop, his skin kept shaking. He stood up and stared at me. I kept walking towards him. Drawn to him. Something pulled at me, wanted me to go to him. I do not see anyone, only Harland. 

“Evangeline get back.” Deacon yelled as Viktor grabbed my arm pulling me back. 

Harland growled loudly, and then an eruption of light consumed the field, leaving a massive dragon standing in his place. My mind told me to turn and run, but my heart and body kept me in place. 

“Get her out of here now!” Their King yelled. 

The dragon turned towards me and looked at each man who gripped my arms. I looked to Deacon and Viktor then back to the dragon who seemed to think I am in danger I tried to free myself only to have them tighten their hands making me wince in pain. The dragon let out a loud roar, rearing up and then slamming down onto the ground with a loud thud, making all of us lose some balance. 

“Let me go.” 

“No, it is dangerous.” 

“He will not hurt me. But he is looking at each of you, he may hurt you if you do not let me go.” 

They loosened their grips just a little. I looked at each one of them again and ripped my arms from their grasp. Taking a step forward, I extended my hand out to the dragon. He lowered his head, letting me touch his snout, and purred, closing his eyes. 

“You are beautiful you know that?” 

He is huge, all white with bright blue glowing strips. His head covered in the same glowing blue color, making it look like he wore a crown and his scales along his body are a glowing purple. His wings extended out and then came back to his side. They are wider than his body. Makes sense, though they have to carry him. 

“It is okay. You are okay.” I whispered, placing my other hand to his snout. “Can we please have Harland back?” 

The dragon opened his eyes and purred again. He laid down, wrapping his body around me and then another bright white light.

 Harland laid on the ground wrapped around me. I sank to my knees placing my hands to his face stroking his cheek until he opened his eyes to look at me. I smiled down at him and pulled him in a little closer. 

“We are okay.” 

He looked at me and then to his brothers, each one with the same expression. Shock. 

“You could have died.” 

“No. He would have never hurt me.” 

“How did you know?” 

“Because you would never hurt me.” 

He sat up and smiled at me. He stood up, holding his hand out to me. I took his hand and let him lead me through his brothers and into the house back downstairs by passing my room straight into his. Once we are inside, he let my hand go shutting the door and locking it, then he turned to face me. 

“Do not do that again.” 

“Why?” 

“I do not want to hurt you. I do not want him to hurt you.” 

I took a step closer to him and placed my hands to his chest. Craning my neck, I looked up at him and smiled softly. Looking into his eyes, I can see the fear. I leaned in, pressing a kiss to each one of his eyes. Pulling back, I looked into his again. 

“I know neither you nor the dragon will harm me.” 

“I could not live with myself if we did.” 

 I let his face go and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a hug. He wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me into the air. He held me like that for a little while and then sat me on my feet, releasing me. 

“Are you hungry?” 

“Yes.” 

“Stay here. Make yourself comfortable I will go get us something to eat.” He went to the door and unlocked it. He opened it and started to leave when he stopped and turned back to me. “Please don’t run.” 

I nodded my head in agreement and watched him walk out of the room. They all know I want to run, they also all know I cannot leave the house. King Kachelsis placed his spell back over the house after we all came inside. I sat down on the sofa in his room and pulled the blanket laying there over me. Harland makes me want to stay here, he makes me feel something I have never experienced before, and it confused me. I looked around his room a bit and spotted a large bookshelf. I got up wrapping the blanket around me and went over to look. He has so many older books in perfect condition, but none of the titles I recognized. There is one with a brilliant lavender cover. I pulled it out carefully and went back to the sofa. After I got comfortable, I opened it and began reading. It is a love story, a forbidden love that caused a large war among vampire and werewolf kind. The door opened and Harland walked in with a big tray of food and a bottle of something shoved under his arm. He kicked the door closed, keeping his eyes glued to the tray. Harland walked over to the coffee table and set everything down before looking at me and then to the book and back at me. He gave me a big smile and set the bottle down. 

“I was not sure what you wanted, so I grabbed a little of everything Frasier had in the fridge and cabinets.” 

I set the book down and leaned overlooking at the spread he made for me. 

“It all looks amazing.” 

“I thought maybe we can eat and talk a little, getting to know each other better?” 

“I would like that.” 

I moved to sitting the floor across from him. We ate the food he brought, and he drank the sweet red wine as we talked, getting to know each other.