Vampire Queen's Soulmate

Energy Mimic

Saturday night. Rodrigo followed his usual path to the river in the forest, a determined look on his face. Ever since that dream, he had been distracted, the scenes constantly playing over in his mind. He wasn't like this. He was calm, cool, collected. Things didn't phase him. He was at ease in his home, his work. Now... he felt almost violated. He knew Esme was powerful. He didn't think she would come to him like that, and that quickly. Now he had a bone to pick with her, and pick it he would.

Rodrigo arrived at his place along the river. Tonight, Gatita was with him. She had been following him around since he'd awakened from the dream two nights ago, which was not uncommon, yet there was a bit of a stealth about her now that he didn't usually see in her unless she was hunting. It was as if she were protecting him from something unseen to him, guarding and watching over him, ready to pounce on any attacker. Rodrigo sat down and Gatita wound herself about him as he settled. Once he was comfortable, the cat curled up in his legs. Her ears on swivel, she looked up at him and began purring. Rodrigo smiled, scratched her chin affectionately, then began his meditation.

He went through his ritual, then entered a meditative state. As the colors swirled about him, he became aware of Esme's presence almost immediately. He saw her walking outside her home, noting the size of the house and the vastness of the land surrounding it. He liked that she lived in nature. He instinctively knew that though she lived outside a city, she was in that city every night for business. She was like him, tending to the needs of the people around her, but getting away from that hustle and bustle and coming home to solitude was important to her.

She was wearing a long hooded cloak, the hood heavy over her face. Her gait was swift, purposeful. He watched her reach the woods that bordered her house. She looked back once, then entered the trees.

Esme walked a bit into the woods, until she came upon a clearing. She knew Rodrigo was there, waiting. She felt him the moment he tuned in, tapping into her energy. She strode a bit further in, then came to a spot that was clearer than the dense part she'd just walked through. She stopped, and sat back against a tall pine. Her people back at the house might think her strange, but they were the last thing on her mind at the moment. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Opening them, she was sitting on the opposite side of the river again, across from Rodrigo.

"Reina," Rodrigo greeted her. He was serene, calm on the outside, but Esme could feel the anger rolling off of him.

"Hola, Ojo. How are you?" she asked solicitously. Rodrigo narrowed his eyes at her.

"I'm good. And you?"

"I'm fine, given the circumstances," Esme said. She took off her cloak, as it was warm here on this river. She was dressed simply in a white tank top and wide palazzo pants. Rodrigo eyed her, his gaze sweeping over her.

"I am sorry for your loss," he said. Esme nodded her thanks.

"Let me be direct with you. I know you invaded my dreams the night we met," Rodrigo continued, "that's a pretty big no-no in my world, unless consent has been given. I thought you better than that."

Esme frowned at him.

"What are you talking about?" she asked sharply.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You were in my dreams, and it was extremely real. I thought you were in my bed with me," Rodrigo replied. Gatita stretched in his lap, her claws digging into his leg. "Ouch!" Esme grinned at the cat.

"She does not approve of you speaking to me like that," she said, chuckling. Rodrigo glared at her.

"How would you know what she approves of and doesn't?" he snapped.

Now Esme scowled, her brows knitting together furiously.

"Because I don't approve! Who the f**k do you think you are? What are you talking about, I invaded your dreams? I don't do s**t like that, and even if I did, I would want to remember coming into your dreams," Esme's eyes narrowed, and she bit her bottom lip seductively, "I'd want to remember being in your bed." She licked her top lip with just the point of her tongue. The energy at the river became even warmer, swirling with an icy breeze. It was an interesting mix of energies, Rodrigo thought. Just like in the dream. He continued to glare at her.

"I know who the f**k I am. So do you, which is why you want me to come there to help you. But I will not help someone who seeks to seduce me. I don't mix pleasure with business. I have found the mix to become....muy feo," he replied. "And," he continued, "it seems you already know what my dream was about. That's interesting, don't you think?" he rested an elbow on his knee, his chin on his hand, questioning her. Esme laughed, throwing her head back and let the sound pour out of her. He was really amusing her.

"Obviously, I figured it out.You say I was in your bed with you, hmm?" she laughed again. "Of course I was. You are denying your desires, Ojo. It's been awhile, hasn't it?"

This time Rodrigo laughed.

"The queen has jokes! I know you were there. I feel your energy surrounding us, and it is the same energy that invaded my dreams," he said. The moment the words left his mouth, he had a moment of disturbing clarity. It wasn't her that came to his dreams. She wouldn't have denied it this much if she had.

Esme stared at him, her eyes narrowed. "My energy was in your dream? That is interesting news," she replied, not liking the sound of this. She knew what this could mean.

"Yes. Do me a favor. Can you tone it down a bit," he requested, "please," he added, mindful that he was still speakin.g to another powerful being. Gods, she could have ended him for speaking to her the way he did.

Esme reeled herself in, as Rodrigo asked. She understood his anger at having his dreams infiltrated without permission. She knew vamps who did it without a care for anyone else, but she was not one of those. He had a right to be upset, but she wasn't going to claim that behavior either. She also wanted to know what exactly that dream entailed.

Rodrigo took a deep breath, centering himself as the vampire's energy became less intense. He let it out slowly.

"Reina, I want to apologize. I did not realize what we are dealing with. I'm not sure that I know for sure what it is, but I may have an idea. In any case, I was wrong to accuse you, and I am sorry," he said sincerely.

"I accept your apology," Esme replied regally. "I understand why you would be angry about that. I have on occasion entered others' dreams, and it turns out to be unpleasant for the other person. Which is why I don't do it, as I said earlier."

"My dream...that's the thing..." Rodrigo trailed off, not sure how to continue. Did he really want to go into detail?

"Yes? What about it?" Esme asked, her tone careful.

"It was extremely real. The things we did... I was certain that you were there, that I was not dreaming. Whoever did this is very powerful to make all that happen," Rodrigo replied, tapping his temple with a finger.

"Care to explain what those things were?" Esme pressed. She was genuinely curious as to why this dream had him like this. Rodrigo's face grew warm as he remembered a particular moment from that dream.

"It was....sexual in nature," he said, clearing his throat. Esme smiled slightly.

"No s**t, Sherlock," she said, smiling wider at his scowl. "I know that. I want details." Rodrigo shook his head.

"No. I don't want to repeat details in case it brings this force upon us again. I don't wish to deal with that during meditation," he said firmly. Esme nodded.

"Thats fine. I will leave it alone for now." She stood up, and picked up her cloak, readying herself to leave.

"Just so you know, while you were having this dream, I was planning, and then attending, a funeral. I wouldn't have had time to do what was done to you. I also may have an idea who this could be that is mimicking my energy, and if it is who I think it is, we don't have much time to act. I would like you to be at my house as soon as possible. How soon can you make that happen?" Esme draped the cloak around herself calmly, but inside she was seething. f*****g Dante.

"I have a few more things to take care of. I should be ready to go by Monday," Rodrigo replied. Esme nodded.

"I will send my jet," she said simply. Rodrigo stared at her.

"You have a jet?" he asked incredulously. Esme fluffed her hair out of the cloak, her curls cascading down her back.

"Ojo," she said huskily, "I'll see you Monday." She smiled, fangs glinting in the moonlight. Rodrigo closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Upon exhaling, he opened his eyes, and she was gone, the space where she had been across the river empty.

The healer watched the river flow by, thinking many things. Gatita stretched in his lap again, sans claws this time, and got up, ready to get back to their home. Rodrigo rose up, stretched, and looked up to the sky.

"f*****g Dante."