Torn between two lives

Leo?

Her heart was beating out of her chest as she slowly crept down the hallway. John’s bedroom door was closed, the sound of a tv at a slightly too loud volume confirming he was in for the night. He had the larger bedroom with an adjacent bathroom and since it was the start of the semester, his mini fridge was well stocked from his parents visit last week. Still, she tiptoed past his door and avoided the creaking step on the stairs.

She had dreamed of him for years, knew him intimately in her mind, yet she had never dared thought she would meet him in the flesh. Was it even him? The more rational thought of her asked, considering that would make vampires real and by extension, werewolves and witches. The thought was laughable but still Eliza slowly unlocked the door and swung it open. The autumn winds were in full force but there he stood, still where she had last seen him, though this time he looked as though he were not staring intently up at her window but right above it. Eliza walked fully out of the house and onto the edge of the lawn before turning around to follow his gaze, the north star burned brightly and if it weren’t for his familiar face, she would have simply pretended to get the mail and gone back inside.

“It’s beautiful.” She nearly melted into the ground, it was Leo’s voice, silky and deep. “A guiding light for thousands of years, never extinguished.” Eliza broke her gaze away from the night sky to see him staring intently at her, the same fire in his eyes as when he looked at Anna in her dreams.

“So pretty you had to stop and stare?” Eliza questioned, the strange mix of familiar and stranger making her feel bold. She smiled at him, still in awe that even if he was not Leo, he had his face.

“Yes, and apparently so pretty you had to come out in a state of undress.” His eyes raked over her body in approval and she was mortified when she realized what a state she was in. Eliza had been tired after working all day and after a long bath had braided her hair instead of drying it and wore only an oversized sweater and a pair of shorts, though it looked like she wasn’t wearing shorts at all considering the length of her shirt. It was a men’s 2X and had her school’s emblem on it. She had nabbed it on clearance from the book store, enjoying the fleece lining that was soft and warm, though it’s warmth was quickly draining from her bare feet on cold cement.

“I…um…” Eliza wasn’t sure what to say, should she admit she had come outside because looked like a vampire from her dreams? It sounded stupid to say outloud. She gathered her wits quickly, “I heard a noise, I thought you might be Mittens.” It was true that she fed a stray cat who indeed had four mitten paws but the tom cat had been fed when she got home and promptly took off to do whatever feral cats did.

“Do I look like Mittens?” The man said with amusement and seemed to enjoy the blush that filled her cheeks, bringing her freckles to the forefront of his focus.

“No, Mittens is way cuter, but you aren’t too bad.” She asserted with a wicked smirk. What had gotten into her? Eliza had never been a flirt, even at work when she could use the extra tips. Yet within two days, she found herself flirting with two different men. Every time she thought of Eric, her heart skipped a beat. She was about to text him when she saw the man who could easily be Leon outside.

The man pulled her out of her thoughts with his warm laugh, “Well, I suppose someone had to beat me one day.” He held out his hand, “I’m Leo Smith.” Her heart stopped. Was he her Leon? He had his face, even his name. For a moment she wished he had a more unique last name, something easily identifiable.

“Eliza Keyire.” She shook his hand, his skin was cold to the touch and she repressed a shiver. “Have….have we met before?” She couldn’t resist asking, it was all too weird, almost overwhelming.

He smiled with familiarity, “Maybe in another life.” Leo stared at her, all knowing eyes flickering in the glow of the street light. Eliza didn’t even realize how deeply they were both breathing until she halted, pausing from the constant inhale of his scent: smoke and sandalwood. Eric smelled of pine and where his scent was a comfort, Leo’s was intoxicating, overwhelming. Unbeknownst to her, Leo was laying his pheromones on thick, coating her in his scent, reveling in the idea that she would smell of him for quite some time, sure the wolf would know she had been formally claimed by the vampire.

“Yeah….that must be it.” Eliza’s head was spinning, she wanted to ask so many questions but she couldn’t think properly, couldn’t give order to the chaos that swirled in her brain. “I…I’ll see you around.” A migraine was slipping into creation and she needed to lay down, not to mention her feet were quickly freezing.

“Wait!” He called for her but Eliza turned and sprinted back the safety of her ajar front door, testing something. Leo followed her to the steps but did not cross the boundary, “Could I at least have your number?” He seemed displeased that she was bolting from him but something inside of her screamed danger.

“Meet me in the old cemetery on Saturday.” She gave no further instructions and closed the door, not feeling any better even when the deadbolt made a satisfying click.

She stumbled into the living room and wrapped a blanket around her shivering legs, gasping for breath. Eliza couldn’t remember the last time she had a panic attack but there she was, staring into space and willing herself to be calm. She focused, counting the four tealights on the tv stand, the three speakers surrounding the television, the two pillows, the one tv remote. Counting down helped her to calm herself. Eliza nestled herself into the couch and closed her eyes, drifting off before she could reason she should sleep in her own bed. Yet rather than rest, she tossed and turned all night.