“It won’t come to that,” I promised.
“Yes, it will. You don’t know our ways. He’ll challenge me to the death. I really want to help you, but I won’t have a chance.”
“Please,” I begged. As a Judgement I knew I held a certain level of attraction for all of them. Why was this so hard then? Technically, I’d been rejected three times now, counting Luke as a single rejection. Maybe I needed to stand up on one of the tables and start shouting it out. Take me...I’m yours.
A dream started tugging at me.
“If there wasn’t anyone else interested in you, I would agree,” he promised me. “But if he doesn’t kill me, my mom will.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I waved away his concern. “If he were really interested, why am I still unClaimed?”
Paul looked unsure. “I’m really sorry, Bethi.” His words held a note of finality.
“Whatever,” I mumbled and stood. When I turned, I caught Luke watching me from a few seats over. My eyes narrowed. He ignored me and looked at Paul, giving him a quick wink.
The dream hit me upside the head with a frying pan, and I staggered as I took a step toward the kitchen. The dizzy wave passed over me quickly, barely interrupting my slow progress. Still, Luke stood and moved to my side.
“Are you all right?” he asked with concern.
“Peachy,” I answered, tugging my arm from his grasp. Whatever dream waited, it waited impatiently. I could only imagine what horrors it wanted to share with me. I met Luke’s gaze. He had the power to change the message it bore just with his presence. Why did he continue to hurt me by keeping himself from me?
“I just need something to drink.”
He gave me a gentle smile that twisted my stomach with wishful thinking. “I’ll get it for you.”
He moved off to the kitchen. I moved off toward the doors.
I meant to go outside to find someone else to beg to be my valentine. Instead, I collapsed in the hall with a dream tripping my feet.
A thin, bare shell of darkness covered my eyes. I could easily see shapes through it. Swirls of grey floated in and out of my frame of vision. Voices whispered. Some sounded like grating, unintelligible noise. Others spoke in clear tones.
Regardless of the sounds of the voices, the message was clear. “Free us.”
Unable to move, blinking but seeing nothing more than shadow, I lay trapped in a hellish unfeeling world.
Then she came. She stood out in vibrant clarity, her taupe grown robbing the surrounding shades of grey of their unique beauty. Her pale face held a kindness I’d never before witnessed.
“Child,” she whispered. “You can see me as the others cannot. Stand strong though you lack Strength. Be calm though you lack Peace. Wait for Wisdom. She will find you.”
Pain burst in the back of my head. “Move!” someone yelled. I forced my small legs to move, taking steps into the unknown with hands outstretched, hoping I wouldn’t fall. Hoping that if I did, someone would catch me.
The dream shifted, pulling me deeper.
I ran through the tall grass, the fronds whipping my face, making tiny cuts as I passed. The dry rustle of the grass behind me marked my pursuers.
I struggled to pull myself from the dream. Why was I always running? Once again, I’d merged with my past self.
“Come on, little one. Tell us what you saw,” a voice laughed.
A claw raked my back parting flesh. I screamed in pain and terror.
“Bethi, wake up!”
I woke swinging. The flat of my palm connected with Luke’s face. He looked surprised and quickly captured my hand in his gentle fingers.
Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as the residual pain lingered on my back. “Get away from me.”
“Bethi, I’m sorry—”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry... Try being something else for a change. Like on time,” I snapped picking myself up off the floor.
Hurt reflected in his eyes as he picked up a glass from the floor and handed it to me. “Here’s the drink you asked for.”
I took the glass and watched him walk away. He was always doing that. Walking away. But then again, so was I. We were hopeless.
Chapter Fifteen