"Serena?"
A fogginess crept up toward me, making shapes difficult to discern.
"Serena, my sweet?"
I struggled to open my eyes more, to better see who spoke.
"Who wants to know?" I reply, squinting to peer through the fog. It was strange. I could almost make out a manly silhouette with wild hair, but just as quickly, the shape would move and I would doubt myself.
I could hear a smirk in the man's response. "It is of no concern of yours. Just know that I am here, and I am prepared to answer your questions. You did want answers, did you not?"
"How would you know that? The only one I spoke to was..." I trailed off, not wanting to reveal much to this strange man. "It doesn't matter who. The point is that I didn't tell you and therefore, you shouldn't know what I am looking for. Go away."
I try to walk away, but something holds me just where I stand.
"You're not going anywhere, my sweet. No...in fact, I think you will stay put. There is someone that wishes to speak with you," I see the man turn and motion for someone else out of sight to join us.
The new shadow waves his arms in front of him, shooing the fog away. "I have always hated how you do this, father. It is rather unnecessary."
The man which I spoke to before laughed deeply and stated, "It is all about the drama, the stage, the reaction! How many times have I told you that? One day, you will take my spot and you must learn my ways."
"When you disappear, I will not run your world your way. I will run it my way. With a woman at my side," I could feel his eyes leering at me now as he said it.
The first man roars with laughter and states, "Whatever you say, son. I shall leave you kids to it, then. Remember, do not remain here longer than ten minutes. If you do, there will be grave consequences. I'll see you at home, Damon." With that, he turns and walks into the darkness, disappearing entirely.
At the mention of his name, I snap my head towards the rebellious voice, shocked that I didn't recognize him before. Damon was standing in front of me now, his eyes smiling wickedly down at me, hands in his pockets, waiting for me to move.
Finally able to speak, I finally say aloud, "Damon. So that man was your father, then? Lucifer, was it?"
His smile widens. "I see Michael had some words with you. So you believe it then? His story?" His eyes continue staring at me, however now I notice a glimmer of uncertainty in them.
I hesitate before replying, "I didn't...at first. But now, after seeing him and you, I am starting to. Where are we?" I motion around us, which seems like a dark room with light filtering in from above.
"My room."
"Your room?"
"Yes. Why, does that scare you?"
"Not really. But what am I doing here? I don't even know where you live..." I trail off, noticing that as I am speaking, the walls are moving, shrinking back, revealing a sandy beach with waves crashing about and crabs scuttling away.
"What the hell? What have you done? What trickery is this?" I back up, scared.
"I haven't done anything, Serena," my name rolls off of his tongue so smoothly. "You obviously didn't like the original setting I chose so you changed it to one you found more peaceful. A rather beautiful sight, indeed, but not as beautiful as the girl standing in front of me now."
I look at him and notice him lick his lips. I glare at him, causing him to smirk at me.
"I have no interest in you, Damon."
"Then why did you search for me?" he cocks his head to the side.
"I didn't-" he cuts me off.
"You did. The only way I appear in one's dreams is when they are searching for me. Obviously you wanted to speak with me. About what, I wonder?" he murmurs the last part.
"So you really can travel through dreams? You appeared to Michael to tell him that if he wanted to end it all, that you would help him?"
Damon merely answered with a grin.
"That's terrible! You destroyed his life!"
"Oh, honey, he was going to die a week later, anyway. I was dating the Angel of Death at the time, you see. I knew the only escape was for him to be killed by me and be given a second chance."
"But you made him turn against the one true being that is holy in this world."
"That was my father's idea. If not, then he would have issued an order for war between both sides. I was only sacrificing one angel in order to save many..." he looked to the side, remembering.
"It was still cruel, but that's not why I wanted to speak with you. I didn't believe it at first, but apparently we knew each other. You made me fall in love with you in order to make me- You made me- With my brother..." I couldn't finish the sentence. I was getting choked up, tears welling up behind my eyes. Damon was watching me, silently. "You know what you made me do! Why? Why make me do it? Anyone could have! Why me? He was my brother!" I was shooting daggers at him with my eyes, the harshest look I have ever given anybody.
Looking down, he says quietly, "My father made me do it."
"That's not good enough!"
"Well it's the truth!" He fires back at me, eyes ablaze.
"My father told me to make you fall in love with me because that was the only way I could get you to kill your baby brother. He needed the blood of a five year old baby. The only one that had an older sister was your brother. The crime could only be committed by the hands of the sibling that was ten years older. A Diviner told him this; in order to continue living for another century, he had to acquire the blood of a five year old child, by the hands of their sibling of which was ten years older than the child. He sent me to you, Serena. I succeeded, and everything went almost perfectly. Except for one thing. I never expected to love you back," he says wondrously, looking up at me from his dark lashes, golden eyes burning.
"I never meant to cause you pain, or make you hate me. But I did hurt you. You never spoke to me after that, and a year later, I found out you had died. I'm not aware of the cause, however. I have been hunting for you ever since. I could never sense your presence after that, though. However, Michael had already been inhabiting the earth by that time. You met him shortly after me; apparently he had been watching us and knew what I had done. He stepped in and tried to heal your broken heart, but you died before he could do anything. He began hunting for your soul's aura once again, and I followed. It's been a while, but we found you. Him first, as always. I came a bit later, but I saw you two kissing, and how you had reacted to him...it broke me. I knew I had to taste you for myself, I knew you wouldn't like it, but I had to. Please..." he left off there, turning away.
I didn't know what to feel. He hurt me, because his father told him to? Yet he loved me? It didn't make sense...
I looked at him, and said, "I have one question for you. Did we kiss before you asked me to...you know?"
Nodding, he looked at the sky. "It's time," he stated bluntly before looking at me. "You have to wake up now."
"Wait! I have more questions!" I tried to reach for him but he stepped back, smiling sadly.
"We will talk again, shortly. Meet me in the morning, at the beach."
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Then he was gone, and my eyes fluttered open.
"Finally! I have been calling your name for ages!" exclaims the annoyed roommate of mine.
Christine yanked open the curtains and looked at me oddly. She picks up Tiger, who is pacing the floor by her feet and says to me, "Your eyes...they look less frazzled this morning. Must have been a good sleep then?"
Smiling, I nod. I had a good feeling today. I felt like going to the beach, yet didn't know why. All I could remember from my dreams was the image of a beach and flaming hair. Shrugging, I threw my slippers on and headed for the bathroom. I couldn't wait to feel the sand under my toes!
