Page 18 of To Crave Darkly
“Lori, wake up now.”
There was that voice again, power reverberating through every syllable despite the command being spoken softly.
Didn’t he understand I couldn’t move? If only I knew what was happening to me. If only I could see where I was. Would the owner of the voice help me? Could he see where…
A searing hot sensation spread across my lips, as if I had been kissed by fire. I bolted awake and opened my eyes into a blaze of bright white light. Perhaps I really was dead?
No, wait.
Everything was coming back into focus. I shielded my eyes from the sun as I took in my new surroundings. Soft golden sand stretched out in front of me as far as my eyes could see and the sound of waves crashing in the distance carried on the warm breeze. I was on a beach. But not only was I on a beach, I was on a lounger in a bright red bikini with a cocktail in hand. How did I end up here? I tried to recall how I got here but my memory was all fuzzy, like my mind rebelled at the idea of recalling anything before this moment.
“Hello, sleepy head,” that rich voice spoke to my left and my head snapped round to find its source.
My eyes connected with a gaze so dark, so unnaturally black that my breath caught in my chest. It was like staring into the maw of a void. They were bottomless and I felt myself falling for an eternity the longer I stared into them. They were beautiful but so inhuman.
Then they blinked, releasing me from their captive hold and I noticed they weren’t completely black. I could see a flicker of red tinged the edge of his irises, like a flame dancing on hot coals. An unbidden shiver of fear crept up my spine and took hold of me as I stared into their fathomless depths. An amused smile played about his mouth as he watched me drink him in. And what a mouth it was, all sinful curves that looked like they were made to entice secrets from your soul. I had no idea who this man was, but he was so good-looking he made my eyes hurt and my stomach churn.
“Where am I?” I asked, glad my voice didn’t betray my fear.
“This is a dream, Lori, but I think the sea and the sand give it away.” He laughed, a rich deep rumble that sounded like thunder in a storm. He wouldn’t take his eyes off me. I wasn’t sure if it was flattering or creepy, but something about him was odd. If this was my dream, who was he and where had he come from? I thought dreams manifested from your subconscious, I was going to seriously start worrying about myself if I had managed to drag this guy from mine.
There was something about him that instantly felt just a little sinister. Maybe I was painting him in a bad light. This place was eerie, and it seemed to capture him in its strange embrace. He was probably fine out of the context of this place.
“Who are you? This can’t be a dream; I’ve never seen you before.”
“Always such a bright spark. It’s one of the things I have always liked about you.” He smiled at me with that wicked mouth of his, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Something about the way he smiled made me think he only knew how to use his smile to manipulate people. It wasn’t natural, and that somehow made me feel sad for him. Had he never known joy?
I reached my hand out and cupped his cheek. It was rough and warm beneath my fingers. If I didn’t know I was dreaming, I would have thought this exchange real.
He leaned into my hand until surprise flared in his expression. He pulled away from me, covering his movement with a nervous cough. He looked out towards the ocean for a moment and I had the opportunity to look at the rest of him. He was laid out on the lounger next to me, so I had no idea how tall he was, but his frame looked solid and his legs looked long. He was dressed casually in slacks and a shirt that was open, displaying a rather toned physique. As my eyes drifted up his frame and back to his face, he folded his arms behind his head and allowed me to drink him in. He was clearly toying with me, putting himself on display for me to gawk at like a kid in a candy shop.
“Enjoying the view?” he muttered. He knew I was. This man was perfect. From what I could see he bore no flaws, his skin was perfect; Hell, every inch of him was perfect. He could have been sculpted by an Italian master. I would have to be blindnotto enjoy the view.
“I’ve seen better,” I snorted. I wasn’t going to let this guy know how he affected me.
He turned to me, sniffed the air and then licked his lips. A moan escaped his mouth. Heat settled between my thighs. Nothing should sound that delicious.
“Lie to me again, Lori. Yours taste exquisite.”
Fire danced in his eyes. Did he just eat my lie? What was he? He definitely wasn’t human, and even though I’d really only met one vampire, I knew he wasn’t one of those. One thing I did know for certain was that he was one of the scariest beings I’d encountered, human or otherwise, and I just happened to be clad in a skimpy bikini. Could this get any more surreal?
“How did I get here?” I asked.
A dark smile tugged the corners of his mouth. “You’re dying.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry, you won’t actually die. I am sure the vampire will save you.” His voice held a trace of bitterness, but I couldn’t understand why. How odd. To be sat on a phantom beach whilst my body gave out in the real world. Laughter bubbled up my throat at the absurdity of it all, which in itself was laughable. I should be panic-stricken, or screaming, but I was soaking up the sun drinking Mai Tais with a handsome stranger. I suppose if this was the end, it was a nice way to go. I wouldn’t mind this version of an afterlife.
I looked back out to the beach that stretched before me. It felt so real. I could taste the salt of the sea in the air, feel the tendrils of my hair against my skin as they got caught in the gentle breeze. This wasn’t just a dream. There was a purpose to this place. I could feel it.
“Seriously, what is this place?”
He pursed his lips in thought. “It’s like a waiting room. It’s different for everyone, when you’re caught in that moment between life and death your soul lingers here, waiting to be claimed. Then you move on to wherever you have been deemed worthy to spend your eternity.”
“Have you come to claim me?”
“No. It’s not your turn.”
