Page 44 of Woven Souls

Usually, the haunting sound of Eleanor’s laughter follows me into consciousness.

But for the past week, my nightmares have changed. I didn’t think they could get worse. Oh, but they have. Now, they start the same, but halfway through, I suddenly find that I’m no longer in Everlast withher. I’m standing outside under the stars holding a beautiful woman in my arms. I’m forcing her to stand in front of me while I allow another to stab her. No matter how hard I try, my hands refuse to let her go and nothing happens when I try to pull her away from the oncoming blade. Her cries for mercy are loud. So loud that I can hear them even as my eyes fly open, and the nightmare slips away.

Tonight, my dream changes again.

This time, the nightmares fade, and I find myself walking through a dimly lit restaurant. It’s crowded. The low murmur of conversation at each table merges together to create a dull hum. Couples and small parties dressed in fancy clothes have gathered to dine with one another. When I walk into the room, everyone grows quiet and looks up at me.

At first, I can’t figure out why.

Something gently pulls at my arm. Looking down, I find a woman in a black dress holding onto me. My breath catches in my throat while the world comes a halt. She’s stunning. Not only that, tonight she’s holding onto me for dear life. The warm glow of the candlelight gives her face an ethereal look. She’s distracted, worry marring her beautiful face as she looks around the room.

Suddenly, I’m tugging the woman into a dark corner. Her green eyes lock onto my face with surprise before her gaze drifts to my lips. Her own are parted as she pants, suddenly breathless. My own breathing is unsteady as my heart races. I want to taste those full lips. I can’t remember a time when I’ve wanted anything more. Before I can lean down to do so, the woman’s green eyes sink into her skull until only dark shadows remain.

You aren’t scared of me? Her deep sultry voice echoes around me, coming from all directions.

I bolt upright on the couch, jolted from my dream.

Instead of waking up with sinister laughter chasing me or sweat coating my body, this morning I awake with an erection as hard as goddamn stone. I suck in a deep breath. My erection throbs between my legs, demanding that I reach down to relieve myself.

Before I can move my hand, the sound of footsteps catches my attention. As they pad around upstairs, I can tell they’re Willow’s, even with a slight limp. What’s she doing up so early? Last night, after eating a quick, frozen meal, Willow, Kwil, and Jonah stole away upstairs. I watched them, strangely envious of their situation. Instead of retiring upstairs to my room, I fell asleep on the couch.

I grab the long sleeve button up shirt I wore for dinner last night off the back of the couch and shove my arms through the sleeves. I forgo buttoning it as I adjust my erection in my boxers.

Fucking boxers. Willow had bought meboxers.

“I didn’t know if you were a boxer or briefs guy, so I went for whatever looked the most comfortable.”

She picked right. They are the most comfortable item of clothing I’ve ever worn. My erection slides against the silky soft cotton, doing nothing to ease the tension there.

The evidence of my desire doesn’t settle by the time Willow’s footsteps come down the stairs. It’s obvious she’s being careful not to wake anyone. Frowning, I sit there as she makes it to the bottom. It’s nearly dawn but still dark in the house, so she doesn’t see me as she glances around. From the sound of her rapidly beating heart, she’s nervous. Quickly, she disappears around the corner.

Curious about her strange behavior, I get up and follow her. I find Willow standing in the middle of the dark kitchen, her breathing growing more rapid. Her heart is fluttering at an alarming rate.

“Willow?”

She jumps with a gasp and whirls around.

“Viktor?” Her panting slows as she raises a hand to cover her heart. “What are you doing up?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” I don’t make a move towards her, letting her have some space. “Are you alright?”

In the dim light, I can see her nodding.

“Yeah, I just had a nightmare.”

What nightmares plague the daughter of Death? I reach over and flick on the lights. We both blink as our eyes adjust.

“What areyoudoing up?” she asks me.

“Nightmares.”Kind of…I take a step towards her as she starts to wring her hands. Clearly whatever woke her is still bothering her. “Want to talk about it?”

She shakes her head as I walk around her to grab a glass from one of the cupboards. After filling it with water, I offer it to her, and Willow takes it with a shaky half smile before sucking it down.

“Actually, I do want to talk about it,” she says, pinning me with a steely look.

I force myself not to smile at the haughty tone I’ve grown used to hearing from her. Leaning against the refrigerator, I cross my arms and give Willow my full attention. Her eyes search my face.

“My nightmares are aboutthatnight,” she starts, her mouth pulling down. “I can’t escape it. There is a whole lot of yelling. I’m pleading with Theo to listen, but he won’t hear me. I can’t escape your grip no matter how hard I struggle. I just… I can’tmove.And then there’s Kwil, who just stands there, watching.”

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