‘How can someone look so good?’
As the thought flitted through Scarlett’s mind, she widened her eyes and composed herself.
“Thanks, but your input is not needed,” Scarlett responded as she took a step back. She'd worn one of her black sweaters with plain faded jeans and felt underdressed compared to him. It was odd that he was dressed so formally and yet, casually. Nobody else should have been there. In all the times she’d gone to this spot, not once had anyone gone by. A feeling of unease settled in the pit of her stomach. Scarlett needed to leave.
“How rude of me,” the man shook his head with a light laugh. “Let me introduce myself. I am Cain.”
He extended his arm and held it out for a shake. He gave Scarlett a grin that looked anything but friendly. She kept her hands to her sides and made no move to shake his. Instead, she raised a brow and cocked her head.
‘Who the hell is he?’
He kept his expression passive and gave no sign aside from a glint in his eye. As much as she wanted to be irritated by this handsome man, she found herself dangerously intrigued.
‘He is quite good-looking.’ Scarlett shook her head and scoffed at the thought. Something about him drew her, not that she’d let it be known to him. Instead, Scarlett moved to make her way around Mr. mysterious to go back home.
‘This is ridiculous.’ She made sure to keep the width of space between Cain as she circled past. Scarlett laughed under her breath for even entertaining the lingering thoughts and the unknown man before her.
Cain kept his eyes on her as a predator would with its prey. He kept his expression neutral, not letting a single sign of a twitch pass. He’d perfected the art and joy sparked within him as he knew he’d accomplished his objective. As she passed, Cain released a whispering slither of his power and let it caress her cheek.
Scarlett stopped dead in her tracks. The familiarity of the caress had her whipping her head around, only to find Cain gone. She glanced all around to not find a single trace of him.
He’d vanished.
Her body went rigid and she grew torn at the feelings that coursed through her.
The caress was the same she’d felt at the gateway.
When the wind was carrying her backward and when the muck was crawling its way up her body.
∞
Scarlett rushed her way back home, not once glancing back. She kept to herself, deciding to not tell anyone about her mysterious encounter.
‘Who was he?'
‘What was that feeling?’
‘Was it even from him?’
‘Where else would it have come from?’
All these questions, but not a single answer. Lost in her thoughts, Scarlett hadn’t noticed someone turning the corner of the hall. They knocked heads and the person fell backward onto the floor. Scarlett stayed standing and clutched her head in her hand. The spot of impact warmed and gave a dull throb.
“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention!” Scarlett rushed as she stretched her hand out. She’d bumped into one of the help that assisted in maintaining their home. The lady had a book in her arms and rubbed her head.
“It is fine, I wasn’t paying attention either.” The woman grabbed a hold of Scarlett’s hand and got up from the floor. She finally glanced up and realized who she’d bumped into.
“Oh, Scarlett! You’re here dear. Your mother is awaiting you up in her bedroom.”
Scarlett paused before nodding at the lady and thanking her for relaying the message.
She wondered what the talk would be about now. The last time her parents requested her presence, things didn’t exactly go well. Scarlett made her way up to her parents’ bedroom, as it was on the second floor and a few halls down from hers. She reached their wide double doors and let herself in.
Cher and Roger stood in the middle of the room facing each other. They’d finally changed and showered. Whatever they were discussing was dropped as soon as Scarlett entered the room.
“Ah, you’re back.” Her mother walked up to her and gave a quick hug. “Tonight will be your first official day as a Dreamer and you’ll need to learn the ups and downs of the realm.”
Scarlett’s heartbeat rose, in excitement or fear, she didn’t know. Maybe it was both. Her mother kept a hand on her shoulder as she led her towards the bed in the middle of the room while her father moved toward the door. “You two have fun and be careful; I’ve got some other duties to take care of. Love you both.”
As her father left, Scarlett’s breath quickened at a realization. Cher caught the look that flashed across Scarlett’s face. “You won’t have to go through that twice, it’s only the first time. The times that follow are even quite blissful. I promise.”
At her mother’s reassurance, Scarlett took deep breaths as she lowered onto the bed. Her mother went around and laid next to Scarlett. They faced the ceiling as a silence washed over them. Feeling the pull from her mind, Scarlett searched for her mother’s hand and gripped it. It was squeezed back and before she knew it, she was taken under the darkness and light.
Six
A yellow ceiling greeted Scarlett as she blinked her eyes open. She slowly sat up as confusion filled her.
“Back here?” she murmured as she glanced around the empty bedroom. Footsteps alerted Scarlett and she snapped her gaze to the door as her mother walked through.
Cher no longer wore the casual clothes she had on back home. Instead, she wore a dark magenta armor, similar to one she’d seen on Chad when she first woke up in this place. It fit perfectly to her form and was carved with intricate symbols making Scarlett’s eyes widen in awe.
“How’re you feeling?” Cher asked as she walked around the bed. “Look at your armor!”
Scarlett glimpsed down and noticed what she was wearing. A light gray armor covered her body and fit snuggly, hugging every curve. Yet, it was hard at the same time. She shifted to get out of the bed and found that it was incredibly easy to move around. Although the armor was thick, it gave way for all movement.
Upon seeing her attire, Scarlett noticed that her mother's had more bulk and a dark red cloth hung between her shoulders on the back. Everything else looked as if it were melded for her body.
Cher took notice of Scarlett’s gaze. “Every Dreamer comes into Ever Realm in their armor. The oldest and most experienced have developed theirs with personal designs, added armor, and scars from their battles. Young Dreamers have plain ones at first.”
“Do I get to choose the color of my armor?”
“The color of your armor chooses you.” Scarlett nodded at her mother's words and gave the room a look with her nose scrunched upward. “Will I be waking up here every time?”
“Yes, for now. This is your designated wake-up room and you can thank your sister for that. Until you get your place in Ever Realm, you’ll be seeing her ugly choice in color.” Cher laughed out the last of her words as a burst of laughter left Scarlett.
‘I couldn’t agree more.’ Jenna had a strange obsession with yellow.
Cher walked toward the giant window in front of the bed and slid the glass to the side. Scarlett hadn’t noticed it was a sliding door.
“We’re going out there?” Scarlett wrung her fingers as she tried to gulp down the dryness of her throat.