Joseph said, “It doesn’t. But you’re the fated one of two vampires. Surely you understand what that means?”
Laurie cursed. “I swear, Joseph, you’re being entirely too honest right now.”
As Meadow looked between them, someone pounded on the door. “Let us in, Laurie and Joseph. Now.”
Ah, it seemed Leo Yates, the vampire Dark Lord of London, had arrived.
Chapter Three
Meadow stood on the far side of the room, still trying to digest everything the vampires had told her, when someone pounded on the door and said, “Let us in, Laurie and Joseph. Now.”
It was yet another male with a British accent. Why in the world would she dream of so many Brits? Yes, she loved the accents and often watched too many British dramas whenever she was in a reading slump. But everyone speaking with accents in a dream was definitely a first for her.
Laurie crossed the room, unlocked the door, and opened it. A slightly older and taller version of Laurie, with the same dark hair and brown eyes, pushed his way inside. His eyes finally found Meadow’s and widened.
But she barely had a chance to take in yet another vampire before a familiar voice asked, “Meadow? Is that really you?”
Yesenia?She searched until she found her older sister. She looked exactly the same, except for the weird shirt and skirt she was wearing.
Could she be real?
“Meadow?”
River pushed his way forward to stand next to Yesenia.
Was this real? Were they actually still alive?
They both opened their arms, and with a sob, Meadow ran across the room into Yesenia’s arms. River’s then engulfed them both.
As she hugged her sister tighter, tears streamed down her face. Oh, how she wanted this to be real. And yet, her siblings looked as if they hadn’t aged a day since the last time she saw them, over three years ago.
So this must be a dream.
Not knowing how long she had before she woke up, she moved an arm so she could do a three-way hug that included her brother.
For the first time in years, she felt a mixture of safety and happiness.
After at least a minute of Yesenia murmuring soothing words and River holding her close, River spoke up. “This isn’t a dream, Meadow. I promise.”
She leaned back a bit, until she could glance at her older brother. “But isn’t that what my dream brother would say, to make me feel better?”
“Maybe. Although we’ll convince you, eventually. If Yesenia could do it with me, about being in the past, we both can do it with you, too.”
“I want this to be real, and yet I can’t believe it.”
Yesenia smiled at her before plucking something from Meadow’s hair. She held it up. “Why are there leaves in your hair?”
She shook her head. “That doesn’t matter right now. You say I’m not dreaming, but how? I don’t understand.”
“Come,” Yesenia said. “Let’s sit down in the nearby parlor, and we can answer some of your questions, and you can answerours, too. Because you look older, Meadow. What year is it for you?”
“2025.”
Yesenia closed her eyes, and then a tear trickled down her cheek. “I’m so sorry, Meadow, so very sorry that I couldn’t bring you from earlier. I thought I had gotten it right, but it seems I’m not as skilled as I thought I was.”
River placed a comforting hand on Yesenia’s shoulder. “You did the best you could, Senia. You know it.”
The older male who looked like Laurie grunted and put a hand on Yesenia’s lower back. “The fact you accomplished as much as you did in such a short time is brilliant, love. She’s here now, and that’s all that matters.”
