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“I am coming, witch. Your power saved you this time, but I am coming. I am coming for you. I am coming. I am…” The words repeated, echoing over and over again until each time was like a spike being hammered through her mind.
She screamed, wordless and rage filled, she screamed until her throat felt raw and bloody. Screaming, screaming…
“Hazel! Hazel, wake up!”
It took a moment for her to realize where she was. No longer in that place of fire, she felt out and realized she was still lying on her bed, in her bedroom, in her house. And there was someone else there with her. Fear still clung to her like grease from the terrible nightmare and she shrieked a little, her eyes popping open but her racing heart beat slowed when she saw Jayce’s now familiar face.
“Oh, my god, you scared me! What are you doing in my room?”
“What am I doing?” He sounded exasperated as he reached for her, scooping her up in his strong arms, ignoring her squawk of protest. “I am saving you.”
“Saving me? Saving me from what?”
Jayce turned slightly so that she could see even as he continued moving out of the room. Her violet eyes widened in shock at the destruction of her room. Nika was busy putting out the fire that still tried to lick up the drapes, the desk was charred to a crisp and the rug was still smoking in places.
“What...What happened?”
“You happened, sweet witch.”
“No, don’t. Don’t call me that.” Hazel shivered again in his arms and he must have read some of her anxiety because he tightened them, not letting her go until she was tucked firmly next to him on the big overstuffed couch in the living room, a blanket wrapped around her and a steaming hot mug of tea with a generous splash of bourbon forced into her hands.
Jayce and Nika sat on either side of her, all fires safely put out, and it looked like Nika had borne the brunt of firefighter duties. There was ash smeared on his cheeks and forehead and a slight burn on his fingertips that made Hazel cringe every time she saw it.
“Now, tell us what happened.” Nika said as he sat forward, urging her to take another sip when he noticed her trembling
“I don’t really know. I was sleeping. I had a nightmare…” Hazel trailed off, memories of that awful dream rising like the smoke that now stained her bedroom, “It was terrible. I had a nightmare about Eidolon of all things.”
They both immediately sat up, their expressions growing much more concerned and it didn’t help her contain her fear at all.
“What happened in the dream? Tell us exactly what happened.” The seriousness in Jayce’s voice had her sitting on the edge of the couch. She didn’t want to relive those memories but there was something in his shining, golden eyes that compelled her to anyways.
“Well, there was a lot of fire, and then he was just there, sort of floating in the flames, or maybe he was part of the flames, I’m not really sure,” Hazel struggled to find the right words to describe the nightmare, “He was just...powerful. Really powerful. He made me feel so small, and then he said…” she stopped again, this time Jayce wrapped an arm around her shoulder, holding her tight against his chest.
“What did he say?”
“He said I was his deliverer,” Hazel shivered in his warm grasp, “He said he was coming for me. That he, that he was going to drain my blood. He is going to try and kill me.” She ended on the barest whisper, and Jayce tightened his grip even more, reclining until she was almost laying down on top of him, wrapped snuggly in the blanket and his embrace. Nika reached out, rubbing his hand gently up and down her calf, soothing her.
“It’s okay, it’s over now. Just go back to sleep.”
“Will you stay with me?” Hazel whispered, her eyes already sliding shut as exhaustion once more overtook her.
“Of course, little witch. We’ll be here.” Nika said softly, but she was already asleep. He looked over at Jayce who still had his arms around her and found the same expression burning in his gold eyes that he was sure was in his own silver. With a sigh, he settled back on the couch, his hand never leaving its spot on Hazel’s leg.
