Chapter 4

The dreams I have are usually the same, but this one for some reason is different. I don't know what made me want to run in the first place, but I'm running through a dark forest, the long fabric of my nightgown tangles through my legs. I don't hear it, but I can feel something chasing after me. I stop suddenly, a massive tree was blocking my path. My breath comes out harshly and I freeze when the air becomes still and quiet. I can feel whatever was chasing me stand behind me although It made no noise. I hold my breath, waiting for something to happen. Nothing does. I start to shake slightly, anticipation making me restless. I wait for what seems like forever. Eventually I can't stand the silence anymore.

"What do you want?" My whisper barely gets past my lips but I know it hears me.

I'm not sure why I spoke or asked that question. A part of me wanted to run away screaming like I usually would, the other part wanted to know why this creature had been invading my dreams these past weeks. I had no inclination of why this was happening to me. Maybe I was overthinking things. My mother always told me I had an overactive imagination. Dreams are dreams, they aren't real-

I jump in surprise when I feel fingers in my hair.

That feels real

A hand gently runs through my long hair and my scalp tingles from the touch. Unintentionally, my eyes close on their own and a small sigh escapes my lips. I can feel the creature lean in and inhale my scent. Its chest rumbles with a deep growl that gives me shivers down to the bone.

"I want you."

My eyes flash open at the sound of its voice. Or should I say his voice. The creature that has been in my dreams is definitely a male.

He moves my hair from my neck and brings his nose in close, his breath tickling the sensitive area behind my ear. He inhales deeply, then brings both of his hands to my shoulders and slowly runs them down my arms. I don't see him but my skin prickles with goose flesh at his touch. His hands feel hard and hot. Like almost scorching hot. I never felt anything like it. I certainly never felt this way when Michael and the other men touched me. I felt repulsed by them. However, for some reason I feel the opposite with this creature's touch. I want to turn and face him but his grip tightens on my arms when I try to turn around.

"Why do you want me?" I ask shakily.

His hold on me tightens again before releasing me completely. I spin around and expect to find him there, but I find nothing. As if there wasn't anything there to begin with. His voice sounds in my head, almost like an echo.

"Because you're meant to be mine."

…

…

I wake with a gasp. I'm breathing hard and I'm sweaty. I slowly sit up and rub my arms. I can still feel the warmth from where he touched me. I look over and see that my sisters are still sleeping, unaware of what just occurred. As how it should be. I won't burden them with my strange dreams. Yes, that is all that they are. Dreams are not real. Not real… I eventually fall back into a restless sleep, the creature's words ringing in my head.

…

…

Eliza watches me with concerned eyes as I stifle a yawn for the dozenth time. "Child, are you not sleeping well?"

I clear my throat and busy myself with crushing herbs. "Not lately no." A dark creature visits my dreams every night and makes me feel things low in my body that are confusing to me. Not that Eliza needs to know that.

"What's wrong?" She asks.

"Just worrying about my situation with Michael." I say. Which wasn't a complete lie. There wouldn't be any point in telling anyone what he did to me. His family are very influential in the town, not to mention he's a man. They would believe him over me and label me as a whore, which would ruin my prospects of marriage in this village. I have to admit that last thought was appealing. I didn't want to marry any man from this village. Plus, I'm too ashamed to tell my family with what happened.

Eliza starts to boil some herb mixture. "What situation? You told him you wouldn't marry him."

That's all well and good but she doesn't know that Michael threatened to harm my father if I didn't marry him. "He's the kind of man that doesn't take no for an answer," I say with a frown.

She snorts. "Well then my dear make him understand that no means no."

I grit my teeth in frustration. If only it were that easy. "I don't think I'll be getting out of this."

Something in my voice made her look at me. "If the prospect of marrying Michael is so unappealing to you, which I know it is, then you have other options," She says, stirring her boiling pot.

I couldn't think of any. "Like what?" I ask.

"Choose another man to marry."

"No," I say instantly.

"Leave the village."

"Leave the village?!" I practically scream,

She shoots me a startled look. "Why of course. Move to a new area, start a new life. One that you want. People do it all the time." She waves a hand.

I sigh, "I can't leave my family, they need me."

She shakes her head. "No they don't. Both of your sisters are to be married soon and your father is a grown man. They would be happy for you."

"I don't think they would be happy about me gallivanting off to other places on my own." Rosalie would have a fit.

Eliza stops what she's doing and walks over to me. She places her hand on top of mine. "Child, don't make this situation complicated. It's your life, live it how you want. To hell with everyone else," she says with a smile, her older face lighting up.

I couldn't help but smile back. "I'll do my best." She stares at me for a moment.

Her face grows solemn. "You have a very rare but powerful gift my dear. Very few can do what you can; drawing out your spirit to help others heal. I have taught you all that I can about this but to an extent."

I frown at her words. "What do you mean?"

"I don't possess the greater power to heal as you do. My style of healing is much more refined in nature, such as herbs. You're what is called a spirit healer. I cannot teach you about your power because it is something you have to learn for yourself. From healing a small ailment, to bringing back a person from the point of death, those are all things that you will have to figure out for yourself." She places her hand on my cheek and smiles sadly. "But you must be careful of who you tell about your gift. Some would be most grateful for it," her eyes dim. "And some would not. There are those out there who would view your gift as an abomination."

"They would?" I ask, bewildered.

She nods. "People fear what they don't understand my child. It has been many centuries since the last spirit healer was condemned for their gift, so I don't think the people would know to look for spirit healers anymore. There might be others but the only one I know of is you."

"What did they do to condemn spirit healers?" I ask curiously.

"People believed a spirit healer's ability was a form of witchcraft… and you know what they do to witches," She says slowly.

I feel the blood drain from my face. I knew the stories. They burned accused witches at the stake or worse… much worse. Keep them alive long enough to prolong torture. It happened so long ago that it's just fabled horror stories now.

She smiles at me reassuringly. "I didn't mean to frighten you my dear. There hasn't been any witch condemns in a very long time so I think you're safe on this one, but what I said is still true; you must be careful of who you tell about your gift. Just to be safe."

I nod slowly and go back to crushing herbs. There was a lot going through my mind. Only Eliza knows about my gift, not even my family knows. They know that I want to be a healer, but they don't know of the power that I hold. I knew the exact moment of when I wanted to be a healer. I was a little girl at the time, around seven or eight. I was running through a meadow when I noticed a bird on the ground. A swallow actually. It had a broken wing and couldn't fly. I felt a pull in my chest and picked up the bird, ignoring the frantic tweets it was giving. I don't know how I healed the wing, but I laid my fingers gently on the bird and closed my eyes. The pull I felt in my chest grew and grew until I felt it leave my body in a wave of warmth. I opened my eyes and to my shock the bird flew out of my hands, healed. From that day on I knew that I wanted to help people. I felt that if I had such a great power, I could not not help others. It would be blasphemy to ignore such a gift.

I understand now what Eliza was saying. In order to keep doing what I love and help people, I have to take precautions to insure my safety, but to also those around me, such as my family and also Eliza. I would never forgive myself if they got hurt because of me. I feel my face harden. I won't let Michael hurt them. Even if I have to accept his proposal to spare them, I'll do it, but I'm hoping I won't have to. I shudder at the thought of him or his brother touching me. I considered the idea of leaving the village. If I did, Michael might come after me. He would hurt my family if I left and I couldn't live with myself if that happened. Not to mention I had a strong urge to stay. Yes, I will stay and fight him. I don't know how I'll do it, but I swore to myself he would never touch me again, and I meant it. I'm not one for violence, but I'll do what I have to. Then again… maybe I won't need to be violent. I just need to be smart about it. Eliza's shop has various herbs that do many different things. Determination sets across my face. The next time Michael, Tyler or James confront me, I'll be prepared.