Blood and Dreams ~A Vampire's Desire

Blood And Dreams ~A Vampire's Desire~

By Karen Walker Goin

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2010 Karen Walker Goin

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

For my wonderful children, without them my world would be empty.

To my adoring family, you are all valued beyond compare.

To Ms. Whately, thank you for helping me achieve my dreams

PREFACE

Chloe never truly understood how much her human life meant to others. If she had known her world was going to turn upside down, she may never have taken the summer vacation she always dreamt about. Sadly enough, her memories never allowed her to dream of what was to come, until now.

Chapter 1-Realm of Fantasy

Seventeen- year- old Chloe Hendricks, was a beautiful, dark- haired, dark-eyed girl, who avoided large crowds, did her homework on time, and never gave her mother any trouble. But trouble found her.

Do you need a ride home? I’m leaving now. Amy said, her short blonde hair barely reaching her shoulders. Chloe watched quietly as Amy zipped up her jacket.

No thanks, I can walk home. It’s only a few blocks. Chloe answered.

I can wait, if you would like. And it’s late. Are you sure you don’t want me to? Amy asked.

I only have a few more things to do. You go ahead, I will be okay. Chloe replied, as she filed the last recording in the record drawer.

Be careful, Amy said, stepping forward to embrace the young dark-haired girl. I also mean when you get to Ireland. You make sure you take plenty of pictures. Maybe we could get your Aunt to frame a few? Amy raised her eyebrows waiting for Chloe’s reply.

I’ll be careful. Besides, Luke will take care of me. I don’t think he’ll let me out of his sight very much. He’s pretty protective. Chloe added. Amy patted her friend on the shoulder and sighed. She knew Chloe was about to embark on the summer of her dreams, and felt a little envious herself.

Okay then, bye Chloe, and have fun! Amy said as Chloe watched her grab the last of her things and head out the door.

Once Amy was gone, she hurried to finish her duties, putting the art works lying on the counter back in there holders, and began to lock up for the night. She flipped the last light switch off, leaving a blanket of darkness through the halls of the school, found her jacket and keys and headed to the door. The thrill of accomplishment filled her. Tomorrow, she would be in the land of her dreams.

When she stepped outside, a chill of cold crept up her spine as the icy wet air swirled around her. Shivering in the cool night air, she buttoned her jacket up to the collar, locked the entrance behind her and let out a long sigh. She was thankful her shift was over, at least for a few months. Chloe shoved her hands deep into her jacket pockets and stepped out into the dark wet street.

The rain fell on her, saturating her hair within seconds of making contact. She reached for the hood of her jacket, pulling it over her soaked hair as her warm breath steamed out in front of her. It was nearly impossible for her to see past the sheets of water that fell from the sky. She had begun to regret not taking the ride Amy had offered, within seconds. If she had, at least she would be warm and dry and probably at home by now.

She knew she had always wanted to do things her way, sometimes with dire consequences, sometimes with lessons learned. Tonight, she thought, was one of those times where the lesson was being learned as she fidgeted in her wet clothes. Reflecting, she hoped she would learn this lesson enough, that she would never want to repeat it again.

The silence of the night was frightening in its own way, but what was more frightening were the strange tapping sounds that began to echo from behind her as she walked. Chloe’s heart picked up speed as the noises startled her, and her heart raced. She turned to look behind herself, unable to see anything behind her in the street. That didn’t stop her fear, she still felt the undeniable presence of something close behind and that feeling wasn’t going away.

The block seemed to be void of all life except for hers, but what scared her most was something she couldn’t see. Her mind jumped to the frightening scenario that nearly a block away in the bushes at the Thomas’s, someone could be hiding waiting to attack. Even though this was a small town, it had its fair share of crime and you never knew what might be hiding around the corner, she thought. Chloe wished she had taken her own car or at least she was not all alone.

She should have only heard the pounding of the raindrops on the pavement, or at least a car passing by on the adjacent street, but no, it was something different, footsteps.

Holding her breath, she began praying whoever it was would go away. She imagined perhaps it was someone finishing their nightly jog, and had been caught in the rain. Whoever it was she hoped they were not coming after her. She did not want to embarrass herself if it had been some random jogger, but wondered how she could protect herself.

Only a few dark houses lined the blackened street, and the water drains were heavy with the overflow of water flooding the pavement. She could see no movement of any living being as she scoured her surroundings. If something were following her, it was invisible. How could she protect herself from something she couldn’t see? She wondered.

"There is nothing to be afraid of," she told herself out loud, thinking she was making things up in her mind. The footsteps continued, and were closer with each step she made nearer to home. She picked up her pace as the wind whipped the rain harder into her face, stabbing like icy daggers against her skin.

She began to envision how easily a small framed, dark-haired, dark-eyed; girl could turn up on the news as missing. After all, she had no way to protect herself from whatever could be following her, even if she couldn’t see it.

Chloe imagined the headline in the local newspaper; Seventeen-year-old Chloe Hendricks Lost in the Downpour.

What a way to disappear.

With her heart now thudding loudly in her chest, bellowing out an uneven rhythm, her fear began to take hold, and she felt sick to her stomach. The sound came from within inches of her last footstep, it was loud and terrifying; the thud of someone’s shoe smacking against the pavement behind her, and a growl. She was too afraid now to look behind herself, as she fought for the strength to make it home. She told herself quietly; not to scream.

It’s nothing! She tried to convince herself, out loud. No one is out here but you. It’s just the rain splashing in the puddles. But somehow she knew better. She knew something was following her, and they had made their presence known. She wondered what would make a sound like that as she came closer to the corner. Turning quickly she looked behind her one last time.

As she rounded the corner, home was in sight. The small, one story house was dark, and it seemed her mother had already gone to bed. What if the thing that was following her already knew this, and planned its attack at her intended destination? Could she escape it? She worried.

She bolted for the door, bounding her body onto the front porch, her fingers trembling as she tried to place the key into the lock. Chloe’s eyes were wild with fear, as she glared at her surroundings. Feverishly she tried to pick out any form that didn’t belong there in the darkness of the seemingly abandoned street. The dead lock turned, and she slid inside slamming the door, locking it behind her.

Her lungs burned with the warm dry air from inside. Her heart was beating out of control as she struggled to take in a deep breath. The warm air lit her on fire inside, burning her lungs with each breath. Chloe leaned against the door until she could breathe more easily, trying to regain her composure.

Now that she had made it home, she worried that whatever may have followed her, might still be out there somewhere, watching. She could not pretend that she hadn’t been frightened out of her mind, and needing to convince herself it had all been her imagination, she took another look into the darkness.

Tugging the curtain back slowly to see if anyone was waiting for her, watching her, she thought, surely someone would be standing in the street staring back at her. Uncertain if this was something she could deal with if she were to see them; she peered out into the darkness as the street lamp glowed. There was no one standing in the cul-de-sac.

Chloe let out a sigh of relief, and just as she did, something dark moved past the trees at lightning speed. It was so fast it was a blur flashing past her sight, but she had seen it. She dropped the curtain, hoping it had been some sort of animal. Yes, an animal could have made the growling sound she had heard, she thought; wanting to believe that is what it had to be. She looked again, searching the street and the driveway with her eyes from left to right, and as far as her sight would allow her. Whatever she had thought she had seen was no longer there.

She shook her head, confused. It must have been someone's dog, she guessed. Yes, that has to be what it was, just an animal, she convinced herself.

She headed through the kitchen into to the laundry room looking for a dry towel; tossed her wet jacket on top of the washing machine, and managed to find a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt her mother had left folded neatly on top of the basket.

She reached for the dry towels in the basket beside the clean clothes, just then; a streak of black flew past her arm. She jumped, but quickly realized, her cat Jasper had been laying between the baskets. Chloe placed her hand to her chest, feeling the beat of her blood coursing quickly through her veins. She reached down to pet Jasper as he rubbed himself against her shins.

You scared me boy, she told him, running the tips of her fingers through his dark silky hair.

Her stomach rumbled, and she was reminded she hadn’t eaten anything since lunch at school, her last day of school. Quickly wrapping a dry towel around her wet head, she walked back into the kitchen and opened the oven door where her mother usually left her dinner. Retrieving her plate wrapped in the shiny aluminum, she kicked the oven door shut with her foot and opened the silverware drawer, pulling out a fork.

She made her way to the table, sliding out a chair for herself with the tip of her shoe, and took a seat. She peeled back the foil, and unconsciously, stabbed her roast beef once with her fork. Somehow without thinking, she had begun stabbing the meat repeatedly, reveling in the poor choice she had made; before she realized what she was doing.

How stupid was that to turn Amy down? How stupid it was to walk alone at night? Why do I have to be so stubborn and not take what had been offered? She asked herself.

She sighed as she started to eat the dinner before her, grateful for her safety. Her mind wandered, and she thought about not having to work the art school for her Aunt for the next three months. She liked the idea that she would have the free time she wanted, and could go anywhere she pleased. When she was done eating and persecuting herself she headed upstairs.

She was calmer now, but her muscles ached from trying to get home at a faster pace than she was used to. She reached for the bathroom light, stopping when she heard something rustling outside the window. She made her way over to the window pane and peered out, remembering her fear on her walk home.

The sky was still dark, and the street was empty. Possibly it was just the overgrown oak in the side yard, brushing its long limbs against the siding on the house, she considered. It had grown so large in the past few years, since her father wasn’t around to keep it trimmed. She wiped the fear away from her thoughts and made her way to her room.

Her body fell flat on the mattress, after she crawled up to lay her head on her pillow. Her imagination had taken hold tonight, and she wondered when she would be able to make sense of things. Tomorrow was a new day, a day of adventure, a day for journeys that changed lives. Tomorrow she would be leaving for Ireland.

Thankful for what was to come, she lay back on her bed and allowed her mind to wander. She wanted to spend time in her dreams, where she was the one who controlled the settings, scenes and characters. In her dream world, she was always transported to wherever her heart desired, and whenever she wanted, she could be there. Tonight she wanted to be in Ireland.

All of the plans she and her cousin Luke had made started to play out before her eyes. The castles, the cliffs, the caves, all of the beautiful and wonderful places she would be able to see, she would see with him; her only cousin and her best friend. Her dreams would soon be a reality, she thought, and suddenly someone was chasing her through the streets. An invisible entity, growled, and snarled out behind her as she ran. She had almost made it home, when she awoke with a jerk. The feeling of a hard, cold, hand gripping her shoulder; tore her out of the nightmare.

Chapter 2- Awakening

When she awoke the next morning, the sun lit up her room. Happiness filled every inch of her body, as she rubbed her tired eyes. This was so much better than the anguish, and fear she had felt trapped inside her dream, she thought. Glad to be free of it, she touched her hand to her still pounding chest.

She tried to pull herself together, and started to gather the items she had forgotten to pack, hoping she would not to be late for the airport. Her eagerness to leave was now mixed with sad feelings of leaving her mother. She was torn, but she knew this was her only chance to live her dream.

Mom, Do you know where I left my jacket? She asked looking around to find where she had left the clothes she had taken out the day before.

Your jacket is on the hook by the door, along with your shoes sweetheart. I threw them into the dryer for you early this morning, they were soaking wet! Her mother replied. You’d better hurry you only have an hour before your flight leaves, she added.

Chloe climbed over the pile of clothes in the floor she still hadn’t finished packing. Grabbing her suitcase from the closet she tossed it on the floor beside the small mountain of fabrics, and began sorting through the heap as she shoved the last few essentials into it.

Finding the last few items she needed, she stacked her suitcases in the hall, and ran off to the bathroom to get ready. Chloe looked at herself in the mirror. From behind the tired brown eyes, and beyond the dark circles that traced under them, a wide bright smile appeared. The excitement of living a once in a lifetime dream built up in her, until the face in the mirror, squealed in delight.

You have ten minutes before we leave. I don’t want you to miss your flight, Her mother called up.

I’m on my way down. She replied. With a suitcase in each hand, Chloe started down the stairs. Three steps before the last, her foot slipped out from under her. Suitcases went flying down onto the floor, thudding loudly, when they hit the hard wood. She managed to catch her arm on the banister, spinning her body around, and she planted her forehead into the rail with a loud crack.

Are you alright? Her mother yelled, hurrying to her aide. Chloe’s hands were pressing against her forehead, her eyes closed.

Yes, She said in her disgust. I guess I need to watch where I am going. Her mother chuckled loudly as she moved Chloe’s hands away slowly and examined her forehead.

Well, you might have a little lump there, but I think you are alright. Be careful dear, Uncle Isaac will want you in one piece. She said, kissing Chloe’s forehead. Chloe watched as her mother picked up the suitcases, and skirted out the door.

Chloe smiled as she envisioned what Luke’s reaction would have been, if he had been present for her little act of clumsiness. Never mind Isaac not getting me in one piece, she thought. She was certain that her accidents were only due to her eagerness, and she reminded herself, she had plenty of time to safely make it to the car.

Mom, Chloe said, as she closed the car door, and scanned her eyes back toward the home she wouldn’t be seeing for three months.

Yes dear?

Are you sure you are alright with this? You know, I really want to go, but I won’t leave if you need me here.

Are you kidding? You have worked three summers with Aunt Gail at the Art School to earn your money for this trip. Besides, you have all but about driven me insane with questions about Ireland. No. No. You have to go! Maybe then, you will see that it is more beautiful there than you can remember. Much more beautiful, magnificent, I should say. She smiled widely at her daughter and pulled away from the curb.

Her mother was right, Chloe thought, she had to go. How else would she ever get this obsession out of her mind? She longed to be in Ireland, she needed to be there. Ireland was all she ever thought about, it was a commitment she had to follow through on. Chloe knew her mother would be fine without her.

They arrived to check in Chloe’s luggage just in time and made their way to the gate. Her mother squeezed her hard in an embrace and pressed her lips against Chloe’s cheek to kiss her goodbye.

Now… You be safe. Don’t talk to strangers, and stay with Luke! For goodness sake mind your Uncle Isaac, and if you need anything call me. Her mother said, as she looked deep into her daughter’s eyes, scanning Chloe’s face for the excitement she knew she must be feeling.

I promise, and I love you. Thanks Mom, for letting me go...Chloe said, as she smiled at her mother and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Chloe rounded the last corner of the hall to board, waved goodbye and blew her mother one last kiss. Chloe watched as her mother pretended to catch it in her hand and placed her hand on her heart. Chloe smiled.

Once she boarded the plane, she found her aisle seat. That was fine with her, she thought. It would be least restrictive for the long flight she was about to take. A short time after take off Chloe realized the excitement that had filled her now for hours would not wear away. She closed her eyes and began to envision the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren rocks, the castles, Luke’s face and Uncle Isaac waiting for her at the airport.

She saw herself sitting atop a high seaside cliff looking out over the ocean, relishing the moments of peace she found there. She lay back on the lush green grass feeling its moist cool texture under her fingertips, watching the graying sky as it started to cloud. The smell of rain and sea filled the air. Birds flew high over head and swooped down to the water to come up with a fish in their beaks for their dinner. This was heaven. The warm breeze blew against her skin as she closed her eyes to take it all in.

Chloe? Moments later someone called in the distance. Chloe flinched at the sound of her name being called in this magical place. Who would know me here in my own little world? She wondered.

Where are you? Again the voice rang out. This was the voice of a man, one that seemed familiar but she did not recognize. Standing to her feet, Chloe peered over the cliff, her eyes fixed on a man coming up the path. What should I do? The thought rang out in her head. No one had ever broken in on her dreams before. No matter how odd this was, she couldn’t walk away. He reached the top of the cliff and slowly walked toward her.

His dark hair was brilliant and shining. From a distance he was already very tall and masculine in his white t-shirt,