of returning terrified her. In the many times her mind accidentally brushed against his, never once did she pick up the thought of him knowing the truth about her. Lilian didn’t know how he’d found out about her past, or if perhaps he’d been a trap set by them all this time, but after two years with Stephan, she left that night.
She went through her house one more time before she retired for the night. She was tempted to pack a bag and head into town, just in case, but her own home was her haven, for the moment, and so she stayed. When she lay down in bed, curled up beneath the covers, Lilian knew sleep would be fleeting, if it came at all.
* * * *
She could hear the hounds baying in the background. Looking around, she saw no trail, no landmarks she recognized, but knew she had to run. Lilian had already been running, her heart beating hard in her chest, and was out of breath. Still, she knew if the hounds caught up with her, they would tear her apart.
She crisscrossed the ground quickly, her feet barely touching the soil, leaping over fallen logs and ducking low branches in order to escape the death at the jaws of the hounds and spear of the hunt master.
How did she know this?
Even with her speed and agility, Lilian knew the hounds were gaining on her. It was only a matter of time before they caught her, and when they did, they'd tear her apart. She stopped and looked around, for a way out, a place to hide; anyplace she could wait out the hunt. There was nothing, only the dark forest which stretched out before her in every direction.
Suddenly, there was a flash of white in her peripheral, a glowing white, almost ghostly. She turned her head and saw a white stag. It stood tall, the top of her head reaching its shoulders, and had a proud head, heavy with antlers as wide as the beast long. As she watched, it pawed the ground and waved its great head at her.
“There is not much time, my child. Come with me.”
She was surprised when the stag spoke to her, not aloud but in her mind. Even though she hadn’t heard its words, there was an urgency and she nodded.
It turned and ran, Lilian following behind it. As she did so, she heard the baying of the hounds and the enraged bellow of the thwarted huntsman.
Lilian jolted awake, heart pounding.
Chapter 2
Lilian slept little. Going through the motions of starting her morning, she was anxious and jittery. After the umpteenth time of reminding herself to breathe and calm down, she plopped herself onto the floor and sat cross-legged. She cupped her hands together and brought them to chest level, as though holding a book. Looking into her palms, she mentally focused on the issues at hand.
The Custodes Secreti agents were a problem.
She’d have to go away again. If they found her here, they wouldn’t leave her alone until she disappeared or joined them.
Ever since her first experience with them, Lilian had managed to keep her abilities reined in and under strict control. She didn’t want to alert anyone sensitive enough to pick up on psychic vibrations, nor did she want to alert CS agents of her whereabouts. Her gift to sense when someone nearby used their abilities was another reason why CS wanted her on their side.
What about Stephan? His re-entry into her life was definitely under the heading of “not a good thing”. She was certain the sudden appearance of the CS agents and Stephan was no coincidence. How did he get her phone number, anyway? However much as she hated speaking to the local law enforcement, she knew she’d better do it soon, before things escalated.
Lilian stood and stretched; her mind more organized than earlier. She still had to address the nightmare and what it meant, but she’d need the library.
* * * *
Armed with notebook, pencil, and a stack of books on dreams, Lilian tackled the project like a defensive lineman on a quarterback.
Her first entry was the white stag. She looked it up and found the stag symbolized male sexuality, virility, grace, agility, regeneration, and growth. She scribbled the info into her notebook.
The next entry was forest. She went over the notes and tried to put them into perspective. It could mean she wanted to escape to a simpler life, which made sense considering the agents and Stephan were after her.
Again.
However, when she looked up the entry for woods, Lilian found it signified a return to an aspect of oneself which was innocent and spiritual. Hounds, in dreams, indicated something or someone may be “hounding” her and being unable to run away from it until the issue or person is confronted.
Hmm. This most assuredly fits my life right now.
To hear howling referred to loneliness or solitude. Ahh. Now that was interesting.
Lilian sighed and sat back in her chair. So, what did it mean? What was it supposed to mean?
* * * *
Matthias was waiting for her at the diner when Lilian arrived for her shift. Anticipation fluttered through her at the sight of him, but she nixed it. She wasn’t here to date, nor was she looking for any attachments.
He met her at the entrance, still wearing his sunglasses and dressed in black jeans and a t-shirt.
She saw his lips tighten as she chose to ignore him, walking past him to the door of the diner. He reached out and touched her arm.
“Lilian,” he said, “what’s wrong?”
Well, gee, where to start? “I’m going to be late for work.”
“We need to talk about what happened last night.”
“Look, thank you for helping me out—” she started.
“But?” he interrupted.
“But I like my life the way it is, peaceful and without…” She tried to find the right words.
He drew back a bit. She didn’t need to see his eyes to detect the surprise that came over his face. Lilian turned and reached for the door, but he grabbed her hand and turned her around to face him.
“Those men, what do you know about them?”
The blood rushed from her face and her heart stuttered. “Why?”
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’re going to answer my question.”
She tensed and narrowed her eyes on him. “I don’t have to answer any question you ask me, Matthias. Now, either release me, or I’ll start screaming. You can deal with the police.”
A black eyebrow quirked up over the rim of his sunglasses at her outburst and his lips tilted in a smile. She couldn’t help but glance at his lips, just like she couldn’t help the little tingle of awareness which shot through her when she did.
