“Okay, well, I’m going to bed. I’m beat.” I started up the stairs. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” they both replied.
When I reached my room, I placed the black box in the drawer of my nightstand, in the same place where Damien’s note had been until it was stolen. At least, I thought it had been stolen. Maybe it was never real. I didn’t know what to think about anything anymore. I decided that I was too exhausted to think about it any longer, so I went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. As I started to brush my teeth, I couldn’t help but think about his visit. First, our conversation was very strange, even a little disturbing. Second, we had an encounter of the seductive type, even after our weird conversation. Then, he just disappeared into thin air. I didn’t get him. After finishing in the bathroom, I headed to my room.
Finding Demien leaning against the back corner of my bedroom wall, I jumped.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he offered, his voice soft.
“I didn’t expect to see you since you disappeared on me earlier,” I disdainfully replied.
He pushed himself off the wall and headed toward me. His hands were behind his back; his eyes were midnight black, just like in my nightmare. I slowly backed out of my room.
He inched closer to me. “I won’t bite,” he purred. His eyes turned demonic, like he was possessed.
The nightmare was playing out in front of me, but I was wide awake. “Shannon, Shannon.” I kept backing out of my room, my body stiffened from fear. I found myself faltering.
“There, there, Vanessa, calm down. What’s wrong?” Jake had caught me just as I had missed the top step.
“Mmm-my-my nightmare…” I was so scared I couldn’t get the words out. “He's here,” I yelped.
“Shannon, take Vanessa downstairs. I’ll check out her room and the rest of the house.” Jake put me into my sister’s arms.
“I’m okay. I can walk.” I was shaking everywhere.
After we made it downstairs to the couch, Jake came running down the stairs. “Let me check down here. Be right back.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Shannon offered.
“Not really.” We sat quietly on the couch until Jake returned.
I didn’t even know what to tell her. I wasn’t even sure what was going on. The line between reality and nightmares was extremely sheer at best.
“I checked inside and outside. Everything is locked up and undisturbed. I think we’re safe,”said Jake.
I stayed up for a few hours fighting the exhaustion, which finally took over.
Deciding to go to my room, I noticed on top of my dresser sat a frosted white vase holding a single night orchid that had not bloomed and a deep purple azalea. I went to ask Jake if he had seen it when he checked my room; he hadn’t. I scoured my room for a note or something relating to the flowers. I couldn’t figure out what the flowers meant. I knew Demien had to have left them. Did I overreact? Were the flowers what he had behind his back? Unfortunately, with Demien, it was hard to tell what was real or safe for that matter. I was too exhausted to think anymore, so to sleep I fell.
The sun was peering through my window; therefore, it must have been around seven in the morning when I found Demien in my room, leaning against the same wall as a few nights before.
“The flowers are beautiful. Thank you.”
“It’s the least I could do.”
“I’m sorry for freaking out,” I said to him. He was suddenly next to me in bed, propped up on one elbow.
He picked up the orchid, which still hadn’t bloomed, and held it in my line of vision. I waited in anticipation, unsure what to expect. Slowly, the flower showed a tiny slice of white. Then, ever so slowly, the flower presented a little whiter, until it was a full bloom of overwhelming beauty. Every petal was a perfect, bright white. There were no imperfections that I could see anywhere. It was beautiful. I couldn’t believe it. That species of flower only bloomed once in their lifetime, glowing in the darkness of the night; and then would die within a few hours after blooming. This night orchid was not ready to bloom, but there it was in full bloom, filling my room with its glorious aroma.
“You have good reason not to trust me. I believe I have warned you several times. It’s good to know somewhere deep down you’ve seen the wisdom.” He didn’t sound particularly happy with me, nor did he sound angry.
“But you’re not bad,” I stated matter-of-factly. I raised my left eyebrow as an invitation to challenge me.
He glared at me with a confused façade as I stood my ground. “You have no idea, Vanessa,” he finally whispered.
“I know you.”
“Go back to sleep,” he suggested in a soft whisper. You have to be up in a few hours,” He pulled my body against his as I slept in the comfort of his embrace.
Nineteen
After the nightly meeting, a few of the other waitresses asked Myra for a ride home.
“I don’t have enough room. I’m sorry,” she said.
“Myra, I can take Ves home. That’ll free up a spot for you. They will all fit perfectly.” Demien’s eyes darkened, saying he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Um, okay, if that’s okay with Ves.”
“It’s fine,” I replied.
“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Myra said, waving to us as we left.
“That’s nice of you,” I remarked, eyeing him as he hoisted me into his Hummer.
He threw it into drive and headed toward my house. The clouds were covering the moon, making the night
