“I don’t know.” I didn’t believe them. “Whatever, guys. You’re drunk. I have to go fill orders. See you guys later.” I said in my usual bubbly voice.
I was used to having less intense urges to watch after Vanessa so I just shrugged them off. I decided not to tell her. She doesn’t need anything else to worry about. She tends to put the weight of the world on her shoulders. She somehow thinks she can save the world. So, I don’t bother her with trivial things that would just stress her out more. Besides, that was the only incident for a long time. Best just to act normal.
I started having weird dreams the day before the mysterious knock at Vanessa’s door. The first significant one was a shock. The previous dreams were minor and weird. I dreamt that I was standing in blackness, and I heard the name “Eve” called out over and over again. In some dreams, I would see myself in a fight, but I would just get glimpses, not much that I could make out. In this first significant dream, I was in total darkness. I couldn’t see anything. I started to panic, but something inside me took over. I calmed down and straightened my posture. I didn’t know my posture could get any straighter. I waited quietly in the darkness, anticipating something.
“It’s time, Eve. Cabin. One hour.”
“I’ll be there,” I replied.
The next thing I knew, my dream picked up in the woods. I didn’t recognize the area. It was a green, thick forest. It was fall, so the trees should have been leafless, and the main color theme should have been brown. Ahead of me stood a small cabin made of redwood. I walked toward it. When I reached the front door, a wood-carved name plate had angel wings on either side of a list of names. Before I could read the top name, the door ripped open. Demien was standing on the other side of the threshold.
“Eve.”
“Demien.”
“Come on in.”
The sound of feet shuffling through leaves caught my attention. approach. A man was laughing in a fun manner, eating an apple. “Ha... ha... ha. Well, hello, Apple Eater,” a man laughed as he chewed an apple..
“Har, har, har, look who’s talking.” I let out a sarcastic chuckle, as I replied, “It wasn’t an apple, and you know that Adam.”
“Someone’s in a bad mood.” Adam leaned in to kiss my cheek.
“Sorry, but these meetings are never a good sign,” I replied.
“I know. This is my forever.” He moved against the wall so I could get past him.
“I know. Mine too.”
The massive cabin was nestled in the middle of a forest. The kitchen was to the left of the front door. The main room was an entertainment room. It was set up for a band to play. In the middle of the room sat a pool table; the back wall supported a huge platinum TV with several gaming systems and a DVD player. I noticed a small bar area in one corner.
“I’m sure you know why I have called you here.” Demien started speaking as a way to gain control of the room.
I looked around at the others here. I had never met them, but I knew who they were. Tonight felt like déjà vu or some deeply forgotten memory a therapist would dig up so they have something to blame your problems on.
Adam stood to my right. I knew him all too well. Next to Adam was a husky, brown-eyed, blonde-haired man named Samson Green. Mark Newton was to my left, nervously fidgeting.
“It’s time to roll, and things are going to get rough. I’ll protect her with Eve’s help.” Demien looked at me.
“As if there is any doubt,” I said, nodding.
“I’m hoping to keep this thing contained so it doesn’t set off the war. We’ve been through this a million times. Just don’t aggravate the situation any more than you must. Remember, walk on glass. I am hoping to end this before it can begin. I really do not have any real hope for that to be the case.”
“Didn’t you start this?” Mark asked. His tone was serious and defiant.
Demien’s eyes burned with guilt. “This is true. I did start this situation. I tried to get the confirmation I needed early on when I first suspected, but I did not achieve it until now. I could not make a single move until I knew for sure. Now that I know, I’m afraid it is too late. I’ve been working to reconcile the situation by trying to make a deal, but I have not been able to work out a suitable agreement. I will not carry out my duty. I will not end her life. I will protect her until the very end. Honestly, he knew or, at least, had a hunch of Vanessa’s spiritual identity. I believe that is why he assigned her death to me.” Demien was serious, holding a strong front. I knew better. He was dying inside.
“Don’t you know when you run into her? I mean it’s been since the beginning of time. Can’t you just tell by now? Doesn’t she have any marking or something that is the same from body to body? I’m tired of going through these conflicts every time you find her. You are supposed to be cursed, not the rest of us.” Mark really handed it to Demien.
Life left Demien’s eyes. “I understand how you feel. Unfortunately, there are no signs of her existence or even if I’ve met her in any lifetime. There have been times when we have unknowingly found each other, but we go our separate ways and she enjoys a full life. It isn’t as if
