2. Are You A Dream?: Present Day: Anna Michelle

Summer was almost at the end. A breeze had started to fill her room from the open balcony. She had always welcomed the fresh air. The colder the better. Standing on the rail, Mish closed her sleepy eyes and breathe in --exhaling slowly, savoring the moment. Even for a short time.

It had been a long time since she got sick. No fever. No lung infection. Nothing. Just nothing. Her heart felt...broken. Empty. She had all the memories of her childhood. From a sickly child to becoming healthy. Rags to riches. From being a scrawny child to blossoming to adulthood. She remembered them all. And cherished.

Yet, oftentimes, it felt like she was missing something vital.

Somewhere along her private timeline, there was a gap. A significant one. To what. She didn't know.

Didn't know what to think nor how to ask her sisters. She tried at one time --asked if she was missing something she couldn't recall or she had also asked if maybe she had done something they wanted her to forget. Her question was met with silence. Absolute silence.

Then Anna broke it by reassuring her everything was ok and Rie quickly jumped in to changed the subject.

Mish accepted it because she trusted them. They practically saved her from death's door. Her sisters sacrificed a lot for her. Their answers were enough.

What happened last night?

After so many months, almost two years, she had dreamt of her Prince Charming once more.

Odd. She was not sick.

Everything was the same. Same place. Same velvet black couch. Yet the man had changed. He was leaner with defined muscles, his once yellow hair had deepened to burnished gold, and his ice-blue eyes colder. He didn't speak and he looked so serious. All he did was watch her while she slept. In his arms.

The feeling was so different from her previous dreams. His skin was icy --it gave her shivers but not because of it.

She wanted to feel more of him.

Her cheeks reddened from her thoughts. Yes. It was different because she was far from the child she once was. These new feelings, this sensitivity was part of being a woman. I think.

Was he real? Does she get to meet him someday? She wanted him. There was no denying that.

The tattoo on her neck throbbed. She frowned. Was it infected? After all these months? It doesn't hurt. Not one bit. In fact, it added more to her sensitivity. Goddess! She should call her doctor. She doesn't want to get sick today. It's Anna Marie's graduation day.

And she should be preparing. Like, right now.

***

"Are you okay, Mish? Would you like to order something else from the menu?" Mish was jolted from her pensive state by her sister's question. She blinked and focused on Anna. Her smile was soft and elegant. Her incredibly handsome mate --though her Prince Charming was more handsome-- handed the twins over to their nannies. Everyone gave her their attention. Mish tried not to squirm in her seat.

"No. The food is great." And yet she doesn't have enough appetite. "I had a dream last night," she said in a small voice. Her confession was met with silence. A familiar one.

"What was your dream about, Mish?" Thank Goddess, Alexie, one of her favorite mentors, broke the stillness at the dinner table.

"Same guy. Curly blond hair, ice-blue eyes. He...ah...called me his beloved. Before. Though not on my dream last night." Mish confessed. A bit reticent about the whole thing. Her sisters knew about those dreams when she was a child.

"So, the Prince Charming is back, eh?" Rie asked rhetorically, grinning in her direction. Though in her opinion, her sister's enthusiasm looked forced. Mish didn't want them to worry and let them think she was sick again. Because she only usually dream of HIM when she was sick.

"Never mind. It was just a stupid dream." The young beauty mumbled, giving her attention back to her cold food. Why does she always feel like her heart was broken?

"Oh, we have a surprise for you, Rie." Anna, their eldest sister announced, dispelling the gloomy mood she brought to the table. She felt guilty. Why couldn't she be totally happy like them?

She had everything. A great family --with a bonus of cute pups-- endless wealth, a warm enormous mansion, her music, Juilliard and all the things she could ever want.

Except him. She wanted him in her life --to get lost in her dreams and be with him.

Someday, my beloved.

***

Her heels clicked rhythmically on the elegantly tiled floor of Juilliard's hallway. In earnest and in a hurry so she wouldn't be late for her private class, she went straight to her assigned room, not minding the people she passed by.

Maestro Roberto was waiting patiently behind the expensive music instruments they were using for days, a huge fatherly smile on his gracefully lined face.

Mish liked him. He's homey and very patient with her. Not like the other music teacher. That man gave her the creeps.

"Happy Birthday, Anna Michelle. I thought you won't make it today?" She smiled at his greeting. Yes. She turned 18 today. A private dinner will be held later at the Elementals where Rie ran a tight ship.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world, Maestro. And besides, I have a new song I want you to hear." He laughed at her excitement. She wrote this song last night. For HIM.

"Let me hear it then. Since it's your birthday, you can choose any instrument you want." He gestured around him. She grinned and elected the grand piano.

If this goes right, she will share the new song with her family later.

She tested the keys on the beautiful instrument. Satisfied, she lost herself in her music. Playing for him. Playing from her broken heart. Her delicate organ squeezed and throbbed, an unexplained ache not far from the surface.

The melody and words were haunting, pleading, imploring, and full of unquieted passion. It spoke of surrender to his possession despite her shortcomings. Belonging to him and no one else. That she believed in him. In the middle of the song, the tattoo on her neck began to tingle --in time with the beat of her song. She was used to it by now. It always happened when she imagined him. Her Prince Charming. Her beloved.

Mish didn't know she was crying by the time her fingers hit the last key on the piano. Her chest was tight and her heart was beating fast.

"My child," her teacher whispered in awe. "You are a genius. I love it! Magnificent!"

She smiled through her tears. "Thank you, Maestro."

"Have you thought of sharing your songs with the public? I know people." He murmured while reading the notes on her music book.

"Ah...I don't know. I'm not sure. Maybe some of them." Not this song. "I'll talk to my sisters and brother-in-law and Michael."

"Of course, child. Just tell me when you are ready." They had an hour to kill, so he went back to her strict curriculum.

Can't wait for dinner tonight.

***

"You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing.

You say I am strong when I think I am weak.

You say I am held when I am falling short.

When I don't belong, You say that I am Yours.

And I believe, What You say of me,

I believe."

Same as before, by the end of the song, she was crying. However, as she turned around, Anna, Rie, and Alexie were crying too. And Xander and Michael looked so uncomfortable as hell.

Smiling through her tears, she held out her hands to her sisters. They came grinning and laughing and sobbing at the same time.

"You all like it then?" Mish asked. Glancing around the private dining area. Knew they did. She had to ask for fun. The men raised their champagne glasses.

"We love it, Mish. So much." Anna whispered. Hugging her tightly. The two other ladies nodded in agreement, wiping their tears.

"Enough of the sappy mood. We want you to have this. It's time for you to wear it." Alexie handed her a square velvet box. Goddess! They were so fond of gifting expensive pieces.

A gasp escaped her lips when she saw the jewelry. In it was a piece of huge round pink diamond in a simple gold band. This must be priceless. An heirloom.

"Are...are you sure? This must be expensive. I might lose it." She held the box away from her. Afraid all of a sudden.

"All yours, Mish. It belongs to you. Wear it, sis." Anna implored regally. Almost a command. With trembling fingers, she slipped the jewelry on her ring finger. The image of her beloved came to mind out of nowhere.

How she wished he was here with her right now.

"Happy Birthday, sis."

______________

**************

Remember the song? Xavier heard her sang that song the first time they met in person in Book One: His Beauty Queen.

And the ring was given by Xavier as a promise ring, an heirloom given only to Vampire Queens. Also in Book One: His Beauty Queen.

Xavier will reawaken soon. I'm so excited for the coming chapters.

Thank you for staying with me, babies!

Love you all!!!