Snowscape Trilogy Read Free Page A

crisp,
chilly wind but standing in the sun made you feel warm and cozy.
Too warm in fact, and as I walked along the path that cradled a
small stream I was amazed at the temperature difference between the
sun and the shade. Much like life, there was no in between here. No
warm shade. You were either too hot or desperately chilled. As I
continued walking the colors of the grass and creek stood out in
their natural boldness. In an inviting patch of clovers I sat down
and put my feet into the cool running water and I watched small
golden fish scurry by my toes, my mind touching upon many things
but finally laying claim to the blonde stranger I had seen twice
yesterday. Most people took a bath or relaxed at the beach. I
preferred the isolated arena of my dreams in which to mull odd
occurrences or important crossroads.
    The sensations in the bar were not unfamiliar
to me, and in fact were stronger than anything I had ever felt
before while awake. He had obviously noticed some of it, either my
discomfort or the images that passed in my mind. The idea felt
ludicrous so I let it go and focused on the beauty that surrounded
me.
    I felt him approach before I saw him, so as
the shade loomed closer over my shoulder I moved to the side so he
would have room to sit and join me in my private solitude. As he
neared, his shadow fell over me and I noticed that it held none of
the chill that the others did. It felt warmer than the sun and as
he kneeled behind me I leaned back into his warm inviting embrace.
I closed my eyes as the sun beamed through my lids in a soothing,
snug cocoon of relaxation. I could feel his heartbeat against my
back, and could smell the warm spice that had always accompanied
him.
    I had imagined many different scenarios as to
which this man was, each more fantastic than the last. A lost
magician. Another wayward dreamer. An extraterrestrial? I could
feel his smirk without even having to see his face. I had never
seen his face in all of my years with him in my shadow. He was
always entertained by my musings and I never felt ashamed of them.
The sudden thought that he wasn’t real spiked a chill up my spine
to my core. Simultaneously he reached his arms around me and held
me close to him as he always did when I began to doubt my sanity. I
knew that soon my quiet would be coming to an end. That was the way
of things and I knew this stranger that invaded my thoughts was
going to be the one to break the spell of normalcy I had recently
cast over my life.
    My warm, robed friend ran his hands down my
arms and held my finger intertwined with his. He stroked our finger
together as I felt him nuzzle down into the nape of my neck. He
kissed me tenderly below my earlobe and trailed up to where my hair
met my chin. I felt goose bumps run their length down my arms and
both of my legs. I wrapped his hands around my waist and he held me
tighter as I reached up behind and pulled his head closer to me and
ran my fingers through his hair catching only a glimpse of black.
My memory flashed briefly back to the bar and I imagined my fingers
running through dark blonde strands instead of black.
    Suddenly I was alone and cold. I looked up
and the sun was gone. He had taken it with him in his jealous
retreat.

Chapter 4
    I sat at The Spot Coffee enjoying a skim
latte mulling through the latest development. Alistair had informed
me that Ted would be moving in. And although I enjoyed Ted’s
companionship greatly, I wasn’t sure how long they would want to
deal with a third roommate while they were playing house. Oh and
dark strangers in my dreams that were jealous of my waking life.
But mostly I didn’t want to have to move.
    Kayla slipped into the seat across from me
breaking up my reverie. “You look like hell, Amy.” She sipped her
iced chai our of a small paper cup that all employees of The Spot
were required to use when on their break and flipped back her long
blonde and purple dreads.
    “Thanks,” I sighed. “I slept horribly.