This week's dream cast is by MARIAMMENICY

Casper as Cole Sprouse

Sophia as Taylor Hill

Nico as Taylor Lautner

Jaques as Paul Wesley or Ian Somerhalder

Sally as Claire Holt

Luc as Ian Harding or Barish Arduch 

Mia as Ecin Sangu 

The Royal Hunting Lodge

Sophie Reese

We returned to the bedroom in silence. Casper had led the way, choosing to keep quiet, but always staying close to me. Maybe he thought I would try to runaway after learning the truth about his brother. Luc was clearly a danger to himself and others. The loss of his wife had completely unhinged him, however when I thought about Luc kneeling next to Mia's side, desperately calling to her, I couldn't help but feel compassion towards him and I'd instantly forgot everything word and action he had ever done towards me.

"He's in such awful pain," I said thinking out loud.

"He's lost his mate. Without her, he has no reason to live."

"That's not true, he has his children and you, and -"

"You don't understand," Casper interrupted. "He has no reason to live without her. Luc will not carry on living without Mia. This must seem melodramatic but this is the way it is between mates. We live for one another and die for one another. It's like one cannot live fully without the other."

"So what happens if Mia dies?"

"Luc will follow her into the afterlife. He will not let death separate him from Mia."

I felt numb. Up until now, I'd never really understood what mates really meant to vampires. I'd thought it was just a word that was used to describe someone's husband or wife. I never realised it's true significance.

"So, what's wrong with Mia?"

"We don't know," Casper sighed. "She was fine up until few days ago, then she passed out and didn't wake up."

"Is she sick? I mean, didn't think vampires could get sick."

"We can't get sick unless we're poisoned with silver. A small amount of silver ingested or injected into our system can weaken our resistance to toxic substances... but doctors have tested for that and the results came back clear, so we are no closer to understanding."

"So what else could it be?"

"I don't know - I've never come across anything like it before. Mia is physically healthy but mentally, there's no one home."

There was an undertone of hopelessness in his voice that tore at me. I got the impression that after exploring countless lines of enquiry, he was no closer to solving the mystery of Mia's illness. I hated seeing him look so dejected.

"Let me help you," I asked. "A fresh pair eyes might be what's needed here."

"Sophie, no. I can't allow you to do that."

"Why not? I can help you, I can do stuff, I can..."

The words died in my mouth as a wave of dizziness overcame me. I suddenly went limp and felt myself falling forward.

I heard Casper mutter my name and in a split second he was there, in front of me. He caught my shoulders and gently helped me to sit up.

"You're still not fully recovered."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not. You are still recovering from your head injury, Sophie. Please, stop pushing yourself so hard."

"There must be something I can do to help?"

"There is nothing you can do to help. Me and Nico will handle this ourselves while you stay here and rest. Please try to understand, I am doing this for your protection. Stay here in the lodge where it is safe. If you get bored then you are free to wander the grounds. But whatever you do, do not leave the estate."

"I don't understand."

"I have enemies, Sophie. So many enemies who would hurt you to get to me. I cannot allow that happen. I must keep you safe... I need to keep you safe."

The conviction in his voice shook me. This was the first time I had ever seen Casper look scared.

Searching his eyes, I asked, "I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to hurt you. I don't understand why anyone would want to be your enemy."

"It's not me, personally. It's my family and who we are."

"I don't understand, why are they so important?"

He smiled softly at my question and gently cupped my face. "That, my love, is a story for another day. One day, Sophie, I will share you with the world... but until then, I will keep you a little longer for myself."

He leaned forward to kiss me but I pulled away.

"Why won't you give me direct answer. I'm not a child that needs protecting. I'm a grown ass woman."

"I know," he said softly. "But our world is not like the world you are from. The danger is real, Sophie and it is my desire, as your mate, to protect you from it. I cannot help my nature, so please don't push me on this. This is the one thing I cannot negotiate on."

"Wait, that's not going... to..."

Another wave of dizziness was starting to creep up on me. I focused on the floor in front of me, trying not to pass out.

I heard Casper release a sigh and mutter under his breathe, "Sweetheart, you're breaking my heart."

"I just need a moment. I'm fine."

"Sophie, you haven't eaten. You're body is starving. Here," he said offering me his wrist.

I stared down at his wrist and imagined the taste of his blood. My fangs started to ache.

"Sophie, please eat," he said in low compelling voice.

I shook my head. He hadn't eaten too and I couldn't drink from him, knowing he was also hungry. "It's okay, I will wait for a flask."

There was something about my response that amused him. The corners of his mouth twitch upwards into a smiled and he replied, "Your self-control is improving. A few days ago, the blood lust would have completely taken over you by now. However, you are weak and in need of replenishment. Please, take what you need."

The huger began to gnaw at my insides. It was weird because I hadn't felt it until he had shoved his arm under my nose... and now it was here, right in front of me. I could hear his pulse screaming in my ears.

"Sophie," he pushed again with his voice, "Take my blood, it's yours. It has alway been yours."

I breathed out, unable to resist any longer. I took his wrist to my lips and bit into it like an apple. The blood poured into my mouth and I felt Casper shudder. He held me, urging me softly to take as much as I needed. I drank from him, feeling his life force pouring into me. Drinking blood from him was different to drinking blood from a flask. His blood was delicious and warm. It filled me in a way that nothing else could.

I tore my mouth away from his wrist and kissed him. It wasn't a soft kiss or gentle kiss. It was demanding and desperate. I needed more than his blood, I needed his body and soul... I needed him completely.

"Please," I breathed against his lips, "I need you so badly."

I lifted my head to look at him. His face and his body were completely still while his hands were down at his side, gripping tightly to the edge on the bed. Oh shit, it looked like he was in pain.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"You shouldn't have done that," he said in low voice.

"Oh my God, did I hurt you?"

He shook his head, "No, it's my fault, I should have been more careful."

"I don't understand, what's wrong?"

"We're not married, Sophie."

"What?"

"Look, I can't do this right now. I'm holding on to my self-control by a thread. I need some space."

He got up and abruptly left the room, leaving me in a storm of confusion. I called after him. I even got up and tried to follow him, but by the time I got to the door, he was already long gone.

Sitting back down on the bed by myself, I wondered what the hell was wrong with him and what the hell was wrong with me?

The next evening, I woke up alone. There was a coffee flask of blood laid out on the bedside table next to me with a handwritten note. It was from Casper.

'Forgive me for last night.

Unfortunately, I cannot be with you today. I have asked Jacques to keep you company for the day. He will be waiting downstairs for you in the main foyer, sometime after midnight. There has been a break in the snowfall and he has agreed to take you for a walk around the gardens.

You'll find clothes and shoes in the wardrobe opposite.

xXx'

I screwed the note up and threw it into the fire. There was no apology, no explanation - nothing! He had just abandoned me in the middle of the night after one kiss. What was wrong with him? Did he not like me or something?

My head kept going over and over the different times he had pushed me away. Casper was quick to declare his love for me, but then he never seemed to act on it. It made me wonder if he really did love me...

I tried not to dwell on it. I picked up the flask of blood and quickly downed its contents and then headed into the ensuite for a shower. Thirty minutes later, I was washed and dressed. I left the room and made my way towards the staircase.

I was unsure of the layout of the lodge/mansion/palace and so I wandered about until I found a staircase then followed the steps down. After a descending a few floors, I heard the echo of voices and headed towards the sound. The corridor soon opened up onto large balcony overlooking a grand foyer.

I tiptoed to the edge of the balcony and looked down. Below, a team of uniformed staff were busy cleaning the floors and dusting the various antiques that decorated the great space. Everyone was silent, except for two senior members of staff, a man and woman, who were in deep conversation.

"Have the flower arrangements been made for the wedding next week?" The woman asked the man.

"Yes, although the florist gave me an ear full. They're unhappy about the extra flowers we've been ordering lately," The man explained.

"Well, that can't be helped. I'm sure the master's wife will wake up soon and then peace will be restored."

"I damn well hope so," he grumbled, "Because of him, I've had three members of staff walk out on me."

"I feel your pain. Last Thursday, our kitchen maid Rosie walked out on us. Poor girl was so frightened, she didn't even tell us that she was going. She just left mid shift. God knows what the master said to her, but she was attending that bride-to-be up at the old gate house."

"I've seen him stomping up there in a dark mood, then heard yelling coming from inside the house. This wedding feels more like a funeral and you know why - that groom is no good."

"Quieten down! Captain Nico might hear you and then there will be hell to pay!"

"He won't hear. He has gone to fetch the groom and his pregnant ex-wife."

The old woman shook her head. "I never thought I'd see the day when the House of Ash would stoop so low. The thought of that woman in the gatehouse being forced to marry that wicked man, it's enough to make my blood boil. I don't understand why the master is forcing her to go through with it..."

The conversation struck a chord with me. There were broken memories in the back of my mind that understood this story about a reluctant bride and an awful groom. I thought and thought, hoping for a eureka moment where everything fell into place...but I wasn't able piece those fragments together. My memories were still hazy.

"Hey there."

The disembodied voice came from behind my shoulder and it's unexpectedness caused me to panic. I spun round, with my hands poised to ward off an attack. Jacques laughed at my reaction and asked, "Are you planning to karate chop me in the face?"

Embarrassed, I lowered my hands and apologised, "Sorry, you made me jump and I over-reacted."

"Well, thank god you're not up to full speed yet. Casper mentioned that your super strength has been knocked out of whack since the accident."

"Yeah, I don't feel my full self," I admitted.

"I didn't mean to scare you. I saw you spying on the house keeping staff and thought I would join you."

"I wasn't spying on the house keeping staff," I said defensively.

"Okaaaay, so you're not spying on the staff... you're just suspiciously loitering in the shadows while eavesdropping on their conversation."

"It's not like that, I got lost and then I couldn't help overhearing. I mean, a forced shot gun wedding, who's not going to listen to that - it sounds pretty awful. I think we should tell someone."

"It's nothing, Sophie. Forget about it."

"I can't forget about it. It sounds like some poor woman is being forced to marry a man she despises. We need to do something."

"Sophie, I wouldn't worry yourself with the gossip of domestic staff. Come on, let's go look at the gardens," he said grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the staircase.

I shook my head - this was wrong, that woman was in trouble and I needed to help her. "Maybe we could talk to Nico about this?"

"About what?"

"About the woman trapped in the gatehouse!" I snapped, yanking my hand out of his.

"Look, there's nothing to talk about."

"I don't understand," I said and then paused. A thought had crossed my mind - a terrible awful thought. "Jacques? Is Casper involved in this?"

The smile faded from his face and knew instantly that Casper was involved in this.

"Oh God," I muttered under my breath.

"Sophie, please. Casper is a good man, he would never do anything dishonourable."

Jaques was trying to plead with me and part of me wanted to believe him. I loved Casper and I wanted him to be a good man... but after this and everything that happened last night, I now had serious doubts.

"I need some time alone, to think," I explained, backing away from Jacques.

"Sophie, please."

"No, I need some space. My head is so confused. I don't know who to trust anymore. I need some space to gain some perspective and clarity."

"Sophie, Casper loves you."

I laughed at the statement. He didn't understand, but then how could he? Jacques hadn't seen the look of agony on Casper's face last night after I kissed him.

"I don't know if that's true."

"Sophie, lets go somewhere quiet where we can talk about this," he said nodding his head towards the cleaning staff who were busy pretending they weren't listening to us.

"I don't care. I'm fed up of the cover ups and the lies, Jacques. I don't need you to distract me from the truth. You can go back and tell Casper that I'm through with his mind games. I don't know if he loves me. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. Fuck, maybe he loves someone else. Maybe he loves you, or Nico, or that woman in the gatehouse. I don't know!" I yelled, making a scene.

"Sophie," he begged.

"No, I am going for a walk. Alone," I said storming past him.

He followed me for a few steps and then relented when I started crying loudly. The staff froze in bewilderment as I ran past them howling. I opened the front door and slammed it behind me. There was a gasp of fright from a single member of staff who was outside sweeping snow from the steps. I apologised and turned back to look through the window.

Jacques was busy inside yelling at the staff for gossiping.

Good, that would keep him busy.

I dried my fake tears and got down to business. Now, I had Jacques off my trail, I could do what was needed to be done.

"Excuse me," I asked the man sweeping the steps, "Could you give me directions to the gate house?"

"Yes, it's through those old woods yonder. You'll need to follow the lanterns as they mark out the path. It's a few mile walk, but it will take you to the edge of the estate. Once you get to the edge, go through the gate to leave the estate and cross the mountain road. The gatehouse is literally on the other side of the road."

"So it's not on the estate?"

"No, the main driveway was re-sited fifty years ago when the new mountain road was built. The old gate house now sits outside the estate."

There was something about leaving the estate which made me feel uneasy. I didn't know why, the gatehouse was only across the road, but I couldn't help feeling that something terrible might happen to me if I left the safety of the estate.

No, that was silly. I needed answers, and the only way I was going to get them, was from the gatehouse.