BLAKE

I opened my eyes, finding myself sitting on a stone bench in a courtyard I didn't recognize. No. It gave me a strange familiar feeling. The same feeling of driving through a small town that I could've sworn I had been through before... but I couldn't recall the name.

Like I suddenly appeared in a greeting card, a butterfly fluttered to the nearest blushing rose bush. This place was crawling with flowers. Even statues were tangled in greenery as the sun sparkled down, which was strange. I remembered it being so cold. I remembered the snow.

I knew I wasn't in the right place, but for whatever reason I wasn't frightened. This was the strangest dream I ever had. It felt so real and yet, I sat weightless as if I was nothing, not made of anything. The gentle breeze tickling the blades of grass went straight through me.

"Why don't you leave, Henry?"

A voice echoed, bouncing off the stone walls. I couldn't quite get my legs to work or stand or run away. The voice came to me, owned by a tall man with dark skin and a long pointy beard, decorated with red jewels that matched the layers of patterned fabric. He looked like he stepped onto the stage performance of Shakespeare's the Twelfth Night.

Calling him handsome was kind of like calling the sun bright.

Obvious.

And yet, didn't give him enough credit.

He chased someone else into the courtyard, throwing his arms out in frustration. "Break ties with Edward and go..."

The other man, Henry shook his head. I could tell just by looking at him that his clothes were nicer, more expensive. The fabric shined differently. This guy practically glowed as the light shined against his pale skin. He had a head full of golden curls that fluttered in the wind. This must've been a dream because I didn't think angels existed.

"I..." Henry bowed his head, his back still pointed at the other man. He seemed so aware of this man. When the man moved, Henry would too, keeping a distance that caused them to always be out of reach from each other. "I have too many nails in my coffin to escape. I just can't, Nicholas. I can't—" Henry held himself together to keep from falling apart.

He seemed so fragile.

"Then, I'll take you." The man, Nicholas smiled warmly and walked closer, standing right behind Henry without touching him. He just looked down at the blonde with such a loving look in his eyes that made my chest squeeze with jealousy. To be looked at that way would make most of my dreams come true. "I'll snatch you right from under Edward's nose and I'll take you far away from this place..."

Henry spun around, but I couldn't tell what was more surprising. Nicholas' intimate distance or his declaration. They pulled the air towards them, sucking up the air and the light and I realized I was holding my own breath as they leaned towards each other.

Nicholas whispered, gently touching Henry's arm. Henry's whole body seemed to give in to his voice. "You won't be trapped here anymore. We can go somewhere, where Edward will never be able to find us."

By the mention of his name, Henry jumped as if spooked. He pulled his arms free, walking away and putting the distance back between them. "You can't come back here—ever again. Ever."

"Henry."

Nicholas chased after him and I found the strength to pick myself up from the bench. I lagged behind them as Nicholas followed him through the courtyard, past a cluster of trees and more statues willing to keep their secrets.

"Nicholas, if I ever see your face again, I'll- I'll-"

"Henry. I love you."

"No." Henry whipped around as if those four words were the sound of gunfire, the warning shots that announced inescapable danger. His face now grave and bleach white. "I didn't hear that."

Nicholas only chuckled. He raised his arms in complete surrender. Something about him felt so disarmed, so vulnerable as if he was just begging Henry to destroy him. "Do you need me to say it again?"

"God, no. Don't—" Henry's eyes darted around the courtyard, before he ran back to Nicholas' arms. He held on tightly as if there was a fire all around them and Nicholas was the one thing he would save. "Don't you dare ever say that again. Inside these walls. You can't." He dropped his blonde head of curls against Nicholas' chest as his body shuddered. "If something were to happen to you—"

"I'm right here, Henry," Nicholas insisted. He grabbed his lover's face, meeting his eyes when my body shuddered, losing its form like evaporating mist. I suddenly reappeared inside Nicholas' gentle hold. His touch felt so real as he promised. "I will always be with you, even if I can't have you. Even if I'm not allowed to say it, I will love you. I'll protect you."

"Nicholas," I said, unable to help it. My body moved on its own as I leaned up, pressing our lips together. Like that, with my permission, Nicholas held onto me as if I was going to disappear. He wrapped an arm around my back as we slowly walked backwards together until I was pressed against a tree.

Somewhere inside of me, a voice warned me that this may be the last time we kissed. Every kiss could be the last. There wasn't a single part of me that wished to wake up.

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Author's Note

Quick little dream chapter! Let me know if it's difficult to read the italics. Maybe it's enough to just change to First Person was enough to let everyone know something was different about this chapter. I wanted to avoid confusion, haha.

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