A Touch of Immortality: A Novel

By Vivian Ditzler

A young gypsy is tasked with the fate of the world and her heart in this enthralling new novel full of passionate adventure, magic, and supernatural legend...

The knowledge of a prophecy her family has kept secret, will bring her closer to discovering the truth about herself. Nadya CooperSmith must face a series of bizarre events, and decide on true love while fighting forces of evil.

Determine to fulfill her destiny and follow her own heart, Nadya is willing to do anything. But is it enough?

"A beautiful gypsy, two immortals, and the choice that will change her life forever."

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452028149

Vivian Ditzler

Vivian Ditzler Is an Army wife, fortunate of living with the military community since 1997. Her life entails moving all the time, meeting wonderful people, and fascinating places. Vivian lives with her husband, two daughters, and her spoiled dog in Fort Bragg, North Caroline as of today; tomorrow who knows? To check other titles published visit www.vivian-ditzler.com

Book preview

Prologue

I didn’t respond to his query, my body was fighting ferociously his toxic kiss, my last kiss. A tear rolled down my cheek like a diamond sparkling with the tenuous light of the torches illuminating the cavernous and isolated room. I had nowhere to run, surrounded by creatures of the underworld, waiting for my transformation. My body starts to fade away; a deep pressure in my chest makes my breathing harder to achieve, I feel sleepy and heavy. The man I thought loved me was standing in front of me caressing my face with his strong hands, like daggers, he sent a profound twinge straight to my heart. By now the butterflies, I discovered inside me the day I fell in love surrendered to the influence of the bizarre kiss.

However, my mind is running at maximum speed, fully awake and alert. The stubborn soul, the energy that we call life, felt stronger than ever before. My spirit refuses the submission. My spirit will find its way to the heart of my true love. I close my eyes and concentrate on the energy within my heart, relaxing my already exhausted body, like I have done many times since I learned one of my paranormal abilities. That’s me, the gifted witch of Riverside High; I can see the future of the people around me with the exception of my own. Destiny itself blocks my visions with a purpose, but now that I’m living the prophecy itself I understand everything. I finally put the pieces together and unfold the picture of my life, a buffet of extraordinary events, the impossible, and the supernatural, which will engulf my existence forever.

I touch the heart of my soul mate, the man I irrevocably fell in love with, the only man capable of healing the many wounds I have suffered. My immortal lover notices my intrusion inside his mind; I struggle for a clear picture of his whereabouts. My mind tries a little harder until the warmth of my true love and the company of my best friends strengthens my will to fight this evil. I listen carefully to his sensual voice, the musical notes whispering words inside my brain. I shudder with electricity so remarkable, I explode and my butterflies jump with a blast of pure excitement. I open my eyes for a second or two detonating the images of my location. I am confident my protectors will save me. I refuse to have this ending, I will fight to fulfill my destiny and to honor the prophecy at all costs, because I am the only one who can protect this world from a catastrophe.

I was born with the mark of the lion tattooed on my skin. The lion sign is a true representation of kingly prowess and power, revered as a god, and the founder of many dynasties. I am the chosen princess to walk along with the lion, the guardian beast for all eternity. No matter what destiny awaits you, in the end you always have to choose a path. The determination to fight for the things I care for and the tenacity to protect the people I love is reborn inside my soul. Now I have the tools to endure this torture and destroy the malevolence around me. The kissing drug is working slowly, giving me and the people who fight for the greater good the chance to win…

1

T oday is my first day of school. I’m finally a senior. This year I won’t be the target of bullies because they consider me different. Today I’m a little excited to meet again with my old friends, the ones who love me for who I am and are somehow fascinated by my ethnicity. My family belongs to the gypsy tribe of CooperSmith and from my mother’s side to the tribe of Lovell. We are a family that tries to preserve our ways in spite of the comments and criticisms from our neighbors. We really don’t care what they think about us. At least we don’t move around all the time-only in the summer when school is out. We travel in our RV all around the continental US and arrive back home a week before school resumes.

My name is Nadya CooperSmith and I’m seventeen years old, I’m skinny but not the athletic type. I consider myself a pretty girl with naturally tan skin, amber cat eyes, and my best feature, is my hair, black wavy long hair to my waist. I also know that I am not ordinary girl. I have the weirdest dreams. I can see and hear things others can’t and I also can tell events that are going to happen. Of course, my family thinks this is completely normal considering that it is in my blood-all gypsies are born with this gift-and they believe I was born to be a Chovahani. I love my culture, but I also enjoy being a normal high school student like everybody else.

This year is going to be an unforgettable one. Without knowing what exactly destiny has prepared for me, I know something big is going to happen. The future itself has blocked this vision from me. I told my parents about it and somehow it seems to me that they know something I don’t about my destiny, and it may remain a secret until I discover what it is for myself.

For now, all I care about is to get back to school and enjoy every moment. Once at the bus stop I have this weird sensation that something or someone is spying on me; it feels like a mythical creature is hiding on the other side of the street by Mrs. Palmer’s yard. I try to look but at that moment, the bus arrives. Maybe my imagination lately is confusing and intriguing. I can hear the commotion inside the bus and my heart starts to pound with happiness when I see the faces of my loyal friends. Susan Davis is my best friend and confidant, she knows all my secrets and I know hers. Her blonde hair to her shoulders moves hysterically as she waves at me; her light brown eyes with a hint of green flash with excitement against her fair skin. Her boyfriend Patrick Jenkins is sitting next to her like a piece of bubble gum; that is predictable. He is the captain of the swimming team, tall, athletic with honey blonde hair and dark blue eyes. Gloria Lambert and Samantha Moore both smile at me. Gloria is pale white with dark, dark hair and bright red highlights; her dark eyes match the hair giving the appearance of a Gothic creature, but she is a total nerd with an edge. Samantha’s bronze skin is smooth and radiant; her brown eyes flicker with unawareness. I notice that her curly brown hair got longer during the summer; she has enough hair to fill up three heads if that were possible.

How was your summer? Did you have fun? the duet asks simultaneously,

Oh, it was great; we went on a long road trip to meet with more relatives I didn’t know, I said, hugging my beloved Gypsy Freak Club.

Bet this time you dressed up like a real gypsy and went wild stealing and lying like all of your kind, Jacob Webster replied laughing with his buddies from the bully club.

Jacob is cute, slender, with light brown hair, exotic lips, and light blue eyes, but a complete jerk-a total waste on this planet.

The answer is yes; I dress up like the gypsy I am and no, we don’t steal or lie like wild things, you jerk. I said grinning, and before he could say anything else, I told him, "Beware you moron, because I’m coming of age to put a nice spell on you and Amria you with the best outcome for my satisfaction. In case you wonder, that means curse, you idiot." Everybody in the bus started to laugh. Jacob and his gang turned red and Jacob gave me the look but was silenced by the bus driver when he cut through the commotion asking us to get out of his bus; we were at school.

Way to go! Nadya, that’s a lesson for those jerks, Gloria told me, patting my shoulder.

I’ve had enough of his insults to your culture and they haven’t done anything wrong in this town to anyone, for those bullies to have the right to judge your family the way they do, Susan said with a great sense of annoyance.

Hey people, calm down. I don’t care whatever his intentions are and anyway I had fun with him, I said, unflustered.

We walked to school talking about our experiences from the summer and honestly, Susan and Patrick had a boring summer all to themselves. I don’t think I’m ready for a serious relationship if you only have twenty four hours a day and need to spend thirty or more hours with your loved one. Nope, I’m not falling for any guy this year; I’m looking forward to adventure and lots of freedom. I’m safe because so far the guys in this school are pretty much complete idiots; thankfully I’m not interested in any of this bunch of losers. Love for me has to wait until college.

At least at this school in the little town of Riverside, somewhere in New England we don’t have fashion drama because we have to wear uniforms-a new rule that the PTA established a year ago. Maybe those parents that wanted to pretend their children were attending a private school, which in reality they couldn’t have afforded, felt a sense of pride sending their children in uniforms to a public high school. Of course, you always have the beauty squad for whom the limitations of the pleated blue skirt, and the white polo shirt, the navy blue vest with the school logo on the left side, the same black Mary Janes, and the knee high socks were overcome. These girls, the popular ones, always managed to make their uniforms look better than the rest of us.

My first class was Statistics or I should call it Sadistic. I hate math; no matter how much I study, aiming for a perfect score, in the end I always get mediocre grades. While I was waiting for the class, sitting on the floor of the corridor, I was thinking of a strategy to pass this subject that I detested so much, that I knew it would cause as great a headache as being struck by lightning. I have to pass this class to graduate even if is against my will. I heard the giggles of some girls and the answer to my uncertainty was obvious as soon as I lifted my eyes. I saw the fantastic duet, my friends Gloria and Samantha; they were the math geniuses of the entire senior class, among other subjects. They behave like girls in the beginning of puberty and it only happens when a certain male (Sir Anthony) approaches, so I didn’t pay attention until all the girls around me started with the same infantile behavior. I turned my head to look at the catalyst and to my surprise; it was a complete stranger, a new student that was joining us for the last year of high school! I was transfixed by his looks; it was as if he came from a photo on a magazine. The stranger was tall, good-looking, and more muscular than any average guy his age. You could tell he spent long hours at the gym; his blonde silky hair looked like it trapped the sunshine in every single strand. His facial outline was strong and husky with sky blue eyes and fine lips. His smooth skin had a rosy appearance and he smelled very good with a soft masculine aroma that was hypnotizing every girl in the corridor. No love at first sight, but I have to admit that his masculinity and beauty awakened my curiosity to the opposite sex for the first time.

Oh my God! Look at that creature, Samantha said almost in a whisper. I stood next to the duet to gather some info about this guy.

Do you know him? I asked.

I heard his family moved from Chicago a couple of weeks ago, and he is an only child, Gloria said.

I’m so glad he’s in our class, but I don’t think I can concentrate with this almost perfect god, though, Samantha said with her giggles.

Do you know where he lives; I don’t recall seeing him around.

Mmm! Someone sounds very interested! I heard they moved to a big house by Lake Boon, almost in Sudbury, Gloria told me, her tone almost demanding an explanation.

For your information Gloria I’m not interested in anybody, I was just curious about this new development, I answered, trying to defend myself.

As always I was saved by the bell, the class started to get their favorite seats. I preferred the back, considering this class torture. I started laughing to myself with the movement of the chairs; every girl in the classroom was fighting to leave an empty seat so the gorgeous newcomer would be as close as possible to one of them, but in the end, he sat next to me in the back and away from all the predators. Samantha looked back with her mouth gaping open and Gloria smiled a suspicious grin. I totally ignored them both for being so silly.

The class started and I could feel the pain in my head with all the work ahead of us in this tormented subject. When I peaked at the stranger, because my curiosity was killing me, he was looking in my direction, and with a sweet smile, he asked my name. I was paralyzed for a moment.

My…name…is… Nadya CooperSmith and yours?

Hi Nadya, I’m Walther Boswell, he said with a pleasing voice. I’m glad at least to get to know someone in this school. I just moved here and I don’t know anybody so far.

Well, welcome to this little town, trust me you will get to know the entire town of Riverside in no time at all.

He smiled and then replied.

Can I sit with you and your friends at lunch? It will be less embarrassing than being by myself.

I thought that this guy with these looks; how could he be embarrassed, please. I said,

Sure, I understand that being the new kid on the block you become the juicy news that every person in this school, in particular the female kind, will want to get their hands on.

He started laughing and the entire class looked at us in astonishment, including Mr. Stewart.

Ok, thanks, he responded smiling.

I on the contrary felt as big as a bean in front of my classmates. At the end of class, as I expected Gloria and Samantha were outside waiting to hear all the details of our conversation. Of course, I gave them the best news in years, the gorgeous creature would be sitting with us at lunch. They were extremely happy with what I had accomplished.

My classes in the morning were fine but I never expected that senior year would bring so much homework, especially on the first day. Lunchtime was entertaining; Walther sat with us at the table, while the feminine crowd watched like vultures trying to set a trap with caution and sharp gestures to the point of hysteria. It was fascinating, looking at the way they twitched their faces. We spent most of our time making fun of the onlookers and their erratic behaviors. We gave all of our insights to Walther about the school population and the people that he needed to be aware of.

Hey! Are you going to sign up for Mr. LeBlanc’s Language Club? James Laird asked me. James is one of my classmates in French; he is a peculiar guy, skinny looking and weird.

I haven’t taken the class yet James, I said.

He posted the sign on the bulletin board this morning; you should sign up, ‘cause we will have a trip to Paris at the end of school year. That is awesome! I already put my name on it. He will only give the opportunity to all the students in his French class. Spaces are limited, James said with excitement.

I’m taking that class, where is this paper? Nadya, sign up, it will be fun, Walther interrupted, eager to convince me.

I looked at Susan confused and she said.

We are taking that class too; of course we will sign up. Patrick this is the best opportunity, both of us in the city of love! Obviously that wasn’t the respond that I expected from her. She would have to explain later.

Patrick and Walther stood up, and both looked at Susan and me. Patrick said,

Let’s go girls; we have a few minutes to sign our names before lunch time is up.

This isn’t fair; we can’t participate in this club, Gloria and Samantha said with much dissatisfaction.

Sorry girls, see you later, Patrick answered like a Buffon.

We left the cafeteria with all the nagging eyes following us from the crowd behind. All four of us signed our names for the club; our first meeting would be on Thursday after school.

The day went by fast; it was time to get the bus back home when I saw in the parking lot that Walther was driving a black BMW only two seats. There was no doubt that his family was rich; what I couldn’t understand was, why they moved to this little town so far away from the big city, unless they wanted to escape from the craziness. That sounded like a good explanation, I don’t know; anyway if they are able to afford a BMW for their only son, why wasn’t he in a private school? I kept trying to read this guy and somehow I couldn’t. He is a complete mystery but I have to consider the fact that I haven’t being able to hear or see anything about anyone in the last few weeks, not even a dream. Everything is blank and empty; it feels almost awkward because this is part of my existence and is natural to me; not having this gift is like not being myself.

I decided I would tell mom about it; she understands me and may come up with some logical reasons. Unfortunately, these are matters that you cannot solve by going to the doctor; they will probably think you’re mental. Walther waves a simple good bye to us, his new group of friends. Who could say why this gorgeous specimen, who could be the next prom king and extremely popular, was hanging around with a small group of average seniors, not knowing that one of the members (me) was out of the ordinary. Maybe he will freak out when he discovers my ethnicity and the special gifts that I possess. I will give him a few weeks before he finds out and rejects me, like most of the students do, when they discover that I am a gypsy.



Once I made it home, my mom had dinner almost ready.

Wow mom, you came early from work today, I say absorbing all the wonderful smells from the kitchen.

I knew we’d be having brownies for dessert. We were alone in the house my dad still at work, so I took the opportunity to ask her about my sudden changes. My mother, Lilura Lovell is beautiful beyond this world; she looks so young that people used to think that she was my sister; the worst is when my parents go out, people think they are father and daughter and you don’t want to know my father’s reaction every time, especially since they both are the same age. My mother is a Chovahani, she tells me Svatas about our ancestors and tries to educate me about reading other peoples’ future, simple magic spells, and all the details about plants and their uses. She also teaches me how to make charms and amulets. I always enjoy her teachings, but still I need to learn much more complicated matters. My interest remains in the practice of love spells; those are the most popular, and the most solicited in my school.

Mom we need to talk, I say.

What’s going on, you look concerned did you have trouble at school today? she says in her soft voice while mixing a dressing for the potatoes.

No, school was fine, we have a new guy and to everybody’s surprise he joined my circle of friends. My problem is about myself. I don’t know what’s happening to me, but since a few weeks ago I haven’t being able to hear or see anything, I haven’t had any dreams at all. My mind is dark, complete blankness. I tell her. She looks at me very concerned,

Why are you telling me this now Nadya? You should have told me as soon as you were experiencing this abnormality.

But mom how should I know this is not normal, is this bad? I say feeling uneasy. She takes a deep breath, stops what she is doing, and looks me in the eyes with a penetrating, almost intimidating expression.

"Nadya listen to me very carefully; your father doesn’t approve me telling this; he has always tried to protect you from our past, but these changes are signs that a Prikasa is close. You probably crossed paths with it or you are about to."

STOP MOM! You’re scaring me, what’s going on, what are you talking about, I panic, mom hugs me and adds,

"Don’t be afraid; the legends from our family back in the fifteenth century tell of a ghoul or an omen or in other words a Prikasa; when one is close by, the powerful Chovahani in the tribe will experience these abnormalities. Is like the creature itself blocks all the channels so the Chovahani can’t discover its true identity."

"Why Dadus doesn’t want you to tell me about it?" I am so confused.

Well he thinks those are dim-witted legends from our ancestors and he doesn’t want me to fill your head with silly things, she smiles and adds. "You are indeed a powerful Chovahani my dear daughter, and if I’m telling you this it is because I want you to be open minded and be aware of anything even if it sounds silly. Trust me, people don’t believe in vampires, werewolves or any other creature that they think is impossible, but they exist and they live among us," she sounds serious and truthful but I am reluctant to believe it.

This is the twenty first century, how can we believe in such things, when it is all so popular in movies and books. I believe in spiritual gifts of the human kind, the ones that I possess. I know that the human mind is a complete mystery and the power that any person can achieve is infinite. However, from there to a belief that non-human creatures exist on this world, I have to say that my mom watches too much television. She is staring at me maybe thinking what I thought; that I didn’t believe a word she was saying and I agree one hundred percent with my dad. After long minutes, she brakes the silence between us.

Nadya, I know you don’t believe me. So I wish that you never have the opportunity to encounter one of these creatures yourself, because they are dangerous and that’s why we are so concerned about your safety.

You need to understand one thing you are our only child; your father and I went to a lot of trouble when you were born, the first daughter from your father’s generation in many centuries. His tribe was cursed from having daughters and it was like that until seventeen years ago when we finally broke the curse and had you.

A curse? Why? How did you two break that curse?

Well that’s another story that I will tell you in another time, I promise. Your father just got home.

For now, remember that you are a special girl like a treasure of extreme importance and you may have enemies out there but also allies that will protect you at all costs; be careful and always stay close to your friends, please.

"Ok Daya, I will be careful if that gives you some peace of mind."

I told her with confidence, but my mind was racing at the speed of light with a million questions. I wanted to stop her and demand all my answers at once, but I knew my mother very well by now; she would talk to me when time was appropriate. For now the only thing that I could do was wait for whatever might come, good or bad. Who knows, see it to believe it, I guess.

2

I can hear in the distance the sound of the intermittent and insistent alarm clock. For some reason I cannot come back to my senses and finally put an end to this penetrating torture. My bedroom is so far from me and I cannot get back; I want to open my eyes and wake up to a new day that brings hope to my reality. This is my life, an inexplicable one of very strange events of visions and constant change.

Once again, I am trapped in an unknown world, a dream! I am dreaming again! Of a world in which for some reason I feel that I have lived, where I have existed, I have loved and suffered, it’s part of me. An existence that is tattooed in my skin and remains in my mind like a warning signal. The truth is that these memories of the unconscious are more elaborate and complex than those I had before; maybe the conversation with my mother has something to do with it. Not to mention all my questions about who knows all the stories my parents have kept from me. Nevertheless, this vision is different; this dream is more like a nightmare of an event that happened a long time ago.

I can see a group of gypsies traveling along a beautiful dirt path on a bright summer evening surrounded by big mature trees. It looks like some place around the countryside in Europe; it is breathtaking. When they stop in a clearing to spend the night, I can see their stunning clothing, so colorful and cheerful. Their Vardos are carved with extreme perfection and complexity like I have never seen before. Then I see a beautiful woman who appears to be pregnant gathering some herbs around the perimeter. I know that she is the Chovahani of the tribe by the way she is dressed and the plants she collects. When deep in the woods she notices someone spying on her.

This dream felt so real to me that I could sense the chills all over my body; I knew danger was at hand and I couldn’t scream to warn the entire clan of what was about to happen. The Chovahani was distracted by her feelings and decided to walk deep into the woods at the edge of a river to discover her watcher. There she notices a pair of yellowish eyes staring like a hunter studying its prey and patiently waiting for the right moment to attack.

It was intense and frightening; I could only watch from the distance. Then I saw the creature with disbelief. It was a tall man standing by a large oak tree. His clothes were ragged and torn; he was wearing a hat that covered most of his face. He looked dirty with long and tangled hair, standing there like a statue waiting and staring at her. He seemed dead and his obnoxious scent made me gag. I could feel the emptiness of his soul, his lifeless breathing filled with the smell of putrefaction. There was no sign of a human heart beating in this creature and my own was about to explode. The Chovahani stood still holding in her hand a talisman and she had a small bag with pure ocean salt inside her Joddakaye. The creature looked excited for a second and with a grin on his face, I saw his teeth, yellow and sharp like a dog with rabies drooling and hissing. I felt like passing out, and almost peed my pants from the horror that I witnessed. I was so scared that I could feel my tears on my cheeks and I could hear my heart pounding deep in my ears.

The Chovahani said, You creature from the undead, stay away, don’t trespass. I know what you are; werewolf. What do you want?

She was so brave standing there alone and hopeless against a werewolf that was twice her size and maybe ten times stronger, but she didn’t hesitate for a second.

With a hissing sound in his cruel deep voice, he answered, "Chovahani, I wantsss you or not, I only wantsss what you are caring insssidesss you."

At the sound of his voice I shivered, I felt pain, the horror in this family, the smell of fresh blood that was about to be spilled. I could feel the death itself, embracing our souls and filling our hearts with sorrow.

I felt connected in some spiritual way to this woman as if I was that child she was so eager to protect with her own life. She said in a firm voice;

You are not touching this child; she has a purpose. If something happened to her the Immortal will rip you up in thousand pieces and your entire clan with you.

He started to laugh like a howling dog at a full moon. Suddenly I heard the men of the clan yelling her name, which I couldn’t catch, and advancing to her aid. She raised the talisman with one hand and seized some salt in the other when my worst fear became true. She was about to say the incantation to prevent this werewolf from doing harm, when he jumped across the river with rage showing his fangs at her. Everything went blank, dark.



Now I find myself in the middle of nowhere, my heart pounding with fear between the world of my ancestors and my subconscious mind that cannot evade the constant sound of the alarm clock. I feel trapped between two pages of a fairytale book where I can’t distinguish the reality. On one hand I want to wake up. I have to go to school and I want to escape from the grasp of this terrifying creature. On the other hand, I want to remain in this dream to be able to understand what my ancestors want to reveal. Here in this unreal world, I must remain to discover the truth. However, what is the truth? They are only dreams; they are nightmares. So how can I depend on these images to decipher the answers to all my questions? Not even, I can distinguish this experience as reality or fantasy.

I have to wake up! I must open my eyes and arrive at my present. I need to find the answers in another way; this present imperfect is like a cloud and right now can’t fulfill my desires. These are dreams so far and at this time I have to put them in pause because I must find my way back to my body; my heart needs to ease. I must open my eyes and finally wake up.

Nadya, Nadya my princess.

An unknown voice speaks to me, a seductive and manly voice that seems like music to my soul.

Nadya, my beloved, the soft voice says.

Who is this voice? I have never heard this stranger in my life. I can’t be dreaming because I can hear the alarm buzzing in my consciousness telling me that soon I’ll wake up from this nothingness to my present, my routine of everyday. I don’t understand who calls me with so much tenderness, with so much love and passion. When I’m listening to this voice my heart beats wild; my body shakes of emotion, as if all my circuits were connected to the sound of this unknown voice and they ignite, vibrate, and explode.

Where are you, who are you?

I ask with effort these words as if they had tickled my tongue when trying to articulate them. The anxiety kills me as if I’m going to burst in flames for an answer. I hope that these seconds don’t seems like forever. Trying to maintain calm, not to shout, not to feel this way, an exciting energy wakes me up like a new dawn in my life. But is it possible that a person can feel all this emotions and not die of overload. "Please answer me, ANSWER! Do not go away from my life, ever!" I think with terror, that my thoughts have been heard. I contemplate with horror of not knowing if this man will disappear and leave me alone in this world. The seconds between this silence and his answer are eternal.

Nadya, my beloved, soon you will discover the truth and then…

…My princess, you will be mine.

The penetrating and seductive voice sighs and smiles so smoothly that it makes me spill tears of desperation or perhaps excitement. I want to see the unknown man who speaks to me as if he loves me with a passion and intensity that no man has ever loved. When trying to dry my tears, I open my eyes and I can feel that I have arrived at the present, I can see my bedroom and feel the liquid of my tears grazing my cheeks, dunking my hair through my neck. At that moment I cannot understand why I’m crying, what kind of sensations are powerful enough to cause this effect on me.

Finally, I extinguish the alarm that vigorously stamps in my ears like out of tune drums and trumpets. I look around and realize that is still dark in my room; it must be cold outside because I see ice diamonds of the first dew inlaid in the windows. The room remains inert; everything is in its place as I left it the previous night. My books are still on the floor where I left them, trying my best to write the kilometric pending essay for my English class. Putting myself together, I look in the mirror and witness with embarrassment, blushing from my discovery, the feelings of sensuality a man can provoke. I’m keeping this to myself, nobody will know about it, in particular my mom. My friends will be concerned about my mental state if I tell them that I am hysterical for a man’s voice I heard in a dream. Yeah, they might think that I’m losing my mind and this means extreme measures like finding a date ASAP against my will. I don’t think so, I will keep my secret until I discover what’s behind this unknown character.

3

T oday at school, I spent most of my time thinking about my nightmare and my close encounter with the most beautiful voice I ever heard in my life. At least one thing was positive; I was having dreams again, which means that whatever my mom thought about ghouls or omens hunting my existence, she was wrong. As soon as I get home, I will tell her that I am having dreams again without revealing the details of them.

We all gathered at lunch in the same area as usual, my bunch of friends. Susan with Patrick, Gloria and Samantha and our new addition Walther were all talking at the table about today’s meeting after school-the most anticipated Language Club that Mr. LeBlanc created in order to improve our conversational skills. Susan looked at me puzzled and said,

What kind of bug bit you today girl, you look like you’re in outer space. Is there’s something I should know about?

She took me by surprise; I jumped off my seat and stood up facing my friends who appeared to be confused by my reaction. I said,

OH! It’s nothing; I just started having dreams again last night and was thinking about them. I sat back on my chair and Patrick said,

That’s good news, you’re back to normal.

No one was surprise by my reply except Walther who looked more confused than ever. Looking in Walther’s direction, Samantha, asks with