Faster than any of us could understand, Amy dusted both of my vampires. I grab what clothes aren't ruined from earlier and run. I make it to the spring I had visited when first arriving in the woods. I don a pair of grey slacks and a red button down shirt, they're too big for me but they remind me of what I just lost. I sit there crying for a few minutes when I hear a noise to my right. Thinking its Amy to come to finish me off I turn getting ready to run. Instead standing in front of me is a man with pointed ears and blonde hair.
  "My lady, why do you cry?"
  "Because... I am alone."
  He smiles warmly at me. "There is no need to feel alone now. Come, I will take you to a friend's. A beautiful lady should not cry for loneliness when I can help."
  He leads me to a city next to a waterfall, already the pain of losing my first two men have started to lessen. Before we enter he pulls me over and kisses me passionately.
  "What was that for?"
  "I felt you should not be sad when you meet my friends." He then leads me towards a hall filled with even more yummy men.
  "Legolas, you're early, and you brought a friend with you."
  I was introduced to another blonde elf who called himself a marchwarden and a dark haired man that reminded me of one of my vampires. I spent the next few days relaxing, taking archery lessons from the elves, and history lessons from the man. I was in the gardens during one of my history lessons when the man leaned over and kissed me. It was sweet and melting. He pulled back and we smiled at each other. That night there was a feast with singing and dancing. The Marchwarden danced me out to a terrace where I was reward with my third kiss since entering the city. He then gave me a filigree gold and platnium bracelet, he said was from him and his friends. All of a sudden the music stopped and murmuring began within the hall. I turned around to see Amy again. She glared daggers at me.
  "Will you STOP stealing my men!"
  "But I didn't do anything this time."
  "Really, then I just didn't catch you with your mouth glued to his and everyone else's mouths earlier did I?"
  Knowing what was happening and unable to stop it I watched as she drove a sword though the two elves and the man I was starting to have feelings for. Seeing her turn towards me I picked up my skirt and ran, out of the city and towards the field where I had awakened upon entering this nightmarish paradise. I stopped and looked towards the sky and screamed. I walked on mindless of where I was going. Sometime later I happened upon a lake. On the other side was a castle. I approached, unmindful of any danger. I entered and started to wander aimlessly. I came across a room with its door open. Inside was a dour looking man with stringy hair. He looks up at my sigh.
  "What are you doing here?" he demands in a cold voice
  "There was nowhere else to go."
  "Why are you here?"
  "Because death is following me and I can't stop it."
  He frowns at me but chooses to ignore me for his work. I stand there watching him taking no notice of the tears streaming down my face. He looks up again when a sob breaks from my lips. His frown is replaced with a look of concern. Without realizing it we ended up in each others arms. He's making shushing noises trying to soothe me. I look up into his face, begging.
  "Please make the pain go away."
  He nods lowering his head to take my lips into a searing kiss. He guides me into a private set of rooms and slowly lowers me onto his bed. He is soft and intense and I feel we both needed the release. I wake up later still snuggled next to him. I look into his face to see he had been watching me sleep. He slips a black opal onto my finger and whispers one word.
  "Stay."
  "For as long as we are both alive."
  We get out of bed and get dressed and head towards a room near the entrance of the castle to have breakfast. When we walk in all talk stops. Neither of us says a word as we make our way to a raised platform. He seats me then takes a seat next to me. The food is served up and we eat in silence while others try to get answers from us to no avail. I was just taking a sip of juice when I heard a grunt. Looking next to me I saw a silver hilt sticking out of the chest of the man that made me feel again. I knew who I would see before I even looked up. Amy stood there in all her battle glory.
  "I gave you three chances Natalie. You know what they say, three strikes and your out."
  "I'm ready, you've taken everyone away from me. I have no one else."
  "That's not true, but they are mine and I'm going to make sure you don't take those too."
  And with the flick of her wrist darkness surrounds me. I wake up in my bed sweating, thinking what a beautiful but sad dream it was. I go to rub my eyes and notice two objects on my arm. There in all their glory was the bracelet and ring given to me in my dreams. I reach for my neck and feel the choker is still there. Swirling in my head there was only one question I couldn't answer.

                                              WAS IT ALL JUST A DREAM?