Necessity

Dream

The nights have been cold. I have not been able to sleep well since Aria went missing. They tell me she might be dead but I feel her. I know she is out there. I send my men daily and go search for her myself every chance I get but still nothing. If a month goes by and I can't find her, I don't know what I will do. The pack will be at risk of getting weaker without her. I will get weaker without her. My brother is talking about marriage. I think Aria was right that lunatic Julie is suspicious and up to something but I don't know what it is. My brother is completely in love with her and I can't break them apart. If I tell him I forbid her from coming on to our lands who knows what he will do. If he leaves with her I might never see him again. I already had one dilemma I didn't need another.

~

"Is there any other way?" I asked father Romero.

"Nothing comes to mind, unfortunately," he answered. "There might be something  you can do to ease your mind."

"What?" I asked.

"If I astral project you to him, don't tell him our plan but say goodbye," he explained.

"How is that going to ease my mind?" I questioned.

"It will give you a chance to see him and also make it more believable," he said. "Don't you think?" I had a hard time agreeing to it but I knew seeing James was something I needed. We had a long road ahead of us. So I had to do this even if in the end it broke both our hearts. I nodded in agreement and told father Romero we would do it tonight. We had no more time to waste. As soon as it was nightfall, father Romero and I went to my room. He asked Mason to get one of his men to bring us twelve candles. I laid on my bed and closed my eyes as Father Romero chanted away. He told me to empty my mind and think of nothing but James. That was the easy part.

"Will I be able to touch him," I asked,

"I told you to stay silent," he snapped. "And yes but it won't feel normal touch." I didn't understand but I knew by his tone he was losing his patience so I stayed quiet and focused. He continued to chant and I felt as if I was drifting off. When I opened my eyes I was in my bedroom back home. James wasn't there. I guess I should have accounted for that. I didn't want to walk around our home looking for him. Father Romero did say James would be the only one that could see me but still, I didn't want to take that chance. I have a bond with my entire pack so maybe just maybe they will be able to see me or at least sense me. I then heard a noise coming from the bathroom. The shower was turned on. I was very tempted to go in there and just have some fun or the very least see my man in all his glory. Father Romero said I had all the time I needed so to not worry about that. When I was ready to go, he would know and I would be back in my body. So I just sat on the bed and waited for James. I looked around the room. The curtains had not been opened for a while. They were dusty as well. I usually did all the cleaning but we have a maid service he could have called. I guess he wants to live in his own misery for now. Telling him I am dead and then cutting our mate bond isn't going to make things better but I hope he will be okay. I kept convincing myself it was the only way and for a short period of time. I heard the shower turn off and knew James would come out any minute now. I was more nervous than my 1st night with James but if it was anything like it, well then hey. He suddenly came out, steam following and enveloping his body. I felt my heartbeat quicken. He closed the bathroom door and turned off the lights in the room. He hadn't spotted me yet and I knew it would take him a minute now. I guess he preferred the darkness now. He was rummaging around his dresser for clothes and I was being to get impatient.

"James," I whispered. I know I scared him but his face wouldn't show it nor would he ever admit it.

"Aria?" he questioned. He turned on a single candle and looked straight at me. I was still sitting on the bed with my legs hanging on the side. He ran towards me.

"Stop," I pleaded. "I need to tell you something."

"Please, let me hold you," he asked.

"James," I cried out. "I need to say goodbye."

"What!" he shouted. "What are you saying, you're here, you are alive."

"No, I'm not," I told him. "I died but I needed to see you." I knew he would have trouble believing I was a ghost. He wasn't that open to that world of the supernatural but I mean we knew vampires, witches and well our kind were real but a ghost, he didn't think that was possible. In his words, your dead; you're dead. He reached out his hand and caressed my cheek. I felt his touch but it did feel different. It was like a little static electricity but his touch still felt warm and familiar.

"I miss you," I told him.

"Don't, ARIA DON'T!" he shouted.

"I have to go, I can't stay," I said. He leaned in and kissed me.

"How is it I can still feel you, not just now but our bond," he asked. "I can feel it in my heart, I know you're still alive."

"James, let me go," I pleaded. James kissed me again and I melted in his arms. I cupped his face and deepened the kiss. I finally let him go and he looked deep within my eyes.

"It's not true, I won't believe it."

"I love you."

I was pulled back and awoke in my body. My eyes flew open and I saw father Romero. It all felt like a dream but it was a good dream even if it was painful to wake up.

"We will perform the ritual tomorrow," he said.

"No, do it now," I demanded. I rolled over and cried silently as Father Romero began to chant.