꒦꒷ - i l l u s i o n s - ꒷꒦

chapter 1; my love

v --- introducing , illusions , chapter 1 --- v

"Good morning." I smiled at my husband and kissed the top of his head, ruffling his hair. He always got up before bed to retrieve his newspaper and start coffee. By this time coffee should be done, so I made my way around the kitchen table to pour us both a cup. "So, hun. How's the world going this morning?" I flashed a warming smile toward him as I waited for a response while pouring coffee into my cup, his following not far behind.

"Well, there was another murder case. It's crazy, freaky, cause they're moving more toward our jurisdiction the more they happen." He shook his head as he started, setting his paper down and taking a bite of his toast. "Garamond said it was a girl in a basement." I rolled my eyes and began to make my way back to the kitchen table. All the murders these days are revolved around basments for some unknown reason. "When they found her the lights were all out and she was freezing but fresh, you know? Like she had just been killed but she was cold. She had bruises on her arms too. They haven't figured out the cause or the murderer." I stopped abruptly and my blood ran cold as I remembered my dream. The man's cold fingers against the skin on my arms, the angry pressure he'd put on them, the cold air and floors.

I dropped both cups of coffee on the ground and just stood there.

"Anjrew! What the hell, babe?!" From the corner of my eye I watched Kondrin run over to me and push me away from the dropped, burning hot coffee before it could reach my bare feet. The murders where certainly moving toward our home. And they were getting closer to my dream too. My heartbeat fluttered as I tried to organize my thoughts and calm myself. "Go sit down, okay? I'll clean this up and get our coffee." He nudged me to the kitchen table with a kiss and I obliged as my hands shook.

I took a seat at the table, my eyes wide open.

"Are you okay honey?" Time seemed to be flying by, because Kondrin was finished and bringing me my coffee, sitting across from me and throwing the newspaper in the trash within seconds. "Is it the murder cases?" He asked in a comforting voice. I just sat there in a daze. "Baby, talk to me please..." He sounded worried as he placed a hand on mine. Despite the man in my dreams', his were warm and soft. This took me out of my trance as I looked up at him into his soft brown eyes and smiled.

"I'm okay, my love. I'm sorry for worrying you." I grabbed his hand and squeezed it, my smile disappearing slowly. I picked up my cup of coffee and took a small sip, glancing at the trash bin where he threw the paper. But I averted my eyes quickly. I don't want to think about it now. "How about we do something fun today, huh? Try to have a nice time?" I sat my cup down and grabbed my phone, unlocking it.

"I'm not really sure. With this guy goin' around, I'm not sure we should be out." He tilted his head looking at the trash can and I tried to shake off the expression I could feel on my face. "And you look awfully tired to be going places right now." He pointed this out and for the first time I actually realized that I was tired.

I shook my head, "No, we need to get out of the house for a while, Kondrin." I looked at him comfortingly. "We could go have lunch, or go shopping. Maybe just go to a bar or something, have a few drinks, I don't know." I sighed and picked my coffee cup back up, relaxing my back into the seat. I needed something to get this off my mind.

He continued to look worried. "Well... if you really need some time out of the house, then I guess we can find something to do. We need people around though." He pointed at me, lifting his eyebrows. This made me laugh. Kondrin usually wasn't one to look cute, he's more manly and muscular, but when he did this he was adorable. I giggled and he smiled slightly, losing sight of whatever cuteness I had just seen. Only pure hotness now. I giggled again at the word. "What are you laughin' at, Mrs. Drake?" He lifted one eyebrow and at this point I couldn't stop giggling my high pitched squeaky giggle. He smirked and slowly stood from his chair, moving toward me like he would pounce at any moment. I jumped up quickly and looked at him with wide eyes and a big smile.

"Kondrin... Don't do it..." I whispered, giggling. He grinned wider as he krept closer and I backed into the wall. "Babyyy nooo!" I squealed and laughed. He got closer and lunged toward me with a loud "HA!" but I jumped out of the way with a giggling scream. "No! Hah!" I ran around the table knocking over a chair as he followed quickly behind me.

"Get back here, you cutie! I'm gunna get you!!" He chuckles and I run up the stairs and through the hallway running into our bedroom.

"You can't catch me!" I laughed and pushed the door closed to shut it, but before it could latch he flung it open and scooped me onto his shoulder, wrapping his strong arm around my waist.

"What was that? Did Anjrew say something?" He laughed a little before tossing me on the bed and crawling over me, his hands both next to my head. I felt the heat of our body's both together.

"I said... you can't catch me..." I whispered quietly, wrapping my arms around his neck. I smiled slightly. He smiled back, the look in his eyes telling me how much he loved me. He reached to my hair and pushed it behind my ear before kissing me gently and laying beside me, pulling me close to his chest.

"You know I love you, Anjrew. Right?" He looked down at me as I nodded. I snuggled myself closer to him and closed my eyes, taking in the smell of his cologne. He ran his hand through my hair and I felt myself get sleepier. My eyelids burned and my body grew heavier each second. When I married Kondrin I thought it might be something more like working all the time, and never really having any moments like this. But maybe that's the point. Because times like this are what makes me happy, even if they're rare. He makes me happy.

My body relaxed as he wrapped a blanket around us both and kissed my forehead. I clutched his t-shirt before burying my face in his chest and whispered, "I love you, Kondrin."

He rubbed his thumb on the back of my head and kissed my forehead once more, saying back, "I love you too, princess." And just like that, I was asleep. I was asleep and had the best sleep I'd had in a long time. No nightmare, no crying. Just Kondin. Kondin and the dream of our wedding night.

^ --- chapter 1 , end --- ^