Chapter 11

I was running down a dimly lit corridor and they were closing in on me fast. I was desperately trying all the doors in the the corridor but they were all locked. I wanted to scream but it seemed like I had no voice and my breathing was laboured as if I had been running for miles. My vision was blurry as due to the swarm of tears in my eyes as I awkwardly ran glancing occasionally behind me.

They were relentless as their evil voices continued to yell my name begging me to stop. I didn't stop. I had a  goal to settle.

"Santana!" A familiar male voice called but I couldn't quite place it. I turned back then suddenly a soul splitting wail reached my ears and suddenly I was standing in front of a closet that also looked familiar. The wail continued and I had to get away from it, it was overwhelming. I reached for the closet door and swung it open.

Behind the door stood my grandmother, her hands bound and her mouth gagged. Her seemingly lifeless body sagged and came hurtling towards me from the closet.

I screamed.

"Santana! Santana! Wake up!"

I continued screaming and flailing my arms wildly in fright. Someone's hands were on me - shaking me awake.

I opened my eyes mid-scream and stopped immediately when I saw Gabriel's concerned face.

"Hey." He whispered softly. "It was just a dream. It's okay."

"Gabriel." I breathed then I sagged hopelessly in his arms which were still around me. "You're here."

He gently stroked my hair as if he was comforting a child. "I'm here. You are alright."

I bit my lip to stop myself from bursting into tears and sobbing on his hard solid chest which I was resting my cheek on. But the warmth he was currently radiating had me calm in seconds. This was the closest I had ever been to him. Now if only I would stop shaking it would be great.

The dream had seemed so real and vivid. The image of my Nana falling on me flashed in my mind again and I shuddered.

Gabriel held me tighter but he said nothing.

Eventually the shaking subsided and I shifted out of his arms. He released me immediately then looked down at me but I could barely see his face as the room was covered in darkness.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly.

At the note of concern in his voice, tears stung the back of my eyes. I swallowed hard not wanting him to see me cry.

I nodded. "Did I wake you?"

My voice sounded hoarse. I cleared my throat.

"No. It's still 10pm." He mumbled. "I was just passing by your corridor when I heard you screaming."

I nodded surprised by the time.

"Do you have a lot of nightmares?" He asked still sounding concerned.

"I...um...n-no, not really." I lied. I couldn't tell him about the dream. At least not yet I wasn't ready.

He eyes me dubiously then he nodded then he stood up. "If you need anything just call me." He said walking to my bedside table and talking the notepad on it and scribbling something on it. "Don't wonder out alone at night. The house is too big and there are too many creatures living here."

What? Was it dangerous? Would some of them actually hurt me? I rubbed my arms.

"Don't  worry you are safe but it could give you nightmares." He smirked slightly.

"That's comforting." I mumbled far from feeling comforted.

He smiled lightly. Then he exited my room.

How loud were my screams? I wondered. I slipped out of bed and on!y then did I realise how flimsy my nightdress was. I flushed in embarrassment. Gabriel had seen me in this tiny thing.

Though the embarrassment was nothing compared to the warmth rapidly spreading in my chest. I could barely believe that Gabriel had been the one to comfort me out of my nightmare. And during the whole time he hadn't been cold and closed off. He was actually gentle and kind of sweet.

I hugged myself happily as I skipped to the loo. Maybe he wasn't such a sour grump after all.

After washing my hands I slipped into a pink dressing grown that reached my knees. I was still impressed by how well stocked the wardrobe was though I didn't think I was ever going to wear the gorgeous dresses. Oh and the shoes!

I closed the wardrobe and I sat on my bed wondering what I was going to do now considering my sleep had been majorly interrupted. I should probably go for a yogurt run but I wasn't comfortable enough in this house yet to open the fridge and get yogurt. Maybe Gabriel was still down there eating maybe? I wasn't necessarily hungry but I guess I could be persuaded because the last meal i had was lunch. If I wear something more decent I could probably go down and eat.

A knock on the door startled me and I got up to open it.

"Gabriel." I could barely contain the note of surprise in my voice.

"I brought you food." He held up a small tray that held a covered plate, two bowls and a glass of water.

"You did?" Again with the surprise. This time it was even more pronounced. He brought me food? Gabriel?

He just stood there gazing down at me.

I stood aside and let him walk in. Closing the door behind me I turned to him with a puzzled expression.

"Don't look so surprised I know you didn't have dinner. You shouldn't skip meals. It apparently gives you nightmares." He said after he set the tray on a small table that stood next to the vanity table. He turned to me with a small smile.

"Is this food poisoned?" I asked skeptically purposely ignoring him little joke.

That made him laugh causing the mood to lighten up by mikes. I resisted the urge to laugh along. "Yes. Yes, I'm going to poison the first female Guardian in 500 years." He retorted sarcastically.

I raised an eyebrow at him. I wasn't letting up until he told me why he was suddenly being nice to me. "But you hate me."

He sobered up immediately and by so doing I felt the mood sobering up too. I was sure he could control the mood. He was silent for a long moment and I thought at that moment that for sure he hated me "I don't hate you." He finally spoke up in a bit of a whisper.

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. He didn't hate me. I should feel relieved but I'm not really. I just feel like I won a battle but lost a war.

By now the mood of the room had turned blue.

"You are a lot stronger than you think, Lioness." Gabriel said softly. He walked towards me slowly. "You have better control of your mind than most people I have met. It's remarkable."

I shifted on my feet and hugged myself. "H.how do you mean?"

I swear I could see the mood shift color - the blue had deepened.

"I know you can sense the shift of the mood." He said.

I nodded slowly. "I sort of see it in color. Is that strange?" I whispered.

His eyes widened slightly. "Its not unusual but its very rare. Especially for new Guardians."

"Really?" I breathed.

"Yes. You have so much potential, Santana." He seemed to be at a loss for words.

"Can you see the color?" I asked him.

He frowned. "No." He sounded almost disappointed.

I smiled sympathetically. "Well right now its kind of faltering between silver blue and grey." I told him softly.

His eyes bored into mine for a long moment until I started to feel sort of lightheaded. It was a strange feeling.

How do you feel?

I gasped. A voice was whispering in my head. Gabriel's voice.

"What the hell?" It was extremely unsettling.

It's telepathy. He whispered again.

"Stop it." I closed my eyes trying to shut his voice out. His presence in my mind was so strong I felt like I might pass out. I covered my ears with my hands.

I need you to focus.

"No!" I screamed. I was going crazy. I really couldn't stand it. He had to stop. Right now.

Turning away from him, I tried to barricade my mind even though I had no idea what I was doing. Needless to say, it didn't work. But I tried anyway. Gabriel must have noticed my efforts because he just stood there firmly rooted in my brain watching me tire myself out.

After some fruitless efforts, I gave up and sat dejectedly on the bed.

Stand up. He said after I caught my breath.

I obeyed.

Clear your mind. And focus on me.

I closed my eyes as I forced myself to concentrate. I was familiar with the drill by now.

Connect with me in your mind as if I'm a part of your brain.

I opened my eyes and glued my eyes to his in a bid to connect with him. And I found his eyes as engaging as ever so connecting with him wasn't so hard.

You are doing well. Make a connection with my mind. Focus very hard.

His whispery voice washed over me like a hypnosis tape. And I could almost feel myself tumbling into his brain. Suddenly, I felt a kind of a...presence take over me. Like an extra person along side me.

It was so powerful I physical stumbled backwards thus breaking my connection but Gabriel was still rooted strong in my mind.

Again.

His brows were knit closely together.

I took a deep breath as I resumed my position and linked gazes with him again. Again i tumbled into his mind and this time I was better prepared for the onslaught of his power.

It was like floating in a river with very strong current. It was very overwhelming.

Say something to me.

I took another deep breath.

Gabriel. I Whispered.

He gasped.

I saw the effect my 'inner voice' had on him on his whole body as it tensed and what's more, I felt it deep in his mind. It knocked him off balance and the strong current hit a major obstacle. He momentarily logged out of my mind as he tried to regain balance.

I watched and felt his struggle completely bewildered.

Finally he managed to recreate the connection and his once shocked expression was now more guarded - so was his mind. I felt boundaries closing in on me.

Good job.

What? After all that all he could say was 'good job'?

Excuse me?

He gritted his teeth then he released my mind. "Stop." He gasped breathlessly.

I zapped out of his mind. "Are you alright?" I frowned.

He looked flustered. I had never seen him look like the before. He brushed a hand through his hair.

"Gabriel?" Had I really had that big an effect on him? I felt a flutter of self-pleasure. I had had a hard time at first with this telepathy thing but not I felt like I was a pro!

I rushed to the table Gabriel had set the tray and I took the glass of water then I walked back to him and I handed him the water.

Taking it from me, he guzzled it down in a minute and when he was done, he was starting to breathe normally again.

"Better?" I crooked an eyebrow.

"Much." He rasped then he finally let his eyes meet mine. He gazed into them long and hard making me feel raw and exposed. Tables turned and now it was my turn to be breathless as he drilled into my soul with the intensity of his unfathomable gaze.

I swallowed hard.

I froze as he lifted his hand slowly towards my face. His hand hovered close to my cheek then he brushed a few tendrils of hair from my cheek amazingly without making contact with my skin. I was almost disappointed that he didn't touch me.

I dropped my gaze.

Just when I thought he couldn't surprise me anymore, he cupped my left cheek in his huge warm hand lifting my face so my eyes stare into his again. He was standing so close I could feel his breathe on my face.

"Something about you, Santana Marino..." He whispered something raw and sincere flashing in his eyes.

My breathe caught. "What?" I managed to whisper hoarsely.

He said nothing but he continued to hold me in place for more long minutes as our eyes searched each other's eyes.

Finally he released me and stepped away from me. I felt robbed of his warmth.

He brushed a hand through his hair. "I must be more tired than I thought." He mumbled. His eyes landed on the tray of food. "You need to eat."

"Umm... Yeah... Umm." I was still trying to gather my wits.

He gave my a small closed mouth smile before the turned to leave.

Wait. What? He was leaving?

"Gabriel, wait!" I stopped him just before he opened the door as I walked towards him. "I...umm I don't understand what just happened."

He looked down at me with what looked like tenderness in his eyes. Then he shook his head. "I don't understand either. Good night. Try not to have another nightmare." He said softly before he exited my room closing the door gently behind him.

I back paddled until I felt the bed make contact with the back of my knees then I collapsed on the bed with a tired sigh. I had done no physical work but I felt power draining from my limbs. My initial feeling of triumph had long since disappeared. Now I just felt confused by everything that had happened here today.

I guess I could understand how the telepathy could have knocked him so hard I mean it had knocked me off balance. But then again it was a novelty to me but for him...he must be used to it right? I sighed. I would have to ask him tomorrow.

But oh my gosh afterwards he...

I got breathless again as I relived moment when he put his hand on my cheek. I sighed deeply. Gabriel was the most confusing person on the planet. He made me feel things I had never felt before then confused me so much afterwards.

I had to stop.

He had to stop pulling me in then pushing me away. I didn't need that kind of drama in quiet life.

I'll put an end it.