1 comments/ 7313 views/ 1 favorites A Ghoul for a Husband Ch. 01 By: FrenchescaDoll Hey, just so you know: This is set in my own little version of medieval times. Also, the main character is named Chianna. Chia is just a nickname, a shortening of Chianna, so I'm letting you know now, before you ask. Isn't that efficient? Hope you enjoy! Tell me if you want more or not. -Frenchesca "Are you ready yet Chianna?" When no answer came from the room, Chias mother Mary knocked on the door. When still no answer came, she went inside. "Mama, did you find her?" Chias sister Anna asked. When she looked through the open doorway, she chuckled. "Looks like she escaped, mom." she said, pointing to the open window. "Honestly!" Mary huffed, agitated. "Why can't she just act like a normal girl for once? We're going off to a party, and she's off jumping from second floor windows? Why? It's bad enough she wouldn't wear the dress I picked out, but now she runs away?" Anna smiled at the antics of here older sister, and led their ranting mother down the stairs to the living room, hoping that their father could calm her. Eventually, when she finally calmed a little, Mary stood by the window, looking for her eldest daughter. "Let's just hope that she doesn't get into any more fights. It isn't appropriate from a lady of her stature. She is a Dukes daughter after all. Send the guards, just to be safe." ^*^*^ "I finally got away! Now to just run far enough..." Chia remembered the last time she had escaped like that. Her mother had sent their guards out to find her. When they had she had beaten away four before they trapped her, and forced her back home. Chia longed for freedom to do as she pleased, but being a woman she was supposed to be more reserved, and quiet. She had one thing to say to that: Fuck it. No matter what, she would get the freedom she so desperately craved. 'One day soon. If not this year, then the next.' she pledged herself as she ran through the nearby forest. She refused to go to parties and balls because she knew that if she went, her mother would try to match her up with some guy, and that would only limit her options even more. She made her way into her favorite clearing in the woods, an area with a beautiful lake. 'I bet if I got married I'd be forbidden to be here. Why would anyone be against letting someone come here though? I just don't get courtly life.' she thought as she pulled off her shoes and stockings. She waded into the water, closing her eyes, and focusing on only what she felt and heard. She had been standing serenely still with the wind on her face, and water lapping at her knees, completely at one with nature, unmovable by any earthly force for almost half an hour before something clicked awake in her mind and her eyes opened. She was surrounded on all sides; She could hear their clumsy movements as they slowly advanced towards her. 'My unity has been obstructed... or has it?' she thought before she quickly turned around and sweep kicked the man who was trying to sneak up behind her. She closed her eyes once more and stood still as she reached out with her senses. She could tell they had brought more guards to get her this time, at least 5 more. True, she was a good fighter, but something was off with her that day, and she didn't want the hassle. She let her head fall backward before calling out "I give up today. Just today. Take me home." and collapsing into the water. As she sank deeper and deeper she could just barely make out their confused voices. Before she completely sank to the shallow bottom, she could almost swear she heard a voice whispering to her. It said "I'll come for you soon. Wait for me." It took her a few seconds before she realized it was herself who had whispered it. She didn't get a chance to ponder on it though, as she blacked out from lack of air. ^*^*^ "Mistress, are you awake yet? Your mother is being very distressed about your state, and I don't wish to worry her any longer; Her ravings are only fun to watch for so long. She was convinced that you were going to die from that little stunt you pulled at the lake. My lady, please don't drown like that, you had us all worried!" Chia smiled as she sat up in her bed. Her mother may rant for hours, but her maid could be even worse. "Bridgette, please. Mother can worry a little; It gives her something to do. Now, are you going to help me get dressed or will I have to give you an order? Those are vile things, those orders." Bridgette giggled and set to work, picking out an outfit for her mistress. A few years ago Chia had gotten in to a fight with Mary about why she should wear dresses, since Chia kept wearing men's clothes instead. In a fit of rage, Chia had pushed Mary out of the room and locked the door. When she was finally let back inside, all of Chias dresses had had the skirts cut off of them, reducing them to shirts. Mary knew that Chia would just do the same to any new dresses, so she improvised. She got Chia long skirt-like pants. If she stood straight, it looked as if she was wearing a skirt. Chia accepted this option and now her wardrobe consisted of only pants and shirts, just as she wanted it. After Chia was dressed she grabbed a brush and left her room, brushing her long hair as she went. Anna hugged her when she reached the kitchen and then hurried back to her seat at the table. Chia took a seat next to her sister and was quickly given a plate by one of the servants. Just as she started eating her breakfast her mother decided to confront her. "Chianna, why did you run away last night?" Chia stopped eating and rolled her eyes at her mother. They'd had this conversation more than a handful of times, but her mother still asked her about it. Usually she said something about just not wanting to go, but today wasn't usual. Ever since her 18th birthday a week ago she had been feeling...different. "Mary, why do you think I do that?" Mary seemed slightly surprised that she hadn't given her usual reply, but didn't let it stop her from getting her explanation. "Don't try to redirect the questions to me, I asked you first you tricky little girl." "Ah yes mother, you caught me. As your reward, I shall tell you." Chia got up out of her seat and walked to a nearby window. She knew that she was just flustering her mother more, but she wouldn't get what she wanted to know out of her by getting angry. "You know about that lake that I like to run off to, don't you Mary?" she began, turning to her mother. At her Marys small nod and curious look she continued. "Well you may not be able to understand it, you being you and all, but that lake is...special to me. Every night it calls out to my soul. If I go to that lake and stand in it, it helps me free my mind, and it enhances my senses. It seems that the spot has healing and magical amplifying abilities. I've been doing some research on it, and have found that it lies on the point that ley lines cross on. Right in the middle of the lake." Her mother seemed shocked for a minute before becoming serious again. "Young lady, don't even think of using those ley lines. You don't know what could happen, it may take away your magic, and that would end the family legacy. We still don't know if Anna inherited your fathers abilities, so for now you are our families last hope of carrying on the magic to the next generation." At the mention of her name Anna fidgeted. Chia knew Anna didn't want to be the next to be used like she was going to be. Mary was going to try to sell her off to someone of power, effectively ensuring that their family legacy continued, that there was one less mouth to feed, and that she would get paid a hefty sum for her daughter. Chia briefly wished that their father was here and could calm down their mother, but he had left this morning to go off and fight in the new war, which only made Mary even more agitated that day. "Yes, yes, dear Mary, I'll try to head your words. I make no promises though, as I do not know the future. Ever since my 18th birthday it seems to be attracting me to it. I can only hope that whatever the fates wish me to do with the lines that it will help and not harm me." Chia said, finished with the topic. She walked back to her seat, picked up her plate, and walked towards the front door. At her mothers calls she yelled that she would be back within the hour, and swiftly left. ^*^*^ Having finished her breakfast on the way there, she waded into the lake, tossing the plate away along with her boots. She stood, once more one with nature, in control of herself. It was only when her mind finally sorted itself out that she remembered her words from the night before. 'Who was I talking to?' Even with her now cleared mind she couldn't find the answer. She stripped out of her clothes and waded into the deeper parts of the lake. As she swam through the water, she pondered over why she felt so...empty. Her life was missing something, something she knew she could never really live life completely without: Love. The real reason she did not wish to be married was because she knew that she would be forced to marry one she would not love. She would die having never truly lived a happy life. She also knew that if she were to be married to a strict man, as she bet her husband would be, she would never have the freedom that she so craved, that she loved. Chia spotted something shiny in the water and picked it up. When she came back up to get some air she almost screamed. She could have sworn she could see a man near the trees, watching her, but when she focused on the spot he had been at, he was gone. "Creepy..." she whispered as she scampered out the lake to get her clothes. "I was almost sure that there was a man, but..." A Ghoul for a Husband Ch. 02 Let me just say, yes, I did forget to mention that this story is in chapters...sorry. Also, I wanted to say that it will be a while until I post 'An Alphas Love Ch.2', 'cause my computer...well, it sort of killed it. I was in the middle of typing more, and then the power went out. I lost it. No use crying over spilt milk, so I'm trying to retype it, but it'll take a while. To all whom it may concern, I'm sorry. Hope you like this chapter, and that it makes sense. (How is this historical? I hate those tag things...) When Chia had come home that day at around noon Mary was fuming, but Anna distracted her by asking her to go clothes shopping with her, which Mary never passed up. Chia waited until they were gone before she came back down stairs. She still had the feeling someone was watching her at the moment, so she was more than a little paranoid. There was only really one feminine thing that her mother had taught her that Chia had kept up: Sewing. She loved to sew, especially when it came to dolls. She kept sewing this one doll in particular ever since her birthday. She had a certain image in mind, though she had no idea where she had gotten it from. She only had a few more stitches to make and then she would be done with her creation. When she had finished her doll she looked it over. It was a man in very regal clothes, clothes befitting someone with a high stature. His short black hair made his blue button eyes stand out amongst his face. Somehow, even though she had given him a smile, he seemed...unhappy. Not sad, just unfulfilled. "My little doll, it seems like you feel the same I do, so let's make an agreement together. We'll never leave each other lonely or sad. You and me against the world, my lovely doll. Only you and me." she whispered to the stuffed doll of a man as she climbed the stairs to her room. Chia had put the shiny thing she found in the water on her vanity and cleaned it. It was a little emblem of a sword that she was almost sure she recognized, but she didn't remember how. She picked it up and pinned it to the dolls chest, completing it's look. She smiled a proud little smile at the doll and hugged it tightly. She knew she would be keeping this one forever. ^*^*^ As the day progressed Chia still felt like she was being watched, but now that feeling comforted her instead of frightening her. She was almost positive that it was her doll watching and protecting her, and she didn't want that feeling to stop; It pleased her far too much. She brought the doll with her every where that day. When Mary and Anna got back from shopping they found her on the couch in the living room, curled up in a ball, hugging the doll close to her, deep in sleep. They called for the servants to help her to her bed, but when they tried to take the doll away she woke up and started pushing them away from her, never letting go of the doll. Anna helped her calm down, and quickly noticed the doll in her sisters arms. She couldn't help but ask about it. When the topic of the doll came up a strange look crossed Chias face, one that was rare to see on her. It took Anna a few moments to figure out that it was love. Chia nuzzled her cheek against the dolls head and smiled widely. "This is my lovely, precious doll. I love him and he loves me, and we'll face the world together from now on. I promised that I would never leave him as long as he doesn't leave me, so we have a partnership, my handsome lovely doll and I." Mary stared at her eldest daughter in shock. She hadn't heard nor seen Chia act like this since she was 10. It was like she was a different person now. She was sure Chia had lost it. "Chianna, where did you get that doll?" Chia looked at her strangely for a few seconds before chuckling. "Oh, yes. I forgot that I hadn't told you. I'm actually very good at sewing. I've been making dolls for years, but I've kept them hidden in my closet, or given some to Anna. But I must say, this little man is my favorite yet." Mary walked closer to get a better look at the doll. It was a very cute doll of a noble man. "That is a lovely doll Chianna. This is ironic though; The only man that you actually want, and it's a doll." Chia grinned a lopsided grin at her mother before leaving the house for a visit at the lake with her man. ^*^*^ "My lovely little man, what do you think? Isn't this place wonderful? I think it's beautiful myself, but everyone else just sees it as a regular old lake. I wanted to share it with you though. This'll be our little spot." Chia hugged her doll close to her chest as she waded into the lake. She closed her eyes and attuned herself to the earth around her. She could feel something coming from her doll, but couldn't quite make sense of it. Eventually she recognized what it was, but knew it should be impossible. "My love, it seems that you have a pulse. It suggests that you're alive, but that can't be right; I made you, you shouldn't have a soul. Well my lovely, if you do have a soul, and if you can hear me, let me tell you something. I love you, even if we never have talked before, or met. I can't explain it, but I can't resist the love I feel for you, and I know that if you were alive, then you would be the one man that I would wish to marry. I just hope that you will give me my freedom along with your love. If I want to go somewhere, then let me be. I'd love for you to explore with me, that would be perfect. I would love to marry you my little love, but only if you'd love me too." Chia confessed, wading further into the water to the middle of the lake. Later that day Chia floated on her back, still holding her doll to her breast. She sighed as she looked up into the afternoon sky. "I wish you had a human body, and not just a human soul so that we could talk and touch. We could marry, and I could finally make my mother proud of me, and be proud of myself as well, my lovely fiance doll, by producing your heir. If you were to live I could finally be happy. I promise you I would be a good wife for you fiance, and only you, but you would have to be alive for that to happen, and that means that you would have to have a human body too. If only..." She told him loving promises until she fell asleep floating with the love of her life, a doll, in her arms. ^*^*^ When Chia awoke she knew something was wrong. She fell asleep floating in the water, but she was now on land. She moved her hand around the ground, searching for her doll, but she couldn't find it. Instead her hand came in contact with something else: Flesh, and it wasn't hers. She gasped and opened her eyes, afraid of what might be happening. What she saw almost made her faint. Kneeling next to Chia was a man. It wasn't the fact that he was naked that shocked her, no. It was the fact that he looked like a human version of her doll. He was very pale, with black around his eyes which made him look haunted and slightly dead. He had baby blue eyes and short curly black hair. His body was skinny, but was still very muscular, and she had to resist the urge to run her hands over his chest to make sure he was real. Other than her father, she had never seen a man naked before. Chia jumped up and ran behind a tree. She had taken off her clothes to swim, and so, was naked in front of this stranger. "Who are you? Where did you come from?" she shouted at him, peeking out from behind the tree. He stood and slowly walked towards her, putting his hands out as if he was trying to calm down an animal. "Chianna, please calm down. I'm sure whatever I say to you now will be strange, but I want you to listen with an open mind." the man pleaded. Chia blushed at hearing her name from his lips. It sounded lovely coming from him. "How...How do you know my name? Okay, fine. I'll listen to you, but only if you hand me my clothes, please?" she asked, giving him a chance. The man handed her her clothes and she quickly put them on, handing him the frock coat she had worn that day to wear so that he would be less exposed. When they had finished covering up, the man began his explination. "Okay Chianna. This is going to sound odd, but basicly I'm your doll. My name is Teagan." Teagan said. "Okay Teagan. If you're my doll, then how did you become human?" Chia asked, choosing to go along with his story. Teagan paused to think of how to answer before continuing. "Well, it's my understanding that you have magical abilities. This place amplifies that power, correct? Well, when you made that wish that I had a human body, you must have meant it, because your powers used the lake to make it so. My soul has been trapped here for a year, ever since I was murdered here. That pin that you found used to be mine, and it was left here. My soul was sealed in there when I died. You have been coming here for a while, and I guess when you've been meditating here you picked up on my presence or something, because you started making that doll in my image. When you put my pin on the doll, my soul transferred into it." "That's why the doll had a human soul then! It was yours! So, wait a minute... did you hear all that stuff I said?" Chia asked, blushing as she remembered what she had told the doll before she went to sleep. Teagan chuckled before he stepped closer and hugged her. "Ofcourse I did, love. I would love to marry you. While I was watching you during your visits, I came to love you. You're quite passionate, smart, and not to mention beautiful too." Chia became nervous. She had promised to marry a man she had never talked to, and didn't know how to react to him. Something caught her eye right before she pushed him away. The sword pin was pinned in the hallow of his neck. She jumped back and stared at him before finally asking about it. "Teagan, why is the pin pinned to you?" Teagan frowned and Chia instantly felt bad for her reaction to it. "Well think about it Chianna, you only asked for a human body for my soul, not that I was human again. This is just a vessel for my soul. If you were to take out the pin from my body, it would be useless. I just got flesh, not a new complete body. I cannot die, or catch diseases, or even shiver from the cold. I've lost some of my humanity. Right now, I'm mostly a soul in a container, a ghoul." Chia could almost feel his hurt. She hugged him, trying to console him a little. Then she realized something. "Wait, you said my magic created the body you have now, right? So that means if I die you die?" Teagan nodded, looking serious. "Yes, which makes me your protector, my love. If this body is injured, you are the only one who can fix it. I am your soldier. My life is in your hands, and I will do anything to protect yours." Chia knew that even if she actually just met him, they had a bond, and beyond that, she still loved him, even if she wouldn't admit it. She would never let him die. When she noticed how dark it was getting, she knew she should return home. Then she thought of what to tell her mother when Teagan came in with her. A Ghoul for a Husband Ch. 03 As soon as Chia entered the house she was greeted with yelling. "Young lady, why are you just now getting home? It's almost midnight! I was about to send the guards to come get you!" Mary screeched. She halted her ravings to stare in awe at the man following her daughter. "Chianna, who is that man there?" Chia glanced back at Teagan who had a perfectly neutral look on his face. "Um, mother, this is Teagan. Teagan, this is my mother, Mary Herryn." Teagans face brightened a little as he smiled charmingly at Mary. He kneeled on one knee in front of her and took her hand in his to kiss it. "Nice to finally meet you Mrs. Herryn. I've met your husband before, once when I was younger. He is a kind man, with a lovely wife." Mary was blushing at the charming young man before her. It had been a long time since someone other than her husband had complemented her like that. "Thank... Thank you kind sir. Welcome to our house. It is late, but we might be able to entertain you for a while." Chia flinched at the kind way Mary was greeting him. "Actually mom, he's going to be staying here. He's..." Mary heard this and immediately wanted to know more. "Why will he be staying Chianna? What happened? How did you meet this man?" Teagan walked back behind Chia and hugged her from behind, silently encouraging her to continue. "Well you see mom, Teagan is... He's my fiance. I was out at the lake with my doll, and I told it that I loved it and that if it had a human body instead of a doll one, I would marry it. Do you remember that pin that I put on it? Well, it was Teagans before he was murdered. I found it in the lake and put it on the doll. It had Teagans soul trapped in it, and when I made that wish my magic used the lake to make Teagan a body, and because of that promise I made to him as a doll he's my fiance now." Chia realized just how stupid and weird that sounded as she watched her mom. Mary was dumbfounded. "You're engaged to him? You don't even know him!" Chia nodded and looked down. Teagan was still holding her, and she felt safe as long as he was there with her. "But mom...I promised him, and to go against a promise would ruin my honor. Besides, mom, I screwed up on my wish. Teagan has to stay with me or he'll die. I didn't bring him back to life, I just gave his soul a body to reside in. Without me he's just a soul in a container; If I die his body dies and he's trapped again. He has to protect me because I gave him a body from my magic. Only I can heal him if he gets hurt, and only I can remake his body if it brakes." Mary sighed an annoyed sigh before walking to the stairs that lead to her room. "If you put it like that then this is the only way things can go. Well, bring your young knight and we'll get him some clothes. I'm guessing he's naked under your coat." Chia nodded for Teagan to follow as she went with Mary. Her father had many clothes, and would surely not miss anything. The clothes wouldn't fit Teagan, but they would be good enough to wear for the night. Mary picked out a long shirt and a loose pair of pants for him, and Teagan went into the bathroom to change. When he came out he looked like any old regular person. Mary nodded, and then turned to Chia. "Now dear, there's the topic of where he is to sleep tonight. You said you two are engaged, correct? Well, he'll sleep in your room. It'll give you a chance to get to know each other. Now shoo, get to sleep." she said, and then pushed them out of the room. Chia blushed as she led Teagan. When they entered her room she went to her closet to get something to sleep in, only to be stopped by Teagan. He took off his shirt and handed it to her. She blushed even redder as she walked into the bathroom. After she stripped her clothes off she stared at herself in the mirror. She had long tawny hair in a ponytail down to her round hips, with full C cup sized breasts and a small, toned stomach. She knew that many people called her beautiful, but she didn't let it go to her head. When Chia came out of the bathroom wearing only the long shirt, Teagan jumped out of the bed to hug her. "You're beautiful in just my shirt, Chianna." he whispered in her ear. She shivered and he laughed. "You can't be cold, love; It's summer, you should be sweating. If you're cold, maybe I should warm you then?" he asked in a husky voice in her ear. Chia pushed him back and walked to the bed. "Teagan, don't tease me. And by the way, you can call me Chia, okay? I've always preferred that nickname, so call me that." she told him before climbing into bed. She could hear him walking, and then felt the bed tilt as he climbed into the other side. Soon his arms were wrapped around her, and his chest was against her back. "Good night Chia. Sleep well, and dream of me." Teagan whispered as she drifted off into the land of sleep. ^*^*^ Chia was in her lake again, swimming. Suddenly she was being lifted out of the water by two strong hands and when she looked up she saw that they belonged to Teagan. He carried her out of the water and put her gently down on land before wrapping her in a blanket. She held out her blanket covered arms and beckoned for him to join her. Together, huddled under the blankets, they cuddled and enjoyed the beauty of the lake. Teagans voice eventually broke their silence. "Love, it's time to wake up." he said, standing. He held a hand out to her and she took it, but instead of standing she tried to pull him back down. When he knealed down she thought he was going to join her again, but he didn't. Instead he picked her up and carried her to the lake. Before they reached the deep part of the lake, Chia looked up at Teagans face. He was smiling, the white ceiling making his black hair stand out. 'Wait.' Chia thought. 'The ceiling?' When she glanced around she realized she was in her room, in bed. She had been dreaming the whole time. Teagan kissed her cheek, and she swatted him away. Chia hated mornings, for understandable reasons. She was a slow riser, and it would take her at least an hour to awaken fully. She rubbed at her blurry eyes and sat up. Her mind concentrated on only one thing: She needed food. She climbed out of bed, just barely noticing Teagan following her down the stairs. Chia was greeted by Anna with her usual hug when she entered the kitchen. She sat and quickly ate her food. When she was no longer hungry, she took in her surroundings. Anna was sitting next to her, staring strangely at Teagan, who still had no shirt. "Anna," Chia said, standing and walking over to Teagan who stood in the door way, "It's impolite to stare." Anna frowned and stood. "I'm sorry Chia, I just don't know who that man is, and it's sort of...bugging me." Chia nodded and beckoned for her sister to come closer. "I guess it's time you met him then. This is Teagan, my Fiance. Teagan, you already know this is Anna." After being introduced, Teagan bowed and smiled charmingly at Anna. Anna blushed slightly at the half naked man in their kitchen that had just been announced as her sisters fiance. "Nice to meet you Teagan. Um, Chia, when did this whole fiance thing happen, and why is he here at this hour in the day? You don't look quite so mad about this arrangement as I thought you would be." She knew something must be up, and she wanted to be in on it too. Chia smiled at her curious little sister. Anna was a smart little girl, and must have guessed that something wasn't right here by now. "Yes, I don't look mad, now do I? Well, let me explain the situation Anna. Teagan's here because he stayed the night in my room at the insistances of mother. He became my fiance yesterday when I promised myself to him without knowing he was listening. Do you remember that doll?" Anna instantly peiced the situation together. "Chia, you didn't! You made that doll come to life? But if you did that, wouldn't you need to give it a soul? What did you do?!" Chia sort of flinched at the accusatory tone that Anna was talking in. "Anna, don't say it like that! It's not like I killed someone for their soul or something! He told me that he was killed, and his body was burned. His soul went into a pin that he was carrying, and I found it a few days ago and put it on the doll. His soul transferred into the doll, and the rest was sort of...an accident." Teagan frowned when Chia called what happened an accident. He quickly bowed again before saying that he was going to go find Mary to get more clothes. Chia hugged him and then let him go. Chia watched Teagan climb the stairs before turning back to Anna. "Anna, did I do something wrong?" she asked her younger sister. Anna smirked and shook her head. "Other than calling whatever else that happened an accident? No, you did absolutely nothing wrong. Chia, you're hopeless... You have to remember, even with whatever he's missing, he still has feelings to hurt." Chia knew that Anna was right, and instantly felt bad. "Should I...apologize to him?" she asked, not knowing what to do. Anna rolled her eyes before motioning for Chia to leave. She swiftly left. When Chia reached the door way to her mothers room, she paused. She could hear talking coming from inside. "Teagan, don't run around without a shirt, you'll catch a cold." scolded Mary. "I'm sorry Ma'am, but I gave my shirt to Chia to wear. Either way though, I can't-" Teagan explained, but was cut off. "Well, if you gave your shirt to Chianna then I guess it's fine. I can tell you'll be a kind husband to her. Maybe she'll calm down after she marries you." "But one of the things that I love about her is her love for exploration, and I don't want that to go. I love Chia just the way she is, even if she won't say the same about me." Chia frowned at that. She hadn't told him she loved him since he was a doll. Did he think she didn't like him anymore? She came into the room and hugged him from behind. "I got worried after you left...and I wanted to go to the lake with you..." she mumbled into his back. She only let go of him after he put a shirt on. ^*^*^ Chia decided to just wear his shirt while they went to the lake. She held his hand the whole time, never once letting go the whole walk. They were watching the lake when Teagan finally broke the silence. "Is something wrong? Are you...mad at me?" he asked, sounding very sad. She looked up at him and smiled, shaking her head as she did so. "No, Teagan, I'm not mad at you, I just wanted to get you alone to tell you something. I do love you Teagan, don't doubt that. I just don't know what to do, or how to act, and it's...confusing. If I seem angry it's not at you, it's at myself." Teagan sighed in relief. He had been worried that he had done something wrong, and that she was mad. "Chia, you love me? Can you really love some random soul in a body? I'm not human Chia, I wish I was still, but I'm not." Chia hugged Teagan close, resting her head against his chest. She couldn't hear his heart beat, but it didn't concern her. He didn't need a heart to be alive and human to her. "Teagan, I love you, and I can't and won't think of you as just some soul in a body. You're far more human than some of the people I've met over the years, and I love that about you. You're human in your own special way." They sat there for the rest of the day, staring at the lake and cuddling, just as they had in her dream. Chia eventually started to drift off to sleep in his arms, happy and comfortable. Just when she was about to sleep a question came into her mind, which woke her up a little. She turned in his arms to look at him as she asked the inevitable question. "Teagan, you said you died a year ago, right?" Teagans smile faded a little as he nodded his head yes. Chia noticed it, and couldn't stop herself from asking. "Who were you?"