Chapter 9

 

That day, I spent countless hours looking for the castle but never found anything. The next day, I did the same. And the day after that.

 

By the time my trip was over, I was starting to convince myself that maybe it had all been a dream after all.

 

But, how did I explain the necklace?

 

When I got home, the first thing I did was check the internet, searching for any abandoned castles in the Black Forest. There was Lörrach, but it didn’t look like the castle from my dreams. None of them fit the bill.

 

Still, throughout my years away from the forest I remained hopeful that maybe one day I would go back there and find Titus waiting for me, his phonograph playing.

 

I was nearing the end of my Ph.D. when I decided to revisit. I played it off as an ecology trip that would help support my thesis, but in reality, I was only going so I could try and find Titus again. I would retrace my steps and find him.

 

I had to.

 

The night before I left, I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. For nearly five years, I had slept in an empty bed thinking about him. A few times, I had men asking to come home with me, but I never said yes. After being with Titus, I knew no one could compare.

 

I would wait for him, even if it took the rest of my life to find him.

 

Filled with nervous energy, I tossed and turned in my bed, struggling to fall asleep.

 

But, what if he was just a figment of my imagination?

 

The logical part of my brain nagged me once more, trying to persuade me that dragon shapeshifters didn’t exist, that I had made the whole thing up, but my heart just wouldn’t let me accept that.

 

Titus was real.

 

I closed my eyes, only to open them a few minutes later. The numbers on my alarm clock illuminated my room with a soft green glow, reminding me of the green flames in his living room.

 

I could almost hear the sweet sound of music flowing through my ears. I closed my eyes, picturing us waltzing through the room, his hands clasped around mine, our bodies in perfect sync.

***

Eventually, my daydreaming put me to sleep and I found myself in front of his castle.

 

I was dressed in the same blue gown, standing across the moat. The door had been let down. All I had to do was cross it and I would once again enter his domain.

 

I took a deep breath, lifted my petticoats, and walked forward.

 

My heart was pounding but it soon calmed when I heard the music. I followed it, navigating my way through the castle like I had lived there all my life.

 

Soon, I reached the dragon door and I pushed it open.

 

Titus was standing there, his back facing me. His hair seemed longer like he hadn’t cut it since I had left.

 

At my approach, he turned around with a cup of wine in his hand, a grin playing along his lips. “I have been expecting you…” He whispered, his eyes roaming over my body, settling on the pendant nuzzled between my breasts. “You’ve become even more beautiful than I remember, my precious Pearl.”

 

My cheeks turned rosy at his compliment but I wasn’t about to let him seduce me just yet. “Why?” I demanded, walking up to him. I straightened out my posture to appear more confident but even so, he was a good foot taller than I was.

 

“Why?” He asked, raising an eyebrow in my direction.

 

“Why did you kick me out?”

 

“I had to test you.”

 

“Test me?”

 

“Many a woman wander into my abode, few ever return for a second time.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I help those who are lost, but the woman who is truly meant to be my lover will return to me on her own accord.”

 

“But, how do I find you? I looked all over for you. But your castle doesn’t exist!” I protested.

 

He just smiled, closing the distance between us. “It exists in your heart.” He said, placing a finger on my chest. “And if you truly love me, you’ll find me.”

 

“But, I don’t know how!”

 

“When the time comes, you’ll find a way.” He finished his glass of wine, placing it on the table. “And until that time comes, I’ll be waiting for you.”

 

He turned to face me one more time, offering a kind smile before he headed for the door.

 

I wanted to chase after him but it was like my feet were nailed to the floor. “Titus!” I called out but he faded into the darkness, turning to mist before my eyes.

 

When he was gone, I became unstuck, flying toward the door but it slammed shut before I could reach it. I banged and screamed, but no one bothered to listen. I tugged on the handle, but it wouldn’t budge.

 

Behind me, something shattered. A lamp. Oil spilled everywhere, making a b-line for the hearth. My eyes widened as the liquid ignited, turning the room into an inferno. I pressed my body against the door, fear gripping my chest, making it hard to breathe.

 

“Titus!” I screamed, desperate now. “Please! Titus!” I banged so hard that my hand came back bloodied.

 

The flame grew stronger, making me sweat, droplets running down my forehead as I flattened myself against the wall as much as possible.

 

And then something strange happened.

 

The fire halted, transforming into something. It danced and swirled in the middle of the room before it started to take shape.

 

I stared at it, unable to look away as a dragon appeared. With a maw made of fire, it growled at me, embers spitting out from its tongue.

 

It stepped forward, its footsteps burning holes in the rug underneath. The smell of singed fur filled the air. I held my breath, feeling sick to my stomach.

 

Suddenly, it charged forward, heading straight for me.

 

I closed my eyes, feeling a tremendous heat rushing through my body like I was burning from the inside out.

***

I jolted in my bed, breathing hard, my body still burning. I was covered in a thin layer of sweat, my heart beating so hard that I couldn’t hear my alarm clock go off.

 

I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to compose myself.

 

Was the dream trying to tell me something?

 

My fingers naturally moved to the pendant and to my surprise, it was as hot as a glowing coal. I let go quickly, but to my surprise, it didn’t burn my chest.

 

This had to be a sign.

 

I rolled out of bed and rushed into the bathroom. In the mirror, the pendant glowed brilliantly.

 

Titus was calling for me.

 

I grinned, quickly putting on my clothes, eager to go back.

***

The plane ride to Germany seemed excruciatingly long, especially with the delays we suffered. By the time we landed, a horrible lightning storm raged overhead. Rain fell from the heavens in torrents. Weary travelers held on tightly to umbrellas, struggling with the strong winds.

 

I called a cab, directing the driver to the Black Forest.

 

He looked at me like I was crazy, mumbling something in German that I couldn’t understand. I threw him a tip, hoping it would convince him. Reluctantly, he put the car into gear and drove off.

 

There was barely any visibility on the roads, forcing him to drive slow, the windshield wipers working as fast as they went but it still wasn’t enough to ward off the rain.

 

Cracks of thunder boomed loudly as if warning us to stay away.

 

He slowed his car as if asking me if I was still crazy enough to go through with this.

 

I placed another large bill in his passenger seat, determined to see this through.

 

All these dreams I’ve been having lately had to mean something.

 

I didn’t care what it took, I would find him again.

 

Eventually, we reached the trail head. I paid him handsomely before I grabbed my hiking bag from the trunk.

 

Braving the rain, I entered the forest, the mud treacherous. Everything about my training as an ecologist told me to turn around but I was following my heart. The pendant grew hotter.

 

Wiping the rain from my eyes, I continued, following my instinct.

 

I reached a fork in the road.

 

Did I turn right or did I turn left?

 

I stood there, contemplating my decision. I couldn’t remember what route I had taken when I was here five years ago. The obvious choice was right. Higher ground.

 

But the left path looked familiar somehow.

 

Before I could make my decision, I heard it. The music.

 

It was hard to decipher in the deafening rain, but it was there, however faint.

 

I listened. It was coming from the left.

 

Without hesitating, I started running down the path, my feet sinking into muddy puddles, nearly getting stuck but I kept on, my heartstrings tugging.

 

I could see his face so clearly now. He was reaching out to me, beckoning me forward.

 

I quickened my pace, running blindly at this point, weaving through trees and jumping over logs. My only focus was on following the music, of finding him.

 

It was getting louder. I was getting closer. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, keeping me motivated on this crazy expedition.

 

Certainly, I had lost my mind.

 

I stopped suddenly. The music was gone. All that was left was the sound of thunder in the distance. I cursed under my breath, looking all around me but all I saw were fir trees.

 

I had no idea where the path was at this point.

 

I was soaked to the bone and shivering. All my supplies were wet. The mud was up to my ankles.

 

What would happen to me if I was stranded out here?

 

I looked up to the sky, hoping there would be a break in the clouds, a silver lining. That’s when I saw him.

 

He was soaring overhead, circling above the tree tops, his roars masked by the thunder. No. He was the thunder.

 

He swooped down, taking a sharp left turn before he started to fly away from me. My eyes widened before I took off in a sprint. I wasn’t about to let him get away from me. I kept him in my sights, doing my best to avoid a collision with a fir tree.

 

My lungs started to burn, but I kept hot on his tail. I couldn’t lose him. Not again.

 

But, just when I thought I would catch up, he disappeared.

 

“Fuck!” I screamed, thinking it was hopeless. I was so close.

 

I was just about to give up when I noticed the castle.

 

There it was. Just like I remembered it.

 

In a daze, I moved forward.

 

Was this really happening? Had I finally made it after all this time?

 

Just like in my dream, the door was open, creating a bridge across the now flooding moat. Carefully, I stepped onto it. The weather-beaten wood creaked underfoot, but it seemed sturdy enough.

 

Taking a deep breath, I crossed over it.

 

Inside the castle, a relaxing warmth instantly wrapped around me, keeping me from shivering. I looked around, wondering which way to go when the music sounded, as if ready to guide me in the right direction.

 

I followed it faithfully until I reached the dragon bust.

 

Its dark red eyes glimmered like it had been expecting me.

 

I pushed on it, opening the door.

 

Inside, the music was at its loudest, spilling from the phonograph. On the table, two goblets of wine were set up.

 

“Titus?” I called out, only peeking my head into the room.

 

When I received no answer, I opened the door completely, stepping inside.

 

“Titus?”

 

Again, there was no answer.

 

Had I come all this way for nothing?