The Amulet by Lisa Phillips

transforming a solid body into a gaseous one must take skill and practice.
    It eased her mind enough that she slipped under the covers of the bed. The sheets must have been Egyptian cotton, and a high quality thread count. She decided she liked them better than her silk ones at home. Ah, home, she thought. Whatever will become of my life now? How many actresses could find work without having to work under bright lights? Maybe she could do horror films. She wouldn't even have to pretend to get into character, she could play as herself. So much for her next big step.
    She shook her head. What bigger step could she have taken? She felt like she was the leading lady in her own personal movie. Enter suave, debonair leading man. Her skin was tingling with the memory of his touch when his form reappeared. Her shields were still in place, but she could have sworn he had heard her thinking about him.
    I will keep it locked away for now. I fear leaving you alone while you dream. If you walk the planes again, you may not be able to find the way back to your body without help.
    The thought shocked her. She had heard Nevar's voice the first time, when she hadn't known what it was she was actually doing, that she had focused on to return. It seemed everything depended on focus and clarity of mind. Unlike her human mind, this new mind was easy to clear of the chaos and distractions. It gave her much more room in her head, it seemed. Not that her brain had increased in size, but that she was using every inch of it and had full access to it at will. Not to mention, the enhanced abilities of becoming a vampire.
    "How do I control it? Can I just sleep without ending up in another place and time or will I walk every time I sleep?"
    "I cannot walk the planes, so I do not know the answers. We will have to find someone who can. For now, I need you to let your shields down and let me in. If you do walk, I should be able to walk with you through your thoughts. Physically, I will not be there, but I should be able to communicate with you."
    She let down the walls that kept him out of her head. She hated feeling so vulnerable, but she also felt safer knowing that he could monitor her while she slept. "You'll be staying close by then?" She bit her lip, a nervous habit of hers. She wanted him as close as possible, but he was almost a stranger to her. Still, he was the closest one to her now and he was the only one she knew that could protect her.
    "Where would you like me to stay?" He moved closer to her and put his hand gently on her shoulder. His eyes were soft and sincere. He let his guard down for her. He wanted her to know that he would be here for her. As long as he lived, he would be there whenever she called.
    "Please," she begged, "I don't wish to be a burden for you to carry. I don't blame you for this, and I don't want you to bury yourself in guilt."
    "You could never be a burden to me," he assured her.
    Will you stay with me tonight?
    Of course, I will. He smiled at her and leaned in to kiss her cheek. He was close enough to smell the subtle scent of jasmine in her hair. He wanted to be closer, wanted to taste her skin. He had to keep his thoughts in check. He was getting to be as bad as Xander. He pulled away and walked around the bed.
    His fingers moved nimbly to loose the buttons on his shirt. His bare chest was broad and well-muscled, just as she had imagined it would be and his hips formed a tantalizing V. A sprinkling of dark curls spread across his chest and below his naval, disappearing at his waistband. Her fingers itched to pet the thin layer of curls, but she quelled the thought before it was fully formed. She busied herself in the act of arranging pillows to make herself comfortable. It had been a very long night, and her weariness was catching up with her. Who knew dying was so exhausting? It was a morbid thought, but, in her case, technically true. No, she preferred to think she had metamorphosed or evolved. Even the