Allister sat up in bed with a gasp, the sweat on his skin no longer from the night's endeavors, but instead his body's only defense against the terror of the nightmare he had just endured. His sheets were tangled around his naked legs, and though the new light of dawn had begun to shine through his bedroom windows, he still turned on the lamp next to his bed, if only to chase away the darkness of the tomb still lingering in his mind.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he turned back to assess the status of his nighttime companion, silently wondering if he'd be able to convince her to partake in one more round before he had to begin his day...

But she was gone.