Dreamthief

by Tamara Grantham

  ***

  I trudged up to my apartment and unlocked the door. I’d left Kull at the Ramada. He’d been okay with it. It had been a long day, and although I would deny it if he asked, he knew how I felt about him. Best if we stayed apart.

  My phone rang, and I pulled it out of my pocket before opening the door. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Olive.” It was Dr. Hill. The universe was granting small favors.

  “Dr. Hill? I’ve been trying to reach you—”

  “Olive, listen,” he cut me off. “I don’t have much time. I’m in Boston. I’ve been doing some research on my patients—specifically, on the children with the comatose behaviors.”

  “The others like Jeremiah?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you call me sooner?”

  “No time, Olive.”

  “Right, so what did you find out?”

  “It isn’t good.”

  “Why? What is it?”

  “I’ve run a number of tests, specifically on the hormone that controls dreams, and also on the hormones released due to fear. Or due to nightmares, in this case.”

  “Let me guess—they’re all having nightmares?” That wasn’t anything new.

  “Yes, but unlike any nightmares I’ve ever seen. Their levels of corticotropin are almost triple what most people can tolerate.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Children can’t handle fear as well as adults. Their nervous systems eventually shut down. Breathing and lung capacity are compromised. And soon after, the brain follows suit.”

  “And that’s why they’ve gone into a coma?”

  He didn’t answer. I knew he was trying to tell me something but couldn’t come up with a good way to do it.

  “Dr. Hill, what are you doing in Boston?”

  “I found one other child who contracted the nightmare disease before Jeremiah. A girl. Her name was Savannah.”

  “Was?” I felt a cold chill creep up my spine.

  “She died three hours ago.”

  Stay calm. Control your breathing, Albert said.

  “Are you there?” Dr. Hill asked.

  “Yes, I’m here. How much longer does Jeremiah have?”

  “I have no way of saying. But not long. I’m sorry.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Is there any way to treat the other children?”

  “Nothing so far. But I’m still researching. I’m sorry, Olive. But I’ve got to go.”

  “I understand.”

  The call ended with a click.

  I shut the door behind me. With my energy drained, I collapsed onto my couch. I felt as if the Dreamthief lurked in my house, in the dark shadows, taunting me. Fighting it had become almost impossible. Jeremiah seemed so far away. Would I ever be able to save him?

  The moment you give up is the moment he dies, Bill told me.

  I wouldn’t let him die. God help me, it wouldn’t happen.

  I showered. My mind wandered, and I may have washed my hair twice. I crawled out of the tub, wondering if it was worth it to make it to bed or if I were better off sleeping on the floor. I grabbed a towel and dried my hair when something caught my eye.

  In the mirror.

  I didn’t look into the mirror directly, but I knew something waited there, in the space between this world and Faythander.

  A deep, rolling thunder echoed in the distance. The lights flickered. I reached into my drawer and pulled out my red satin gown. I debated on rummaging through the dryer to find my flannel pajamas, but exhaustion overrode my sensibilities.

  The satin material and spaghetti straps stuck to my damp skin as I pulled on the gown. I rummaged for some underwear but could only find my black lace panties. Folding the laundry needed to go on my to-do list, after saving the world, of course.

  I reached into the bathroom to turn off the switch but paused, the power of the presence caught me off guard. It had waited for me.

  Fear squirmed through my veins. I fought the urge to run away screaming. Instead, I switched off the light.

  A knock came at my door. I jumped.

  I crossed through my living room, wondering who could be at my door at such an unholy hour. I looked through the peephole.

  Kull.

  What could he possibly want? I debated on not answering the door, or at least changing into something less revealing, but I decided to see what he wanted first.

  It had better be life or death.

  I cracked the door open. “What?” I asked.

  With a look of amazement on his face, he held up a can of Dr. Pepper. “Have you ever tasted such a thing?”

  “You’ve come in the middle of night for this?”

  “It’s very good. Even in the Wultlands, nothing is served as refreshing as this beverage. It has bubbles in it, Olive.”

  I ground my teeth.

  He peeked inside. “Is everything okay?”

  “It was.”

  “You look pale.”

  “I’m not.”

  “May I come inside? You really should try this.”

  “Can it wait until—?”

  He pushed past me and entered my apartment.

  Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn.

  “I could call the police for this sort of thing, you know.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. Why hadn’t I at least grabbed a robe? Now I felt half-naked standing here in front of him. Maybe he wouldn’t notice.

  He did.

  He paused before crossing into my kitchen as his eyes snagged on my gown. The look only lasted a few moments, but I couldn’t help but notice a primal urge in his gaze, a look that suggested so much more.

  “You… I…” he started.

  I raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”

  “I—I didn’t realize… Do you always choose such apparel to sleep in?”

  “I usually don’t. Tonight was an exception as I was too tired to find anything else.”

  Hint. Too tired. Please leave me alone so I can get some rest.

  He didn’t seem to get the message. Instead, he crossed into my kitchen and pulled a glass from the cabinet. Han Solo appeared and brushed against the warrior’s legs.

  The tension in the room dissipated as he turned his attention to my cat. He rubbed Han’s ears, which looked a little ridiculous with his huge hands so gently stroking such a small head.

  What did it matter what I wore, anyway? If anyone should feel embarrassed, it should be him. I decided to play it casual.

  Leaning on the bar, I wondered where on earth this guy got his nerve, though secretly, I felt grateful not to be alone anymore.

  After Han leapt away, Kull poured a glass of soda and handed it to me. “Drink it slowly. It’s got a powerful fizz.”

  I emptied half my cup. He lifted an eyebrow.

  “So, what happened to staying at your hotel?” I asked him.

  “Have you been to one of those places? They’ll bore you to tears. Nothing to do but watch that box. No sport, no libraries. I thought I would succumb to madness. And then, I found a machine with this.” He held up his can. “Amazing, isn’t it?”

  “Sure,” I said and took another sip. Where had he found money to buy a soda? The image of a gutted vending machine came to mind.

  “Did I wake you?” he asked.

  I glanced at my bathroom. The light was on. Hadn’t I turned it off? “No, not exactly.”

  “You’re frightened of something. What is it?”

  “I never said I was frightened.”

  He leaned over the bar, close enough for me to see the soft azure flecks in his eyes. “You didn’t have to say it.”

  I wanted to draw back, but his gaze held me. “In the bathroom,” I admitted quietly. “I felt a presence. It could be the Dreamthief. It’s using my mirror to try to cross. At least, I suspect so.”

  “Did it harm you?”

  “No, I don’t think it has the power to.”

  Not yet, anyway.

  He
unsheathed his sword. Where on earth did that come from? “Shall I destroy the mirror?”

  “No.” I put my hand on his arm. Biceps tightened under my fingertips. Our gazes locked. Something inside those intelligent blue eyes made me pause. I felt strength there, of course, but also fierce loyalty. This was the sort of man who someone married and kept, who grew old with you and still thought you were the most beautiful creature on the planet. Euralysia was lucky, whether she realized it or not.

  Kull sheathed his sword. I went back to my Dr. Pepper, my stomach in all kinds of knots. Thunder crashed around us. The lights flickered once and then popped off, plunging us into darkness.

  “Is it common for the lights to extinguish?” he asked me.

  I fumbled for a match in the drawer. Knives, no. Bottle opener, no. Where are the matches?

  “It doesn’t happen often,” I told him and finally found the box. I struck a match and lit the candle I kept on the counter. Coconut island getaway scented the room.

  The tiny pool of light illuminated the kitchen. Kull blinked as he stared at me. I pushed a strand of damp hair out of my eyes, only now realizing that he was staring at me with a sort of slack-jawed expression.

  “You’re very beautiful,” he said in a deep, husky voice.

  I cleared my throat. “Thanks,” I mumbled and looked away. Two spoons and a cereal bowl sat in the sink. I decided it was a very good time to wash them.

  He’s engaged, he’s engaged, he’s engaged.

  Bill Clinton didn’t seem to mind in the least. Go figure.

  “Olive,” Kull whispered. He wrapped his hand around my waist. Tingles spread over my skin. My throat tightened.

  “Stop,” I told him. I’d intended a forceful tone. It came out more as a moan, which only goaded him more.

  He pressed his lips to my ear. “Will you turn around?”

  “I’m busy,” I whispered.

  Thunder rumbled in reply. It was a long, drawn out sound that echoed through the walls and shook the light fixtures.

  “You don’t want me?” he asked. “I’ll stop if you say so.”

  I pressed the dishtowel to my burning hot cheeks. Why did he have to put me in this situation? I rounded and pushed his hands away.

  “Let’s get two things straight,” I said. “First, you’re engaged. And as much as I would love to be close to you, I can’t, in good conscience, ruin a carefully planned marriage.”

  He only smiled.

  I plunged ahead. “Second, once we cross back to Faythander, you won’t remember any of this. It’ll be me that remembers and you that forgets, and we’ll be acquaintances again and nothing more.”

  His chest rose and fell—his broad, barrel chest that I wanted so badly to run my fingers over. Although I’d laid out very good reasons why we shouldn’t be together, I hoped he didn’t listen to any of them.

  He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. His lips felt surprisingly soft. As he caressed my fingertips, all I could think about was my bed and how empty it was right now.

  Kull held my hand close to his chest. He didn’t move forward. He kissed my fingers and then released my hand. He would be a gentleman, of course, and respect my wishes.

  Damn it all.

  “The Dreamthief,” he said.

  Good—change the subject.

  “Does it follow you?”

  His question took me off guard. I thought about the first night I’d seen the phantom in the mirror, right before I’d found out Jeremiah was sick. I’d seen the Dreamthief in my dreams. It taunted me.

  “Yes,” I said. “I suppose it does.”

  “Why would it do that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  His eyes narrowed. “You’ve no idea?”

  “No. Do you?”

  Lightning illuminated the sharp features of his face. “Perhaps it wishes to take you the same way it has taken your godson.”

  No, I wanted to reply, but didn’t. “It only goes after children because it feeds off their dreams.”

  “Why?”

  “Because they can’t control fear like us—haven’t we already had this discussion?”

  “It feeds off their dreams because a child’s fear is the most powerful—they can’t control it as we do. But some of us have other gifts—gifts to remember, gifts to control the elements, power that comes from both worlds.”

  “You think it wants me for my magic?”

  “It’s not an absurd concept.”

  I glanced past him, only to see the bathroom light flicker. A shiver ran down my spine. “Maybe,” I admitted.

  Wind howled outside, a wail that built in pitch until I thought my apartment might be torn apart. It wasn’t hurricane season, but it sounded like it.

  “Let me stay with you tonight,” he said.

  I eyed him. “Are you sure?”

  “If the Dreamthief intends to take you, I’ll be waiting.”

  If the Dreamthief took me, there wasn’t a thing Kull could do to stop it, but I appreciated his concern all the same. “You’ll have to sleep on my couch. You won’t fit.”

  “I’ve slept on worse.” He smiled. “One becomes tolerant of his surroundings once he’s survived in the Wultland’s wilds.”

  “What would Euralysia say if she knew you were staying the night with me?”

  “I am not staying the night with you, I am protecting you. I don’t intend to sleep, and I shall keep watch in the other room if I must.”

  “You’re twisting my words, Kull.”

  “I am clarifying.”

  I crossed my arms. He wanted to ignore the fact that he was engaged. Honestly, he acted as if his marriage would never happen. “Do you love her?” I asked him point-blank. I’d asked him before but never felt like I got a straight answer. Perhaps tonight would be different.

  He opened his mouth. “I…”

  I shook my head.

  “Of course,” he answered.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Would you like a different answer?”

  I swallowed. Hadn’t expected that one. And here we went again.

  Yes, actually, I would love a different answer.

  He pressed a kiss to my lips. My thoughts evaporated.

  Except for me and him, the world disappeared. I had never known what joy felt like until that moment. I let him come closer. I forgot to breathe.

  When he finally pulled away, my head spun. I grabbed the counter’s edge to keep steady. He stood too close. I pushed past him, stumbled to my bedroom, and closed the door.

  My heart raced. I felt flushed and alive and amazing, and knew I had no right to be.

  He shouldn’t have done that.

  I climbed into bed. My head swam.

  He really, really shouldn’t have done that.

  A knock came at my door, but I ignored it. Whatever he had to say, I didn’t want to hear it. He’d messed up a perfectly good thing. Now, whenever I looked at him, I wouldn’t see a friend. I’d see someone much closer, someone much more intimate.

  Darn it all—he shouldn’t have done that.

  Sleep came quicker than I’d expected. If the Dreamthief wanted to capture me in my dreams, he’d have to go through Kull first—because he was all I dreamt of.