Kasandra chewed on her lip and checked her watch again. “So are you going to class or not? You're going to be late!"
I rolled my eyes. “I heard you the first time, K. If you don't hurry up, you'll be late for work.” I felt a smile tugging on my lips. She cursed under her breath and walked out of the room.
I heard the door to our apartment close. I shook my head. I got up and went into the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. I didn't look any different. My eyes were still dull brown, and my hair was still striped like a tabby cat. I half expected the creatures I had seen in my dream to come out of the shadows in the bathroom, but there was nothing. It had all been a dream. A very bad dream. I glanced down at my wrist where Tucker had bitten me from my vampire dream, and nothing was there. The skin was perfect. Had it been real? If the daemon lord was real, Tucker, and the Nightmares, then reality had been shifted again. Had the daemon lord used his power to shift my reality and move me back in time? Had Tucker somehow done it, maybe feeling that since the daemon lord was trapped he didn't have to fear him? I ran my hands through my hair and pulled it up in a ponytail. I had to get going. I didn't want to miss class. All of it had been a dream. A very fucked-up, drawn-out, scary dream. I kept telling myself there were no such things as daemons. Nightmares didn't have claws or fangs. There was no way that I could dreamwalk. It was all created by a very inspired imagination, too many dream books, and one too many pieces of chocolate.
* * * *
Having jogged across campus, I made it to class just as Professor Amonde was beginning his lecture. All eyes turned to me and stared at the intrusion. I gave them a smile and slid into my seat. My teacher wrote on the board, and I took notes, but I really wasn't interested in what he was talking about. I had to talk to him after class. Minutes ticked by until finally the class was over. I ran down the steps of the lecture hall and tapped the retreating professor on the arm. When he turned around, I saw twisted black horns, pointed teeth, red skin, and black eyes. The appearance of the daemon lord. I yelped and jumped back.
"Tabby, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
He led me to one of the seats, where I caught my breath. My dream was really hanging onto me this time. “I'm fine. Thanks. But I really need to talk to you."
He sat down next to me. “Well, I have a few minutes before my next class. What's on your mind? Is it about your paper?"
I laughed. “No, not really. This is going to sound insane. If it doesn't, then I must be crazy. I've been having these dreams ever since I started doing research on my paper. At first, they were just dreams, and then the one man I was dreaming about came out of my dream. I fell in love with him. He changed my reality. But he forgot one book on dreaming. So I bought more books and learned to control my dreams. I met the daemon lord. I saw his true form. I trapped him in a Devil's Trap. Then his Nightmares attacked me and I died. But then I woke up and my reality was back to what it was today."
"Tabby, I don't think you're crazy. Look. I'll give you an extension until the end of the month. Give me what you have by next Friday and I'll go over it for you to see if you actually need the extension. I know how hard you worked."
"Thanks, Professor, but what if it wasn't really a dream? What if it was all real?"
"Tabitha, the one thing you have to remember, is that dreams are illusions. Just like reality, they can be bent and changed. This chair is real because you and I say it is real. But how does the Above see it? To Him it might be a cat. Reality is only a perception as to what you and I think it is."
An illusion. That was what the daemon lord said. That was what Tucker had said. I stared at Professor Amonde. “Why do you call it an illusion?"
He waved his hand. “I don't know. I could have said it was a mirage. It's the same idea. Dreams are only messages from our subconscious on how we deal with our everyday lives. Maybe you are battling some unknown stress, and this is the daemon you have bound yourself to. Dream interpretation is a touchy subject. Now leave your paper in my box and I'll look it over. Okay?"
I nodded and watched as my teacher left the room. Today was Friday. I had tomorrow off from work, but the whole idea of my nightmare haunted me. So did the loneness I felt about not seeing Tucker. I sighed and walked back to my apartment. I didn't have any other classes today. Kasandra would head over to her boyfriend's. I sat on my bed staring at the paper and the leaning stack of books. I had to be logical about what I was seeing. All of this could just be another dream all together. Maybe it was. Maybe the daemon lord was trying to trap me like I had trapped him. Was I a rat in a maze now?
"If you want me to question my sanity and get back at me for trapping you, well haha, very funny. Now let me out of this nightmare?"
There was no answer. Okay, so I was crazy.
* * * *
Days passed, faded into weeks. I finished my paper and got an A. I had one more semester to go, and I would hopefully have a degree. Night after night I expected to dream about the daemon lord or even Tucker. But nothing. My dreams were normal nighttime dreams where nothing tried to eat me. But as the nights passed, I was lonely in bed and there was an ache in my heart. I missed Tucker, even if he was a part of my subconscious, someone I had made up because I wanted a boyfriend or some shit like that. However, as the semester ended and I didn't need the books anymore, I decided to take one more chance and see if I could dreamwalk. I had to tempt Fate to find out if it was all in my imagination. Kasandra had been working long hours, so I knew she wasn't going to interrupt me. All the doors were locked. I sat on the bed, let myself relax, and saw myself back in the green field on the astral plane. The grass was still real as it had been the first time I had done this. I willed the door to the dream world to appear. After a few moments, a door did appear, but it was different than the first one. However, it was one I had seen before. It was an oak door held together by large iron hinges and had knockers the size of my head on it. It seemed I was not going to be able to enter the dream world without going unnoticed.
Well, I'm the one who wanted to prove if I was crazy of not. I pushed on the door. It squeaked, but opened easily. My soul ran cold. I knew what I was about to step into, but I had to do it since I wanted to be sure that I was sane. Gathering my courage, I stepped through the doorway. Once on the other side, I walked into the same study where I had met the daemon lord. The fire blazed in the hearth, but he was nowhere to be seen. At least this time my ankle isn't messed up, and I can run away if I need to. Like running will get me very far.
The door slammed shut behind me. I jumped, searching the shadows for any sign of the daemon lord. I waited for him to come, but he didn't. Someone was in the room with me. I could feel eyes watching the back of my neck, which raised the little hairs at my nape. I tried to keep it together as I strolled around the room gazing at the large bookshelves and tapestries on the wall. Every time I had thought I had a good look at what was on the tapestry, it would suddenly blur and then change. Scenes went by so fast from a clear waterfall to the pits of Hell. In each one were people interacting acting with something, but the scenes changed so quick I could never get the whole image.
"I know you're hiding in the shadows, watching me. I can feel it. If you want to torment me it's only going to piss me off. Come on out!” I finally said to the presence hovering over me.
A liquid laugh wrapped around me and echoed through the room. “As you wish, but are you prepared for what you will find?"
"I've dealt with everything you've done to me. I was the one to trap you, remember? I think I can handle whatever other surprises you have for me."
"As you wish ... “ The daemon lord whispered.
"Tabby?"
I spun around. Before me stood Tucker. My heart leapt at seeing him. I ran into his arms and made sure that he was real and that he was okay. He wrapped me in his arms, holding me to him until I looked up and realized that I was crying. He gave me his off-kilter smile and brushed the tears away. I inhaled and smelled the fain
t scent of lemons and cinnamon around him. I leaned forward to kiss him, but he put a hand to my lips.
"Not yet."
My brow furrowed. “Why? Did he bring you here to torture me? I won't let you go. Not this time. I can't bear it. I searched for you after you changed things. I—"
He ran his hand down the back of my cheek. “I know, Tabby. But now you have to listen to your heart okay? Remember what the daemon lord told you. What are dreams?"
"They're an illusion just like reality, why?"
"Watch."
He took a couple of steps back from me. As he did, shadows swooped down over him as if they were alive. When they left him, the man before me was no longer there. Before me stood the daemon lord in his black suit and ruby ring. After a moment, his form melted and shifted again until he was the daemon I had originally seen. I backed up a little bit more. I was beginning to realize what was going on. He had one more form change, and that was into Professor Amonde. My back hit a lamp, which fell to the floor. The crash didn't register as the Tucker I knew and loved was before me. With my mind reeling, I kept backing up. He had said that dreams were an illusion. He was the daemon, the daemon lord, and my professor? How could that be? The smile on his face was a sad one. Through his look, he pleaded with me to understand.
"Was this all a game?” I whispered.
He stepped forward, but I shook my head and put my hand out to stop him. I couldn't think about him touching me right now.
"It was never a game, Tabby. I told you the truth in every guise that I came to you in. I'm really a teacher you trust. I have a human persona in the mortal world. It helps me pick out souls I wish to feed from."
"Great, so I was doomed before I fell in love with you."
"No, Tabby. I make it a rule never to get involved with the mortals I feed from. It's bad for business. What I told you was the truth. You didn't catch my interest until you took up your study on dreams. I saw the way your mind worked at night while you slept and found your night visions intriguing, so I kept reappearing to you as someone you could recognize. And after a while, you began to change things in your dreams, and I saw you could dreamwalk. That dream when I fed from you as a vampire, I drank in your desire for me."
"You said that the others were after you when we were wolves. Who were they? Were they made up, too? Did you change my reality because you wanted me to pass some test?"
Tucker knelt before me and took my hand. I tried not to pull it from his grasp. How could I trust him? I couldn't. He was a daemon.
"They were after me. My minions, the other daemons, would love to have my place. We are not civilized. We have to earn everything we have. My kind is prone to violence. I fought my way to power, and at any sign of weakness, the others will snatch it away. That was why I told you I had to leave. But you couldn't leave it be. You went to Amonde, just had to know how to dreamwalk and control your dreams. Do you know what Amonde means?"
"No. Should I?"
Tucker tried to touch my face, but I shied away. He got up and paced. As he did, his form kept changing. It was dizzying to watch. “Pick one would you? I'll get sick if you keep switching."
"Sorry,” he muttered. He settled on the dark appearance of the daemon lord. Sulfur and cinnamon scented the air as he stirred it. The flames danced again with wild faces. Somewhere in the distance, a violin began to play. The melody was sad, reflecting his mood, but soon it flowed into an angry, compelling tune that had me hypnotized. He pounded his fist against the mantle and dislodged a chunk of stone that hit the floor and shattered into pieces. I cringed at the sound. I had never seen him so violent.
"Any guess?"
"No."
"Amonde is an anagram for daemon or a demon. I thought it was clever."
"Yeah, nice use of language. So did you really love me?"
He turned to face me. “Don't you know that I do? If I didn't, would I have gone to all the trouble to save your life? I could have let my Nightmares gobble your flesh and feed on your soul. But I didn't."
"Then why did you save me? To toy with me? To put my world right back where it was when you left it and watch me make myself go crazy thinking you were only a dream when I loved you. I thought the daemon lord had you trapped or was going to kill you. I didn't know it was you. I never would have trapped you. I—"
My last string of sanity and reality snapped. I let myself slide down the wall and crumple into a ball. Everything had been true. All of it. I wasn't crazy. Every different reality happened. The man I loved was also my teacher and the daemon. I hit the jackpot. Great. “Why did I fall in love with you? Why didn't I just let you kill me? Why did I pick that stupid paper?” I was crying and talking out loud, but who cared. I was dreaming, right? Who was going to wake me up fro my nightmare?
Tucker came over and scooped me up. Automatically, I buried my head against his chest and wrapped my arms around his neck. He might have been the cause of my frustration, but I also needed someone to hold me and comfort me. I needed something to remind myself this was real. It wasn't just a dream. It was reality. Tucker said dreams were made of gossamer and could be woven into whatever he wanted. Just like reality. I didn't know what I wanted right now. Even in the realities Tucker had been removed from me, my heart had ached for him when he wasn't there. I was in love. No matter how much I tried to deny it, because he had deceived me, I still loved him. He had said he had told me the truth in every guise he had been in. Did that mean even about becoming an angel now that he loved me in return? He carried me back to his bedroom and sat down beside me on the bed. He gave me a silk handkerchief to wipe my eyes with.
"I was going to tell you the truth after I had made love to you, before I realized you had trapped me. I had a gift for you, but the Nightmares came. I saw how much you loved me. You gave your life for me. I couldn't bear to see you unhappy. I couldn't watch you live wondering if you had experiences that were imaginary or if you were crazy."
I gazed at him through my tears. “Why, because you love me so much? Your kind can't love. You told me that or was that a lie amongst the truths you told me?"
"I do love you, Tabby. And that's my downfall. I'm holding down my palace by a shred. I have daemons at one door and angels at the other. Both brigades are weakening my Nightmares. Soon one will come for me. I hoped to see you before they took me."
Angels? “You said that angels—” Then it all clicked into place. He admitted that he loved me. And then he must have found the loophole.
A smile spread over his dark features. “Yes, Tabby. Because I allowed myself to love you. I've been given a reprieve. The angels wait for me to go to them. But I wanted to see you before I left.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. His lips, feeling like a brush of silk, burned against my cheek. “Will you let me make love to you one more time?” His other hand rested over my heart. A zap ran through me that made me gasp. It was the same power he had used before. “Let me feel you moving against me, Tabby. You feel like silk and smell like sweet apples. Will you let me?"
"Only on one condition.” I leaned in and whispered in his hear. “Tell me your real name?"
"You drive a hard bargain. But you'll get your wish this time. My true name is Ramiel. Now you know my name, you have power over me and can call me any time you wish."
Claiming his lips, I let myself meld against him. His thigh rubbed along mine, pushing my legs open. Once his hands touched my shoulders, the energy sparked between us, and I shook from the intensity. This time, in my mind's eye, I didn't see a dark pit, but an intense bright light that emanated serenity. When his hands slid under my shirt, the light was so intense with power that my whole body was suffused with the light. I could see it filling me as long as he touched me. I felt its warmth move along my limbs and shine through the top of my head and the end of my toes. It was so intense I could barely focus on Tucker.
"What is it?” he asked, after pulling away from my lips. Concern painted his features.
"When you touch me, there's a ligh
t. Before, when we made love, there was a dark pit. Now it's so bright."
"Does it hurt? Am I hurting you?"
"No. It's just intense. Close your eyes. Do you see it?"
He went rigid for a moment and then shuddered. A satisfied moan rumbled in his chest. He opened his eyes and smiled. As he did, he waved his hand, and we were both naked on the bed. I only wish it could have been that easy when I needed to get changed. He laid me back against the pillow and, nestling his head between my legs, settled on my slit. Tucker's tongue found the sensitive bud and began to tease me with long, slow strokes. I jumped at first, a little hesitant to let him continue. It had been so long since anyone had paid attention to me like him. Our last encounter hadn't been like this. Now Tucker seemed focused on pleasing me.
As he worshipped my nether region, I let myself sink into the pleasure of the act. My eyes fluttered shut. Despite my eyes being closed, I could still see the light. The brightness overwhelmed me, and the closer Tucker brought me to ecstasy, the closer I got to the source of the light. Within my mind, the light wasn't blinding to look into, but soft. With each lick from Tucker's tongue, the light responded, sending me a jolt of bliss, doubling the pleasure from my lover. My hands balled into fists as my hips took on a life of their own. I heard cries, and it wasn't until Tucker lifted his head from my clit that I realized they were coming from me. I had been so overwhelmed with the energy coursing through me.
His hands slid over my nipples, which were hard pebbles under his palm. He rolled one between his fingers and claimed the other with his mouth. As he caressed the one with his tongue, I moaned, wrapped one leg around him, and drew him closer. I slid between us. I grasped his cock and ran my hand the length of his shaft. Tucker was hard and ready to claim me. I reached up and brought his mouth back to my lips. Our tongues touched and entwined while he slid his fingers inside my wet pussy. I groaned and let him lick his way down my neck and between my breasts. The light was still there, but it wasn't consuming me as it had before. It was only keeping me titillated and aroused while Tucker thrust his fingers in and out of me. My hips moved with him. His tongue circled around my belly button, but his gaze was locked to mine as if he dared me to let myself completely go. I tried to breathe evenly, but the sheer delight of his manipulations was sending me over the edge. I couldn't hold on. I dug my nails into his back.
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