* * * * *
Screaming
Battle cries
Hissing
Grahamas was no longer in the forest—or even in reality. The trees around him were gone, replaced by flatlands; gray dust upon black rock was now his backdrop as he stood in front of the staircase. It took him a moment to realize that he was in his own mind, “No…” he thought to himself. He was in the exact same dream, in the same place that he left it. It was as if he never did.
He placed his foot on the first step, and then once more; every incline shot a rush of adrenaline through his body and yet his mind almost forced him to turn back. When he did, he saw nothing. The ground and the horse had vanished, leaving behind only a black space enveloping the stairs that he had already taken. He would not take the chance with such a void. His only choice was to go up. The higher he climbed the louder the battle cry became; the more intense the hissing. The stairway grew narrower as he got higher and higher. The top of the pyramid finally visible, the sounds now almost unbearable.
Inch by inch, two points crept over the top step as Graham ascended—trying to determine what they were.
Closer.
Horns.
Grahamas believed, at first, that they belonged to Idimus, but the further he got, the more detail revealed itself. The horns were real. Graham grabbed at his back, searching for his blade as his feet continued to drive him forward, his hand found only air. Tracing the long black horns down as a smaller pair appeared next to them; the hissing and clicking continued—echoed.
“Grahamas…”
The Champion stopped
“Grahamas…” he felt Elryia rousing him gently. “Grahamas.” His eyes shot open to sunlight punching holes in the olive ceiling above him, “You’re shaking. Are you well?”
Grahamas looked around, the vivid dream still clinging to him, “Aye…just a dream.”
“Are you sure?”
Graham, although nodding, wondered if it was.
Elryia stared at him with a serious look, “Do you want to talk about it?”
Grahamas considered, slowly turning his eyes to the group, most of who were still sleeping. He pulled her close and whispered, not wishing to share it with the others. He relayed to her what he had just seen and what he had dreamt before, gripping her hand the entire time.
In A Time Of Darkness Page 67