Before I can gloat any further, a low growl reverberates off the cliff face. Seriously? I’m too pissed to be scared. Giving a growl of my own, I face the unknown demon that has picked this moment to intrude on my training.
I nearly laugh when I see the bobcat in front of me. It’s maybe a hair bigger than a house cat. What I expected, by the volume of the growl, was a lion, if not a dragon. The thing stares at me as if it is the latter, waiting to char me where I stand.
“Go away,” I tell it.
Seth’s arms come around me, and he whispers, “Don’t make another sound.”
I look over my shoulder, giving him a onceover to see if he’s teasing me. If his pale complexion is any indication, I’d say he’s serious enough. “What’s the matter?” I whisper back.
“When I count to three, run.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not afraid of a little—”
The roar is bigger this time, as if the thing behind me has tripled in size, which, when I glance at it, it has. My eyes bulge as it grows larger with every sound I make. Next time I will listen to Seth…if he ever lets me back in this weird place again.
Seth pushes me behind him. I sprawl out like a drunken mime then run. He doesn’t have to tell me again. I’m curious though, so I glance over my shoulder. Instead of seeing my knight in shining armor battling my dragon, he’s petting it under its gigantic chin. He’s even smiling.
I cock my jaw, take a deep breath, then make my way back to him. The lion-thing watches me while I watch it.
“What’s the deal,” I say, and it growls at me again. I scowl at the thing, sending it a frosty glare. Its gaze sweeps over me before it is again enthralled with Seth. To be fair, I wouldn’t mind if he pet my tummy too.
Seth shushes me, and I take the hint. The cat stares at me for a few more boring minutes until it seems to determine I’m not a threat and closes its eyes. I’m halfway to Seth when it pins me with another dark stare.
What is its problem? I haven’t done anything to it. Thinking maybe it will get used to me like Baltek did, I inch closer. Seth shakes his head at me, but he doesn’t speak.
So this thing reacts to sound. My mind takes off with speculation, but the most likely possibility is this creature is here to guard the portal. It makes sense, maybe. I want to ask Seth, but I don’t want to upset the super-kitty any more than I already have.
I turn my attention to the sound I was searching for in the first place and that’s when I realize that low hum is coming from the cat.
I watch Seth’s hands glide along tawny fur, scanning for something shiny. The only thing that could pass for shiny on that thing is its eyes. The teeth are caked with yellow grime. It’s bound to have horrid halitosis.
I take a deep breath and hold it, just in case, stepping closer. Sunlight glints off something around the creature’s neck. The low hum has gotten louder too. I grab Seth’s hand then lunge for the object hanging around its neck.
My fingers slide over the warm orb, and I smile right before my stomach summersaults into my throat. This portal travel really sucks.
Not only did Amelia find the portal, she was smart enough to figure out the trigger. If she’d continued to speak, we’d have been in serious trouble. I was ready to morph to protect her, but I will have to speak to her more about the dangers of the Dreamscape.
Amelia’s fingers curl tighter around my hand, and I give her what I hope is a comforting squeeze. It will take her a while to get used to the pull of portal travel.
The next world should be easier to traverse. Since she figured out the previous portal so quickly, there is a strong possibility that we will make our meeting on time.
Hopefully, my team has started without us. When the vortex closes behind us, I pull Amelia against me to steady her; at least, that’s what I tell myself. Her breath hitches, and I smile.
Amelia’s green eyes clamp shut for a moment before she scans our surroundings. Her voice comes out raspy. “Seriously?” Her eyes close again as she shakes her head.
“This world is not as it appears.” I take her hand and squeeze. “Trust me.”
She peeks up at me through her lashes then, as if fighting the movement, she glances at the smoking volcano in the distance. “If that thing blows, I’m never going to forgive you. I made Justine move because Rainier freaked me out so badly.”
“Stop being such a baby.”
“Baby?” Her eyes narrow dangerously. “First your brother calls me a chit, now I’m a baby?”
My mouth stretches into a full, satisfying smile. “This is the most stable world within the Dreamscape. The dreamer comes here every night, without fail. Nothing ever happens. All he ever does is stare into the void of the mountain.”
She cocks her head to the side. “For how long?”
“Fifteen years. He came here the day his son was born.”
“And you don’t know why?”
I shrug. “At first, I thought the landscape a representation of his life, or at the very minimum, his thoughts. I’ve attempted to send him dreams, but he will not accept them. This is a place of his choosing. He has a very strong mind.”
“Doesn’t feel right. You should fix that portal. Send it somewhere else.”
She’s overreacting, but I will humor her. I give her a wink. “I’ll think about it.”
Rolling her eyes, she says, “What kind of mind wants to come to the same place every night for fifteen years to stare into a boiling volcano?”
“Someone who wants consistency.”
A beguiling smirk covers her mouth. “Sounds more like a control freak to me, maybe even a psycho.” She glances around the otherwise barren landscape. Everything is dead, from the grass to the trees. The only life in the place is the volcano itself. The man, although present, seems almost suspended in time. He sits on the edge of the rim, dangling his feet as if a crystal blue pool rests below him instead of a bubbling melting pot of earthen minerals. After a moment of silence, Amelia shivers. Her voice is a whisper. “Let’s get out of here.”
I nod. “You do not wish to test your abilities at this time?”
She cringes. “I’d rather let a rabid duck pluck out my eyelashes.”
Laughter burst out of me in a gust. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rabid duck.”
She shrugs. “You should avoid wetlands then.” Glancing at the volcano again, she wraps her arms around her stomach. “Can we go now?”
I follow her gaze up the steep grade. Perhaps Amelia is right. Perhaps this man is simply waiting for the right time to unleash a hellish storm on his fragile world. He has never been anything other than a blip in my reality, but no longer. Even though I have never encountered Erobos in his world, I must study him when Amelia is safely tucked away in my domain. I will not put her at risk to feed my curiosity.
The portal is right around the corner anyway. She would have sensed it immediately if it weren’t for her fear.
When I place my arm around her shoulders, she leans against me. We walk in silence until we are directly over the portal.
She stares at me as if she will ask a question just before her gaze shifts to our feet, where a thin strip of gold flows along the crusty surface. Her mouth forms an O, that doesn’t quite make it out before we shift with the current.
She holds on tight, her arms banding around my chest. I’ll take whatever contact with her I can get; however, I will not let doubt wiggle into her mind.
“You are safe,” I tell her.
She releases a sigh and nods. All I want to do is protect her, to keep her at my side, to shelter her from the dangers my world offers. In reality, no amount of sheltering her will keep her from experiencing danger. I gave up the reality of protecting her the moment I brought her into my realm. I smooth my hand over her hair, pulling her tighter against me as we float inside the portal.
She doesn’t even flinch when I place a kiss against the top of her head. If only I had time to truly savor her. If only I had time to truly tr
ain her. Unfortunately, time is the one thing that presses on, no matter how much I fight against it.
I must contact my team. We have work to do. Besides, oft times the best training comes from real world experience.
Seth must be angry with me. He wouldn’t even let me try to find another portal.
It’s probably just as well. My mind really isn’t in it.
I’m still stuck on that guy who sits on the edge of an active volcano. So many scenarios have coursed through my mind, I’ve lost track of most of them.
Seth seems to think that guy is harmless, but I can’t come to the same conclusion. If the Dreamscape is supposed to be a reflection of the dreamer’s mind or even his reality, I’d say we are dealing with at best a psychopath, and at worst, maybe this guy is waiting for an exact moment to erupt his volcano like a terrorist wearing a vest of doom. The idea that the man is somehow directing everything that happens in his world should be absurd, but I sensed his control. It was almost as if he was the cork stopping the lava.
I need to speak to Seth about my thoughts, but he’s been so distracted since we left that desolate place. Maybe he’s more freaked than he has let on, or maybe he has other things on his mind? It doesn’t really matter because I’m not going to forget about that guy anytime soon.
Seth chose me for a reason. He told me I was clairvoyant, so he shouldn’t have any problem taking my ideas seriously, but I’m still hesitant to let on just how much the dreamer bothered me.
I got the distinct impression we were on the clock in that realm. A shudder ripples through me, followed by a foreboding pit in my gut that I can’t dislodge. Is there a threat out there Seth hasn’t considered?
“This is the last one,” he says, taking me in his arms again.
It’s weird how fast I’ve gotten used to his touch. I keep telling myself that he affects me so strongly because he was Jason, but in the four years he came to me, when I woke up, I always knew Jason was a dream. Seth is real.
I already warned him about me and people, but he hasn’t backed off, yet. It’s only a matter of time before he bails. Everyone does. I haven’t quite been able to pin down a pattern, but it happens. I don’t want to let myself believe he’s the exception.
His words are pretty. Too bad pretty words won’t keep him from seeing whatever drives people away from me. I’ve tried all kinds of things to keep friends. I’ve been the nice girl that remembers every holiday and any event that should be important. I’ve been the drifter that doesn’t care about anyone or anything. I’ve also been everything in between, and it never matters. People don’t get me, and I don’t get them. Plain and simple.
Maybe Seth isn’t people? Maybe he’ll see the real me and like me? I give an inward shake of my head at the sappy turn of my thoughts. Not too long ago, I was aching to get away from Seth. Now, I’m not so eager to leave.
The minute my equilibrium takes hold, I step away from him. He gives me a deep frown, but I pretend not to notice.
I glance around the crowded street, trying to figure out where he’s going to take me. This is supposed to be the world with his hideout or headquarters or whatever he called it. He’s supposed to have a team of some kind I’m going to meet.
A blanket of butterflies coats my stomach. More people I have to deal with. I’m still trying to figure out if these people are real or just made up. Real kind of has a different meaning in this place, from what I can tell.
Seth leads me to a high-rise that keeps going no matter how far I tip my head back. The thing is made of glass and steel with crisp lines and a glittering exterior that reflects the rolling clouds and translucent blue sky.
A doorman rushes out of the gigantic entrance, holding the left side open for us to enter. I give him a cordial smile as I pass, but he keeps his gaze forward and his heels locked together. He doesn’t even flinch when the wind blows his light brown hair into his eyes.
I glance over my shoulder to see just how long he’ll keep the stick up his rear, but looks like it’s there for good.
Seth leads me through the foyer to a set of elevators. Since there’s nowhere to go but up, I press the call button then give him a smile.
He’s all business, offering a lifted brow and a nod when the elevator dings. I shake my head at him and follow him into the metal box.
The metallic side panels distort my face and make my body stretch and bend. I chuckle at my fun-house reflection. Seth’s stare calls my attention, so I look up at him.
Tiny crinkles narrow the edges of his blue eyes. Either he thinks I’m going to mess up or he’s nearsighted and can’t quite see me. Yeah, that’s it for sure.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him when he doesn’t say anything. The elevator hisses as we rise toward an unknown height. What is it with this guy and heights?
His Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows. “I’ve been selfish, Amelia. You should not be here. It is too dangerous. You are not ready.”
I send a soft punch to his bicep. “Thanks for the pep talk, coach. No more talk of taking me back to your prison. I know the risks. I’ve seen the Erobos. Not too excited to meet up with them again, but we’ve got work to do, right?” My heart accelerates at the thought of seeing Daegan again. He was creepy on a whole new level, yet I’d rather face him than go back to Seth’s realm, even though, technically, my body is stuck in that weird red room of his.
Before Seth can do more than nod, I go on, “In case you missed it, I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it since I was twelve. I don’t need you hovering over me if you have other stuff to do. Just point me in the right direction and give me the goods. I need to have something to do—something to take my mind off being trapped.”
He flinches. “I should have never brought you into this. You have no way of knowing just how far out of your element you are.”
“Words mean nothing. You said I’d be protected because my body is in your realm. What does it matter if the Erobos know about me? Yeah, I can feel pain here. I get that you thought I wouldn’t be able to be hurt, but so what. I’ve been hurt before, and I lived. I’ve been in fights that left me nearly broken, so stop worrying so much and get to the good stuff or I’m going to find a way out of this hellhole without you.”
Instead of seeing reason like I think he will, Seth narrows his eyes even more. “You think it doesn’t matter to me if you are injured? You think that every time you face terror, I won’t feel it? You’re a distraction I didn’t count on. There are risks involved here, not just how I feel about you, but how you affect the Dreamscape. Your presence has influenced more than I counted on.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” I ask.
He inches closer to me, lifting my chin until our eyes meet. “Only if I can trust you. Can I trust you, Amelia? Or are you just another woman that will sabotage everything I’ve worked to create?”
“You brought me here, remember? And don’t lump me in with whoever the girl was that betrayed you. I didn’t ask for you to come get me.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Are you sure about that?”
The elevator slides to a stop as a soft ding sounds our arrival. Amelia’s mouth hangs open, and I am tempted to close it for her—or find a much better use for those lovely lips. My tongue traces the edge of my teeth. I could kiss her senseless right now, but then she would be of no use to me, and I need her to be sharp.
She blinks as if coming out of a daze. I shouldn’t have told her about our agreement. She’s not ready to hear the truth, no matter how ready I am for her to know it.
Taking her hand tentatively, I bring her fingers to my lips. It’s no substitute for what I would rather be doing with her right now, but it will have to do. “Ready?” I ask, finding her gaze.
She stares at me, her big, green eyes sparkling with suppressed mischief. A smile curves along my mouth. As expected, when I pull her into the room, she gasps.
I’ve become accustomed to the buzz, but for her it must be overwhelming.
She glances down the hallway that leads to my office, then her gaze sweeps over the desks crammed into every square inch of the ninety-second floor. I designed the space in the nineteen thirties to mimic a newsroom with dark wood and style. The arched windows drown the space in light and create the energetic atmosphere my team needs. I’ve been thinking of upgrading, but it is difficult to let go of something so beautiful.
A musty tang lingers in the air. I’ve still not been able to track down the source, but I have my suspicions about Randalf. He’s notorious for downing a whole dumpster-full of rotting garbage. He’s also one of the few here who can access the mortal realm, even though I have strictly forbidden it due to his errant behavior. I shall have to place another tracker on him.
Amelia gives a sharp squeeze to my hand and leans toward me. “Who are all these people?”
“Agents,” I tell her, spinning the word with a calm I don’t feel.
Maybell cranes her head toward the two of us, her long neck stretching to near a foot. I motion toward her and lean down to fill Amelia in. “Maybell is from Tanzaria, a world now lost to the Erobos. She sought refuge a few hundred years ago and has become an essential member of my team.
“Most of the people here refused to give in to the pull of carnality the Erobos offer. They tempt, they tame, they torture, in that order. Remember that. Those assembled here are either the last of their kind, or close to it.”
Even if I could convert the whole of Earth to Oneiroi, saving those lost worlds is a staggering feat. A moment of remorse overcomes me as I gaze over the straggly band of misfits I lead. They do their best to help me, but the barrier that came from my curse keeps them from fully being able to engage humans for true recruitment.
Amelia hesitates then steps toward Maybell, who sits closest to the elevator. Amelia’s already large eyes widen when Maybell stands, her elongated body resembling stretched taffy, shapely as it is. She’s a good eight feet, on the short side for a Tanzarian. Fortunately, Maybell is the most humanized of my team. It takes her all of a couple of seconds to skirt around her desk to stand in front of Amelia. She shoves a long, yellow arm toward my awestruck companion.
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