The Destined

by E. J. Mellow

  “Is this…is this some sort of fetish thing?” She turns to us with a look of horror.

  “No,” I answer, surprised to find myself resisting a grin in such a moment.

  “Then what is it?”

  Rae and I lock eyes before he inclines his head as if to say, You should start.

  But where? I silently respond.

  Taking a deep breath, I start at the only place that makes sense, the beginning. “Okay, remember how I told you I was having those really vivid dreams right after I got hit by lightning? To the point where I was getting confused about things and…wanted to sleep more.”

  She regards me cautiously but slowly nods.

  “Well…it turns out that, um, the reason that was happening was because after I got hit I started transporting to another dimension while I slept.” I grimace at how stupid that sounds. “And I know that sounds crazy, but it’s the truth, and this place is where I go to be locked into traveling there in my subconscious for longer periods of time, and that’s a portal that Rae uses to get back. And he’s sort of like my guardian here on Earth, and there’s this guy—”

  “Okay.” Rae holds up a hand, stopping my word vomit. “Let’s slow down a bit.” He shoots me a reproachful glare as Becca slowly backs up.

  “Babe,” he says softly. “I know this all seems strange and scary and—”

  “Insane.” One of her brows arcs.

  “Improbable,” he finishes. “But you’ll have to keep an open mind right now. What Molly is saying, despite being somewhat inarticulate, well, is true.”

  Becca shakes her head, like she wants us to stop talking.

  “There’s another dimension,” he goes on. “One that Molly travels to while she sleeps. It’s called Terra Somniorum, Land of Dreams. But we call it Terra for short.”

  “We?” she squeaks out.

  “Yes, I’m from there, from Terra.” Rae begins to explain about the Vigil and the Nocturna, what each does. How our two worlds are connected and what my purpose there is. The history and importance of Dreamers and the threat of evil that manifests into human nightmares. That I, a chosen Dreamer, am called upon to bring back the balance in Terra and help stave off a war on Earth. He explains succinctly, delicately, and all the while approaching Becca until she’s an arm’s length away, pressed up against my sleeping pod. Rae stands there, his posture displaying that she shouldn’t be afraid, his tone saying she can trust him.

  I hold my breath as Becca blinks from me back up to him, a swallow bobbing her throat. “So…so you’re saying you’re this Vigil thing?”

  Rae nods. “We aren’t very different from humans. Think of it as the difference in ethnicities that you guys have here.”

  “But you said you’re stronger than us,” she says, skepticism clear in her voice. “Have the genetic makeup to be able to go through that thing in the corner without getting turned to mush.”

  “Yes.”

  “Prove it.”

  “What?”

  “Prove it. Go through the portal and do your magic trick. Disappear from this dimension.” Becca says the last part in a mock spooky tone.

  They stare at one another, a challenge alight in my best friend’s gaze.

  “I think you’ll have to,” I say to Rae.

  “Yeah, listen to the ‘Dreamer.’” She air quotes before rolling her eyes.

  I glare at her. “Bec—”

  “All right,” Rae cuts in. “But you need to stand over there.” He points to where I am, a safe distance away, and she complies, making sure not to look in my direction.

  I won’t lie—her ignoring me hurts, but it is better than her running from the room.

  Walking to the portal, Rae turns on one of the panels beside it, and the ancient Latin lettering used in Terra flashes across it. He types against the screen before standing back, waiting as the portal begins to glow bright blue-white, and a high-pitched whir fills the room. My heart pumps in anticipation along with an unbearable sense of longing. Just beyond that circle is a place I’ve hungered to return to more than taking my next breath, and Rae can easily walk through it. Will I eventually be able to? Can I dare hope?

  I glance sideways at Becca, taking in her puckered brows and lips tightly pressed together. Rae’s golden eyes settle on my best friend, and it feels like he’s holding her in that instant, touching her in a way that’s determined, desperate, and I’m about to look away, feeling as though I’m intruding, when Rae breaks it. He squares his large shoulders, facing the portal once more, and then walks into it. Becca’s breath hitches as a flash of blinding light causes us to shield our gaze, and then it’s gone, and so is he.

  “Rae!” Becca’s eyes bulge as she steps forward. “Oh God, where did he—”

  I grab her arm as she gets precariously close to the active portal. “No, we can’t go through it,” I say. “Just wait a second. He’ll be back.”

  Her mouth opens and closes as she looks back and forth between me and where Rae just was. Her face is paler than normal, her red hair shocking under the fluorescent lighting.

  “What’s happening?” she asks in a way that reminds me of how I sounded when first learning all this.

  Before I can answer, the portal flashes bright again, and Rae steps out. His blond locks are barely out of place around his dark features, his black T-shirt and jeans not even sporting a wrinkle, and I can just barely smell the sweet night air of Terra clinging to him. My heart beats longingly in my chest.

  The silence is heavy as we wait for Becca’s reaction. She stares at Rae like, well, like he just disappeared and reappeared through a portal.

  He slowly approaches her, but she backs up, and hurt flashes in his eyes.

  “I can’t believe this,” Becca whispers, her hand covering her mouth as she shakes her head. “I just can’t. It can’t be possible, right? Because that would mean… Oh God!” Her eyes grow wide as she peers at Rae. “I’m dating an alien!”

  — 8 —

  I like cactuses over plants. I also like the cold over being too hot.

  Does that surprise you? Do I look leafy warm over prickly cold?

  It’s funny how the details often separate knowing a person

  from not knowing them at all.

  —Part of a letter from Molly to Dev

  The apartment was cleaned and then cleaned again in preparation for his arrival home. The fireplace was lit, the blue-white flames sending shifting patterns across the living room and changing the beige couches to a cool white hue. Dev carried an array of beverages to the man who rested in the middle of one couch, a pile of pillows propping him up.

  “By the stars.” Tim laughed as he saw what Dev held. “I’m not remotely that thirsty.”

  “I didn’t know what you wanted.” Dev placed the tray on the low table in front of his guardian, glancing over the cups of water, tea, orange juice, and a drink called Traub, made from a special grape grown in Terra.

  “Well, you could have easily asked.” Tim smiled before pointing to the Traub. Dev handed it over, and he nestled into the couch with a sigh. Tim was still wearing the gray long-sleeve shirt and soft black pants that were given to him at the hospital, his beard extra thick, since he refused to shave until he came home. It was almost completely white now, the stress of the attack likely inducing such a change. But his hair, however, still maintained an even mix of salt and pepper.

  While Tim’s skin and muscles were successfully regenerated, there was still some nerve damage that the doctors said would take a few more days to repair. Dev was instructed to make sure Tim took a daily dose of nerve medication, to expedite the process.

  “Do you need anything else? Are you hungry? I can go see what books you have out on your nightstand.”

  “My dear boy…” Tim shook his head, an amused grin marring his features as he waved Dev to sit. “I’m not an invalid. If I want to read or eat, I can certainly do all those things on my own.”

  Dev frowned. “They told you not to overwork yoursel
f the first few days home.”

  “Yes, meaning I shouldn’t go out and start fighting Metus. I’m perfectly fine to walk around here. I might even attempt to go to the bathroom.” He raised his brows. “Or do you think you’ll need to help with that as well?”

  “Only if you promised to one day return the favor if needed,” Dev said wryly.

  Tim chuckled. “I’m glad to see you’ve still retained your humor.”

  Dev eyed his guardian as he settled farther into the couch. “Why wouldn’t I have?”

  “I’m just glad you’re able to keep your spirits up. There’s no use sulking, as you know.”

  “Yes, I know.” Dev glanced toward the fire, watching as it flickered and wavered.

  “Rae came to see me before I was discharged,” Tim went on. “Said they were close to finding a solution.”

  Dev nodded, a familiar tightening settling in his stomach anytime he thought of Rae’s plans.

  “I’m glad to hear it. I’m sure we’ll have Molly back in no time.”

  Before Dev could respond, the front door opened and Aveline walked in, her blonde ponytail swaying with her sure strides. Seeing who sat next to Dev, she dropped her Arcus baton into the quiver on her back and swung it off as she hurried forward.

  “You’re home!” She smiled and with a bounce sat beside Tim, kissing his cheek.

  Though they still hadn’t spoken properly since their argument at the recovery wing—Aveline doing a fine job of avoiding him—seeing her happy with the return of their guardian slid a smile onto Dev’s face.

  It disappeared, however, when he turned to find another person had entered their apartment. Hector closed the door behind him before slowly approaching the group, his movements languid, confident. His white hair was tied into its usual low bun at the base of his neck, underscoring his angular features, while his pale skin shone translucent under the lighting, the fireplace highlighting the wickedly carved scar across his left eye. His shrewd green gaze moved from the two people on the couch to rest on Dev.

  “What are you doing here?” Dev asked coolly. Hector was Dev’s least favorite companion of Aveline’s. Though once a high-ranked Vigil protector—who they recently learned was assigned to Molly’s grandfather, the chosen Dreamer before her—he’d removed himself from duty after a mysterious accident on Earth during its World War II. He was left with a vicious scar across his eye, which he refused to let Terra doctors fix, and had fallen into the less desirable crowd of underground partiers and euphoria chasers. Despite Hector’s appearance of snobbish indifference and often cruel amusement, Dev easily saw it all as a carefully painted facade to hide a man running from his own ghosts. But it provoked little pity from Dev. Whatever was the cause of Hector’s rather masochistic repenting behavior, it mattered little when his way of living could possibly harm Aveline. Dev didn’t want his partner anywhere near such an influence.

  Too bad she rarely did what Dev asked.

  “I came to get you, actually,” Hector said, leaning an elbow on the fireplace mantel.

  “What for?”

  “A summons was brought for the both of you,” Aveline chimed in, picking up one of the many drinks for Tim and taking a sip.

  “Well, where is it?”

  Aveline gestured toward Hector, who reached into his back pocket and handed Dev a small oval chip.

  He inserted it into his armband, and a message filled the screen. Dev scrunched his forehead as he read.

  “Elena wants to see us?”

  “So it would seem.” Hector plucked an errant string from his shirt.

  “Why?”

  “Really, Devlin,’ Hector clucked. “Must you always ask such asinine questions? We’ll obviously find out when we go to her.”

  Dev pressed his lips together as one of his hands slowly curled into a fist.

  “Hector.” Aveline gave him a warning glance. “Please don’t antagonize him.”

  “But, pet, I can hardly help it when it’s so easily done.” He flashed her a charming grin before turning back to Dev. “Come, General, let’s not keep our dear elder waiting.”

  “I’m no longer a general,” Dev said through clenched teeth, standing.

  “Yes, well, we’re both no longer a lot of things,” Hector said, before opening the door for them to leave.

  —∞—

  They stood side by side in the spacious office, the floor-to-ceiling windows in front of them displaying a majestic view of City Hall Square. Dev’s attention skimmed over the large rectangular park below, the small forms of Terra citizens maneuvering in and out of the manicured trees and pristine stone paths, a black river of movement. The buildings that surrounded the oldest part of the city were of the human neoclassical era, each adored with tall columned entryways and triangle pediments filled with intricate carved statues. For some reason, Dev found comfort in such visual history.

  While most of Terra’s governmental buildings were of the Greek and Roman style, none were as large and proud as City Hall, something he knew was purposefully planned. This building rested at the top of the square, the elders’ chambers on the highest floor, where Hector and Dev now stood. The light from the racing stars overhead streamed into the white office and framed the current elder sitting in front of them with a soft-glowing silhouette.

  Elena tapped away on various messages lighting up on her desk’s surface, effectively ignoring the two men. They could easily have come back later, but Dev knew having them patiently stand before her was just another of the elder’s tactics in reminding them of the difference in hierarchy. How wasteful these small games were, Dev thought, for no one needed the reminder.

  Beside him, Hector stood relaxed, his arms behind his back as his constantly sly grin flirted across his lips. Dev took in a calming breath. Normally he would wear a similar air of indifference, but as of late his talent of exuding flippantness was wearing thin.

  Finally, after what felt like another Earth cycle, Elena turned her messages off and leaned back in her chair.

  Placing her delicate hands on either side of her armrests, she moved her cool blue gaze over them. “It’s a rare sight for the two of you to stand together so amicably.”

  “What you command”—Hector bowed low—“we try to achieve.” While the gesture was seemingly out of respect, like anything the Vigil did, it carried an edge of mockery.

  “I forgot about your sting of charm, Hector.” Elena stood, her white robe swaying as she walked to the front of her desk. “I’ve called you both here to talk about something rather precarious. Something that you both undoubtedly will resist complying with, but you will have no choice but to.”

  “Then why call it a discussion?” Dev asked.

  Hector muffled a chuckle, while Elena merely raised a brow.

  “Quite,” she said. “Then let’s get to the point, shall we?” She half sat on the lip of her desk. “Hector, as a Vigil you are aware of the history of the Dreamers and, with your past position, are even more acquainted with the duties of being their protector.”

  Dev sensed Hector stiffen.

  “I am,” he said.

  “You are not, however, knowledgeable on our current Dreamer or the plan that is, as we speak, being set in motion to bring her back to Terra.”

  Both men waited for her to continue.

  “Dev happens to be an expert on both.”

  Hector and Dev shared a glance.

  “I beg your pardon, ma’am,” Hector said, “but what does one have to do with the other?”

  “We are in need of building a bigger team for Molly, in preparation for her return and her safety on Earth. Given what you were with her grandfather, it has been decided that you are now to be reinstated into your role as one of the chosen Dreamer’s guards.”

  The floor seemed to drop from beneath Dev’s feet, and he quickly said, “He can’t be.”

  “It’s already done.”

  “But there must be other Vigil in training for such a position,” he countered. �
��Surely you can’t trust him for this?”

  Elena turned her attention to Hector, studying him. “I think you’d be surprised what I would trust Hector with. Especially now.”

  “Elena, this isn’t a game! This is Molly, the strongest Dreamer you have admitted to ever coming in contact with. Are the elders really going to risk her safety by—”

  “He is the most applicable candidate, Devlin. Besides, the few in training for the position are not yet ready, by our standards.”

  “But—”

  “As you were so quick to point out”—Elena interrupted again—“this is not something up for discussion.”

  Dev snapped his jaw shut, trying not to grind his teeth to dust. By the Metus, she was intolerable. Hector, Molly’s guard? He held back a scoff.

  Turning to the Vigil, he asked, “What happened to you and Robert? What made you abandon your duty to him?”

  “That is none of your concern,” Hector said coolly.

  “Of course it is! You’ve just been charged with taking care of his granddaughter and my—” Dev cut himself off. “I will not let you put her in harm’s way.”

  “And I won’t,” Hector said, looking back to Elena, “because I cannot comply with your command.”

  Dev sighed in relief. “Thank Terra.”

  “Yes you will, Hector,” Elena said.

  “No.” He shook his head. “I cannot relive such a thing.”

  “Sometimes”—the elder moved closer to him—“you must begin a story again to end it properly.”

  “By the stars.” Dev snorted. “Must you elders always speak in tongues? Don’t be tricked by their riddles, Hector. For once we agree on something. Let’s see how long we can continue to.”

  Dev was surprised to find a pained expression creasing Hector’s brow. He seemed stuck in some memory, his hand slowly lifting to touch his scarred eye. What happened to him? Whatever it was, Dev didn’t want Molly anywhere near it. There was too much about Hector he didn’t know, and the things he did…well, they were the opposite of reassuring.