Dreamer's Melody

by J E Mueller

  If this had happened any earlier in my life I would have sworn I had gone insane.

  With more caution, we kept following the sounds of fighting along the rocks until the two came into view. Mare had a strong, deep purple aura around her, while Clove was more of an olive green.

  Both were fighting heavily with swords, while Clove occasionally shot fireballs Mare’s way. Somehow, Mare was unbelievably fast now, being able to dash here and there in almost an instant.

  That’s Tella’s doing, Lee informed me. Before she knew she was a part of the Creators, she had magical speed. I nodded to myself, seeing clearly what he meant. That’s when I noticed it.

  “I think I see our problem,” I stated just loud enough for the others to hear me.

  “What’s wrong?” Benz asked confused.

  “Clove somehow has the bracelet,” I replied, pointing slightly.

  Oh, that’s bad, Marella commented.

  At least I get it now, Lee agree.

  What’s going on, voices in my head?

  Lee chuckled at my question. Lydia is in the bracelet. Lydia is Tella’s wife.

  Oh damn.

  “So Clove, Miss want-to-be-bad-guy, has our Creator Tella’s wife on her wrist.” I can’t believe those words came out of my mouth and somehow made sense.

  “Well, someone picked the wrong fight.” Melly clicked her tongue.

  “Damn, no wonder it’s getting real,” Benz agreed, suddenly more engrossed in the match itself.

  I had to wonder how Clove ever got the bracelet. A dozen scenarios crossed my mind, but nothing felt particularly likely.

  “We should probably try to sneak up and attack Clove,” I suggested.

  I’m certain the demons and angels will feel our presence if we get much closer. Lee cautioned.

  I’m surprised they haven’t even acknowledged us yet, Marella added.

  I could agree with both of those statements. “Melly, think you can get a good shot in?” I readied my bow.

  “Of course.” Melly readied herself. A sense of determination covering her expression.

  “I guess I’ll be ready to jump in.” Benz shrugged, summoning his sword to his side.

  If Tella can posses Mare and enhance her abilities, would we be able to donate power in the same way? Key wondered aloud.

  We can, though there is no way Remi would be completely herself, Marella admitted.

  Well, am I in control and just don’t feel myself or what? I wondered.

  You would be mostly in control, but directly impacted by our emotions which may cause you to make decisions you may not normally make, Marella clarified.

  “So, if I let the Creators donate their magic to me, their emotions might have an influence on my decisions…” I stated aloud. The other two glanced at me.

  “But we might be able to overpower Clove quicker and end this madness?” Melly asked thoughtfully.

  I nodded.

  Benz shook his head. “I don’t like the idea, but I’ll support your decision.”

  “Let’s overpower this monster.” I wondered how this would feel, but right now, this felt like the best move to make.

  Are you sure? Marella asked me, her voice searching for any doubts.

  No, but I trust in my gut that this is the best course of action. I wouldn’t have made it this far without trusting myself.

  Sounds like one of my answers, Key mused. I’m for it. Let’s restore some order here.

  At least we can promise you’ll have full control back the moment you declare it, Emmyth stated.

  Then do it, we’re wasting time.

  The fight was showing no signs of slowing. Both sides were too well matched.

  At first, they said nothing. Then I could feel an uncontrollable tingle of magic course through my veins, through my heart, and into my soul.

  Clove glanced in our direction as I let loose an arrow. Melly followed suit a split second later.

  Clove dodged mine, but wasn’t expecting Melly’s to turn into three and took two hits in the shoulder.

  You’ve got fire, use it, Key declared.

  And I could feel it, wanting, no, needing a release, a way out, and Clove was the perfect target.

  The fire was at my fingertips without thought and as I rushed to her I let fire arrow after fire arrow loose on her. Melly followed quickly, as much at my side as she tried to keep up with my attacks. Benz remained two steps behind, helping by staying out of the accidental line of fire.

  Our distraction was enough to allow Mare to get a hit in, forcing Clove to back up one step after another.

  The bracelet kept catching my eyes. How could we remove it? If we killed her, it would vanish, and while I hoped we wouldn’t have to fight another possessed nutcase, I wouldn’t put it past my luck. Then it dawned on me, removing her arm wouldn’t make her dead, and in fact her arm would still be alive. It could be reattached with little harm by a healer if taken care of in time.

  I needed all the power I could muster to go into a single shot and pin Clove to the ground. I needed it all to come through me at once.

  Knowing my wishes from my thoughts, I felt the power surge through me. The Creators were just as ready to end this, but I waited. I knew I had to wait for just the right moment…

  to…

  strike!

  The arrow ripped through her side, leaving a hole that magic wrapped around and pulled her firmly to the ground. The surprise stayed on her face for a moment before the horror washed over her, but it was too late to react.

  “Her arm!” All of those inside me, called loudly.

  Benz quickly hacked her arm off and tossed it to Mare. With purple light glowing from her eyes, she easily removed the bracelet, and with an outstretched arm sent a wave of ultrabright light at Clove. I covered my eyes as the light became too much.

  “You’ve betrayed your last person,” Mare stated simply, her voice sounding just different enough that I knew Tella was speaking through her.

  When the magic faded, there was nothing left of Clove.

  Chapter 31

  The silence that fell over the rocky terrain was almost tangible. The moment turned into minutes before Mare finally spoke.

  “I guess that means we have found everyone.” She turned to look at me.

  Something in her look told me the others were still very connected to her. Seeing the tiara and the bracelet were easy giveaways. The new pin attached to her shirt had to have been Tella.

  “Indeed.” While I said the words, and agreed with them, it felt more as if Marella had wanted them out. This slight possession thing was odd. “Now what?”

  “We need to figure out how exactly everyone gets freed,” Mare replied, tilting her head to the side more like she was listening instead of thinking. “It seems the entrapment magic was started with angel magic and bound with demon magic.”

  “Demon magic will unbind it then,” Marella replied through me.

  Mare and I nodded to each other, but while everyone inside me seemed to understand this, I didn’t actually understand this.

  “So, what does that even mean?” Melly finally voiced.

  Marella felt confident in her answer as the reply slipped smoothly out of my mouth, “It’s simple, a demand with passion as we had once done. I don’t require a soul to see it through, so, let’s see this done.”

  Melly raised an eyebrow.

  I sighed, my own words coming forward, “I think I get what Marella means.”

  The answer couldn’t be that simple though, could it? After all this time, I just needed to go to her and ask, no – demand – that this be done? Maybe they had to be close enough to her for this to work. Either way, I was ready to end this. I did not just want all the Creators freed, I needed them freed. They deserved to be released, and it had to be done now. No more waiting, no more tasks, and no more finding. It was to be done, and it was to be done now.

  Free them. Every fiber of my soul screamed an end to that madness, to release them, to have
them whole again.

  I could feel the excess magic slowly drip away, the artifacts we had slowly turning to dust and fading before fragments could get more than an inch away. I felt a pressure I didn’t even realize was building in my head release, my mind the clearest it had been in weeks.

  And then, as if they had been there all along, stood seven individuals I hadn’t seen since my childhood dreams.

  For several moments no one seemed to know what to say. It had been so long since I had seen any of them, and seeing them here as real people instead of just dreams felt absurd. Melly had none of these attachments and was able to bounce back quickly.

  “You’re all the Creators, then?” she asked the obvious.

  “Yes,” the tall, rather lanky individual that went by Dani replied.

  “Awesome, so that’s mostly sorted now.” Melly smiled widely. “Now we can finally get rid of those foul angel and demon creatures and be done with this place!”

  Tella furrowed her brows, clearly not liking the statement, but Marella replied before she could, “Oh, they are foul for sure, but how do you plan on just getting rid of them? Hm?”

  Melly shrugged but wasn’t daunted at all by the question. “I figured that is where you all would come in. They clearly would just strive to capture you and find a way to end you again. This plan is no longer working. It’s time to admit defeat and move on. They just don’t fit into the universe.”

  Again, Tella tried to speak, but Emmyth nodded. “It is a sad truth, isn’t it?”

  “But they just aren’t so easily gotten rid of,” Lee commented.

  “Would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Key agreed.

  “So we’re just playing gods now and choosing what and who we think should live?” Tella finally got her counterpoint in.

  “Yes, yes we are,” I replied confidently, “and actually, I think you’ll like my idea.”

  Tella pursed her lips for a moment but nodded. “Very well, what is this idea?” She crossed her arms, waiting for the answer.

  “I’ve heard a lot the last week or so I’ve been here. You can tell something about souls, can’t you?” I asked knowing there was more to this than I understood.

  “Yes, souls are complicated things that grow and evolve through different lifetimes, and eventually pass through different realms of existence,” Tella summed up.

  “So, you can tell somehow when a soul isn’t ready to move on, when it’s ready to be reborn, and if it should go elsewhere,” I stated plainly.

  Tella nodded. “Indeed. What is the point you’re going for?”

  “These souls, the souls of the demons and angels are just about done. I bet the majority of them are ready to be eliminated. They’ve gone through realms and lives aplenty. The ones who haven’t need to move on from here. Maybe start a new life as something different altogether? It may not be what you want, but it’s time,” I replied, remembering too well the feeling, the desperation of all those souls as that olive light held me with all its might.

  Dani smirked for a moment before letting out a small laugh. “That is a thought.” She turned toward Tella. “And it’s truly our job.”

  Emmyth cleared his throat. “The rest of us have jobs to do. Order to restore.” He nudged Lee hard in the side with his elbow.

  “Fine,” Lee sighed before taking Key’s hand. “Let’s go see about fixing up some things.”

  “Sounds fun.” Key nodded before glancing over at Benz. “You should come too. While this isn’t entirely your fault, the others will respond better with you there.”

  Benz nodded and gave us a look that seemed to say, I don’t want to leave, but it is my fault. “You’re right. I know my team would rather see me back. Let’s do this.”

  Key closed the distance between them and held out her hand. Once Benz grabbed hold she smiled, and in a blink, they had all three vanished.

  I was surprised with how quickly they were gone, but no one else seemed bothered. Glancing over at Tella, it seemed as if she was having a silent mental discussion with Dani. Their expressions changed here and there but no words were said aloud. Lydia seemed less involved but stayed at Tella’s side, slowly taking in the damage of the previous fight around her.

  Marella walked slowly over to us. She patted Melly on the shoulder before stopping in front of her. “You can return home now, but I understand you may need a moment.”

  Melly frowned at her before looking at me. “What about my sister?” she asked as she turned back toward Marella.

  Marella looked at Melly softly but didn’t hold back. “Your sister has been through a lot. I cannot set her soul right to just be returned. I am unsure if Tella or Dani can, but for the moment they need to figure out the best plan for my troublesome kind.”

  “After all that she can’t just return? She deserves to!” Melly demanded, her voice quivered in worry and fear.

  “I’m not surprised.” I truly wasn’t. That last little death probably should have done me in. “I really shouldn’t have made it this far.”

  Marella, to my surprise, nodded. “It was very hard to keep you together, let alone twice.”

  I should have known she had a hand in it. “What happens from here is it. I have no regrets.” I pulled Melly close and squeezed her tightly. “It’ll be okay. Things will somehow work out, even if I can’t be there.”

  Melly buried her head in my chest. “I’d rather they somehow work out with you there.”

  “I know, it was always fun together, but life happens. I’m really sorry life had to happen this soon.” I gave her an extra tight squeeze.

  “If you enjoy complicated decisions no one should make without extra thought, I may have an idea,” Dani stated.

  I hadn’t noticed the three walked over. I let Melly go. “What idea?”

  Tella cleared her throat. “Dani and I can’t exactly leave here. It needs restructuring, and when we do get rid of most of the angels and demons we’ll need to rework the flow of magic from other sources.”

  “Like Dreamers?” Melly asked curiously.

  “Dreamers are a great start, but it will help tremendously if they come from a place of power.” Lydia smirked.

  “What do you mean, then?” Melly frowned. I had to admit, I wasn’t sure either.

  “Magic can be returned to your realm,” Tella clarified, “but it’ll need to start somewhere, and the exposure you’ve had to the magic here is just enough to start it, but not maintain it.”

  “What could maintain it?” This sounded exciting and I wanted to know every bit of it.

  “The three souls that won’t be eliminated today,” Dani replied firmly. “Most of the angels and demons need to be eliminated, some few sent on. Three are better off being reborn.”

  “What?” Melly and I asked together, surprised any would be surviving the elimination round.

  “Marella knows how to wipe their minds so the past is lost.” Tella glanced over at Marella. “I don’t want to know how she knows this, but maybe if raised up correctly and uncorrupted, we can let these souls grow.”

  “I can’t raise crazy demon angel hybrid souls.” Melly shook her head.

  Tella nodded. “I wouldn’t expect you to.” She turned toward me. “You however…”

  “Would do it, yes.” I nodded. “Though, aren’t I fairly stuck here? Can’t I not return?”

  Dani nodded. “As you are now, yes, you would be stuck. Which is why we will stress this decision should be made carefully.”

  “Okay, think things through, got it. Now what are you getting at?” I tried not to sound demanding, but I was simply too curious. How could I return home?

  “You see,” Marella happily jumped in, “my kind really only had six individuals by the end of things. Several souls had been shattered and others raised up to be similar to us. In order to preserve ourselves, we found a way to tie ourselves to things that we could always find, like desperation or hope. If these remaining few souls could be tied to something similar and new, and then connect
ed to you, that would give your soul enough strength to return, though with the added consequence of also needing more of whatever you’re tied to for strength and longevity.”

  “That sounds…” I was lost for words.

  “Weird,” Melly finished for me.

  “Yes, very odd.” I nodded at my sister. The demons and angels lived off of different things such as hope or desperation. With their magic, I could live off of that too. “What is one thing that is always easy to find, that can be gotten without harming another?”

  “Music,” Melly replied without another thought. “A waterfall is its own song, the birds singing, crickets chirping, it’s just everywhere if you listen.”

  I shouldn’t have been surprised the one named Melody would have that as her answer. I smiled. “I like that, I like that idea a lot.”

  Tella frowned at Marella. “Your kind lived thousands and thousands of years, and you went for desperation and fear? You could have gone for something easily found instead of creating havoc and mayhem. Why would you choose to live preying off of others?”

  Marella shrugged. “The life of an instigator, which is why I suggested new ties.”

  “Will that impact you?” I asked her curiously.

  “Me? Oh no. I won’t be going through this process.” She smirked, a little too happy with her answer. “They’re stuck with me just the way I am.”

  “The joy is mine.” Lydia sighed tiredly while Marella gave her a little harder than not joking punch in the side.

  “And I adore you too.” Marella smiled wickedly at her before turning to us. “Now go think on things.”

  “Oh, that decision is already made, but I’d like to see how things get resolved here first,” I replied confidently.

  “I figured.” Melly laughed. “But yes! What’s left here?”

  “Mayhem,” Marella replied before the others could give an actual reply.

  Tella sighed. “If you wish to see, come along then.” She motioned for us to follow.

  Finally, things would be right once more.

  Epilogue

  It was wonderful working with Tella. She was more than open to a lot of suggestions we had. In the end, they decided to give those ready to leave this realm an easy way out. The spirits trapped here welcomed the idea. Asher chose to stay, but several of the Watch, as well as the inside, decided to leave. No one wanted to die, but plenty were ready to move on.