The Lucid Dreamer (Dystopian Child Prodigy SciFi) (The Unmaker Series Book 1)

by Casey Herzog

  “That doesn’t make any sense. I don’t feel anything from the amulet to warrant having the power to take Damien from this place. You’re stalling for time and it’s not going to work.” He raised the ax and the fire exploded and consumed the blade.

  I wagged my finger back and forth with a smile on my face. He seemed genuinely surprised by my reaction. “I haven’t told you the best part. You really are impatient. I would suggest you work on that. The amulet wasn’t for me. I certainly couldn’t get anything from it, but those with magic could be given a jumpstart. You look confused. Is it necessary for me to give you a blow-by-blow description? I took a chance and it paid off. The amulet doesn’t give me any power, but it does return what you took from others. Damien was still weak after fighting you off, but the soldiers you put on my side were given a gift.” I could see he understood, but to give him that information made it necessary for him to get rid of me in the most extreme way.

  I felt like hands were pulling at me and I only had to let go, which was exactly what I was going to do. I closed my eyes with the ax swinging in my direction.

  It went right through me without making a mark. It flew from his hands and my smile only infuriated him further.

  I came to life on top of a table with Damien and the others putting their hands on my body. Together, they were able to use their combined force to bring me out before it was too late.

  “It’s about time; you really do know how to cut it close. I could only keep him talking for so long before he was going to act. He really does have a big ego. He has every reason to believe he is stronger than one. That is where we will be the strongest. I’m not foolish enough to think I can take him on my own.” Both soldiers who had fallen in my name were weighing heavily on my conscience. I would always know how I was instrumental in their final and last breath.

  Damien was wobbling and fell back to land safely in a chair. He looked white as a ghost and any energy he had to fight back was torn from him. He would need time to recharge, but I wasn’t sure time was on our side.

  “I see it, but I don’t believe it. You were only gone a few seconds before these four emerged to tell me you needed help. I went to find the amulet and found it was missing. I had to believe the reason you took it was to give yourself a fighting chance. There was no way for you to know you would have an opportunity to use it. You took a bigger chance than was necessary, but with big risk comes big reward.” Professor Bethesda helped me to my feet.

  “I had nothing left to lose, and my life was hanging in the balance. Your words of wisdom gave me the idea I was acting impulsively, but I sensed the way the amulet worked.”

  A few the students came in to collect Damien. He looked at me with a meek smile of encouragement, but I knew he was hurting inside.

  Jasper was the hunter, and I still didn’t believe it. He had done what he had intended, and I had done what I could to stop him from feeding on Damien. The one thing I kept going back to was his comment about Damien being his child. It could’ve been an innocuous statement, or was there something more about Damien? That was a scary thought.

  “I’m going to need the amulet. I need to put things right, and then you can have the magic eyes.” Professor Bethesda took the amulet and put it back on the shelf where it belonged. It disappeared from view, but I knew how to get to it if necessary. The magic eyes returned to me with force.

  “I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. I was lucky to be able to get to Damien before there was nothing left. He was close to losing it, and I’m sure he didn’t feel very good about being used as a puppet. I was hoping that I was wrong about the hunter being responsible for taking Damien. When Damian made himself phase out of existence to escape detection from the Guardians and Mr. Black, the hunter seized the opportunity. There was no way he was going to turn his back on the possibility of joining forces with Damien’s power.” William was out there fighting on our behalf even though it was going to cost him his life.

  There had to be a way to prevent that from happening. Even though he betrayed me, I still felt like my heart was breaking all over again. I wanted him to be the man I fantasized about. I wanted him to be above reproach, but everybody makes mistakes. It’s what they learn that signifies the true character underneath.

  “I know it’s not easy thinking of William as being responsible for giving the Elders powerful information against us. There’s no way to know for sure if he’s going to tell them what’s going on. Sometimes, you have to go on trust and faith alone. You need to take solace in his ability to see what he was doing was wrong. You brought that out in him and you have the power to unite the magic community.”

  I wasn’t sure how the Professor could say that until he motioned for me to follow him into an assembly. There were murmurs of dissension, but I sensed what they needed the most was a leader.

  I was still feeling the effects of my battle with the hunter. I didn’t want to think of what the result would have been had I not been able to time things perfectly.

  “They need you to say a few words. Your father was big on public speaking and I’m hoping that trait has been passed down to you. Some are on the fence and others are hell bent to be of any good to anyone. Running headlong into battle is only going to get everyone killed, so there has to be a semblance of some kind of plan in motion. They don’t know about William, and you need to be the one to tell them.”

  I wasn’t sure if I could sacrifice his good name, but they needed to know corruption was everywhere. “This is harder than fighting the hunter on his own turf. By his own admission, the world I stepped into was his to mold in his image. He could’ve easily killed me, but I made it impossible for him to take action. His curiosity was too strong, and he had to know how I had gotten to Damien under his nose.”

  The feeling I had about a war coming was stronger than ever. I had deluded myself into thinking I was the one who was going to make the difference. However, I could only be the voice of reason; the rest was going to fall on the shoulders of novice students in the prime of their lives.

  I took a few tentative steps towards the podium overlooking the crowd waiting for words of encouragement. I felt faint and I had to center myself with meditation techniques. It was daunting to stand in front of them, ready to rally the troops into action. I was terrified of the words that were going to come from my mouth. It was hypocritical of the Elders to speak against magic when they were using the very same thing to fight against it.

  “You have it inside you. Let yourself speak from the heart, and I’m positive the rest will follow. You can be the beacon of light if only you believe in yourself. Your issues with your father held you hostage and kept you from seeing the truth written in bold letters in front of you.”

  Professor Bethesda was holding me to the same standard as my father. Standing in the center of attention, I was being judged by the many eyes peering back at me. They were confused and needed guidance, and I was going to give them what they needed. They were expecting me to show them the way like my father did. I couldn’t be my father, but I felt obligated to pick up where he left off.

  Chapter Twenty

  I looked out at the sea of impressionable faces. Nothing came to me. There were no snippets of wisdom to give them the fighting spirit. Not all of them were going to survive what was coming. It wasn’t fair when they had their whole lives ahead of them. To ask them to stand against the Elders and the hunter was going too far. This would have to be on a volunteer basis. It wouldn’t work to force them into something they didn’t believe in.

  “I stand here in front of you humbly asking for your assistance. The Elders will never openly welcome magic back to the community. The only way it will happen is if we make it happen. I would love to tell you everything is going to be fine, but I can’t do that. You are the next generation of magic. You have learned from some of the masters, including my father.”

  I felt like he was behind me whispering these words into my ear. I took a moment to let them digest
what I was saying. There were many at the edge of their seat and others not so impressed. They needed more than just what I was saying. They needed to hear there was a way. I’d already put things into play, but all of my plans hinged on William.

  “There is no freedom gained by standing idly by and doing nothing. There is something in all of us fighting to remain free. You feel it every day when you use magic without feeling persecuted. You feel it when you wake up in the morning safely in your bed knowing that the Elders can’t touch you. That is a falsehood perpetrated unfairly by all of us here in the school. This might be a safe haven, but it’s temporary. Those who ventured outside of this phase of existence learned a terrible truth. Jasper found himself overwhelmed and pulled into the asylum for rehabilitation, and it will happen to all of you unless we do something about it.” I put both hands on the podium, slapping them with enough force to echo my conviction across the room.

  Those who thought it was a joke were now convinced otherwise. They were still hesitant, but at least they were listening to every word I was saying. This was the first time somebody told them the truth without trying to sugarcoat it. They may have been young, but they were strong, which would lead them to salvation.

  “A revolution starts with one voice and then grows until you can’t hear yourself think. You are all lost in confusion, and I’m here to set things straight. You can hide here, but the real world is begging for you to take a stand against something larger than you. There is magic all around us, and the older generation have taught us wisely. If we give them a fight, then it’s entirely possible others will pick up that same sword.” I had them eating out of the palm of my hand.

  “Who are you trying to fool, us or yourself?” Damien made his voice loud and clear. I didn’t blame him for having misgivings. He had gone through hell, and had come out on the other side. “We are only kids and you make it sound like we have a chance. I’m here to tell you that the hunter is strong. He is ferocious, tenacious and he has the Elders backing him all the way. We don’t stand a chance to get even close enough to make a difference.”

  He had me at a loss for words. I hadn’t told them everything, and this next part was going to have them wondering if I had lost my mind.

  “Damien is right. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m not doing this for myself. Like you, I was content living by their rules, but the day to do something is upon us. You can’t sit there and tell me you haven’t felt it in the air. Change is coming and we can be instrumental in bringing the world back to what it once was. Magic does not need to be feared.” Damien, debating on the other side, gave me a greater need to rise above any hesitation. They wanted answers, but the question remained if they were ready. They had no choice. It was their birthright.

  “You make it sound so simple, but we both know it’s not. I mistakenly thought I was strong, but I’m nothing compared to the hunter. He made me do his bidding and I had no will of my own to fight back. If it were just the Elders, we might be able to storm the castle. They have surrounded themselves by magic, which goes in the face of everything they stand for.” Damien was bitter and he didn’t mind letting others know how he felt.

  “I’m not going to lie to you and tell you this is going to be easy. I found out about a spy within the school. He is somebody you know very well. To say his name will send shock waves through all of you. He believed he had no choice. Hearing his story changed my mind and I decided to use him against them. I thought I was going to have a bigger fight convincing him, but he was through feeling like he was letting all of you down.” I was building things up, not expecting the kind of response of total silence.

  They were looking around trying to figure out who was against them. Some would be able to uncover the truth before others, which included Damien. He had taken an inventory, and I could see him glancing around the room. There was recognition in his eyes. He had figured out what I was trying to say.

  “You can’t be serious. I’ve never been a big believer in this place. I’ve learned to accept certain limitations when I know I’m stronger than most of them. William seemed the same way. You’re saying he betrayed us? What would make him do something like that?” Damian was asking the question that everyone had.

  “He had a disease that would shorten his life severely. His life was being taken from him. He suffered in silence with his parents standing vigil. He was given a miracle, but it was nothing more than a ploy from the Elders. He worked against all of us, but he finally learned the hard way what it means to betray himself. He confessed his sin and he wants to atone. This may not be a favorable decision, but I sent him back in to work on our behalf. He is essentially a double agent. We feed him the information, and he makes sure the Elders get it. Make no mistake, the war is coming and what side you stand on will determine your fate.” I had them for a moment. Learning of William’s duplicitous actions made them realize anyone was susceptible to the Elders’ influence.

  “What are we supposed to do?” The voices were in unison.

  “Things are getting out of hand. We tried to shield ourselves from the reality. If we’re not careful, we will be down on our knees looking up at our masters. William was weak, but now he has shown his strength. There is no time like to present to strike. Things are in the works and you can trust in me, but I would rather you trust in yourselves to do the right thing. Your parents sent you here to protect you, but it was only ever temporary. It’s time for all of you to open up your eyes.”

  The hunter would stand firm with the Guardians and Mr. Black. The Elders, in my opinion, were cowards who hid behind those who could do what they couldn’t. The Guardians were human with strong beliefs that magic was the cause of everything bad. The Elders made sure to recruit only those with an axe to grind. Each of the Guardians had lost somebody because of magic, and that fed the fuel to their hatred. Nobody really knew Mr. Black’s reason for joining, and the hunter was the biggest mystery of them all.

  “You have heard what Gillian has said. Until the battle begins, you will be put through your paces in an advanced course to uncover your true potential. We handled you with kid gloves, and it’s time we take them off. You’ve seen only a small percentage of what you’re capable of. We will tap into the well of your magic and release it. It has always been our belief that magic needs to be given time to flourish. We don’t have the time to bring about what you have inside naturally.” Professor Bethesda stood behind me giving them hope of more strength than they could imagine.

  I heard footsteps, and we all turned to see the ghastly image of William. His face had streaks of blood rolling down his cheeks. He looked barely able to walk, let alone lift a finger against the Elders. He looked like he was going to say something, but then he collapsed. He was our first line of defense. What I had been building with the students crumbled as I watched my secret weapon deteriorating in front of their eyes.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I looked at him on the bed and I couldn’t believe they would treat him like this. I couldn’t help but wonder how being restrained could be translated into passion. I was burning on the inside to be near him, but I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough to witness his decline in health.

  He was in bad shape and there was no way traditional medicine was going to give him a fighting chance. The amulet was lying on top of his bare chest, glowing different colors and hopefully healing some internal injuries, but we hadn’t heard a word from him. I had no idea how this had happened to him.

  I felt responsible because sending him back in after he confessed to working against us was only asking for trouble. I sat vigil by his bed, watching for any signs of life and seeing nothing more than the rising and falling of his chest.

  I already had enough to worry about with the Elders, Mr. Black, and the hunter to keep me occupied until the inevitable battle. Could I really handle more?

  “I know you’re worried about him, but he is in a catatonic state. I can’t say for sure if the amulet is going to bring him aroun
d anytime soon. However, it would be nice to know what he knows before we attempt to make any moves against the Elders. Your idea is suicidal, but I can’t think of any other way. The asylum has been a subject of debate for quite some time within the magic community. It’s all underground talk, but those who went in and came back out were never the same again. Their families suffer needlessly to take care of them.” Professor Bethesda had decided in his infinite wisdom to have William chained to the bed in case this was some kind of ruse to catch us off guard.

  “I’m trying to think of anything I could have done differently. I want him to wake up. I close my eyes and I see his face. All that has happened recently makes me believe everything I touch dies. I might have to consider letting him go for the sake of his own survival.” That empty feeling in my heart was because of my angst over his unwillingness to open up his eyes. I missed the look in his eyes and the way he made me feel like there was something between us.

  “I don’t know if he deserves your kind of devotion. He obviously has demons and a lot to make up for. We can’t easily trust him after something like this. William is not going to skate through this without answering for his crimes. We will have a tribunal, but there’s no point in bringing him before his peers until we finish this ugly business between magic and the Elders.”

  “Professor, I’m not enough foolish to think William doesn’t need to be punished in some way. I thought I did the right thing by sending him back in, but now it looks like it could’ve been the worst mistake of my life. I can only take it step by step. My hands are shaking with the very idea of never talking to him again. I wish a simple touch would be enough to wake him up. It’s possible he doesn’t even want to wake up and that’s why the amulet has to work so hard.” I was exhausted, completely mentally drained and had no idea how I was supposed to lead.