“Your lunch is waiting for you in the fridge, you know,” her mother said.
“I’ll eat that too. But later. I’m not moving anywhere right now.”
Her mother laughed and passed her plate over. “Go on, eat up!”
“Thanks, Mum.” Willow forked a cherry tomato. “So keep going – about the dreams.”
“Where was I …? Ah, that’s right. Our dreams are stored and protected by the Dream Keepers. Dreams of being an artist, an architect, a teacher, getting a bike for Christmas – or even a pony,” her mother smiled. “These dreams flow back and forth every time you think about them – giving them the best possible chance of becoming real in our world.”
A log-jam was forming in Willow’s mind. For every sentence her mother spoke, at least three questions followed. She couldn’t believe this whole thing was about something as vague as dreams! She hadn’t thought the words “Dream Keepers” literally meant just that, though it did seem as if this was all really important, and the Light Stream did sound pretty cool. Willow bit her tongue, saving her questions.
Audrey leaned over and placed a hand softly on top of her daughter’s. “A Light Keeper, Willow, helps to create the Light Stream connections. And they must originate from the Dream Keepers’ world where the Light Source for the Stream resides. That’s why Light Keeper work is so important. That’s why,” she hesitated, “that’s why a Light Keeper has to travel to the Dream Keepers’ world.”
“What!” Willow sat bolt upright. “Out there? In space? Whoa! Peonie said she opened Doorways to other worlds. I guess I was so blown away by Peonie and what was happening, that I didn’t get everything she was saying, or put it all together into something that made sense. This is even more awesome!”
Her mother didn’t appear to be as excited. “I know it all sounds ‘awesome’ but there’s so much more to know.”
“So tell me! Tell me everything!”
“We will, but we’ll do it in stages.” Audrey looked around her study before reaching behind her chair to grab a box of paper clips from a shelf. She placed some of the clips across the table, between her cup and Thomas’s plate at the other end, then steepled her fingers alongside them. “Imagine these clips are galaxies for a moment. With our current technology, it would take many thousands of light years to cross these distances to get to the Dream Keepers’ World over here,” she said, tapping the plate before meeting her daughter’s gaze. “So you’ll have to forgive your parents if we look a little … anxious. Your personal world has just expanded by no less than seven galaxies.”
Willow instantly thought of one of her favourite TV shows, Dr Who, and the time-travelling Tardis. She imagined spinning across the galaxies in his blue telephone box – destination: the Dream Keepers’ world! She would go there to make Light Streams and save human dreams! “So it’s a bit like being the Doctor with his Tardis!” she enthused.
Her parents looked at each other, unable to contain their grins.
“Not exactly,” her mother said.
“Then how do they get there? How do they do it?”
“Willow,” her father said, “the world you are entering has technology that we, as humans, find difficult to fathom. There are devices used to travel through the galaxies, and we’ll get to that, but right now we have other priorities; there are other things that you need to know first.”
“But Dad!”
He put his hand up to stop any further protests. “Sorry, but that’s just the way it is. There’s an order of events that must play out.”
“Order of events? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“The Protocol may have changed,” he said firmly, “but we still have to follow certain guidelines.”
Willow stared at her father for a long moment, shoving noisy thoughts and details into haphazard piles to deal with at a later time. “Why do you have to be so mysterious – and why are our dreams such a big deal anyway? Why go to all this trouble?”
“Willow,” her father said in a gentler tone, “imagine life on Earth without dreams. I want you to really think about that for a minute. Tell me what you see.”
She looked at him curiously. “Okay.” Willow closed her eyes, thinking about some of her own dreams. Her biggest one, for quite a while now, was to have her own pony. She tried to imagine what life would be like without that dream. Would she even be in the pony club? Afterall, being in the pony club was part of her original dream years earlier, along with all the small dreams, like having her own saddle and getting a new pair of boots. Getting her first big bike was another one of her dreams. If those dreams didn’t exist, would she bother with much at all? Would her life become a series of dull and menial tasks, purely for the purpose of survival? And if everyone else were like that, what kind of world would she be living in? Dreams, she realised, were more than just the ideas and thoughts that floated around in your head. They had a purpose.
Willow opened her eyes. “I get it! There wouldn’t be any new music or dancing, or art without dreams.” She thought of her grandmother, travelling around the world, meeting new people and learning about different cultures. “Gran wouldn’t even bother travelling. There wouldn’t be any fun. Life would be sad actually.”
“Without dreams,” her mother said, “our world would quickly plunge into darkness. Dreams are an important part of our existence as humans. We are compelled to create, and dreams are a part of the process. It’s how we grow and evolve. That’s why the Light Keepers’ world has strict rules. We need to minimise errors, to minimise the breakdown of systems that have been in place for millennia to protect everything that makes our human existence so unique. We’re not trying to be mysterious; just making sure you understand so that you’re prepared.”
“So-o-o, what can go wrong?” Willow asked. “Why are you worried?”
“Mostly nothing, but just about everything,” her father said. “We’re talking about going into a different space and time – a different level of existence. This isn’t like taking a train trip into London, though that can be hazardous occasionally.” His momentary grin was quickly replaced by a frown. “The Doorways you travel through to get across the galaxies … well, the possibility of becoming stuck between the worlds is real. It hasn’t happened in over a century, but that doesn’t mean it can’t. That’s why we have rules. The more closely you follow the rules, the less chance of problems. Everything you think and do has an impact on the outcome. You need to be prepared – trained, because things don’t always go according to plan.”
Willow’s thoughts bubbled away again. Getting stuck between worlds? No thanks! “How do you get stuck?” she asked, imagining herself drifting around in deep, dark space forever …
“If a portal fails, or something unforeseeable happens,” her father replied. “Willow, you would need to know how to handle the situation. There are things … there are forces of nature that you need to learn about and understand – for your own safety.”
Willow’s initial excitement at the thought of travelling across galaxies was now somewhat subdued. “So it’s not all about the fun.”
Her father nodded. “That’s why we’re … shocked, frankly, that you’ve been Awakened so young. Light Keeper work is serious stuff.” The lines on his forehead were etched deeply now. “It’s why your mother and I will follow the Awakened Procedure to the letter. It’s how this is done, or it all becomes too much, too soon, and far too dangerous.”
Willow looked at her parents in silence.
Her father hesitated, flicking a quick glance at his wife before continuing: “Willow, we know you’re smart and capable, and when the time is right, there’s a special Academy you can go to that’s dedicated to teaching Light Keeper duties. It’s existed in France for hundreds of years, secretly teaching the knowledge and magic of the Dream Keepers.”
Willow forced herself to stay seated. The idea of an Academy instantly made her forget about being stuck somewhere. “Are you serious? A magic school for Light Keepers! Whe
n can I go?”
“Steady on. Let’s get the basics down first, shall we?” Thomas said. “Yes, you’ve been Awakened, and not by accident – we know that. No doubt the Academy will summon you soon enough. But not too soon we hope.”
“What! I thought being Awakened meant I was a Light Keeper. I don’t …”
“Being a Light Keeper is something you choose to be,” her mother intervened. “You don’t have to be one if you don’t want to. Given your age, it’s perfectly reasonable to say no or to delay carrying out duties until you’re older. There are lots of different ways to contribute to the cause.”
Willow sat there, stunned. This was like being given the most amazing gift and then having it snatched away. “You’re saying I can’t do this? Before I’ve even gone to the Academy?”
“No, that’s not what we’re saying,” her father replied. “We’re saying that we’ll follow the Awakening Procedure. You have to know what you’re taking on first. Surely you can see that’s reasonable?”
“Tell me then!” Willow said. “Tell me what I need to know – so I can go.”
Her father shook his head. “Looks like there’s no delaying this – not even for a day.”
Audrey turned to her husband with questioning eyes. He gave her a hopeless little smile and shrug.
She returned the slightest nod. “There’s a book, Willow, that I’ve been entrusted with. Now that you’ve Awoken, it’s rightfully yours. It’s the first step to understanding your new world.”
“What kind of book?”
“A very special book.” Her mother stood up. “I’ll go get it.”
The Keeper’s Book
Willow’s mother entered with a large brown leather book held firmly to her chest. Her father stood up; Willow instinctively did the same. It was as if a new presence had joined the room. But how could that be, when the newcomer was a book?
“I guess we’re ready then,” Audrey said over the top of the book.
“I suppose we are,” Thomas agreed. He turned towards the door. “Shall we?”
Willow looked from one parent to the other. “Where are we going?”
“Not far. Just taking precautions,” her mother answered. “It’s easier if we just show you.”
“What for? Why do we need …”
“Quit yakking,” interrupted her father. “All will be revealed.”
Willow followed her parents from the study into the hallway. Halfway down, just past the library, they came to a halt directly in front of an old painting of their Cottage. She watched her father carefully remove it and lean it against the opposite wall. He then placed the palm of his hand on the wall where the painting had hung and began to move his hand in a geometric pattern. Just as she was about to say something, a white light flashed beneath his palm. Willow shut her mouth and swallowed. Slowly, he lifted his hand away. An opening – a fuzzy-looking hole – had magically appeared in the wall. She stared as the hazy gap widened, grew longer, stretching right down to the floor, until it was large enough for them to step through.
“How …? I mean, what …?”
“Magic,” her father said. “Take my hand, Willow.”
She held his hand and they stepped through the opening. Her mother followed. Letting go of her father’s hand, Willow found herself in a dimly lit room no larger than an average-sized bedroom. The hole they had stepped through slowly vanished, and the wall became solid again. “What is this place?”
“The Keeper’s Safe,” her father replied. “It’s where we discuss and do things of a sensitive nature – so our magic world stays a secret. Every Sanctuary home has one. This one has been here for hundreds of years. That’s why we could never sell the Cottage – even if we wanted to,” he added. “The Keeper’s Safe wouldn’t allow it. It would automatically repel anyone who showed an interest. Only Light Keepers can own it. So when the time comes – we’ll pass it on to you.”
“Wow,” Willow croaked. Her eyes danced around the room. A small table with four chairs sat to one side and a sofa with matching armchairs took up the rest of the space. The walls were covered with symbols, all glowing gold. Some of them looked like the ones she had seen on Peonie’s armbands. Even the floor and ceiling had them. Directly above her was a symbol of a triangle with three horizontal wavy lines running through it. Another, close by, was of a multi-pointed star contained within a circle. And a shelf, running the entire length of a wall, had several large crystals placed along it, all of them glowing an opalescent white.
“Wow,” she said again. Her eyes settled on a small wooden box at the end of the shelf. “What’s in the box?”
Her father walked over to the box and picked it up. He lifted the lid and immediately a small beam of light shone from inside the box.
Willow moved in for a closer look.
“Remember I mentioned different devices? Well, this is one of them,” her father said. “It’s for communicating, so we can speak to other Keeper members around the world with complete security. It even projects a holographic image of the speakers at either end.”
Willow peered inside. The white glow came from a small, polished black cube at the base of the box. “Is this from the Dream Keepers’ world?”
“Sure is,” her father nodded. “They’ve gifted our world with several devices.” He gently replaced the lid on the box and put it back on the shelf. “The crystals act like generators to power the room and the security field around the house,” he added. Sensing her next question, he said, “Later. Mum’s ready.”
“Willow,” her mother said, “come stand in front of me.”
Taking a few steps forward, Willow faced her mother. It was weird seeing her parents in this way. They were different enough already. But now … Well, now she would have to get used to a totally new level of different. But, she had to admit, it was a pretty cool one. Who wouldn’t want to discover that their family was from a secret magic world! Willow stood quietly, waiting for whatever was about to happen. Her father stepped in behind her.
Her mother cleared her throat. “A transference of energy has to take place, Willow, so I can pass the book on to you. It’s an introduction between you and the book – to enable you to read it.”
“Okay,” Willow breathed, her heart pounding. She had no idea what her mother was talking about. She watched, completely mesmerised as her mother slowly lowered the book from her chest, revealing the front cover. A large purple and blue crystal, enclosed by a green triangle, lay in the centre. “Wow,” she whispered. That seemed to be her catch-cry since entering the woods this morning; nothing else could better describe the day she was having. She read the strange words on the cover quietly to herself then looked up at her parents, confused.
“Understanding will come. But right now I want you to place your hand over the crystal,” Audrey instructed.
Willow nodded. It wasn’t often that she was stuck for words. She gently placed her hand over the crystal and a buzzing sensation went straight up her arm, not unlike the strange feelings she had felt in the woods early that morning.
With a reassuring smile, Audrey slipped one of her hands from beneath the book and placed it on top of Willow’s. Amazingly the book nudged upwards slightly. Her mother took her other hand away and let it drop to her side. Willow gasped. The book was floating in mid-air, all by itself.
“Now,” her mother said, “I want you to leave your hand over the crystal until I take my hand away. Ready?”
“I guess so,” Willow said nervously. She breathed in deeply, then slowly breathed out, but her heart wouldn’t stop thumping. What was about to happen? Was the book going to talk to them? Were they going to disappear inside the book? Maybe someone would step out from the book? She remembered a movie she had watched a few years earlier, Inkheart, where a book could create a world as you read it.
Willow looked over her shoulder at her father and he gave her a smile and a little nod that meant, “Face your mother.” She turned back around.
Audrey c
losed her eyes and took a calming breath. “Ectu Tavis, Ruduxa Hedronym.”
Willow stood with her mother, waiting. Long moments went by with no indication of anything unusual happening. Then all of a sudden her hand felt really warm and a light began to appear beneath it. She wanted to take her hand away to see what was going on, but her mother’s hand was still lightly holding hers in place over the crystal, and Audrey’s eyes were still closed. She waited, regarding her mother’s serene face, which looked quite beautiful in its trance-like state. After what was probably only a minute, but felt like hours to Willow, her mother’s eyes slowly reopened. Finally, thought Willow.
“I’m going to lift my hand now,” her mother said softly. “I want you to stand as motionless as possible while the Transfer takes place.”
Willow held her breath as her mother slowly raised her hand. Willow then lifted her own off the crystal. Almost immediately, a soft purple glowing mist began to weave out from the crystal towards her. Standing even more rigidly than before, her eyes followed the mist as it slowly encircled her. Her muscles gave a slight twitch at the unexpected movement of her hair. She could feel the purple mist gently tugging and lifting each strand as if it were tied to an invisible thread. One by one, the strands of her hair were delicately pulled until all of her hair was standing on end. Willow could only imagine how crazy she must look. The air around her became filled with heady scents. Flowers were quickly replaced by a woody scent, followed by a sweet honey smell and then a burst of fresh mountain air. Over and over, they kept repeating in that order. She wanted to twitch her nose but didn’t dare.
The mist wove around her quite methodically, pausing occasionally as if it was sensing something. She strained her eyes in every direction, tracking the mist as best she could. A warm and gentle pressure moved up and down her spine. She wished she had eyes at the back of her head right now, or at least some mirrors. A short time had passed when, all at once, the soft mist started retreating, gracefully releasing each strand of hair, layer by layer. With the final strand of hair back in place, the mist spiralled its way towards the book, re-entering the crystal and taking all of the wonderful scents in the room with it. A wisp of purple mist hovered briefly above the book then returned to the crystal. Willow’s legs softened like jelly. It seemed to be finished. She waited a few moments just to be sure. “Is it over?” she whispered. “Can I move now?”
Willow Bloom and the Dream Keepers Page 3