The Knight of Her Dreams (Dragons and Dreamphasers)

by Jen Robyn

  “I don’t need to now,” she replied. “You’re already here.”

  Smiling warmly, Dominick’s arms surrounded her, his tender yet impassioned kisses warming her like a hundred suns, stealing her breath away. Moments later, the sound of sweet music filled the air, and Julianna’s eyes opened with renewed surprise. What on Earth? she wondered, noting her companion’s look of amusement as he broke apart from her.

  Just before she noticed illuminated rainbows cascading in endless directions towards the starry night sky. Something only a dream could create… or a dream companion.

  “It’s all your doing, Julianna,” he said, smiling with mock innocence. “You said so yourself that there are rainbows and music when we’re together.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t mean literally,” she laughed. “Thank you for remembering, my dear dream knight.” Leaning forward, she emphasized this with a deeper kiss.

  “Be careful with your kisses, my lady,” Dominick replied smiling, breaking away long moments later, though not releasing her. “I had other plans for us this evening, but I’m only human when it comes to the charms of a most enchanting sorceress.”

  “Ah, I see,” she replied with feigned seriousness. “Then you want me to be on my best undesirable behavior.”

  “Minx!” he laughed deep in his throat, brushing a few kisses across her neck. “You can’t help but be desirable to me, Julianna,” he whispered. “Even if you tied back your hair, wore the drabbest clothes, and painted your face green, I’d still want you.”

  She gave a slight pout at that. “Well, I certainly won’t agree to try out the last part of that theory. Knowing you, you’d trick me into using indelible paint.”

  “And purposely hide such beauty from these eyes?” He thought for a moment, before adding, “Still, it might be useful to detract the attention of other admirers you might have.” She swatted his shoulder at the last, but he simply clasped her wrist and kissed her hand. “Really, Julianna, we must have a talk about this aggressive tendency of yours. It's fine for passionate moments, but surely not all the time.”

  “You won’t be so smug when I display no passion at all, Sir Dominick,” she retorted.

  “None at all?” he asked doubtfully, his kisses traveling down her neck while he hugged her close. A gasp escaped her lips and her eyes drifted shut, earning a soft laugh from him. “The hell with smugness then,” he whispered. “It’s definitely not worth the sacrifice.” Julianna smiled at his touch, even as he pulled away with a groan. “No, no, my temptress. There’ll be plenty of time for this later. Right now, I wish to follow through on my request last night that I learn more of your life. Come.”

  Taking her hand, he led her up a few steps to where a decorated table with two soft chairs awaited, overlooking the ocean. Over a white tablecloth, two candles burned brightly beside each other. Like her and Dominick, she thought with a smile. If nothing else, he surely sensed her emotions, squeezing her hand once before stepping back to hold the chair for her.

  The gentle echoes of the music flowed through Julianna like the sweetest melody she’d ever heard, complemented even more when Dominick leaned over her shoulder to kiss her cheek. As he took the seat adjacent to her, he reached out to hold her hand again, gently caressing her smooth fingers.

  “I don’t remember when I’ve ever been treated so wonderfully,” she said softly. “And while I don’t know how or why you’ve suddenly become a part of my life, I certainly wouldn’t trade these past few days together with you for all the world.”

  Raising her hand to his lips, Dominick brushed a whisper of a kiss against it. “How... would take a long time to explain,” he replied. “Though I will admit that Fate must certainly have had a hand in things. As to why, that reason should be more than obvious.”

  “Tell me,” she coaxed.

  For a moment, he looked about to reply, but then shook his head with a smile. “If we don’t get started on our dinner now, this dream will be over before we get to dessert. And I certainly wouldn’t want that to happen.”

  “You’re putting cake before me?”

  Dominick gave a short laugh. “I wasn’t referring to that kind of dessert,” he replied, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Personally, I prefer something far sweeter than cake.” Deciphering his words instantly, Julianna blushed. Flashing her a quick smile, he commented lightly, “Now to see about that dinner.”

  *****

  An hour later, Julianna found herself wishing she could live forever in the dream-state. Not only was the food catered perfectly to her liking, but Dominick assured her that she wouldn’t get sick from anything, either here or when she awoke, which only made sense since it was a dream.

  Dominick merely asked what she’d like, and the food had materialized on silver trays, floating across the table, beside the neatly arranged china and silverware. He had good taste in everything she’d seen so far, this romantic dinner being no exception.

  During dinner, Julianna told him of her family and life on Earth, hesitantly at first mentioning her brother-in-law and nephew. His warm responding smile soon eased any doubts from her mind, and she went on to assure him that her sister Crystal and Jerry shared a solid, happy marriage. At her continual references to Sammy, it was easy to see that she adored her nephew. Dominick’s expression became curious.

  “Would you like to have a child of your own someday?” he asked.

  Caught off-guard, Julianna froze. “I used to once.” Taking a sip of water to consider, she added, “But I could never see having a child if it wasn’t with someone I loved.”

  He leaned closer, his eyes holding hers. “And if that was possible?”

  Blushing, she forced a smile. “I’ve been monopolizing the conversation long enough. You promised to tell me more about you tonight.”

  Sitting back in his chair, his eyes twinkled. “Fair enough,” he agreed. “Outside of the dream-state, I live with my brother on an island.” Julianna’s own eyes widened.

  “You’re real?”

  “Well, of course I’m real!” he laughed. “Hasn’t this past week made that clear?”

  She shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. I mean, you said you exist outside the dream-state?”

  Dominick took a sip from his wine glass. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. You may have a creative imagination, Julianna, but you didn’t conjure me up.” At her surprised expression, he reached forward to squeeze her hand. “I’m as real as you are in the waking reality.”

  She reciprocated the gesture. “How is that possible?”

  “I’m known as a dreamphaser,” he replied, a smile forming. “As to the details, that might take awhile. You’d best keep eating while I explain.”

  Still reeling from the knowledge that he existed in reality, Julianna barely noticed the taste of the food as he explained his dreamphasing ability.

  Once he did, it made sense why she dreamed of him so frequently, as well as retained vivid memories of him when awake. It did add new questions though. In all her life, she’d never heard of dreamphasing before.

  “You said earlier you live on an island?”

  “Very astute,” he replied, raising his glass towards her. “I live on the island of Barokka, which is well separated from the distant shores of the outer regions. It’s not the easiest place to reach if you don’t know what you’re looking for, and there’s a protective mist farther out along the perimeter which obscures us from the outer area.”

  Julianna thought quickly. “I’ve never heard of Barokka before. Is it outside of Europe?”

  Dominick gave a short laugh. “I’d have to say, ‘Yes.’ It’s nowhere near that. More accurately, it’s not going to be found on any map of Earth.”

  As he emphasized the last, she dropped her fork. “You’re from another world?” He nodded, allowing her to process this newest revelation. “That’s amazing!” she said finally.

  Gladdened by her enthusiastic reaction, Dominick smiled. “Would you like to hear mor
e about it?’

  Eyes bright, she nodded. He told her of his home on the island, as well as some of outer Chavernos. Much as she had earlier, he spoke of his own family and friends there, of his grandfather Chaos and the palace. The more he shared, the more she wanted to know, and he was clearly pleased by her interest.

  “This planet Chavernos of yours sounds far away,” she told him, earning a nod. “So tell me, what galaxy are you from?”

  “Oh... this one,” Dominick replied lightly.

  “This one?” she said incredulously. “But that’s impossible.”

  “Not impossible. Just well hidden.” At her surprised gape, he started reciting the planets she knew of. “…and of course, there’s Mars, Venus, Earth, Jupiter, and Chavernos.” He nodded at the lack of recognition in her eyes. “I know. Your world doesn’t know of us. But then, it is a large galaxy.”

  “Even so, how can you miss a whole planet?”

  “I’ll try to explain, but you’ll likely find it hard to believe. There’s a mist obscuring our world. But not just an ordinary mist. It’s a field of magic, which both conceals and protects it. Our oldest scientists have speculated it’s always been there, although their own magic has enhanced it, and since all dreamphasers who have visited Earth have never heard mention of our world, apparently the mist is strong enough to conceal itself from even the strongest telescopes.”

  “You know of telescopes?”

  “Of course. We have our own variant here, propelled by magic which can see through the field, but still a means of viewing what’s out there.”

  “Just how far away is your world?”

  “Not as far as you might think. Most times we’re opposite your own planet in relation to the sun.”

  “A hidden planet,” she murmured. “Now I know I’m dreaming.”

  He laughed good-naturedly, continuing to tell her more about his world. Like a child enraptured by a storyteller, Julianna couldn’t hear enough about it. Both on and outside the island, Chavernos harbored many unusual and wonderful beings, some of which she’d only read about in books.

  Dominick mentioned having traveled in outer Chavernos quite often in the past, telling her of the very real elves, dwarves, sprites, trolls, and dragons, along with countless other unknown races and creatures.

  “Then of course there are half-elves, half-dragons...”

  “Half-dragons? Now you are kidding.”

  “No, really. They’re not generally found in one specific place, but they do exist throughout the planet. You see, even most pure-blood dragons have the ability to take on alternate forms, such as human or elven, via a special magic. This magic is strong enough that it actually makes it possible for them to function completely in their alternate forms, so if a dragon should fall in love with a human or elf in that form, it is possible they can marry and have children.

  “It is the children of such unions that have become known as half-dragons, who receive the traits of both parents. Of course, they can morph into dragon form at will when they learn how. However, while they usually maintain their human or elven form for outward appearances, they also have the inborn traits of: extended lifelines that rival the long-lived pure-blood dragons, resistance to fire and ice, and sometimes unique added magical powers.”

  “What’s it like living on a world where magic truly exists?”

  He shrugged with a knowing smile. “It has its advantages and drawbacks, the same as one might regard your world’s technological advances.”

  “But magic, Dominick... real magic!” Julianna’s eyes shone with wonder. “It sounds like such a wonderful place. I wish I could see it someday.”

  “Hmmm, maybe you can,” he mused, halting her instantly before she could reply. “Wait, love, don’t let me lead you falsely. I don’t mean in the real sense, of course. But instead to draw from my memories to show you a sample of Chavernos in the dream-state.”

  Julianna nodded, a bit disappointed—partially because she would have liked to be with Dominick in reality—but still accepted his proposition for the future.

  “Your world has its advantages too,” he continued. “I’m glad I have the ability to reach it, even though it’s only as one looks through a window, or I wouldn’t have met you. In which case, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of masquerading as a mysterious rogue that second night in order to pursue a most tempting Earth damsel who ended up chasing me instead.”

  “I don’t think I’ll ever live that down,” she admitted. “I must have appeared so desperate.”

  “Not to me,” said Dominick, shaking his head. “What I saw that night was a beautiful, unhappy woman that looked like she could use a shoulder to lean on.”

  “And you most certainly provided that.” He gave a mischievous shrug, but didn’t discount it, allowing a soft smile to cross his expression.

  “To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever been more touched than to find you remembered my name, when I returned two months after our first meeting.” He leaned closer to stroke her cheek. “Ever notice how a name can sound a thousand times more endearing when spoken by the one you care for?”

  “Yes,” she agreed softly.

  As he brushed his lips against her cheek, her eyes shut blissfully.

  “My Dominick...” she whispered.

  “Always to you,” he said, cupping her chin in his hand. “And you, my sweet lady, will always be my Julianna. A beautiful name that expresses the beautiful woman you are.” He drew nearer to kiss her lips sweetly, lingeringly, earning a soft sound of agreement from her as he absently began stroking her waist.

  She felt pleasantly lightheaded even as he gently disengaged from her to sit back in his own chair. In moments, he had the empty dishes and trays on the table vanish.

  Despite his earlier words—although Julianna suspected his spoken motives would resurface soon enough—Dominick did bring out a few edible desserts for them. One of them was her favorite—and his, coincidentally enough—devil’s food cake. Dominick told Julianna of the never-ending joke among his guardian friends Buddy and Jarissa that although Buddy’s kind was supposed to appreciate angel food cake, he didn’t, preferring the ‘devil-cake’ version instead.

  “Another good thing about the dream-state is that eating this cake won’t add a pound to your real body,” he told her, noting her appreciative expression.

  “Mmmm, I’m definitely moving into the dream-state permanently then,” she decided, earning a laugh from him. Once they finished eating, Dominick zapped away the rest of the dishes and silverware, leaving only the candles upon the table. “This was nice. You really surprised me tonight.”

  “I’m glad,” he replied smiling, “but it shouldn’t surprise you that I’d desire something more between us than just the physical aspects of a relationship.”

  Julianna felt her heart skip a beat. “What do you mean?” she asked softly.

  He was silent for long moments.

  “Julianna…”

  “Yes?”

  “Have you ever stood at the top of a rainbow before?”

  Despite her inner frustration at his evading her question, Julianna’s curiosity was piqued, and she admitted having no knowledge of such. Dominick took her hand and led her along the beach to where one section of a rainbow seemed almost tangible, despite its colorful misty appearance. When he started to walk directly towards it, she pulled back apprehensively.

  “If we walk straight through that, we’ll head right into the ocean,” she protested.

  “Have faith in me, Julianna,” he replied, gently coaxing her to follow him.

  To her surprise, as soon as they stood directly in the rainbow mists, an invisible ground began to rise beneath their feet. Rather like walking up an invisible ramp. Sensing her slight apprehension due to the height looming before them, Dominick moved to her side, placing his arm comfortingly about her waist as he beckoned her onward. Whether due to its being a dream, or Dominick himself, Julianna felt her reservations ease, replaced by marvel
at their present location.

  “How is this possible?” she asked.

  “A good imagination, the appropriate dreamphasing conventions, and a most pleasant companion to be with.” Julianna somehow felt he’d evaded another of her questions, but said nothing. “You have to let go of your conventional knowledge, love. Being in a dream is like taking a trip in your mind, and there’s no limit to the possibilities.”

  She was about to agree, but instead nearly lost her footing, prompting her to clutch Dominick while his hold on her strengthened protectively. “I think I’d rather not just let go as you say.”

  Not minding their current embrace, Dominick merely smiled as they walked on. As the top drew nearer, the lights became brighter. He mentioned this being since the tail ends of a rainbow usually seemed to disappear first, so the colors were more vivid higher up. Julianna wondered if he wasn’t simply teasing her, but it seemed an amusing—if not completely logical—explanation. When they reached the top, he stopped them to gesture towards the view below.

  Julianna knew she shouldn’t look, but of course curiosity got the better of her. One glance, and the overwhelming reality of the dizzying height took hold, her hands tightening around Dominick like a vise, earning a chuckle from him.

  “Remember, love, it’s only a dream,” he told her comfortingly. “And even if heaven forbid you fell from here, I’d keep you safe.”

  “Right,” she whispered, slowly calming down as he began to gently massage her tense shoulders. In no time at all, she’d forgotten just where they were standing, shutting her eyes and smiling.

  “Feel better?” he asked, continuing his ministrations.

  “Mmmm, I like what you’re doing.”

  “Really?” he murmured against her cheek. “Then I suppose I shouldn’t stop now, should I?”

  She turned about to face him, so he could bring his mouth to hers, making no protest as his arms surrounded her. Nor when he reached down long moments later to place his arm beneath her knees, lifting her up before he gently lowered her amidst the dazzling colors of the rainbow’s surface, sliding down beside her so as not to break their kiss.