by Jen Robyn
“Not that unusual,” he sneered, gesturing to the bear. As if being beckoned, the creature began padding closer to the couple, causing them to edge backwards.
“I don’t think he knows that.”
“Go back to your igloo!” Dominick called out, clasping her against him. The bear didn’t seem to care for heeding dreamphasers, moving forward anyway. “That’s it. We’re heading back to the castle. Hold tight, love.”
“Like I’m not already?” she whimpered, even as the bear raised a paw towards her. She shut her eyes with a scream, a moment before hearing Dominick laugh jovially.
Her eyes flew open with shocked amazement, finding Dominick petting the creature!
“He was just playing,” he told her, earning a contented sound from the bear.
“Dreams!” she sighed. “I’ll never get used to them.” Upon seeing her frown, the bear padded over to lick her cheek. With cautious reluctance, she petted it too. “You’re just a big teddy bear, aren’t you?” Upon hearing five or six similar bearlike roars, both she and Dominick glanced up swiftly. “What is this, a bear convention?”
“Let’s not stick around to find out,” replied Dominick, quickly teleporting them away. “Home at last,” he said warmly.
He surprised her, bringing them back comfortably in front of a roaring fireplace, wearing their casual clothes again without the heavy furs. Placing his arms around her to hug her close, she snuggled back against him, glad that he’d read her mind for a much nicer alternative to continue the evening.
“Better?” he asked.
She smiled, entwining her hand with his. “Much.”
Another night had them sailing on a raft in the ocean. For a while, they shared the equivalent of a picnic lunch, although Dominick had mischievously set them up in formal evening attire.
“Methinks thou hast gotten a bit too much sea air in thy brain, my lord,” she laughed. “Have a good explanation as to why you’ve set us up in the middle of nowhere?”
“My dear lady,” he replied with mock seriousness, “just because we’re playing the part of a shipwrecked duo doesn’t mean we have to look it.” Handing her a sparkling glass of champagne, she took it graciously, clinking glasses afterwards as was customary. “And we’re not going to be nowhere forever. I assure you there’s a deserted island out there just waiting to be found.”
“Ah... and if the sharks get us first?”
“Don’t be silly; there aren’t any sharks out here.” A triangular black fin passing by seemed to indicate otherwise, earning an ‘I-told-you-so’ look from Julianna. “It would seem I stand corrected, love,” he amended. Gesturing towards the disappearing shark fin, he called out, “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you sooner, Roger! She never told me you were a dreamphaser too!” Julianna broke into laughter, giving Dominick a hug while he smirked knowingly.
“What if there’s no island out there?”
He shrugged, taking another sip of champagne, and put his arm around her shoulders. “Considering this is a dream, does it really matter?”
Looking up at the peaceful sky which was now yielding a beautiful sunset, along with the unusually perfect calm of the ocean, she finally shook her head with a smile, leaning against him contentedly. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
“As am I,” he whispered, smiling back as he kissed her.
Last night they’d been walking in a park beneath a starry sky, leading to an area filled with bubbles, many that were regular small bubbles and yet some that were quite large. Dominick transported them into one that was incredibly gigantic, able to hold them both. To Julianna’s surprise, he assured her the bubble had an endless air supply, even though the walls were solid as well as transparent.
Slowly, the bubble lifted into the sky, and Julianna fell back into Dominick’s arms, clutching him tightly as the ground got further away. “What are you doing?” she asked with concern. “You know I’m not good with heights.”
“Don’t be afraid, love,” he replied, “I’ve planned something which will get your mind off that.”
She started to question this, even as the velvety darkness of the sky intensified, whereas she could no longer see the ground, but only a translucent glow surrounding the bubble. “Dominick, what have you done?” she gasped. “Where are we?”
He merely smiled, gesturing towards the darkness.
As Julianna stared out, a brilliant green light—like a miniature comet—shot past. Shortly afterwards, a swirling magenta light trailed back in yet another direction. As her eyes widened, more and more lights filled the air around them, shooting about in random directions, and emitting pleasant humming sounds like an astral chorus. All the while, the diamond-like stars winked back playfully.
“Oh, Dominick...” she breathed, glancing at him with wonder.
Holding her close, he gestured again towards the array with a soft smile. “On some nights above the island of Barokka, the inhabitants are greeted with a display similar to this one. The shooting beams are as harmless on Chavernos as they are here in the dream-state, but they present their own magic in their sparkle, and in the musical harmony created about them.”
“They’re beautiful,” sighed Julianna, watching in awe for long moments before giving a short laugh. “Since you’re so good at conjuring this, maybe they should change your middle name to Laser instead of Phaser.”
He gave her a wry smile. “If they do, I’ll see to it they change your name to Bubbles.”
“Hmmm,” she murmured in consideration. Dominick interrupted her with a lengthy kiss, slowly breaking away. “On the other hand,” she purred in response, “maybe I do prefer you simply as Dominick, my dream knight.” He brushed his hand against her cheek.
“‘Dream knight’ is a title I can live with,” he murmured, kissing her again.
They continued to hold each other, leaning back to watch as the mesmerizing lights cascaded about them, illuminating them with bright colors. She smiled at him, watching as he was haloed in a sudden flicker of bright blue. Looking back, he watched as a rose pink crown of lights spun about Julianna’s auburn hair, making it seem more fiery. It was as if they’d become one with the lights themselves.
As he kissed her again, the sound of thunderous fireworks filled the air about them.
When she opened her eyes, a myriad of new colors greeted her.
“Did you just do that?” she asked breathlessly.
“We both did,” he whispered, cradling her head against his chest. “Any time with you is pure magic.”
Pleased tears in her eyes, Julianna couldn’t find her voice, hugging him instead with clearer meaning than any honeyed words.
Yet some time later that evening, as had often been the case during the past few nights, Dominick began to sense more beyond her silence. Usually, he’d simply made efforts to distract her mind, but now, his puzzlement became concern.
“A starbeam for your thoughts?” he inquired softly.
Slowly, Julianna shut her eyes and shook her head. “I’m a bit too tired to think right now,” she whispered. “Please... just hold me.”
Hugging her tighter as he stroked her shoulder, Dominick slowly gained a better understanding of what was really troubling her, vowing silently to do something to remedy this.
Now back on Chavernos, as his mind returned to the present, Dominick stared at the sky reflectively. Julianna’s thoughts all seemed centered on two things: the wonder of when their current relationship would come to an end, and self-reproach for what their relationship had become.
If only he could bring Julianna here to Chavernos. Then he could give her more than just pleasant illusions, and perhaps ease her mind by granting her a more permanent future between them.
More accurately, a future marriage.
He’d never considered marriage very seriously before, having been content enough with his bachelor state. But regarding Julianna, the thought of a lifetime with his auburn-haired temptress appealed to him with an intensity he
couldn’t deny.
There was no question that he loved her, nor that he could give her a wonderful life here. And he was certain her feisty nature would always keep a marriage between them interesting. Not to mention the nights of infinite dreams they could share, let alone the joy of being together in reality.
But more than that, it occurred to him that a woman like Julianna would desire marriage, at least someday in the future. If he didn’t ask her, eventually someone else would. Just the thought of her giving herself to another man angered him no end, leaving him with a steadfast resolve to make sure that never happened by marrying her himself.
Unfortunately though, no legal marriage could exist while their long-distance separation remained.
Blazes, there has to be some way!
Maybe there was...
The more he thought about it, the better the idea seemed. Maybe he couldn’t bind her to him by a legal marriage while they were on separate worlds, but with all the magic Chavernos had to offer, perhaps that fact didn’t have to remain the truth after all.
And in the meantime, why couldn’t he see to enhancing his commitment to Julianna? Rubbing his chin with a smile, he nodded with growing conviction. Yes, maybe it would work.
There was only one way to find out.
Tonight.
*****
“Oh, not another one,” groaned Julianna.
When the work phone rang for the hundredth time, she answered it with a detached attitude. Fortunately for her, it wasn’t one of the latest inventions of visual telephones, or the company’s clients might have seen a most dreamy look on this particular executive secretary’s face, whose mind was elsewhere.
Not the look of a serious working woman at all.
Or so Marybeth thought, standing close by without her noticing.
When the customer seemed to be becoming irate, in spite of Julianna’s politeness, she finally rolled her eyes. “I promise you,” she sighed dramatically, “Miss Thompson will be most pleased to speak with you, as soon as she returns from beyond.”
Gaping, Marybeth quickly grabbed the phone. “Please don’t mind her. She’s had a long night. Yes, we’ve got your name and number, and we’ll make sure Miss Thompson gets back to you.” Hanging up the receiver, she gave a stern look to her confused friend. “Now then, young lady, care to come back to Earth?”
Julianna rubbed her eyes tiredly. “No,” she murmured. “I’d rather be on Chavernos.” Abruptly realizing what she said, she glanced up quickly. “I mean...”
“Don’t,” interrupted Marybeth, sitting beside her. “You’ve been acting strange for the past few weeks, so I guess another day of it won’t matter. But between you and me, if you want to keep your job here, you’d best pull your head out of that dream world you’ve been living in. Good ol’ Almira may not be in the best of moods when she gets back from her flight this afternoon.” Julianna nodded once, earning a smile from her friend. “You met someone, haven’t you?”
“You’re too smart for me,” she laughed, turning back to her computer screen.
On it was the long letter she’d been attempting to copy from a handwritten version for the past half-hour, which was unusual since she was normally a very fast typist. Glancing at the monitor, Marybeth was forced to take a closer look, a smirk forming as she pointed to the bottom of the screen.
“‘And in conclusion’,” she recited, “‘There is no proof that our sales figures are falling or that Chavernos doesn’t exist.’”
“What?” gasped Julianna, blushing upon the realization that the words were staring back at her from the screen. “Good Lord, where did that come from?”
“That’s the second time you’ve mentioned this caverns business,” informed Marybeth. “What have you been thinking of lately?”
“I’m thinking, I’d better fix this letter before Almira comes back. I’ll talk to you later, all right?”
“You’d better believe you will,” said Marybeth, striding away with a semi-disappointed, perplexed expression.
After fixing the document, Julianna saved it, printed it, and exited the program, leaning back in her chair. Inwardly, she knew she really needed to get her mind focused on her work, but it was difficult, given the one man who’d captured her thoughts, both at night when they were together... and during the day, when she remembered the nights.
Strong and handsome of body, clever of mind, understanding of heart, and with a sense of humor that topped the men she’d met in the ‘real world’, he eclipsed Roger from day one.
And he was absolutely the ideal romantic, she thought happily with a smile. Not just in the physical sense—though he was indeed that—but because he’d also literally swept her off her feet, bestowing kisses and holding her lovingly at every opportunity, filling their dream castle room with flowers, and always greeting her immediately upon arriving.
Most importantly, Dominick made her feel loved as she’d never known before, and she certainly loved him in return. Now, she could admit this truth even when awake.
Funny how different this was from a few weeks ago.
After their second meeting, she’d worried that her dream man might lead her beyond friendship, and was hesitant at the prospect. True, part of her craved to understand the mystery of romance, but she wasn’t too anxious to enter into a temporary affair just to satisfy her curiosity.
Two nights later, she’d forgotten all of this in Dominick’s arms.
And now, two weeks later, she still didn’t regret it.
Her only true regret was the distance keeping them apart. If only he could reach her somehow.
“Miss Sherborne!” bellowed a shrill voice.
Emitting a shocked gasp, Julianna looked up to find Almira Thompson glaring at her. Of all the luck for her to be back early. “Have a nice trip?” she managed.
“You’ll be on a trip to the unemployment line if you don’t finish that correspondence I sent you yesterday!” Giving a low grunt, she stormed off, allowing Julianna to glare at her silently.
“I’d like to trip you up... over some hot coals,” she murmured.
Marybeth, having overheard, seemed to think this to be a minor form of revenge against their rather cranky boss, thinking a pit of electric eels might be more fitting.
*****
At Lost Limbo, today Dominick finally made an appearance again. Inferno gestured to Buddy, who looked up hopefully, but their friend went straight to the bar to exchange greetings with Zantarl. The discouraged guardian angel shook his head and sighed, wondering if he’d lost his friend permanently over their recent disagreement. Even Kiri and the others looked a bit subdued from where they sat across the room, since they all missed Dominick’s good-humored nature.
“If you had a guardian angel’s wings, I’m sure you’d fly,” chuckled Zantarl. “I’m glad to see you in better spirits, son. Correct me if I’m heading down the wrong direction, but does this have to do with a certain young lady you met a short time ago?”
“It does,” he agreed, grinning. “Zantarl, I really love her. And what’s more, she loves me too. Why, these past weeks with her have been no less than phenomenal.”
“Ah, that explains your absence. No doubt she’s turned your brain to mush every night, leaving you to make up for it by sleeping through the daylight hours as well.”
“I might consider that if she was an avid daydreamer,” he replied, with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“‘She’ meaning Julianna?” Buddy asked softly from behind, Inferno beside him. Dominick turned slowly to face them, his expression becoming unreadable. “I guess she means more to you than I thought,” his friend continued. “In any case, it’s your life, and if you choose to spend time with her, that’s up to you two.”
“Right,” agreed Inferno. “We’ve put up with more girl-chasing stories from Riff than we can count, but we know your situation is entirely different.”
“So...” sighed Buddy, “if you aren’t really dozing away the daylight hours, c
an we go back to being friends again, Dom?”
Dominick took only a moment before grinning, clasping his shoulder. “I never stopped being that,” he said amiably, turning to shake hands with a relieved Inferno too. Glancing once towards the three watchful females, he laughed softly. “And you can tell your curious gals over there the same thing later, although Kiri’s probably already overheard.” At the other table, Kiri blushed, folding her arms in a huff, while her friends tried to get her to explain. Seeing this, the men echoed Dominick’s laughter. “Now stop looking so somber and tell me how you’ve been,” he continued.
“We will, but first tell us more about this Julianna,” Buddy said eagerly. “Is she short? Tall? Blue-eyed? Brown-eyed? Our curious minds want to know.”
Laughing as they sat beside him at the bar counter, Dominick filled them in on the past few weeks, but of course omitted more private details. Zantarl gave the trio a look of glad appreciation that they’d finally sealed the rift between them. He spoke so highly of Julianna that both Buddy and Inferno asked if she might have a sister or two for them.
“She does have two,” Dominick admitted, “but one’s married, and the other’s engaged.” The pair groaned. “Don’t voice your disappointment too loudly or Kiri’s liable to tell your girlfriends back there.” They didn’t need to turn to feel the icy stares of Jarissa and Psych upon their backs, nodding to their friend’s advice. “Seriously, guys, Julianna’s sisters aren’t like her anyway. She’s one-of-a-kind, just like your present companions are to you.”
“Maybe,” sighed Buddy, “but not all of us can take our girlfriends for walks on rainbows.”
“Or toast marshmallows with them on frozen lakes, while friendly polar bears watch.”
“Or float in large sky bubbles with them, while lights, music, and fireworks are everywhere.”
“Excuse me?” Zantarl interrupted loudly in disbelief.
Dominick shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m a dreamphaser. When I want to share magical evenings with the woman I love, you’d better believe they’re going to be amazing.”
“I can see you like to impress her with your creativity. But, son, are you sure this is really love you feel for her, or just a means to show off?”