by Steven Fox
Jason wheeled around and ducked, barely missing a swipe from Talshe’s gargantuan hand. The road was level with Talshe’s chest, but to Jason, Talshe still towered above him by two stories. He could almost feel her heartbeat.
“The road brought you to me!” she said. “Only thing missing is the silver platter.”
She lifted both her hands and swept them across the road in a pincer-like motion. With a hand on either side of him, Jason could only stand there as the walls of flesh closed in on him. He shut his eyes and hoped the pain would be swift. But the hands never touched him. He never even felt their flesh close around him. What he felt was the piercing rattle of Talshe’s scream.
Jason ripped open his eyes and stared in disbelief as Talshe cradled her gigantic hands to her chest. Blood oozed between the gray fingers and down the backs of her hands.
“You all right?”
The blindfolded woman from the train—E. Simply E—stood next to him. In her left hand she held a blade smeared with Talshe’s blood. Jason then noticed two other women standing just behind E. Each of them wielded a sword. Talshe clenched her fists, then slowly raised her head, glaring down upon the road. She lifted her hands into the air and locked them together into a club. E turned to one of her partners: Bandages covered every inch of her body, leaving holes only for her eyes, mouth, and nose.
“Bring us down, F!” said E. “Quickly!”
F dropped to one knee and pressed her palms against the pavement. Her arms glowed, and it felt as though a current hummed beneath them. Up above, Talshe cocked her hands back, then threw them down. When her hands were about halfway, the road jerked, flicking Jason onto his ass. He’d nearly flown off when the road shook and froze, having rejoined with the ground. E and the third sword-girl hoisted Jason to his feet, and the four of them took off. The earth beneath them quaked with Talshe’s footfall.
“Where are we going?” said Jason.
“I know a few places to hide. We can wait for the giant to leave.”
“No, she’s after me! She’ll never leave as long as I’m around.”
E stared at Jason—at least he thought she did—but said nothing. They threaded through buildings and down narrow side-streets. Eventually they ended up at what looked like an abandoned seaside warehouse with crumbling white and green paint. The warehouse was much bigger on the inside, filled with stacks of moldy crates. Large pillars suspended the roof far above them. Jason stared up one of these poles, frowning. If Talshe found them, she would easily squish them; this warehouse is puny compared to her, he thought.
He turned, and found E’s sword pointed at his throat. F and the third girl also lifted their swords, pointing them directly at Jason. His eyes narrowed, and he glanced from one to the next until his gaze finally settled upon E.
“What’s going on?”
“You know something. About that beast.”
“Talshe? Yeah. She’s my dream. Or nightmare, I guess.”
“Yours? As in you summoned her?” said F. “Around here, dream calling warrants the death penalty.”
“No! I didn’t summon her. Well, someone did, but…”
“You’re not making a lot of sense.” F turned to E. “I say we take him to the queen and she decides what to do with him. We have to find a way to get rid of that giant.”
“The giant won’t be a problem without this boy,” said E. “I’m more worried about that shadow. The one that keeps sneaking into the palace.”
F rolled her eyes. “You’re still worrying about that?”
“It’s been stalking the queen’s chamber. Those red eyes…So accusing. So hateful. That thing is nothing but malicious, and—”
“Shadow? With red eyes?” said Jason. “You mean Shades?”
F and E slowly turned their heads toward Jason. The grip on their swords tightened. Only now did Jason think keeping his mouth shut would’ve been a good idea.
“Shades? Is it another of your dreams?”
“Um…Nightmare, I think. Please, I didn’t summon it. If you want someone to blame, blame the Dream Caller! She’s still alive, according to the Guardian. You know the Guardian, don’t you?”
By their blank stares, Jason could tell that was a no. His eyes flickered to the swords pointed at his chest. He noticed that one was missing. His gaze flicked to his right, to the third swordswoman. She wore a heavy helmet that covered all of her head, save her eyes, which were hidden behind a single black slit across the helm.
“The name is familiar,” she said. F and E jerked their gazes toward her.
“No it isn’t,” said F. “You’re just making that up, D.”
E held up a hand. “Let her speak. She might have a better idea than either of us.”
D glanced at them and nodded at their swords. F and E lowered their blades and backed away from Jason. D turned back to him, her eyes scanning his face.
“Now, tell me, who is the Guardian?”
“He’s the Magis Supremis. A powerful mage, I guess. He’s also the oldest. He sealed my dreams because I…couldn’t handle them.”
“Handle them?”
No one needed to know about Tara. Even he didn’t need to know, yet he did. And as a result, the pressure in the back of his head squeezed, the liquid stone to trickling into his arms.
“A bad thing happened a year ago. I’d rather not talk about it.”
F looked as though she might force him, but D held up a hand. “You’re laden with burden. I can hear it in your voice. Still, that doesn’t explain anything about the giant or the shadow…Shades, if you will.”
“Talshe was one of my childhood dreams. I remember. She kept chasing me, trying to swallow me. Then, ten years ago, she came into my hometown and tried to destroy everything. Just to get to me.”
“And continues to do so, it seems.”
Jason crossed his arms. “She was the first to appear. Then two other dreams—Bootelia and Amor. Then a crimson hound.” But Jason realized his mistake. “Wait, Shades…It appeared earlier. Not ten years ago, but here recently, when my dreams reemerged.”
“Didn’t you just say the dreams were sealed?” said E.
“They were. But there’s a chip in the seal, caused by the Dream Caller.”
D nodded. “I believe you. I do. Do you know where the Dream Caller is?”
“That’s why I’m here.”
D glanced at F, and said, “Touch him.”
Without warning, F roughly grabbed Jason by the wrist, as though feeling his pulse. They stood there for a few moments before F dropped Jason’s wrist. Her scowl vanished.
“What’s wrong?” said E.
“I’m…not sure.”
“Is he the Caller?” said D.
F shook her head, then looked up at Jason. “But you must see the queen. I won’t let you leave until then.”
D and E didn’t argue with her, but Jason said, “I have two friends. They’re out there somewhere, and as long as Talshe’s around…”
“Don’t worry. We took care of them.”
Before Jason could say more, something hard collided with the base of his neck. Like with the flick of a switch, darkness enveloped Jason, and around him echoed the words: “Sleep and Forget.”
***
“Wake.”
His eyelids peeled away to reveal a room filled with mahogany furnishings: the bedframe, the bed posts, the door to his left—which was inscribed with floral patterns—the wardrobe in the corner—which rested next to a window that stretched from floor to ceiling—and the window’s frame. Jason sat up, his feet landing on sultry red carpet, then stood, walked to the window, and pushed aside the silk curtains. Below lay the city of Visonia. From here, it looked as though a translucent, rainbow-colored cloud hovered above the city, almost like a desert mirage. His eyes flickered to the horizon, where the ring surrounded the castle. There was the balcony jutting toward the city.
“You are awake.”
He turned, and the pressure at the back of his head sparke
d to life. The liquid stone dripped down his arms, pooling in his fingers as she strode toward him. Her step was poised, elegant. She dressed all in white, yet the gown changed color as light and darkness bounced off its fabric. The dress also changed style and shape when Jason blinked. One moment, the gown resembled a red prom dress, the next it looked more like a green party dress, and finally, more like a white wedding gown. Her eyes were green, set in a round face with a strong chin. She smiled. Dimples indented the small space at the corners of her mouth, and long brown hair pooled at the base of her neck, flowing down her back to her rump. She stopped only feet from him. Their eyes were exactly level. Like how they first met.
“Tara,” said Jason. He shook his head. “I’m dreaming. Even here, I dream about you.”
She cocked a brow, her smile shrinking a little. “I’m afraid I know not of this Tara. And you are not asleep.” She glanced to the bed. Unmade and well-slept in. “But you were. This troubles me.” She motioned past Jason, toward the great city outside the window. “This is the city of dreams. People escape here after a long day. Anything can happen here. It is only a matter of their imagination. For us, however, it is slightly different.”
She turned back to him, her smile dropping off her face. “Humans cannot sleep here. Not that anything bad would happen. They would simply return to Caindom—their realm. Your realm. Like those two girls.”
“Well, guess that’s not always true,” mumbled Jason. Then he realized what she said. “Wait, what happened to Len and Darlene?”
“They were put to sleep. They should be back in your world right now. Though, the gray-haired one…She cast a spell upon herself and the brown-skinned girl. I know not what it did, but I am certain they arrived in Caindom safely.”
The girl’s eyes drifted up and down Jason’s figure. She did look like Tara. The stone flooded his arms, and he quickly muttered ‘forth’ beneath his breath to fend it off.
The girl narrowed her eyes at Jason. “What did you say?”
“Um, forth? It’s my power word. It…well, it keeps me sane. And alive.” She sighed, staring at Jason silently. After a few moments, Jason dropped his gaze, his face reddening. “Is there something wrong with my face?”
“Very much. I recognize it, but I can’t quite place it. It’s not important, I suppose. Age does something to the mind. And splitting myself between five people doesn’t help matters.” Jason had no clue what she was saying, but didn’t bother to ask, for the girl moved toward a small desk with two chairs. She took one and patted the other, inviting Jason to join her. He did, although reluctantly.
“Now, you will tell me who you are,” she said.
“Oh, okay. I’m Jason McKinney. I work at Silver Moon Grocery as a delivery driver…”
The girl waved her hand. “Bah! What a boring tale. Do you talk like that to all people?”
Jason only blinked at her, unsure of what else to do. Her gown changed into something out of a Broadway musical—short skirt and dark fabric. Much of her legs and upper thighs were exposed, and Jason had to resist peeking.
“Let me tell you who I am. My name is Gelen Rata, the Queen of Dreams. For millennia my husband and I have kept watch over the Realm of Dreams from our city, Visonia.” The queen crossed her legs, and Jason blinked. Now her dress resembled a yellow Victorian bustier and skirt. “How did you come to be here? Humans have wandered in before, but they’ve never been chased by giants. And they never shared striking similarities with the Dream Caller.”
“Striking similarities? I told them…E, F, and D…”
“My guards?”
“Your guards. I told them I’m not the Dream Caller. F even said I wasn’t.”
“Indeed. And I never said you were the Dream Caller. But not many people claim dreams as their own. And their dreams never come to life with flesh and blood. Only dreams summoned by the Dream Caller become mortal like that.”
She had a point. Everything did seem awfully weird. Then again, it had been that way from the beginning, ever since Talshe appeared. Ever since that night, many years ago. That night he’d forgotten. Then, he had a thought: “I heard E and F talking about the shadow with red eyes.”
Gelen nodded. “It stalks my chamber. Dreams wander even inside my castle from time to time, but no dream should be able to penetrate my chamber. Only my guards and I know its whereabouts.” Her gaze fell to the floor. “Ever since my husband disappeared, that is.”
Hollow shadows crowded under her eyes; tight lips and smooth, pale cheeks—Jason recognized the look: He saw it whenever he peered into a mirror, whenever he thought of a certain girl with a four-letter name.
She just disappeared.
Gelen cleared her throat. “There is the matter of that giant. It is indeed one of your dreams. And you are trying to absorb her, yes?”
Jason raised his brow. “Um, yeah. How’d you know?”
“While you slept, F felt your deepest feelings. We had to make sure you were not the Caller. In this city, the Caller is a wanted criminal.”
“Same where I come from.”
Gelen smirked, leaning back in her chair. “Then we have a common enemy. Excellent. Because I think the Caller is responsible for my king’s disappearance.”
“Oh, I see. Like, how do you know?”
“I do not. But I have a feeling, as you say. And I have another feeling: The giantess and the red-eyed shadow will lead us to the Dream Caller. So, I ask that you absorb them, and then perhaps we will be able to prepare a better strategy.”
Jason nodded. He still didn’t know how absorbing his dreams would lead them to the Caller, but if it meant re-acquiring his dreams, he would agree. “I feel like there aren’t many dreams left. I already have three of them. Talshe and Shades make five. But I…I feel like there might be another. A sixth one…I can’t help but feel like the train’s conductor is the sixth.”
“No, he is not. He is a denizen of this city, like me.” Gelen’s eyes flashed. “Although, it may help you to know that F felt something when she touched the giant with her sword.” Gelen closed her eyes, letting a deep sigh drift from between her lips. “She gave the feeling to E, who turned the feeling into a sight. D then translated the feeling into sound. Then they sent the sight and sound to me: It was a green mouth, with pearly-white teeth. And it said, ‘Jason McKinney, surrender all that is yours. Soon, you will be mine.’” She looked up from the floor, and saw Jason’s frozen expression. “Is that one of your dreams? The sixth one?”
All he could do was nod. Slowly. His eyes focused on a point beyond Gelen’s shoulder.
“F thinks it might be weakened and living inside the giant,” she continued. “Perhaps, if you can absorb the giant, you can absorb the sixth dream, as well. That just leaves—”
Jason lunged forward, tackling Gelen to the ground. Her chair split in half as a sword sliced through it. The owner of the sword locked its red eyes with Jason’s. Its shadowy cloak hovered like a black mist over the cleaved remains of the chair. Its breath of rotted meat and hot trash nearly gagged him. Shades was in Visonia, as well.
“Run!” he said, helping Queen Gelen up.
As the Queen disappeared out the door, Jason stood, feet shoulder-width apart. He didn’t know how to fight, especially unarmed. He was fast, agile. But Shades was faster and possessed more cunning, and it shot forward, jabbing its sword at Jason’s torso. He barely side-stepped the strike and tried to kick at the billowing cloak of darkness. The shadow danced out of his way, slashing up with its blade, catching Jason across the calf. Jason fell to one knee. He grasped at his bleeding leg.
Except there was no blood: It was an illusion.
But Jason realized this only as Shades threw itself on top of him, forcing him to the ground. The shadow’s weight was enough to restrain Jason, but not so heavy that Jason couldn’t breathe. Shades straddled him, its eyes hovering above him. Already it moved its dry, cold lips over his. Rancid breath of roadkill and mold wafted up Jason’s nose and seeped int
o his throat as the monster explored his mouth with its tongue. Jason gagged and heaved, but this didn’t deter Shades in the least. The shadow pulled away, and lowered it lips to Jason’s ear:
“you will come to the balcony in ten minutes otherwise this city will lie in ruins don’t keep us waiting.”
Shades jumped from Jason’s body and disappeared as Queen Gelen and her guards clamored into the room. They murmured frantically, looking about for the shadow creature. The Queen said something, and F kneeled next to Jason, feeling him all over. She said something back, but Jason couldn’t hear her; the blood in his temples thrummed too loud. D placed her hands to his ears. Suddenly, he could hear Queen Gelen and the others.
“Jason, are you okay?” said the Queen.
He shook his head.
“What happened? Are you hurt?”
He shook his head.
“He’s in shock, that’s all,” said F. “Here, D, translate this feeling I just got.”
D removed her hands from Jason and placed them in F’s hands. Shock rippled across D’s face, and she turned to Queen Gelen, her lips moving rapidly. By now, the blood hushed, and when the Queen bent over Jason and spoke, he could hear her say, “Jason, the giant has been spotted in the city. She’s moving toward the balcony where Shades told you to be.”
Jason pressed one of his palms to his forehead. He could do nothing but comply with the demand. Despite Len and Darlene being back home, Jason did have this feeling, when Shades threatened Visonia—a terrible riptide of guilt and the desire to protect.
“Jason, are you okay?”
He sat up. “I’ll be fine once my dreams stop being a pain in my ass.”