Obstruction By Nightmare
By K.N. Thompson and Rose Alexander
©K.N. Thompson and Rose Alexander, 2020
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Cover: KT Graphic Design
Editing: Muddy Waters Editing
Table of Contents
Title Page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
About the Authors
Rose Alexander
Chapter 1
Sitting through dinner with Coventry was painful enough but having to remain silent while he and his sycophants discussed the many ways they could use the Dissidents they so kindly referred to as 'cattle' was almost more than I could take. I growl in frustration as I sit up in bed; tonight, I find sleep is hard to come by and need to contact everyone. Focus Whisper, I chastise myself. I lay back, close my eyes, and concentrate, but instead of falling asleep I’m pulled into my own mind.
I find myself standing in a large room filled with filing cabinets. Slowly, I pivot, taking in the sight, stopping suddenly when my eyes land on a large oak desk with a girl that could be my identical twin sitting behind it.
“What’s going on? Where am I and who are you?” I stare at her, my eyes widening.
“We’re in your head, silly. I am you. This is just your way of making sense of the information you’ve been given.” She giggles.
“So, the memories are in the drawers?” My eyes rove over the room with a baffled expression on my face. Until now, the memories have been triggered by touching different items, but here... they are all filed away, waiting for me to open a drawer and learn more.
“Exactly. And they are all sorted by timeline. The rolodex on the desk gives you quick access.” She points to the rolodex that appears in front of her.
“That is crazy!” I step forward, feeling drawn to see what is contained within my own mind. “What the heck is a rolodex?”
The other me rolls her eyes. “You obviously know that already if I know it. Your grandma kept her recipes in one, remember?”
A smile spreads across my face when I think about baking shortbread cookies with Nana in her kitchen. I shake my head and focus on the task at hand. I reach forward to grab the rolodex, but the other me grabs my hand.
“Be careful. Once you open the lid, you can’t put it back.” She warns me.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips.
“If you don’t know the answer, how can I?” She smirks before disappearing.
I sit in the now empty chair and stare at the large rolodex. I really want to know what it contains, but my own warning has me hesitating. It sounds like a story I remember reading about Pandora’s box. Is that what the stone has made my mind?
I take a deep breath and grab the rolodex, then a sharp pain stabs in my head. I try to drop the thing, but my grasp won’t unclench. I drop to my knees as visions play out in front of my eyes, one after another, much like when I first grabbed the stone. The difference is this time they play in real time. My brain feels like a sponge absorbing each memory, hungry for more.
I watch as the Nightmares, once a proud and prolific race, are reduced to rubble and ashes. Slowly, gifts are lost. Each new generation is born with less abilities. They formed councils and tried to stop their powers from waning to no avail. Nothing pointed to why they were being born weaker and weaker. Their power declines until only the houses as we know them are left. So many skills and talents are lost over the passage of time. So much corruption bred into us, as the houses move further and further apart. Then one man had the bright idea that those born of humans were less than, and the Dissident house was created.
Tears stream down my face as they are segregated and told they are cattle, only food. This isn’t how it was supposed to be. We were once all together, and no one thought anything of it if someone was born from a Nightmare or human.
The rolodex falls from my hand as my vision clears. When I go to place it back on the table, there are three more sitting there. I’m curious, but not ready to go through that again. I examine them, and each has a different word written across the side.
The first one says gifts, the second says powers, and the third is labeled fail safe. I’ve had enough of this for one night, but I don’t know how to get out of my own head.
I scrunch my eyes together and think of my room. When I open my eyes again, I’m still standing in front of the desk.
“A little help here?” I call out.
“Are you sure you’re done?” My image appears in front of me.
“For now. I need to think about what just happened before I go deeper,” I admit.
“As you wish.” She winks.
I feel a tug around my waist and when I open my eyes, I find I’m staring at the ceiling in my room. That was a crazy experience!
I think about the memories I just witnessed, and find I can pull them up, just like searching a file on the computer.
I let out a yawn and drift off to sleep, finally heading towards where I want to be.
When the fog clears, I’m standing in Whisper’s Hollow. My mind reaches out for Sam, Ryland, Max, and Finn. I can feel them all and as if with a thought they are standing in front of me.
“Woah! How did you do that? I thought you had to come get us,” Sam asks, his eyes wide.
“I just thought about you to see if I could sense you. I didn’t know if you would be asleep yet or not.” I shrug, unsure of how I brought them here with a thought.
“Let me try again,” I say, holding up a finger to silence any more questions.
I think about Lydia and Korbin, then my aunt and uncles. I can feel them all and this time notice tiny, silver strings connecting to each of them. I give a tug on each string and when I open my eyes, they are standing with us in the Hollow.
“It worked!” I exclaim, grinning from ear to ear.
“But how did it work?” Finn asks, cocking his head to the side, his blue eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“When I think of someone, I can feel them. Then there’s this really thin, silver cord that runs out of me to that person. I tug on it and then you’re here.” I shrug my shoulders.
“That’s awesome. I wonder if you have to know the person for it to work?” Lydia tilts her head as she thinks aloud.
“I would think so,” I reply, thinking about it. “But that’s not what I brought you all here for. I overheard something tonight that I need to share.”
“Where did you overhear things? I thought they secl
uded you to your room,” Aunt Nellie frowns as she inspects me.
“Coventry had this dinner that I was forced to attend. It was full of his Empyrean cronies. They were talking about turning the Dissidents into an army or forcing them out of society to live with humans.” I shudder at the thought.
“While the army part is disturbing, he can’t kick us out of the pocket universes. We are still Nightmares so it wouldn’t work.” Ben tries to reassure me.
“Why wouldn’t it work?” I push for more information on his line of thought.
“Because the entry points allow all Nightmares through, regardless of house. Coventry wouldn’t do that anyways. He would see Dissidents as a source of free labor.” Max runs a hand down his face. “He may see himself as better, but he wouldn’t waste resources. He would enslave a house before banishing it.”
“I want you to stay away from him.” Aunt Nellie’s eyes dart to me as she purses her lips into a thin line.
“I can’t. And besides, if I learn what he is up to, it will be easier to stop him,” I argue.
“She’s right, Nell. He’s the Praesidium. She can’t just ignore his requests. But Whisper, be careful. Don’t let him find out what you can really do. If you learn something, keep it hidden.” Ezra puts a hand on my shoulder.
“Speaking of learning things…” I wring my hands together. “I somehow accessed a part of my mind that was created just for the memories today. It was crazy, there was another me there who warned me once I opened the lid, I couldn’t put it back. There were four rolodexes on a desk, and I opened the first one. I saw so many things.”
“Was that wise of you to do?” Rodrick’s doctor side kicks in and he steps forward and starts examining me.
“I’m fine. It was already in my head. I’m just learning how to use the information now.” I shake my head. “I think once I work my way through the others, there might be something that can help us.”
“You need to be careful, Whisper. You have this devil may care attitude and I’m scared you’re going to get hurt.” Aunt Nellie’s forehead creases.
“We are off topic. We need to start a revolution. If we don’t rise up now, and start taking back our rights, by the time we do organize it will be too late.” I glance around at the group.
“How do you propose we do that?” Rodrick cocks an eyebrow and crosses his arms over his chest.
“We can use Whisper’s Hollow to talk to the students and we can make a place for you to meet with everyone else. If we organize in secret, they can’t shut us down.” I tap on my chin as I think aloud.
“Show me what to do.” Aunt Nellie stands up straighter and meets my eyes. “I’ll fight for us.”
“Ok. So, imagine a place that is big enough for you to meet. What do you see?” I walk her through the process.
“I see a large room with wooden benches. They are arranged in a semicircle around a podium. The room is lit with soft lighting and it feels cozy.” She smiles.
“Take my hand and picture us standing there,” I tell her.
She grabs my hand and closes her eyes. The world blurs around us, and we are standing in the room she described.
“Whisper this is amazing!” she takes in the room, her eyes full of wonder. “It’s exactly as I pictured it.”
“Now give it a name.” I giggle, smiling at her excitement.
“The Seventh Circle.” Her eyes glinting with mischief.
“Why did you choose that?” I’m curious what she’s up to.
“Because we’re going to give Coventry hell.” She grins. “Now how do I bring the others here again?”
“Close your eyes and reach out for them. Feel them, then search for the small strings attaching to them and tug on them gently,” I explain again.
She closes her eyes and one by one everyone pops in but Max.
“I know you trust Max,” she opens her eyes and gazes at me sympathetically. “But his family is too close to Coventry. We need this place to stay secret from him. Just in case.”
“I can respect that, but I do trust him to have my back so he will help in Whisper’s Hollow.” I meet her eyes with fierce determination.
“Fair enough.” Aunt Nellie nods once. “Why don’t you guys head back there, and we will plan our end from here.”
“Thank you.” I wrap my arms around her.
“No, thank you, Whisper. You’re helping more people than you could possibly know,” she whispers in my ear before releasing me. “We will coordinate our efforts once we know more. Chin up sweet girl, you’ll move mountains.”
I close my eyes and picture Whisper’s Hollow and my group with me. When I open my eyes, we are all there together. Max is standing by the weeping willow tree sulking.
“Your aunt doesn’t trust me?” He bores his eyes into mine.
“She doesn’t, but I do.” I walk forward and grab his hands.
“Why do you? She has a point, you know. My family is close to Coventry after all. I was at the dinner the same as you.” He pulls his hands out of mine and turns his back to me.
“Because I think there is more to you than just your family. You are free to make your own choices. Are you saying my trust is misplaced?” I frown, but don’t move to touch him again.
“No. And I can prove it to you. I know your aunt and many others are going to question my loyalties but what if there was a way I could prove myself to them and to you?” His gorgeous hazel eyes plead with me to hear him out.
“What do you mean?” I cock my head to the side, trying to get on the same wavelength.
“I’m saying that I know how I can prove myself. Who else in this group is close to Coventry, who else do you know of that can sit across from him at a dinner and he does not think twice about or question the loyalty of the person in front of him?” I feel my eyes tracking back and forth between his. The words slowly register inside my brain.
“Are you saying that you want to spy on Coventry?” He nods his head as a smirk parts his lips. “Are you crazy? What happens if he finds out what you're doing?”
“That’s just it… he won’t. Think about it… I’m just some kid that attends the academy, who happens to be the son of one of his most loyal followers. What reason would he have to suspect me? All I have to do is pay attention. Up until all of this happened, Coventry had spoken about what he would do should he ever become Praesidium and I had just blown it off because I didn’t think it was possible. But now, he is, and all the stuff he talked about doing is beginning to happen. I mean, you’ve met the guy, there’s nothing in this world that he loves more than the sound of his own voice. I just have to listen… maybe ask a few questions and listen when he talks to others. My family does dinner with him at least once a week. It wouldn’t be that difficult for me to find things out.” A satisfied smile stretches across his face, as if he had singlehandedly found the solution to our problem. I can’t fault him for the idea, quite frankly… it could be an ace in the hole for us, but the question wasn’t if it would or could work… the question was what would happen if they figured him out?
“I don’t know Max. I think it’s a brilliant idea, really, but I’m not comfortable with you being in a position that could have dire consequences if you’re found out.” His hands cup my face as his swirling hazel eyes stare past mine and into my soul.
“I promise no one will be the wiser.” I hear the truth in his words but still I hesitate. “Please Whisper. Let me do this. Let me help. And not just because I’m in love with the girl that’s about to lead this revolution, but because it’s the right thing to do. Let me prove myself to everyone.”
How am I supposed to say no to that? I don’t even speak but push myself up on my tiptoes and meet his lips with my own. I let the kiss linger a moment between us. When I finally pull back and open my eyes, I find that cocky smile I’ve grown to love gracing the face of the boy I feel myself slowly falling for.
“You can do this,” I remark. Bringing my hand up to his face, I press my palm aga
inst his soft, tan cheek and stare hard into his eyes. “But, if you’re found out and something happens to you, I’ll kill you myself… do you understand?”
The laugh bubbles out of him as he nods his head.
“Yes ma’am. I promise to stay safe… Scout’s honor.” He holds up two fingers and grins, a stray curl falling into his eyes.
“You should get out of here before I change my mind,” I prompt him, pushing lightly at his chest.
“I’ll catch up with everyone later, see how the planning is coming along.” He leans in kissing my cheek before disappearing from my sight.
“That was unexpected. He really is changing.” Lydia walks up and stands beside me. “But he has a point. He’s in a position that he could be an asset.”
“You’re right, but I worry that something could happen to him.” I take a deep breath and push the fear down.
“You know, you can’t be the only one to take risks.” Finn gives me a pointed stare.
I shake my head and smile. He’s right, but I don’t want to admit it. It’s easier for me to take the risk than risking the ones I care about.
“Ok, back to planning. How do we accomplish this?” I change the subject; we need to keep things moving.
“Sam, Ryland, and I can recruit Dissidents to meet here. The more we can get, the easier this will be,” Lydia suggests.
“Fury and Caballine won't give a damn,” Korbin speaks up. “Until we are treated as poorly as the Dissidents, they will only worry about themselves.”
“I’m afraid he’s right,” Finn chimes in.
“Ok, we will worry about Dissidents for now and figure out the rest as we go. We just need to be organized when the shit hits the fan so we can act.” I glance at each of their faces.
We sit in a circle under the tree.
“So, what’s going on with you guys now?” I scan the area, worried about how the academy is changing around us.
“It’s the same song, different verse.” Sam meets my eyes, the muscle in his jaw ticking. “We are forced to take classes after everyone, forced to eat last. We are treated like second class citizens.”
Obstruction By Nightmare (Academy of Broken Dreams Book 3) Page 1
