by Amber Lynn
I have been walking about as long as the kid was gone, but the path he traveled is still tramped down in front of me for as far as I can see. Did he take off running or something when I wasn’t looking? He is a fast little bugger if he did. At this point, I am a little upset that I didn’t get to bring any of my weapons into this dream.
When Ben has shared dreams with me before, all I had to do was think of something and it would show up. I think of my flamethrower because I cannot conceive of anything that would comfort me more. Too bad it doesn’t magically appear like I had hoped.
A scream echoes through the air and I take off in a run towards it. Whatever is happening, I am going to have to take it on hand-to-hand. The only tree I remember seeing before is gone, so I cannot run over and try to get a branch to use as a club.
I don’t understand why I cannot see what is going on. There is just the meadow everywhere I look and it isn’t like the flowers are tall enough to cover Scott. If he was hurt and laying down somewhere, I should be able to see that too.
“Scott, where are you?” I yell remembering I do have vocal chords that are in working order.
I hear no reply so I carry on and I finally see that the flowers are starting to look less disturbed. That should mean that he isn’t that far away. I crank up my afterburners and continue to scan the scenery for any signs of him. As I glance to my right trying to see any disturbances in the flowers I run square into something that feels like a giant tub of petroleum jelly. My momentum carries me through the squishy veil. If Scott hit this, I can understand why he would be screaming.
I want to scream too, but I am afraid to open my mouth. I am only in the yucky stuff for a couple of seconds, but I really want a bath now.
On the other side, the pretty meadow is no more. Dream world has morphed into a very rocky place. I appear to be on a mountain range. Why couldn’t I just wake up in bed when I found the edge of flower land and why do the people running this place have to be so illogical?
Chapter 17
Dragons are scarier
When I am left to my own thoughts, I come up with way too many questions that I ask myself and I am unable to answer any of them. It does keep my mind occupied. The question in my head now is why in the world did the kid have to take off? Staying put was a much better idea. He said his mom told him about staying away from strangers; didn’t she mention when you are lost you should stay in one place?
I don’t see a clear path to lead me to where Scott got to, assuming he made it over here. Might as well try the yelling again, I don’t think it will hurt anything.
“Scott, if you can hear me you need to come out here this instant. I can tell you right now that I am no good at hide and seek, so you will be in your hiding place for a very long time if that is your game.”
Other than the echo of my voice, I hear nothing. I am glad that the entrance to this world didn’t come out about five feet to my right because the rock that I am standing on looks to end over there. The only option I have in movement is vertical. Up or down, if I had a coin I would flip it to help me decide where to go.
For some reason, I don’t see the little seven-year-old I met moving in either of those directions. His thin arms looked to lack the strength needed to mountain climb. I walk back towards the place I think I entered this place hoping that I can go back to the flowers. Over there, life at least seemed to exist. Here things are dead and the air carries a heavy feeling of bleakness. In other words, it is depressing.
I guess I will just sit here a while. It didn’t work out for me last time, but maybe this time whoever is ruining a good day sleep for me will tire of this and send me back. My plan works for the amount of time it takes me to sit down. Another scream is let rip.
Damn. I guess I need to get moving. I think it came from above me and it wasn’t that far away. The way this place echoes it could have come from miles away though. I walk over to the closest cliff wall and try to find some hand holds that I can use to climb up.
Okay, it doesn’t happen often, but this is apparently one of the times my brain has decided to take a vacation. Why do I need to find a place to climb? I have wings.
I unfurl my golden beauties and leap into the air. There was half a second I was afraid they wouldn’t be there, but taking away part of me that is part of two of the species swirling around in my blood would be wrong.
I don’t really know what I am looking for, but I start scanning everywhere I can see. “Hey kid, I am getting really tired of this. If you are in this God forsaken place, please let it be known now.”
A responding roar echoes around me and a gust of air makes me have to fight to stay in place. I hope whatever is sounding cranky didn’t get a hold of the kid. I felt the air change from just above me, so I fly up a little, but before I get too far something comes flying off a ledge at me. I quickly roll out of the way. I am not alone anymore; however, I don't think I have found a friend. I spin around and an angry looking dragon is flapping its wings about twenty feet away.
I guess Scotty's temper tantrum went nuclear. I should have seen it coming. Just my earlier thought about it being his time of the month was enough of a hint. His dragon was coming to the surface and I don't think either one of us knows what to do with it.
I don't think dragons can communicate with anything other than dragons when they are in one of their rages, so trying to get him to calm down is going to be a little bit difficult. Impossible is probably a more accurate definition.
“Hey, Scott, remember me? I am the really nice lady you were talking with over in the place with all the flowers. Why don't we try to find our way back there so we can find your mom?”
He lets out another roar and this time he has found his igniter. Flames that would make Clyde jealous spark across the sky towards me. Crap. I roll out of the way and end up on a ledge. My landing leaves a little something to be desired. I take to the air again, so I have more area to move around.
“That isn't very nice, Scott. I am trying to be nice, but you aren't leaving me a bunch of options.” I don't have any weapons, so there isn't a whole lot I can do anyway.
“I have a knife you could use to help you slay the beast,” a woman says appearing next to me in the air. I glance over and don't see any wings. She is just hovering in the air next to me. Great.
I feel something appear in my right hand and I close my fist around a knife handle.
“Shit. This is your stupid test, isn't it? If it is, this must be the knife that can kill anything. Just what do you expect me to do with it? At most I would just try to subdue the kid, but I cannot go stabbing him with this knife.”
As I finish speaking, I feel the heat of what can only be another bonfire coming closer. I dive down a couple of dozen feet to get clear of it.
“I don't think the dragon cares very much whether you want to cause permanent damage or not. He sees you as a threat and wants to kill you,” the woman says moving along with me.
“Look lady, I don't know who you are, nor do I really care. This little test thing you got going on is really lame and it is ticking me off. I may not be the most compassionate person in the world, but I don't go around killing people just because they have hit puberty for their species. That is just stupid.”
“But he is going to kill you. I don't think he was exactly kind to you when he was in human form either.”
“No, he isn't going to kill me. Are you on some kind of drug or something? I have wings too and I can just fly away if he gets out of hand.” I would really like to fly away from him and her.
“He is bigger than you and can catch you,” she says. I wish I wasn't keen on keeping an eye on the dragon because I would really like to get a look at the crazy lady. I only caught the missing wings when I originally looked over. I think I should have studied her a little closer. It would have given me a chance to see the picture next to lunatic in the dictionary.
“Are you trying to convince me killing him is the only option out of this? I ain't
buying it so you can save your breath.”
I take off in a mad dash flying close to the mountain face. I still have the knife and even though I am not going to use it, it feels good in my hand. I hear strong wing flaps not far from me letting me know that Scott has given chase.
My goal for being close to the mountain is trying to find a little cave or crevice to hide in that will not permit the dragon to follow and offers me a bit of cover from the fire. Speaking of fire, I feel another wave coming close. I swing to the left to avoid it again.
I don't understand this trial thing at all. I have already refused to kill the kid. Isn't that what they wanted me to prove? They could have just given me a multiple-choice test to answer that question. Meeting the kid and being chased around by him doesn't make the answer any different.
“What if the dragon wasn't a child?” the annoying woman asks.
“Irrelevant. I have met him and know that he is a child,” I reply.
“Look,” she says pointing up to what looks like a giant nest. Sitting in the middle of it, surrounded by a couple of eggs, is Scott. What in the world is he doing up there while he is chasing me around?
Obviously, I know the answer to that. The thing behind me trying to cook me to a crisp is not Scott. I just assumed it was him since I had already met him and I didn't envision other dragons hanging around.
I fly up to where the kid is trembling in fear. “You want to get out of here?”
He nods his head very swiftly and stands up to move closer to where I am hovering. “I want my mommy,” he whispers as I grab a hold of him.
“At this point, kid, I want your mommy too.”
The dragon lets out another huge roar. Have I mentioned how tiring this game is getting?
“Why aren't you killing the monster now?” Pesky asks joining me and Scott.
“Who is that?” Scott asks as he lifts his head to look around. I push it back down because for now it is best for him to just tuck in and hold on tight.
“Just because it isn't the kid in my arms, doesn't mean it isn't his friend Timmy, or Jimmy, or whatever he said his name was. Not only that, but that nest had some eggs up in it and I imagine if that is mommy dragon, killing her is going to create some orphans.”
“What if I told you that it isn't the mother? It is actually a male dragon that killed the mother and was fixing on eating the eggs before you and Scott interrupted him?”
“You are full of a lot of ifs and not a lot of proof. I would need that information verified before I drew a weapon on the dragon.”
“Good. That is the correct answer. We can end the simulation,” she announces and instantly the rocks go away and I am back in the meadow.
It is just the two of us and I finally have an opportunity to get a good look at her. She stands a few inches taller than me and has no distinguishing looks. Her hair and eyes are both brown and she is wearing a white dress that has its own air current moving it around.
“I have to tell you, lady, if that was some kind of trial for the knife, it was really dumb. Did you at least make sure the kid got back to his mom okay?”
“The trial is what it is. Being the bearer of that knife is a great responsibility. I cannot just give it away lightly,” she replies and starts walking away. I have a feeling our conversation isn't over, so I follow.
“Seriously, who wouldn't pass that test? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you shouldn't kill just because you don't understand something.”
“You would be surprised how many people decide to kill the dragon, the boy, or me when I show up. I have even had people destroy the eggs. You have to be pure of heart to even attempt the test, but many of those people haven't been challenged in life or death situations. When the brain is put under that kind of pressure, it doesn't always process things clearly.”
Okay, she has a point there, but I still think it was a stupid test. “So, Gabe said there were two trials. Do I have another fun night of sleep to look forward to in the future? I am running out of time before I really may need to use the knife.” The knife is still in my hand, but I doubt I could just make a run for it.
“No, the knife is yours to protect and use for now. You have completed your challenges.”
“Really? I only remember doing the whole not killing the dragon one. Did I miss something?”
“The initial trial was to even go after the boy in the first place. Over half of the participants in the trials fail that simple task. The hearts of the people are not as caring as they once were. The world has begun to darken and there are times I am afraid there is no good left. Thank you for giving me something to believe in again. Oh, and you should probably adjust your thinking just a little bit on the aspect of motherhood. You are going to have children and you and your children are going to do great things. I look forward to seeing the outcome.”
The second she dots the period of that sentence, she disappears. I hate when people do that. If the crazy lady was Fate, maybe she will be happy enough with my performance that she will quit screwing with me and Sebby. I am really tired of things trying to come between us. The baby prediction I have heard before. Everyone seems to want me to get pregnant. There is a point when the pressure is going to become too much and I will surgically remove my womb one day. For now, I look around trying to figure out what to do and I feel the world start to shake. Great. What now?
Chapter 18
Family breakfast dysfunctional style
“Wake up, sweetheart.” I hear Alex say as my world continues to shake. Of course, it isn't the meadow shaking anymore, just my body on my bed. The bed is a much preferred destination. Anyone that has things to discuss with me should just hold the meeting here.
“Is it night time already?” I ask and roll over to face him.
“It is. You weren't reachable again and you had a knife appear in your hand, so I was just a tad bit worried about what was going on.” He leans down to give me a nice morning kiss on the lips.
“Morning,” I say stretching. “It is the dang kill anything that moves knife. I had my trials while I slept. I don't recommend going through them. They were rather dorky.” I reach over and deposit the knife on the night stand. It is a good thing Alex woke me. I would have hated to rollover and stab him with it while I slept.
“Really?” he asks sitting up and moving the blanket out of the way to get a look at my body. His hands start wandering all over. “I am not seeing cuts or bruises.”
“You would be more likely to find burn marks. I got to play keep away with a dragon and the object I was trying to keep away was me.” I have to use the bathroom so I roll out of bed. I am almost surprised that I didn't find another person in bed with us. I thought Will would find some reason to sneak in and cuddle during the day.
“I take it somewhere someone is eating dragon soup for breakfast,” Alex says from the bed.
“No,” I reply flushing the toilet and giving my hands a quick wash. “Why would you assume I killed the dragon?”
“Because you are you and it is what you do.” He leaps out of bed and heads to the bathroom.
“I was led to believe that it was a seven-year-old. You should know I have a no kid killing policy.” I walk into my closet to find a spare knife sheath for the new dagger. Being as special as it is, I think it needs a special home. I find an old, black leather sheath that was the first one I bought for myself after I became an assassin. It has a lot of sentimental value and it is the perfect home for my newest addition.
“Sometimes I wonder if it really is a strict policy. I am glad to see you passed and are home in one piece. We should probably grab some breakfast and head out to meet up with the demon. He was acting strange last night and that has me a little worried.”
Ben is always strange, so this is not a new development. I grab a black top and some matching pants and take them and the sheath out to the bed, so I can get dressed. I take off my pajamas and start attaching my knives. The Panoptic knife takes center stage on
my right thigh.
“You know, I have a good feeling about today. I don't get those very often, so I think we are going to find Sebby and bring him home,” I say as I pull my shirt down and into place.
“That would be nice. We have past the twenty-four hour mark and we don't know how keyed in Candace is on our movements. If she somehow figures out we are on to her, she may move up her timetable as far as the punishment goes,” Alex walks out of the closet fully dressed. That's no fair. I wanted to watch him.
I hurry into my pants and then slip into my holster. The magic gifts from Hilda are still out in the living area, but I need a place to store them, so I remove my Colt and put it under my pillow. It isn't the ideal magic paintball storage place, but it will work on short notice.
“Will you two hurry up? I am hungry and Walt won't let us eat until you join us,” Clyde calls.
That isn't like Walt. He lets Demon Dog eat anytime he wants. I grab Alex's hand and steer us out to join the others. I stop in my tracks as soon as I clear the door. Great oogly moogly.
Someone must have found the hidden button that reveals the formal dining room. The whole gang is sitting around a table with mounds of meat running down the middle. I am surprised they were able to keep Clyde from jumping up and devouring the entire feast.
“Did I miss something?” I ask and Alex directs me to the head of the table and takes a seat to the left of me. There is a seat left open on the right where Sebby would sit if he were able.
“With all of the talk about us being a family this morning, I wanted to share a meal together. I know we are in a hurry, so we don't have to say grace or use proper table manners, but I thought we could sit here instead of on the couches,” Walt explains.
It is a nice gesture and it would be better if all the seats were filled, but we will make do. The vampires have even joined us and the three that don't eat solid food have coffee mugs that I doubt contain coffee sitting in front of them.
