Attainment (Between Two Realms Book 3)

by Amber Flora

  Well that was a nice thought. It wouldn’t be right to have the man here if he had personally diminished the dreamwalker population.

  Cody and Mac had been staying in dream realm more frequently since I returned home. Mac still checked in on me nearly every day, but with all the problems going on involving the council they felt obligated to do their part. I made my way through the sanctuary toward the hospital wing with Herrick close behind me. Most of the residents had gotten used to seeing me by now, but the strange man attached at my hip caused more than a few heads to turn. I spotted Kat talking to another healer and waved her over.

  I tried not to bust out laughing when her eyes widened at the sight of Herrick.

  “Well, this is an interesting turn of events,” Kat said, eyeing him with caution.

  “You have no idea. Have you seen Cody and Mac? I sort of need their help with something.”

  “Is it to get rid of this one? Blink twice if you’re being held against your will,” Kat whispered as she leaned into my ear.

  I resisted the urge to tease her and act as though I really was taken captive by Herrick.

  “No, sunshine. He’s here because I asked him to be.”

  I could see her skepticism but she eventually nodded her approval.

  “Ben and Cody went on a scouting trip to Cardician this morning. Mac was helping Gloria reorganize some stuff in the archive last I saw him.”

  “Am I in an alternate universe? Cody went on a mission without Mac and Ben left Gloria alone with him?”

  Just when I thought I had heard everything ...

  “Mac said he had some things to take care of later. Something about seeing a man about a horse, whatever that means.” I smiled, knowing exactly what he meant.

  Mac had stayed behind to make sure everything was set up for me to receive my birthday present. I gave a quick glance in Herrick’s direction. What is wrong with me? I have a man that bought me a freaking horse just to see me smile, yet I can’t stop thinking about how easily I could reach out and touch Herrick’s hand. I seriously need my brain examined.

  We found Gloria and Mac exactly where Kat said we would. They were arguing over Mac’s poor attempt at organizing her beloved books.

  “Don’t toss them like that! You’ll ruin the spines!” Gloria snapped at Mac.

  “Are ya stone-hatchet mad? They’re books, lass, not ancient artifacts.”

  “That’s exactly what they are! Have you no appreciation for the written word?”

  “Are they always like this?” Herrick whispered to me.

  “This is nothing. You should see him and Cody go at it. They argue like an old married couple.”

  “Well, now I know why you aren’t keen on living in dream realm,” Herrick laughed.

  “Excuse me, do you think the two of you can take a break from the quarreling going on here? I need a word with muscle man.” They both froze and turned in our direction. Mac spotted me first and smiled, then his eyes immediately fell on Herrick. The anger on his face could be seen by a blind person. His eyes darted back and forth between Herrick and me, trying to gauge the situation. Once he decided Herrick wasn’t an immediate threat he calmed a little, but he was by no means happy with my choice in a traveling companion.

  “Ah, Dr. Phil, is it time for another session so soon?” Mac said, not even attempting to disguise his disgust.

  “I have not the time nor the patience to dive into your psyche,” Herrick retorted without a hint of emotion.

  One good thing about being on my own again is that I miraculously had months pass by without having to deal with male bravado. Mac stepped down from the ladder he was standing on and handed Gloria the stack of books he had yet to put away. Gloria waved a hello and I smiled before she disappeared into the back of the archives to give us some privacy.

  “Hello, Macree,” Mac said. He kissed my cheek and I could have sworn I heard a growl come from Herrick.

  “Hey. I’m sorry to just barge in like this but we need to talk. Do you have any idea when Cody will be back?”

  “Can’t say that I do. You know how differently time flows from one realm to the next. They went to investigate some rumors.”

  “About what?” I didn’t think it was serious. Even if Mac had other plans, if he thought for a second Cody could be in real danger I know he wouldn’t let him go alone.

  “Strange things have been happening over the last couple of weeks. A couple of dreamwalkers have gone missing. Ben thought it best to look into it.”

  “That doesn’t seem very odd. Dreamwalkers have a habit of drifting” I said, trying to understand their concern.

  “It wouldn’t be except there are rumors that it’s been happening everywhere. Shadow realm, Cardician, even human realm.”

  I could tell by Mac’s tone that he was freaked out by it.

  “So Cody and Ben went to see if they could dig something up?”

  “Aye, they just wanted to talk to some people and see if any red flags show up.”

  I wanted to talk with Cody and Ben as well. They would definitely be useful in shadow realm, but dreamwalker disappearances took precedence. I would just have to fill them in later.

  “I need to tell you some things. Things I have been keeping from all of you since my return home. I know you are going to be angry with me but you have to believe me when I say I did it for everyone’s well-being.” I didn’t expect this to go well. I was half tempted to take my chances alone than reveal to Mac that I once again kept something from him.

  “I’m assuming by the smug look on his face that he already knows?” Mac asked, tilting his head to Herrick.

  “Yes, but not for the reasons you think. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t know any of this. He helped me in a way no one else could.” I looked over at Herrick, who was locked in a staring contest with Mac. It was as if they were having their own private conversation that I couldn’t hear.

  “Aye, he did, did he? Well, isn’t he noble. Perhaps Cody or myself could have helped ya if you had given us the chance, but ya didn’t, did ya? Instead you decided to trust the vibrant.”

  “You have no idea what you’re talking about, dreamwalker,” Herrick chided.

  “Please then, vibrant, enlighten me,” Mac spat back.

  “It isn’t my story to tell.”

  Mac turned toward me, crossing his arms in agitation.

  I proceeded to tell Mac about Herrick’s mother helping mine twenty-nine years ago. I explained to him that my eyes changed color because I had vibrant blood running through my veins. I even told him about the ritual that Herrick performed that released my mother's memories. I divulged the truth about our heritage and how the Zeotecs divided the unique abilities into different realms in an attempt to keep the peace. Most importantly, I told him about Skyler and the curse Anastasia put upon vibrants, taking away their ability to feel any emotion. He was mostly taken aback by my mother's prophecy regarding my child being the Phoenix. It was difficult to be honest about that part. Cody and Mac had invested so much time and energy into me because they believed I would be the savior. Revealing that I wasn’t the Phoenix was like telling him that meeting me was all for nothing. When I finally completed my crazy tale, I saw the same look on Mac’s face that was on Herrick’s the night I told him about my mother’s memory: one of pure confusion and amazement.

  “Jaysus, that’s a fret. Well, lass, you have managed to silence me, a feat many have attempted and failed.”

  I laughed. I was glad he wasn’t ready to rip my head off for omitting so much over the last few months.

  “I really am sorry I never told you, I didn’t want you or Cody to deal with the burden of keeping my secrets. If Damon or anyone found out what I really am, what my child could be, they could use it against me.”

  Mac wrapped his arms around me as he always did when I was upset. I rested my head on his shoulder, taking in his scent. The rugged smell that was Mac, along with his embrace, always calmed me whenever I was distraught.
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  I heard someone loudly clear his throat and was quickly reminded who else was in the room. I pulled away in haste, making sure not to make eye contact with either one of them.

  “I still have one question, lass. You really haven’t said what exactly you need my help with.”

  I finally raised my head so I could meet his baby-blue eyes. Taking a deep breath, I said the words that even I had a difficult time believing.

  “Skyler is alive and hiding somewhere in shadow realm. I want to find him.”

  Mac’s eyes went wide and he shot them toward Herrick, who nodded in agreement.

  Mac rubbed the top of his head while he paced the floor. “This is a fecking doozy. Well, what are standing around here for? We got some vampire hunting to do.”

  “What about Cody and Ben? Shouldn’t we wait for them to return?” I asked, concerned about disappearing when Ben and Cody could need us.

  Gloria poked her head around the corner and I knew she had heard every word of my story. She may have pretended to give us privacy, but Gloria just couldn’t help herself when it came to a good story.

  “I’ll fill them in once they return. Keep in touch with Brian and he can relay your whereabouts to them in case you need backup.”

  “Thanks, Gloria. Tell them not to worry. I have a feeling it will be a while before we find anything useful.”

  “Ashtyn, you're going to shadow realm to look for the world's first vampire. We’re all worried. Do you mind if I speak with you alone for a moment?”

  I attempted to read her expression but I couldn’t figure out why she would want to speak with me in private. If she was planning to talk me out of going she was going to be disappointed. I nodded and followed her to the back of the room.

  “I’m going, Gloria. I know you are worried about me but I have to do this.”

  Gloria sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

  “Ashtyn, I know you well enough to know that I couldn’t stop you if I hogtied you to a chair. My concern is who you are going with. Are you really about to spend the next few days or however long it takes in the company of those two? They are more likely to rip one another apart long before you get answers.”

  She had a point. I couldn't argue that. It was a phenomenally bad idea allowing Mac and Herrick to be anywhere near each other, aside from the fact that neither one of them was particularly fond of the other. I cared for both and I didn’t want to be put in a situation where I had to choose a side.

  “It’s not the best scenario but right now it’s the only option we have. When and if Cody and Ben meet up with us, we can split up.”

  Gloria nodded. I knew it wasn’t an approval but more like “I know you're stressed and I’ll let it go for now.”

  When we returned to the boys, Mac was standing with his arms folded, glaring at Herrick. It was as if his mind were a weapon and if he concentrated hard enough, Herrick’s head would explode. Herrick was his typically non-caring self and ignored Mac’s stares by pretending to flip through a book that had been on a nearby table.

  I made myself a promise: If we all managed to survive this, I wouldn’t fear my feelings any longer. I would chase what and whom I wanted and let the chips fall where they may.

  Chapter 4

  Cody and Ben made their way through the streets of Cardician. Algon had managed to pull a few strings and produce the names of the missing girls’ families. Wizards weren’t particularly fond of dreamwalkers, especially when they stuck their noses into wizard affairs. Cody wasn’t too sure they would have been able to dig up the information on their own if Algon hadn’t helped them. He looked over at Ben and saw his typical stern expression. He had to admit it had softened some since Ben and Gloria began dating. Cody saw him laugh on a few occasions, which was something he thought he would never see. Not today, though. Today Ben wore the look of a general. Cody knew he was taking this case hard. Ben felt responsible for the two dreamwalker girls who had gone missing. According to their families, they were all taken in dream realm, which meant someone or something had infiltrated dream realm without Ben sensing a thing. He was holding himself personally responsible for not being able to stop it. Whoever was behind these disappearances had skills. Not only was the abductor getting in and out undetected, but if the women were actually being taken from multiple realms then the assumed kidnapper was getting the slip on some pretty powerful people. They stopped in one of the residential areas and Ben knocked on the door. An older woman with a cane answered, eyeing them with caution.

  “You’re not wizards,” the woman said.

  Cody decided to do the talking. Ben was good at interrogations but he lacked a bit in social situations.

  “No, ma’am, we are not. We would like to speak with you about Margo.”

  The woman snickered as she began to close the door on them. Ben stopped it with his foot but didn’t say a word.

  “Please forgive the intrusion. We are from dream realm and a couple of our girls have gone missing as well. We just want to find them, all of them, and bring them home. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.”

  She looked back and forth between Cody and Ben before sighing and opening the door, motioning for them to enter. The place smelled like sulfur and herbs. Cody noticed a large black cauldron near the fireplace filled with liquid. The ladle was spinning by itself, stirring the contents within. She must be a potion maker, Cody thought.

  She snapped her fingers to produce two cups of tea, handing them to the men and allowing them to take seats at the dining table.

  “What can you tell us about Margo?” Ben asked, sounding disconnected.

  The woman peered at him for a moment before directing her attention to Cody and responding to him only.

  “Margo is a sweet girl, everyone likes her. I don’t know who would do this or why. On the day she went missing I had sent her home from the shop to get started on a new batch of forget me not. When I returned a few hours later she was gone. I figured she had finished early and gone out with some friends, but she never even started the potion. That’s not like Margo at all; she’s always willing to help out.”

  Cody saw the tears begin to form in the woman's eyes and his heart went out to her. He knew what it was like to lose a loved one. He just hoped that this wasn’t the end for Margo.

  “I’m sorry about your daughter, ma’am. We will do everything we can to help find her.”

  She sniffled and wiped her eyes.

  “Margo isn’t my daughter. I took her in when she was a child. Her mother had died and her father wanted nothing to do with her, called her an abomination.”

  Cody and Ben looked at each other thoroughly confused.

  “Why would he call her that?”

  The woman looked as if she had said too much. He could tell she wanted to take back her words, but it was too late.

  “I don’t know, he just did. I think you should go now.” She rose, attempting to get them to follow. Ben continued to remain seated and Cody stood, taking her hand in his.

  “I don’t want to pry. We're not here to judge anyone. All we want is to catch the people responsible.”

  Cody knew if he didn’t get the answers out of her the gentle way that Ben wouldn’t be so friendly when it was his turn for questioning. He would never hurt the woman, but he also wouldn’t waste a thought on being empathetic to her situation.

  “Margo is an impure. Her mother was a dreamwalker.”

  Cody and Ben looked at one another in complete shock. Margo was like Ashtyn: born of dream and wizard realm. What were the odds of that?

  “Thank you for your time. Just one more question before we leave, if you don’t mind. How old is Margo?”

  The woman looked back to her work bench, where a picture of a beautiful young lady sat. Cody could only assume it was Margo.

  “She just turned twenty-three a few months ago. Please find her; she has so much she has yet to do. She just got accepted into alchemy academy.”

 
“You have my word we will do all we can. We will let you know as soon as we find anything. Thank you for your time.”

  The woman nodded as she walked them to the door. Before Cody turned to leave, the woman grabbed his arm.

  “She isn’t evil and she didn't ask to be made that way. She loves being a wizard; she wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

  Cody gave her a gentle hug. He could tell she needed someone to show her some compassion. Unfortunately, most people wouldn’t be too sympathetic of a missing impure.

  “We believe you. Being different doesn’t make you bad.”

  Ben nodded his agreement as they walked out, headed to their next destination.

  “Do you think it’s a coincidence? I mean, we're the dreamwalkers’ impures?” Cody asked, trying to wrap his mind around the situation.

  “Nothing I could find but people don’t exactly advertise that they have an impure in the family. We should get back to Gloria, see if she can find anything on the others in the archives that link them to being half-bloods.”

  Cody nodded. “I agree but we should check out the other house first. Maybe they can tell us more. According to Algon they are clairvoyant, which means they might have seen something useful.”

  Cody thought about Ashtyn and how angry he would be if anyone dared to call her an abomination. He couldn’t understand the fear and hatred that the existence of half-bloods ignited in people. Why were people so afraid of something different? According to the old lady, Margo was a sweet and innocent woman, and Cody knew with absolute certainty that Ashtyn was nothing but kind and compassionate. She would do anything for the people she loved; yet, somehow these women were abandoned and alienated just for being different.

  After knocking on the next door and introducing themselves to the missing girl's brother, they eventually talked their way inside.

  “I’m sorry to ask, Jeremiah, but I heard you are clairvoyant. Could you tell us anything that might be of some use?”

  The man appeared to be in his forties, which meant he could have been anywhere from forty to a hundred based on wizard aging standards.