Only in Her Dreams

by Christina McKnight

  “You should rest,” Maxim said to her.

  “I think I will, just for a bit,” Marie commented. “Please wake me if you hear anything.”

  “I will, my love,” Guy answered affectionately.

  “There is a guest room on the second floor. First door on the left,” Maxim said as Marie left the room.

  His brother seemed to notice his brooding mood and his empty wine glass. “Refill, Maxim?”

  “Yes.” Maxim held his glass out and his brother filled it. The blood red liquid flowed smoothly from the bottle to his goblet without a drop landing on the table in front of them.

  He hadn’t seen his brother in this light, ever. With no servant around to cook or pour wine for him. The leader of Erebos serving him was completely unnatural, and Maxim felt another pang of guilt.

  Guy was a leader.

  Maxim was his servant. It was Maxim’s responsibility to pour his brother’s wine if another wasn’t around to help.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  The question startled Maxim. “Just how much I robbed you and your family of. All because I was a selfish coward.” Maxim head hung over his glass.

  “Robbed me? I had many great years with Marie and eight wonderful years with Lucessa. Marie and I both knew one day my duty would call me back to Erebos.”

  “I should’ve stepped up and taken charge. Or at least tried to reason with Darius before I sought your help, but I was scared.”

  “Scared for what, Maxim? Yourself or our people?”

  “Mostly our people, but I’d be lying if I said I only worried about them,” Maxim paused. “I was scared for myself but also everyone on Earth. I know firsthand how cruel Darius can be.”

  “You sought me out for all the right reasons. I have long trusted you, Maxim.”

  “Trust? Me? You’ve questioned every action I’ve taken since you returned to Erebos.”

  “Yes, but I trusted you with what meant the most to me. A secret that no one in Erebos could ever know, lest they use it against me. My family.”

  “But Darius found her.”

  “He did, but not because of anything you did. Marie and I knew the day would come when Lucessa could--and would--be used against me, we were prepared for this.” His hand came up to brush along his stubbly chin. “But we always assumed I’d be there to thwart their attempts.”

  “I should’ve been here. I was supposed to protect her!”

  “Not all things can be prevented, Maxim.”

  Maxim exhaled the breath he didn’t realize he held. “I let you down. After everything you gave up to help me. I should have been more diligent.”

  “If this is anyone’s fault, it is my own. I banished Darius and his Melas Oneiroi to Earth, without a thought for my family’s well being,” Guy said. “It is I who has failed you, Erebos and my family.”

  How can his brother think that any of this is his fault?

  “Now, we can only hope to meet Darius’s demands.”

  A heavy rap on the door drew their attention to the entryway. Their eyes met quickly, assessing the knock.

  “Finally!” Maxim whispered. The time had come to face his brother. “You wait here. If there is more than one Melas it is dangerous for you to be seen.”

  Maxim started down the hallway, Guy’s footstep close behind him.

  “I told you to wait in the living room!” Maxim turned to face his brother.

  “This is my daughter’s life that’s in jeopardy,” Guy exploded back. “I love her and I must do what I can to make sure she is okay.”

  “I love her just as much as you!” Maxim shouted.

  Both men froze. Maxim because he realized what he’d said was true--true to his core. Guy because, well, probably because he was going to kill Maxim before they even made it to the front door. They stared, as if daring each other to make the first move.

  The sound of soft footsteps coming down the stairs had both men looking up to see Marie, hair tangled and slept on.

  Another loud knock sounded on the door.

  Maxim started for it again, with Guy hot on his heels. Marie wasn’t far behind, her bare feet padding along the hard wood floor. Great! Let’s announce to every Melas Guy’s presence on Earth.

  “Please stay back. We have no idea what is waiting on the other side of that door.” This time Maxim directed his plea in Marie’s direction. His brother was too thick headed to think about his own safety. But next to Lucessa, Marie’s safety was of utmost importance to Guy.

  “Open the damn door! I can hear you talking, Maxim.” Greg’s voice sounded muffled.

  “Who in the hell is that?” Guy asked.

  “Lucessa’s husband, Greg.” The bastard better be alone...and have a good reason for selling Lucessa out.

  “That bastard,” Guy growled.

  “My thoughts exactly.” Maxim took the last few step to the door, threw the lock, and eased it open. Greg stood, alone, on the front porch, over his shoulder a car sped away. “Are you alone?”

  Greg pushed his way through the door, knocking Maxim off balance. Guy sprang into action, throwing the door shut, pinning Greg up against the closed door.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Greg managed to squeak out before his air supply was cut off. Guy’s thick arm pressed across his throat.

  “Your worst nightmare, you bastard.”

  Recognition flared in Greg’s eyes. “Guy Sarcona?!” His voice was full of both shock and awe.

  “Guy, let the boy talk or we’ll never get our Lucessa back.”

  Greg’s head whipped around in the direction of the feminine voice. His mouth dropped open. “What the...”

  “Where is my daughter?” Guy asked.

  From his vantage point on the floor, Maxim saw spittle fly through the air landing on Greg’s face.

  “She’s with Darius.”

  Guy pulled his fist back, ready to land a solid hit to the man’s face.

  “She’s safe, I swear!” Greg shouted, throwing up his hands to block the attack.

  Maxim picked himself up off the floor and stood next to his brother. “Where is she?”

  “I don’t know,” Greg said.

  This time Maxim raised his fist.

  “They had me blindfolded both ways. I swear!”

  Is he telling the truth or covering his own ass?

  “Let the man go!”

  At her outburst, all three men looked in Marie’s direction.

  Guy’s hold on Greg loosened and he slid to the floor coughing and gasping.

  “Well?” Maxim asked, his patience wearing.

  “Speak!” Guy commanded.

  Breathing heavily, Greg dug in his pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “I was told...to give you this...and return with your answer.”

  Guy grabbed the note and turned away from Maxim and Greg, moving to stand by Marie to open the note.

  Maxim watched as his brother read the message, his face remained impassive.

  “What does he want?”

  “Exactly what we suspected.”

  “Erebos?” Maxim asked. Heaviness settled in his gut.

  “You guys are crazy!” Greg burst. “All your talk about other worlds. You’re all out of your mind!”

  “And what happens to us?”

  “He doesn’t say,” Guy said, rubbing his forehead.

  “How did I get mixed up in this crazy bullshit? Your whole family is nuts!” Greg’s arms waved to and fro, giving him the appearance of being the crazy one.

  Guy took two long strides, lifted his knee and cracked Greg in the face where he sat on the floor. Blood poured from his nose and a moan escaped his mouth. “That’s my family you’re talking about! Hold your tongue.”

  “Okay boys, that’s enough,” said Marie. “Let’s take this to the living room. And don’t bleed on Lucessa’s lovely couch.” She turned her pointed glare at Greg.

  How in the hell is she taking this so well? Maxim was about to explode, his blood sped faster through h
is veins at the image of Darius with Lucessa. The thought that he loved her, more than the people of Erebos, was shocking. He was raised knowing he’d live a life in the service of Erebos’ people. He was resigned to that fact, and just because he loved Lucessa didn’t mean he could have her as his own.

  No, his duties lie in Erebos and his loyalty to Guy. Not a wife and family. Never.

  He only had to look at the suffering Guy had lived with to know he couldn’t put Lucessa through that. He wasn’t sure he could live through it, either.

  Guy escorted Marie to the living room and Maxim followed in their wake. At this point, Maxim didn’t care what became of Greg, he could stand and walk out the door and none of them would care, as long as he didn’t show his face again. It’d be better that way.

  Marie took her seat on the couch, while Maxim and Guy paced the length of the room.

  “Read the message to me,” Maxim said.

  “I have the girl. Hand over Erebos and she lives.” Guy re-folded the paper.

  “That’s it?” Marie asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Our brother is not a man of many words,” Maxim chuckled. The situation was serious, but he couldn’t help himself, it was so like his brother to send this short message--with zero details.

  “I’m supposed to take your reply back.” Greg entered the room, a kitchen towel pressed to his once again broken and bleeding nose.

  “And what if we say no?” Guy’s gaze bore holes into the bloodied man.

  “Simple. He kills us all.”

  “Who is ‘us’? You and Lucessa?” Maxim stopped his pacing in front of Greg.

  “Yes, and one other.”

  “Who? The other woman Darius is holding?” Guy asked.

  “Yes.”

  The man was being evasive. “Do you not realize that I could kill you right here?”

  “Yes, but then you’ll have no way of getting your message back to Darius.”

  The man knew his worth.

  “We should kill you now for betraying Lucessa, not once but twice.”

  “I’m not stupid, I know what’s going to happen to me. Darius will kill me if I flee without bringing back your answer, you may kill me for all I’ve done to Lucessa, or I can bring your response back to him and he may very well still kill me,” Greg sighed, staring at his feet. “If I thought I had any shot of living through this, I’d do what I had to do, to live. Right now, that is bringing your answer back to Darius.” He stood, finally looking up at them with his palms up in a what-can-I-do gesture.

  “Who’s the other woman?” Guy asked, again. He stood with his hands on his hips, all of his attention directed at Greg and his answer.

  “Another doctor from Uganda. She runs the clinic there.”

  “Why is she here?”

  “She was with me when the men came.”

  Something didn’t ring true about Greg’s story. “So...” he prompted the man to continue.

  A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face and down his neck. His eyes moved between the three, as if looking for a sympathetic face. He would find none here. “She’s my girlfriend, or was, all right?”

  “But, you’re married to my daughter,” Marie’s innocent voice chimed in.

  “Marie, I must apologize for this. It was my responsibility to keep an eye on Lucessa and I neglected my duty. I did nothing to prevent her from marrying this piece of shit, excuse my language.”

  “You’re excused.”

  Maxim expected to see a look of disgust and disappointment in Marie’s eyes, but they held none, only understanding. “I’m sorry.”

  “I cannot blame you, Maxim,” her lips parted in a sweet smile, Lucessa’s smile. “Lucessa made her own decision, just as I made the decision to be with Guy, knowing one day he would have to leave me.”

  Maxim fixed his hardened stare on Greg once more. “What do you mean was your girlfriend?”

  Greg narrowed his stance, bringing his feet together. “Your brother seduced her. She won’t even look at me now.”

  “Paybacks a bitch.” Maxim mumbled.

  “Let me make one thing clear,” Greg piped in. “I never had any plan to return to the States. Sandy and I worked everything out perfectly, the disease, the death and the body.”

  “Shut up!” Guy and Maxim shouted in unison, neither bothered to look at Greg, their eyes trained on Marie.

  “Love is a unique and special thing. When it hits, you must submit to it. As my grandmother used to say, ‘Life is like a pendulum...to know great love you must also know great sorrow and pain.’ Life must have balance.” Marie never took her eyes off Guy. Maxim knew her words were to him, to let Guy know she forgave him for choosing Erebos over her and Lucessa. Was there ever a doubt in my brother’s mind that all was forgiven?

  Connection and love passed between the two so apparent the air in the room sizzled with electricity. Why had Guy ever given up this to help me? Maxim doubted he’d ever be able to give up a love like Guy and Marie’s.

  “Hello! I’m still here. What do you want me to tell the nut job waiting for me?” Greg flung his bloodied towel across the room catching Maxim on the shoulder. “Darius gave his coon directions to drive around the block until I come out.”

  “What’s the plan, brother?” Maxim asked.

  “We go and bring Lucessa home.” The statement was said with such finality that Maxim gave Guy a questioning look. “With the help of Greg and Alexander, we’ll be led right to Darius’s location.”

  “No way. He’ll kill me.” Panic rang in Greg’s voice and his body shook.

  “He’s right, Guy. It’s too risky for you, this may be a trap to lure me to him. You stay here and I’ll follow and bring Lucessa back.”

  Chapter 38

  Maxim watched the car turn around the corner and he rushed out the front door and slid into Lucessa’s car. As he shifted the car into drive the passenger door swung open and shut. He’d told Guy it was imperative he wait here. If both of them perished rescuing Lucessa, Erebos would be left without a leader.

  “Get out...” his voice trailed off as blue eyes stared back at him, not the glowing eyes of his brother, but the much softer eyes of Marie.

  “Guy tells me you and Lucessa fought the last time you were together.”

  “Hold on. There’s no time, we can talk on the way.” Maxim eased the car from the curb and sped around the corner toward the car holding Greg. “This is very dangerous, Marie.”

  “I understand, but I may be able to help you. Guy says she ran from you in her dream.”

  “Yes, I don’t know why she fears me.” Maxim slapped his palm against the steering wheel as he pushed his foot further down on the gas pedal.

  “That may be my fault. There is something Guy never told you. Before he left, he gave me the power to visit dreams, as you do.”

  Maxim eased up on the gas pedal and looked over at Marie.

  “I was there in the dream, Maxim. I screamed at you and I’m afraid I frightened her away.” Marie lowered her head, allowing her hair to hide the tears he was sure traced a straight path down her face.

  Maxim wished he could reach across the distance and wipe them away, her sorrow with them.

  “I was unfair to you. I waited so many years for Guy to come back, and I feared he never would.”

  “We’ve both done things we’re not proud of. Let’s get Lucessa back and then work on mending our family.” Our family? Since when did he consider Lucessa and Marie his family?

  They drove in silence as they followed the car through town heading toward a less populated area. Maxim slowed Lucessa’s car, and dropped back to escape detection. The sun was peeking over the horizon. Alexander would recognize the car if he followed too closely. The traffic was light this early, mainly morning commuters. Dairies and ranches lined the road they traveled.

  Fifteen car lengths ahead brake lights flared and the car turned onto a dirt road. As they drew closer to the turn off, Maxim saw lights in the distance
and the car stopped near a small shack.

  “We’ll park here and travel in by foot.”

  “We?” Marie asked in surprise. “I figured you’d make me stay in the car.”

  “I cannot protect you here, while I’m there.”

  # # #

  Guy collapsed on the couch. She’d left...with Maxim. He’d glanced at the message for only a second and Marie was gone. The car sped away in pursuit of the car that would lead them to his daughter. His hands came up to cover his face and continued into his hair, pulling slightly as they lifted from the back of his head. He stood, fearing his legs would give out.

  The three people he loved were in danger and he was sitting here on his ass. Guy ‘the fearless leader’ Sarcona. He crumpled up the message, and threw it to the carpet. There was absolutely no way he could give in to his brother’s demand. Maxim and Marie knew that. They also knew he wouldn’t sacrifice Lucessa.

  Would it come down to choosing between my daughter and Erebos? Guy hoped it wouldn’t, because he was unsure he could make that decision. Could he make the decision to put thousands of lives--no, make that millions of lives--in jeopardy by handing Erebos over to Darius. Both the human and Oneiroi races’ survival would be in peril if he valued one person over the collective. He hadn’t wanted this responsibility in the first place. He’d made his decision when he’d left Erebos to live a life on Earth. He was not cut out to make a decision of this magnitude.

  Once this threat was over, he’d have many more difficult decisions to make because he couldn’t live without Marie and Lucessa. He knew he could trust Maxim to lead the Oneiroi, but was it right to saddle him with the responsibility that Guy, himself, didn’t want. Not once had he asked Maxim what he wanted in life.

  Exhaustion overtook him and he sagged against the couch. The pressure and stress of the last twenty-four hours wore on him.

  # # #

  “Stay close. If there’s any trouble I want you to run.” Maxim handed Marie the keys to Lucessa’s car. “If something happens to me, get Lucessa to the car and drive as fast as you can.”

  Marie shook her head, placing a hand to her chest. Maxim feared this was too much for her to handle. “I can’t leave you here.”