by Dima Zales
Panting, I pull up next to him. “You don’t find that suspicious?”
“A little.” He slows down a bit to look at me. “They know they’ll have to undergo a dreamwalk tomorrow night.”
“But what if they don’t come back?”
He stops next to the massive wooden door. “In that case, I’ll consider the case closed and the problem solved. Our main priority is stopping the murders. Justice is a distant second.”
He pushes open the door and leads me to the giant’s bedroom.
“Wow,” Felix says. “I think that’s two California king beds.”
Yep, I can see where one bed ends and the other begins. I guess no one on this world makes beds for people Colton’s size.
“He’s not in REM sleep,” I whisper to Kain. “You go deal with Gertrude, and I’ll wait for my moment.”
He leaves as I perch on the edge of the bed to watch Colton’s closed eyes—a boring enough activity that a yawn tugs at my jaw despite the vampire blood I recently consumed.
“That dream session with Ariel and Pom was so cool,” Felix says—a welcome distraction for once. He proceeds to tell me what they did while I was dealing with Gertrude: mostly goofing around.
After a few long minutes, Kain comes back and eyes me impatiently. I point at Colton’s eyelids and shrug. If I weren’t afraid to wake up the giant, I’d explain that REM sleep typically happens around ninety minutes after someone first falls sleep.
Kain makes his way over to a corner and becomes very still, like an alabaster statue. Must be some weird vampire meditation.
I turn my attention back to Colton. After what feels like an hour, his eyelids finally indicate REM sleep—though if I had my way, I’d be using equipment to know for sure. If I get this wrong, I’ll have to deal with the subdream again. Still, I’m pretty sure he’s dreaming. His eyes, like the rest of him, are ginormous. The movement is hard to miss.
Carefully, I touch the back of the giant’s hand and plummet into the dream world.
“Ariel and Felix are so fun,” Pom pants excitedly as I appear in my dream palace lobby. “You’ve got to bring them back some day.”
“I will,” I tell him as I head to the tower of sleepers. “Tell me what you guys did.”
I barely listen as he repeats some of the stuff Felix told me. I’m contemplating a theory that’s been brewing in my head since we left Gertrude’s room.
There’s a way Kain could still be behind the murders despite his alibi. What if he used glamour to get others to do his dirty work and forget it ever happened? After all, he was able to glamour Gertrude, a fellow Council member. Then again, there’s no way he’s powerful enough to do it to anyone he wants. He was only able to glamour me thanks to my vampire blood consumption.
Hmm. Could Gertrude also be on the blood? If I suffered from her condition, I might go that route to avoid sleep as much as possible.
Either way, I’m proceeding with my current plan of action. If Kain has planted a fake alibi in someone’s head, it won’t check out in the dream world. In fact, I should see if I can retrieve a memory of being glamoured. I’ve never tried that, but it could work.
Thus determined, I locate sleeping Colton in the tower.
“Huh,” Pom says. “The bed grew to fit him.”
I’m not surprised. “The nook, too. That’s the beauty of the dream world for you.”
The good news is that no trauma loop clouds gather above Colton, so this will be a get-in, get-out situation.
I turn invisible and enter his dream.
Around us is a world lacking any technological advancements, even modest ones like the tech on Earth. Instead, I spot mud huts the size of high-rise buildings, dirt roads the width of a large speedway, enormous windmills, and plainly dressed giants walking to and fro.
Colton is trudging down the street, looking very small next to his kin. I guess it makes sense for him to be tiny. In order to live on Earth, he has to pass for a human. If he were actually human, though, he’d probably have serious pituitary gland issues.
Beginning my work, I draw in a deep fog to obscure the huts and the people. I thin the crowds on the streets and remove the huts completely, replacing them with a hilly landscape dotted with mushrooms. Finally, I set the date and time and add in the goats.
As if it were the goal all along, Colton begins serenely herding the beasts.
Yep, this is memory. Another person with an alibi.
Disappointed, I wake up.
Waving for Kain to follow, I tiptoe out of Colton’s bedroom and head directly for the exit.
Once we’re outside the giant’s quarters, I sanitize my finger. “He’s not guilty. This doesn’t look good for Eduardo and Nina.”
Kain looks grim. “Just connect with as many Councilors as you can. Albina is nearby, so you can start with her.”
I don’t object, and he leads me to a regular-sized steel door, which we enter.
Albina isn’t in her bed. Instead, there’s a note on the pillow:
Kain, I’m very sorry, but something came up. I’ll have to participate in the dream investigation tomorrow night.
Regards, Albina
“Sketchy,” I say. “Is she strong enough to rip someone apart?”
“No.” Kain heads out of Albina’s place. “She can break matter into nothing. If she’d used her power, we would’ve thought the victim had disappeared without a trace. It would’ve been dumb of her to leave bodies behind.”
We head to another subject’s quarters as I ask, “Isn’t it always a bad idea to leave bodies behind?”
“Unless you’re Albina, it might be hard to get rid of a body in this castle. But you have a point. It’s possible that the murderer is making a statement by leaving the bodies like this—in which case, it could be Albina. Somehow.”
We stop next to a new wooden door, and he holds it open for me.
“Is Gertrude on vampire blood?” I ask as casually as I can.
“Indeed.” He frowns. “Firth is the supplier—and the only reason I allow it is that it gives me power over her.”
“Is anyone else on the Council on vampire blood?” I ask, still striving for casualness.
“Not that I know of.” His fangs extend. “And Gertrude is the only person on the Council I can glamour the way I did earlier. I couldn’t, for example, make Colton rip Gemma apart.”
“Of course he’d say that,” Felix whispers. “If I were you, I wouldn’t dismiss that theory so quickly.”
Ignoring Felix, I scowl at Kain. “Don’t get touchy. Isn’t it my job to think of all possibilities?”
“I’d rather you focus on the part of your job that’s in there.” He nods at the apartment.
As I step past him to enter, his fangs go away.
The sleeper in this bedroom is Isis, the Councilor who committed to healing Mom when I successfully accomplish my job.
Better be on my best behavior.
Silently, I wait until Isis goes into REM sleep before I enter the dream world. Once there, I check to make sure she shows up in the tower of sleepers and get back out, moving carefully in order not to wake her. I’ll only snoop on Isis’s dreams if explicitly ordered. Her power is too valuable for me to upset her. In fact, if she turns out to be the killer, I might blackmail her to save Mom instead of telling the Council about her guilt. Not that I think a healer is likely to be behind it.
The sleeper Kain takes me to next isn’t familiar to me. Again, we wait for REM sleep, then I make the link and get out of the dream world.
The next Councilor I recognize. It’s Hekima, the grandfatherly illusionist. He reaches another phase of REM sleep in minutes, and I pop into his dream and right back out again, as I did with the other Councilors.
The following person I kind of know as well. Though we’ve never spoken personally, I’ve seen him in Ariel’s dreams. His puckish—or more accurately, satyric—face is distinctive. It’s Chester, and he’s a probability manipulator—or trickster, as his kind
are locally nicknamed. A probability manipulator isn’t someone I’d want as an enemy, so I carefully make a connection and tiptoe out of his bedroom.
The next Councilor is a beautiful woman who takes over an hour to get to REM sleep.
The person after her only takes five minutes.
I keep making connections over and over, until we walk into the bedroom of a thin man who opens his eyes and glares at us.
“It’s morning,” Kain says as we scurry out of the thin guy’s abode. “You’ll have to continue tonight.”
Yay, me. I get a little reprieve.
We head back toward my quarters.
“Was that most of them?” I ask when we get there.
“Ninety percent of the Council.” He opens the door for me. “You thought you wouldn’t have enough power, but what we actually ran out of is time.”
I stop in the doorway. “I’m game to see if anyone is sleeping in.”
He shakes his head. “I promised everyone you won’t be an inconvenience. Besides, actually making a connection is less important than making them think you did so.”
“What do you mean?” I enter the place and plop down on a chair.
He remains by the door. “My hope is that the killer thinks you’re a threat. They’ll move to eliminate the threat, and that’s when they’ll reveal themselves to me.”
I scowl at him. “So I’m bait? You’re hoping they’ll try to kill me so you’ll know who it is?”
“Me or one of the Enforcers will protect you,” he says dismissively. “And you’ll get your reward.”
“If I live.”
He gives me a level look. “I swear your mother will be healed even if you’re dead.”
“Well, that’s morbidly reassuring,” Felix whispers.
Some of my anger dissipates. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
Not bothering with a “you’re welcome,” Kain leaves, and I hear the lock turn in the door.
I guess I’m a prisoner. Oh, well.
The first thing I do is grab some bananas and start munching, consuming one after another while ignoring Felix’s jibes.
“When you’re done with that monkey business, it would be a good time for a nap,” he says when I get to banana number six. “I sure could use one.”
I finish the banana, clean my hands, and take out my phone to text: You go ahead.
“I will,” he says with a yawn. “Wait, why are you texting? Do you think there’re listening devices in the room?”
Can’t dismiss the possibility, I text. If Kain doesn’t trust me, I wouldn’t put it past him.
“Good point. Enjoy your nap.” He yawns again. “Feel free to visit me in the dream world if you feel like it.”
I make a thumbs-up gesture in front of my lapel camera.
“Talk later.” I hear rustling as he puts down his headset.
I down some water and try to decide what to do next. Napping is out of the question; the vampire blood I imbibed won’t let that happen. Since I haven’t run out of power, I decide to finish Valerian’s gig—then maybe reward myself with a visit to the dream version of my employer.
Petting Pom’s fur, I enter the prerequisite trance. On the way to the tower of sleepers, I update Pom on the investigation and tell him what I’m about to do.
“You’re lucky,” he says when we reach Bernard’s nook. “He’s sleeping in today.”
“I don’t feel very lucky.” I eye the clouds around Bernard’s head. “His trauma loop consists of more than one dream, it seems.”
“This one is less severe than the last,” Pom says, sniffing at the clouds. “Still, I’m not going in there with you. Sorry.”
I shrug and reach out to touch Bernard.
Chapter Twenty-Three
A woman—Bernard’s wife—is angrily packing a suitcase.
“Don’t go.” Bernard tugs on his messy beard, his hair disheveled around his tired face. “Please don’t.”
“I can’t live this way,” she says without looking at him. “That killer is more important to you than either me or your living daughter.”
A killer? What a pity. Sounds like the kidnapping I witnessed ended in the worst possible way.
Bernard’s hands tighten into fists, but instead of yelling at his wife—or worse—he turns on his heel and slams the door behind him so hard it nearly flies off the hinges.
He storms into his office, where I can see the scope of his obsession. The place is completely covered with newspaper clippings. On the wall is a map with pushpins, and there’s even a collection of milk cartons with pictures of kids on them.
The good news for me is that this section of the trauma loop looks to be over. The bad news is that there’s at least one more coming. I can feel it approaching.
A familiar pressure appears on my arm that has nothing to do with the dream. Confirming my suspicion, my cheek stings from a slap.
Just like it happened the last time, my dreamwalking trance breaks, and I open my eyes back in the waking world.
Filth stands over me with a satisfied expression on his pale, weaselly face.
“Kain said you need to save your powers for the investigation,” he snarls. “And here I come and catch you entertaining yourself.”
I debate lying that I was doing my job but decide not to risk it. Resisting the urge to sanitize the skin he touched, I say in the nicest tone I can manage, “I’m glad you’re here.”
He looks at me as if I’ve sprouted an elephant trunk. Then a nasty smile splits his face. “Do you need something from me?” he asks in what he probably thinks is a seductive tone. It’s repugnant. “Some precious liquid, perhaps?”
I fight my gag reflex. “Actually, I need information. It’s related to what you’re talking about.”
“Oh?” He cocks an arrogant eyebrow.
I remind myself that I’m talking to a killing machine and that it wouldn’t be wise to punch him in that weaselly mug. “Keep in mind I’m asking for the investigation, okay?” I take a breath. “Is it true you supply Gertrude with said precious liquid?”
His fangs show up, making his face truly frightening—less weasel and more wolverine.
I surreptitiously back away. “I ask because Kain told me as much. I just want to double-check, so—”
“Kain is the only reason you’re not a blood bag. Push me again, and I’ll risk his wrath.” His gaze drops to the vein pulsing in my neck. “I’d love to show you your place in the food chain.”
I figure I can safely take this reaction as a yes. Time for some reconciliation. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
He stares at me the way I plan to look at a proper Gomorran meal after all these Earth bananas.
I decide to throw him another olive branch. “Your alibi checked out, by the way. I don’t know if Kain told you that.”
His expression doesn’t change.
Clearing my very dry throat, I say, “Is there a place where the Council keeps records of things like voting, the Mandate ceremonies, or when each member joined the Council?”
Might as well dig through some files, like a real detective.
Filth glares at me for another second, then turns on his heel and strides to the door.
I grab a bunch of bananas and follow him through the maze of corridors, keeping a few feet between us at all times, just in case.
He stops when we reach a set of doors with a fancy design carved into them. Without a word, he opens them for me.
As soon as I step inside, he slams them shut behind me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Relieved to be out of his sight, I sanitize all the places where he touched me and look around, whistling appreciatively. This is the largest library of paper books I’ve ever seen. How many trees died to make this happen? On Gomorrah, a tree costs as much as a week of Mom’s medical bills, so most people read electronically. Only the obscenely wealthy enjoy printed books.
“Anything interesting happening?” Felix asks in a gravelly voice. “I c
ouldn’t fall asleep after all.”
Not much, I text him. About to look through some records.
The faint sound of typing emanates from the earpiece. When he’s not hacking Earth banks and such, Felix makes his living working for humans as a software engineer and, ironically, as a cybersecurity consultant.
I advance deeper into the library. In the back, I spot a person sitting in a lounge chair. He’s holding a bagel in one hand and a paper book in the other.
I know him. It’s Chester, the probability manipulator whose dream I entered a few hours ago—and he’s not alone.
Felix stops typing. “Wow.”
You can say that again. Next to Chester lies an enormous white lion ravaging something that looks suspiciously like a chunk of goat. At least I hope it’s a goat and not, say, an unlucky monk.
I stop several yards away and warily eye the tableau. Neither man nor lion are paying attention to me, so I speak up. “Excuse me. I hope I’m not interrupting your breakfast.”
The lion’s ear twitches, but he keeps eating his grisly meal.
Chester puts down his book, revealing a satyric grin. “If it isn’t the detective extraordinaire. Do you have questions for me as part of your investigation?”
I nervously peel one of the bananas. “I’m just here to review some records.”
Chester’s grin widens. “A coincidence, huh?”
“Doesn’t he look just like the Joker from the Arkham video game franchise?” Felix whispers. “It’s Ariel’s favorite.”
I smile at Chester and say politely, “You’re a probability manipulator, right?”
“You looked into me?” He scratches the lion behind the ear as one would a cat. The beast doesn’t seem to mind, perhaps because it’s too busy with the meal, or perhaps because Chester’s luck prevents him from getting mauled.
I swallow a piece of banana without chewing. “I created a dream link with you while you slept last night. It’s only prudent for me to know more about you.”
This is a lie, of course. I can’t say what powers many of the Councilors I connected with have. Kain didn’t bother telling me that.
