Sweet Dreams

by J. Clarice

  “Stop avoiding it, Cain,” Scarlett shouted as she followed his every move. He’d begun walking towards the wall and if he reached it, she knew she would have failed.

  “You’re being selfish! Dreammares wouldn’t have to be in hiding anymore, they’d have a place in Ever Realm.”

  “No.” Cain’s refusal thundered throughout the field and grey tendrils spilled from his hands.

  Scarlett ground her jaw as her nostrils flared. “So that’s it? You’re going to leave Ever Realm to die? Ruin the chances of Dreammares and Dreamers ever coming together as one? All because you choose to turn your back out of fear?”

  Cain stilled as Scarlett bitterly spat the words. He turned around but before he could begin, another voice made him halt.

  “Cain.”

  Trevor’s deep yet calming voice paused the storming rage between Scarlett and Cain. They looked around and found Liam and Jayden behind Trevor while more and more Dreammares gathered. They heard it all.

  “Trevor.” At Cain’s warning, Trevor solemnly shook his head.

  “I have been by your side with every decision, but this time, your thinking is not clear.” Trevor stepped forward and glanced at Scarlett. “If we were to aide in this fight, we wouldn’t have to stay hidden anymore. We’d be able to roam freely as we all wished. We will forever be in your debt for what you’ve done for us, but let us take this stand towards what could possibly be a better future.”

  Trevor always had a way with words. Scarlett felt her shoulders loosen as she heard he was on her side. The other Dreammares nodded in agreement with Trevor. Scarlett knew Cain felt the pressure, which is why she’d told Jayden from beforehand to spread the word of possibly a new alliance.

  Everyone held their breath as they awaited Cain’s response. He swept his gaze before landing on Scarlett. She saw his decision before he said it himself.

  “No.”

  A stillness settled over the crowd as Cain’s answer registered.

  “Feel free to do as you wish, I will not take any part in this.” Cain flew out of the Refuge without another word.

  Trevor heavily shook his head and approached Scarlett.

  “He’ll come around,” Trevor gave a wide smile. “He’s always been a hard head.”

  A hand was placed on Scarlett’s shoulder and she looked over to find Jayden.

  “We want to do this,” Jayden declared as she glanced at the other Dreammares.

  “Tell us where to go, Ms. Blackdall.”

  Scarlett gratefully smiled at Trevor. Cain may not be present, but she got what she needed.

  Twenty-Six

  Cher and the Officials awaited Scarlett on the edge of Ever Realm.

  Scarlett stepped out of the Dark Realm and nodded at her mother as she straightened her shoulders. Trevor followed next and swept his gaze across the Dreamers.

  “Where is Cain?” Cher cocked a brow as she met Scarlett’s eyes.

  “Cain will not be joining. I’ve gathered the rest of the Dreammares that are willing to help and start anew.”

  Nodding, Cher returned her gaze to Trevor. “We are grateful that you’ve chosen to aid us in this war. Times are changing, Dreammares will be welcome to reside in Ever Realm as they please.”

  Her voice was a soft yet firm lull and she gracefully tipped her chin to Trevor. He stood loose and his shoulders held no tension. He knew that they needed them more. “As long as our people are not harmed by yours, we will willingly aid and fight by your side.”

  “You have my word,” promised Cher.

  Trevor tipped his head towards the leader of the Dreamers and with the deal set, the Dreammares stepped out from the Dark Realm.

  More or so, two hundred Dreammares stood side by side as one. The Officials let their gaze sweep over them all. As much as they weren’t fond of the alliance, they secretly gripped onto the glimmer of hope that began to shine through. This was life or death and with the Dreammares on their side, their chances of surviving have risen.

  “Dreammares, my Officials have made a residence for you to stay in while you’re here. We thought you’d like to settle in together. Before you are introduced to the rest of my people, my Officials will take you to the headquarters where you will be staying.”

  Two Officials rose from beside Cher. “Officials Brenda and Grant at your service. If you’ll please, follow us.”

  Trevor moved to follow the Officials before he turned his head towards Scarlett. His eyes shone brightly and a smile graced his lips. She knew he was grateful for this opportunity and that the Dreammares needed it. Even if their leader couldn’t see it.

  Scarlett returned the expression as the slightest bit of warmth filled her.

  The sight of the Dreammares finally out of the dark and in Ever Realm was one they all thought they wouldn’t see.

  ∞

  Scarlett followed her mother back to the Center. Two Officials accompanied them and stayed a couple of feet behind.

  Cher got lost in her thoughts and Scarlett knew they were of her father. Her mother lost her partner, husband, and father of her children. With everything moving quickly, nobody had time to properly grieve. They had a war to prepare for.

  “The authorized have been rounded up ma’am,” informed one of the Officials.

  Cher snapped out of her thoughts and thanked them. She continued forward and sped her walk. Something ugly dropped itself into the pit of Scarlett’s stomach at the thought of one of their own betraying them. She knew her mother felt it too.

  They reached the Center and headed inside to their meeting room. A Dreamer approached Cher and handed her a shortlist. Scarlett knew what it was without asking.

  The authorized.

  Cher’s hand shook as she read the list and inhaled a shaky breath. Before Scarlett could ask what was wrong, the door to the meeting room opened and armored Dreamers brought in eight others. They showed no signs of a struggle and sported faces of confusion. The door closed behind them only to burst open again as two Dreamers dragged in a fighting Jenna.

  “Let go of me!”

  Scarlett stepped forward as the ugly feeling in her stomach solidified to dread. “Jenna?”

  Jenna stopped fighting her holders and froze.

  A hand was placed on Scarlett’s arm and she glanced back as she was pulled by her mother. Cher’s expression was not one of surprise, but of anguish as affliction filled her eyes.

  “We found her packing up her things and she’s resisted every step.” The Dreamer’s grunted out.

  Cher kept her eyes trained on Jenna who looked like a complete mess. She wore her yellow armor which harbored stains and marks and her face was pale with dark circles lining her eyes. Jenna’s normally up-do hair was undone with visible knots.

  “Officials, release the others.”

  The rest of the authorized was led out of the room and only Jenna, Scarlett, Cher, and two Officials remained. Silence fell upon the room like a thick blanket when Scarlett caught on. Her heart dropped from her chest and her knees weakened.

  ‘No…it couldn’t be.’

  “Why?” Cher softly whispered. “Why did you do it?”

  Her voice broke and Jenna whimpered as she hung her head in shame. Cher had known, deep within her that she’d been betrayed by her eldest and she cracked.

  “You’re the reason, your father and my husband, my partner is dead.”

  Scarlett choked at her mother’s words. She couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that it was her sister Her eyes glossed while Jenna broke into sobs. Their mother stayed still as she peered down at Jenna with raw disappointment.

  “You’ll have to live with the fact that you killed your father and murdered many more. All the while sentencing the rest of our people to near death.” Cher’s voice grew coarse as she relayed what Jenna had done. Scarlett’s pity slowly dissolved.

  “What was worth the death of our father? Of more than half our people?” Scarlett asked as she couldn’t think of anything the Dark Realm cou
ld offer her.

  Jenna could barely comprehend a full sentence as her sobs and hiccups filled the air. Scarlett and her mother stoned their expressions at the one that betrayed them all.

  “I was helping you! Ren told me that Jayden was dangerous and influencing you. She’s a Dreammare, Scarlett! They can’t be trusted!”

  “And Nightmares can? How does that even make sense to you Jenna?” Scarlett brought her knuckles to her teeth as her blood boiled.

  “They said they’d leave us alone if I helped release their people! They’d stop their rising activity since they’re after something else. The Dreammares.” Jenna cried. “They said they’d leave us alone.”

  “And that was reason enough for you to turn over your authorization and risk everybody? You don’t even know the Dreammares!” Scarlett’s voice rose.

  Knowing she was running out, Jenna continued to spill. “The leader goes by Raxon and I hadn’t met him directly or even know what he looks like. He’s kept his rein and identity hidden from all. He’s obsessed with Dreammares. Ren is the one that got me in contact with them.” Jenna’s tears ceased as she realized her ranting was being met with silence.

  At the sound of Ren’s name, Cher snapped her face towards an Official to her left and sharply nodded. They immediately left the room while activating their collar. Cher knew Jenna couldn’t have accomplished this on her own. She’d have needed the help of someone older and more sophisticated to pull through with it and Ren perfectly fit the description.

  Scarlett remembered how Jayden reacted when they last ran into Ren. She’d known something was wrong and she was right. Ren was a traitor and a rat. Scarlett didn’t recognize the woman before her and disgust ran through her veins at the thought of her sister making a deal with the Dark Realm.

  “Please, I didn’t mean to! I’ll do anything!” Jenna pleaded.

  Scarlett couldn’t stand the cries and her mother couldn’t either.

  “Jenna Blackdall, for your crime of treason, you are being banished to the Nether Realms. You will live with the deaths of others and your father, hanging on your conscience.” The words chilled Scarlett to the core and paralyzed Jenna with fear. Cher clenched her jaw as she finished and held back the tears that threatened to spill.

  “Mom, please, no. Don’t do this.” Jenna’s face scrunched with fear as panic assailed her. She tried to yank against the Dreamers holding her but found no give.

  The Nether Realms were unknown planes. Those who went were left to fend for themselves as it resided other nightmares and monsters and had no rules or morals. The Nether Realms was the badlands and worse than the Dark Realm with its never-ending land. Jenna’s human body would be killed and she could either choose to remain dead or live on as a Dreamer in the Nether Realms. In the end, it’s the sentenced one’s choice of death.

  Not one bit of Scarlett felt for her sister at the order of her death sentence. Jenna wronged them all and would have to live or die with the consequences. She killed too many and sentenced many others to death. She made a foolish bargain with the Devil himself.

  “Is this why you’ve been withdrawn from Chad?” Scarlett asked as she stared her sister in the face. Jenna’s gaze couldn’t meet Scarlett’s and she stilled at the mention of Chad.

  “He’s alive? I didn’t mean to hurt him.” Jenna whispered as more guilt washed over her features.

  Every muscle in Scarlett tensed at her sister's words. Bitterness filled her mouth. “You… You’re the one who cut Chad?”

  Jenna’s body heaved as she tried to hold back another round of sobs. She was drowning in her guilt and grief.

  “I didn’t mean to! I didn’t mean to!” Her cries fell upon deaf ears.

  ‘I’ve truly lost my sister.’

  Cher looked at Jenna with disregard as her heart hardened against her pleas. She made a grave mistake and she’d have to pay for it.

  “You left him, after possibly ending his life.” Scarlett huffed out a breath in disbelief. “Your partner! Your damn mate Jenna! How could you be so stupid?”

  Scarlett yelled as ugly tears ran down Jenna’s face. Tears of a traitor, a murderer, and a coward.

  “It wasn’t just me… I was tricked. Please, mom, I’ll do anything.”

  Jenna had nothing else to share, she didn’t even know what the Dark Realm’s operation was. In the end, she sold them out for no reason. She held the end of the rope in her hands as her mother and little sister watched her fall in the hole she dug.

  Her mother ordered the final words. “Take her away.”

  Numbness overcame Scarlett as she watched fear and desperation hit her older sister like an icy wall. Jenna screamed and sneered at the Dreamers dragging her out of the room.

  “No…NO, LET GO OF ME! PLEASE!”

  Jenna’s hidden lies came to light and they burned everyone as they shone through.

  Twenty-Seven

  Cher was hollowed from the inside out.

  As they dragged a screeching Jenna away, Cher didn’t utter a word as another chunk of her heart withered away.

  A part of her was glad she’d forced Grandma Ruth back to Earth before Jenna’s sins were found out. The other part wished she had someone of older wisdom to take her place. Their business was far from done. As much as they wanted to hide away, Cher had Dreammares to take care of and people to inform.

  Cher glanced at her daughter and the dam she tried so hard to hold up collapsed. Scarlett welcomed her with open arms as they held each other. Silent cries left Cher as she struggled to choke down her sobs. Numbness infused her as the fate she gave Jenna filled her mind.

  Cher was horrified at the punishment, but she knew Jenna’s sins couldn’t go without a harsh one. She knew her daughter would choose to continue in the Nether Realms. Deep down, she felt her will to continue living even if it was in the most hellish Realm. Jenna wouldn’t take the easy way out.

  Scarlett rubbed Cher’s back and smoothed some of her loose hair.

  “It’ll be okay Mom,” Scarlett murmured as a few tears fell from her eyes. “We’ll be okay.”

  Cher moved back from Scarlett and faced the door. She needed to be there for her daughter. She couldn’t lean on her like a crutch. If she, herself struggled under the weight of everything, what would Scarlett feel if she was leaning on her all the time?

  Cher wiped her cheeks and let out a shaky breath. She glanced at Scarlett with an outreached hand.

  “We will be alright, Scar.”

  She couldn’t give up now. Cher knew they’d get through it together.

  The other’s deaths would not go in vain.

  ∞

  Five hundred Dreamers were bustling inside the room where the meeting would take place. Every Dreamer left fit in that one room and the meaning of it hung clear over everyone’s heads. All were present, even the injured, as they waited to hear from their leader on what would come of them next.

  Cher and Scarlett visited the Dreammares at one of the neighboring Centers. They’d gotten settled and filled in about the ongoings of their situation. Cher relayed the guidelines to the Dreammares as everybody needed to be on the same page.

  It didn’t slide by Cher how Scarlett presented herself. Pride swelled through her at the sight of Scarlett holding herself together. She had every reason to leave and not be at the forefront with her, yet there she was. Making sure all the Dreammares were well and ready for the meeting.

  ‘She’ll make a fine leader... If only Roger were here to see how strong his daughter was.’

  The thought shredded Cher. They’d underestimated what Scarlett could withstand. They only wanted to keep her safe. Her last conversation with Roger replayed in her mind. He told her the information he’d been withholding and while Cher wanted to shout at him, she could see where he was coming from. He truly had pure intentions in his heart and the memory tore at hers knowing he won’t get to see Scarlett rise above it all.

  Although titles weren’t used much, Cher saw her daughter as a young
Queen.

  Cher closed her eyes and paused before entering the meeting. As weak as she wanted to be, she needed to appear strong for her people. Cher took deep breaths before nodding at Scarlett.

  She’s ready.

  They walked in together and a small podium was set up in front of them. Silence fell like a wave across the room as the people caught sight of their leader. Cher saw the way they eyed Scarlett and remembered they’d seen her display of powers in the battle. It’d have to be addressed.

  She swept her gaze around the room and made her place behind the podium. A pressure built behind her eyes as she was met with haunted and sorrow filled faces.

  “Dreamers, as you all know, we were gravely attacked two days ago which resulted in the deaths of –,” She briefly paused as her words caught in her throat. “Many loved ones and Roger Blackdall. My partner and your leader.”

  Many lowered their heads in remembrance of the fallen ones as small cries broke out.

  “As much as it pains me to say this, we will not be able to mourn for any longer. My Dreamers, we have a war in our midst and the Dark Realm could strike at any time.” Cher’s voice cracked. “I’ve failed you, as a leader, and protector. It will not happen again for as long as I breathe. For this reason, I have taken necessary measures in ensuring we stand a fighting chance.”

  “We are allying with the Dreammares as they will be joining us in this fight against the Dark Realm.”

  Dreamers stirred at the announcement and murmurs rose throughout the room. “Before you protest, acknowledge this. Look around you.” Cher swept her arm towards them. “Take a good look at my daughter and I. As you already have witnessed, Scarlett Blackdall is a Dreammare… ascended from me. ”

  Gasps filled the air and disgust filled some faces.

  “You’re one of them?”

  “How could you lie to us?!”