Aspen and the Dream Walkers

by Caroline Swart

  Chapter 18

  No School

  The next morning, Aspen got up bright and early. Sunlight teased small patterns across her bedding, and she stretched her slim arms high above her head. The headboard knocked against her knuckles. It was odd to have a headboard. She was used to the feel of the cold wall before, and she'd never had bright sunlight in her room. It would take some getting used to, but she loved it.

  Leeman had told her to stay at home. He didn't want her going to school until he had a chance to speak to a lawyer he knew. Stephan wouldn't bother them again once his friend was done.

  The air in her room was warm, and she hopped out of bed and freshened up in the bathroom. Thirty minutes later she'd washed, brushed her teeth, and wore a pair of jeans and a sleeveless blue top. The silver watch looked dainty on her pale skin, and she tilted the ring that Dylan had given her in the light and smiled as it glittered back at her. She brushed her pale hair until it shone, and twisted it into a ponytail before going downstairs.

  Norma looked refreshed and calmer than she was yesterday. She'd added a touch of makeup to her face and wore a pretty yellow summer dress.

  "You're looking good, Mom," Aspen said as she entered the kitchen.

  "Thank you. I had a good night's sleep and feel so much better. Is your room okay?"

  "Yes, thanks, it couldn't be better. I'm so much happier here."

  "We made the right move, didn't we, honey?" Norma placed a bowl of cereal on the table and poured milk into it.

  "Of course we did."

  She handed Aspen a spoon. "Eat up."

  "Thanks, Mom. What do you want to do today?"

  "I want to bake a cake. I haven't made one in ages, and I'm in the right mood. What do you think?"

  "Great idea, I'll help. What can I do?" Aspen scraped the last of the cereal from the bowl and headed for the sink.

  "Get the eggs from the fridge and the flour in the cabinet. I'm defrosting meat for dinner tonight. Leeman's fridge is so full that I don't need to go shopping for another few days at least."

  Norma opened a drawer and retrieved utensils for baking.

  The front door opened and voices hummed in the entrance hall. After washing the bowl, Aspen dried her hands on a towel and went to investigate.

  Her heart pounded instantly as she caught sight of Dylan talking to Leeman. He looked incredible in a pair of jeans and a tight black T-shirt. The material hugged his upper arms, showing off his biceps to perfection, and his dark hair gleamed. He stopped talking and stared at her intently.

  Leeman turned around and noticed Aspen standing behind him. "Princess, Dylan came to see how you were doing."

  "Hey, Dylan, come on in." With a breathy voice, she motioned for him to join her. "My mom's in the kitchen. We're about to bake a cake."

  "Perfect timing." He grinned and walked toward her.

  The faintest trace of soap enveloped her and he neared, and she breathed in his clean smell. His hand touched the small of her back as they walked and electricity danced along her spine. She was conscious of every step he took behind her, but she managed to lead him to where her mother stood, sifting flour over a bowl on the table.

  "Mom, Dylan's here."

  Norma looked up.

  "By the way," Aspen added, "he's a Dream Walker as well."

  Her mother's eyes flickered in surprise, but she recovered quickly. "Hey there, come on in. Honey, get him something to drink. I'm making a chocolate cake." She pointed to a chair at the table, and Dylan eased into it as Aspen opened the fridge door.

  "Thank you, ma'am," he said politely.

  Aspen poured a glass of juice and placed it in front of Dylan. His eyes followed her as she returned the juice bottle to the fridge, then grabbed the baking pan to grease it with butter for the cake mixture.

  "Mom, Dylan and some of our friends have been helping fix up the house that Dad built for us in Lanta."

  "Oh, really? Well, thank you so much, Dylan. How much longer will it take?" Norma placed the dirty utensils in the sink and walked back to the counter. She cracked two eggs on the side of the bowl of cake mixture, and stirred.

  "We've been working on it for a while, so hopefully it'll be finished soon. I've asked Demothi if you'll be able to see it, and he said he'd let me know soon," Dylan told her.

  "That would be incredible, thank you." She dribbled liquid from a small bottle into the bowl, releasing the scent of vanilla into the kitchen.

  "Mom, would you mind if I leave and go to work on the house for a bit?" Aspen threw the buttered paper in the trash can and placed the cake pan next to her mom.

  Norma smiled. "Of course not, honey. Just make sure you're back for supper at six tonight. I'm making beef casserole, and there'll be chocolate cake for dessert."

  "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

  Leeman walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "If you're late, then I'll have to eat your share."

  "No way. I'll be here, Uncle Leeman. See you all later." She placed her hand on Dylan's shoulder and zapped the dream catcher. Within seconds, the two stood in her father's house.

  "Wow, warn me next time." Dylan's eyes widened and his mouth gaped. He'd grabbed her arm as they'd traveled and he let it go slowly.

  "Sorry." With a mischievous smile, she left him in the living room to walk into the kitchen. The room was sparkling clean and neat; it was such a beautiful place.

  Life was good right now. Aspen was in a fantastic mood, and the day couldn't get much better. Her mom had left Stephan and they lived with her real uncle in an incredible house and they were safe. She was in her dad's old home with Dylan and she didn't have to go to school for a few days. Yeah, life was perfect.

  Musing over the changes in her life, she felt Dylan's presence next to her. "I've run out of paint," he said, "and I think we need some more furniture polish from the store."

  The sound of his deep voice next to her ear made her shiver. He had such an effect on her, and she glanced over her shoulder at him. He looked so handsome in that tight black T-shirt. It looked like he'd run his fingers through his dark hair recently, and his smile showed perfect white teeth. Her heart pounded as he stepped closer.

  "I think Ginny broke a mop, so we'll have to replace that too," he added.

  Aspen sighed. "Okay, let's go."

  She opened the front door and skipped down the steps into the lush grass outside. The air was hot and dry, and the sky was light. Dylan walked down the steps and surprised her by threading his fingers through hers. He pulled her along and she laughed as her skin hummed pleasantly from the current in his hands.

  There was no reason for him to keep holding her hand, but he did so until they reached the village, and she couldn't be happier.

  The small village looked like a scene in an old Western movie. Wagons drawn by horses made their way slowly past the general store, and the only road through town was dusty, with no sign of tar. A few Dream Walkers were in the street, and small children raced past and shrieked with joy. Someone played a piano nearby, and the notes tinkled softly in the air.

  Mona's shop was to the left of them, but they walked past it to reach the store at the end of the road. As they climbed the wooden steps of the shop, a loud noise rumbled behind her, and she turned around. Dylan's hand fell from hers as a group of horses thundered down the road.

  Ruby's red hair rippled in the wind, making her look like a goddess on the back of a roan steed. She maneuvered the horse expertly into the open space in front of the shop, and sprang nimbly from the saddle. The huge beast snorted with exertion and tossed his head back. His eyes widened as air rushed into his lungs, and Aspen's good mood faded quickly.

  "Dylan." The word slipped out of Ruby's red lips like a caress.

  "Hey, Rube."

  "I'm so glad I found you here," she said as her green eyes glowed. With a flick of her hands, she drew attention to her flat stomach by retying the ends of her white shirt into a knot above her navel. The skin
on her midriff was smooth and tanned, and she tilted her head to toss her long locks back.

  Ray trotted up behind her and guided his monstrous black horse next to Ruby's. "Aspen!" he shouted. "You're back. I'm so glad you're here." He grinned and focused his attention on her, and her cheeks reddened at his frank appraisal.

  Jumping off the massive animal, he patted its heaving flanks. Cole took the reins from his friend and Caden, the Water Walker she'd met before, remained on his horse as it trotted up behind the group.

  Ray marched up the steps and swung Aspen off her feet in a massive bear hug. "You haven't been at school and I've missed you, pretty girl."

  Aspen laughed. Maybe her mood wouldn't be ruined after all. Ray could charm the birds out of the trees if he set his mind to it.

  She pretended to struggle out of his arms, but he kept her off the ground against his chest. Dylan stiffened next to her, and Ruby climbed the stairs to join them.

  "Put me down, you big oaf," she said with a chuckle. "What are you doing here?"

  His eyes twinkled as he squeezed her, and then he set her down on the landing. He reached into his jeans and whipped a piece of paper from the pocket. "Our ma needed some things from the store, and I'm not upset that I had to come and get them anymore. As far as I can tell, this shopping trip just got a whole lot better."

  Aspen glanced over his shoulder to see Dylan's eyes darken.

  Ruby walked up to Dylan and before Aspen could step away from Ray, she'd hooked her arm around his waist and had slipped right up against him.

  "Walk me in?" She smiled.

  Dylan's nostrils flared as he glared at Ray. He looked down at Ruby and hugged her tightly against his chest. "It's so nice to see you again."

  A shiver snaked down Aspen's back as she watched the two of them. Why would he look at Ruby like that and not her? She hadn't asked Ray to be so friendly. Dylan had held her hand a few moments ago, for heaven's sake. It was still warm from his touch.

  They swept past her and she was sure that Ruby was putting on a show. Surely she didn't think that Aspen was jealous? Hah! She wound her arm around a surprised Ray and walked into the store. He didn't waste any time and pressed her to his side. A lump formed in her throat and she hoped that she hadn't encouraged him by mistake.

  As they walked along the aisles, she peeked over his shoulder at Dylan and Ruby. Everything that Dylan said seemed to make her laugh, and her face was beaming with pleasure.

  The sound of her laughter made Aspen's jaw clench, and she tightened her grip on Ray's waist. His arm remained on her shoulder.

  After a long while, Dylan hoisted a can of paint onto the counter along with a mop and a container of polish. He asked the shop keeper to have it delivered to her dad's house.

  Once Ray had found the flour that his mother wanted, he grabbed it and raised the package in the air. He hugged her spontaneously, and Aspen allowed him to wrap his arm around her shoulder again. She looked up to see Dylan staring at her darkly before he pulled Ruby against his body.

  "It's going to be Lavendula soon. Do you want to hunt with me?" He spoke against Ruby's hair while leveling his gaze on Aspen.

  "I'd like nothing better."

  Aspen couldn't bear to watch the two of them any longer, and released herself from Ray's hold to stride out of the store.

  Caden had dismounted and held the reins of Ruby's horse. He didn't look happy when she exited the store with Dylan, but Aspen was too upset to wonder why. The familiar thrum of energy sizzled down her arms. She had to stop being so emotional or she would lose control of the power inside her.

  Ray walked out and placed the flour and a few other items in a saddlebag that hung from the side of his black horse. "Are you going to hunt with me?" he asked Aspen. Walking over to her, he winced as he tried to touch her.

  "Ouch, I thought your wristband stopped you from shocking people?"

  "I'm sorry."

  "Dylan, you can ride with me." Ruby tried to pull him toward her horse, but he wouldn't budge. He stared at Aspen.

  "I'll have to use Ray's horse. Aspen won't be able to sit behind Ray on the saddle. She hasn't learned to shut off her power, and he'll be shocked until she can control it."

  Aspen's cheeks burned with embarrassment as he spoke.

  "You can't be serious?" Ruby rolled her eyes.

  "Ruby will ride with me," Caden offered. "You can use her horse."

  Aspen turned to look at him. He was a tall Water Walker with sun-streaked blond hair and pale eyes, and he walked confidently toward Dylan as he spoke.

  "Absolutely not!" Ruby exclaimed furiously.

  Caden ignored her and handed her horse's reins to Dylan. He marched over to Ruby, and his lean fingers wrapped around her wrist as he pulled her toward his dappled horse.

  Dylan didn't hesitate after he'd grabbed the reins and mounted Ruby's horse quickly. He held out his arms to Aspen. "Let me help you up."

  The tension in the air was noticeable, and it took a lot for her to move forward. Once she was next to him, Dylan reached down and swung her onto the saddle behind him. Her hands trembled in anger, and rather than wrap them around his stomach, she kept them on her thighs while he nudged the huge animal away from the store.

  She was upset because of the attention he'd given Ruby. How could he have said that she couldn't control her power? The small hairs on her arms rose, and her fists throbbed with electricity as her anger grew.

  Ray mounted his horse in silence, and the band of riders trotted out of the small village.

  After a while, Dylan spoke up. "Relax." His voice had the opposite effect and made her jump.

  "What did you say?" she croaked.

  "Relax, you're wound up like a spring." He turned in his seat and looked at her. "Touch me."

  "What?" She gasped.

  "Touch my skin. It will help you to release your energy. Ray really worked you up, because your eyes turned silver when you spoke to him. Your hair is standing on end." He pointed to strands that had escaped her ponytail.

  Why wouldn't he stop insulting her? Now he was saying that her hair looked bad. Aspen was so furious that she couldn't speak. Before she could stop herself, she'd lifted Dylan's shirt away from his waist and placed her whole hand on his bare skin. She wanted to shock him and make it hurt as badly as he'd hurt her.

  Her body trembled as her fingers came into contact with his smooth skin. Electricity danced through her fingertips, and Dylan inhaled suddenly, as though she'd touched him with an ice block. Instead of hurting him, her blood sang, and all the pent-up electricity was absorbed like water in a sponge into his hard body. The current was sucked right out of her veins and then returned in a wave of warmth that glowed through her limbs. It left her winded. All the anger she'd felt was soaked up and given back in a calming charge of power. It was so good that she relaxed her chest weakly against his back.

  Dylan released a deep breath. "Does that feel better?"

  "What did you do to me?" Aspen's cheek touched his T-shirt as she spoke against his back.

  "We can discharge power this way instead of hurting others. Power Walkers use this to calm down. I can absorb your overload and give it back safely, so you don't lose the power. You'll be able to do the same with a bit of practice."

  Aspen dragged her chest away from his back and gazed around. They'd reached the river and Ruby sat ramrod straight in front of Caden. It looked as though they were arguing.

  The two were clearly in a heated discussion, and she swung a dainty foot over the saddle and slid down onto the ground. Caden mouthed something at her and then turned his horse away from the group. He dug his heels into the animal's side and galloped off angrily. Ruby was visibly upset and her shoulders shook as Ray jumped off his horse to speak to her. As he consoled his sister, the sky darkened and changed to lavender. The sticky sweet smell that Aspen hated permeated the air.

  Four Chancellors appeared from behind the tree trunks, but Dylan had his back to them and couldn't see them. Aspen t
ugged at his shirt and pointed them out. They were tall and skinny, their skin as pale as their blond hair.

  Without warning, Dylan pulled her from the horse and aimed a bolt of energy at the Chancellors, but they had an invisible force field protecting them. It was dome-shaped and the current struck it and ran like blue liquid down the sides.

  The Chancellors turned to face the Dream Walkers and raised their hands as they chanted. Aspen shouted as the gentle brook reared up into a giant wave next to them. Five slippery fingers of water took shape before them, and a huge watery hand sloped downward and plucked Ruby from the group.

  Ruby screamed and tried to strike the wet hand with fire, but water splashed over her and killed the flames. Within seconds, her long red hair had been plastered to her face and body, and she spluttered as water backed up in her throat. If someone didn't help her, Ruby would drown. The eerie hand held her in a firm grip and then submerged her under gallons of water.

  Aspen knew that the only way to stop the nightmare would be to stop the Chancellors. If Caden had been with them, he would have controlled the water, but the Fire and Power Walkers were the only ones who could attack the Chancellors now. Ashley and Cole sprayed the force field with fire, and Dylan shot bolts of current as fast as he could. He tried his best to wear the bubble down.

  "Help me, Aspen!" he cried.

  There was no time to think. The smell of smoke hung in the air, and water misted against her skin. Shuddering as energy curled through her body, she lifted her arms and aimed for the bubble. Dylan did the same, and together they blasted the invisible shield.

  It creaked and groaned, then exploded like a giant mirror that had cracked. The four Chancellors looked around in complete shock. Aiming her outstretched hands, she disintegrated them in a blast of electricity. The ground erupted, leaving a crater where they'd been a moment before.

  Just as suddenly, the watery hand evaporated and Ruby was dropped into the river. Stunned, she flailed in the water and gasped for air. Dylan jumped in and dragged her out onto the riverbank. Almost tenderly, he pushed strands of hair from her face. She looked so frail in his arms.

  Caden's horse thundered into the clearing. He jumped from the saddle before the animal had time to stop and pulled Ruby from Dylan's arms, pressing her against his chest.

  As everyone huddled around the soaked girl, Aspen decided it was time to leave. She grabbed her dream catcher and sent a small zap of power through it.

  Seconds later, she found herself back in Leeman's house.

  - - -

  The smell of meat stew hung appetizingly in the air as Aspen wandered into the kitchen. Her mother was busy at the stove, and she replaced a lid on a steaming pot and turned to face Aspen.

  "Hey, honey, I'm so glad you're back. You're just in time."

  Aspen pushed the vegetables and meat around on her plate once they were seated, but couldn't finish anything. Her appetite wasn't as good as it could be. After dinner, they gathered the plates and washed the dishes before she went upstairs to soak in the bath. Dressing in her fluffy slippers and pajamas, she joined her mother in the living room to watch television. Leeman had already left for Lanta.

  "This is the first time that I've been allowed to watch TV in the living room," she commented as her mom flicked through the channels.

  "I know. I'm so sorry, honey. I know that things were rough before, but they're changing now."

  "It's okay. I'm just happy that things are different."

  "You don't look very happy," her mother remarked. "What happened today? Do you want to talk about it?"

  Aspen sighed and sank back into the couch. She couldn't put her feet on the sofa yet; it was too soon and she didn't feel comfortable enough to do that in her uncle's house, even though she knew he wouldn't mind.

  "Does this have something to do with Dylan?" Norma prompted.

  She sighed again. "Yes."

  "He seems like a nice kid."

  After rolling her eyes, she looked at her mother. "He's not a kid, Mom."

  Norma's lips tilted into a half smile. "What did he do?"

  "Nothing, everything, argh! I don't know. I don't know what I want from him, Mom. He makes me happy and then he makes me angry. One minute I like him, and then I hate him in the next. I don't know what it is."

  She stood up and paced around the sofa. "There's this girl and she's so pretty. When she's around, it's like I don't exist. I can't stand her. She's always hanging on to him."

  "Does he fix up her dad's house and go to visit her like he does with you?" Norma asked softly.

  "No, I don't know. Maybe he does, I don't know. She's got this brother who likes me but I don't like him, and I'm flirting with him just to make Dylan mad so he'll notice me, but it's always about her."

  "I'm sure he notices you too, Aspen. It certainly looked like he wanted to be with you when he came here today."

  Aspen turned to face her mother thoughtfully. "He did, didn't he? Argh! I'm going to pull all my hair out. I'm so frustrated."

  Norma chuckled and got up. "I'll go and make some hot chocolate for the both of us. That should calm you down. Why don't you skip your visit to Lanta tonight and stay at home? Maybe he'll miss you more."

  "That's not a bad idea," Aspen mused.

  After the TV program had ended, her mother tucked her into bed and kissed her good night. Aspen lay in bed and listened to the street noises. The house was big, but it was in a well-populated area and close to the school, so she could hear cars as they passed by outside. She willed herself not to travel to Lanta in her sleep, and concentrated hard to not cross over. It didn't help, because as soon as she'd drifted off, she woke up in her father's house.

  Darn. I didn't want to be here.

  Voices in the living room made Aspen turn around quickly, and she tiptoed to the door.