Time Beyond A Dream

Chapter 25-Land of Secret-Dave Apsyrtus

Catherine and Joe Vodenjak's travel went smoothly to the other side of the Land of Secret, the mountain rose into the blue, an uneven grey face most remarkable any Catherine had ever seen. She pulled her eyes to the sky, touched fingers to her lips, and offered a kiss heaven-bound. The trail snaked around the side of a mountain with a sheer drop to the right.

She believes they were somewhere in the center of this land, and there should have been a view, but it had been annihilated by the rain and the fading light. A few trees curled out of the side of the hill with leaves as hard as thorns. Behind her, below her, ahead of her, it was all the same. Then she peeks an eagle on the tree, looked into the distance like it was contemplating something philosophical if it wasn't just a bird in the early fall sunshine, feathers were as shiny. Then unexpectedly It looks at her, oddly giving her goosebumps.

They were almost to the mountain ranged when suddenly they heard a long whistle, signaling for something. They both halted, breathless as they gaze at each other when unexpectedly her head snapped up, her brown liquid eyes swirling stormy, "What was that?" Joe spoke gently, trying to calm her down. "Our best shot is to avoid this path, but wait.." he quits talking and he heeds carefully, walking towards the sound and his eyes look everywhere.

A whistle, the recognizes. His fears vanished and he turns towards her with a smile. "Don't you worry kid, I recognize that whistle, it is from a friend eh."

A vague suspicion gnawed at him as he strolls. What could be undermining the resolve of that whistle? The more he pondered it over, the more obvious the answer become--his friend. His old long friend must have found a way to negate his vision towards them. He wasn't sure how he managed it, but when he found out he would ask him.

"Are you sure?" She asked. Doubt in their eyes was apparent but she doesn't have any option other than to have faith. "Oh yeah! I knew that sound, it's Dave Apsyrtus." He shouted back to her, his ire stoked, he headed back to where she was. He arrived just in time to see Dave Apsrytus scaling the path towards them. It was the first time he had seen of him for hundred of decades.

"Dave Apsrytus," he shouted from across the clearing, "So nice of you to join us this fine day!"

Without returning this greeting, Dave climbed to the outmost platform where several deers were already hewing a vertical channel in the face of the old oak tree.

Joe stormed over in the high hills, he was his friend and he wasn't about to be ignored, even by a longstanding ally "Dave my man!" he called up.

"Who is he?" came Catherine's reply.

"He was the brother of Vnee Medea."

"Ohh!" Catherine's frowned but rented, "Okay" she added stiffly.

When not too long, the figure of a man appeared in the distance, eyes smiling and grinning.

"Hey, you Joe! what you got there? something to eat huh!? I told you never to eat young kids! you pig...." Smiling then abruptly trailed off while watching her. By way of answer, a new choking sound added itself to the percussive responses of the girl, this one deeper and louder.

Joe cringed and spoke, "I have promising news you retard!"

When the way was finally clear by the deers, Dave clambered this way to the top.

Catherine was amused by their name-calling they were comrades. She was silent for a long moment, she held her breath, praying he would understand her and won't judge her predicament, her heart sank and a shiver ran down her spine as she looks at the man in front of her. The man was gorgeous. He has charming brown eyes, handsome from the depth of his eyes to the thoughtful expressions of his voice.

He had the kind of face that halted you in your tracks. She guesses he must get used to that, the sudden pause in a person's normal manner when they looked his way followed by an over neutralizing weak smile. He had tousled dark hair, which was thick and glossy. His face was sharp and defined. His lips were pale and delicate and his nose slender and rounded. A prominent jaw curved gracefully around the strength of his neck.

"What is it, old friend, some good news? The man asked while looking at her intently. Something runs in his mind that nobody else could read.

"As a matter of fact, yes! at last, we found her my friend, I guess she is the Mark," Joe said excitedly edging to Catherine.

"Is that what this all about?" Dave suppressed a sneeze. The sudden shaking of the trees behind him had stirred up a cloud of wood dust. Dave looks at her with a look of hope in his eyes. His attention snapped at her. she becomes aware of her heart beating faster and faster.

"How did you know that old friend,? you try too hard to find the good in people but let me check if she is the one."

Dave looks at her, checking her eyes as he never wavers. A full range of emotions crossed his features, shock, confusion, but the worst was grief.

"She was meant for Darkness." He whispered. Too late to acknowledged his mistake, he had not been cautious, the girl was on the verge of crying. thinking it unnecessary.

Not that it mattered; darkness was darkness, he believed.

"Let me tell you how it is my friend, let me inspect her again. This time he holds her hands and looks at her like he means to her more than his own life.

"But I see the sincerity in her heart as well, black and white hmmm." He mumbled then withdraw his gaze to Catherine.

"I hope you are right my friend, I hope!" he replied. After their predicament, they agreed to travel north towards the lake.

After some time, The air was rich with the fragrance of leaves and loam, moist too. Even so many hours after the rains have passed, the soil remains wet, slowly releasing its heady fog. The sound of running water in the stream has the same slumberous quality as music, she wants to stop just to drink in the sound. On the side, the berries were mostly red, bitter but with just the right amount of sweetness. She took in all the air her lungs can hold and expel it slowly. These hikes were like a trip out of her life, a visit to somewhere the measuring of time was done only by the rising and setting of the sun.

She went her way through the skinny trunks that grew so tall, racing for their share of the sun's rays. In places, they were so thickly lumbered. The air had that smell of woodland before the rain, perhaps above the canopy, there were clouds fit to burst.

When they were almost at their destination they decided to stop near the lake and took a rest. On the way, Dave asked about her life, he asked questions upon a question. He confided his life and all of what had happened to them and that each had learned his trade.

Currently, they were sitting just in front of the lake under large ancient trees, and Dave inquired of her.

"Kid, how long have you been traveling the Land of Nod?" He looked at her, her questions transparent in her eyes. She continued, "Not that long sir I'm just testing going in out, I frequently got sick and the fire inside me wants out if I'd stay extended than necessary." She bit her lip nervously to keep her skepticism and fears at bay. Dr. Miller was right, whatever she faced now, she needed to keep herself strong and her wits about this Land. Her life might be depending on it.

"What do you mean fire?" He asked curiously while eating the apple in his hands. Then unexpectedly he extended a hand towards her, pull her up, and lead her to the lake. She promptly lowered on her knee next to him. He dipped his fingers into the water with one hand and placed his other hand gently against her temple. She held perfectly still and willed his power to reveal whatever he was looking for. An excruciatingly long minute went by. No one moved. No one spoke. Even Joe barely breathes just watching the two from the distance. He wishes their speculation was correct.

He hopes for her to be the Mark. Finally, Dave turned to look at her, "Someday my friend, we will meet again, and I want you to remember that this very moment is relatively vital, all our existences and all the creature of the Land of Nod depends on your discretion, so choose very carefully, choose what is the fairest for everyone! choose from your heart! and remember to never be frightened of the Dark, do you understand?"

"What? Yes!... Hmp Sir, I'm so confused right now, I'm just a kid you know!"

"Don't worry, time will come and you will understand everything, all I ask is to remember this mo and remember! never fear the Darkness." He paused. "When you need me, someday just remember this moment okay?"

A pregnant moment pass. No one dares to speak, they stare into each other's eyes, searching for an acknowledgment. But Catherine was just a kid and giving her this kind of responsibility was unheard-of but the coins choose her! He reasons out. They don't have any preference but to trust this human.

Dave Apsyrtus turned his body so that he faced her, He grasped both of her hands.

"Each lake in the Land of Nod has different properties. I discern them when I touch the water, while I know now who you are, it will not be easy for you. I think you are the Mark of this time, you are the offspring of the first, besides he also had the ability of fire like you "Dave clarified.

His words were kindness, a concern that was so quick that for her it was natural. This vigilance was a part of who he was and that was, if she was honest, the most attractive feature she gave had seen in for quite some time.

From afar the mountain was a peak of snowy pines, the ski runs cut vast like great white canals down. Up close it fills their eyes. The mountain rose on the horizon, sheer rock putting an end to a snowy peak. Only the base was softened by the pine of the blanket. An hour ago it had seemed so close but not it looks so far away. Somewhat up the cloud prevented them from seeing the peak, perhaps she mused, that was a good thing. After a moment on the side of the lake, both of them went back to the tree and share their food silently. Lost in their thoughts. Then he informed her about his past. The battle and betrayal.

During the battle between the Dark Lord and The First Mark, Dave Apsyrtus went to the front line and wore attractive silver armor. He drove the silver cart of his father the King of The Land of Love, while his silver shield reflected the rays of the sun. When he pursued his opponents in battle, they fled from fear and he ran over them with his horses. But fortunately, they have been defeated by the Dark Lord and his army, with the help of Vnee Medea his sister, their enemy won the Battle.

Dave Apsyrtus was sent out by his father the King in pursuit of her. He overtook her in Woodland where she had been kindly received by the princess, who refused to surrender her to Dave Apsyrtus. When he surpassed Vnee Medea a second time in the Land of Secret he was rumor to have been maimed and escape the Dark Lord. And from then on, Dave Apsyrtus lives in hiding, nobody knew about his whereabouts not until after a hundred decades over when Joe comes across him in the Lake. From then on, both were inseparable as they wander far waiting for the descendant of Mark to redeemed his name.