Children of Morpheus

Chapter 20

    Vadrin left the treehouse to the court to get ready for the execution. He also warned the others about my plan to save them. Before he left, he gave me a new cloak so the guards won't notice me but this time, it's blue.

    Gali flew inside my hood and hid under my chin. I can feel him trembling on my chest as his glow lessened. I took a deep breath to control my reluctant beating heart as I stared down at the wooden trap door. 

    This will be challenging for me because I hate public speaking, better yet speaking in front of many—probably the creatures of the whole realm. What am I doing! I can't do this! The last time I did this is when I was in the school's stadium to give speech in front of the entire students and faculties. I remember I almost vomit that day. This isn't helping!

    I climbed down the vines as the sun is still clmbing to its peak, spreading heat throughout the forest. I jumped and landed on my feet, while the ground shook as if it was me that quaked the earth. Is that me? I asked myself as a shadow shaded me from the sun. I gazed around and saw treants and giants walking in the same direction. They're going to the court to watch everything. 

    As time goes by the crowds grew in the entire sky as different creatures flew and walk across. There are sprites who sparkled like the daylight and some sparkled blue like the water sprites. Pegasi flew with riders on their backs, with hippogriffs tied up carrying a huge chariot. 

    They are all going to the execution this afternoon, creatures from different parts of the realm are going. This is really a big event for them. It turned out to be scarier, but this is good, I think. The more faes know the truth, the more it could do just.  

    I'm trembling like the ground that I'm walking in. My heartbeat came faster and louder like it was a jackhammer, striking rowdily at the ground. Then I heard voices all around me that gave an intense jolt in my body. I hid under the hood as I continued walking gradually, blending with the crowd and their murmurs.

    “This is the second time they captured a dreamer, isn't it?” A fairy said in a high pitch tone behind me.

    Then I slowed down to see them ahead of me to listen on their conversation . . .

    “Yes. This the second time, and the woman died when she's asleep the night of her execution years ago.” The other fairy let out a laugh.  "I mean how do you die in your sleep. She's one of Morpheus' children, sleeping is their talent."

    My eyes grew wider in shock and anger as I paused for a second. They're talking about mom’s death. My eyes start to water as the ache came back in my heart. I took a deep breath and said in the back of my head, I will save her! I will save her from Pan! 

    My hands grew in light under the cloak as a green glow shimmered beneath. I breathe slowly and look down. Then I saw a plant growing, slithering like a waking worm surfacing in the air as it wiggled into a flower.   

    A new talent?

    Then hooves came running behind me that snapped me from my freezing emotion. My feet jolted and start walking right away. Elves passed through beside me. The milk-colored horses wore a silver armor that matches their gold and violet armor and their pale moon skin with silver hair that glimmered down under the sun. 

    “Do you wanna ride?” A  girl asked as she halted her horse beside me. She leaned forward to peek on my face. “Do you wanna ride with me?” She asked again in a calmly beautiful tone and smiled. 

    I turned and let my hood down and my face changed as I saw my reflection on her horse's armor. “I'm fine, but thanks for the offer.” I nodded and smiled back at her.  

    “Are you sure?” She assured as her smile brightens her face.  

    I nodded as I felt something inside me clicked and my heart slows down. 

    She nodded as she kept up with her group, she turned and smiled at me for the very last time. Then Gali looked at me as he kept pulling my cloak. He smiled pointing the girl and raised his eyebrows.  I rolled my eyes, trying to stop my smile to come out in my face. So I hid under the hood again and let my beaming smile go through.  

    The parchment showed the map of the Realm of the Faes or the Seelie Court. At the center of the map shows the structure of the court where Dean and the others will be executed. Where in Vadrin's words, "the capital of the realm."  

    The capital is crowded with different creatures that you thought you can only see in children's books and in fantasy novels. Dwarves walked beside me as I kept my head down, avoiding every creature's eyes. 

    The guards are scattered everywhere, patrolling every corner of the place. Then I saw the commander that I fought, his face was healing with his arms wrapped with green leaves like bandages. Uncle Dean really put up a fight with him, I smiled.  

    Then he looked at my way as he moved closer to me. Did he saw me? Oh my God! These words echoed in my mind as he came closer. I'm panicking inside my head.  

    “You there!” He called in a deep voice pointing at me. “Lower your hood.” He commanded. 

    He pulled my hood down as Gali hid underneath. I can feel my heartbeat pounding hard in fear as I felt Gali shivering. I smiled my fear silently as I took a deeper breath without him noticing. “What a fine day, isn't it?” I said with a grin hiding everything that's happening inside my head.

    He nodded as he looked around me like he is searching for someone. “Where's your brother?” He asked as his eyes kept moving around. “The last time I saw you, you're with your older brother.”

    My eyes widen as I remembered him on the waterfall. He is one of the guards that asked us if we saw a mortal. 

    “My older brother left me to do an errand, so I'll be waiting for him inside the court.” I quickly replied with my heart pounding for thinking a lie.  

    “Hello, why are you talking to my friend?” The girl squeezed in, the same girl who asked me if I can get a ride with. She smiled at me and looked at the commander.  

    “I'm just asking some questions, my lady.” He replied as he bowed to her, he then turned at me and nodded, leaving me with her.  

    She smiled as she shook her head asking me to follow her. “He just got his promotion so he's a bit serious right now.” She said as she kept smiling around me. “I'm Lady Lhilianna of the elves.” She greeted as her silver hair shimmered with her dark blue eyes. 

    I felt okay all of a sudden as she smiled at me. My heart calmed down as I smiled back. “I'm—” a horn blew, interrupting everyone.  

    “Sorry, but I need to go.” She said as she started running towards the center, where a wooden platform was fixed, with huge tree-like turrets on each side.  

    I darted and squeeze myself to get a better view as guards yanked out Dean from the turret with a silver chain trailing behind him that was also tied to Vifen. Another guard appeared with a golden cage where the sprites are locked in. Behind the platform was a huge structure of the trees-like fortress with an open mouth and on top was a spacious balcony where I saw Vadrin, Lhilianna, and the other faes in armor. 

    Then an announcer came into the platform with a parchment scroll in his hands. Silence took over the place as every creature paid attention to the fairy in front. He unrolled the scroll and looked at the back as they pulled them in front.  

    "These creatures were entangled in helping dreamers to get inside of our court, hereby execute by Damnatio ad bestias!” He announced as one of the faes in the balcony nodded. “Bring forth the beasts!” He commanded as the guards pulled a huge cage behind a turret.  

    Then two beasts came out growling with the head of a human with red huge manes and bodies of a lion. Its tail is like a scorpion that drips liquid at the end. They growled and roared with their huge mouth with razor teeth that can devour countless children. A metal collar was pulled behind as the manticores fell on their back barked, then they open the steel door. 

    “Throw in the dreamer!” The announcer commanded as Dean was pulled towards the cage of the vicious manticores. 

    This is it, I need to own my title. “Stop!” I screamed as I raised my hand as it glows outside my cloak, while I walked towards the front. Plants sprouted from the ground that swallowed the cage, covering the manticores whole. 

    My heartbeat fastens and my breathing came heavily as I gazed around the crowd with their eyes fixed on me as they murmured. I waved my hands again as roots sprouted and hold the guards to keep them away from me while I glanced at the balcony and saw Vadrin trembling. I pulled my hood and my real face appeared as I stood in front.  

    I gulped. 

    “My name is Rafael Williams, one of the children of Morpheus and son of god, Pan!” I announced as I shivered speaking in front of creatures, that half of it was unknown to me. 

    Everyone gasped, and so is my uncle Dean's as he looked at me with water in his eyes. I glanced back and saw Vadrin nodded his head, while the others in his side looked at him. I took a deep breath as my hands continued to glow. My head began to spin as I hold on, trying to keep myself intact.  

    “I'm here to reveal the truth. The truth where my father hid from you, to use you all for his revenge.” I added shivering. The crowds began to murmur as a familiar voice snapped beside me.  

    “Stop this nonsense!” The commander yelled. He threw a spear at me as I shut my eyes in fear, but nothing hit me.  

    I look down and saw Dean with a spear in his right chest with blood drooling down in his clothes. I jolted down and let Dean lay his head into my lap. He coughed as he stared on me with watering eyes as I shook. The crowd's gasps took the air. Vadrin came with fear in his eyes and he pressured his hand around the spear.  

    “What did you do, Arsdon?” Vadrin yelled with fear and panic in his voice.  

    I looked at him and screamed the pain that is swallowing me as the sword behind me beamed a pillar-like light into the sky and far from the east, a light shot the sky. I floated in the air, my skin gleamed emerald with my hands as plants sprouted around him tightly as he struggles to get out. He winced, as he sticks and stretches his head out as I fisted my hand hard, squeezing him like a grape. 

    “Rafael!” Vadrin called out, trying to calm and snap me out from my wrathful state. “Rafael, you need to calm down!” His voice came out hoarse as he kept his hand on Dean's chest. 

    “I'll show you how father killed your queen!” I yelled as the creatures looked at each other.  

    The ground shook, and slowly it glistened changing the place into my dream about the truthful past. In the air, a fire suddenly burst taking shape of Queen Tatianna and father arguing. Their words blurted out with their action that horrified the creatures as they watch their queen got stabbed on the heart with an arrow.  

    My eyes have gone weary as I fell down on the ground landing on my knees. Vadrin came closer to me as the other armored fairy came marching in and carried Dean. And as my sight got eaten.