The Darkness

Dream Interference

A gentle looking woman with soft brown hair was waiting for us as we went into Fern's home, her arms tucked into the pockets of her skirts. She looked to be in her early teens, though everyone's appearance of age was in question now. Her mouth looked much too large for her face, but the smile that stretched across her face looked absolutely radiant.

"Your Highness." She bowed deeply and while I smiled, I still wasn't entirely used to being regarded as someone this important to outsiders. "I will take you both to your rooms. My name is Chel. I will happy to help with anything you may need in your time here."

"Thank you for the hospitality, Chel."

She nodded simply, turning to lead us through what looked to be a grand sitting room. Stone stairs sat in the middle of the room with potted plants along the steps. I had to admit, the home so far looked very welcoming and full of life. Chel lead us up the stairs silently, the echo of our footsteps were the only noise around us.

At the top of the stairs, I smiled to myself as Cage pointed to a large window that overlooked what seemed to be a large garden, bustling with people preparing tables and hanging lights.

"Looks like we are going to see how Spiris parties. I hope it's more fun than the parties in the High Wall." Cage whispered under his breath. I knew he still wasn't used to the formality and welcomed the change of scenery. He mocked a dramatized waltz down the hall behind us and nearly tripped over a large rug, causing both Chel and I to laugh at his antics.

"Oh, Lady Fern is incredibly excited to have you. We haven't had guests from the High Wall in decades." Chel chattered excitedly, leading us down a hallway of large green doors. "She wants to be sure you all are comfortable. Jonas will take the room here on the end when he returns." She pointed out as she walked past, a small smile on her lips.

"If he makes it back before the festival." I mused, giving Cage a knowing look. While I knew Paeris' mother had been of Penum, I also knew that he hadn't been with another woman since her death. Something about the way Fern had gushed about him and the way he looked at her so adoringly made me wonder if there was more of a history between the two of them than the whispers I had heard the night before from my tent. Jonas choose duty over love and ultimately regretted it. Was that why he was so insistent about his son and I exploring our options? Could I choose duty to my Pack over the love I felt for Paeris?

"Your Highness, this room will be yours. Lady Fern has set out a fresh gown for this evening for you and prepared everything for you to be able to have a warm bath." The girl smiled at me, stopping as if she was waiting for me to ask her something. "Dinner and festivities will take place just after sun down, so you should have time for a short rest or exploring, if you are up for it."

"Thank you again, Chel. We appreciate everything. I think I will take a small nap before I get ready for the party." She nodded. "Cage, will you wake me up in about an hour or so?"

"I'll try." He mused, kissing the top of my hand gently. "I think I'm going to go explore a little bit before I get ready."

Chel surprisingly didn't seem confused by Cage's affection, but her eyes did wander away from his display in what I could only take as respect. I wondered if they knew of Cage's lineage or if they had heard about our situation. "Sir, your room is here across the hall. Lady Fern asked that you be placed closest to one another for comfort." The sparkle in her eyes told me she knew more about Cage's relationship with me than what I had originally thought.

I nodded passively, thanking her again before wandering into my room. Exhaustion overtook me before I could truly appreciate the beauty of the room around me as my body slumped onto the bed over the covers.

Sleep overtook me as soon as my head rested on the pillow.

__________________________________

I groaned, rolling onto my side as the air was forced from my lung as as I had fallen from a distance. The dirt below me was damp and smelled musty, like it had just rained a short while before. My eyes scanned my surroundings, realizing fairly quickly that I was dreaming. The trees looked darker than the ones growing around Spiris. Most of my experiences with dream walking was in beautiful places. The few trees that surrounded me looked like a memory of trees and not the way they would normally look. They looked like fog was dancing around them.

"I tried for hours to get through."

I gasped, twisting myself as I looked for where Paeris' voice had come from. Was this a nightmare? Or was Paeris truly feeling strong enough to dream walk again for the first time since the incident?

"Pae, where are you?" I called, forcing myself to my feet despite the ache in my muscles. It was as if I were fighting being here, as if my essence was screaming that I was in danger.

I had expected Laurel to overtake my dreams to debrief, now that she was technically overseeing everything in my absence. Had Paeris intercepted?

"Where are you?" His voice echoed back, as if he wasn't actually here.

"Tell me where you are so I can find you!" I called back, my eyes frantically searching the tree line for him.

"It's getting worse. I can't control it." His voice was like a whisper, the same panic filling his tone that reminded me so much of Allie's a few days earlier.

All at once, the scene around me changed. The trees straightened and the sky lightened to a light blue. The damp ground beneath my feet hardened and grass sprouted around me. Butterflies landed on the tree branches as they extended.

"Ray?" Laurel materialized a few yards ahead of me looking confused yet well rested. Her blonde ringlets bounced as she walked toward me. She looked beautiful in a way that only Laurel could.

"Where is Paeris?" I demanded, looking around the tree line again.

She stopped in front of me, her hands resting on my shoulders. "You're shaking, Ray. What's wrong?"

"He was just here!" I demanded, scrubbing my face with the palms of my hands in frustration.

"Impossible. Paeris hasn't been able to dream walk in months. He was seen a few days ago on the outskirts of the ruins. He hasn't been back since you left, Ray."

My thoughts raced and my heart dropped.

"The Ruins? Is he still dark?" I recalled the map Paeris had showed me in the library just days earlier, willing myself to remember the way it looked. I had remembered thinking it was odd that there was an undeveloped area outside of the Regions and had noticed the way watch towers were speckled along the paths leading to it. What were the Ruins? Was that where the Darklings had taken shelter? Things were starting to make sense in my mind.

She hesitated for a moment before nodding. She enveloped me in a friendly hug that I was sure was meant to be comforting, but instead just felt suffocating. I put a mental tab in the thought process of what - or who - was residing in the Ruins.

"I've been trying to channel you all day." She sighed, running her fingers under her eyes as if she were exhausted. Or worried. "Did you make it to Spiris?"

"Yes, I am resting before the festival tonight. Fern, the leader here, wants to celebrate."

Laurel frowned, shaking her head. "You don't have time for parties."

"I tried to explain that to her."

"I was worried something had happened."

"We are fine. Jonas seems close to Fern. It was nice to see him look so happy." A warmness grew inside of me. "He doesn't act like this is killing him, but I know it's a rescue mission for him."

"For us too."

"What is everyone saying back home? Are things still going smoothly?"

"As smoothly as it can be. The Council is concerned and discussing on what to do in the event that you aren't back before the frost melts. They are concerned with having a Head for Spiris. Merith has been strangely pleasant, lately. Your father said your mother has been asking to visit." She smiled. "I think she may be coming for tea some time this week."

I laughed at the thought of Nym and Laurel having tea. "Be nice to her. She has been through a lot."

"When am I ever not nice?"

"When we get back and everything is back to normal, we will have to make a visit to Penum. I'm sorry you weren't able to come with us this time."

"I understand." She hugged me again. "Now get back and enjoy your party before you're late. Just remember you only have four weeks, tops! You better channel your inner me and look fabulous!"