Dabria

Chapter Six

The bell rings for lunch to end, but I was already walking to the art room. I hadn't heard from Malakai since I left him at the building the day before and was anxious to see if he would be in class. The room was empty when I arrived. I take my seat and watch the door as students begin to file in. My heart sinks as the last bell rings and Malakai isn't here. I can't help but feel like something happened after I left the building. 

I attempt to listen to Mr. Varens as he gives us our new assignment, but find my eyes growing heavy. My mind goes groggy and finally everything goes black.

The dream restarts from the beginning and I do the same as I always do: Digging my toes into the dirt and admiring the view. But then the dream changes. The view of the village evaporates into a cloud of black and greys. 

I’m in the building Malakai took me to the night before, standing in the doorway. Malakai stands several feet in front of me. He doesn’t seem to notice me, but before I could say something, another person walks in from the back. He’s slightly taller than Malakai and has platinum blonde hair, almost the same as Malakai's natural hair but is shorter and pushed back out of his face.

Even from here I could clearly see his blue eyes.

The man's entrance causes Malakai to stiffen. "What are you doing here Zak?" Malakai asks through closed teeth.

"Rumor has it you found the lost princess.” Zak is calm and almost seems to be feeding off of Malakai's anger. The sound of a car engine outside causes Zak to hurry to the door I exited from but the car is gone by the time he looks outside. "Was that her? Awfully careless of you, don't you think?" He puts his hands in the pockets of his nice suit and walks back towards Malakai.

“I was assigned as her protector. I know what I'm doing." 

“Oh? Do you still have that title after what happened that night? And you really think you've kept her safe? It was easy enough to track you down and I know if I find you, I find her.” A smile plays on Zak’s face as Malakai’s fists close and shake with anger. “Make this easy, Malakai. Where is she?”

“And why would I tell you that?”

“Because it’s time for her to come home."

“Her home is not with you.”

“It will be.” Zak mutters under his breath. Suddenly Malakai is clutching his head and falls to his knees. “You will tell me where the Princess is!” Zak yells. Malakai cries out with pain and Zak's face turns into something evil. Malakai let's out another pained cry and I can’t take it anymore.

“Stop! Stop! Just stop!” I yell. The screaming ceases and the room evaporates, leaving everything white with the harsh sun. The sun dims more as my eyes adjust and I realize I’m in a field. Malakai comes into view, his face full of shock. Then it hardens into a mixture of shame and anger. 

“How long were you there?” He asks finally. I look down at the grass, unable to meet his eyes. “How much did you see?” He asks again when I don’t answer.

“Everything.” I whisper.

He lets out a long sigh and moves closer to me. He picks up the necklace from around my neck and studies it. “I put too much of the charm on. It was meant only to connect my mind to yours to where I could feel your emotions; know if you're in danger. But it connected yours to mine. Our minds are completely linked.” He lets the necklace fall. “Which would explain why you are eavesdropping on my dream.”

“I’m sorry.” I say quickly. I know that wasn't something he wanted me to see.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He smiles reassuringly.

“Is that why you made me leave so fast last night?”

“Yes.” Malakai says simply. He sits down and rests his elbows on his knees. “I’m sorry you had to see that.” He picks at the grass and twirls it in his hands.

“Why did he hurt you?” I ask softly. The image of his crying out of the ground replays in my mind.

“To get information.”

“But isn’t he your-”

“No. Not anymore. I stopped calling him my brother a long time ago.” He runs a hand through his hair, discarding the grass. “So since we are both here, I suppose I have time to answer some questions.” He smiles at me, telling me to change the subject with his pleading eyes. I comply and sit in front of him, eager to finally ask the questions I have been conjuring since I saw him last.

“You never explained what you are. How is this,” I gesture around us at the dream, “even possible?”

“Where we are from, Irredesia, everyone is either born with or without an ability. I, for instance, have the ability to infiltrate some aspects of the mind, like being in your dreams, and controlling your memories." He smiles, proud of himself.

“So Zak. What’s his power then? To inflict pain?” His smile drops at the mention of his brother and I instantly regret the question.

“Basically. It’s what he prefers. He can alter your emotions and make you feel anything he wants you to feel. One more question. It’s almost time to wake up.”

I rake my brain for another question. “Zak said something about a princess…” I struggle to get the words out, not sure I want to know the answer.

He smiles at me. “The princess is you. That's why I was assigned to protect you when you were sent away.” Something about the way he says it sounds rehearsed. He stands up and I do the same with a new set of questions filling my mind.

“Princess? Sent away? Why was I sent away? Why don't I remember any of this?” I answer the last question on my own. “You altered my memories.”

He nods. “The bell has rung. You're going to be late for class."

“Wait.” I say as the dream starts to fade. “When can we talk again?”

“I’ll find you.”

I wake to Mr. Varens shaking me. The headache begins almost instantly. "Sapphire the bell has rang." Mr. Varens says. I nod, unable to speak, and grab my bag. Instead of going to my next class, I head to the nurse to lay down. Sleeping didn't help with the pain. In fact, everything I did just made it worse.

The nurse wakes me after an hour and after seeing I wasn't any better, she sends me home. My entire body aches and the throbbing in my head drowned out any other noise. I stumble to my car and manage to unlock it and fall in the seat. I close my eyes when my vision begins to go blur. I'm not sure how much time goes by before I hear a knock on the window. I move my hand to find the button to unlock the door without opening my eyes, afraid of the effects of the sun.

The door pops open immediately after I unlock it, then cool fingers brush over my forehead. He curses under his breath then scoops me up out of the car and places me in the passenger seat. I don't have the energy to move or even speak. 

He puts something to my lips, and I part them slightly managing to swallow the liquid. I cough but already feel the numbing effects. My door shuts then the drivers side opens. The car comes to life and it seems like only seconds until we are pulling into my driveway. I open my eyes just enough to see Malakai as he bends down to lift me from the car. I cross my arms around his neck and bury my face into his shirt trying to hide from the harsh light. I breath him in and smell a faint cologne. 

He presses in the code and makes his way through the house. When we reach my bedroom, he lays me on my bed and covers me up with the comforter. I pull the covers to my chin, suddenly cold. His fingers brush against my forehead again.

"Your fever is breaking. You should feel better soon." He says.

I try to mumble a thank you but I'm not sure it comes out quite right. He lets out a soft laugh that almost sounds sad. I do actually start to feel better and when I can finally open my eyes, I see Malakai standing by my desk, hands held out over the desk.

"What are you doing?" I croak. He doesn't answer, leaving me thinking I didn't even say anything. "Malakai?" I say louder, sure he had to have heard me. "Are you okay?" 

He spins around like he just heard me. "Yeah. Yeah." He stampers. "I'm fine." He pulls a chair next to the bed and again, places his hand on my head. 

"Your fever is almost gone. How do you feel?"

"Great." My voice cracks and he smiles. "Is this how you feel when you enter my dreams?"

"I used to, when I was younger. I'm used to it now."

"Why does it hurt?" I rub my head and try to sit up. He helps me and arranges pillows behind me as a backrest.

"It's kind of like..." he pauses and thinks for a moment. "It's almost like if you were to get surgery, and have your heart removed and replaced again. When you're in someone else's dream, in their mind, your soul is being removed from your body and temporarily placed into someone else's, then returned back to your body.  That's why it hurts."

I lift my necklace up to study it. "Will it happen again?"

"Probably, but I will try to prevent it."

I nod and hope it wouldn't be as bad the next time. "What were you doing to the desk?"  

"Oh. I uh... I was looking through its memories to see if anyone has been here." He avoids looking at me.

"It has memories?"

"Everything does. Though they're more like imprints, or pictures. It's difficult to explain."

"Oh." I say as I process this information. "Well?" I ask him.

"Well what?"

"Has anyone been in here?"

"Uh… nope. No one except you." He stands and walks around the room, tinkering with things. His tone is off, making it obvious he is keeping something from me. 

"Malakai." He turns and faces me. I cross my arms and he sighs, defeated. 

"I just don't want to alarm you."

"Who?"

He hesitates and I give him a look warning him not to lie to me again. He closes his eyes for a moment, preparing himself, then says, "Zak."

Fear makes my veins run cold but I try to remain calm. "How? I thought he didn't know where I was? What does he want?"

"Please, don't panic." He sits back down. "I won't let him touch you, I swear. He won't get near you again."

"But he got in my house! He could try to kill me!" My attempt to remain calm faltered as my heart beat faster. What if he was in here while I was sleeping? 

"He doesn't exactly want to kill you."

"What do you mean he doesn't exactly want to kill me?" My head starts to pound again.

"I will explain everything, just give me time."

"You always say that." I mutter, wiping a hand down my face.

"Sapphire?" Megan calls from upstairs and panic spikes through me. Malakai slips into the bathroom stealthily as Megan walks downstairs. "Sapphire, none of your chores are done." Her arms drop to her side in disbelief.

"I know. I'm sorry." I'm grateful my voice still sounds rough. "I haven't felt well today. I should be better tomorrow."

She walks the rest of the way to me, her face saying she doesn't believe me, and smacks her hand to my head. "Good heavens! You're burning up!" She ushers me to lay down. "You just stay here and I will bring dinner to you." I'm surprised by her attitude. I've never really been sick before. Thinking about it, I hardly ever get sick.

"Don't even think about going to school tomorrow!" She fluffs my pillow one last time. I utter a thank you and she returns back upstairs. Malakai steps out.

"You were saying?" I say to him.

"That you need more rest because your fever is coming back and we will talk tomorrow." He sits back in the chair.

"You've hardly answered anything." I say through a yawn. He smiles as if he's already won.

"Just sleep. I won't go anywhere." The thought of him leaving does alarm me. If he and Zak could get into my bedroom, who else could? As if Malakai read my mind, he says, "Don't worry. No one will dare sneak in while I'm here. Don't think about Zak, or anyone else. They won't get past me."

I smile, already half asleep. "Pretty confident."

I think I hear him whisper, "I wish."