Dark Side of Dawn: The Nightmare Chronicles (20 page)

“Mr. Clarke can stay with you.”

With all that was going on I had almost forgotten that Noah was with me. I had definitely forgotten about
Verek, who made a grunt of disaproval. Noah moved closer. If he objected to my father’s decision, he didn’t let on. Were the situation reversed I would rather stay with him than return to the “real” world and worry.

Morpheus cast a quick glance over his shoulder at Verek. “Escort her to her room.”

I started forward as he walked away, real fear gripping me for the first time. “Morpheus?” He didn’t stop. My heart jumped into my throat. “Dad?”

That stopped him. He turned briefly, his face stricken by so many emotions I couldn’t even begin to name them all. I ran to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him for all I was worth.

He hesitated, probably not wanting to show any weakness, but then he folded me into his embrace and rested his cheek on top of my head.

“If you gave Madrene an amulet,” I whispered for his ears alone, “you might want to find out if she still has it.”

I gave him another squeeze and then let go, stepping away and finally walking back to Verek and Noah.

“Let’s go,” I said, taking Noah’s hand once more. “We’re done here.”

Verek only escorted Noah and me to the outside of the building, leaving me to take us back to the palace. My mother was waiting there for us. I don’t know how she
knew what happened, but I guessed that Morpheus had somehow managed to fill her in.

All I know is that her hug did more to make me feel better than any pill or cocktail could have. She offered us tea, or something a little stronger, but all I wanted was to be alone. With Noah.

I guess one positive thing to come out of this was that Mom seemed really taken with Noah.

My room at the palace had changed since the last time I was there. Instead of the furniture and décor of my youth, now the room was done in a more mature manner, with cream-colored walls, walnut furniture, and pale gold curtains and bedding. The bed itself was huge with a towering headboard that looked like something out of Elizabethan England.

I loved it.

“Room for two,” Noah commented, sinking down onto the mattress. “You okay, Doc?”

“I don’t know,” I replied honestly as I walked over to the dresser where my old jewelry box sat—the only thing in the room that was as I remembered it. “I can’t quite decide if I’m optimistic or losing it.”

I heard him move, sensed him walking up behind me. I sighed when his arms came around my waist, pulling me against him. He felt so good. So solid and warm and strong.

My gaze fell on the jewelry box. It was small and
pink—exactly the kind of thing most little girls want. I touched the lid, pressed the latch and flipped it open. A little ballerina popped up and began to twirl around to a warbly tune.

Against the lining of pink satin lay several little gold rings, a single tiny ruby earring, a handful of delicate chains, and a round, wooden medallion of two crescent moons back to back.

“I found my amulet,” I murmured, lifting it out of the box. It hung from a simple leather cord and looked about as special as an eight-year-old would string together.

“Your father seemed really freaked out by the one you gave him.”

“He should be. It means someone he trusts is trying to hurt him.”

“And you,” he added softly.

“Mm. And me.” It was that simple agreement that flicked the switch inside my head. I turned in Noah’s arms and slipped the leather cord over his head. “There.”

His forehead wrinkled. “What are you doing?”

“I’m giving you my medallion.”

“I noticed. Why?”

“Because I need to know there’s someone I can trust in the Dreaming. Someone who will come when I need them. Someone who can protect me when I need protecting.”

His gaze warmed before dropping to the little circle against his T-shirt. “But I’ll be able to do things a human shouldn’t be able to do. Isn’t that against the rules?”

I patted his cheek, beyond caring. “I think we’ve all learned that no one here plays by the rules. Not anymore. It’ll be our secret. Besides, you can already do things most humans can’t.”

My smile faded when he looked at me again. “I missed you,” I confessed. “I’m so sorry for everything.”

He nodded. “Me too. I wasn’t going to let you get away that easy.”

“But you never returned my call.”

Now he smiled—crookedly and self-mocking. “Wounded pride makes a man play hard to get.”

I smoothed my hands over the solid wall of his chest. “What does a woman swallowing her pride make a man do?”

Apparently that got a woman kissed. Well and good. I sighed again, this time against his mouth, as all the tension rushed from my body. He was better than a glass of wine in a hot bath.

We moved to the bed still wrapped around each other, hands roaming over each other’s bodies like we hadn’t been together in months rather than just a few days. In my eagerness, I wished our clothes could simply be gone, and as we hit the mattress, they were.

Sometimes being non-human is so cool.

Noah’s hands and mouth were everywhere. He turned my nipples into stiff, aching buds—just like in books. I had goose bumps all over as he slid lower, twirling his hot tongue around my belly button, and then between my thighs as his strong fingers held me open.

He made me writhe and twitch and arch in mindless pleasure. If it sounds like I’m bragging, it’s because I am. No one had ever made me feel as sexy and sensual as Noah did. No one ever made me come as easily as he did. And when he was done with me and the spasms of orgasm had eased, I came up on my knees over him and returned the favor by taking the satiny length of him into my mouth. I went down on him like he was a fudge stick and it was a hot day in July.

His fingers tangled in my hair, holding my head as he flexed his hips. He groaned, whispering encouragement that consisted mostly of dirty words and suggestions that under most circumstances would have made me blush.

I released him before he could come, but he didn’t complain. I kissed my way up the delicious length of his torso, rubbed my face over his chest before burying it in the crook of his neck to breath in the vanilla spice scent that was uniquely him. I couldn’t get enough of the smell of him, the feel of him, the taste of him. With him, I believed that everything would work out. I be
lieved in myself. That was almost scarier than anything the Warden could throw at me.

Straddling him, I took him inside and slid down until his hipbones pressed into the backs of my thighs. I felt stretched and full and oh-so good. Noah’s fingers gripped my hips and I slid my hands down to clutch his biceps.

“Christ you feel good,” he muttered.

I leaned down and kissed him. My hair fell around us, blocking out the lamplight so that everything was muted and shadowed.

“Thank you for being here with me,” I whispered against his lips.

One of his hands slid up my back and tugged at a lock of my hair. “No place I’d rather be.”

I believed him. He wouldn’t rather be hovering over Amanda than be with me. Right now he wouldn’t even rather be painting than be here with me—his crazy-assed, half-human girlfriend who always seemed to be landing in otherworldly shit.

At that moment I wanted to tell him I loved him, but I was too chicken. I was afraid that if I said it he wouldn’t say it back. Not only would that ruin the mood, but probably also my life. I’d already been rejected by my father’s people. I couldn’t handle being rejected by my boyfriend as well.

So I pushed all that stuff aside and concentrated on
me and Noah and how our bodies fit together, how they moved together to create such intense feeling. It wasn’t a difficult thing to do.

I churned my hips, pushing up and down, the motion pulling through the front of my thighs. I moved slowly, not wanting this moment to end, not wanting to let go of how he felt inside me. Maybe it was just my heightened emotions, but it felt as though we were one. We were connected in more ways than just physically.

Eventually our movements quickened. I braced my hands on the pillow beneath Noah’s head, sweat dampening my hairline. Our breath was humid as it mingled in shallow pants. I don’t know if half the things we said to each other made sense, but they sure sounded good.

Pressure built between my thighs, deep inside me. I ground myself against Noah, desperate for release. When it finally came—when I came—it was huge. My mind went numb, my body stiff. I cried out, and then Noah did too, his fingers digging into me hard enough to leave bruises as his hips arched against mine. I could feel the heat of him erupt inside me and then we collapsed together, still joined, me on top of his chest.

After a bit, I rolled to face him on my side. I kept my arms wrapped around him, knowing that eventually I’d have no choice but to let go.

“You know you’ll wake up in your own bed,” I murmured, twirling circles on his chest with my index finger.

The arm he’d slipped around my shoulders tightened. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise.”

Having him there with me meant a lot. Oddly enough I didn’t feel the least bit weak in admitting that I needed his support. I wanted his support. But that didn’t stop a little insecurity—a little pettiness from slipping through. “What about Amanda? Don’t you have to look after her?”

A strong finger under my chin forced my head up, making it impossible for me to avoid his shrewd, dark gaze. “I’ll check in on Mandy, but you’re my priority right now, Doc. You’re my priority period.”

God, that sounded good! I hugged him so he couldn’t see the tears in my eyes and settled my head against his shoulder. “Thank you,” I said, voice hoarse.

His reply was a gentle kiss on the forehead. And then we drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up he was gone and someone was knocking at my door. Still half asleep, I clutched the sheets to my naked chest and sat up. “What?”

The door opened. It was Verek. He took one look at me and the rumpled bed and his lips tightened. “Lord Morpheus wants to see you,” he said flatly. “The Nightmare Council is resuming your trial.
Now.
”

Before leaving the palace, Morpheus allowed me a brief “escape” to wake up in the human realm and return to the Dreaming corporeally. I was stronger in a physical state, plus it cut back on the chances of Lola coming in and finding me asleep and being unable to wake me. I called Bonnie and had her reschedule today’s appointments. Told her I was sick. It was close enough.

Morpheus, Verek, and Hadria were waiting for me just outside the palace when I returned. The men looked severe, the priestess serene. I don’t even want to know how I appeared.

We took Hadria’s carriage to the council building. I
guess no one trusted me to transport myself and Verek. Maybe they thought I’d kidnap the big Nightmare and use him to barter my freedom.

Because that was so my style.

Morpheus had to show some impartiality and I understood that. It was Hadria who sat beside me and held my hand, who gave me kind smiles and assured me that everything was going to be all right.

“Your mother isn’t allowed to join us,” my father said from his seat beside Verek. “But she wanted me to give you her love.”

I smiled. “I know.” I also knew that Morpheus was a little jealous of Hadria on my mother’s behalf. He should be thankful the priestess seemed to like me as much as she did.

There weren’t any spectators when we arrived at the council chambers. Other than Padera and the Council, the only other person in the room was Madrene. Morpheus obviously took my advice. Padera stood next to her mother, and for the first time I saw the resemblance, despite the difference in coloring. I also saw a slight similarity between the Warden and myself, and it made me a little sad knowing I had a sister who hated me so much.

I took a few moments to study the Council as well. There weren’t many young-looking people on it. Pad
era was perhaps the most youthful, but I knew she was much, much older than me. But this was the body that governed the Nightmares, not the entire Nightmare population, although Verek had told me that their numbers had shrunk over the decades. It seemed Nightmares were often the target of assassination as they tried to protect this realm and the humans that came through it. I would think they would embrace me based on that alone rather than putting all this effort into deciding if I was a threat.

Hadria moved to the front of the room. “Now that we are all here, why don’t we settle and begin? Dawn, you will sit here beside me?”

Sure. Following behind her I felt amazingly small and protected—like a kid. We all sat around a large octagon table with a battle scene carved into the stone top. Men and women with spears and swords fought a huge multiheaded monster that towered above them, blotting out the moon.

Once everyone was seated, Hadria turned to an elderly-looking man dressed in flowing blue robes. He was one of the Q-tips I’d noticed last night. His hair was a brilliant mass of white curls and his eyes were almost as pale—except for dark rims. “Gladios, would you begin the proceedings?”

He inclined his head toward her, slowly, like a turtle
drifting off to sleep. “Earlier, Princess Dawn offered evidence that the human she is accused of harming was encouraged to attack her by one of our own. She claimed that he was in possession of an amulet, which our lord Morpheus recognized as one of his creation. My lord, have you determined the original owner of the amulet?”

I turned my attention to my father, who sat almost opposite me across the table. “I have. The human’s mind is still too confused to give any valuable information, but after studying the amulet, I discovered it is the same one I gave to Madrene before the birth of our daughter, Padera.”

Well, it was probably just as well that my mother wasn’t here. I had a feeling there were a lot of kids out there she didn’t know about. After all, Morpheus had been around since the beginning of time. In fact, old Gladios there had something of a family resemblance…

Attention turned to Madrene. “Did you give the human the amulet, Madrene?”

Madrene looked worried. Hell, she looked scared, but she didn’t look all that guilty. “No. I would never do such a thing.”

Morpheus turned on her, gaze sharp. “Then how did he get it?”

The succubus shrunk from his anger. “I do not know.
The amulet went missing many years ago. I assumed it lost.”

“Lost!” my father thundered. “I trusted you with a piece of myself and you disregarded it like garbage?”

Padera leaned over her mother, shielding the succubus. Her face was hard and angry, and I saw something of myself in her gaze. “She gave that stupid amulet more consideration than you ever gave us.”

Ohh. Score a point for my crazy sister.

“That is not what we are discussing here,” Gladios intoned brusquely, bringing everyone’s attention back to the matter at hand—me. “Madrene, you should have reported the amulet missing.”

The beautiful succubus hung her head in shame. I wanted to defend her, even though there was a good chance she was in league with the Warden. The very same Warden who turned her icy jade gaze on me.

“Where is your amulet, Princess?” she demanded haughtily. I noticed she was wearing hers again. Maybe she always did. That was a little sad.

I didn’t blame her for drawing attention away from her mother. I would have done the same. I wasn’t even angry that she turned her anger on me. Obviously I didn’t have my amulet either. In fact, I’d never worn it. “I gave it to Noah.”

Morpheus’s head whirled around. “What?”

Padera grinned. “You are incredible. You accuse my
mother of giving her amulet to a human to harm you, which breaks a fundamental rule about interacting with humans and yet you do the same thing.” She laughed. “I find your audacity amusing, sister.”

I held her gaze without remorse. “Actually, there isn’t really a rule about such a thing.” And I could be confident here because both Verek and Hadria had been drilling rules into me during our sessions. There really weren’t that many. “We’re not to intentionally harm humans and we are not to reveal the secrets of this world to them, but I gave the amulet to a human who already knew about our world.”

“Because you told him.”

I shook my head. “Because a Night Terror attacked him several weeks ago and revealed this world to him. A Terror, I might add, who claimed to be part of a larger group intent on disposing Morpheus.” I smiled tightly at her. “You wouldn’t know anything about that group, would you, Padera?”

At that moment I was really glad looks couldn’t kill. She didn’t say anything, so I took that opportunity to address the Council: “Someone from this realm gave a similar amulet to a human in order to hurt me, so yes, I gave mine to Noah because I need all the friends I can get. With the exception of Hadria, Verek, and Madrene no one from this world has shown me the slightest amount of kindness or even courtesy.” I shot a glance
at Padera. “Not even my own sister. I’ve been treated like a monster for no other reason than the fact that I’m different. Where I come from, that makes the lot of you bullies. And I don’t know if you’re up on the concept, but no one likes a bully.”

“Especially not you, Dawn.” It was Padera who spoke. “We know what you did to the last person who bullied you.”

I stared at her. I knew who she meant. “That was an accident.”

She snorted and turned to address the Council. “Thirteen years ago a girl named Jackey Jenkins teased the Princess at school. That night Dawn went into the girl’s dreams and tortured her for hours. Miss Jenkins has never recovered.”

“It was a mistake,” I insisted. “I didn’t know what I was capable of doing. I never meant to hurt her that badly.”

“What about Phil Durdan?” she asked sweetly. “Did you mean to hurt him?”

I glared at her, but I kept a firm grip on my control. “Not as much as you meant for him to hurt me.”

Her gaze raked over me and obviously found me lacking. “Since you’re not drooling and are able to form coherent sentences I’d say you weren’t in half the danger as Mr. Durdan.”

“Enough,” Hadria’s voice echoed through the cham
bers. I admit I jumped at the sheer volume and strength of it. Gone was the serene expression I was accustomed to, replaced by a fierce resolve that made me realize that she was
not
someone to mess with.

“This trial is about whether or not Dawn is a threat to this world now, not if she made mistakes as a child. Now, the evidence supports her claim that Phil Durdan was given that amulet by one of our own. Madrene says she has no idea how the amulet came to leave her possession. If that’s true, then Dawn is not the only so-called threat this world may face.”

Padera snorted. “Maybe Dawn gave the human the amulet herself. So she’d have an excuse to give one to her lover.”

I rolled my eyes. “I suppose I asked him to beat the snot out of me and try to rape me as well?”

The Warden shrugged. “How do I know what lengths you’ll go to in order to achieve your own goals?”

“That’s more your style, not mine. Tell them about your visit to Noah.”

Hadria turned her swirling gaze on my sister. “What is this?”

Padera refused to speak as she glared at me, so I replied for her: “The Warden threatened Noah as a message to me. How many rules does that break?”

Madrene turned to her daughter. “Padera, is that true?”

The Warden remained stubbornly silent.

Gladios shook his head. “I find this all very distressing, and this constant bickering gives my head an ache. Allow me to detail what is at stake here, so we all understand. Padera, your position as Warden is at stake if this accusation proves to be true. Dawn, if it is indeed a habit of yours to endanger humans and disregard the sanctity of this realm, you will be unmade and stripped of your remarkable abilities.”

Hadria spoke before I could, “I do not think that would be wise.”

Everyone stared at the priestess as she continued, “There is no way to know if Dawn can be unmade, let alone if the process will strip her of her abilities. An attempt to do so might have catastrophic effects on this world.”

Padera scowled. “I don’t believe it.”

“Explain,” Gladios encouraged. “Has this to do with the prophecy?”

Oh, not this again.

Hadria nodded. “I believe Dawn will be the savior of this realm. I do not believe that she has any intention of harming it. I’ve seen what she can do—amazing things. And I’ve seen her resist the allure of temptation and corruption. Even the Eve fruit couldn’t sway her. In fact, I believe she will be all that stands between us and destruction.”

Oh, good lord. No one but me and Padera seemed to think this a load of bull.

Gladios nodded sagely. “We will take that into consideration, Hadria. Madrene, your amulet allowed a human to do harm and be harmed in this world. It was your responsibility, which you obviously did not take seriously. Therefore, if it is decided that the human did come to this world with the intent to harm Dawn, then the punishment will be yours as well.”

Padera squeezed her mother’s hand.

“And now,” continued the old Nightmare, “we will convene.” He rose from his chair and the rest of the Council followed, their robes swirling as they left the room.

I looked at Padera. “How come you’re not going with them?”

She flushed. “Because of my personal…relationship to you, it’s been decided that I cannot be impartial and therefore do not get to vote on your fate.”

“Well,” I said caustically. “That sucks, doesn’t it?”

She actually made a face at me, but I only smiled. At least one thing was in my favor.

We sat there for what felt like hours. In reality I think it was maybe half of one. I played with my fingernails and tried to respond to Hadria’s optimistic small talk as we waited.

Finally the Nightmare Council returned.

“You’ve heard the arguments,” Morpheus told the Council as he moved to stand beside me once more. I was flanked by him and Hadria—who held my cold hand in hers. My father placed his hands on the back of my chair. “Make your judgment. No, Padera, you don’t get to speak again.”

The Warden glared at me, as though Morpheus coming to my side meant he had completely turned on her, but she kept her mouth shut. I didn’t even smirk at her. To be honest, I was too nervous to do anything but chew the inside of my lip and wait as Gladios came to stand at his place at the table. “We’ve made a decision.”

And? It was all I could do not to kick it out of him.

“We have decided that Dawn Riley acted out of self-defense and without intent to do harm to this world. We will take no disciplinary action against her.”

“What?” The Warden’s shrill cry sliced my ears like shards of glass. “Are you all stupid?”

The council head held up a hand, his expression unchanging from its blankness. “However, we do find that Madrene must take responsibility for the loss of the King’s amulet. Allowing such power to fall into the wrong hands is inexcusable. I’m going to recommend to the Matron that she be sentenced to imprisonment for one hundred years, in the Dark Lands.”

Who the hell was the Matron? And what were the Dark Lands? It didn’t seem anyone was going to ex
plain, but it was obviously bad judging from the expression on Madrene’s face—and Morpheus’s as well.

“No!” Padera shouted, jumping to her feet. “You can’t! You have no right—no jurisdiction over her as a succubus.”

Gladios showed no emotion in the face of hers. “Which is why I intend to take my findings to the Matron. She will see that the sentence is handed out. As for you, Padera…”

“No.” The Warden cut him off, shaking her head. “I will not allow you to punish my mother for something she didn’t do! She did not give that amulet to the human.”

“She did not respect it. She allowed it to be stolen and did not report it. That is crime enough.” Gladios looked at Verek. “Please escort Madrene to the brothel.”

Padera stepped between her mother and the big Nightmare. I knew from the look on her face that she’d kill Verek to protect her mother. And what about Antwoine? What was I going to tell him now that I’d gotten his lover arrested? He’d die without ever seeing her again, her imprisonment would last out the remainder of this lifetime and part of his next.