Dreamscape (4 page)

The most important question of all.
“I shall make this simple; however, if you have further questions, you may
ask.” She nods. “There used to be many of us, now there are only four…including
myself that have not converted to Erobos, or those that call themselves the
dark ones.” She is right to shudder, but to my surprise, she does not interrupt
me. “Essentially, my brothers and I accrue enough energy to leave the
Dreamscape every so often.”

“How often? And what’s a
Dreamscape?”

“Every dreamer has his or her own
dream world. The Dreamscape is where those worlds are housed. My realm is part
of this network, but not exactly the same. Unlike other worlds, my realm has a
protective barrier around it that is meant to shield us from the Erobos. What
was once a great accomplishment for my people was turned into an impenetrable
barrier that keeps me tethered to this place. And as to when I am able to
leave, it depends on how much energy I can save. Erobos interaction depletes my
kind. My three brothers have a slightly different situation than I do, but we
are all basically trapped in the Dreamscape.” She frowns but does not
interrupt. “When we have accumulated enough energy, we are able to open a
portal to the mortal realm. Our power does not last long, and there are dangers
there for us. Suffice it to say, we do what we need to do and leave as quickly
as possible. We seek humans with the ability to aid us, and I have chosen you.”

She tucks her legs under her and
leans further into the cushions. A very good sign, yet her pulse remains
elevated and her complexion hasn’t recovered. “Why?”

She is hiding her true emotions
from me. In an attempt to calm her further, I lift my shoulders in a casual
shrug that I do not feel. “You are gifted with the sight, you are of the blood,
and, most importantly, you have no complications to distract you.”

Her brow creases as she studies me.
She folds her hands in her lap, still staring. She’s good at controlling body
language, which will be a great asset for her in the Dreamscape. “What if I
don’t want to help?
Do I get to leave?”

No matter how much I wish I could
give her a different answer, I cannot. “I have no way of letting you go,
Amelia. My power is now spent. With the interaction I face with the Erobos
daily, it would likely take six hundred years to accrue enough power to enter
the mortal realm again. You see, I’m trapped here, just like you. I was hoping
that you would be willing to help me. When my prison was constructed, the
Erobos created a portal that requires a key to open. I’m sure you noticed the
elaborate doorknob.” She nods, frowning. “Although I have located the portal, I
have not been able to find the key. In fact, I have discovered no matter how
much I search, I will likely never find it. You, on the other hand, may be able
to discover the key and in the process free us both.”

She cocks her jaw to the side,
riffling her fingers through her dark hair. What follows is a swift smile. “For
a while there I was pretty sure Cryptic was your middle name.”

Despite my efforts, a soft laugh
escapes me. “I haven’t a middle name.”

She smiles completely now. “Ha. All
right, do you have a first name?”

“You may call me Seth.”

Her smoky eyes lock onto mine.
“What if I take the job and don’t like it, Seth?”

My fingers curve along the plush
velvet armrests of my chair. Her skin is softer.

My pulse quickens with the thought
of touching her, of loving her like I’ve dreamed so many times. I swallow, and
make my body relax. “My offer stands. If at any time you can find the key, you
may leave.”

I barely have finished speaking
when she blurts, “What about time off?”

“You will not require time off.”

She gives me a once over. “Everyone
needs time off.”

When I stand, she startles. Instead
of moving toward her as I had planned, I take a step back. “Are you agreeing?”

She shrugs and joins me on the
carpet as she says, “It’s not like I have anything better to do. Who knows? It
might be fun.”

This guy is certifiable, but at least he’s entertaining.
For all I know, I’m right there with him. I still can’t quite accept the things
that have happened. I’m hoping I’ll wake up soon, but I might just have to
rethink everything I think I know about reality. My freakoutometer is measuring
an eight right now. I just hope Seth doesn’t know what’s happening inside me.

It’s taken a boatload of pretend courage for me to sit here
and listen to him tell me outrageous things. What I should be doing is clawing
through the walls to escape. It might come to that, but not yet. I’m intrigued
by him as much as I am afraid of him. It’s stupid to feel this way, yet I can’t
seem to make myself feel anything else.

For a moment I wonder how long I’ve been here. I guess it
doesn’t really matter because I no longer have a home to go back to. Once
Varner figures out I’m not coming to get my things, he’ll probably cart what
little I have off to charity or, more likely, his third floor unit. Slimy
weasel. Everything that meant anything to me was in that suitcase.

I push my greedy ex-landlord out of my mind because Seth’s
voice still echoes in my thoughts.
You are of the blood.

I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous. Next, he’s gonna
tell me he’s a vampire and my blood called him to me. Yeesh. It’s bad enough he
thinks he controls dreams or sends dreams or whatever. I’d hate to see what
would happen if he thought he was the lord of the undead instead of the
Dreamscape,
or whatever he said this place was.

Truth is I stopped really listening after he told me things
about myself he shouldn’t know or even be able to guess. It’s as if he and I
are old friends and I’ve lost my memory somewhere between where I left my brain
and my nerve. That’s just absurd, not because I don’t know the guy, but because
I’ve never had a real friend in my life, just one make-believe boyfriend that kept
me sane for four years.

Seems weird that the minute Jason leaves my dreams this is
what happens. I stiffen. What if Seth’s telling the truth? Could he have sent
Jason to me? Could he bring him back? Could Jason be real.

Man, I’ve got to stop thinking this stuff. It’s not gonna
do me any good to lose my brain.

Seth knows things about me I haven’t shared with a living
soul, not even Justine. I have no clue where blood is concerned, but I’ve been
able to feel people out pretty well all my life. It’s what’s kept me out of
real trouble, but clairvoyant? I don’t think so. I’d be raking in the dough if
I could read people’s minds. I figure, if you got something to lift you up in
this dingy world, best use it.

Seth moves toward the far wall where the pendulum swings
and then faces me again, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Please, excuse my
manners. You must be hungry.”

“I could eat,” I tell him, but the truth is I haven’t eaten
in two days, unless you count that ketchup packet I found in the back of my
fridge yesterday. My stomach jumps at the mere thought of food, making me forgo
the questions I have about this room. Like where all that fire came from, and
why there is a giant pendulum suspended out of what looks like nowhere as it
rocks back and forth. The sound is strangely hypnotic. I’ll ask him about it
after we eat.

He laughs. I like the sound, even though I know I
shouldn’t. I’m getting myself into all kinds of trouble by acting like
everything’s hunky-dory, but until he does something stupid, I’ll go along with
him.

My inner voice yells at me.
He’s not normal, how can you
treat him like he is?
This place isn’t normal, either. I’m trying to
convince myself that it’s all an elaborate illusion, but even if I discount the
pendulum and fire pit, I still can’t figure out the weird hallway to nowhere or
that doorknob.

When he turns toward the wall closest to us again, a door
shimmers into existence. A small gasp escapes me while his resultant smirk
irritates me. Where in the world did that come from? On the other side is a
room. It’s a good size, but nothing compared to Seth’s living area.

I file in behind him, all the while hoping he’s not leading
me to his torture chamber. Trying to be subtle about it, I hover at the
threshold, unwilling to go in all the way until I make sure it’s relatively
safe.

As if he’s read my mind, he says, “I will not harm you,
Amelia.”

My skin prickles when he says my name in the exact same way
Jason used to, and, without warning, my head goes woozy. Using the wall to
steady myself, I try to shrug off how weak I am. I’ve been going on adrenaline,
but my body seems to have run out.

Sky blue eyes show nothing but concern as he approaches me.
It doesn’t take a brainiac to know what he’s gonna do. For some reason, though,
I just can’t handle the thought of him touching me, so I rush past him,
stumbling into the room before he can grab my arm.

He’s at my side and guiding me toward a small table in the
corner before I can even mutter a protest. As if he’s being careful with me,
his body curls around mine, but I won’t let myself feel safe around him.

An awkward moment passes between us as he guides me onto a
chair. Seconds later, he sets a plate of delicious smelling, steaming hot food
in front of me. Where he got it is anyone’s guess. Maybe I’m just too weak to
notice things right now.

I make myself wait for him to sit even though I could down
this meal in two minutes flat. He sets his own plate on the table then settles
into his chair. “Go ahead,” he says.

My fingers shake as I reach for the knife and fork. When I
look at him, he gives me an encouraging smile before he glances at my utensils.
Doesn’t he know I could use these against him? He’s either stupid, or he thinks
I’ve got no chance in fighting him. Either way, all I want right now is the hunk
of meat wafting savory goodness toward my eager nose. I fumble with the
silverware, but manage to carve a chunk off the gigantic steak and shove it
into my mouth. After two bites, I’m swallowing, ready for the next.

His hand flashes out and covers mine. My heart explodes at
his warm touch and my skin erupts in those strange tingles again. Why does he
affect me like this? I go still as a cornered rabbit. Taking a deep breath, I
raise my eyes to his. I don’t have to say a word for him to release my hand.

“Forgive me,” he says. “I merely thought you might need
some help.”

“I’m not a child,” I say in a cutting tone that makes me
flinch.

His brows shoot toward his hairline while he laughs. I
don’t miss the way his eyes rove over me. “Trust me, I am aware.”

My stomach flutters, but I don’t know this man. What does
he want from me? My mind fills with images of what he could do to me, and
surprisingly, not all of them are unpleasant. I’ve got to get a grip. “What’s
that supposed to mean?”

A muscle in his jaw jumps, and he stares right at me. “Only
that I know who you are. I know how old you are. And I know you are starving.”
His voice softens to match his eyes. “Let me help you.”

I smack my lips and take the closest goblet. My head rushes
with warning bells, and my body has tensed again, but I sit back and let him
cut my food.

Skeptical, I take a sniff of the drink in my hands. “What
is this?”

He sighs before he answers me. “Apple juice. Only apple
juice.”

My favorite. It’s creepy how much he knows about me, but I
can’t keep my hands from bringing the drink to my lips. The tangy liquid slides
down easy. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything so good.

He makes one last cut before he hands me my utensils. I try
to smile at him, but it feels wrong, forced.
Of course it’s forced, you
idiot. He kidnapped you for hell’s sake.

His smile is relaxed, easy. With a tilt of his head, he
eyes my food. The starving part of me shakes her fists at him, so I set to work
piling the meal away. My stomach does a happy dance, greedily asking for more,
but if I don’t stop soon, I’m gonna make myself sick.

“Amelia?”

I swallow hard. I hate when he uses my name. My body
stiffens every time he does it. “Seth?” I say more casual than I feel.

“You needn’t rush. There is more food if you desire it.”

I nod, but suddenly, I’m not hungry anymore. I raise my
eyes to his. “Enough of the bull. How can you have food like this and not be
able to leave? And what’s with that pendulum? What is this place and why do you
really have me here?”

Amelia’s questions remind me of just how much work I have
still to do. If only I could show her who I am. I can imagine us sitting at
this table, enjoying the evening meal so easily…too easily. I’m alarming her
with my familiarity.

She wants to know why I have brought her here. Should I
tell her how lonely I am? Should I confess to her that I have watched her grow
from a gangly girl into the beauty that sits before me? Should I let her know
how much I’ve ached to have her with me for real?

No. That would be the stupidest thing I could do. I take a
sip of my drink, letting the sweet liquid roll on my tongue before I swallow. I
need no drink to intoxicate me. The woman sitting so close has already
accomplished the deed.

“I’ve already told you why I have brought you here, Amelia,”
I say. Even though I know my answer will not appease her, I do not have another
to give.

She sends me a frigid frown. “Why do you keep saying my
name?”

I smile to myself. One of these times, she will realize who
I am, or I will show her in the Dreamscape. It is only a matter of patience.
“Is it not customary to use one’s name in a conversation?”

She stands up, and her heart jumps into a run even though
her legs stay put. Her chest rises and falls so rapidly I am worried she will
swoon. Her voice comes out breathy. “This has been…interesting, but you really
need to let me go now.”

I study my napkin. “I cannot.”

Before I’m able to say anything else she runs for my
chamber. She makes it into the hallway before I catch her elbow. I wonder if
she knows how fast she just moved. Astonishing.

She pulls against my light grip. “Let go of me, Seth!”

I don’t.

“As I have already told you, you may leave if and when you
can find the key. I am unable to grant your request. You are the only person
here that can access the mortal world.”

She pries my fingers off her arm. “You’re so full of it
your breath smells like horse crap.”