Only in Her Dreams (29 page)

“What’s the plan, brother?” Maxim asked.

“We go and bring Lucessa home.” The statement was said with such finality that Maxim gave Guy a questioning look. “With the help of Greg and Alexander, we’ll be led right to Darius’s location.”

“No way. He’ll kill me.” Panic rang in Greg’s voice and his body shook.

“He’s right, Guy. It’s too risky for you, this may be a trap to lure me to him. You stay here and I’ll follow and bring Lucessa back.”

Chapter 38

Maxim watched the car turn around the corner and he rushed out the front door and slid into Lucessa’s car. As he shifted the car into drive the passenger door swung open and shut. He’d told Guy it was imperative he wait here. If both of them perished rescuing Lucessa, Erebos would be left without a leader.

“Get out...” his voice trailed off as blue eyes stared back at him, not the glowing eyes of his brother, but the much softer eyes of Marie.

“Guy tells me you and Lucessa fought the last time you were together.”

“Hold on. There’s no time, we can talk on the way.” Maxim eased the car from the curb and sped around the corner toward the car holding Greg. “This is very dangerous, Marie.”

“I understand, but I may be able to help you. Guy says she ran from you in her dream.”

“Yes, I don’t know why she fears me.” Maxim slapped his palm against the steering wheel as he pushed his foot further down on the gas pedal.

“That may be my fault. There is something Guy never told you. Before he left, he gave me the power to visit dreams, as you do.”

Maxim eased up on the gas pedal and looked over at Marie.

“I was there in the dream, Maxim. I screamed at you and I’m afraid I frightened her away.” Marie lowered her head, allowing her hair to hide the tears he was sure traced a straight path down her face.

Maxim wished he could reach across the distance and wipe them away, her sorrow with them.

“I was unfair to you. I waited so many years for Guy to come back, and I feared he never would.”

“We’ve both done things we’re not proud of. Let’s get Lucessa back and then work on mending our family.”
Our family?
Since when did he consider Lucessa and Marie his family?

They drove in silence as they followed the car through town heading toward a less populated area. Maxim slowed Lucessa’s car, and dropped back to escape detection. The sun was peeking over the horizon. Alexander would recognize the car if he followed too closely. The traffic was light this early, mainly morning commuters. Dairies and ranches lined the road they traveled.

Fifteen car lengths ahead brake lights flared and the car turned onto a dirt road. As they drew closer to the turn off, Maxim saw lights in the distance and the car stopped near a small shack.

“We’ll park here and travel in by foot.”

“We?” Marie asked in surprise. “I figured you’d make me stay in the car.”

“I cannot protect you
here
, while I’m
there
.”

# # #

Guy collapsed on the couch. She’d left...with Maxim. He’d glanced at the message for only a second and Marie was gone. The car sped away in pursuit of the car that would lead them to his daughter. His hands came up to cover his face and continued into his hair, pulling slightly as they lifted from the back of his head. He stood, fearing his legs would give out.

The three people he loved were in danger and he was sitting here on his ass.
Guy ‘the fearless leader’ Sarcona.
He crumpled up the message, and threw it to the carpet. There was absolutely no way he could give in to his brother’s demand. Maxim and Marie knew that. They also knew he wouldn’t sacrifice Lucessa.

Would it come down to choosing between my daughter and Erebos?
Guy hoped it wouldn’t, because he was unsure he could make that decision. Could he make the decision to put thousands of lives--no, make that millions of lives--in jeopardy by handing Erebos over to Darius. Both the human and Oneiroi races’ survival would be in peril if he valued one person over the collective. He hadn’t wanted this responsibility in the first place. He’d made his decision when he’d left Erebos to live a life on Earth. He was not cut out to make a decision of this magnitude.

Once this threat was over, he’d have many more difficult decisions to make because he couldn’t live without Marie and Lucessa. He knew he could trust Maxim to lead the Oneiroi, but was it right to saddle him with the responsibility that Guy, himself, didn’t want. Not once had he asked Maxim what he wanted in life.

Exhaustion overtook him and he sagged against the couch. The pressure and stress of the last twenty-four hours wore on him.

# # #

“Stay close. If there’s any trouble I want you to run.” Maxim handed Marie the keys to Lucessa’s car. “If something happens to me, get Lucessa to the car and drive as fast as you can.”

Marie shook her head, placing a hand to her chest. Maxim feared this was too much for her to handle. “I can’t leave you here.”

“But you will if you have to. You and Lucessa must get back to Guy,” Maxim whispered, his stare penetrated hers in the waking dawn, his eyes a glowing blue, no doubt.

“Okay.” She finally nodded.

The tension eased from his body at her agreement. He moved in the direction of the shack, a thin line of light was visible around the sides of the doors. Keeping low, he moved down the side of the dirt road. He saw Marie moving in the same crouched stance as his own, a serious expression on her face. Her floral dress collected foxtails from the underbrush as she progressed.

Ahead of them, Alexander and Greg opened the door to the building and light flooded out. Maxim saw flames in the fireplace and Lucessa curled up in a large armchair.
She’s safe.
Marie had seen her too, judging from her intake of breath. The door swung shut. Maxim signaled Marie that they’d approach the shack fast, stationing themselves close to one of the windows.

As they got closer, he noticed the plywood boards nailed tight over each of the windows, preventing the escape of light but, hopefully not sound. He held up his hand, signaling Marie to stop.

“We’ll move to the window.” Maxim pointed to the window closest to the fireplace, where Lucessa sat. “No one seems to be in danger at the moment, but we should listen to be sure Greg keeps his end of the deal.”

With Marie’s mute nod, they moved forward.

The smell of burning wood permeated the air as they neared the shack. Weeds covered the ground below the boarded window he’d picked. Maxim trampled down the overgrowth before he and Marie perched to wait.

Voices from inside drifted through the plywood boards.

# # #

Darius reclined in the armchair next to the warmth of the fire. His gaze alternated between the flames licking the dry logs and Sandy. His concentration faltered every time he set eyes on her--she was beautiful--so much like
his
Lauren.

The door creaked and Darius went on alert. His hand slid across the cold metal of the handgun resting on his lap. The door opened to reveal Greg.

“Back so soon. What’s my brother’s answer?” Darius asked. His eyebrows rose in question as the pair shuffled into the room.

“Just as you said. He wants her back and he looks desperate,” Flynn paused and Darius sensed there was more.

“But...” he prompted.

“He wants to meet with your eldest brother before he gives his answer.”

Darius’s teeth ground together and his blood boiled. “Then why in the fuck are you back here? I said not to return until you have an answer!” From the corner of his eye, he saw Lucessa flinch. That she should, Darius’s patience was running out. He turned his attention to Greg. “Well?”

“I don’t know. He said he’d let us know his answer as soon as he met with Guy. He told me to come back here.”

With a flick of his head, Darius motioned Alexander outside. His second in command got his meaning immediately and left to survey the outside of the building. So his brother thought he was going to rescue Lucessa on his own. Always the hero. He was probably outside now.

Just as he’d thought, Greg got the deer in the head lights look when Alexander left the shack.

“Yeah, I don’t know what his problem was, throwing me out of Lucessa’s house,” Greg gushed.

He’s sweating, what a pussy!
Darius had picked up on his game correctly. Maxim lurked outside, waiting to strike, listening to their conversation. He’d play along...for a while.

“Sit down, Greg. I guess we have no other option, but to wait.” He looked between the three humans sitting around him. Lucessa stared straight ahead quietly, never looking in his direction or at the other two occupants of the room. Sandy, on the other hand, couldn’t keep her eyes off the others, her gaze moving between Greg, Lucessa and himself. Greg kept his eyes toward the ground in a submissive way.

“So, we just sit here and wait?”

Darius shifted his eyes back to the beautiful Sandy. “Yes, we wait.” He relaxed in his chair, his grip on the handgun also eased.

The sound of shuffling feet and a loud crash outside had Darius immediately resuming his clutch on the weapon. The plywood over the window flexed inward as a heavy object smashed against the wall, the shack shook from the impact.

The noise outside stopped and all eyes in the room moved to the front door, waiting. Excitement coursed through Darius’s veins in anticipation.

# # #

“Open the door.” The command, issued by the emotionless Alexander, had been directed at Marie. When she hesitated, Alexander twisted Maxim’s arm painfully behind his back. He’d been on them so quickly Marie didn’t have the chance to run.

She turned the handle and pushed the door wide, her head held high as she crossed the threshold into the room. Maxim’s respect for her increased.

“And who might this be?”

Maxim recognized the snarky, smooth voice of his twin.

“Mother!”

“Well, the one and only Mrs. Sarcona. I thought you were safe and wasting away in that home,” Darius said.

Maxim held tight to his control, but his body screamed to lash out at his twin’s disrespect of Guy’s wife and Lucessa’s mother. In that instant, Maxim’s nagging question was answered. Darius hadn’t bothered taking Marie because he’d judged her worthless. His brother had underestimated Marie and her state of mind just as Maxim had. The comparison between him and Darius hurt, maybe they weren’t so different.

Alexander tightened his grip on Maxim’s arm and pushed him through the doorway after Marie. “And my
younger
brother, Maxim. I’d like to say I’m also surprised to see you but alas, your moves are wholly expected.”

“Hello, brother.” The words hurt passing his lips.

He searched out Lucessa. Her head turned slightly to the side and her lips pursed. Her gaze fixed on her mother.
Look at me
, Maxim’s inner self commanded. Her eyes reluctantly left Marie and traveled in his direction. Her mouth opened, as if to say something, but she uttered nothing.

“Come in and join our party.” Darius gestured toward the couch, mostly taken by Greg and Sandy.

Maxim chose the seat next to Greg, and Marie moved to the overstuffed armchair Lucessa occupied. Lucessa’s arm went around Marie’s shoulder and she leaned her head close whisper to something in her ear. A small smile passed over Marie’s lips.

“Darius, what’re you doing? This is suicide. Taking Guy’s family hostage.” Maxim attempted to talk some sense into his brother. “Give this up. You’ll never win. Erebos will never be yours.”

“This isn’t about Erebos, at least not for me. And you’re wrong, brother.” The term spit forth from Darius’s mouth as if he was cussing. “This isn’t about winning.”

“Then what?”

“This is about getting what I deserve. I worked hard my whole life, sequestered from others, working day and night to learn all I needed to know. And then to have an outsider, a brother neither of us knew existed, come in and claim Erebos.” Darius paused, but not for long. “I knew I’d be met with opposition, but to learn that my younger brother, the only friend I ever had, was the one who brought him.”

Maxim didn’t know what to say. His brother’s eyes radiated hurt and years of pain. “You weren’t going to lead Erebos as father wanted. I had no other choice.”

“You’re right.” The aloofness reentered Darius’s face. “Father and I didn’t agree on many things. I’m sorry things turned out the way they did, but his death gave me the opportunity to give the people what
they
wanted.”

What is he talking about?

“You never suspected...you’re too trusting for your own good.”

“What are you saying, Darius?”

“Aw, I see you’re beginning to understand.”

“I’m not sure I do.” Maxim shook his head, not wanting to know more but unable to let the subject go.

“Must I spell it out to you, as if you are an infant?”

Maxim nodded.

“It should be no surprise to you that father didn’t agree with my ideas for Erebos. He had the nerve to tell me he’d changed his mind and wanted you to take over Erebos, completely stripping me of my right...what I had trained all those years for.”

Maxim’s breath hitched. His eyes never left his brother. He knew Darius was not their father-nor Guy for that matter, but capable of murdering
their
father? He wouldn’t believe it.

“We’ve all underestimated each other it seems. Must I come out and say it?” Darius raised his arms in a questioning gesture. “While I hadn’t intended to kill him, it happened. And, now I’m not opposed to killing all of you if that’s what it takes.”

“Oh my gosh!” Lucessa said.

Maxim looked to Lucessa, her mother perched next to her. Looking around him, everyone’s attention trained on Darius with shock, all except Alexander.

“You knew?”

Years ago, Maxim had considered Alexander his friend.

“Yes, I was there. It didn’t happen exactly as my Master said, but yes. We met on the road and your father was killed.”