Deadly Dreams

“A garden filled with fruit and foods of all kinds, children running and playing. I’m not sure but there were other people too. I can’t really remember though, its so hard to grasp.”

“Well that’s pleasant enough, what happened in this dream?”

“I wasn’t really there, I was almost just able to see all of this without being seen. There was a woman though, she was evil.”

“Hmmm, tell me about her.”

“She was warm, so warm that I felt if I got too close I would melt. She smelt too.”

“Like what?”

“Like, well its hard to explain. Like sunshine, summer, the sun, something like that. Except the smell made me

sick. It was suffocating and over powering. Her smile was too, she scared me.”

“I see. Why were you scared?”

“Just a gut feeling. Her eyes were wide and intelligent, like an owl. I fear I’m a mouse in her eyes. Everyone obeys her and loves her.”

Closing my eyes I see her as vividly as in my dreams. Long golden hair braided in a complicated fashion down her back, bright golden eyes that seem like liquid gold, and her dress a green like the leaves on the trees. This time however she’s sitting in a throne like chair made of roses. The thing I see however are the thorns stroking her skin instead of pricking her. My stomach twists in fear and I want to run. Before I have a chance a man walks up her and her smile freezes me in place. She sends all the girls away from her chair and then summons the man forward. He bows to her then kneels before her.

“My lady, we have caught a dark court one. He still hasn’t bowed to us, should I kill him?”

“Bring him here first, let me see who refuses to yield to us. Surely he’s a strong specimen.”

All I can do is stare; the energy around her has doubled with her curiosity. The heat seems to burst on my skin and I feel my skin crawling. I want to leave but I have to see whom she’s talking about. Something in me keeps me standing despite the heat pressing in around me. That’s when men like people drag in a lump, which must be the man they’re speaking about. He seems limp in their arms and all I can see is the hair that tumbles down in front of his face. There’s an odd look to it until I realize it’s covered in blood. His hair looks like the color of snow except with bright red and brown through out it. They throw him down in front of her, and wait for him to get up.

“Hello. May I look upon your face my dear boy?”

His face turns up and my heart stops. It’s Merik, I haven’t seen him since I was a child but I know it instantly. The scar across him cheek and his cold violet eyes are enough for me to recognize him. Without realizing it I start to move towards him, no one stops me though.

“Well you are quite a handsome young boy. Tell me, why will you not just bow to us? If you would be willing to, we wouldn’t have to hurt you. Now please be reasonable.”

“I will never bow to the you Jadine. The dark court will always be my home, never your disgusting summer court.”

“Oh come now, we have plenty to offer, besides you like women don’t you? Look how many summer girls we have. The summer court and the dark court are not so different; both of us enjoy being much of the same things. You would be very at home here.”

“Never.”

“I will make you bow to me then, how ever long it takes. Then you will be nothing but another lap dog of mine as punishment for being so stubborn. Take him back to holding until he bows to our court.”

“Yes my lady.”

The guards go to pick him up and I run to him. He doesn’t even struggle against him though, and I’m forced to follow behind them. They take him clear across the open meadow and then under ground. I hesitate at the opening, but then proceed after them. When I enter the chamber I gag slightly at the smell of blood and urine. It’s so strong that I almost can’t handle it, if it weren’t of the look on Merik’s face I wouldn’t have been able to stay.

“You should have just listened to our lady, now your punishment will be far worse than before.”

He doesn’t look at them as they say this, and after chaining him up they leave. Others are in shackles as well around the room, but none look like they have enough energy to even look up. I make my way across the room to Merik ignoring the bile rising in my throat. I crouch in front of him, and try to move the hair from his face. A tingling feeling goes through my hand and my hand stops inches from his hair.

A dream? Just like before with him I can’t touch him. How did I do it before?

As hard as I can I push my hand closer to him, and as soon as my skin touches his hair my hand feels like its on fire. Letting out a cry, I keep pushing my hand until I can move his hair away from his face. His head shoots up, and he stares right at me even though I can tell he can’t see me.

“Lily?” He whispers almost too softly for me to hear

In response I touch his face, my hand once again burning, sending pains all the way up my arm. He moves his face against my hand and smiles slightly. His lips kiss my hand, and my whole body starts to burn. Still I don’t pull away form him.

“Where have you been? Why are you here?”

Trying to talk back is far harder than it use to be, and I sit as close as I can to him. After a couple of tries I figure out how to speak, it’s strained though.

“The pills they give me make… me weak. I haven’t been… able to come over… in a long time. I saw you, I had to… follow you.”

“You shouldn’t be here, not when I’m like this. If she knew you saw all of this then she would be angry and try to find you. It isn’t safe for you even though I couldn’t find you she might.”

“It’s ok… She won’t know… I need to be with you for as long as I can…. They will bring me back soon, I know. I’ve missed you.”

“As I have missed you, I wait every day hoping you’ll return.”

“Lily, Lily, you need to wake up. Lily.”

“They’re calling me back already…. Please tell me… what is happening?”

“The summer queen is catching us from different courts. She plans on taking over the other courts; the light court has already been taken, though it’s not surprising. They rely so much on reason they didn’t want to fight her, and easily let her take control. She’s much like their current queen. Winter and Dark courts aren’t letting go that easy though. The more we fight her though the more we lose. I’ll admit I’m scared Lily, I’m glad you’re safe though. If I am to be captured by the Summer queen at least I know you are able to keep me company in my hell.”

“Oh don’t say that, I will find a way to get you out, I promise. I have to go now; I can feel myself slipping away from here. I’ll return as soon as I can.”

I cup his face letting the pain wash over me, and then I kiss him. His lips are warm against mine, and despite the pain I don’t want to pull away.

“Inject the shot now! She’s going to go into cardiac arrest!”

Suddenly I feel myself being shredded apart, and pulled back to the ground. It feels like I’m falling from the top of a building. Then I’m back in my therapist’s office, but now I’m laying on the couch with several people standing over me. My eyes look around and see the needle stick out of my arm. That’s the last thing I see before dark sleep washes over my brain.