Chapter 36
Rami
Igroaned, gritting my teeth against the pain radiating through my skull. After ensuring I wouldn”t vomit, I pushed myself into a sitting position, and as my vision cleared, I froze, a chill running through me.Scrambling to my feet, I turned in a quick circle, my voice a panicked whisper, ”No, no, no.” Stars encompassed me in vast, open cosmos, and with a hard swallow, the realization sank like a stone in my stomach—I was back in the star realm.
“It isn’t real; it isn’t real,” I chanted under my breath, my fists clenching as I stepped onto a familiar path. Despite centuries of absence, the memories were etched into my mind, pulling me forward as if I’d never left.A barrage of sensations and memories overwhelmed me—the salty scent of the sea mingled with smoke from distant chimneys and a hint of pixie dust lingering in the air. This peculiar blend was both nauseating and oddly comforting, stirring a deep sense of fearful homesickness within me.
The ancient trees seemed to recognize my presence as I ventured through the Neverwoods. Their leaves whispered softly in the gentle breeze, branches reaching out as if in greeting or, perhaps, warning. Bioluminescent plants, flowers, and mushrooms lined the path, lighting up the moss-covered trail with an eerie glow that pulsed rhythmically with each step I took.
I should’ve known the dreamscape wouldn’t let me leave unscathed. Having lived a life burdened with fears, regrets, and dark memories, I attempted to brace myself for what lay ahead. As I contemplated which scenarios I might face—each seeming worse than the last—my brows furrowed in determination. This ordeal needed to end quickly, not just for my sake, but for Nahlah’s, too.
Taking a deep breath, I decided on my first destination and quickened my steps toward Mermaid Lagoon. The reputation of Marooners’ Rock as a haven for lost souls and shattered dreams felt like the right place to start. I followed the twisting and turning path, each step bringing with it a chill that seeped into my bones.
Waves crashed violently against the shore as the fog thickened, wrapping the realm in a ghostly veil. As the wind howled with the distant wails of those lost to the skull-shaped island, my advance halted at the sound of crunching footsteps. Rooted in place, my boots sank deeper into the damp sand, my jellaba snapping wildly behind me as I waited.
“Well, well, well,” came a familiar chuckle. “I thought I was done with you after I sold you off.”
“It isn’t real,” I whispered under my breath. Steeling myself against the memorieshis voiceevoked, I turned to confront the man who’d haunted my nightmares for centuries. Before me stood the notorious pirate captain, his imposing figure cloaked in a weather-beaten coat, a wide-brimmed hat casting a shadow over his sinister smirk.
Meeting his cold, calculating gaze, I remained silent, every muscle coiled, ready to defend myself.
“What? Nothing to say?” He sauntered closer, his infamous hook clinking rhythmically against the sword at his side. “Tell me, genio, how long did you rot in the menagerie before Sultan Farris purchased you?” he asked, clicking his tongue in mock pity. “Your first master was a beast of a man. I’m surprised to see you still alive.”
I swallowed hard, desperately trying to remember that this wasn’t real and that my powers far surpassed anything this pirate could imagine.
“Still playing mute, eh?” he scowled, narrowing his eyes. “I expected more fire from you, boy.”
Hearing him use the word ”boy” in that familiar and superior tone of his sent me spiraling. Memories of my captivity engulfed me as pain and fear clawed at the edges of my consciousness. This despicable captain was part of a vast network of Hunters that scoured the universe for rare and coveted treasures—anything they deemed valuable enough to sell. Stealing and plundering, they sold their trophies in the illicit black markets located across the realms.
The sound of him drawing his sword snapped me out of my shock, and I summoned a blade just in time to block his attack. “I broke you once; I can break you again!” he taunted, the silver cap of his tooth gleaming as he grinned wickedly. Growling, I forced him back, gaining my footing.
The clashing of our blades echoed around us as we traded blows in a continuous back-and-forth, my frustration intensifying with each parry. No matter how hard I tried to summon it, the dreamscape was blocking me from using my powers. Obviously, it was determined to regress me back to the twelve-year-old fae who had yet to fully come into his abilities.
A quick slash of his hook caught my cheek, the sting snapping me fully back to reality. With a swift motion borne of desperation, I lunged, plunging my sword into his heart. He staggered back, his expression one of shocked disbelief. With one last curse, he exploded into a cloud of shadows, scattering in the wind.
My chest heaved as I panted furiously, my body trembling as I tried to compose myself. After a moment, I pushed my hair back from my face and pressed a finger to my cheek to heal the cut. I”d barely banished my sword when a fierce breeze blew in, my heart dropping as the ground shifted beneath my feet, the familiar path leading to my childhood home unfurling before me.
Without a doubt, I knew she would be waiting for me. Despite knowing it would be agonizing, I broke into a sprint, desperate to see her again, no matter the pain it might bring. As the Nevertree loomed into view, the surrounding forest darkened, growing more foreboding with every step I took, mirroring my inner turmoil.
My boots crunched on the freshly fallen snow as I approached the little house where I”d grown up. Hesitantly, I entered the backyard, a lump forming in my throat at the sound of the familiar squeaky gate. Finding everything exactly the same as it had been the day I was taken sent a flood of memories through me—laughter, adventures, and happy experiences mingling with sorrow.
“Rami?”
As her little figure emerged from the shadows, everything halted to a standstill. Even the snowflakes hung motionless in the air as all the distance of years and realms collapsed into a simple, heartbreaking clarity.