Chapter 5
five
. . .
Fermena
Fermena is overwhelmed and exhausted. She had hoped to return home to finally get some real sleep—whatever that was.
She still can’t wrap her mind around how she ended up in another world, met her true love, and now won’t be able to see her again.
She had spent most of her time alone since she lost Gemini, but finally meeting Isyss, everything feels right.
She no longer feels lonely; she feels safe and hopeful.
She sees a brighter future as long as Isyss is a part of it.
She doesn’t know how a fae can be her true love, but she is willing to find out.
Nana Mena always told her stories about the fae, but she had never seen one in real life.
She thought they were just ancient beings that never showed themselves—until tonight.
Fermena really is in awe, not because they really exist, but because one has her heart.
Now that everything seems to be falling into place for her, the last thing she wants to do is lose someone else she loves. She can’t lose Isyss.
As Titus continues to bark orders at Isyss, she feels anger brewing in her stomach.
She doesn’t like the way he’s speaking to her like a child, as if she doesn’t have a choice or a say over her own life.
She squeezes Isyss’s hand as tight as she can, sensing that she is shrinking into herself from embarrassment.
“Do I make myself clear!” Titus yells.
Isyss says nothing. She just nods her head; she can’t get a word in if she wants to.
Fermena can see the once-beautiful and vibrant woman she had met at the pond slowly becoming sad.
She can see her aura changing from lavender to brown as Isyss drops her head.
Fermena shuts her eyes and begins to hum the sweet melody that she and Isyss share.
“You got this, Isyss,” she says in her mind.
Isyss’s eyes shoot open as she turns to Fermena, looking at her in surprise. She smiles.
“Can she hear me?” Fermena thinks.
“You’re strong. I’m right here with you,” she says in her mind as Isyss receives the communication.
Isyss’s aura brightens back to a sparkling lavender, as her posture grows straight. She is ready to speak her mind and no longer allow her father to walk all over her, as he had for her entire life.
“Father,” Isyss says, lifting her head with her shoulders back, oozing confidence. “I won’t do it.”
Titus raises his eyebrows, amused. “What did you say?”
“I said—I won’t do it!” she shouts. “She’s my fated mate, and I love her. I won’t be away from her.”
“Your fated mate?!” Titus asks, as he roars in laughter that echoes throughout the entire lair.
“Yes,” Isyss nods. “It wasn’t my essence that brought her here—it was destiny. The Love Bugs brought her to me.”
“Not in this realm—ever!”
“It’s true, and I won’t stand for you to tear us apart,” Isyss shouts with her head held high.
Titus’ laughter turns to quick disgust as he scrunches up his face. He is angry with her disobedience and has had enough of it. He looks over to his left, where his guards stand with staffs taller than themselves, each with a metallic blade tied to the end with rope.
“Banish her!” he shouts to them.
“What?!” Isyss yells. “But Father!”
“Come on, Isyss,” Fermena shouts, pulling her arm. “We gotta get out of here!”
“But–” Isyss stumbles out her words as tears stream down her face.
Fermena pulls her behind as they run towards where the previous door they entered was. The guards charge behind them with their staffs held high.
“Isyss!” Fermena yells. “The door!”
Isyss materializes her wand as she wields a portal that swirls with glowing white light. As it comes into view, Fermena runs through the portal as Isyss follows behind. Looking over her shoulder, Isyss sees that the guards are close behind, as the portal shrinks and disappears.
As they enter the portal, they are greeted by a vivid white light that surrounds them. Fermena holds Isyss’ hand as she uses the other to cover her eyes, as the light blinds her.
“Where are we?” she asks.
“I don’t know,” Isyss says.
“It’s so bright,” Fermena shuts her eyes.
“Mena, please wake up!” a loud voice echoes around them.
“Saraia?” Fermena says as she slowly opens her eyes. Her eyes flutter open, and she can barely take in her surroundings because her vision is slightly blurred.
“Mena!” Saraia shouts, wrapping her arms around her.
Fermena moves her eyes from left to right, trying to clear her vision. Her sight is clear, and she feels Saraia’s warm embrace. Her eyes land on the large white dresser across the room, realizing she's back in her bed.
“Wh–” Fermena stumbles to speak.
“I’m so glad you’re awake!” Saraia says through sniffles. She pulls out of their embrace and takes in Fermena’s face—she can’t believe it. “I thought you’d never return!”
“Ouch!” Isyss says, sitting up on the floor, holding her head. “Where are we?”
Fermena looks over the side of the bed to find Isyss sitting on the floor.
“Who is that?!” Saraia screams. She gets up from the bed and snatches up her anointing oil from the dresser. She runs over Isyss and starts spraying the anointing oil onto her while chanting inaudible words.
“What are you doing?!” Isyss says, blocking the drops of oil with her hand. “Stop!”
“Rai!” Fermena shouts. “Stop!”
“What do you mean, stop?!” Saraia says. “There’s a demon in your house!”
“She’s not a demon,” Fermena laughs. “She’s a fae!”
“A fae?” Saraia says, caught in her tracks as she stops spraying Isyss.
“Yes,” Isyss says with a stale face. “Now stop spraying me with whatever that smelly stuff is!”
“Wait…wait…” Saraia says, holding up a hand. “What?” She’s trying to process everything that just happened.
Fermena giggles as she can see Saraia's brain processing like dial-up internet—she is not making the connection.
“Saraia, this is Isyss,” Fermena says. “She’s a dream fae.”
Saraia takes a seat on the edge of the bed. “Girl, what?” She is still lost in the sauce.
“Trust me,” Fermena says. “It’s a long story.”
“I got time,” Saraia says, folding her arms.
“So you mean to tell me…” Saraia starts stuffing her mouth with a chip. “You two are fated mates and met each other in a dream?”
“Something like that,” Isyss smiles.
Saraia is at a loss for words after hearing how Fermena and Isyss met. Isyss and Fermena turn to each other and laugh as they sit hand in hand across from Saraia at the kitchen table.
“Pretty much,” Fermena says. “We are destined to be together. We don’t know how this is going to work, but we’re going to figure it out—”
“Together,” Isyss says.
“Ew…” Saraia says. “Not y’all finishing each other’s sentences already.”
“Don’t be a hater, Rai,” Fermena snorts.
Fermena looks at Isyss and smiles. Isyss leans in and plants a kiss on her lips.
“Aww,” Saraia says. “Y’all cute or whatever.”
Isyss then places a kiss on the tip of Fermena’s nose. Fermena feels a tickle on her nose, as a warm sensation pulses through her heart, feeling the same energy she felt from the orb in her greenhouse.
“That was you!” she smiles.
Isyss smirks and winks.
Thank you for reading, “Once Upon Her Dream.” If you liked this, then you’ll love my other offering, The Cure of Us, a sapphic mafia vampire romance kicking off my Blood Money Series.