Jake
My sleep doesn’t last long, as I’m interrupted by a figure cloaked in shadows.
Since coming to Fernhollow, I’ve learned a lot about this world that I didn’t know prior.
Dream walking is one of those. If Jasmine didn’t tell me Marisole dream walks, I might have thought a witch is trying to invade my mind or something of the sort.
“Why are you in my head?” I ask the demon standing in front of me. I’m getting awfully tired of random demon appearances. I didn’t ask for this, and it’s irritating that it’s interrupting my sleep.
There’s a low rumble emanating from the man as he hovers in front of me. “I can’t hurt you here.”
“Um, that’s good?” My hands plop on a soft surface, and I look down to see that I’m sitting on the couch from my hotel room. My heart beats out of my chest, wondering why he chose this as the setting for the dream.
I must avert my gaze for a while, because the demon notices. “The image is conjured from your memory. I’m not in your room, if you’re worried about that.”
I meet his eyes, trying to find the lie in his statement, but his expression remains unchanged.
“How did you enter my dream?” I’m not sure if I can cause harm in my dream, but I’d imagine I could push him out if I needed.
“You’re connected to her. I found her and hoped you’d be close by.”
“Wait.” I shake my head, unable to keep up. Connected? Is that how the demon found me in the western park? “Because we’re fated?” I ask.
He nods, and not that it makes me feel better, but my chest blooms, knowing our connection extends past our bubble. “And because it looks like you sealed the bond.”
“Okay,” I drawl, and test my theory about pushing him out.
Add this to a list of things I need to talk to Jasmine about because I shouldn’t have to worry about my dreams being infiltrated by others. I already have a block in my mind for talking with other telepathics, but this magic must pass through that barrier.
The demon grunts and bends forward, grasping his chest. “Wait, I have…” He struggles to breathe and staggers back as I push more on my intention to close him out. “You need to know the truth.”
He shouts those last few words, shaking the fake four walls in this dream, nightmare, whatever this is.
“How do I know you’re telling the truth? You could say anything right now to get what you want,” I growl.
He takes another step back, dropping to his knees. His shadows swirl around his head until he’s nothing but a silhouette.
“Her. Dad. Underworld.” The demon has a hard time saying each word, but I’d be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t interested in what he had to say. Whatever he says, I can confirm with Jasmine. She’s right next to me in the real world, where our bodies sleep soundly next to each other.
I allow my intention to shift, to let him stay, and the silhouette strengthens. Before me is a demon no longer covered in his shadows, but a simple black T-shirt and black pants. He has a snake slithering up either arm. His hair is shaggy and black. His irises are black.
He looks so familiar.
“Are you…?”
The demon nods. “And I’m trying to save you from making a huge mistake.”
I narrow my brows. “You must not understand the situati—”
“No,” he interrupts, his tone firm. He points a finger at me. “You don’t understand.”
“Enlighten me,” I growl. “Or I push you out.”
Again, I use my intention to push him, but he grits a yell and remains standing. His shoulders fall when I let up.
“A demon doesn’t leave the Underworld unless they’re gathering souls—any other reason is cause for execution. And not the fun kind.”
“Why are they after her? Is it because she’s a half demon?”
He narrows his brows.
“What?” I ask.
“Just surprised you don’t know what will happen if we catch her. I figured you two being all”—he waves his hand in my direction—“she would have told you.”
“You have five seconds to tell me before I end this very fun conversation.”
“Jasmine isn’t any normal half demon. She’s a princess of the Underworld. A daughter of the God.”
My throat goes dry as I try to think of a rebuttal, anything to say to him. My mouth opens and closes, but no response sounds right. Every memory, every conversation I’ve had with Jasmine replays like a montage in my head.
The secrets.
The lies.
The hiding.
It was all in front of me, wasn’t it?
I crumple on the couch, my elbows finding my knees as I nearly topple over. My chest is excruciatingly heavy. How am I supposed to trust my judgment if I couldn’t see what was right in front of me?
When she let me believe her to be a witch, I was able to quickly come to understand why. We’re enemies. Wolves kill demons on the spot. There’s never been a concept of a good demon or one that cares because they don’t have souls.
They aren’t bred to care. They’re bred to take, and take, and take. Their bargains are how their land survives, rendering the most vulnerable without a soul and no way to go back to their humanity.
“Well, I can see you’re not taking this very well…” the demon jests, rocking back and forth on his feet.
My gaze snaps to his. “How can you be joking at a time like this? She’s the…She’s…” I shake my head, not able to say it out loud yet. My head slumps in defeat, the weight of this surprise hitting me like a fucking wrecking ball.
“You know…” A column appears suddenly, and he leans against it. I already know I won’t like where this is headed. “I could help.” He lifts a hand to his face to inspect it, and now I remember why we’re enemies with demons. They’re egotistical bastards.
“You can help? Maybe try telling the rest of the demons to stay in their own realm? That’d solve my problem.”
He tsks. “Unfortunately, dear old Dad wouldn’t approve that request. Again, he’s not a fan of being defied. And…” He lowers his voice and whispers, “Between you and me, I’d promise to keep her alive.”
I roll my eyes. “How thoughtful of you.”
He grins, and it’s irritating how he shares genes with Jasmine. You’d never know Jasmine was a demon, unless an outside force threatened her and she used her shadow magic. But this man…
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Liam…” He says it slowly, cautious with his tone. “You know, I don’t want to do this to Jasmine, but I’ve been left few other options.”
“There’s always an option.”
Liam laughs and laughs…and laughs. “Oh.” He stops abruptly. “You’re not joking. Well, Jasmine must not have told you much about our dad. See? She doesn’t care about you. Easy decision.” He adds a shrug for good measure.
“It’s…No. I’m not giving Jasmine to you. She’s mine,” I growl.
“You don’t care she’s a princess? He won’t stop until she’s captured or dead. Take the bargain. She’s not worth it. There are a lot of things I could give you.”
Suddenly, the room shifts. Instead of the hotel room, I’m seated at a round table. Each seat is occupied with a body, but the faces are blurry. There are papers and maps thrown in the middle, and outside the windows is a dark forest lined with trees.
“Where are we?” I ask.
Liam shrugs, suddenly next to me. I’m not sitting any longer and instead am standing in the room, able to look at the surrounding elements.
“It’s something you want. How am I supposed to know? I can’t read your mind.” Liam ignores my mumbles and continues, “But this looks like a room full of important people, huh? What else is a round table for? You don’t look like the type to host a dinner party.”
I know what this is a mock of now.
The Council room. It’s an exact replica from a photo in one of the books I was using for research.
I’ve never been in the room where decisions are made and meetings are held.
I don’t know how many people are allowed in, or if it’s only certain species depending on the topic.
I now see the Council members in their seats, their faces fresh in my memory.
“Ah, you do know the people in this room.” Liam points, as if it’s not obvious.
As quickly as the room appeared, it disappears and I’m thrown back on the couch from the fake hotel room. The web of lies continues to tangle and grow with time, even with layers being shed.
“So, you see…” Liam shuffles his hands together, like one would do after completing a tough task. “You give me Jasmine, and that dream you have can become a reality.”