Chapter 17 #2
Taryn shifted his head to look at her, his expression in disbelief. “You can cross into the dreamworld at will?”
“At will,” Airess confirmed. “And eventually you can too if you just focus on… well, not focusing.”
Taryn shifted and tried it again. “This is quite nice. I think I’ll fall asleep soon.”
Airess chuckled. “Me too. Goodnight, Taryn.”
Taryn looked at her with a softness, his mouth curved into a subtle smile.
“Goodnight, Haeleth.”
She saw Taryn falling through space alongside her, his silver dream form a beacon in the vast expanse.
Airess shut her eyes as they shifted into the Dreamworld, the uncomfortable feeling passing as she suddenly found herself standing inside a grand corridor–and one that she knew well.
They stood there together, grabbing their bearings and taking in their surroundings.
“That was unpleasant,” Taryn remarked from her side. She couldn’t help but stare at him, his brown curls now silver tendrils, as if touched by moonlight. He raised his arm and inspected the ghostly version of himself.
“It usually is,” she said numbly, taking in the familiar hallways of the castle in Luciena.
Marble tiling lined the floors, the walls a stark white with intricate crown molding.
There were many paintings along the walls, including a portrait of the royal family.
It was an older painting, depicting the family when the king consort was still alive before he died of a terminal illness.
Arzhel and Morana were younger, mere children, yet she could still depict the cruelty in Arzhel’s eyes through the image.
“Are we in the castle?” Taryn asked, sidestepping so that a servant could walk by.
“Yes,” Airess chuckled, and stepped in front of another servant.
The servant passed through her dreamform, her translucent body flickering at the motion.
Taryn’s brows rose in surprise, mouth parted open in shock.
“You’re practically a ghost here. Don’t worry about them walking through you. Now, come on, let’s go.”
She turned and walked down the halls, a place she had never dreamwalked before even though she had lived here for a decade. How strange it was to be back here unnoticed. Her heart filled with dread at what they may see – what Taryn might see.
“Where are we going?” he asked her as he fell in stride next to her. Even here, he towered over her by an entire foot. He was so tall, and his dream form was beautiful. Why was he so beautiful? She shook her head, dispelling the thought. She had to stop thinking about how attractive he was.
“Following the pull. Do you feel it–the tug urging us to move forward? The dreamworld is trying to show us something. It is wise to follow it.” Airess was familiar with the invisible pull that originated from her chest, that tugged her forward, almost as if it was a subtle push.
She hadn’t stopped to consider that Taryn might not know what that meant–or what it was.
Taryn stopped walking, causing her to pause. He looked forward to the stairwell, his lips pursing in thought. “I do feel it, like it wants us to go upstairs.”
Airess grinned, and elbowed him even though he couldn’t feel it, “You’re catching on.”
“How is that possible? Is the dreamworld sentient?”
“From what I know, yes. It’s not so much a person, but more of an entity.”
He shook his head in surprise, his stare on her penetrating. She tried her best not to squirm under it and wondered if he knew how powerful he looked. “That’s just… that’s absolutely fascinating. I wish I had a pen right now.”
She laughed, “A pen?”
“You know, to write things down. This would make for some wonderful research.”
They began their ascent up the stairs. “Research? What for?”
“Why not?” He countered. “Being as I’ve never heard the concept of dreamwalking means there has to be little record of it. Perhaps the world could benefit from such information.”
This surprised her. She had never expected him to care about research, of all things.
“What are you, some kind of academic?”
He glanced at her, a shadow overcoming his expression. “At best, I am a well-read male. We didn’t exactly have time for learning at the Guild.”
She felt the rawness in his words, the yearning in his tone. It was as if he wanted something he couldn’t have, and for some odd reason, it made her sad for him.
“You like to research?” She asked honestly, intrigue driving her question.
“Absolutely,” He answered confidently. “The world can only benefit from evolution, and that comes from learning. Researching. Recording. There is still so much we do not know, from the ocean below to the heavens above. Knowledge is power. It’s everything.”
Her brows rose in surprise at his passionate words. She understood, feeling the same about her music. She smiled and glanced up at him, “You’re quite the interesting male.”
He smirked, eyes cutting to her. “You think I’m interesting?”
“I just –” Gods, he was making her fumble her words. “I just have never met a male who talks the way you do. The males I’ve had in my life are quite the opposite.”
They reached the top of the stairs and walked onto the next floor, feeling the draw to continue forward. She realized they were headed towards the council chambers. Airess’ stomach bubbled, dreading what they might walk into.
“And have you had many males in your life?” Taryn asked, cutting through her thoughts. His urgent tone was not one she understood, an emotion flashing in his eyes she couldn’t decipher.
“No,” She laughed bitterly, and left it at that. Airess didn’t feel like talking about her past and lack of experience. Why did he care?
Taryn changed the subject. “Where are we going?”
They stopped before a door and Airess stared, feeling the pull of the dreamworld lurch through her. She knew he felt it too as he took a hesitant step forward, his brows creased in confusion.
“It wants us to go in there.” She supplied, wrapping herself with her arms and took a step forward. “Follow me. We can walk right through.”
She took another step forward and passed through the wooden door, her dreamform flashing.
After a moment, Taryn followed behind her, his silver light in her peripheral.
They entered the large chamber. In the center was a table grand enough to seat twelve.
The room was draped with royal blue, from the velvet curtains to the ornately patterned rug.
A few chairs sat to the side in front of a fireplace.
Through the windows beyond, Airess could tell it was light outside.
Whatever time period they were appearing in, it was daytime.
The door burst open behind them so suddenly, Airess startled.
In came Arzhel, his brows creased in a cruel expression.
He held Airess by the arm, his grip tight.
Taryn and Airess’ dreamforms flashed as a younger version of Arzhel and Airess entered the room and passed through them.
Yes, she knew this memory well. It had happened only a year ago, and she hated that she was about to relive it. Hated that Taryn would see.
“Leave us,” Arzhel commanded his guards that stood in the doorway. The guard nodded and closed the door, sending a visceral shock through Airess’ dreamform. Her golden glow dimmed, her heart rate increasing at what was to come.
Arzhel thrust Airess away from him, sending her stumbling into the conference table. Her physical form caught herself from falling, bracing her hands on the table. She turned around and faced Arzhel, holding his stare.
Even in her dreamform, Airess felt the taut energy radiating off Arzhel. In the corner of her eye, Taryn watched silently next to her, lips in a grim line, jaw clenched.
Leave it to the Gods-damned dreamworld to put some of her worst memories on display for a male she had only just met.
“You’ve lived here for a very long time,” Arzhel said, looking at Airess with beady eyes and folded arms. “And yet you’ve always managed to keep to yourself.
Always so shy. Granted, I never attempted to know you.
I never cared to. You showed little promise of power, and I half expected my mother to cast you out on the streets–admittedly, where you truly belong.
“But for some odd reason, she has kept you here. Locked you in your rooms, making sure you are treated like the proper Lady of a nobleman. A shame it was all for nothing. Your power turned out to be mere parlor tricks. Imagine my surprise when I am still expected to take the hand of a weldless invalid. You turned out to be a failure, just like the rest of the Haeleth’s. ”
Airess watched her physical body tense in the memory. This was the conversation that led to her breaking point. Her ruination of her facade.
“Unlike my mother, I am onto your little games,” Arzhel stepped closer to Airess, causing her physical body to flinch.
“I think you do have power beyond conjuring a little golden orb. I think you’re a liar.
I think you’re doing everything you can to avoid this marriage, and that makes me angry.
Do you want me to be angry?” Arzhel asked with a scoff.
“You are my property. If you don’t show it soon, I will force it out of you. ”
Airess knew what was coming, remembering the simmering rage at the comment on her family name.
“Do not speak on my family’s name,” she snapped, standing tall in front of him.
Arzhel’s eyes flashed with rage, nostrils flared. He took a calm step forward, grabbing her by the arm once again.
“You dare to speak to your prince this way?” Arzhel spat, then let out an evil laugh, “Ungrateful bitch. Any woman in this court would do anything to be in your shoes.”
“Then let them,” Airess seethed through clenched teeth. “I have no interest in marrying you. You’re a weak, small male and I –
The sound of Arzhel’s hand connecting against her cheek cut off her words. It was a hard slap, leaving behind an angry red mark and a split cheekbone.