Chapter 8
Ana stood with a dozen dream walkers, including Sandman, on the street.
At her side, Gabriel growled softly as the sky turned purple.
She squeezed his hand and moved with her family and fellow dream walkers toward the gathering magical storm.
She cast a glance over her shoulder at him one last time, then drew her magic around herself as the others did the same.
Their slumber magic unfurled around them like a warm, golden current, and the world shifted subtly as the concealment settled into place.
She could still see Gabriel, but even though he couldn’t see any of them, it didn’t stop him from his protective stance and sharp gaze.
Snow swirled suddenly around them, and a chill swept across the street.
Sandman took a forward position and Ana’s parents stepped up beside her.
“Stay together,” Sandman called.
Ana felt the shift in the air, the rot underneath the odd cold wind.
A portal opened ahead of them.
The air split with a violent crack of magic, deep purple and black mist pouring through the portal like smoke from a fire. The scent of rot hit her senses at once, like acid and rust and something sweet and spoiled at the same time.
Nightmare stepped through first, tall and elegant, his purple magic pulsing around him like a cloak and highlighted in his glowing eyes.
He was beautiful and revolting all at once, a contradiction wrapped up in a power that she could feel pulling at the heart of her, urging her to cross the distance and take his hand.
His coat drifted around him as if it had a mind of its own, and his eyes lit with amusement as his followers stepped from the portal behind him.
“Well, well, well,” he said, spreading his hands and giving a slight, mocking bow.
“The whole family came out. I’m honored, but all this fanfare isn’t necessary.
You can stop what’s coming, Ana. Just join me. ”
Ana had expected power, just not as much as Nightmare was wielding.
His dread magic rolled out like a tide and pressed against the barrier of slumber magic. The two magics sparked and hissed like ancient beasts, good and evil grinding against each other.
Sandman took another step forward as Ana’s father positioned himself slightly in front of her and her mother.
“You don’t belong here,” Sandman said, “and you’re not taking my dream walker.
Ana said no to your offer. Whatever foolishness you and Frost are getting up to, none of us are interested in participating.
Good magic must be protected. We won’t help you destroy the Well. ”
“So sure I’m going to destroy things?” Nightmare asked, his brow arching. “And I’m not trying to take Ana. I’m recruiting her. She’s powerful, but I can make her more powerful.” His gaze landed on Ana. “Hello.”
Part of her wanted to drop her slumber magic and run into Gabriel’s arms. But this was a fight she had to face, and she could be strong for him and for her family. “Go to hell. I’m not joining you.”
His head tilted slightly. “No? Too bad. I’m here to bring you into the fold because your magic is what I need, but I’m not the only one who needs it. You’ve met my friend, perhaps?”
A blast of frigid air made Ana gasp as the cold tried to strip every bit of warmth from her body. She felt a presence move among them, and the portal shifted from purple to blue. A male stepped out, snow clinging to him.
“Why are the villains always so freaking good looking?” Ana asked under her breath.
Her mom snorted softly. “So we let our defenses down. But don’t, honey. Your Gabriel and his friends are depending on you. On all of us.”
Ana caught Jack Frost’s gaze, and her heart skipped a beat. Nightmare’s dread magic grew stronger, infused with Frost’s dark warlock magic.
“I’m not a weapon to be used,” Ana said. “Not for either of you. I said no. Not just no, but hell no.”
She focused her magic and felt her family answer to the increase. Together, they pushed their magic forward, sending a wave of slumber magic slamming into the combined warlock and dread magic.
But Nightmare was ready. Frost stepped aside, and Nightmare and his followers pushed back. The first wave hit like a physical blow, as if Ana had been struck by a semi and dragged a mile down the highway. She staggered, ears ringing and magic dimming, as screams echoed around them.
She realized that the dread magic had surged, infecting the dreams of those around them who were sleeping.
He was attacking those at rest.
Trapping them in nightmares so he could feed as he spent his power. A never-ending supply.
“Now!” Sandman yelled, running forward.
Ana and the others moved behind him, charging forward as one, their magic combining to drive Nightmare and his evil followers back. Ana grabbed the nightmares around them and cut them off, eradicating them and pulling the replenishment away from Nightmare.
He snarled. His power fought her directly, coiling around her like snakes made of smoke and mist. The magic curled up her body and tightened, trying to choke off her power.
She struggled against it, then pushed back with her own while her family joined in the battle to shield those still sleeping from the nightmares.
Behind Nightmare, Frost’s magic surged cold and sharp, like a blade made of ice. Snow whipped across the street and the wind howled.
She realized the magics were feeding each other: fear and ice, despair and cold.
Nightmare’s dread magic coiled around his fingers like purple ribbons, and he smiled at Ana. “Imagine what I could do with you at my side. The destruction we could rain down on this earth.”
The evil followers charged, clashing physically with the good dream walkers, and Ana was separated from her family.
She didn’t give up. She kept pushing her magic outward to stop the nightmares, knowing he would eventually lose power if he couldn’t replenish it.
“Such a waste,” Nightmare said. He thrust his power directly at her, and her vision went dark as she was encased in a nightmare, her body frozen in place as Frost joined his power to Nightmare’s. Her skin prickled, and dread teased her spine.
She saw her family slain at her feet, dark storm clouds overhead, fed by Frost as his evil followers joined in. Nightmare stood surrounded by dread magic, smiling wickedly as Ana screamed for help.
Her magic was dimming.
She was powerful, but her power wasn’t strong enough for the onslaught of Nightmare’s dread magic combined with Jack Frost’s dark warlock magic. She’d never felt such paralyzing fear and such despair before.
Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might break through her ribs. Fear choked her, beating back her magic and siphoning power from her under the intensity of the combined dark magics.
“I told you I could get her if we separated her from her family,” Nightmare said. “Ana, Ana, Ana. How about I kill that wolf down the street? He’s so helpless by himself. No other Guardians. Hell, he can’t even see me.”
“I’ll do it,” Frost said.
She couldn’t see him, but she could hear the smile in his voice.
Everything inside her went as cold as the ice Frost was wielding.
How could she help Gabriel if she was trapped in a nightmare?
She knew what she was seeing – her family slain at her feet – was a nightmare and not real, but she also knew the two powerful males trying to get her to switch sides weren’t above killing innocents.
She needed Gabriel.
But how?
With one last burst of energy, as the sky darkened, the nightmares grew more powerful, and the cold turned her skin blue, she touched the medallion Santa had given her and screamed her mate’s name.
She just hoped he knew what to do to help her.
Because she needed him.
Now.