Only in Her Dreams (6 page)

Still, Lucessa stripped the pajamas off and returned to her drawer for a more suitable ‘entertaining’ outfit. She grabbed a pair of yoga pants and one of her college sweatshirts. She pushed the earlier thought of her ‘walk of shame’ from her mind and headed back downstairs.

As she reached the bottom step, she paused. Maxim’s back was to her as he poured two glasses of wine. Her breath hitched in her throat and a shiver inched down her body. His muscles showed through his black t-shirt and his pants hugged his slim hips.

He grabbed both glasses and with Goosey hot on his trail, they met Lucessa in the living room.

Maxim’s eyes traveled the length of her body, head to toe. Lucessa couldn’t tell if he was appraising her outfit or telepathically eating her alive.

“Good to see your head isn’t the worse for wear today. Not many people can take a bat to the head and get back up,” Lucessa said, hoping to gain the upper hand early in their conversation.

“It was my luck that you hit like a girl. Plus, the bat only slightly grazed my shoulder.” The smirk was back as he continued, “But it was enough to knock me balance off. I think the fall hurt my pride more than my body.”

That’s odd, Greg never admitted if I hurt his pride.

Maxim settled in the large recliner across from the couch. It was Greg’s chair and in his memory she never used it. Would Greg be mad about another man sitting there? The aching in her heart returned, but she knew now wasn’t the time for tears or a pity party.

Chapter 7

Darius entered the dump he’d called home for the last five years. The building was dilapidated, and the smell of filth kept most squatters away. His thoughts drifted back to the home he’d visited earlier. He didn’t need nor want that type of commitment, at least not here on Earth.
Been there, she spurned my attention, done that,
not
going back.

Several men lounged around the room, either sleeping, drinking or copulating with humans in different states of undress. His men, or the Melas Oneiroi, as his brothers were fond of calling them, were in desperate straits. They’d spent the last twenty odd years on the move, escaping notice or running from the law--all the while on the lookout for the girl.

Their lot would improve soon.

As soon as he convinced that bastard who called himself a Lucas, to hand over Erebos, things would change.

“What a hellhole,” Darius mumbled. His men were an unmotivated lot, unconcerned with the necessities Darius had been accustomed to in Erebos. The Melas’ loyalty came at a price; Darius provided drugs, women, and alcohol and, in turn, his men were ready to assist him when he called on them.

And the time was upon them.

He was close to fulfilling his side of the agreement with his Lord. He would soon be the keeper of a population larger, and stronger, than the Oneiroi. He was born and raised to be a leader, and
that
he would be. His time in this hellhole was limited.

With the help of his informant, he’d located his older brother’s long kept secret. He’d exploit it to gain what should be his.

Guy had been busy during his time on Earth. He’d created his own little family unbeknownst to Darius and the rest of the Oneiroi; but the secret was out now. While the blood that ran through the girl’s veins couldn’t possibly be Guy’s, she called him father.

As he walked across the room, he landed kick after solid kick into rib cages, heads, and the backs of his men. The time was now. He had a plan to carry out and it was time for his men to prove their worth.

“Alexander!”

His second in command walked in from the poor excuse for a kitchen. The house had no electricity or running water, therefore, the appliances that remained were useless. Alexander looked well-kept and groomed, as usual. How he kept himself thus was a mystery to Darius.

Looking down at his own attire, Darius knew his own personal hygiene could be improved on. That would change once he became the Dark Leader.

Darius returned his gaze to his man. Alexander stood, ready for his next assignment. His second in command looked forward to returning to Erebos, but that was not where they were headed. He recognized the hunger in Alexander’s eyes and the determination in his stance.

“Tonight we embark on another mission,” he commanded Alexander. “Find the girl’s weakness--that which will bring her willingly to us.”

“Allow me to deliver the girl to you, Master.”

“No, that’s not the way it will go down. She must choose to come with us--and to go against Guy and Maxim.” That had been the catch--her willingness was imperative to his mission. Ultimately, she would be the one to convince them to hand over Erebos. But before that happened, he needed to crush every illusion she had of who her
father
is; where her
father’s
loyalty stood and all the dark secrets they’d kept from her.

The men around them began to stir out of their drunken stupors and others pushed humans away, urging them to retrieve their clothes and get lost.

“Of course, Master. When do we leave?” Alexander’s head bowed in subservience.

“We ride at midnight. Select three others to travel with us.”

“We ride, Master?”

Darius waved his hand, dismissing Alexander’s question, and moved through the house to his room. After twenty-two years he had something positive to report.

Chapter 8

Darius preferred to let his brothers believe his powers had indeed been stripped, gone with his banishment. That’s where his deal with the Dark One came in handy. He’d had a link to the girl for years now, bringing a dark presence to her dreams--her nightmares. Which made it all the more galling that he’d been unable to track her exact location.

Closing his eyes he concentrated on the dark side. A thrill coursed through his body every time he traveled to this forbidden land. He would lead these people, his type of people.

His eyes opened and he stood in front of a rusted, black iron gate. It parted to allow him entrance.

He proceeded down the fog-ridden path toward the castle in the distance. It was an imposing structure covered by black tinted ivy. Everything in this place held a black tint, the streets, the building, and most of all—the people. Soon-to-be,
his
people.

As he approached the massive fortress, the doors glided open of their own accord. The interior was as dark and fog laden as the exterior, dim candles shown upon the carpeted floor he moved across.

“The Dark One will see you in the billiards room.”

Darius stiffened and stopped his progress, turning toward the voice behind him.

No one was in sight.
What the fuck?

He straightened his shoulders and continued through the foyer and down the hall leading to the billiards room. Again, doors parted and he entered.

The Dark One lounged against the far wall cue stick in hand. He studied the freshly racked pool table. “You’re in time for a game. Grab a cue, Darius.”

“Yes, my lord.” Darius retrieved a cue stick from the wall and turned toward the table. The Dark One leaned across the table, aiming for the racked balls.

“I hear you have good news for me,” he said as his stick connected with the white cue ball. On impact, the colored and striped balls rolled toward the corner pockets.

Darius watched in awe. Every ball found its home in a hole, ending the game before it started.
What the fuck?!
He thought to himself, for the second time in less than ten minutes.

“Well?”

“Yes. My informant gave us accurate information about where the girl lives,” Darius said.

“Have you confirmed this for yourself?” The man stood straight and returned his stick to the rack on the wall. He faced Darius across the table, hands on his hips. The man was intimidating, the thing that nightmares were made of.

“Of course.”
I’m not an idiot.

“Well?”

“Well…what?” Darius asked. Standing around a pool table, in such a casual setting should be relaxing, but he was on edge.

“Why is Erebos not yet mine?”

Good question.
How to answer that without getting his ass set on fire, he wondered. “I’m working on it.”

“Work faster. I’m in need of a new home, this one’s going to shit.” The Dark One stared at Darius, no hint of a joke on his face.

“I don’t plan to drag this out longer than necessary.”

Chapter 9

“Oneiroi...What the hell is that?” She’d expected him to say a lot of things, but this wasn’t one of them. She wasn’t even sure she believed in heaven or hell, let alone the existence of Zeus, Morpheus or Greek mythology. “Let me get this straight...you’re an Oneiroi and you’ve been sent by some Greek god to protect me from the evil Oneiroi?”
This is ludicrous
.
“I have the card of a doctor who can help you.”

He arched a brow. “That will be unnecessary, I assure you. I wasn’t sent by ‘some Greek god’, but
The
Dream God.”

The air around her had gotten heavier, harder to inhale as the conversation had gone on.

“Humans hold a distorted idea of my kind. It is quite different than what your books, myths and movies teach,” he continued. The look on her face must’ve convinced him that a little more information was needed. “I’m from a place called Erebos and that is where my kind--dream watchers, if you will--reside.”

“Dream watchers?”
He had that right!
The man had watched her in her dreams for as long as she could remember.

“We are given a charge to watch over. We are able to walk amongst mankind’s dreams,” his voice rang clear with conviction, his eyes never wavering from her own.

Had he fed this line to others? Why me?
So many questions invaded Lucessa’s mind, she didn’t know where to begin.
Breathing deep, she calmed herself to focus. “How did I become your ‘charge’?”

He stared at her, the question hanging between them. Would he answer her?

Maxim finally spoke. “It was many, many years ago.” Pausing, he took a sip of his wine. “Do you remember a time that I wasn’t with you?”

“You’ve never actually ‘been with me.’ You’re more of a lurker.”
Oh heck! I just said that out loud.
She leaned back on the sofa and smiled to cover her discomfort.

“A lurker, huh?” Maxim’s lips also parted in a smile. “My responsibility for the last twenty-two years has been to watch over you.”

“And you did this by invading my dreams,” she said this as a statement, not a question. “Why are you here
now
?”

“You were never in danger before.”

# # #

Maxim chose his words wisely, careful not to say too much. His objective had been to tell her just enough so she’d allow him to protect her until he could handle Darius. In a way, he’d already told her too much. He could only hope she didn’t connect the time of his appointment as her watcher and the time of her father’s death.
Does she remember me saving her from the car?

“Why am I in danger now?” Lucessa leaned forward, as if to meet the threat head on. His respect for her increased.

He should’ve expected the question, but he’d deluded himself into thinking she’d simply accept his protection.

“There are men who seek to use you to gain power over Erebos. I’m here, on behalf of my kind, to make sure that does not happen.” If she asked many more questions, he’d be hard pressed not to give away more information than was necessary.

“What do I have to do with ‘Erebos’?” The confusion on her face worried him. She was a smart woman and if she thought about the situation long enough she’d make the connection he dreaded. This connection must be avoided.

“I’m unsure, but if you would permit me to have a look around, maybe add a few safeguards to your home, I might be able to find out why they seek you.” Not a completely dishonest answer.

“You keep saying, ‘they.’ I need some answers from you, Maxim,” Lucessa said, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe that your leader thinks I needed an Oneiroi to watch over me. Now I’m in danger and you don’t know why? Why watch over me in the first place? You have to know more than you’re telling me.”

With this, Lucessa--he was still getting use to speaking her name--jumped up from the couch and headed to the kitchen, her stride purposeful and much like his eldest brother’s. It was odd the many similarities between the two.

Her anger and frustration at the situation was understandable. Maxim held years of anger inside, anger over his father’s death, anger over Darius’s banishment, and anger over his petty role as this girl’s watcher. No one understood anger better than Maxim.

He rubbed the back of his neck, stress weighing heavily on his shoulders. Sometimes he wished he were brave enough to walk away from it all, live the simple life Guy had chosen on Earth. Give up his powers in return for zero responsibility. He would gladly give up his ability to move between Erebos and Earth, his gift to influence the lives of mankind, and the power to think himself to another place. But after all Guy had given up to return to Erebos, that option was not open to Maxim. He had to see this situation through. Hopefully salvation for his twin would be granted in the process.

Lucessa reentered the room, a half bottle of wine clutched in her hand. She’d risen to refresh her wine glass.

Would she refuse his help and banish him from her house? The thought that he’d be unable to fulfill his promise to Guy was unthinkable.

“So, how are we going to catch the evil Oneiroi?” A smirk pulled up the corner of her mouth.

“We? First off, there will be no ‘we’ in this. And make the evil Oneiroi, plural. In Erebos they are called Melas Oneiroi.”

The smile slowly drained from her face.

# # #

He was the crazy one, Lucessa was sure of it. But what did it say about her that she sensed he told the truth? All this talk about Oneiroi, Melas Oneiroi, and Erebos had to be complete and utter nonsense. In her studies of Greek mythology, that one quarter her freshman year of high school, she’d never heard of Erebos or dream watchers. And wasn’t all that stuff made up anyways?