Sleep Keeper (29 page)

“Nice place of choice,” I commented.

Part of me was speaking facetiously and part was admiring his selection.

We continued forward until we reached the lake below. Blankets of powdered snow draped the nearby rock beds. The clear water of the lake imitated a mirror, casting a flawless reflection of the mountains and sky. It was almost hard to tell which scene was authentic. The surrounding land was untouched by devastation. I wondered if there was a view as untainted and stunning in my world. I walked over to the foot of the lake and dipped my hand in the icy water. Small ripples drifted out across the placid water.

“Maybe we beat him here?” Leyland questioned as he circled the area.

“You’re too late,” called a soprano voice from behind.

“Stella!” Orion beamed.

He ran over and embraced her, lifting her off her feet. A pang of jealousy crept through my chest. I took a deep breath and pushed it away. I watched a genuine smile spread across her dimpled cheeks as Orion set her back on her feet. She was slight with delicate features. Her honey colored hair fell in tight curls around her face. It complimented her fair skin and bright blue eyes that were speckled with flakes of caramel. I stood there uncomfortably, until Orion motioned me closer.

“This must be Alexis,” she sang and gave me a warm hug.

“Um, hi,” I replied.

“Alexis, this is my cousin, Stella,” he introduced, “and this is Leyland.”

“Hi Ma’am,” Leyland extended his hand in introduction.

Stella ignored the jester, leaping up and wrapping her thin arms around Leyland neck. I fought back the urge to giggle as I watched the shocked expression spread across Leyland’s red cheeks.

“Orion,” called another voice, as a sinewy lad appeared from behind the trees.

“Apollo,” Orion smiled as he approached.

Apollo flashed an identical smile in return. He gave Orion a quick hug then turned toward me for an introduction.

“Alexis, this is my younger brother, Apollo.”

“Only by a year,” Apollo clarified smugly, straightening his stance.

“
Brother…
” I muttered. “Um, nice to meet you,” I extended my hand in salutation.

He took my hand and placed a gentle kiss on its back. The similar soft lips and charming demeanor made my heart speed up. Abashed, I quickly pulled my hand away. He was a tad shorter than Orion but had many similar features; the same build, identical smile and sculpted face, and that thick wavy hair, but a few shades darker. His skin was lighter, more of a beige tone with light-chocolate freckles sprinkled across his nose and under his jade green eyes.

“Pleasure,” he replied in a smooth voice.

“Leyland Balli,” Orion announced as he turned toward Apollo toward Leyland. They exchanged a firm handshake.

“You said we’re too late… what did you see?” Orion asked Stella.

“He was here when we arrived. His back was toward us and the water was…” she paused, searching for the right words, “separated… and raised into the air ten feet high, exposing the bottom of the lake. The earth below shook, then a small golden canister broke through the mud and flew into Erebus’ arms. Once he grabbed it, the water crashed back down and he disappeared.”

“How long ago was this?” asked Orion.

“About an hour.”

“How did you know he was here?” Leyland prodded.

“We’d been in contact with Orion since Erebus first re-surfaced and were searching for him, but… since Orion disclosed the location…” Apollo stated and flashed a scowl at Orion, “our anonymity is no longer required. Unification is now essential.”

“He didn’t have a choice,” I asserted.

“Everyone has a choice,
Sleep Walker
… besides, the circumstances are irrelevant,” Apollo interjected while glaring at Orion.

I didn’t care for his tone. “Sleep Walker? How does he know…?” I turned toward Orion for an answer.

“Oh, Orion didn’t tell you?” Apollo laughed. “We’ve been in contact with you Sleep Walkers for generations. Did you think you were the only one?”

“That’s enough Apollo!” Orion rushed over and grabbed him by the collar.

“No wait! Let him talk,” I interrupted with a distrusting glare at Orion.

Orion let him go and reached out for my shoulder. I pulled it away and took a step back, “You knew all along about me? About my family?” I gasped.

“When you first came I knew you were a Sleep Walker, and I knew there were others before you, but that’s all I knew, nothing else… I promise,” Orion explained.

“How many others are there?”

“Not many. I’ve only encountered a few. Besides protecting the location of Erebus’ powers, our family, and a group of others, helps protect and guide any Sleep Walkers who enter our world.”

“Were you… assigned to me? Is that why I always appear near you?” my swallowed hard, nervous of his response.

Was the intense connection I felt for him merely that of a sheep and his herder?

“No, Alexis! I don’t know why that happens. We usually just keep an eye out for them. They are… different. When you meet one, you can tell they are not from here. They don’t…
feel
the same. It’s hard to explain…”

“Do I
feel
different?”

“You did when you first came… but now, I don’t feel the difference,” he said.

“Can we discuss this later, love birds? We need to get moving!” Apollo charged.

“Apollo’s right,” Stella jumped in, “we need to gather everyone and head back South. We received word that he was spotted traveling in that direction.”

“With Erebus in full form, we’re going to have to act fast before he gathers an army again,” Apollo added.

“I agree,” said Orion. He looked up at the sky then down at me. “You’ll wake soon. I need you to do something for me.”

“What’s that?”

“Try to stay awake as long as you can,” he requested.

“What? Why?” I took a moment to register his request.

“You know why, Alexis. I can’t put you and the baby at risk. Who knows when you’ll show up? It’s too dangerous.”

“Then don’t go,” I begged. “Let your family take care of Erebus.”

“I can’t do that,” he whispered.

“Don’t leave your child fatherless,” I implored and watched the anguish flash across his face. I immediately regretted my words and was ashamed of my selfishness. “I’m sorry,” I quickly rebutted. “I will do as you ask and stay away.”

Orion took me in his arms, “Thank you. I love you with my entire soul,” he whispered.

“I love you more than that,” I whispered back and held him tight.

I glanced over at my audience, suddenly abashed by my weakness. Stella’s expression was a mixture of sympathy and compassion. Apollo gave a look of reproach and shook his head. Leyland appeared indifferent, probably used to my outbursts.

I released Orion and looked out across the land. The gloaming sky held a soft glow as the faded sun shone through the needles of the trees. I couldn’t help but think how ironically similar the scene was to my own life; stuck in twilight, somewhere between daylight and darkness. Constantly pulled between my new world and my birth world… between Orion and Erebus.

             
I awoke midday on the gloomy winter Saturday. Rain pounded against the window of the hotel room. My stomach growled fervently and I felt a light flutter. The hotel did not offer room service, which meant I had to venture into the world. I dragged myself to the bathroom and stripped off my clothes. I stopped in front of the mirror. My face appeared silken smooth. In fact, my skin looked better than before, glowing perhaps. I smiled and rubbed my belly.

“Thank you, my little protector,” I whispered.

              After a bite to eat, I headed home to face the reality of last night. The thought of walking back into that empty place filled me with anxiety. I was sure Jeremy wouldn’t be waiting there, but just to be safe I called in reinforcements. I called a handyman to replace the window and a locksmith to replace the locks. With a little extra cash, I convinced them to come by today. They were scheduled to show up several hours apart, starting with the handyman who should be there by the time I got home. Men in my home gave me some comfort but I still wasn’t sure how I would get through tonight. My bed felt like bait - my safe sanctuary was a crime scene. Last night was proof that I needed to be more prepared next time. At least I got some comfort knowing that I wouldn’t be sleeping tonight.

              I pulled off the freeway and into a nearby gun shop. After a disappointing debate with the shop owner, I discovered I couldn’t obtain a handgun without a ten day waiting period, according to state law. Even a crying pregnant young woman with cash couldn’t be persuasive. I contemplated driving to the less fortunate nearby city, where money and discretion could get you practically anything, but decided against it. I filled out the necessary paperwork and walked out empty-handed.

Once home, I rummaged through the house, making sure there was at least one type of lethal weapon per room. It took most of the day for all the repairs and safety preparation to be completed. Once nightfall came and the condo was quiet and secure, I sat on the couch, turned on the television and waited.

The hours flew by and my eyes grew heavy but I managed to stay awake. One o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock in the morning. I rested my head on the back of the couch and felt the room began to blur. I snapped my head up.

“Stay awake!” I demanded.

The pregnancy was making this harder than I had anticipated. I rose to my feet and made a late-night snack. I settled back on the couch. Four o’clock. This was going to be a long night. I put on a movie and stretched out on the couch. The next thing I knew, the room was lit by the rising sun and I peeled open my tired eyes.

Oh my God, I fell asleep!

What was more shocking was that I didn’t dream. Panic sunk in as I realized what this could mean.

Oh no, Orion!

I jumped to my feet and paced around the house, unsure what to do. I knew I shouldn’t have stayed awake. I should have listened to my instincts to stay with Orion.

I hurried to the bedroom and hopped into bed. I needed to see him. I needed to see my world. I laid in bed, my heart racing and my hands shaking. I closed my eyes and focused on the forest, but I couldn’t fall asleep. I took in deep breaths of air and tried to relax, concentrating on my breathing - nothing.

The day ticked slowly by. I stayed in bed and watched the red glow on the clock painfully change one long minute after the next. I gulped down herbal tea in an attempt to fall back asleep, but it didn’t work. I finally climbed out of bed and began to do the essentials of showering and eating. A few hours later, I crawled back in bed and stared again at the clock, waiting for time to sweep me into slumber. The longer I lay there, the slower time crept by. I rubbed my stomach and thought about what my life would be like if I was stuck alone in this world. Tears rolled down my face and soaked the pillowcase. I knew I should be happy that I had my baby, but I couldn’t imagine life without Orion. The whole idea of being a mom still seemed unreal and artificial. I didn’t want to live if I couldn’t have Orion. I knew I shouldn’t feel this way, but I couldn’t help what I felt. I stared out the window at the twilit world and closed my eyes in desolation.

Screams and chaos clamored all around. I popped open my eyes in bewilderment. The ominous sky was hazy and threatening. Dark grey clouds gathered overhead and gave a menacing rumble. The piney air was masked by a strange pungent scent that made me gag. I felt a wave of nausea and reached out to steady my balance, leaning onto a tree trunk for support. For the first time, the looming trees felt daunting and I yanked away my hand with a shudder. A high-pitched shriek from deeper in the forest pierced my ears. I sprinted toward the cries and dogged behind a tree. I gasped at the horror before my eyes.

There were thirty or forty men in combat, with more dead on the ground. I watched the battle, trying to decipher the scene among the commotion. I scanned the faces, looking for Orion.

The first person I recognized was the source of the squeal, Stella. I watched in awe as she danced through the air and took down grown men with great speed. Her sword whipped through the air swiftly during her acrobatic display; I could barely keep track of her.

Several feet away stood Leyland. To watch him fight was frightening. There was a flash of wild in his eyes and a hint of satisfaction smeared across his mouth. His massive body mixed with a raw anger, made the scene around him look more like a massacre than self-defense. I squeezed my eyes tight and looked away.

“Orion, watch out!” Apollo shouted.

I whipped around and saw Orion wince as he fell to his knees with his hands pressed against a fresh gash on his side. Apollo raced by and took down another who was standing behind Orion.

“Orion!” I cried.

I quickly covered my mouth, but it was too late. Two men nearby heard my wail and looked over.

“Alexis, No!” Orion bellowed.

He attempted to stand but tumbled back down. Apollo knelt down beside him.

The two men growled and leaped forward like wild dogs. Unarmed, I shielded my stomach and face, knowing it was too late to run. In a blur, Stella pushed me aside and I fell to the ground. I rushed to my feet just in time to see the men lying dead on the ground.

“Stay back, hon,” she directed and raced back into the forest; her golden curls bounced elegantly behind her.

Orion sprinted over and pulled me back, hovering defensively in front of me.

“Oh no, are you hurt?” I cried as I ran my hands across his torn shirt.

“I’m fine,” he answered. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“But I saw you hurt,” I stammered.

“Apollo - he has the gift of healing, like our child.”

“He healed you? And you never thought this family trait was important to tell me?”

“There’s no time to explain right now. We need to get you out of here before…”

A bolt of lightening flashed by in a powerful hum and struck a nearby tree. Sparks shot into the air and we ducked for cover, both running in opposing directions. The tree caught fire and was engulfed in flames within seconds. A deafening crash of thunder rattled my chest and sent my heart rate into overdrive. The fire quickly spread along the brush and sent two more trees ablaze. The clouds grumbled another warning as we peered into the forbidding sky.

Leyland froze and stared in terror at the blazing trees. He dropped his weapon and grasped his head with his hands, tugging fervidly at his hair. His mouth hung in dismay while his mind sent flashback from his past he tried so desperately to forget.

“Raina!” he screamed and dashed toward the fire.

“Leyland, no!” yelled Orion, and he bolted after him.

Orion yanked back Leyland’s shoulder, “What are you doing?!”

Leyland turned and swung at Orion. Orion dogged his attack and punched him across the jaw. Leyland staggered back a few steps and Orion hit him again. Leyland didn’t budge. He whipped his head back around and charged Orion, slamming into him with such force that Orion flew several feet into the air. He crashed into the ground at the same time that Apollo appeared behind Leyland. Apollo smacked the back of Leyland’s head with the hilt of his sword. He crumbled to the ground, unconscious. Apollo helped Orion to his feet.

“Thanks. You know I had him,” Orion asserted.

“Oh I know,” Apollo replied with a wink then ran after the last standing rival.

Orion jogged over toward me, but before he made it, his arms and legs flailed outward, as if he was struck in the back. His body lifted high into the air. His muscles were taut as he bellowed in pain. I turned and saw that the other three were in the same position; all suspended in mid-air, bodies scattered underneath them. There was no one else left standing that I could see, but I didn’t need to see
him
to know who was behind this.

“Erebus!” I roared and took several steps forward.

Erebus stepped out of the haze and swaggered toward me. His haunting eyes bore through my soul and sent sheer waves of fear. I did not look away.

“Leave her alone!” cried Orion through clenched teeth.

“It’s not him you need to worry about,” said a familiar voice from the shadows.

“Jeremy!” I gasped, as Jeremy joined Erebus’ at his side. “What… how…” I stuttered.

“Speechless? Well that’s a first,” Jeremy sneered.

He strolled closer and I backed away. His wounded arm was wrapped in a cast. Deep purple bruises encased his dark beady eyes.

“What’s wrong… nervous?” he prodded as he continued closer.

“Just admiring your new look,” I provoked in a shaky voice.

“Oh don’t worry, you’ll be matching soon enough,” he hissed.

“You touch her and I swear I’ll torture you!” shrieked Orion.

Jeremy ignored his threat and walked directly under him. I was petrified of his imperious demeanor, but wasn’t going down without a fight, and Jeremy knew that. I squared my shoulders and forced a fierce scowl on my face. My standoff amused Jeremy, however Erebus was growing restless.

“Quit fooling around and finish her,” Erebus growled.

“Not yet, I want to bask in this moment of victory,” Jeremy took a deep breath and exhaled sharply, “Now I’m ready.”

His face twisted in a wicked grimace. He picked up a dagger from one of the fallen men. I scanned my surroundings for a weapon. The only thing nearby was a thick branch, roughly three feet long. I picked it up and held it out in front of me.

Jeremy was amused by my lack of weaponry and charged forward. I anxiously held my position until he was unbearably close and then swung the branch at the dagger as I leaped backwards. The branch hit his arm and slowed his assault, but didn’t stop the blade from slice across my stomach before it fell out of his hand. I cried out in pain and grabbed my wound with one hand. It didn’t feel very deep. I quickly returned to my defensive stance just as the pain in my stomach ceased with a hot sensation.

Before I could react, Jeremy punched the side of my face, sending a shooting pain across my head. I stumbled over, disoriented. I tried to shake it off but the left side of my head burned in protest. Through my ringing ear I heard the others outrage at his attack.

He reached down and grabbed the knife, pulling his arm back to strike. It was all happening too fast for me to react. I remained on the ground staring at the image of his face twisted in pure hate. As the blade came down in what seemed like slow motion, I felt something wrap around my shoulders. Then in a blink, I appeared fifty feet away.

Jeremy was baffled by my disappearance and twisted around, searching for me.

I felt something release me but when I turned around, nothing was there. I looked back at Erebus from across the way and saw a figure appear out of thin air.

“Mom?” I whispered.

She appeared ten feet behind Erebus with her arms stretched out in front of her. Within seconds, a deep bang roared through the forest. Blood spattered from Erebus’ chest. He fell to his knees, gasping for air and clawing at the small hole in his chest.

Orion, Stella and Apollo crashed to the ground. The moment his feet hit, Orion soared over to Erebus. He drew his sword and with a swift swing, Erebus’ head tumbled to the ground. His decapitated body tumbled over as it spewed out blood.

I turned away and began to vomit. Stella ran over and put her arm around my shoulder. My stomach was spinning from the adrenaline and violence. Orion rushed over and pulled me into his arms. Even now, his touch was soothing and I used all my remaining strength to hold it together. I looked back at Erebus’ corpse, but Mom was nowhere in sight.

“Jeremy!” I cried.

Stella and Apollo searched the nearby forest, but he was nowhere to be found.

Leyland groaned and began to regain consciousness. “What happened? What’d I miss?”

I shook my head and buried it back into Orion’s warm chest.

“We’ll take care of this mess, just get her out of here,” offered Apollo.

Orion nodded and I transported us to the beach. I needed to get away from the forest scenery for a while. The sunshine returned and quickly dissolved every inch of grey from the dark clouds. The sweet smell of the salty air and the sound of the crashing waves calmed my nerves and told me I was home.