Dreamscape (7 page)

This will not do. “You must concentrate,” I tell him. If he
doesn’t mute his world soon, the Erobos will come to investigate, and I will be
forced to choose a different access portal. I will also have less time to train
him.

His eyes clamp shut while his face contorts with his
efforts. He peeks open an eye, only to shut it again when I shake my head. His
expression deepens with concentration.

I place my hand on his shoulder, hoping to steady him.

That’s when I feel her. The life force that has transformed
this world is not coming from Richard.

My lungs seize and my heartbeat jumps to my throat. Amelia
can’t be here, yet there is no other explanation. All my work, all the time
I’ve invested in her, will be for naught if the Erobos find her. Even if it is
merely a scout that comes, it will mean a different course for my entire team.
Kelsby warned me about this. He encouraged me to choose a different access
portal before I involved Amelia. I hate it when he is right.

Anger flowers from my chest. How could she be here? I set
every restriction before I left. Despite my anger and frustration, hope for the
future springs forward until a smile twitches my mouth. If she can awaken this
world with no training at all, what will she be able to do when fully trained?

When I straighten to locate her, Richard opens his eyes. He
cocks his head back and shoves his hands into his pockets. “What’s wrong,
boss?”

I hold my fingers to his lips and he pulls out his blade.
Such a smart lad. Shows real promise.

I haven’t seen a dream world respond like this since Rhea
cankered my life. In fact, most worlds have been depleted of substance, little
by little, until, finally, they have been lost to Oneiroi influence.

I have guarded Richard for years now, and I have no
intention of alerting the Erobos to him…just yet. He needs more training, as
well as the woman that has sneaked into his realm uninvited.

I should have never left Amelia until she was ready, but my
brothers could not handle the strain. Besides, I would have had to tell them
about her and that is the last thing I wish to do right now. I’d like to make
sure Amelia and I are okay before I risk discussing her.

Zed is the only one besides me with enough sense to seek
out a recruit to aid him while he still has enough light to train her. Ian is
too strong willed to desire a companion, and Peter?

He will not speak to me at all.

Hunching over until I’m eyelevel with Richard, I say, “Keep
watch.”

He gives a nod and scans the trees.

With him guarding me, I concentrate on my mark, finding her
energy a mere ten yards away. She’s hiding behind a tree, as if that could mask
what she is.

Dark impulses flash in my mind, but I manage to push them
away. Amelia’s presence at once intrigues and terrifies me.

Her purity radiates through the very air.

I have no desire to taint her.

Motioning for Richard to stay where he is, I scan the area
for threats. Finding none, I advance on the girl.

A soft squeal rings out before she races toward the street,
her long, dark hair flying out behind her like a cape. Her speed is impressive;
it is not good enough to flee the darkness or me.

She glances back and her eyes widen. There is no real fear
in her gaze and she needs some. She needs to understand what she walked into
when she passed through the flames.

Taking no other thought, my body stiffens and my mind
releases. My limbs shake and my muscles vibrate as I transform into a jungle
cat.

Her scream echoes through the park and I roar in response.
All else melts away until only she exists. The scent of her blood mixes with
her sweat in an intoxicating potion. Instinct takes over and I bound forward,
eating up the distance between us until her scent becomes my world.

When I am close enough I pounce. Her scream rings out when
my paw hits her back. She rolls out of the way, but not fast enough.

I pin her, face up, my paws on her heaving chest. Terror
radiates from her, but I won’t be distracted. I force myself to deny my need
and bend closer to her face.

She stiffens, shaking and mewling softly. She’s had enough
fright for one outing into the Dreamscape.

I focus and morph back to my human form. Her body shifts
under my weight. As if she could wriggle away from me. I settle myself against
her, pinning her hands by her face. Her ragged heartbeat thumps against my
chest. Gulping, she shuts her eyes tight and shakes her head.

I allow myself a moment for composure before I speak. “What
are you doing here, Amelia?”

My jaw clenches. Damn my curiosity. If I had just gotten
the hell out of here when I had a chance, I wouldn’t be sandwiched between the
cool grass and the beast of a man on top of me.

My mind still wants to deny what I’ve seen here. Magic
doesn’t exist, but the hairline scratch on my collarbone tells me it does.

When I peek open an eye, Seth stares at me, apparently
waiting for an answer.

“Get off me,” I say, going for calm but achieving this side
of hysterical. Every part of me tingles where his body pushes against mine. No
guy has ever been this close to me, and the sensations pulse and sizzle,
overwhelming my mind and body.

Images of Jason flash through my memory, but Jason wasn’t
real. No matter how many times I’d like to deny it, I can’t say the same thing
for Seth. He’s as real as they come; his heat burns me.

My hands slide against his as I attempt to push him away.
His eyes lock onto mine, exploring. What he’s looking for, I can only guess.
Even so, I won’t give it to him.

A boy’s voice startles me. “Hey, I know you.”

I glance up to see the kid from down the hall at Justine’s
place. “Richard?” My eyes dart to Seth. “That’s how you’ve gotten the goods on
me.”

His chest rumbles on a dark laugh. “Actually, I found
Richard through you.”

“You seem to be under the impression we know each other,” I
tell him. “I’ve never seen you before you—took me.”

“Things aren’t always what they appear.”

“Right. How did you…”

He shifts and jumps off me, pulling me up with him. “We
need to leave before you are detected.”

I shake my head. “No way! I’m not going back.”

“Amelia.”

“No. Look. I hate to tell you this, but you are creepy as
hell. You know too much about me. I’ve got a life to live. Yeah, I’ve been in a
tough spot, but I don’t need or want your help.”

His expression shifts until he’s frowning. When I glance at
Richard he holds the same twist to his lips.

“Go home,” I tell Richard. “Your mom will be worried about
you.”

He laughs. “Shows what you know. I am home.”

Incredulous, I stare at him. “You’re in on this too?”

Seth shushes us and something in the set of his shoulders
makes me listen. I scan the area, wondering what’s made him so tense.

His hand clamps around mine as he yanks me into motion. I
pull against him, but his grip is like getting out of handcuffs.

“They’re here,” he hisses, pulling harder. “Come on.”

“No way—”

Without a word the kid races away, his body blurring around
the corner.

A screech cuts off my complaints. The noise pierces
straight to my gut. It’s not a natural sound. When it comes again, I jump into
a run, this time pulling Seth into motion. He bypasses me right away. My feet
won’t move fast enough and my lungs ache from the pace Seth’s set.

I glance behind me and yelp. This time it’s not a tiger or
anything I can name. Unnatural shadows dance on the wind, only solidifying when
they reach the ground.

A line of men form, running the instant they have
substance. I don’t have the breath to ask what they are. The air grows dark and
thick. No matter what, I need to get away from them. I glance at Seth, who
grunts with his increased efforts to escape. We’re running so fast, I’m not
sure how it’s physically possible.

The screaming only intensifies and pretty soon, an army of
men follow behind us. The leader is five or six paces ahead of the rest. He
moves with the grace of a natural predator. My stomach tingles and swirls with
panic and something else I don’t want to name. He’s covered in armor, as are
the rest of them, but unlike the others, his face is bare, exposing chiseled
features and the lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. They are as cold as a
winter’s night.

He smiles at me, tilting his head as he outpaces us, as if
he’s measuring me up.

“Seth!” I scream.

“Stop looking at them. Concentrate on the flames. When I
toss you through, you have to have complete control.”

“Or what?”

His voice is frantic. “You will die.”

Somehow, I think it’s preferable to letting that guy get
me. “I can do it,” I tell Seth. We’re nearly there. He’s not kidding. He grabs
my arm at the elbow and flings me toward the molten barrier.

The world behind me disintegrates into a blur of orange
flame. Heat registers, but, just like the first time I went through, the fire
doesn’t burn me. It bends around my body until I careen out of it.

I hit the carpet and roll until my head smacks against
Seth’s couch. My vision blurs and my ears ring.

Metal clattering sounds from behind me. I roll over and
lift my head, my heart clenching for Seth. There has to be hundreds of men in
that park. Why didn’t he just follow me?

The scene flickers in and out of focus, but I yelp as Seth
swings a huge sword at that man’s head. The guy waits till the last second to
spin away and the blade slices a thin line under his jaw. His dark hair falls
over his forehead as he counters.

Seth catches his swing and their swords collide in an ear-splitting
groan. Sparks fly around them and the man smiles.

His goon squad makes no attempt to rush the two. Who is
this guy?

His bright blue eyes flit my way. “She’s stunning, brother.
How good of you to deliver her to me.”

“Always presumptuous. She is not for you, Daegan,” says
Seth. He steps back and slashes his blade again and again at the stranger.

Daegan laughs. “I thought you’d learned your lesson with
the last one. Volos will be delighted. He has nearly used up your Rhea.”

I have no idea who any of these people are, but my body
shrinks away from the darkness they’re throwing off.

Seth swings his sword again, his muscles coiled tight with
furor. “Tell Volos Amelia is spoken for. He shall not have her, and neither
will you,
brother
.”

Bristling, I make myself get up and walk to the barrier.
They haven’t flinched or moved to acknowledge me, but both of their heads snap
my way when I speak. “Neither of you are going to
have
me, let alone
some douchebag named Volos.”

Seth shakes his head. “Go to your room.”

Who does he think he is? I flip him off then trace the fire
with my finger. It follows my movements, swirling as if on the wind.

Daegan raises a finger and holds it against the barrier,
mimicking me, only a few feet separating us. His flesh burns away until bone
peeks out from blackened skin. The air grows thick from the stench.

Coughing and gagging, I gulp back pure fear and take a step
back, then another and another until I stumble over Seth’s chair. The guy
laughs, staring at me the entire time, deflecting each blow Seth sends at him
with one arm. He takes his charred digit into his mouth and slowly pulls it
out. Bile rises up my throat as I watch him. As it emerges, his flesh is whole.

A smile lifts the corners of his mouth when he releases his
finger. It’s fine, as if nothing happened. He grins before he blows me a kiss.

Seth attacks with a furor I have never seen before. His
fluid movements are hypnotic, dance like. Once he slices Daegan’s arm, he
grunts and flips himself into the air, catching Daegan on the chin.

Daegan staggers backward, but is only temporarily thrown
off-balance. It’s enough time for Seth to get in one last swing, which lands
along Daegan’s shoulder, hacking off an arm.