Viator (The Viator Chronicles Book 1) (13 page)

“But the book is not an inspirational story about his ordeal. It goes beyond that. John had a very unusual experience while unconscious following his accident. I’m sure you’re all aware of many people’s near-death experiences?”

Several people in the audience nodded.

“His own experience was similar but went beyond that of most people’s.”

Erin wondered if John’s experience had been anything like her own after the car accident.

The author continued, “John entered another world, a world with beauty and also dark, fearsome evil, before he was sent back to consciousness. And ever since, night after night, he continues to pass into that world through the doorway of his dreams, where he travels into other people’s worst nightmares and fights the shadowy demons that seek to destroy them.”

The hair on the back of Erin’s neck tingled, and she felt a wave of dizziness.

He continued. “Who knows the depth of the human mind and what worlds it can enter once it crosses that first border?”

Erin sat as still as stone, her eyes fixed on Michael Woodward, her breathing shallow.
Is that what is happening to me? No—this is fiction.

Michael looked into the eyes of the people as he spoke, and their eyes were on him; it was as if the audience held its collective breath—the only other sound was from the traffic on the street outside. He picked up a copy of the book, opened it to a page that was marked, and began to read. He was relaxed and read confidently in his deep, calm voice. Erin studied him as he leaned against the table, and each glance he gave to the audience seemed full of interest, almost amusement, as if he held a secret.

When he set the book down, the crowd applauded. People slowly got out of their chairs and walked forward to have him sign copies of his book. He sat at the table and spoke to each person in turn, asking what they thought and how they’d like him to sign their book.

Erin sat in silence for a few moments. She turned to Aleesha. “I see why you wanted me to read his books.”

“When I’m reading one, I can’t put it down,” Hannah said.

“You see, I told you,” Aleesha said. “Let’s go get a book signed.”

They got into line. Michael spent a lot of time with each person, so the line moved slowly. Erin felt eager to meet him but reluctant as well. She hoped he didn’t remember her from the ferry, and she played with the idea of leaving before she got to the front of the line.

He was still signing the book for the woman in front of her when he glanced at Erin. “Did you have a good time on Orcas Island?” he said.

She groaned inside. “Actually, it was a disaster of a day. I should have realized that bumping into you was an omen.” She took a step closer and held up both hands, palms out. “Don’t worry. No coffee today.”

He laughed. “I was concerned when I saw you coming. But I’m sorry to hear your day on Orcas turned out badly. Is everything all right?”

“Yes, thanks. We all survived.”

“Good.” They were both silent.

Erin felt her face begin to grow warm. “I’m very sorry about drenching you with my coffee. I hope it didn’t ruin your day.”

“Not at all. Don’t worry about it.” Michael stood up. “Would you like a book?”

“Oh, yes.” She picked one up and held it out to him. “I haven’t read any of your other books yet. But I can see I’ve been missing out. From what you read today, this sounds very good. In fact, it sounds, well, very intriguing,” she stammered.

“Thank you.” He took the book from her, and his hand brushed hers for a second. She shivered and pulled it back. “What’s your name? Would you like me to write it to you or just sign my name?”

“Oh, my name’s Erin. With an E. Please sign it to me.”

He held her gaze briefly. “All right.”

The skin on the back of her neck prickled, and a picture flashed into her mind of his face in an icy, terror-filled cavern. He bent his head to write in the book, then handed it back to her. Her heart beat hard in her ears, and her hands began to shake.

He leaned forward and spoke softly. “I’ve never seen you in Domus.”

Erin shook her head. “Domus? I don’t know what you mean.”

Michael frowned and studied her. “I must have been mistaken. It’s nothing—my mistake. What’s your last name, Erin?”

“Holley.”

“Nice to meet you, Erin Holley.” He reached out his hand. She clasped it, and his grip was firm, his eyes clear and dark, his face still wearing a touch of a frown. He held onto her hand several more seconds. The skin on her arms rose in goosebumps.

“You, too,” she said.

He let go, and Erin turned and rushed to the front of the store where she purchased the book. She quickly walked out of the store and stood still for a few minutes as her heart calmed. She couldn’t understand what had happened to her in there. Taking a deep breath, she opened her book and looked at the inscription he had written.

“
Salve Erin, Viator, Tutus somnium
, Michael Woodward.”

Chapter 17

Erin paced the street while she waited for Hannah and Aleesha to leave the bookstore. At the corner, she stopped and read the inscription again, then closed the book with a snap. What does he mean “
Salve Erin Viator
?” She walked back to the store just as Aleesha and Hannah walked out.

“Why did you leave so suddenly?” Aleesha asked. “We had a lovely chat. He’s not only going to stop by the gallery Monday, he’s coming to the dinner party in a couple weeks.”

“Wonderful,” Erin said. She tried to smile.

They walked down the street toward the car. Hannah touched Erin’s arm.

“What did he say to you in there? You looked upset. And then when you left …”

“It was nothing. I was embarrassed. We saw each other on the ferry to Orcas last weekend, and I spilled a cup of coffee all over him,” Erin said. She smiled weakly.

Aleesha stopped. “You spilled coffee on him? I thought you hadn’t met Michael Woodward before today.”

Erin shook her head. “No, I didn’t know it was him. I bumped into him on the ferry.”

Hannah grinned. “Was he angry?”

“Not at all. He couldn’t have been nicer.”

“So why did you run out of the bookstore?” Aleesha asked.

“I don’t know. His story kind of spooked me, and I guess I felt strange.”

They both stared at her. “Why?” Hannah asked.

“I don’t know.” Erin shrugged.

They walked the rest of the way to the car and drove to Aleesha’s house in silence. She turned to Erin. “Honey, you’re a bit shaken. Do you want to come inside?”

Erin shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. You’re still creeped out,” Hannah said.

Erin sighed. “It’s these dreams I’m having. I had one last night that woke me up, and I never did go back to sleep. I have so many nightmares, but all I remember is terrifying shadowy monsters. They want to hurt me. And today in the bookstore, Michael Woodward—and his book—made me think of those dreams.” Erin frowned and looked out the window, taking a deep breath. “And, well, look what he wrote in my book. Do either of you know what it means?”

She handed Aleesha the book. They were quiet for a minute.

Aleesha read the inscription. “
Salve Erin, Viator. Tutus somnium.”
She shook her head. “It sounds Latin to me. I don’t know what it all means.
Salve
, of course, means something like ‘good morning.’ It’s just some kind of greeting.” She gave the book to Hannah. “He does write thrillers—of course he’ll give you the creeps. Why don’t we all go into my house and have a little glass of wine?”

“Thanks, but I should really pick up my kids.” Erin said. “It’s getting late.”

Hannah nodded and said, “Carlos is expecting me any minute—I’ll take a raincheck.” She handed the book back to Erin.

“All right. But why don’t both of you come to the gallery Monday around one o’clock? That’s when Michael Woodward plans to drop by. Maybe seeing him in a different setting will chase away those goblins, Erin.”

Erin laughed. “Yeah, sure. I’ll plan on stopping by on my lunch break.”

“I’ll try to,” Hannah said.

“Good,” Aleesha said. She and Hannah got out of Erin’s car and said goodbye.

*****

“That went well today,” Bruce said to Michael as he opened a bottle of beer.

Michael pulled two slices of bread from a plastic bag, set them on the counter, and spread them with mustard and mayonnaise. “Yes, very well. They aren’t all as pleasant.” He folded several slices of roast beef onto his bread. “Tell me what you thought of the audience.”

“Attentive, interested. They’re all fans, obviously.”

Michael nodded his head. “Sure.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, which he handed to Bruce. “I’ve been invited to this woman’s art gallery Monday, and to a dinner party in her home in a couple of weeks. Want to go along?”

Bruce took the card and asked, “Is she the thin woman with dark hair—very, umm, elegant? Maybe in her forties?”

“Right.”

Bruce nodded, studying the card. “I really need to get back to Portland soon, but I could come back. Yeah, I’d like to go. She owns a gallery, huh?”

“Yep,” Michael said.

“The two women we saw while running were there. What is it about them that interests you?” Bruce said.

“Just the small one. You haven’t felt it? She’s the woman I’ve seen in my dreams. I’m sure she’s a viator,” Michael said. He took a big bite out of his sandwich.

“Ahh.” Bruce frowned and nodded his head. “A viator. So, have you talked to her in a dream?”

Michael nodded his head and took a long drink of his beer. “Yeah. I was so surprised when she dropped into a cavern that I almost ran her through with my sword. I’m glad I was there. She was outnumbered, and she didn’t realize a mortifer was right behind her. I got her out of its way.”

Bruce lifted his eyebrows and shook his head. He began making himself a sandwich. “Did you work together?”

“Yeah. She was a big help. But she didn’t say much to me.” Michael looked out the window. The sun was shining into the kitchen, and he squinted at the backyard. Leaves were just budding out on the trees, and a few blue and white forget-me-nots were blooming under them.

“Was this another one of Arthur’s dreams?” Bruce asked.

“No. It was Bagley’s. It was bad enough. He needed all the help she could give him.” Michael shook his head. “But one thing was odd. Today I mentioned to her that I’d never seen her in Domus. And she didn’t know what I was talking about.”

“Really? Are you sure she’s a viator?”

Michael was thoughtful. “That was my first thought, too, but I don’t know. She seemed genuine at the time. But if she’s a viator, she should know what I’m talking about, and if she’s not, what was she doing in that dream?”

Chapter 18

Erin drove down the highway and took the Deception Pass cutoff, heading toward home. Her thoughts were jumbled; her stomach twisted and her head hurt. This author and his book with the events he described—how could they be so similar to her own experiences? The cemetery appeared on her right, and she slowed her car and turned through the gates. She drove along the narrow gravel road past the neat rows of headstones, past the statue of the angel and the mausoleum, to the one grave she needed to see.

She stopped her car and stepped out. Clouds spread out across the sky in lines of white and pale pink. Sounds of traffic from the highway below mingled with the hissing of the wind. A dog barked in the distance. Erin walked down the hill across the grass until she came to a standing stone, and she dropped to her knees. The yellowed remains of carnations lay on the ground, and she picked them up and kissed them.

“William,” she whispered. “What happened when I lost you? Was it just a dream?” She thought back to that day two years before. Their last day. She closed her eyes and could still feel the warmth of the sunshine on her face, still feel the excitement and thrill.

*****

The wind whipped through Erin’s hair, and she laughed as she and William raced down the freeway. A blue sky, a warm spring day, and they were on their way to the airport for a long-postponed vacation. She flipped on the blinker, stepped on the gas, and zoomed around a slow-moving truck. She laughed again, and William leaned over and kissed her.

“At last—two weeks with you in Hawaii,” he said.

“I was so afraid we’d have to put off our trip again when Gwen got sick. Thank goodness she’s better,” Erin said.

He grinned and reached out his hand to touch her cheek. “I knew it’d all work out.”

Erin’s eyes sparkled. “Tomorrow we’ll be waking up on the beach at Maui. I know the first thing I’m going to want to do.”

“What, go snorkeling?”

“No. That’ll be the second thing.”

William leaned over and kissed the back of her neck. “I can’t wait to see you bathing in sunshine.”

“Mmm…” Erin murmured.

“I don’t think I can wait till we get to Hawaii,” he said. “Maybe we should just pull over right here.”

“And miss our flight? Not on your life.” She flashed a smile at him.

The car sailed along the freeway with the other fast-moving traffic. Erin and William laughed and talked as they drove along, and the two hours from Anacortes to the SeaTac Airport passed quickly.

Erin checked the mirrors and signaled her lane change to take the exit, when a car from behind swerved into their path. She veered away, but the car struck them, shoving them sideways. Erin and William’s eyes met and held for a moment, until they were struck by another car and spun around. Erin froze as the car seemed to move in slow motion. She looked into the shocked face of another driver as he rushed past them and watched as a truck whipped toward her, then raced on by. She gripped the steering wheel, trying to regain control, and held her breath. Another car struck them, and they flew off the freeway, hit a barrier, and rolled.

The crunching and cracking were even louder than the shrieking Erin could hear. The world was a blur, and she realized it was her own voice screaming. She bounced around inside the car, hitting the side, but her seat belt held, and when the car came to rest, she was upside down, hanging in her seat, crammed up against the crunched roof. Her whole body hurt, and she couldn’t move. The world was spinning.