| Sect two: memories, dreams and nightmares By Richard LeBlanc In a small bedroom - a young woman screamed and quickly sat up. Her hands were shaking as the images from her dream remained. Slowly she managed to calm herself down. Ever since she had turned fifteen - the dreams she had been getting had been growing more intense - more graphic. "First wolves - now dragons?" she muttered to herself. Slowly she got out of bed and walked over to the window. It looked to be only moments before sunrise. She watched as the sun rose up and melted all of the shadows away - all but illuminating the lush forest that surrounded the tiny village. Just then - a younger man hurried in - ready to beat away whatever had caused her to cry out. "Nightmares again Julia?" he asked hesitantly. She held the blankets up to her neck and scowled at him. She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "Out!" Julia ordered. He ducked the pillow but hurried out just the same. She sighed and shook her head. Why someone always came running when she had a bad dream mildly unnerved her. "Was just making sure you were okay," he replied from behind the door. "You could at least wait until I get dressed," she remarked. "Like I haven't seen a nightgown before," he retorted. "That isn't the point," she stressed as she quickly got dressed. She then stormed over to the door and opened it. The young man that was leaning on it fell into the room - landing on the floor beside her. "Why is it that someone always seems to come running whenever I have a bad dream?" she asked suspiciously. He quickly got up and dusted himself up. "Just concerned," he answered. She stepped forward. He tried to back up but was flat against the door. "There is something you aren't telling me," she stated calmly. "Why do you say that?" he asked hesitantly. Her face moved closer to his. "We grew up together - I know when you are hiding something. You are a terrible liar," she pointed out with a smile. "So what am I not being told?" she asked curiously. Smiling innocently. He looked away - she moved his chin over so that he was looking her in the eye. "I am over here," she pointed out. "I know," he replied. "Jase! Have you finished your chores?" a strong voice resounded. The moment of distraction was all he needed to slip away from her. She fumed at how he dodged the question. Now she knew something was amiss. "I am going to get answers one way or another," she muttered as she walked down the hall to the dining room. There - at the table sat an elderly looking couple - a young woman only a little older than herself, two younger boys. Jase looked at her and quickly hurried out the door. "Didn't sleep well?" the old man asked curiously. "What is going on here? Why does everyone jump when I have a bad dream?" she asked. "We are just," the old woman began. "Concerned. Right - if you won't talk to me about this - I will find someone who will," Julia interrupted. On that note she walked passed the family and exited the small house. She sighed and shook her head. For almost four years her dreams had been getting steadily worse - steeped in scenes of such things that she should by all rights have no knowledge of. She looked around and saw the village elder talking to a small group of kids. "You have dodged the issue before - not again," she muttered to herself as she walked over to where he was. He looked over and saw her approaching and motioned for the kids to be on their way. "We need to talk," she stated calmly. "Another dream?" he asked. "It is more than just a dream - and I want to know what," she stated. She then sighed and politely bowed her head to him. "Please?" she added politely. He looked over at her and calmly nodded. "Please - come with me. I will tell you what you wish to know," he replied as they headed towards the forest. She nodded and followed. For what felt like hours the two walked through the lush forest until they reached the shore of a still deep river. The elder looked up at the sky and whispered something in a language she did not understand. "What is it elder? Why are we here?" she asked. "You desired answers - you deserve them. Although I had hoped - it would not be so soon," he stated - sitting down on a surprisingly chair-shaped rock. "Tell me - what do you know - of - Temal?" he asked seriously. She shrugged her shoulders. "Just what I've heard. It was a powerful kingdom that was destroyed by the demon host," she answered. She shook her head and sighed. "I thought we were going to answer my questions," she began. He raised his hands. She stopped. "Tell me - what was the city like?" he asked seriously. "You're joking right? Temal was razed almost nineteen years ago. How would I know?" she asked seriously. An adamant look crossed the elder's face. "Close your eyes - and tell me," he repeated softly. Julia shook her head and sighed. She closed her eyes and prepared to dismiss the notion when the darkness seemed to part. Before her - was a wondrous kingdom unlike anything she had ever seen. A hand touched her shoulder. Her eyes opened - the elder was there. "What - what just happened?" she asked hesitantly. "You were quite correct - all this time. What you saw in your sleep - was no dream. You saw things - that most minds - would pray to forget," he stated - motioning for her to sit down. Hesitantly she sat down on a flat rock. "Describe - what you saw the last time you slept," he requested. "The fall of - of - Temal?" she asked. "Most likely - what else?" he asked. "I saw - a couple - with a baby- I saw dragons and demons - but what does all of this," she began but stopped. "No - you aren't trying to tell me," she continued. "The baby - you saw in that dream - was you," he answered. "Then - those people - that demon guy - he wanted to kill my mother - but why?" she asked in serious disbelief. The elder sat down before her. "Your mother - and those that were before her - guarded - the gate to the dark dimension. Their wards - and spells helped keep the darkness in place. Or so they believed. Unbeknownst to them - one seal faltered. Not completely - but enough for one demon to escape," many wars he caused from the shadows - always trying to strike at where the gates were guarded. All failed," he began. "If he kept failing then what is going on? Why am I having these dreams?" she asked. "He failed - until he encountered a fallen black knight. The demon signed a blood pact with the knight in exchange for his soul. The knight - rose - animated by the demon's power. And then the demon took him completely - taking on physical form. His power - now anchored - almost doubled. No longer striking from the shadows - at the helm of a new army - he shattered the gates - one by one - until only the gate at Temal was left. The gate guarded - by the elders of your family," he recounted. "But - if they were able to stop them before - I don't understand - how did Temal fall?" she asked - confusion showing on her face. The elder sighed and shook his head. "That - no one knows," he replied. "What happened to the demon? The one that took the black knight?" she asked. "There was a great battle between his unholy legions - and the great beasts of the Forgotten Glade - no one knows of all the details - but it has been said - that both your mother and he perished together. None survived that war though - so if that is true - or false - none can say for sure," he replied. "But what does all of this have to do with the dreams I've been having?" she asked. "It means - that the forces that wanted your mother dead - now know - of you. And now that they do - they seek to finish what they started so long ago," he concluded. All color drained from her face. To be continued... |