Higher Power (Prophecy Of The Cataclysm Book One), page 16
“I do not fear father’s pet Lord. Especially now. The White Knight,” he spoke the words with a sneer, “had best not try to rob me of what’s mine or he will regret it.”
“Duke Victor is powerful,” Daniella laid a warning hand on his arm, “and he has equally powerful friends. He is not someone you want to cross. Not until you have the crown.” She knew the truth, that, aside from herself, the Duke was perhaps the one person Richard actually did fear. Her best hope was with Anastasia safely hidden away at the Duke’s manor Richard would be forced to hold off the wedding for awhile. Perhaps even long enough for Daniella to work out a way to get rid of the girl.
He pulled away from her touch. “No one is going to keep me from getting what I want.” He gave her a meaningful look. “No one.”
She could have laughed at his attempt to threaten her, but now was the time for smoothing his feathers, not ruffling them further. “I’m not saying you can’t have Anastasia. I’m only saying you have to be patient. Careful. This is the most precarious moment of my plans. We mustn’t do anything rash like attempting to go head to head with one of the most powerful men in Hyacinth.”
Richard blew a breath through his nose. “Fine. I can wait. But I will have her.”
“Of course.” She smiled even while thinking it would never happen. If she had to kill Anastasia with her own two hands to keep her from being queen, she would. “Now, put on a properly sorrowful expression.” She turned toward the door. “We must go and console our poor bereaved, stepmother.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
The Land of Dreams was a place of forests and deserts, mountains and plains, sunlight and shadows. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes hideous, but always a land without equal. Simon had only been in the dreamscape physically once before, when he stumbled through a rift and collapsed half-dead at the feet of a much younger Selene. But though he was not familiar with traversing the land while awake, the moment they entered he knew something was wrong. It wasn’t anything he could see, but rather it was something he felt. Something he could put no name too, but something he found deeply disturbing all the same.
“Simon...” Selene laid a hand on his arm.
“I know. I feel it too.” He covered her hand only to comfort her, but it was the first skin to skin contact they’d had in a long time. It sent a jolt through him, reminding him of all he’d given up to do the God Above’s bidding.
Selene snatched her hand away, her face turned from his. Simon stifled a sigh. He couldn’t expect her to forgive him easily for disappearing without a word the way he had, but he wished he knew what he could say or do to make up for it.
They walked along an overgrown path beneath the dark boughs of the trees. Muted sunlight shined through in scant patches. Indistinct figures flitted here and there, seen only from the corner of the eye. But Simon felt no sense of menace from them. They were dream creatures and had no interest in those who were wide awake.
But though nothing threatened them, though Simon felt no prickly sensation of eyes on their backs, the sense of foreboding grew stronger with each step.
“This is all wrong,” Selene said. “I don’t...” She shook her head. “I know we should avoid Morpheus, but something has happened. If we could only...” Her voice trailed off, but her eyes said what her words didn’t.
The last time Simon came face to face with the Lord Of Dreams it was not pretty. Morpheus had been intent on killing him and it was only because of Selene that Simon had escaped with his life. Meeting up with the higher power again was not going to help him on his mission to protect Anastasia. But perhaps it would be enough to convince Selene of how sorry he was for hurting her.
He nodded and they changed course toward the heart of the dreamscape, where Morpheus had his castle.
Beyond the forest, a vast desert of red sand stretched away to the far horizon. And in the center of the desert, a castle made of ice glittered in the blistering sun. Dreamers were often drawn toward this castle. They would be filled with a strange sense of urgency pushing them through their dream, though they would most often be unaware of what it was they were so desperately seeking. From time to time, a dreamer might even catch a glimpse of the castle, like a distant mirage, but no matter how far or how fast you could run, it would always remain out of reach.
Simon and Selene stood at the edge of the desert, but when he started forward she grabbed his arm to hold him back. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“The moment your feet touch this sand, you are bound to it,” she said. “The only way to break free is to wake up.” She gave him a pointed look.
“Ah, but we aren’t asleep.” He gazed at the castle. “So what do we do?”
“We catch a ride.” She pressed two fingers to her lips and whistled. A moment later the sand before their feet erupted into the air as a massive worm broke the surface. “It’s not pretty,” Selene said, grasping one of the armor like plates which covered the worm’s body, “but it will get us safely to the castle.”
Simon followed her example and climbed up onto the worm’s back. Selene patted the area behind the worm’s head and the beast turned so suddenly Simon would have toppled off if he hadn’t grabbed hold of Selene around the waist. She stiffened at his touch, but didn’t say anything.
The worm sped across the desert so fast it took Simon’s breath away. It was just as well, as he couldn’t have formed a coherent sentence with Selene’s body pressed up against his in any case. It had been a long time, but it still felt as natural as a heartbeat to have her so close.
When they reached the castle, Selene slid off the worm’s back even before it had come to a complete stop. She stumbled a little as her feet hit firm ground, but quickly recovered herself and raced inside.
“Wait,” Simon called after her, some nameless fear flooding his senses. If something was wrong he didn’t want her crashing headfirst into it on her own. No matter that she was a higher power and far better equipped to deal with danger than he was.
He followed her as quick as he could, but found his hurry was for nothing. Selene was standing inside the doorway, her astonished gaze taking in the majestic columns, the fantastical statues, and the detailed frescoes, all of which were dripping water like tears. Their gazes met and the they were both running for the staircase.
Selene was faster. She raced up the stairs well ahead of Simon, who had a sinking feeling in his gut the danger was already well past and nothing they could about it. A moment later, her scream confirmed his fear.
When Simon reached the top of the staircase he found Selene kneeling in a bloody puddle of water with both hands pressed against the gaping wound in Morpheus’ chest. She looked up at Simon and her stricken expression sliced right through his soul.
“He’s dying.” Her voice was small and bewildered. Her lips quivered. “How can he be dying?”
It was a question Simon could not answer. He squatted beside her, not quite close enough to touch. “Morpheus? Can you hear us?”
The Lord of Dreams opened his dark eyes and gazed up at them. His lips parted in a grim smile when he saw Simon. “Well, now, isn’t this something?” His voice was a harsh and weak mockery of its former power. “Time is a serpent biting its own tail.”
“Father, please,” Selene grasped his shirt, her pale hands turned crimson, “tell us how we can help you.”
Morpheus chuckled, a pain filled sound. Blood bubbled between his teeth. “It’s a circle. It always comes back to the beginning.”
“Stop it, you aren’t making any sense at all.” Selene looked to Simon. “We have to...to...” She started to shake. “Do something, Simon. Help him.”
“I can’t.” How he hated to say the words which would break her heart, but he had no other choice. “It’s too late.”
“No.” She balled her hand into a fist. “I will not hear such words. No one can kill a higher power. No one. This isn’t happening. It’s not possible.” She looked down at her father, tears spilling from her eyes. “Don’t go, please. I know I haven’t always been the best daughter, but I
love you. I do. So don’t leave me. Please. I’m not ready to say goodbye.”
“Poor child.” Morpheus’ gaze slid away from her. “In the end, even gods must die.” A spasm rolled through him, pumping out a fresh gush of blood. And then he was gone.
“No. No.” Selene hit him once with her fist. “How can you do this to me? How can you...” A sob wrenched free from her body and she collapsed, pressing her head against her father’s chest. “Don’t go.” A low, keening sound rose from her throat.
Simon wanted to reach out to hold and comfort her, but before he could the entire castle shivered. He stared up, seeing the trickle of water running down the walls grow stronger, and knew time had run out.
He touched Selene’s shoulder. “We have to go. Now.”
“No.” She pulled away. “I’m not leaving him like this.”
Another shudder rocked the castle, nearly knocking Simon from his feet. The bloody puddle was rising rapidly. “Selene.” He grasped both of her arms and jerked her roughly to her feet. “He’s dead. Nothing you can do about.” How he hated the way her eyes widened in shocked pain. He didn’t want to hurt her, but now was not the time for gentle sympathy. Not when he couldn’t be sure whether or not the situation they were in was dangerous to her.
“What’s going to happen to us if this castle comes apart while we’re still inside?” he asked.
Understanding entered her eyes as, for the first time, she realized what was going on. She cast one last, agonized look at her father. “Goodbye,” she whispered. Then she darted toward the stairs with Simon close behind her.
The steps sloshed around their ankles as they raced down toward the open door. Outside, they skidded to a stop. The desert was gone. Replaced by a seething ocean of gray waves topped with frothing white caps.
“Now what?” Simon asked.
“I don’t suppose you could fly us out of here?” Selene asked.
Simon shook his head. “I’d have to shed my human body and I’m not ready for it yet.” He stared grimly at the water, knowing to swim it was impossible. “Unless we have no other choice.”
“We might have one other way,” Selene said. Once again, she raised her fingers to her lips and whistled, then watched the sky with anxious eyes. “I don’t know if he can hear from this far away.”
“He? Who is--” But Simon’s voice was drowned out by the sound of massive wings beating the air.
A bird which greatly resembled an eagle, in appearance if not size, swooped toward them. “Grab on,” Selene said, reaching for one of the roc’s massive talons.
“This keeps getting better and better,” Simon muttered. He caught hold of the other talon and pulled himself up. Wrapping his arms around a leg as thick as a tree trunk, he held on tight as they rose up into the sky. Beneath them, the ice castle crashed into the ocean, carrying the body of the Lord of Dreams along with it.
Time might have passed or stood still, it was difficult to tell when the sun never moved and all which could be seen in every direction was endless water. Simon hoped the roc knew where it was going.
“A higher power murdered my father.” Selene spoke the words flatly, the side of her face pressed against the roc’s leg so Simon couldn’t read her expression.
It wasn’t a question and so Simon made no reply. He’d known the minute he saw Morpheus
what must have happened, though it made little sense. No one else but a higher power could have done such a thing.
“Who could have done such a thing?” she asked. “Why? My father wasn’t well loved, but murder? Nothing like this has ever happened before. Not in my lifetime. Higher powers don’t kill each other.”
“I don’t know,” Simon said. “But I’m thinking it might be connected with what’s happening on the lesser plane. The God Above sent me to watch over Ana for a reason, because she has some important role to play. Though I don’t know what it is. I thought when the time came the God Above would contact me and explain, but he hasn’t.”
“So you hope to get the answers from Fate,” Selene said. “And if the two things are connected? What does that mean?”
Simon frowned down at the rushing waves. “Nothing good.” A long silence followed as they were both lost in thought. “What happens now? About the dreamscape, I mean. Will you or one of your sisters take over the role as Lord of Dreams? I’ve always been fuzzy on how that works.”
“The role goes to my brother.” She spoke the words absently, her mind obviously on other things.
“Brother?” Simon asked. “You never told me you have a brother.”
“I didn’t?” She twisted her body so she could look over at him. “Well, he’s only a half brother, actually. He’s older than I am. Much older. Even older than Dorothea. I don’t know him well. I think he had a falling out with Father long before I was born. He never lived at the castle, in any case and he only came by a few times when I was small child. I haven’t seen him in a long time.”
“Do you think he might have killed your father to take over as Lord of Dreams?”
Selene frowned. “Maybe. But why now?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it? Why now?” He only hoped Fate could give him an answer. “Where has your brother been all this time?”
“I'm not sure,” Selene said. “But if I had to guess, I would say the lesser plane. It seems to me if he was in the high realm, I would have seen him or heard something of him. It’s not common for a higher power to actually live on the lesser plane, but it’s not unheard of.”
Somehow the idea of a higher power living on the lesser plane bothered him. He was about to say something else, but was jolted out of his thoughts by the sudden appearance of land beneath them. One second he saw nothing but water and sky and the next they were soaring over tree covered mountains. Simon looked behind them. More mountains with not even a single hint of ocean. He’d forgotten how strange the high realm could be.
Simon spotted the glimmer of sunlight reflecting from the glass walls of Fate’s tower long before they reached it. The roc landed on a mountaintop opposite that on which the tower stood.
“This is as close as we can come,” Selene said in answer to his questioning look. “An invisible barrier surrounds the tower. The roc can’t fly through it.” She touched the enormous bird’s wing. “Thank you for the ride.”
The roc shrieked in reply, then lifted into the sky. Selene, looking pale but determined, faced the tower and spoke as if Fate were standing right beside her. “We need to speak with you. It’s urgent.”
Silence greeted her words. She sighed. “Please, this is no time for one of your temper tantrums. Father...” She licked her lips. “He was murdered. By a higher power, I’m sure. That means something, doesn’t it? Something is happening. If you know what it is, you must tell us.”
More silence. Selene’s hands curled into fists. Tears pooled in her eyes. “Damn it, Mother, answer me!” She screamed the words, a note of hysteria in her voice.
A heavy wind blasted her, forcing her to take a step back. “Do not spit profanity at me.” Fate’s voice surrounded them. “Control yourself.”
“Control myself?” Selene glared at the tower as she spread her hands wide. “I stand here covered in my father’s blood and you tell me to control myself? Did you know this was going to happen? Is that why you locked yourself away?” No reply. Selene took a step forward. “You will answer me. I am not a child to be ignored. I am a higher power as much as you are and if something is happening I deserve to know what it is.”
Simon felt a slight tug at the back of his head, then he and Selene were standing in a austere sitting room much like the one Dorothea had conjured at the cabin. Fate stared hard at both of them.
“I know why you’re here, now, though you do not,” Fate said. “You come to me because of the Cataclysm.”
Selene blinked. “What? What are you talking about? The Cataclysm is a myth. What could it possibly have to do with what’s happening?”
Fate’s expression darkened. “It is not a myth. It was foreseen by Oracle and now its time has come.”
“Wait,” Simon said, confused, “what are we talking about here? What’s the Cataclysm?”
Selene made an impatiently dismissive noise. “A story, nothing more.”
“Much more,” Fate said. “Can you doubt it? Now, when you, as you said, stand there stained with your father’s blood? Morpheus, like so many others, ignored the Oracle’s warning. Now he’s dead.” She folded her arms. “His death marks the beginning of the end. You seek answers? You seek truth? Then listen to my words, but take heed, what I am about to tell you will change everything. Are you ready for that?” Her gaze shifted to Simon.
“My daughter holds no love for the gods. But you, archangel, you worship the God Above as do many on the lesser plane. Would you know the truth of him? Would you stand here and listen as I destroy the faith you hold so dear?”
Simon’s lips parted, but for a moment no words would come. She meant it, he could see it in her eyes. Whatever she was going to say would rock the foundation on which he’d built his life. He didn’t want that. If he was blind, then he would prefer to remain that way. If the God Above was something other than he seemed, Simon did not want to know.
He would have turned away in that moment but for Anastasia and Charles. Whatever this Cataclysm was, somehow they, or at least Anastasia, was part of it. He had told Selene he would give his soul to protect Anastasia and he had meant it.
“I’m listening,” he said.
Fate nodded. “Very well. A long time ago, war erupted in a realm far removed from ours. A war among three powerful beings. Those we know as the twin gods, Mishkael and Ishkael, and their elder sister, Shirelyn.”
“Who?” Selene asked. “The twins I know. Everyone knows. But a sister? I’ve never heard tell of a sister.”
“Are you saying this Shirelyn, is a god as well?” Simon asked. This was strange news indeed, but nothing too shattering so far as he could see. “If so, why have we never heard of her?”
