Lucid, page 6
part #1 of Dreamer Legacy Series
“Ah Cariad, our time is already up.”
In a blink it was all over. And once again I was staring at my ceiling. And the only thing on my mind was what in the world did Cariad mean, and why had he called me so softly with it. Slowly I pulled myself out of my bed, unwrapping the sheets from around my legs, before I made my way to the bathroom mirror.
I took one look in the mirror and noticed a serious problem. Super serious. From my wet hair, the dirt on my hands and feet, I looked exactly like I had in the dream. Down to the oversized black shirt, that hung like a dress.
Chapter 13
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The clocks methodical ticking echoed through my body like a blaring siren. Each tick driving me further past any point of sanity. Each timely thunk sending a resounding streak of pain through my skull. The headache I had woken up with had yet to leave.
The moment Deegan had softly called me Cariad, whatever that meant, my dreams had abruptly thrown me back into reality. Right into a killer headache. And not even a text from Ethan to offer why he was late. If I had to wait another thirty minutes and he still hadn't shown I was going to bail.
Just as I finished my thought the library doors opened letting in a blast of cold air, and in strolled Ethan. He tossed his charming smile at the ladies standing around the front desk, each one of them blushed slightly and greeted him, before going back to whatever task they had at the desk. Even cranky librarians loved him. He surveyed the chairs surrounding the library and when his eyes landed on me his grin grew wider if it were even possible.
“Mercy! You made it. Sorry I'm late, had to help gramps.”
Wow. Way to make me feel guilty about being pissed at him.
“He's the only family I got you know, gotta look after him.”
Triple guilty.
“How's he doing? I never really heard what happened to him.”
“Oh he's fine,” he replied with a soft chuckle and a shake of his head. “Old people you know, they stub their toe and they just fall apart.”
Try as I might I couldn't keep my lips from curving into an amused grin. Ethan smiled in response and pulled up a chair next to my own. He had a notebook pulled out in a flash, and he was wearing the most excited expression on his face.
“Since you're a girl I'll let you pick, but be warned I'm a bit of a nerd. I'm really into this paranormal and mythical stuff. So make sure you pick something good to do this report on.”
“You know for someone whose 'into this stuff' you sure seemed to have a problem when Olivia mentioned Auras.”
“Because there is a difference. Humans who can learn to see what isn't there is completely different from a paranormal monster. I mean if humans could train themselves to see Auras wouldn't everyone know how?”
“I suppose that makes sense...”
He nodded as if he knew I would understand that Auras couldn't possibly be real, before flashing another dazzling smile my way. “Have you decided? Or can I pick the monster? Please don't tell me you want to pick a werewolf.”
I wish I could say I didn't know and let him do whatever. But I did know exactly what I wanted to know more about. The moment Ethan had asked me what I wanted to pick my mind instantly flashed to the what Deegan had told me.
“How about Hellhounds,” I offered him what I hoped was a flirtatious smile, and prayed that he would go along with it.
His lopsided grin and slightly flushed face told me I had gotten my way. “Not a lot of girls know about Hellhounds. That's a good one we will go with that.”
“Cool I'll go find some books,” I offered. I could hear him push his chair back as he got up to follow me.
“You know uh... Mercy...” I continued running my hands along book spines without turning around. “Please listen.”
He placed both of his hands against the bookcase, blocking me from walking any further. Uh oh. Maybe my flirtations smile had been to strong... I really didn't want him to get the wrong idea. When I turned to face him he almost looked nervous. His closeness and the fact that he had me practically backed into a corner. I should be just as nervously excited as I had been with Deegan. This boy was real after all. But there was nothing... I was beginning to think that Deegan had ruined me for anything that was real.
His blue eyes studied me intently before he started speaking again his voice a little more hesitant this time. “I... that is... the Halloween dance is coming up. It'd be cool if we could go together?”
I put on a smile that I associated with 'that's too bad' “I already promised Olivia we'd go together, and the two of you don't really get along.”
“Like oil and water. Well that's too bad... maybe you can save me a dance?”
He looked so hopeful that I just didn't want to crush him. “ Yeah I'm sure we can dance. As Friends.”
“Yeah... That would be great. To dance... as friends I mean.” His smile had lost some of its luster as he pulled his hands off the shelves, and crammed them in his pockets. I gave him a smile and turned back to running my hands along the spines of the worn library books.
“So where do we start? I just heard of hellhounds. I have no clue what books we are looking for. Unless there is a hellhounds for beginners.”
He let out an amused rush of air, before pulling a few books off the shelves. “Old books on Folklore, some Greek myths, and I believe a few Nordic myths as well contain hellhounds. I'm sure there are more but its a pretty uncommon subject. Most mention of hellhounds is usually done in passing. They are a very secretive animal wouldn't you say?”
He took the selection of books over to the librarians desk, and with a wink and a smile, managed to check out all five books. Which was four more than the librarians would usually allow. In fact I'm one hundred percent positive there is a sign right on the desk Ethan was leaning against that said just that. One book at a time.
He returned to the table and slowly laid out the stack of books. Their well worn covers facing up. He ran his hands lovingly across their surface.
“Well pick your poison. Are you a Cerberus guarding Hades kinda girl? Or maybe your more into Folklore. Or are you really adventurous and looking for a story about Fenrir, Skoll, and Hati?”
“Hati preserve me...” I murmured. That's exactly what Deegan had said.
“What was that?” He asked kindly.
“Oh... I'll take the one with Fenrir, Skoll, and Hati.”
I gently took the book and began flipping through the pages. The pages were musty and slightly yellowed with age, but the book looked well preserved. Landing on a page with a giant black wolf, I began gently running my fingers over the variations in its thick black coat. Even here outside of my dreams the thought of knowing more about Deegan, about getting closer brought my heart to a thundering staccato.
“Well its getting late I guess I should walk you to your car?” When I managed to drag my eyes up off the giant wolf in the book, Ethan had already put the other books in his backpack, and was holding my hoodie out to me.
“I walked,” I replied softly, while slipping into my hoodie.
“You walked? It's like negative degrees out there.”
“Hardly,” I laughed with a snort. “Besides I only live a few blocks from here.”
“Well then since I asked you out today, it's my responsibility to see that you get home safely. So let me walk you home?”
“Ha ha. If I say no?”
“Then I'll stalk you from the warmth of my car all the way to your house.”
“Suit yourself, walk or drive, but I'm walking.” I didn't bother with putting the book in my bag. Instead I clutched it to my chest and hoped it would bring me closer to Deegan, as I worked my way out of the Library.
Ethan jogged ahead of me and opened the door with a flourish. “My Lady.”
“I knew you were a freakin' prince charming from the moment you showed up in your shiny white sneakers.”
“Don't the ladies love prince charming?”
“I prefer the knights in shining armor myself.”
He simply rolled his eyes and followed me out the door into the cold windy evening. He began vigorously rubbing his arms through his sleeves and blowing into his cupped hands.
“Don't you see what I mean it's gotta be thirty below out here.”
“It's only in the thirties,” I replied casting him a sideways glance. “ Where the hell did you come from that you think this is thirty below?”
“Florida,” he returned my sideways my sideways glare with one of his own. “It's in the seventies there right now.”
I could feel my eyes widen incredulously. “Seventies? In October?”
“You bet. It's probably a warm and muggy night filled with giant bugs... I can just imagine it.”
I just shook my head. The seventies in fall? No way. I like my winters just as they are. “What brings you all the way to Oregon anyways?”
He watched me with a shuttered expression so long that I didn't think he was going to reply.
“My family was murdered a little over a year ago.”
I shouldn't have asked. Oh my god I should not have asked. “I'm so sorry Ethan if I'd have known I wouldn't-”
“Don't Mercy it's alright. It was a while ago.”
“It has only been a year you said...”
“Yeah well... a year in an institution is a long time.”
I turned my face to take him in but he didn't look overly sad. More like he was contemplating something. Running through that moment in his mind.
“They thought I was crazy, and its not like they will give a crazy kid over to an old man.” He turned his face to mind and watched me for a moment. “I'm not crazy you know... I know that what I saw that night doesn't... shouldn't exist but there is was... I mean its not like I didn't think about it. When it happened I knew it shouldn't have been possible... but that man turned into a monster right in front of me. The official statement was a rabid bear... but I know what I saw and it wasn't a bear. That's why I believe in these paranormal things you know? Cause I've seen them.”
I must have had some look on my face, because the moment he glanced back over at me he bust out laughing. “Please Mercy, keep this to yourself yeah? I just want to get on with being normal.”
“Of course I would never say anything but... did you mean what you said? That it was some kind of monster?”
“I know you probably don't believe me-”
“I believe you. I think... I think I've been seeing those things since I was fourteen.” I was going out on a limb with this... with trusting Ethan... but if he could trust me with something as painful as loosing his parents I could try and trust him with the fact that I have seen them, even if only in my dreams... but Deegan... Deegan was mine. He was personal. I wouldn't share him with anyone.
“You've been seeing them since you were fourteen?! Here? In town?”
“No... No in my dreams at night. Every night. Which is why I practically zombie my way through the day. Having those dreams makes me so tired...”
“Ahh... well that explains why Olivia is so protective in keeping people away, so you can catch a break.”
“Yep.”
“We're comrades then... both seeing and believing in monsters,” he replied offering me a halfhearted smile.
We walked in a comfortable silence until we made it to my street and turned down it. The leaves picking up and swirling around our ankles in the soft wind.
“Comrade,” Ethan chuckled into the silence, “ Can I assume that's your house? The one with two people staring me down like I'm bringing them a winning lottery ticket?”
Glancing up my eyes landed on my parents on the front porch looking extremely excited. All I could do was roll my eyes at the sight. “I've been a zombie hermit for the last three years their just happy to see me out being sociable, don't let them creep you out too bad.”
He let out a small chuckle as we made our way up the walkway, to the front door.
“Mom, Dad, this is Ethan.” I turned and faced Ethan. “Ethan this is Mom and Dad.”
“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Clarke it's a pleasure to finally meet you.” Ethan put on his charming smile and it was like my parents were putty in his hands. Practically fawning over him. “Well My Lady it seems I've completed my task, and you have arrived home safely.” he finished giving me a wink.
“Okay prince charming, I'll see you at school on Monday, go find yourself a damsel in distress to rescue why don't you.”
“Prince charming doesn't rescue damsels in distress, we keep them from getting in trouble in the first place.” He replied with a backwards glance as he walked toward the street.
“That's why I love knights,” I called after him. I could see his shoulders shaking and hear his laugh carried on the soft night breeze as he made his way down the street and out of sight.
Chapter 14
“Come on Deegan, this is the third night we've been trying. It's obviously not working, so whatever you thought I was apparently I'm not. Just let me rest.” I spat out.
Before my body could even begin to slouch down to the ground for a small rest, Deegan was snatching me up by my pajama shirt.
“We don't have the time!”
“It's my dream and I have all the time I want!” I shouted back at him.
With all my strength I shoved against his taut arms. When his hands let go I wasn't able to get purchase and I collapsed to the hard dirt ground. Deegan just stood above me looking down with his barely contained anger. He had gone from being sweet and honest to being a total hard ass. When I just returned his glare with silence and made no attempt to get up, his hard face finally faltered.
He slowly lowered himself to the ground in front of me, resting his elbows on his knees. He was fidgeting under my gaze now, like he hadn't just been acting like an ass for the past three nights. I hated it when the kind Deegan wasn't here and I got the ass end of his personality.
“Mercy... I know you don't get where I'm coming from...” He took my hands in his and his thumbs began gently running slow circles across the backs of my hands. I couldn't keep up. One moment I was just wishing for the black to swallow me whole, and the next he was so sweet I know I wouldn't be able to survive if I had to part from this kindness.
“You could start by not being so bi-polar,” I offered with a smile.
He just chuckled and shook his head, his adorable dimple showing through.
“After I turned seven I was raised in a very strict house. If there was a problem it was usually fixed by force... Sometimes I fall back into that. Especially when I am anxious. Try not to fault me to hard for it okay?” he responded with a chuckle. “How about we take a break and try again in a bit?”
“Yeah,” I adjusted myself so I was sitting comfortably against a fallen tree. “How about you tell me a story”
“A story?” He asked curiously. “About what?”
“A story about Hati... and what a giant Norse wolf has to do with you Mr. Hellhound.”
He regarded me curiously for a moment before he settled in next to me. I could feel the hum of his life coming through the contact between our bodies. He was warm... so warm. And he seemed content to leave that contact between us, as we leaned into each other.
“Well...” He started softly, glancing at me from under his thick black lashes. “Fenrir had two sons. Skoll and Hati. Both giant wolves, since their mother was a giant, and Fenrir was a wolf.”
“Mhmm...” I murmured softly, leaning against him to encourage him to continue speaking.
“Skoll, who chased the sun through the sky, was more giant than wolf... and his brother Hati, who chased the moon. He was more wolf than giant... Now Skoll and Hati... they had many children, with human women... and that is supposedly how a breed of hellhounds was born. There are others mind you of different descent. But where I come from we are born from the bloodline of either Skoll or Hati...”
“What's the difference... being a son of Skoll or a son of Hati?”
“Well...” My head was resting against his shoulder and slowly he lowered his head onto mine. We were almost snuggling... I would definitely count this as one of the best moments of my life. “If you are born under the influence of Skoll, you have a human soul... and if you are born under the influence of Hati, you have a wolves soul.”
“And what difference does that make?”
“A human soul longs for human things... they are like you in almost every way except they can turn into a hound. They enjoy luxurious things... they are generally speaking materialistic, like humans. They enjoy their possessions... and they love like humans. Whereas Hati's they don't care about possessions... luxury isn't something they strive for... Hati's are loyal and family oriented. And where Skoll's may have different partners... Hati's... they love forever.”
My heart was definitely going to burst out of my chest. His sweetness struck me straight in the heart. Even if he hadn't been talking about loving me the sweetness of the moment was driving me crazy. I could feel my cheeks burning as I looked into his eyes. It was a moment of the closest connection to another soul I had ever felt.
“You're definitely a Hati.”
“Oh? What gave me away?” I could feel his chest rumble with slight laughter. The vibrating rumble moved through my body, causing my skin to break out in an array of chills.
“There isn't a human alive that is as good as you are.”
“I am a lot of things Mercy Clarke, good is not one of them.”
“I'll believe that when I see it.”
“Weren't you the one glaring daggers at me earlier? I had assumed you already knew I was badass.”
I laughed then. Hard. Until my sides felt like they were tearing apart... I knew it was ridiculous to have tears streaming out my eyes. Deegan probably thought I was crazy. But I knew there wasn't a single thing alive that was more badass than Deegan. And he was badass in the best possible way.
