The Knight of Her Dreams (Dragons and Dreamphasers) (24 page)

Likewise, Vicki had been
equally fortunate in finding her fiancé Luke.  From the several times they’d
chatted across the dinner table, Julianna could see that while Luke had an
often reckless lifestyle, he certainly wasn’t reckless over his love for
Vicki.  Constantly, flowers would arrive at the door for her older sister,
along with notes of love and adoration from her most un-secretive admirer.

Up until a week ago, seeing
her sisters so happy would cause mixed emotions.  She was certainly happy for
them, yet saddened over not having a companion of her own.

But now that Dominick had
come into her life, suddenly she didn’t feel so alone anymore.  True, she could
only see him in her dreams, but he still felt more real and wonderful to her
than any man she’d ever known—including Roger.

To pass the time, she
watched television until it was nearly ten, glancing at the clock repeatedly. 
Being a night person, she usually went to bed later, but tonight she didn’t
want to prolong being away from her dreams.  In fact, she practically willed
sleep to come for her, since she knew Dominick would be there for her.

At least she certainly
hoped he would.

After today, inwardly she
really needed his strength to lean on, since Roger had shaken things up
earlier.  If only Dominick was truly here, so he himself could tell Roger to
leave forever.  It would serve him right to be fed the same harsh medicine
she’d forcibly swallowed over his affair with Marilyn.

The only difference was,
she wanted more than just a temporary affair with Dominick, for she was more
convinced than ever that she was falling in love with him—if she wasn’t
completely so already.

When caught absently
sketching little drawings of him at work, a few of Julianna’s co-workers had
inquired with interest about her mystery man.  She mentioned him in passing,
but declined their suggestions to introduce him to them in person.  They seemed
to take her dismissal as amused jealousy, but Julianna knew better. 
If only
I
could
introduce him to you!
she’d wanted to shout, but sadly
couldn’t.

The night hours now erased
her earlier sadness totally.

Against her shut eyes,
Julianna smiled softly at the airy feelings sweeping across her mind.  Her
thoughts drifted away from Roger, her questioning co-workers, and all other
problems currently in her life.

Soon she’d be with Dominick
again, and all would be well.

*****

All was
not
well for one man.

Puffing for breath, Alarius
Zaxelby was navigating the dark twisting corridor without much success.  How
he’d even ended up in this unforeseen mazelike territory, he had no idea, but
there was no mistaking the loud growls of a distant creature heading towards
him.  Being half-elven, his ears could distinguish fairly well what it must be.

It was the sound of an
angry dragon.

“
Give yourself up,
Zaxelby!
” came a rumbling voice, no doubt from the dragon itself.  A
voice that was sickeningly familiar to the half-elf, who knew its owner well. 
“
Relinquish the map now, and I might spare your life!
”

“You’ll get
neither
from me this day, foul beast!” Alarius yelled back, losing sight of where he
was going.

Tripping over a hidden
stone to crash to the ground, the fairly young man let out a sharp gasp,
turning in anticipation of seeing the creature right behind him.

Not yet.  There was still a
chance he could escape.

But where
is
the way
out?
his
thoughts demanded as he scrambled to his feet, running down another
passageway.  Reaching into his jacket, he pulled free the map in question. 
Given to him as a gift a few weeks ago by a generous friend who also lived on
the island of Barokka—who discovered the map during his many nightly
travels—the map’s information granted its owner the whereabouts to a hidden
portal.

Just within the doorway to
this portal was a perpetual flowing waterfall, looking like a liquid rainbow. 
In actuality, this ‘rainbow’ of sorts constantly rained forth a cascade of
colorful valuable jewels interspersed with its water, giving it its
rainbow-like appearance.  At the bottom of this waterfall—or perhaps more
accurately, a ‘jewel-fall’—several useful magical items had also once been left
there.  A veritable treasure trove!

While planning to follow
his friend’s advice to leave the magical items, Alarius planned to sell some of
the endless jewels in order to give his poor family the life they deserved. 
Perhaps sparing a few colorful trinkets for his three children, soon to be
four, and using some of the gems to create a beautiful necklace for his dear
wife and now mother-to-be again.

He’d decided to seek this
treasure after their fourth child was born in a few months, not wanting to be
absent when his wife might need him sooner than expected.

But then a sudden twist had
altered his plans.

Their youngest son Daric
had become deathly ill.

An immediate cure was
needed for the boy, whose swiftly ebbing life required the services of an
efficient but expensive healer in outer Chavernos.  Since the healer demanded
full payment up front, Alarius needed to seek out the treasure immediately. 
Leaving Daric in the capable hands of his wife and the local doctor—a wise
elder man who promised to do his best to keep the boy alive until his return—it
was with a heavy heart that the half-elf began his quest.

Under normal circumstances,
Alarius should have had no trouble succeeding in his mission.  The
silvery-blond-haired half-elf appeared in his late twenties and as strong,
although countless years older in actuality—due to his youthful long-lived
elven blood.  The same was true of his half-elven wife, who was equally
capable, and might have accompanied him on the journey if she’d been able.

Thankfully, the portal’s
location wasn’t very far away.

Unfortunately, neither were
the two men who followed him, who’d learned of the map and sought to steal it.

If they were reasonable
men, perhaps Alarius could have seen negotiating with them.  But knowing many
from Barokka, he remembered well who these dark followers were.

Their kind
never
bargained.

And Daric’s life depended
on him now.

The exit, blast it!
he nearly yelled. 
Where
is it?

As if in answer, a light
began to brighten up ahead.  Sighing thankfully, Alarius found an extra rush of
adrenaline which helped carry him towards his destination.   And then he saw
it... the blessed exit!

Reaching his hands towards
the sunlight just a few feet away, abruptly darkness fell upon the doorway
leading out.

Replaced instead by the
black scales of the dragon.

“
Thought you could
escape, did you?
” it hissed.

Letting out a shocked yell,
Alarius dropped to his knees, as the dragon loomed closer, its bloodstained
talons outstretched.  There was no need to ask whose blood would be added next
to that already there, the half-elf considered dismally, feeling his heart race
still faster.

“Please, let me go,” he
pleaded in a whisper.  “My son... he needs help.”

The dragon emitted a harsh
laugh.  “
Right now, you’re the one who needs help, in case you’re blind,
man.
”

“You don’t understand...”

“
No,
you
don’t
understand!
”

Hissing violet flames, the
dragon slithered forward to grasp the collar of Alarius’s shirt, dragging him
from the ground to hold him suspended in mid-air.  While the half-elf struggled
to free himself, he found himself shaken roughly.

“
I’m not a patient
man, Zaxelby,
” snarled the dragon, baring its sharp teeth of several
inches long each.  “
That map should never have fallen into your hands. 
It rightfully belongs to me and my associate Quell.  Either give it to us
willingly, or you’ll find the rest of your family dead along with your son!
”

“You’d kill them anyway,
you black-hearted demon,” rasped Alarius.

The dragon broke into a
fiendish grin, before tossing him to the ground.  As the half-elf rubbed his
shaken head, the scaly beast transformed itself into human form.

A human dreamphaser to be
precise.

“I could indeed,” the
dark-haired man murmured through a malicious chortle, his voice sounding
normally human now.  “Especially the brats.  Chavernos, how I do detest those
little scavengers.” 
If not for their kind, you’d still be alive, Caralei.

Waving his hand absently,
he conjured up a regal-looking chair.  Judging by his almost amiable smile now,
one might easily neglect seeing past the coolly handsome features to find what
really lurked within.  Many had been fooled thus over the years by his
seemingly dual nature.

Something which accounted
perfectly for his known name... Dual.

Reclining lazily, he rubbed
his chin knowingly.  “But before killing all of them,” he drawled, “I might
spare your fair wife for a while, just so I could... sample her charms once or
twice.”

Alarius’s eyes lit up like
bright flames.  “I’ll see you rot in the demonworlds below before you set a
finger on Laelea!” he hissed.

Dual quirked one eyebrow
up.  “Admirable, Zaxelby,” he laughed.  “I’d imagined you hadn’t the spirit to
threaten a dreamphaser.  To find otherwise, I salute you.”  Stretching out his
legs, he shook his head.  “No, my dear Alarius, I have no wish to set my sights
upon your wife presently.  After all, she last appeared quite heavy with your
latest offspring.  I’m merely reminding you that I can make your life quite
miserable, or end it as well, unless you cooperate.”

The half-elf gave a forced
laugh.  “Cooperate!  You mean for me to trade my son’s life for my own!”

“Did I leave you with that
impression?” Dual asked in mock surprise. “Surely, you simply misunderstood. 
You see, you’re trading that map for
all
of your lives.  Refuse
to surrender it, and we’ll kill your ailing son, followed by the rest of your
limitless brood.”

Seeing his hesitation, Dual
waved a hand to reveal a floating image of Alarius’s family waiting for him. 
The half-elf silently cursed the dreamphaser for his most effective cruelty. 
Just seeing Laelea again as she smiled upon the children, so far away, was a
bitter torment to him now.  As if she knew he was watching from afar, his wife
looked up with a sad smile, one hand resting against their unborn child.

Alarius could also see the
too small house they lived in, which would be even less suitable for yet
another child.  And his gaze fell upon little Daric, his pale form resting beside
his attentive mother.  The boy’s eyes were closed from the fever, which held
him in its deathlike grip, yet neither Laelea nor the doctor were willing to
let him slip away... not while the hope of Alarius still remained.

A hope slowly dying like a
candle flame being snuffed out.

“Think about it, Zaxelby,”
whispered Dual, his voice snakelike.  “As you can quite clearly see, you’ll
soon have another brat if you lose this one, and you might even get back in
time to see its arrival in person.  One life for all...
if
you
agree to the terms.”

The vision faded instantly
as Alarius glanced up in alarm.  “Terms?” he repeated.  “If I give you the map,
you’ll have what you seek, and I shall lose my son!  What higher price must you
ask, you cursed bastard?”

“A simple favor.  The
necessity of one word or two really.”  Spreading his hands amiably, he
continued, “I just wish to know the party responsible for giving this map to
you when it was meant to be ours alone.”

Alarius’s mouth drew into a
tight line.  “I found it myself,” he said quietly.  “No secret as to how. 
People often find things when they least expect to.”

Dual’s ill laughter cut him
off.  “Am I to believe that you merely
stumbled
across it, when
the map was hidden in the deepest stairwell of one of the multiple towers on
the hills of ice beyond?”  Alarius wouldn’t reply.  “No, Zaxelby, don’t debase
yourself as a liar as well.  We both know that only a few unique magic
abilities would know exactly where to seek it, and both you and your wife have
minor ones that wouldn’t aid in such a search.”

“Maybe you underestimate
us,” Alarius suggested lightly.

“Don’t try my limited
patience,” hissed Dual, transforming into the dragon again. “
Since you
reside in Barokka, it’s likely someone there gave you this rather valuable
item.  Either you give me the name of the culprit who did this, or I’ll send
Quell out to use his powers of silencing to finish off your family before you
see them alive again.  Now, Alarius...
choose
whom you wish to protect. 
Your traitorous friend who got you into this to begin with, or the family you
cherish so much.  Choose!
”