Page 68 of A Spark Of Revenge

“Valen?” I whisper, stepping closer to study the small boy. He can't be more than four or five, his cheeks still holding that childish round shape, making him look like the cutest little cherub I’ve ever seen. But before I can get closer, the dream shifts, almost like a mirage; the beautiful garden blurs then darkens.

Smoke swirls in the air as the dream comes back into focus, and I gasp in horror as the once beautiful garden lies in shambles. Fire burning at every corner, the flowers lie dead and limp on the black ground. Smoke billows from the tall, blue walls of the castle, the sky stained red as screams echo in the air. I step back when I look to the spot I’d seen Valen and his father, bile rising in my throat when I spot the still form of the woman in the pale yellow dress lying on her stomach, her beautiful white curls spread around her like a halo.

“No!” I whisper, stepping back as the dream blurs again, making my stomach lurch as the sky spins. When it comes back into view, I’m no longer in the garden but standing on the edge of a large field. Soldiers in fine silver armor fight off hordes of Beastia as they race from the forest on the other side of the field. Bright bursts of green, blue, and white magic soar through the air, but they stand no chance against the enemy. Each and every one of them falls to the monsters, screaming and shouting in pain before the field is eerily quiet once more.

My stomach heaves as I turn, looking at the burning blue castle in the distance, black smoke billowing from the city around it. The Beastia charge forward, throwing themselves at the blue crystal wall until it shatters under their weight.

Is this what happened to the Dream Walkers? Is this why Valen said we are rare?

When the ground shakes, I close my eyes, the feeling of excitement coursing not only down my back but through every molecule of my body. I feel like I’ve been dosed with adrenaline, and something dark presses against my skin as I turn back to the now-empty field of dead.

The sky darkens, and the tree quakes as the ground shakes beneath my feet as a shadow of a monster crawls over the land. It moves like tar over the bodies of the dead, its presence so large it fills the entirety of the field in seconds. My hands shake at my sides as I look up and up at the darkness, my heart pounding, thrilling at the void in front of us. But just as fast as the void appears, it slowly lessens, swirling through the air like a winter's breeze whipping my hair around my face as the blue silk of my gown flies around my ankles.

The darkness curls in on itself, then an explosion of magic sends everything nearby to the ground. A massive wave of sound snaps from it, taking down the trees and nearby buildings lining the field.

I watch the destruction unfold, coursing around me like a wave while leaving me unharmed. When I look back to the center of the field where the darkness resides, I find a man… No, not a man. A giant! The male stands tall, his thick black hair coursing down his back in intricate braids. His chest is bare save the black leather belts strapped diagonally across his body, holding an arrangement of weapons. In his hand, he clasps a sword so large I’m pretty sure it's bigger than I am.

Darkness swirls at the giant's feet, making it appear like he’s walking in shadows as he appraises the land before him with a feral smile, exposing the long, sharp canines behind his full lips. I inhale sharply at the sight, and the giant’s head snaps in my direction, startling me all the more.

How can he see me?

Bright red eyes find my own, and a feeling of rightness and excitement flows through me, followed quickly by fear and despair, and I know he—whoever this man is—is responsible for all the death surrounding us. The imposing man stalks forward, his feet crushing bones as he smiles, head tilted to the side, blood-red eyes locked on me as the red symbols carved into his leather-like skin glow brightly.

“Mi Sol?”

I gasp as I stumble back over all the blood and bodies, tripping over the dead and falling into the filth at my feet, clinging to the familiar voice in my mind. But he sounds so far away!

“Mi Sol! Wake up!”

My body shakes as the world around me burns, the screams of women and children tear through the air… a sound I know I’ll never forget for as long as I live. I push myself back even further, not looking at what is under me as warm liquid oozes between my fingers.

“Come, child.” The giant man whispers like a terrifying lullaby coursing through the air. My reaction is instant and makes me scream as I stand, losing control of my body as he beckons me to him. He moves his black onyx weapon to his other hand, then reaches for me, hand outstretched, a serene smile on his face.

I feel like a child as I step closer; our height difference is something I would never have imagined possible.

“Take my hand, darling girl. Let me help you,” he coos as my arm starts to lift. My mind screams at me to run, but my body is helpless to obey. “There you go,” he whispers, crouching down so he can look me in the eye. Blood drips from his clawed hands as he closes the distance between our fingers.

“No, don’t!” I scream at him, making him chuckle and shake his head, then wrap his hand around mine with a sigh. The amount of power that surges from the man in front of me is enough that I feel my back arching, my head snapping back as a silent scream of agony tries to break from my lips. The pain slowly travels through me, almost like it's claiming every inch before it moves to my wrist. This time, when I try to scream, sound comes with it.

The giant’s hand wraps tightly around my own, and his eyes fall to my wrist as bright red magic appears, etching itself into my skin in a complex design of swirls about the size of a quarter.

“Meyer!”

This time, Valen’s voice is accompanied by a burst of green light, making the man release my hand and stumble back in shock. Firm hands grasp my arms, my entire body shaking so hard I feel like a bobblehead doll, and I’m yanked back and away from the man! He roars in anger, his face twisting into madness before the red and orange sky fades, and I’m jolted upright.

THIRTY-THREE

Meyer

“Meyer! Look at me now!” Valen commands as I gasp, sitting upright and looking around at my surroundings. My entire body feels hot and sweaty, and I can't stop my hands from shaking as I reach for the man kneeling on the bed next to me. His hands are firmly holding my shoulders as his pale eyes stay on mine.

“Valen?” I whisper, then squeak when Valen’s entire body relaxes, the relief in his face palpable as he yanks me to him.

“Thank the gods,” he rasps, his hand cupping my head to his shoulder as he holds me tight.

“What… What the hell just happened?” I practically scream, my entire body shaking uncontrollably.

“I don't know. We were sleeping. I had you safe, Meyer. You were with me… I was watching after you, and then suddenly, you were gone! I woke up and found you thrashing, still asleep, but I couldn't get into your dreams!” Valen is panicking a little, his words clipped and running together as he holds me. “You're still shaking,” he croaks out, leaning back enough to look at me. “I’m going to get Nox! He can make sure you're uninjured!” Valen rasps, moving to pull away, and I panic.

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