Page 52 of The Book Reader
“Gaelan, what do I do? I have no powers here; I can’t heal you.” Looking at his wounds, I don’t think my powers are strong enough to heal him anyway. Fuck!
His head lolls to the side, and he pulls in a shaky breath; his blue eyes still shine so brightly that my heart breaks into a million pieces as I look at him. “Gaelan, can you tell me what I need to do?”
He opens his mouth to speak, but he’s fading again. I see his eyes fill with terror, and then his cries of pain. I try to reach for him, but he slips out of my hands, and he’s gone again.
“Fuck…” I run my hands over the wall, wondering if there’s some kind of portal or something that will take me to where he is, but nothing. Turning, I run to the door. I want to scream out again, but I don’t want to alert whatever is hurting him that I’m here. Running down the hall, still searching for where he’s gone. I sprint along the same dark corridor, passing each room again, searching. But nothing.
Making my way back to Gaelan’s room again, but he isn’t here, “Gaelan,” I shout. “Where are you?” I turn to see him fade in again, his head is cut, and there are slashes on his arms. I rush over to him. “Baby? Gaelan?” I tap his cheek lightly, and his eyes fly open and lock with mine. His voice is so soft I must lean in to hear him.
“Not dreaming, my Rose.”
I shake my head. “I don’t understand, Gaelan. What’s going on?”
He coughs, and blood spills from his mouth. “Dream walking, my Rose,” he coughs again, and more of his blood drips onto the floor, like a red river flowing. His voice comes out with the sound of gargling blood. “Baby, I need you to…” I let his head go and reach for the chains again, trying to set him free, scared that if he fades away again, he might not come back.
“Gaelan, what do I do?” I reach down and gently cup his cheeks, lifting his head carefully, his glowing eyes reaching mine. “Gaelan, please, stay with me.” Tears fall down my cheeks, and he grins at me softly.
“It takes a lot more than this to kill me, my Rose.” I want to roll my eyes at him, but I laugh a little. How can he even make a joke at this time?
“It might do, but the road to that end looks awful from where I’m standing. Please let me help you,” I plead.
“Call Mark, my Rose. Tell Mark, Macy has me. Tell him to send the hounds.”
I nod my head slowly and then frown. “But Gaelan… how?” I look around, and it suddenly comes to me. “I need to wake up.”
His eyes lock with mine, and he grins at me. “I know, baby.” He then whispers, “Wake up.”
My eyes fly open, and I sit up, panting for breath. Looking around and finding I’m in my room. I try to calm my breathing down, my head feeling like I’ve had the worst nightmare ever. Looking over at the clock and seeing it’s just past two in the morning, I need to go back to sleep. Lying back down and wincing, feeling a stinging in my hands, sitting back up, I look down and see blood, frowning, wondering if I started sleepwalking again.
“My Rose.”The sound of Gaelan’s voice echoes in my head, bringing memories of my nightmare in a flash. I gasp, reaching for my phone. “Oh my god, Gaelan.” I dial Mark’s number, and he picks up after one ring.
“Mark?”
“Ari, is everything okay?” he asks, sounding worried.
“No, I think Gaelan’s in trouble. I had a dream and?—”
“What did he say?” He cuts me off, and I hear footsteps moving quickly.
“He said to tell you that Macy has him.”
“Did he say anything else?” He almost growls at me.
“To send the hounds,” I say, before the line goes dead.
Chapter 22
GAELAN
“My Rose.”
I try to use the last of my energy to call out to make sure Ari’s left the Dream Realm. My body sags, I’ve lost too much blood; the chain is the only thing holding me upright. Macy sent daemons in one after the other to claim their pound of flesh, but she still won’t kill me. She’s angry, so it’s more fun for her to make me suffer.
Laughter rings in my ears, and I wish I could get a hand free. My daggers would be in my grasp within seconds, and each daemon that had touched me would be taking their last breath as I ripped their hearts out. This would all be over. A burning pain erupts from my side. The urge to reach for the gaping wound is unbearable. I can feel blood starting to gush from the opening as I inhale and try to breathe through the pain. Hands are on my body, and something sharp is slicing me; my eyes are almost swollen shut, though, so I can’t see who it is.
“Dream boy,” A voice growls in my ear. “Macy said to make sure you hurt, so this is going to ruin you.” My pants are off, and something that feels like a cold hand wraps firmly around my cock—it’s probably the only area that still has skin attached to it—the last daemon practically skinned me. Whoever has my dick in hand squeezes so hard I swear it’s going to be ripped from my body. I wince when I feel the burning heat slicing into my sensitive flesh, cutting it open. The hurt is so intense it fuses with the rest of my body, making everything one giant array of pain. Everything hurts so much that I start to go numb, or I think I’m dying. Either way, I’ll be back to fucking end them all..
I let my mind drift; I picture Arianna and her laughter, her beautiful smile. It helps to ease some of the pain.
