Page 37 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

Anton leads us into a... well, I don’t know what to call it. It’s a large room with sofas, a few bookcases, a fancy rug, and a fireplace. I guess it’s a sitting room? I wonder what it’s like to have so many spare rooms that one is just for sitting and talking to guests. But I suppose if Anton and Saif don’t have children, they need to do something with this space.

I feel like we’re in a meeting as we sit opposite Anton, who chooses a plush-looking arm chair for himself. I’ve no idea what this furniture is made of, but it’s soft. Are velvet sofas a thing? Or satin sofas? It’s excessive, luxury for the sake of luxury, but of course a vampire who’s been around as long as Anton can afford it just because. The only time I’ve ever treated myself like that was when I bought a fancy camera... okay, and every time I see a book I want, but even then I still try to restrain myself.

Anton opens his arms wide and grins at us. ‘Leverett, my old friend. It’s so good to have this chance to catch up.’

Leverett chuckles. ‘You know you can come see me anytime.’

Anton waves him off. ‘And come see you at work, when you’re busy? Much nicer to chat when it’s just us, wouldn’t you say?’ He turns to me, and his smile turns welcoming. ‘Esta. Welcome to my humble abode.’ He laughs to himself. ‘It’s a touch more than we need, it’s true, but why not spoil yourself a little when you can.’

I don’t know what to say to that since I’ve never quite been in this situation and doubt I ever will be. Fortunately, Anton doesn’t wait for an answer.

‘Leverett tells me you’re the one everybody is talking about. The Dreamer.’

I startle. ‘What?’

‘It’s what the Veiled have started to call you,’ Anton says. ‘Most of us don’t know your name. We just know that the Dreamcatcher and the Mara had a, shall we say, run-in with you, and decided to give you the benefit of the doubt. Some have taken to calling you the Prophesied One, but I much prefer the Dreamer.’ He laughs to himself again. ‘Either is much shorter and to the point than the-human-who-fought-the-Dreamcatcher-and-the-Mara-and-won, wouldn’t you say?’

I nod slowly, a little taken aback. I’ve never had a title before. It feels weird, like too much responsibility has been placed on me. Although, I suppose all they expect me to do is dream. That’s not so bad. But dream of what? The lucid dreams I usually have, or a better tomorrow? I don’t see how my regular dreams would be interesting to anyone, least of all benefit them, so...

‘No pressure,’ I mumble.

Anton winks at me. ‘The Veiled are watching, Esta Anderson. We’re excited to see what you’ll do next.’

I shiver when his words echo the Mara’s.

‘You’re not worried I’ll accidentally doom us all?’

I regret the words as soon as they’re out. It sounds too casual, not really fitting the war they are terrified of. But Anton shrugs and winks again.

‘Oh, there’s always something that might do that. Take it from me—I’ve lived a long time. We’ve done rather well hiding our tracks, wouldn’t you say? Every hundred years or so there’s a human who somehow stumbles upon us and tries to expose us, but no one ever takes them seriously.’ He does a fake huff and rolls his eyes. ‘Vampires, during the day? Sure. Do tell.’

That does make me feel a little better. Less like I’ll start a war by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

‘Does the Dreamcatcher always deal with it?’ I remember him saying that I wasn’t the first, but I didn’t ask how often this has happened.

‘Oh, my dear, I couldn’t say. I’m sure he does a lot of the time, but your circumstances were special, weren’t they? You lucid dream whenever you wish. You were already on his turf. Most of the time the human makes a ruckus one day and vanishes the next, never to be heard from again. Whoever wants you silenced is thorough.’

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