Element
Of Dark
Chapter Twelve
Dream stood watchful over Nick and I. As soon as she had received
Kevin’s call she had immediately summoned us to the hotel at which we were
staying. Now, as we sat on against the bed, side by side, she examined us
carefully. The room was silent as no one could think of the right words to say.
Dream’s blue eyes glowed fiercely as they lay upon the "warnings"
the Darkness had so bestowed upon us. Reaching out she pressed the
ever-darkening spot on Nick’s forehead.
"Does this hurt?" He shook his head. She raised my palm and
lightly fingered the pale blue design. "What about you?" I shook my
head as well. The pain from the basketball court had subsided and there seemed
to be nothing left. She nodded her head, pleased. "Good." Kevin
hovered over my shoulder.
"Well?" His voice was tense and I was grateful to be blessed
with such caring kin.
"It’s not ready." She said it so matter of factly.
"What’s not ready yet?"
"The Darkness. It’s simply not ready yet."
"Then why the marks?" Dream pondered this question.
"I’m not sure. It could be the effects of my spell have begun to
wear off or that The Darkness is approaching." Nick began to shake. I put
my hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?" I whispered softly so as not interrupt Kev and
Dream’s conversation.
"Yeah. I..I’m fine." His eyes lied as his lips spoke.
"Well, when will you be sure?" Kevin was becoming testy and I
shot him a look to calm down. He caught my glance and smiled apologetically.
"Only time can tell. But this is not a matter of great importance as
of yet so do not worry yourselves over it."
"Dream...," Nick piped up, barely audible.
"Yes?"
"I’m not going to be sick like that again.....am I?" I had
never seen Nick so afraid of anything in all the time I had known him. At the
very least, certainly not afraid of something so small. To me he had always been
fearless and yet the thought of reliving his past experience scared him so.
Slowly, she bent down, so as to be at eye level with him. She spoke softly and
calmly, her voice flowing steadily.
"I don’t know." Nick’s lower lip quivered slightly at this
and she continued. "But, I promise you that if you are I’ll be right here
to take are of you, ok?" He nodded, choking back his emotions. She smiled
sadly. "C’mere." She hugged him tightly and stroked his hair. He
sobbed shakily. "Baby, shh. It’s okay." Her small fingers wiped away
his silent tears and that’s when I realized for the first time what exactly
Dream was doing. The Darkness’ purpose was to release our fear and feed on it.
Dream, as a shield used our child-like emotions to prevent this from happening.
If she reverted Nick and I to a younger state of mind then we would have less
fear to feed upon and less knowledge of the damage fear could cause. Therefore,
by using childhood fears and sorrows, Dream could block the Darkness from
fulfilling it’s purpose. It all made sense......didn’t it?