Nightblade (Darkest night)

Chapter 233: Dreams

She stared at the reflection in the mirror for a few moments in shock.

" How...where...?"

The youth in the mirror chuckled shaking his head slightly.

" I’m not sure you’d believe me but then again I don’t think you have much of a choice in the matter."

Morgan let out a weary sigh.

" Where do I begin?"

Suddenly his eyes snapped back into focus almost as though he was just realizing something.

"Besides, how are you doing this? How are you in my Void World?"

Emily went silent for a few moments.

"Is this even real?" she thought distractedly.

" How do I know this is actually Morgan?"

The memory of the young man forcefully pushing them through the rift surfaced in her mind. Suddenly all the memories she’d painstakingly buried came rushing back to the surface.

Morgan’s small smile when they passed through the rift.

The small streams of dried blood and the dark bags under his eyes.

"Hey! Snap out of it!’

Emily turned back in shock.

" I can hear your thoughts you know. This is all very real. And while I’m not sure how you’re here, everything that’s happening here is very real."

Shaking his head, he moved back to the bed, grabbing a long-sleeved shirt with...

" Straps?"

Morgan nodded, slowly donning the shirt.

"Yes, this place is quite..."

He paused, searching for the right word.

"Unique."

He plopped down on the bed, slowly donning a pair of leather boots.

"In this state, I can hear your thoughts, your insecurities, you name it. And despite what you might think, it’s quite uncomfortable for me as well."

Rising to his feet, he pulled the chair next to the mirror, sitting down in front of the large mirror.

" Now then, let’s have us a proper chat."

" How did you get here?"

" What is this place?!"

Morgan chuckled shaking his head.

" Ladies first..."

Emily pouted but relented.

" Fine. I was attacked by this strange silver-eyed man. At the academy. He claimed it was some sort of test."

Morgan’s eyes hardened slightly.

"Is that so..."

Emily nodded, thinking back to the fight, if it could even be called that. It had been very one-sided.

" He was really strong. Much stronger than anyone I’ve ever fought. Except those two creatures in Tenebris." She paused—allowing what she’d said to sink in.

Morgan remained silent, nodding for her to continue.

" Then I think I passed out. Next thing I knew, I was in this dark starless Void and then I was here."

Morgan stared at the mirror for a few moments then let out a weary sigh.

" Well, that is certainly strange. Very strange."

"It’s your turn," Emily’s voice resounded in his mind.

Morgan went silent for a few moments before speaking.

"It’s very weird speaking to the mirror like this," he said, chuckling.

"If anyone else saw me, they’d probably think I’ve lost my mind..."

" How can I say this," he actually thought.

"This place is called the Realm of Dreams. It is ruled by..."

Morgan abruptly went silent.

A wave of raw unbridled umbralis washed over the room. The small room violently shook, the wooden floor boards groaning as though they were alive.

Morgan let out a sigh.

"I can’t say. Not at this time." His lips curled into a faint smile.

" But what I can say is, I’m safe. I’m sorry I caused you all so much worry."

He paused— sparing the trembling room a glance.

After a few moments, the trembling gradually subsided.

"What was that?" Emily asked in bewilderment

" My gracious host," Morgan said, almost sarcastically.

" Does he know I’m here?"

Morgan hesitated for a brief moment then nodded.

" He most probably does. He knows most of the things that happen in this place. It is his domain after all. In fact—"

Morgan’s eyes narrowed in realization.

" He probably arranged this meeting.

Emily was flabbergasted.

" How is that even..."

" Possible? " Morgan asked with an amused smile completing the sentence for her.

" You’re here and still think of impossibilities?"

Morgan laughed shaking his head.

"Hey! Stop!" Emily mentally shouted.

Morgan chuckled then turned back to the mirror.

His gaze hardened once more.

" If you’re truly powerful, then there’s nothing that’s truly impossible. You’ll see for yourself."

Suddenly a familiar and yet distant voice tugged at Emily’s subconscious.

"Emily... Emily"

Morgan rose from the seat sparing her one last somber look.

He turned away from the mirror, staring into space.

" It appears our time is up. I guess this is goodbye then."

"Wait! I can—"

Morgan’s lips curled into a quirky smile.

" Tell my uncle that I’m alright. Tell him to stop looking for me. He can’t find me anyway. I’ll come...when I’m ready. "

"What is that supposed to mean? Wait!"

Morgan’s image dissolved fading away into darkness.

" Oh and tell Marcus that Raven is with me. He shouldn’t worry. She’s alive and well."

The powerful pull on her mind became even stronger drawing her back, reeling her in.

"Raven Snow! She’s alive! Remember, Emily! Remember!"

Emily’s eyes abruptly fluttered open.

She blinked several times rapidly, then abruptly sprang to her feet.

" Morgan!"

She froze with her arm outstretched, grasping at air.

After a few moments, she realized she was in an unfamiliar place. Fiery tongues of flame crackled in the fireplace, giving the room a gentle heat.

Several figures sat around her staring at her with varying expressions of amusement, surprise, and even curiosity.

" Welcome back, Emily," a feminine voice said softly.

Emily turned staring at the stunning redhead in front of her without truly comprehending who she was.

After a few moments, her eyes widened slightly.

" Lady Victoria," she murmured in a daze.

" Where am I? How am I?"

Victoria nodded gently, shooting Merlin a murderous glare.

" You’re alive. You’re safe. There’s no need to worry."

She turned and froze.

"You..." she whispered.

The temperature in the room instantly dropped several degrees...for a brief moment.

Then Emily’s breath turned ragged.

Merlin slowly raised his hands in mock surrender his lips curling into a wicked smile.

" Sorry..." he mouthed quietly.

"Don’t push yourself. You did well. Exceptionally well, in fact."

Merlin stood offering her a slight bow.

"Merlin...just Merlin."

Emily nodded warily at the introduction.

She slowly turned staring at the other figures in the room.

A masked man stood in the corner of the room shrouded in shadow.

He silently nodded at her.

" That is Lord Thrain," Victoria murmured.

Emily nodded then realized she was hearing Victoria’s voice in her head. Her lips had never moved.

" Was it all a dream?"

She shot Victoria a furtive glance

"Was it she who did this?"

"Marcus Snow, "the grey-haired man with a cane said with a smile.

" At your service."

Suddenly the mark on her arm throbbed painfully.

No—it wasn’t that.

A second mark was slowly appearing on her arm besides the first.

The smell of charred flesh wafted through the air.

Emily groaned falling to her knees.

A split second later, Gregory was beside her.

" Emily!"

She bit back a scream focusing on the new mark slowly burning its way into her arm.

Suddenly Morgan’s voice resounded once more in her mind.

"Remember!"