NAKED [MORPHEUS-DREAM]

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

THE DREAMING.

Quinn stood in the throne room of the Dreaming, her hands crossed over her chest as her grey wings hung behind her. To say that she was still surprised about receiving them was an understatement. They gave her a power that others could see and it gave them one warning; stay back or you will get hurt.

Quinn breathed in deep as she stood in the large room, Morpheus standing next to her, afraid of what she was going to say or do. 

Her eyes were red and she was not only physically tired but mentally as well. She spoke looking down at the floor.

"I don't know what to say." She said softly and Morpheus swallowed thickly, for once in his existence not knowing what to say. 

"C-Calliope is she- are you two-" She started but he cut her off.

"We are not a thing anymore."

"What about your son?"

"He is no longer with us."

"As in he's dead or as in he just doesn't want to see you?" Quinn asked and Morpheus tilted his head, and she nodded and breathed out once more.

"It would have been nice if you had told me." She said and Morpheus nodded, and walked up to her.

"I know, Quinn. I should have told you about her and about our son, but I couldn't." He said and Quinn nodded and then raised her eyebrows.

"Well, if you're wondering I don't have any husbands or children you need to worry about." She said and Morpheus let a soft chuckle escape.

"So you've stayed with Rose Walker?"

"I had nowhere to go." She said and Morpheus nodded and spoke. "I will have to go and thank her for taking care of you and giving you a place to stay." He said and Quinn nodded and she shook her head.

"Morpheus," she started, causing the Dream King to look at her and she spoke. "If I'm going to stay here and come back there has to be no secrets between us. No lies, nothing." She said and he nodded and before she could say anything else a voice spoke.

"My lady." Lucienne said, causing Quinn to look at her. Quinn's eyes widened and she rushed to Lucienne with open arms. Lucienne hugged her back and then looked at her wings with large eyes.

"Well, this is a surprise." She said looking at the wings and Quinn let out a laugh and pulled away.

" I am happy you are safe, my lady." She said and Quinn gave her a smile and Lucienne looked at Morpheus who was looking at the two of them interact and she spoke.

"Are you... back for good?" She asked, hope embedded in her tone and Quinn looked back at Morpheus and spoke.

"Only if Dream of the Endless lets me." She said and Morpheus rolled his eyes and spoke.

"Of course I do, my queen." He said and Lucienne nodded and spoke.

"Thank the gods, I was so tired of my lord's attitude." She said playfully and Quinn bit her lip and looked back at Morpheus again.

"Attitude, huh?" He rolled his eyes and Lucienne looked at the two of them and spoke.

"Well, since you are back, my queen, it may be time for you and my lord to meet some of the loyal subjects of the Dreaming." She said and Quinn looked at her with wide eyes and spoke.

"They've come back?" Lucienne gave her a nod and Quinn nodded and spoke. "Can I get dressed?"

"Let your wings out, my love." Morpheus said, causing Quinn to turn around and give him a small nod.

Quinn stood before the gold mirror hung up in her room looking at herself in the mirror. Her large grey wings making her seem extremely tiny. She took in her appearance, her hair was let loose in natural curls and her makeup was done lightly to make her feature pop. 

She winced as she looked her self over, her eyes falling back on her wings. She hated them. They were another reason people were going to look at her differently-as if being a Hayes woman wasn't enough. She swallowed her hatred for the time being and walked out of her room, seeing Morpheus stand with Aislynn both who wore their traditional clothing. Aislynn in her black armor and Morpheus in his black outfit.

"Ready to go, my love?" He asked and Quinn nodded and he grabbed her hand and he transported them outside of the castle. They stood at the end of the large bridge and Quinn looked at the lake by them on their right and Morpheus squeezed her hand once, feeling the fear that filled her veins.

They began walking to the small village and a stubby man came up to them. 

"Cain, how are you?" Morpheus asked, and Cain looked at Quinn's wings confused as to where they had come from and Cain nodded.

"I am alright, my lord." He said and then he bowed to Quinn. "My lady." He said and she gave him a nod.

"Abel?" Morpheus said and Cain grimaced and looked back at his home.

"Ah I see." Morpheus said and Cain nodded and then spoke. "Evangelina is down two houses though, she will be happy to see you both." He said and Morpheus nodded and now they walked away from them.

"Where's Abel?" Quinn asked and Morpheus spoke, not looking back at the home.

"Cain probably murdered him again."

"Oh." She said, with furrowed eyebrows and Morpheus spoke.

"You did well, my love."

"I'm pretty sure I've seen them before, it doesn't count."

"Of course it counts. These are your people, Quinn. You are their Queen, my wife." He started. "This is your world just as much as it is mine. The Dreaming is of you like it is of me. It's important that you know that and how much you mean to this realm." He said and Quinn nodded as an overwhelming feeling over came her and Morpheus stopped walking, causing Aislynn to stop walking several feet behind them and he turned to her, and what he said next, was not something all three of the were not expecting he'd say.

"Do not be overwhelmed, my love. Trust me, they will love you, just as I do."