Dream Walker

Chapter 46 | Saudade

Despite her interest in medicine and general lack of queasiness when it came to blood and gore, Callie found herself sickened by the sounds of metal tearing flesh. The sounds were accompanied by the dying screams of the creatures on the wrong end of the Guardians' weapons.

She was amazed that humans had been able to overtake the otherworldly beasts, especially since the beasts had the head start, but the magically enhanced weapons must have heightened the abilities of the Guardians that wielded them. Yet, there were still human cries of pain mixed in with the other noises, so it seemed some would not escape the fights unscathed.

The man Alex called 'Domine' had stayed behind with the fallen dream walkers. They were still struggling to recover themselves after being blasted by the power of the maze, but Callie could feel their strength returning. She felt almost normal again, able to stand straight. Her recovery seemed expedited, but there was little time to wonder whether the adrenaline of the battle or the energy leaking from the open veil was the cause.

As Julien and Alex dispatched the last of the shadow creatures that she could see from their window into that other world, Callie walked toward the group of dream walkers. Having never met someone like her in her own world, it was comforting to feel the energy flowing through them as it flowed through her. For once, she was not the unique weirdo in a crowd of normal people.

She ignored the Guardian who had dismissed her earlier as he strode past her to join Alex and Julien at the veil. She looked intently at the four dream walkers. The youngest was perhaps fifteen years her senior, while the eldest looked at least eighty years old. After Callie looked into the wizened woman's eyes, she thought eighty was a conservative estimate.

"Are you ready to try again? I can help this time."

Two of the four looked hesitant, the youngest nodded with confidence, and the old woman eyed her with a cold, calculating gaze. The woman asked, "How will we be able to close it if there is another entity fighting us?"

Callie was worried about that interference too, but she explained to them how she had opened the veil by separating her energy from her physical body. None of them seem surprised by this method, so it must have been something they were all capable of doing. She knew they were more experienced with their abilities, and she hoped that their combined strength would be enough.

After consideration, the woman nodded her agreement, and the others seemed willing to follow her lead. Callie moved to stand with them. They arranged themselves in a line, not physically touching, but energy was being shared in the air between them. Before they could attempt the new plan, a figure materialized before them.

Arabella's elegant comportment had all but disappeared. Her dress was stuck to her body with sweat. She appeared crazed, red hair flying around her head, eyes glowing vividly. The other dream walkers took a step back in surprise or fear, but Callie held her ground.

Arabella laughed and said, "Silly girl, thinking you could stop its plan. You opened the veil and broke the barrier protecting this world. It's too late to fix it now." Her voice sounded less musical and more like the maniacal raving tone of a sociopath.

Callie faltered, wondering if she had done exactly what Arabella wanted her to do by fighting her way across the veil. It was too late to correct that decision, but there was still time to change the outcome.

She mustered the force of her energy, combined with those of the people standing beside her, and directed it at Arabella instead of the veil. The woman was knocked back onto the ground, and Callie rushed forward to pin her arms to the ground before she could retaliate. The blow had dazed her enough to lay still. The rustle of running feet warned her that people were approaching, and she was relieved to see Alex followed closely by his brother.