THE LIGHT OF A'LEST

CHAPTER 14

Kara instinctively thrust herself away from the humming in the air and the sudden pulse of light that startled her from her dreamless sleep. For a moment, the world around her was intangible. Poised. As she struggled to free herself from the edges of slumber and reality, the whirring receded, and the light faded. She blinked wildly, her eyes taking their sweet time to adjust to the sudden change. She peered into the darkness for some unseen threat, some cause, but found none. Sitting up in bed, she could hear wailing in the distance. It was faint at first. Fitful. Tossing away her blankets, she threw her legs over the side of the bed and tried to steady her breathing as she listened. The moaning continued. Without another thought, she raised her arm. It burst to life with a light so intense it completely blinded her. She gasped, then stared as it grew brighter and brighter. Then, it dimmed, becoming almost invisible. Feeling around at her bedside, her hand found the familiar oil lamp. Turning the small brass knob, she unleashed the once-invisible flame. As it sputtered to life and illuminated her room, she cradled her glowing arm. "What's happening to me?"

     She had been given one of the finest rooms in the chief's estate. It wasn't overly large, but it was obvious every effort had been made to make her comfortable. She had a large armoire with a huge mirror. Perfect for getting ready. On top of it sat a myriad of finely crafted brushes, all with handles made of silver. She also had a jewelry box inlaid with gold and a closet full of wondrous dresses she would very much like to try on one day. Chief Grantook had made every effort to grant her all the creature comforts of home, and slowly she had begun to transform the room into some semblance of her old one in the capitol. A room she barely remembered.

     As she got to her feet, the soft squeak of loose boards echoed through the room. Zander and Keko shared the one across the hall. To get there only meant enduring a short trip, while the nights chill nipped at her toes. When Chief Grantook told them all that they had to stay in his estate, the thought of having to share a room with the two boys scared her half to death. Thankfully, he had chosen to give her a room of her own. Still, she wondered what the two talked about when she wasn't around.

     Turning the knob and stepping inside, Kara raised her lamp and saw a tuft of long black hair peeking beneath the covers on her left, and a writhing, mumbling form with shorter brown hair on her right. Both of Zander's arms were raised, flailing in the darkness as he whispered horrible things. Moving beside him, she set the lamp down on the table beside the bed and reached for the sheets that covered his shoulder. They were soaked. He was soaked.

     "Zander. Z. Wake up, Zander. Wake up!"

     Zander heard a woman's voice calling to him from some far- off place he could not see, as the creature stood over him with one arm extended, pressing him into the earth. He gritted his teeth and fought with every bit of strength he could muster to free himself from its taloned grasp. As its features began to blur, it pressed the gemstone harder into his face, searing his flesh, burning his eyes and causing him to choke uncontrollably.

     "Zander, wake up!" The figure was gone. Kara stood over him. He was in his room. It had all been a dream.

     Kara brushed a strand of her long brown hair back behind her ear and nudged him one more time to make sure he was awake. "You were dreaming again... loudly." Zander did not know how to respond. Why was she in his room? At any rate, he was glad to be woken. He had been having the same dream over and over since the ridge, and they seemed to be getting worse.