Phoenix Drop High (ON HOLD)

Chapter 14 - Dreams

Aphmau's POV

I spread out the blankets on the couch and looked at Laurence nestling into the blankets into the table. It's a good thing no glasses or silverware were on that table. Hmph, maybe they anticipated Laurence doing that. It would seem like a Laurence-y type of thing to do.

Everyone except me, Dante, and Nicole, were asleep. They had their own small conversation going.

And by small, I mean hushed whispers and eyes averting around, looking at me every so often to make sure I wasn't eavesdropping. Like I would do tha - okay, I would actually do that.

Pulling the blankets over me, I fell asleep.

"Lord Aphmau! Lord Aphmau, wake up! Dammit! WAKE UP!" I heard a muffled voice. I looked up and saw Laurence looking frightened. "What is it Laurence? Is something wrong?!"

"Lord Aphmau, Zane is at the gates, you must hurry! He has the entire O'khasis army with him, too! You have to get up!" He started leading me by the hand out of my house. I stumbled after him, not sure exactly where I was. Ugh, get it together, Aph!

As he lead me stumbling down the pathway, I saw Garroth and Dante rushing from opposite ends to the gate. At the gate, I saw Zane. My blood boils every time I remember what he caused to our village.

"Lord Aphmau... how glad is it to see you with your thriving village. I guess you wouldn't mind if I... took a little tour of the area, hmm?" I scowled, knowing full well what he meant by a 'tour'.

"You will never hurt Lord Aphmau or her village! Not before going through me!" Garroth yelled.
  
         Zane only laughed at his threat. "Oh brother, you wouldn't dare go after your own family, would you? After all, I am your dear brother, right?"

        Garroth's face turned a shade of pink, red, and then scarlet. "YOU ARE NOT MY FAMILY! FAMILY WOULDN'T HURT THE ONES THEY LOVE! NOW YOU WILL GO OR I WILL MAKE YOU LEAVE!"

        Zane only laughed harder. "Brother, how about this;  we both duel, and whoever wins is victorious, and will get her," he pointed at me. "hand in marriage. Deal?"

       "I will! Zane, you don't know how powerful I've become at dueling. You will not win against me!"

       Zane chucked. "And you don't know how powerful I've become after I discovered my true self. There's no backing out now, brother." As he said that, he grunted. His body was... morphing? No, it was growing! He stood at around ten feet ( 3 1/3 meters) tall. His skin was now jet black with milky white eyes. His voice tripled every time he spoke.

       "Let's begin, shall we?" Garroth faltered a little bit. All his confidence had vanished, and we could all see that. He opened the gates just enough for him to duck underneath, and then Laurence closed it fully.

"Garroth, you don't have to do this!" I cried out, hoping he would listen. He only glanced quickly at me, and smiled, then looked away. All the O'Khasis guards backed up, forming a circle around Garroth and Zane.

Out of nowhere, Zane striked with lightning speed at Garroth's gut. He parried it just in time to move it inches away from his side. He took that opportunity to strike at Zane's neck, but he hopped back before Garroth could do so.

I held my breath anytime the swords came close to either one of their bodies. Gasping in fear for Garroth, and gasping in almost disbelief for Zane, as he still manages to doge every attack Garroth could come up with.

They both stepped back, panting breathlessly out of exhaustion. But Zane wasn't even breathing hard. "Feeling tired, brother? Ready to give up?" Garroth only scowled at Zane, looking down at his sword.

Zane took that opportunity to strike at Garroth's left shoulder, and succeeded. Garroth's face went slack, and he uttered a silent scream. "No... no!" I whispered. He can't be dead! Not... no... we've worked too hard for this to end with Garroth's demise!

"I'LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR!" Laurence yelled. His face was silent. Zane only laughed, staring at me. "But you can't, you see. I'm in a dream. She," He pointed at me. "is controlling you, me, Garroth, Dante, and everyone else. Things will only change if you wake up. C'mon! Wake up! Ugh!"

Garroth's POV

"Wake up! It's getting pretty late, and Laurence and Cadenza are making pancakes. Wake up! Wake. Up!" I tapped her shoulder softly, thinking that would help. Suddenly, she gasped and her eyes fluttered open. She sat up quickly, our heads crashing.

"Ow! Crud, that hurts I - Garroth? You're alive?" She whispered. "Oh, right, it was a dream. Sorry!" She chuckled.

For some reason, I was interested in this dream. I died, apparently. Sounds like the worst, saddest most dramatic, lamest part of the dream. "What kind of dream? What happened? I died?" I asked. "Oh! Are you okay! I mean, with your head and all?"

She laughed. "My head's fine, but the dream was so... vivid! It was almost real! Well, it felt real." Okay, now I'm interested. "It started with Laurence waking me up. He was wearing a guards uniform, and so were you and Dante. He said Zane was at the gates of our village, and he was. He threatend our - well, my village. I was the lord. He challenged you to a duel for my hand in marriage - you accepted, but... you died. Then you woke me up. That was my dream."