Age of Darkness

Chapter 14: I Hate Nightmares...

We were escorted to our room. It was a nice room with two beds, a window, and a table. There were cards on the table, and paintings on the wall. It was actually a pleasant room, and had a welcoming feel to it. I jumped and landed in the bed.

''Ahhh. Comfort...'' I smiled. It was comfy! It was a water bed or something.

''Master Drake. Mistress Storm. Your dinner shall be served at sunset. If you need anything, just come and get me, and I'll be happy to help.'' He walked out.

''Well, Zelda went all out...'' Said Elizabeth.

''Tell me about it! Wow! I like it here already. Especially the bed!'' Elizabeth climbed onto the other one.

''Oh. It is comfy.''

''A week of sleeping on the ground and now this, I could get used to it!'' But, of course, I couldn't. We still had a mission. We couldn't just hide out in this inn, sleeping on a water bed for the rest of our days. Well, we could...

''We could always just forget everything and leave here!'' I said. Elizabeth laughed.

''So what do we do?''

''Eat. Relax. Sleep. Worry about the morning in the morning, I guess.''

''Sounds like a plan!'' And that's what we did. After a buffet of almost every meat you could think of, and no, don't get any funny ideas, we had fruits, vegetables, and for desert, some weird, but tasty ice cream thing. It was a feast like any other I'd had in ages. And so I did what anyone would do. I stuffed my face.

''Delicious.''

''Indeed,'' said Elizabeth, who had eaten a fair amount as well. After thanking the innkeeper, we somehow managed to walk to our rooms. We sat at the table, merry, talking, and laughing, and played cards. We did not play poker, for I knew that Elizabeth would kick my butt, and I needed my money, so we played a much better, much more adult game:

''Got a nine?'' I asked.

''Go fish,'' replied Elizabeth.

Yes, very mature. Very adult. Much better. Of course, she beat me at that too... But it was a great night. I noticed that in ways it had been the worst week of my life, but in ways it had been great. I had met Zelda and Elizabeth. I had some great nights of talking and laughter. I even got to venture out farther than I ever had before.

''What do you want to do now?'' I asked.

''Sleep.'' I thought for a moment.

''Agreed!'' We jumped into our beds and fell asleep quickly, but little did I know, falling asleep was a terrible idea...

I woke up, or seemed to have woken up in a castle. I think it was a castle. It looked like the inside of one. I was floating and couldn't control my body. So, I just went with it, checking out where I was. Suddenly I hear a large explosion. I appeared somewhere else. There was a man running. He ran up a set of stairs. I remained behind him.

There were people chasing him. Armoured men with swords. Behind them I could hear more booms, and see flashes of light. The man was at the top of a tower. Indeed it was a castle. The man himself was dressed in red. He had a small white beard and a sword of his own. He looked scared to death. I realized this man must have been the King. The King of Altaria. What was I doing dreaming about the King of Altaria?

The men chasing him appeared from the stairs.

''Name yourselves!'' He demanded. ''Who is your ruler?!''

''The Ruler of Altaria,'' spoke one of the men.

''I am the Ruler of Altaria!'' He drew his sword.

''Not anymore,'' one of them said, and they charged at him. He fought well, stopping two of them. The third, who seemed to be the leader, drew his sword.

''I asked, who is your ruler?'' Yelled the king. The man didn't answer, but ran at the King. He blocked the swing of the sword and kicked the man back. With a slice of his sword, the man disappeared in a black cloud of dust. The King sheathed his sword.

''Who is the cause of this madness?'' He looked around, and a voice, an eerie voice, like a whisper that filled you with fear, spoke.

''I am.'' In a tornado of black a man appeared. He was clothed in black robes, with black hair, and piercing black eyes. I knew who he was. Standing in front of the king was Zirkon himself. I wished I could take control of my body and kill him now. He drew his sword.

''There is a new King of Altaria...'' A look of realization appeared on the King's face.

''It's you!'' Clearly he recognized Zirkon.

''Yes it me.'' With a blast of magic Zirkon hit the King. He vanished. He didn't stand a chance. I watched as James appeared by Zirkon's side.

''Master?'' Zirkon turned to him and smiled.

''Tell the people there's a new King. A new Ruler. And bring in the soldiers. It's time.'' As quick as he appeared, James disappeared. Zirkon looked at the view, as if admiring his new territory, then stiffened.

''It seems we have an intruder...'' His eyes turned immediately to me. I was invisible, though. I was sure of it.

''You're a Dreamer as well? Now, now. You shouldn't intrude in other's lives. Even in a dream.'' He blasted me with magic and I bursted awake.

I was in the hotel. That was for sure. But I couldn't get the dream out of my mind. Was it real? It was weird... I certainly didn't get anymore sleep that night. And the image of Zirkon's face staring at me had burned itself in my mind...