A Fifth Daughter [Book 2: The Dragon Warrior]

Chapter ~ 16

~ Chapter 16: We're Free and We're Fearless ~

"She did what?!"

"Opened the chamber."

"Wha...? How? Even I couldn't open the chamber."

"Well, Mr. All Powerful, you'll have to ask her when she wakes."

The first voice mumbles something uncoherent and the door opens to the room I've been given homage in. Well, room is being polite. It's really a glorified closet that I caught glimpses of when I woke earlier before falling asleep again. A hand touches my shoulder, trying to rouse me the rest of the way.

"Smoke." It's Nyt's calm voice. Why is it that he's always around when I'm weak?

"Hmm...?" Even though I'm consciously hearing and my mind is stirred, I can't seem to find the strength to open my eyes.

"I'm here because you read my mind."

That's backwards. "Aren't–" The word isn't really a word at all as it scratches up my throat and burns its way out. I cough harshly.

"I meant it metaphorically."

"Huh..." I finally get my eyes to peel open. The light is dull and seems to be coming from Nyt's blue hair. "You're glowing."

One pale eyebrow arches. "You're delusional."

I groan. "Am not. Your hair is actually glowing."

"Oh, yes you are. And no, it's not."

"Fine..." I mutter weakly, feeling on the brink of going back to sleep. "Maybe I'm a little delusional, but your hair is still glowing."

Nyt shakes me, "Stay awake."

"Hmm..." I moan, "Why?"

"Because we need to talk."

"You're wondering what I'm doing inside Grimm."

He nods.

"I came to wake the dead. They're very useful. What are you doing here?"

"I came to get you."

"Hmm..."

He sighs and grips my shoulders, making me sit up. I sag against the cold wall, my head leaning over. I'm really, really tired. Why can't he just let me sleep? Maybe when I woke up for real I'd realize this is all a really bad dream and that nothing is true. Maybe I'll wake up and find myself back home in the Burrows on my birthday and because of my strange, wild dream I'll decide to not go to Mother Tyra's and instead just get a boring desk-job. Right now not knowing about Cai would be better than knowing he's not safe.

"You're not dreaming, you're almost fully awake and here." Nyt's voice is stern. I have a feeling he's exasperated with all my gloomy thoughts.

"Isn't that something a dream person would say to make it feel more real?"

"I'll slap you." Nyt threatens.

I groan and raise my head. I'm lethargic and nothing would please me more than to sleep another day away. Or slap Nyt. Slapping Nyt sounds like a very good idea right now – especially since he just threatened to do the same to me. When I'm situated and a little more awake, he sits at my feet, watching me cautiously and looking a little concerned.

"How did you open the chamber?" He asks.

Chamber? Chamber? Oh... chamber. I shrug, remembering the big metal box that I pushed all my power into to open. "I don't know. Just did."