Moonshadow (Book One Preview)

Chapter 4

O Reluctant Prophet, what did you see
As you dreamed in whale's belly darkness deep?
O Thracian Bard, by what mystery did
You walk the paths of darkest Tartarus,
To charm the hearts of dread Hades
And his reluctant queen Persephone
Thus claiming the hand of Eurydice.

The swirling darkness sprang forth like a mighty fountain, enveloping Diana in its embrace of shadow.

The forgotten fear erupted from within, even before the vertigo of falling took her and she screamed into the nothingness.

The descent could have lasted mere moments or several hours, but Diana finally felt solid ground beneath her hands and knees. Her mind was reeling and unable to focus, her spirit attempting to regain a small amount of peace.

Diana finally opened her eyes. The weight of many years of defeat fell heavily upon her as she gazed out into the dark sky of swirling purple clouds and pulsing green lightning.

Her night terrors had returned.

She'd been sensing it for days but had tried to deny them her consciousness-if she didn't acknowledge the nightmares then they weren't real, were they? The tactic had worked for years, but Diana now realized her curse was not so easily broken.

She began to sob, remembering those terrifying nightmares that came on the cusp of adolescence. They had been frightening, seeming all too real; and unlike most people, Diana remembered every agonizing detail when she awoke.

Diana screamed out in frustration to the world of dreams.

Like past nightmares, the atmosphere that surrounded Diana began to shift and contort as if affected by her emotions. The hazy dream world seemed to twist and wrench along with her heart.

Remembering the danger such emotional states could bring upon her, Diana willed herself back to some semblance of calm-if she wasn't careful, the Terrorfiends would find her. The creatures of the nightmares were always drawn to her when she lost control.

She looked around with caution but saw nothing-no demonic beasts screaming with chaotic fury, nor the little Lurker devils that cackle with laughter at her pain. Neither did she see the more angelic Terrorfiends-the winged beings of frightening beauty who's judging eyes filled Diana with a deeper fear than any demon. She was safe-for the time being.

Slowly, Diana stood up and continued to gaze at the swirling, otherworldly, sky, seeking answers to unknown questions that filled her heart.

Why is this happening? She'd felt the shadow's familiar pull as soon as she arrived at the university. Had something-or someone-on campus sparked the return of her nightmares? Her strange empathy had been much more potent as well; was it all related somehow?

What should I do? If she continued further into the nightmare world she might wake up sooner; but if she waited out the nightmare, it would feel like days. Diana's heart sank at the memories-fear and confusion mixed with a large amount of aggravated anxiety.

Diana clenched her hands into fists. After the night she'd had, she was definitely not spending what felt like days inside of a nightmare-she'd face the terrors and wake up as soon as possible.

She began walking from the rubble surrounding her, wondering what personal hell would be awaiting her this time. Beginning the journey was always the easiest; the dreamscapes seemed the most normal and were usually a hazy version of the environment in which Diana fell asleep-unless she let her emotions lose control. The landscape of shattered rocks and erupted ground around her was evident of that fact.