Forever Charmed

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This

"LAURA HOLLIS," an omniscient voice bellows.

Laura's in a dark cavern, lit dimly by torches on the wall. She jumps at the voice and looks around her. "W-Who's there?"

"I AM, LOPHIIFORMES THAT WHICH YOU SEEK TO AVOID. THE GATES OF HELL WILL OPEN IF IT DOES NOT HAVE ITS SACRIFICE."

Laura swallows hard. "You're Lophiiformes?"

"ALL THAT YOU HOLD DEAR WILL BURN. DEATH WILL SPILL ONTO EARTH AND THE FLAMES WILL SWALLOW IT WHOLE."

Laura covers her ears as the voice becomes louder and more insistent.

"Laura," a gentler voice calls in the distance.

"SURRENDER YOURSELF TO ME AND SAVE YOUR LOVED ONES."

Laura winces at the booming command. She can feel herself being swayed towards giving in. It's not as if she hasn't had these thoughts herself, and hearing it echoing through her skull just makes it all the more convincing. She swallows hard, looking at the air around her, ready to submit.

Until the world comes rushing at her and she feels hands gripping her shoulder, shaking her.

"––Laura!"

She blinks against the figure in her face before realizing who it is standing beside her bed. "C-Carm?"

Carmilla lets out a sigh of relief. "You were shouting and flailing in your sleep," she says, staring at Laura with concern.

Laura swallows hard.

"What the heck were you dreaming about?" Carmilla asks, sitting on the bed.

"It was weird," Laura says shakily. "I-I'm not even sure it was a dream."

Carmilla frowns. "What else could it have been?"

Laura pauses, not having an answer ready. In fact... "I don't even remember it," she says truthfully.

Carmilla's frown deepens and she holds Laura's hands in hers.

"Maybe all the tossing and turning sent it flying right out of my noggin?" Laura suggests lightly.

Carmilla chuckles and kisses her on the forehead. She doesn't seem convinced, but doesn't want to press. "Maybe."

~*~

"You don't remember any of it?" Danny asks, serving Laura a pancake from the stack Perry made.

Laura shakes her head. "It's like, on the edge of my memory. But every time I try to recall it, it's gone."

Perry sets out a bowl of fruits and a container of syrup. "At least you're dreaming," she sighs. "Danny and I haven't been sleeping well the last couple nights."

"I've been sleeping fine," LaF says with a mouth full of scrambled eggs.

Perry rolls her eyes. "Well, not all of us are half-demons that don't dream."

Carmilla looks surprised. "Demons don't dream?"

Danny shakes her head, offering Kirsch bacon, which he eagerly takes. Her phone rings and she answers it, taking the call outside the room.

Laura and Perry yawn.

"I do believe I heard that the Charmed Ones once faced a demon who was killing sandmen and stealing their sand to cause chaos among humans," J.P. points out.

"Sounds about right," Danny says, walking back in. She sighs and puts her phone on the table. "Laura, I know you've seen her since graduating, but do the rest of you guys remember Mel?"