Beyond the Iris

Wings of Fire

I awoke in a strange room. No second bed was there. Neither was anything that made it seemed lived in. No desk, papers, books. Not even a dust particle on the floor. I sat up, and noticed I was wearing new clothes.

I swung my legs out of bed, and smelled something peculiar. Apples and cinnamon. I recognized the scent, but from where? Then, it hit me. I groaned, and stood up.

Trevor walked in from the bathroom, toweling off his hands. I could sense his concern for me, but I was more concerned for him. Well, concerned for the bruises on his face, at least.

I walked over to him, and touched his cheek. I felt the bumps there, and could smell the slight traces of blood he forgot to clean. Trevor didn’t say anything, just watched me. “Thank you,” I whispered, and Trevor nodded. I didn’t pull away, and neither did he.

“How did you do that? Speak in my mind?” The question caught me off guard, but my tongue was faster than my mind. “How did you enter my dream?” Trevor was surprised, to say the least, but he still didn’t pull away from me. It was annoying, but the sparks that ran through my arm felt better than the sparks from Jordan.

“That’s my power. I can enter people’s dreams.” Trevor’s abrupt answer rattled me, and I stepped back. “Power?” I echoed. The word sounded so strange yet so familiar to me. Trevor stepped forward as I stepped back, but his closeness felt reassuring instead of dangerous. “I can show you, if you want.”

I laugh. “Poor choice of words.” Trevor smiled, then wrapped me in a surprising hug. My whole body erupted in sparks, and I giggled for some reason. Then, we were in a classroom before I could blink.

A girl stood there, at the head of the class, writing on the chalkboard. She didn’t notice me and Trevor. I saw the words she was writing, and my insides twisted. To those that have intruded, beware. The darkness of flight is coming, and only the jade beast can defeat it. I looked at Trevor, into his blue eyes, and finally saw the mark of power in them: the blue pupils. His were closer in shade, with the right being darker.

Then, we were back in Trevor’s room, still hugging. Trevor let go of me, stepping back, eyes averted. I was transferred back to darkness, meanwhile. I stumbled, falling back onto the bed. Trevor sat beside me, helping me sit back up. I puked into the trashcan he held up for me, sending my stomach roiling.

After my guts were displayed, and I had wiped my mouth, I turned to Trevor. He answered my unspoken question before I could fully form it in my mind. “I took my little sister once. Grandpa’s dreams were slow and boring, so we stayed there for a while. Even talked to him a bit. But as soon as we got out, Abigail fainted, then spent the entire night puking. I guessed you would at least puke.

“But I can’t speak to someone through an entire dream. If I do, then I pass out for hours. And I could only talk to you the entire dream because I felt-well, feel-a connection to you. It’s something I can’t explain. I mean, I can try-.” I got tired of Trevor talking. Without thinking, I lunged forward, putting my lips to his.

A small nanosecond passed, then I felt Trevor’s hand on my jaw, pulling me closer. His lips moved against mine, aching for more, but unwilling to go further unless I gave consent. My hands found his shoulders, his neck, and pulled him even closer to me. Sparks were erupting through me at a million miles an hour, and I felt a lightning thrill run through my veins.

Trevor’s hands touched my waist, then pulled me even closer (if that were possible) to his chest. I don’t think he cared that I had just been puking into his trash can. Then, I felt something touch my mind, and without thinking, I let it in.

Hello, Trevor’s voice said in my head. This is different, I said back. Trevor mentally laughed, and I smiled. His hands were on my back now, traveling up and down. The boy never tried anything, which I was incredibly thankful for. I felt his hair in my hands, and ran my fingers through it. Stop that. It tickles. I mentally laughed at Trevor’s comment, but stopped doing it.