When We Spirits Awaken

Chapter 4: A Spell?

I sat up quickly, a small yelp escaping my lips. It was nothing too loud, but it was enough to wake up Shade.

"What happened?" He jumped off the bed with a light thump as he positioned his paws on the floor.

I tried to catch my breath and brought my knees to my chest.

Shade looked at me, his yellow eyes lightly glowing in the darkness of my room, taking in my position and realizing what was wrong.

Before I knew what was happening, suddenly my dog had turned back into a Lynkire and grabbed me with a giant paw, pulling me off the bed. He curled up on the floor with me wrapped in his huge body.

I nestled closer into his black fur. "Thank you, Shade," I whispered in a shaky voice.

I knew he remained in this form to remind me that he was here to protect me, and being held so safe and hidden from the world gave me comfort.

"Have you always had nightmares?" he asked me.

I shook my head. "No, I've never dreamt about Jadus a day in my life, not even when he swore to come for me after he killed my mother."

Shade sighed. "Whatever the case, I will not let him hurt you, I do not want you to be afraid."

I thought for a moment, things I had not considered before suddenly occurred to me. "I'm not," I said firmly.

"You're not what?" Shade asked.

I moved around to face him. "I am not afraid of Jadus, I've always known his power, but I have never been afraid of him."

Shade tilted his head. "Then how do you explain your nightmares of him?"

The way he said that made me think. Where the nightmares really about Jadus? Yes, he was in them, but he was not the one that brought out my fear.

"Shade... They're not of him. It doesn't make sense, but..." I trailed off, my mind swirling as everything started to make sense to me.

When my pause lingered Shade grew anxious. "Lillyana, I need you to tell me your dream for me to understand."

I nodded and told Shade every small detail of my first nightmare while he listened intently. After I finished with the first, I told him the second. "The one I just had was different, I could not see where I was, everything was black, but I could feel the same figure from my first dream around me, just looming. This time I did not run. I heard Jadus' voice, he said a spell I did not recognize; I think it was one he had created. Then he was there, he wrapped his arms around me and as he lifted a hand to touch my face... his wrist had my mark."

I shook my head and held my wrist, covering my mark. I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to erase the memory of Jadus' appearance. As much as I hated to admit it, he was extremely handsome. He was tall and muscular, his skin as pale as mine. His face was absolutely perfect with stunning silver eyes. His hair as black as a raven's wing curled slightly at the ends and almost reached his shoulders. Yes, handsome indeed, but evil can make even the most beautiful face seem like a hideous monster, which is just what Jadus was.

"Lillyana?"

"Yes?" I asked, stunned when I heard Shade's thoughts break into mine.

"What you said in your dream... When we came into this world... What you described; it's very close to what happened," he said gravely.

"What do you mean?"

Shade explained. "When we came through the portal, the sun held its place in the sky, but when we came to this world the moon held its place instead; a full moon. We were in a small clearing surrounded by thick trees and then you fell to the ground just when Emily was coming."