Ravens and Crows

Chapter 11 ~Ronan~

I woke up- dream woke up- in a big house that topped every rich persons' I knew. I got up from where I was laying and looked around. The walls were lined with wallpaper and paintings and finished with a dark wood. The rooms were lit by candles and windows and everything looked freshly dusted.

I walked into the dinning room to find a painting hanging over a grand fire place. I studied the painting. It was of a mother and son and father and son. The two sons stood behind their parents who sat on chairs. I recognized one son as the merch and the other as the revolver dude.

I whistled. "Not bad, merchling."

I wandered until I found a staircase and walked up it.

Thump, thump, thump.

My heart stopped. Can an actual place turn into a nightmare?

Thump, thump, thump.

I ducked into one of the rooms and held my breath.

Take control of the dream. I told myself.

Thump, thump.

This is an empty house, there is nothing here.

Thump.

Empty house, empty house.

The thumping stopped. I let out a breath and looked around the room I was in. A big, grand, black piano sat in the middle of the room. I walked over to it and tapped on the keys. A high sound ringed through the room.

I smiled. This was by far the weirdest thing I'd ever done; and I've done some weird things. I'd never been in this house, I'd never imagined this house. Everything was new, nothing was mine. It was uncharted and exciting.

To the side of the piano was a seat and a music stand. On top of the seat laid a small case. I picked it up and opened it, inside was a silver flute.

"Perfect," I held the flute for a little bit. I tried to remember everything about it. The weight, the shape, the color, just like I would with a dream. Though part of me knew this would be different.

I took a deep breath. "Let's give this a try."

I closed my eyes with the flute case clutched in both hands.

Please work.

I opened my eyes and stared at myself. I was laying on the couch in Blue's house. Wylan sat in an arm chair while Jesper paced behind him. Gansey and Blue snuggled together in the other arm chair and Henry, Inej, and Nina were in the kitchen. Kaz stood over me like the grim reaper; studying me like I was a piece of artwork. Adam sat on the floor with his back up against the couch I was sleeping on. He must have felt me bring something out of Cabeswater because he shot up and turned to me. "He's waking," He announced and everyone crowded into the room.

The feeling came back into my fingers and toes. Almost there. I blinked once, twice, and was finally up. I rubbed my eyes and sat up.

"Ronan," Adam sat down next to me, "You okay?"

I looked at my lap and smirked. "This look familiar?" I asked Wylan, handing him the flute case.

He gaped at me and took it. Then ran to the table and opened it.

"Holly Saints," Jesper said as he watched Wylan assemble the flute. "Is it really..."

Wylan put the flute to his lips and played a few notes, then nodded his head. "Yes, it is."

Gansey marveled at the flute. "Nice job, Ronan."

I turned to Adam. "How's Cabeswater?"

"Weak, but not that different from before."

"But how do we do the reverse?" Wylan asked disassembling the flute.

Inej nodded and looked at me. "You might want to run another test."

Kaz shook his head. "That means we'll be here longer."

"Do you want us to be the first test?" Nina argued.

Blue thought for a second. "I think we should ask Cabeswater."

I rolled my eyes. "Right, because it's so fucking clear all the time."

"Maybe not," Sargent agreed, "But it can't hurt to try. I mean you can speak easier to it now that you know what it speaks."

"Ah yes, the inhuman language of tree."

Sargent glared at me. "Don't call it that!"

I raised my hands, "Sorry bro, but it literally is the language of the trees."

She huffed. "I know, but calling it tree sounds so uncool."

Kaz rolled his eyes. "What are you two going on about?"

"None of your business." Blue said like the middle schooler she looked like.

"So is it off to Cabeswater?" Henry asked nervously.

I threw my leather jacket back on my bare shoudlers knowing what Gansey the Great would say.

"No,"

We all stared at him.

Gansey denying a trip to Cabeswater? Was I still dreaming?

"You good, Pops?" I asked.

He glared at me. "I'm fine, but I think we should get them settled first. They need clothes and hygiene stuff."

I smirked at Adam. "Up for another shopping trip, Parrish?"

He smiled back. "We could bring Wylan and Jesper and make it a double date."

I glanced at Jesper, "You up for a shopping cart race?"

"Is it stupid?"

"Definitely, and dangerous."

"So it must be fun,"

"Insanely."

Wylan sighed. "Forget about getting us out, we'll probably die before that."