Ch. 16 "Portal"

The light kept pouring out, visions of another time; another place, flooding my mind faster and faster. I saw faces of people I've never met, places far away from my little island I grew up on, more blood spilled than I had ever seen in my short existence. It was simultaneously awe inspiring as it was truly traumatic. I tried so hard to pull myself out of the fast approaching darkness in my mind, but it came up at me like a wave of a tsunami. These visions were memories, but not my own. The last thing I saw before my mind went blank was a nightmare with a startlingly human face, something I had never seen before.

. . . . . . . .

"Jas? Hey, come back to us now, babe", Chase's voice rattled me from this nightmare. I heard snapping fingers. How long has it been? The same damn nightmare I had been having for months, before Chase was even in my life, was again plaguing me. Why was I having these visions? I felt a cold hand press against my forehead. My eyes were already open, but my vision slowly came into focus. I was finally back in reality. I wondered how long I was out in the ether. My mind was still racing as I sat up, holding my forehead. Everything looked different. As I scanned the room, the corners seemed lighter when I knew there should be shadows cast by the candlelight. I saw flickers of smoke, wisps of light that seemed so tangible yet dissapeared before I was able to discern them. I met Chase's eyes, shocked by what I saw.

His eyes glowed green, his skin a coal gray. The same light danced under his badly cracked skin. Gray's realm vision. How was this possible? He wasn't using his ability to help me project his sight into my world. I looked at the elder. His skin was evergreen and his eyes flickered a soft, olive light. He had no markings the way Chase and Gray did, but his aura surrounded him strong and steadfast. I finally looked at Gray, his long black hair cascading over his neon purple markings. Why am I seeing them like this? The visions have never let me see like this before now. What changed? Why all of a sudden? I looked between all their eyes, dumbfounded. I looked down at myself; I was absolutely naked. My hands flew to cover my chest and my groin. Was modesty a concern in this realm? Gray leaned forward and draped a blanket over my shoulders. I looked down again, my charcoal black skin blacked out everything but my hair and my now sedentary markings. They still swirled with white light, but the markings were now permanent, as if they had settled in a comfortable spot. They were wider and bigger than Chase's and Gray's; more intricate and more feminine. I felt a fire within myself, consuming me whole but somehow leaving my body untouched. The markings went everywhere on my body; my shoulders, arms, chest, ribs, hips, thighs, even my toes held patterns. I looked up in confusion, searching for an answers in their faces. The elder was the first to speak.

"Jasmine, was it? I do believe that you've been... implanted. To say, your soul. Into a mortal body. How, I'm not sure. This is indeed unusual, as the essence of the Daydreamer was put to rest a couple millenia ago. I witnessed and participated in the ritual personally. Somehow, it's been reawakened now, within you. It has chosen you as a hostess, not an easily bestowed gift. But I can say, with certainty, you are most definitely a reiteration, a reincarnation, if you will, of the DayDreamer. I wasn't aware that the DayDreamer could take a female form. Please allow my humble self to pay homage", he said. He folded his legs under himself, and leaned forward in a deep bow.

Chase and Gray both did the same. I was so confused by their sudden reverence. Without my consent, my shoulders stiffened and leaned back, my hands brushed the blanket off. I was aware in my own head, fighting against the opposing will of my own body. My chin held itself high, looking down my nose on them as if they were subjects. This fire in me burned even hotter, if that was even possible. I stood myself up, my limbs felt longer and more slender. I wonder if my body was actually any different than that skinny nothing I was before. The men all sat up, waiting on me to speak.

"Take me to the portal", it flew out of my mouth before I could think. It was only half my voice. The other half was a seductive, yet gentle rasp in unison with my regular voice. They all blinked, and stood. I still stood far shorter than all of them, but I felt taller somehow. There was a newfound strength in my limbs. I felt like I could pick up a car and hurl it halfway across the continent. I was high on the power. I looked down my limbs, clenching and unclenching my fists. I felt power well up in my palms, only to quickly dissipate. The men all looked exceptionally wary of my excitement. My body again moved of it's own accord. I walked straight out of the front door. The dwindling sunlight made my skin tingle.

"The portal", I repeated. The elder pointed a skeletal finger over his hill, back the way we came. There was a red beacon, seemingly of fire, reaching high into the clouds. Black smoke danced around the perimeter of the light. His hand trembled as I turned to him.

"You have been kind to help unleash my power. As a servant of the throne, please take this as my token of gratitude. It should see that you survive the coming storm, or maybe even buy mercy in your favor should you find yourself in peril for helping our cause", I said, again only in half of my voice. I leaned forward, my fingers brushing my chest. I reached into a crevice in the design carved in my skin. My fingers produced a small, milky white crystal. It glowed from within. I took his hand in mine, palm up, and set it in his posession. He fell to his knees, his forehead against the ground. He grasped it now with both hands. Gray and Chase both gathered my things; clothes and backpack while exchanging unsure glances.

"Let us find mounts to carry us there", my muddled voice instructed. The boys took off ahead of me, but Gray turned back to ensure my footing down the grassy hill. He held an arm up, waiting for me to take it. I gently wrapped my fingers around his forearm. He winced at my touch. I looked into his eyes, searching for why he suddenly recoiled. My expression demanded an answer.

"You're running a little hot", he said, flustered and embarrassed. I giggled, my free hand covering my mouth. I gripped his arm harder, making him wince again. I couldn't get enough of making him uncomfortable. The heat radiating from my core was enough to make him uncomfortable. I wondered what was so different between us that I wasn't empty; room temperature. I seemed to have a core that Chase and Gray lacked. I continued to ponder it as we approached the main portion of the village. The townsfolk poured out to approach me. They brushed my feet with their hands, they threw offerings behind Gray and I. I wondered what was so great about the DayDreamer that they revered me so. Although I was an apparent reincarnation, I still knew so little about my state and my seeming lack of control over some of my actions and thoughts.

Chase appeared with four horses, although they looked different from the equine of my world. Much taller, four stronger legs, four eyes each. It was no matter. I approached the black steed, sliding my hand up his muzzle. He closed his eyes and leaned into my hand, his ears flicking forward and backwards at my gentle kissing noises to appease him. Good. I'd have his utmost cooperation. My attention was drawn to a female half-doe standing in the crowd. Something about her aura drew me straight to her. She was suffering. She met my gaze, falling to the ground. She held a gauzy robe above her head; black and lacy. Not exactly my style, but it would do. I placed a hand on her head, between her long, furry ears. Her eyes momentarily showed the same white light as mine; she saw what I knew was the truth of her life. A good housewife, a good caregiver to her children. She would find salvation in time. Her transgressions were not nearly as bad as she made them out to be for herself. I released her and she cried tears of joy, releasing the cloak into my hands. I threw it over my shoulders, Chase quickly ran to my side to move my hair as I fastened the clasp.

I threw my hair in front of my chest, pulling the hood over my head. Chase and Gray both held their hands next to the steed, helping my leg up and over his wide ribs. I could tell this steed would not tire easily, just like me. The boys mounted their horses, pulling up the front and rear of my horse. I held a hand up, waving to the townsfolk. They all cheered, waved, and cried as we set off in the direction of the pyre. We made it far into the field before I spoke again.

"Thank you for helping me realize my true self, if you had any inkling as to what I was", I said. They both stared at me. I turned back and forth between them. My voice was seemingly more my own. They both nodded, but dared not speak. They could be afraid, I suppose. I am an "almighty being" in their world. But would I stay this way back in my realm? I had so many questions as we set off deep into the forest. The sun was still in the sky, but the moon was quickly approaching to our left. They both hung in the sky on opposite sides of the field. Peculiar. The boys said time doesn't work the same way here. I'd let it go for now. We soon approached a clearing, the perfect place to set camp. I didn't feel tired, but I could see it on their faces that they were exhausted. As we came to a stop, I slid myself down off my horse. He didn't wander far, always keeping an eye in my direction. The boys kept their distance from me. I wasn't too bothered by it, for now. We set down our sleeping bags in absolute silence. I moved to grab some firewood; Chase would swoop in and do it for me.

As I was eyeing the stream, Gray gently took the water bottles from me with a smile and went to fill them up. How much longer was I going to be babied and doted upon?

"What has gotten into you two?", I asked sternly, crossing my arms, as they both returned to base. They both swallowed hard and stammered.

"My newfound condition didn't change anything on my end. My feelings for you two have stayed the same. Can you just act normal, please?", I pleaded, sitting down hard on the edge of my sleeping pads. They again exchanged glances.

"We'll try, but it's hard. We suspected that you were of our realm based on your appearance recently, but it's a lot to digest that you're the DayDreamer, you know. You're a bit of a celebrity around here", Gray said chuckling, walking up behind me and squatting. He placed a hand on my shoulder with a squeeze. In that instance, my vision changed again, and I was hurled into another memory.