Chapter 1

Everyone in the room had taken the new name of the religion relatively well. The air of accomplishment soon vanished when I noticed the two mothers staring at us. I had forgotten about the discussion that Aili and I had had beforehand. The discussion that we had returned teary-eyed and with me back to my original gender from.

Let's just say they had the same reaction as Aili and I did. My mother looked like she was ready to throw a fireball at something or someone.

"I'm glad we have superheroes on our side," Aili whispered as we layed in bed. "I don't know how strong these parents are but if we're down for the count we'd need all the help we can get."

I smiled, Lenny and Dwaine were also from another planet. The way that they offered to help us with the war was Lindsy offering first then Dwaine. Lenny offered last but he seemed a little reluctant in doing so. "Yeah," I whispered as I pushed a strand of hair out of her face, "I don't know why but I always get lost in your eyes."

My soulmate smiled as the moonlight made her eyes shine like gold. We had all the blinds open so the moonlight could shine through and it happened to shine in Allison Ransom's face.

Now for those of you who are wondering how I'm nineteen years old and have already found my soulmate. Might I suggest you read the first part of our story before I catch the people who don't remember up to speed.

About five months ago governments all around the world issued a project. They called it the Soulmate Project. Before this Aili and I had only known each other as roommates in college. That is until midnight struck on the day of the announcement

Allison C. R. appeared on my wrist while Liz C. L. appeared on hers surprising us to no end.

If only we had known how much our life was going to change in five months

In the first month of us being together I had made a speech. That speech was at Cliff Lee's address that took place at the house that we ended up moving into. That speech almost got her and me killed but I ended up enduring the brunt of a gun shot into my chest. A few months later I healed without troubles. Soon after that I started working with Aili at a local grocery store where my father had happened to shop. He sent people into the store to kill Aili. He did this because his homophobic actions thought it would change the fact that I was bisexual. Even thoug I was bisexual before the project. He would have almost succeeded. That is if it weren't for me ordering our guard to the hospital as my soulmate was bleeding from her neck in the backseat.

Now, this is where everything changes for good. That is aside from us being celebrities because we were the first soulmates to find each other and move in.

This project is being run by a religion that isn't known to the world. It's sort of like Greek, Roman, Egyptian mythologies but didn't get noticed until now. The reason our lives changed, even more, is because only a future King can order a guard. This guard is someone who happens to be one of the strongest minor goddesses in this religion

And if I was King of this religion it would make Aili be my Queen

The wisdom goddess, Liliane, had made a plan for us to train with demigods in Ohio. Things made a turn for the worse when the whole council appeared with our guard and her wife. They appeared at the camp with saddening news

The former King and Queen had their wines poisoned by their parents

Now I understand how brutal it is to hear that but I'm still learning about this too so please bear with me. With their death, we reluctantly rose to the thrones of the new King and Queen. It was a very painful crowning experience before the council meeting. After that, we went to a new house with plans to continue going to college. This was in place to continue our education while training with our guard and her wife.

That plan went south because of a certain love god not discussing something with us.

The love god had decided to change our genders the night we had teleported to our new house. This was after we had caught Cliff, the new president up to speed. The gender change would be with one of our closest friends and her soulmate who hadn't gone through it yet. We all had fun that day. Running into a superhero friend named Lindsy Triggs. We told everything to so she wouldn't ransack the house looking for something that didn't exist. The downside came the next day after I had about two hours of fun with Aili. We had found out that the original twenty-four-hour rule didn't work anymore. The reason, we had ascended to the throne. We discovered that we were pregnant along with Aili's advisor that same day.

"How can you get lost in my eyes when yours are the sky in one form and storm clouds in another," she asked as I chuckled

"Maybe because your eyes can change to gold in the moonlight," I said with a smile as my platinum hair fell in my face. "I still need to get used to this," I muttered before trying to blow the strand of hair out of my face

"You should be in your King form more often," she said with a chuckle as she moved her arm to brush the strand out of my face

"I wish I had more time to admire your looks as Queen," I said with a smile as I caught her hand before kissing it. "I forgot my looks changed when I became King," I added making her chuckle and push herself closer to me

"You and me both," she said with a grin, "you're still beautiful with any look you have."

I smiled, "So are you," I said with a smirk as I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. "It's making me look forward to that pregnancy glow later on," I said with a grin

She chuckled as she wrapped her arms around my neck as she pulled herself closer, pressing her body closer to me. "You're not the only one looking for that glow," she said with a smile as I chuckled. "I'm not looking forward to throwing up though," she said thoughtfully

"Are any of us," I asked her with a smile. It's already been a month since we found out and both of us have gained a little weight as well as Maurine. She's not as lucky as we were puking even before the morning sickness was due to happen for all of us. "I'm still wondering why I puked during the return to female and she didn't," I said referring to that day

"You do have to remember how many times I fucked you the day before," Aili said with a chuckle. "I don't think those two even caught up with us that day," she said with a smirked

"I'm starting to wonder if she fucked Tracy before," I muttered as I pulled her closer. As she did this I felt her small bump resting on my crouch. "I mean she's not usually a morning person but those two seemed like they were fucking. That's after remembering the events from the night before."

"She may have been active as male but she doesn't have to be sexually active in her original gender," Aili began. "Remember what sexuality she was before this," she asked as I nodded

"That's right," I said, ���she hated guys so she was completely gay," I said. As I said this I started remembering some of the girlfriends my close friend had. "I spaced on that, thanks."

Aili smiled, "You're welcome," she said before widening her eyes, "when did we conceive?"

I licked my lips as I thought, "About three or four weeks ago," I began, "why?"

"I wonder why we haven't had morning sickness yet," she said as I thought back to something I've read

"Well I read that some people have it closer to when their period is supposed to happen," I began. "When would yours start?"

"Tomorrow," she said, "you?"

"Day after," I answered, "I swear if we wake up both puking I don't know what to do at that point."

Aili chuckled before pushing herself up and ruffling my hair. "I like the platinum blonde better," she said, taking us off the subject. "Aren't we supposed to resume classes soon," she asked as I laughed and before I felt the worry begin again

Classes were paused because someone thought it was a good idea to try and shoot up the school. That is without knowing what we looked like. "Yes," I began suddenly fearing everything, "what if they hate us?"

Aili looked at me with her eyebrows knit together. "You're more of a worrywart than I am tonight," she said as I looked at her ignoring the name-calling. "Are you okay," she asked me as she wove her legs in with mine

"I'm just scared," I said, finally confessing all the worries that have been inside me for the past week. "I mean what if something happens to us and people find out that we're not human?"

"But we are human," she began, "we're just not mortal and that'll be fine. Remember the announcement that Cliff made to the world."

I nodded as I remembered him welcoming all species of living beings. Lindsy welcomed him along with Dwaine and Lenny. They were part of a secret organization that has saved the world many times. "Yeah but you know as well as I do. Discrimination will be a thing if they find out who we are," I said looking into those golden eyes once more. "What if I short out the electricity again," I asked remembering how I shorted out the power in an entire dorm. This was while Aili and I were visiting a friend before I used it to take down the shooter that was looking for us.

Aili bit her lip as she remembered that, "They'll think there's a power overload," she said. "Remember what I can do with minds," she said with a smirk referring to her mind manipulation. We found out the hard way when we were talking to Lindsy about what we've been through together

"How could I forget," I said with a smile, "you brought back a memory that I had forgotten in all the stress."

She nodded as she got closer to my face, it's been so long since I kissed those lips. "Yes, just send me a telepathic message when it happens and I'll do what I can to fix everything."

"I'm sorry you have to fix my fuck ups," I muttered as her eyes glinted with happiness

"Power fluxes are not fuck ups," she shot at me making me blush. "You should see me whenever I have a power flux in class, I almost tied up a poor student in vines."

"At least you're not electrocuting people or putting them to an alcohol-induced sleep," I said. I was referring to the times she's done that to me. "There'd be chaos and I'd probably need to come and get you because someone passing out, out of nowhere is not normal."

Aili chuckled, we had found out that she had the power of every god and goddess in Raiz. The first instance was when she had accidentally electrocuted me when I had my core blocked off. We thought that it was mine until she grabbed my hand at one point and I passed out in the house waking up with a hangover. "Yeah," she said her lips thinning into a line, "what if you're not in the area?"

I sighed as I thought, "You could probably call one of our advisors. Tell them what happened or you could get Sam to help. I know it sucks not having any of the same classes but I'll try to make it to you if anything happens."

Aili's grin widened, "I fucking love you."

I smirked, "I love you too," I said before closing the gap between our lips. I kissed her for a solid minute before I turned on my back. "Let's get some sleep," I began, "I have a feeling tomorrow's going to be a busy day."

A smirk appeared on Aili's face as she rested her head on my chest. "I agree with you on that," she said as I heard the exhaustion in her voice. "Goodnight Lizzy," she said using the nickname that she came up with Tracy and Maurine causing me to smile

"Goodnight, A," I said with a smile before resting my head on the pillow. I started petting her red hair that came with the crowning as I looked at her sleeping form. In the crowning, her Queen form was skinnier than what the makeover gave her. Mic had explained to us that we were able to change our looks whenever we wished. That worked as long as we held onto the look and put power into it. The looks that we got after the crowning was revealing our true selves.

I looked up the ceiling slowly drifting off to the realm of sleep feeling groggy as I closed my eyes. 'I hope she didn't let out a wave of alcohol by accident,' I thought to no one in particular

'That was me, my King,' Winnie's voice said with a chuckle as I sighed with my eyes closed. 'Sleep well,' she said before I finally fell asleep. I started dreaming something that would haunt me for eternity

"You and your Queen's reign will end sooner than you wish," a looming voice said as I started falling

I looked down to see Aili falling below me. It looked as if she was asleep and she was going to crash headfirst into the ground. It was as if this was some sort of Kingdom Hearts intro. "Aili," I began calling out to her as I tried to manipulate the winds to get to her. "Wake up Aili," I said just as her eyes shot open and she looked down at me coming closer to me with every mile that we fell

"When will your attempts of saving this one fail young one," she said but in a different voice. "Will you fall into the chasm of despair or revenge? Will your will to rule over the newly named religion crumble because you have lost your Queen?"

"Get out of her body you creep," I growled, sending electricity to the fake of Aili. Suddenly I felt pain in my neck as she drifted away

"Lizzy," I heard her scream as my world was enveloped in darkness, "Lizzy where are you I can't see a thing."

"Aili," I yelled out as I spun around the darkness, "Allison where are you," I asked just as the pain in my neck increased

"Lizzy," Aili's voice said behind me as I bent over with pain from the chest but I stood my ground as I looked at Aili and gasped. "It hurts Liz," she said with a pout as I looked at her neck

It looked like she was shot all over again, the blood was gushing out of her neck and covering her shoulder. I breathed painfully as I looked at my chest. "I know it does," I began as I touched the area above my heart feeling the pain begin in my back. "But we'll get through this as we have done with everything else," I said with a smile as I looked at her

But that smile soon faded as her eyes turned white, then blue, then the golden color she fell asleep with. "That is what you want to think, young King," many voices said coming from her mouth. She then looked like she was ready to fight me with a wounded neck but I felt her fighting back

"Aili," I began, "listen to me, you got this," I continued as I kneel to her. Sam spoke of this being a possibility if Aili was going to fight by my side. "It's me, Liz, your King," I paused as I put my other knee in the ground trying to get her attention. "We do not have a marital bond now but we are looking to get it at some point. This project told us that we are soulmates and since you are my soulmate it makes you my Queen. Fight whatever is controlling you at this moment, Allison Ransom," I felt the King State come up. "I will stay with you through whatever event may happen," I said with all the voice of the Kings from the past

The look on her face softened as I kneeled in my King State. "Liz Layzer," she began in the past voices of the Queens but hers being more prominent. Her voice was so powerful that it made my head snap up as if she gave me an order. "I see that you will be a strong King and ask that you fight by my side whenever I shall find the need to fight."

In my head, I was smiling because this is what Sam was telling us about and she had regained control of her Queen State. "You have my word, my Queen," I said with the King's voices picking out Samuel's. As I said this everything returned to black with her disappearing. "Aili," I asked as the lightning bolt appeared in my hand

"Your vow will break young King," a voice said in the distance deep and foreboding. "The mortal world will fall; your thrones will be given to those who deserve it."

"Keep thinking what you will," I growled in my King State. "You will be the one who will fall," I finished before throwing the lightning bolt at the sky above me. Just as I did this felt a pain course throughout my body as my legs crumbled underneath me. As I screamed in shock and pain

"Wake up," Tracy's voice said as my hand went to my heart once more

"Wake up," Sam repeated as I screamed in pain once more panting as the pain focused around three places. My neck, heart and my stomach were aflame in pain as one last voice spoke

"It's time to wake up Lizzy," Aili's voice said, causing me to open my eyes with a gasp looking up at the ceiling of the house. "Are you okay," Aili's voice asked as I blinked and noticed how sweaty my body was

I looked over to see she was just as sweaty as I was but she had no injuries as was in the dream. "Yeah," I panted as I pressed my hands against my eyes, "dream."

"I had one too," she said with a nod as I looked at her, "what was yours like?"

I sighed, "You were in it," I began, "it began with you falling from the sky headfirst. It seemed like you were unconscious until I said your name. Once you woke up there was another voice asking when my attempts to save you will fail. It asked if my world will crumble if you die. I shot lightning at the fake of you and made it disappear as the feeling of falling stopped. After that I was in a dark room with pain in my neck as if you were shot there again. Almost as soon as you were drifting away you started calling me. You were calling for me by my nickname," I recalled as I remembered looking for her in the darkness. "the whole area was in darkness compared to the start of the dream. Once I called out for you in surprise then I used your full name asking where you were. You then said my nickname behind me as I felt the pain in my chest again. You told me it hurts using my real name. Then I turned to see you bleeding from the neck again," I paused as I remembered what happened

"Was there more," she asked and I nodded as I collected myself, some of the pain still present from the dream.

"I told you that I knew how much it hurt," I began. "I told you that I'd be with you through every pain," I sighed as I closed my eyes to remember. "After you smiled your eyes changed from white, blue then the gold that you fell asleep with. When you next spoke, it was with all the voices of past Queens. But yours wasn't prominent," I felt my power course through my veins. "You took up a fighting stance but I kneeled saying how you got this. I told you who I was. I got you to snap out of the control someone had over you before the King State appeared. I told you to fight whatever was controlling you because I felt you fighting the hold something had on you. I had a feeling you were back once I said your full name. In the King State, I told you that I would be with you through everything," I paused once more. I opened my eyes and looked at her normal gold eyes. "You spoke with your voice more prominent as I was kneeling with my head down. When you began you said my full name with so much authority that it was like an order making my head look at you. Your eyes were glowing gold as you asked me to fight by your side if you find the need to. After I gave you my word everything turned to black and the pain in my heart increased as well as the pain in my neck."

"There's something else that's bothering you," she said as I took a shuddering breath. Finally pushing myself up from the comfort of the blankets and pillows, "what was it?"

"This voice," I began, "it said that I would break my vow to you. The mortal world would fall and the thrones would be given to the ones who deserve it. I threw my lightning bolt above my head saying that the being can think whatever it wants. Also that they will be the one to fall. After I threw the lightning bolt pain started going throughout my body. Tracy's voice told me to wake up after my first scream in pain then Sam's and then yours. The pain was focused more on my neck, heart, and stomach," I sighed once more as I pushed myself up the bed. Then I looked at her once more, "what about yours?"

Her eyes had widened so much as I told her everything that happened. At this point they seemed like golden orbs in the night. "That was my dream," she said softly, "but in my point of view but with less pain. I only felt the pain in my neck and heart but not throughout my body."

I smiled softly, "You wanna go downstairs to see if you can switch between the two states. See if that was the dream to awaken yours?"

"Yes," she said with a grin, "it's better now than months later," she said referring to our pregnancy

"Yep," I began as I slid on a baggy t-shirt and slid out of the bed picking up the sweatpants that I had on earlier. "And I'll be there if you get stuck in it. Remember this is only to see whether or not we can switch between the two not see how everything works."

As I finished I turned to see her already dressed in a t-shirt and leggings, her go-to workout outfit. "You got it," she said with a grin before we made our way into the hallway

As we closed the door we heard the door next to ours open. "Are you going to see if that was the dream," Maurine's voice asked softly as I nodded, "can I come?"

I smiled, "Yes you can," I said to my close friend's soulmate. "If Tracy wants to come she can too but she needs to wait just outside in the case that it's like mine."

Just like that, she was right next to her. "The more people to help three pregnant ladies the better," she said, making the three of us shoot a glare at her, "What?"

"For the love of the council," I began as Aili began tugging at my arm in excitement, "please stop reminding us."

Tracy chuckled just as I gave into Aili's tugs and followed her down the stairs. While going past Lindsy's bedroom who had decided to stay here considering our status. "Go back to bed Lindsy, you can't help with this part only Lizzy and Maurine can," Aili said. I figured she sensed the superhero waking up to the sudden sound of footsteps

I heard Lindsy mumble an affirmation. I then pictured her throwing herself back on the bed and falling asleep. 'Please don't break the bed again Lindsy,' I thought to her remembering the last time she did that

'I won't, just please don't get hurt,' she replied sleepily in my head as the four of us made it to the basement. Sam had explained we could expand our telepathy to everyone in the house when the need comes. Only Aili and I were able to do it

I turned to my advisor who had caught up to us, "You stay out here," I began, "I'll call for you if something goes wrong."

Tracy nodded as she regained her breath, "I need to work out more," she panted resting on the wall next to the staircase

"Says the only woman here who is able to train," I said with a smirk prompting her to stick her tongue out at me. "Stand ready advisor," I ordered and she stood at attention like a robotic soldier

"Fuck you, Liz," she grumbled as I walked to the reinforced room

"You love me Trace," I said with a smile. Did I forget to mention that my closest friend and her soulmate are our advisors? Sorry about that. "Are we ready to go," I asked as I found the pendant and pressed on it to bring my armor up. This is in the case she hit me with something and also to show her Queen State that I am who I say I am

Aili nodded as I saw Maurine's armor appear on her, "You know what to do," she said to her Queen. I took a few steps away from the door so it didn't blow off its hinges. Aili's armor appeared as she closed her eyes and breathed. I remembered the look in her eyes from the dream and waited for it

Suddenly her eyes snapped open with the golden glow that I remember seeing. "It worked," I heard Maurine breath just as arches of power came to us

'No speaking aloud now,' I said to the advisor as the arch of power hit my chest

'Yep, you fight her power while I distract her,' Maurine answered as I pictured her power at my heart. If I wasn't wearing my armor I probably would've been dead

"Who's going to fight me," Aili's voice said layered with voices from past Queens

"I will," Maurine said standing up as I opened the floodgates to my power

'Is everything okay in there,' Tracy's voice asked as I focused

'Yes Tracy,' I began as I forced her power out of my body, 'Queen State has taken over her. Maurine is fighting her while I fight back Aili's power. I'm almost done,' I said as I stood up and felt the King State appear from before. 'I'm ready Maurine,' said to the advisor fighting her Queen. "It is time for you to wake up my Queen," I said in the King States voices walking up to her, "there is no need to fight now."

Aili's head snapped toward me, her eyes glowing a vicious gold one full of rage, worry, and fear. "Who are you," she began with a snarl that looked unnatural on her face. "If it is not the time to fight then why is this one fighting me?"

"She is fighting you to show her strength to stand by your side and to give me time to fight your power," I began as I kneeled. "I am your King, Liz Layzer," I answered as I bowed my head to her hoping she didn't strike me again

"If you are my King why isn't there a marital bond between us," she asked. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Maurine kneel next to my while panting but still showing allegiance to Aili

"It is planned my Queen," I began. "This project that is currently going on claims us to be soulmates with your name on my wrist and my name as yours. We have plans to procure the marital bond but at a later time. This war has brought us to the throne sooner than we have planned. I plan to stay by your side as your King and fight with you when the time comes."

Silence drifted over us in the room as I felt her power roll throughout the room. Suddenly, some of it receded as I felt a hand touch my shoulder. "I have your word," the voices of the Queens asked with Aili's more prominent once more

"Until the end of time, my Queen," I said keeping myself from looking at her

"Look at me," she ordered and my head snapped up to look into her glowing golden eyes softly as I felt my eyes glow as well. "You have the powers of King State," she began as we looked into each other's eyes. "I see that you are telling the truth, let's hope that this proof of loyalty comes soon."

"My Queen," I began still looking into her eyes, "look into your memories before your crowning. My loyalty is still the same as in those memories and it will never change."

The glow from her eyes dimmed as she looked at the memories that we have with each other. Sam had told me that this would happen once I mentioned it. The loyalty would show in our friendship as well as our relationship. "Yes," she said with a smile as the glowing in her eyes returned. "I see the same loyalty from the friendship with each other. I see it transferring to our relationship," she began as the glow dimmed down. It returned once more to the regular golden eyes that I got lost in before the dream. "You really cared for me," she said, her voice back to normal with her shoulders sagging with exhaustion

The King State went away as I noticed she was back, I stood up and caught her as her knees buckled. "Yes," I began, "you are one of the closest friends I'll ever have and I always treat my friends as family. Now is no different other than you are my family."

"Was I recognized my lady," Maurine asked as Aili smiled

"Yes, you were Maurine," Aili began, "thank you for the fight, you can rest now."

"Thank you, my lady," she said with a small bow

"Be sure to take Tracy with you," I began, "you both need some rest for school tomorrow. I am all right from the power strike before you ask just a little sore."

Maurine smiled as her armor disappeared with a tap to her chest plate. "I will do so my King," she said with another bow before turning on her heels and getting Tracy. "Why in the world are you sleeping," she yelled making Aili and I laughed

'Thanks for having her wake me up like that,' Tracy said to us, 'I'm going to sleep in a bed now goodnight.'

'Why were you asleep anyways, you're supposed to stand guard,' I asked her. I smiled as I looked at the tired eyes of my soulmate

'Sam and Shanda appeared as soon as you said that Aili's Queen State took over. They told me to rest and that they'd take care of it,' Tracy answered. 'I hope you two get some sleep because they were still there when I left.'

'We will get some sleep Tracy, goodnight,' I thought back to her with Aili repeating the same thing. "Let's get out of here," I began as I tapped the symbol on my armor. "I'm pretty sure our guard is worried sick for us," I said as Aili tapped her own armor. "Besides, it looks like you're about to pass out in my arms," I added as I closed off my power feeling it diminish in the room. "Make sure you contain your power in your core," I said as the grogginess returned, "Damn it, Winnie," I said as I stumbled. "Now's not the time," I said almost slurring that last bit

A sigh sounded in my mind as well as Aili's mind as she scrunched her nose in discomfort. 'You two are spoilsports,' the goddess said in our minds, 'I wanted to celebrate.'

"Yeah, so do I but at fucking midnight when we have classes," Aili muttered cursing. We then felt the effects of alcohol being removed from our body. "Thank you," she said before supporting herself. "I am this close to passing out in your arms Layzer, let's get some sleep."

"I mean I wouldn't mind carrying you up the stairs Ransom," I said with a smirk. We then walked out of the room to see the two guards pacing back and forth. "Hey guys, is everything all right?"

Sam's head snapped toward the sound of my voice while Shanda's shoulders sagged in relief. "Everything's a little better now that you two came out unscathed," she said with a smile. "We'll fill you in after you two get some rest, remember Lil's plan."

We nodded. We remembered how the goddess of wisdom wanted to stick with the plan even with our pregnancy. "Will do," I began, "please be sure to tell us everything as soon as you can tomorrow. If it angers us preferably not in class or before classes where we could damage something."

Sam sighed before looking at Shanda who nodded. "It's something you need to know now," she said as she approached the two of us. "You two have one class that's the same am I correct," she asked and we nodded, "when is it tomorrow?"

I felt Aili wrap her arms around my waist as I answered, "End of the day for me, second to last class for her. Helping her schedule her classes come in handy for remembering when we're free," I said with a grin

"That grin's going to disappear as soon as it appeared," Sam muttered. That mutter made Shanda shoot a glare in her wife's direction making her shrink back

I arched an eyebrow at the new site, "What's wrong," I asked my advisors guard whose gaze returned to mine

"You may or may not be attacked at that point," she said nervously making my eyes widen

"How do we defend against an attack if we haven't learned how to fight," I asked. Aili then gripped my waist a little tighter making me sigh. "Never mind," I began, "we'll speak more on this in the morning this one's about to fall asleep where she stands."

The two guards nodded their heads wishing us goodnight as we made our way back to our room. "I really hope that's a may not," Aili muttered as we made it to our room with me closing the door with another sigh

"You and me both A," I muttered as I made it to the bed, falling on it with her arm still wrapped around my side. "This is going to be quite the ending of the year," I muttered. I closed my eyes and calmed myself so I didn't electrocute my soulmate by accident

"Yes it is," she muttered, "but for now, sleep."

"Agreed," I said before drifting off into a dreamless sleep