Chapter 23: What a Dream!

It was happening again. Her heart raced as the familiar anxiety of what was to happen began. Her ears could barely hear over the screams of the dying and the battle cries of the soldiers as they charged each other. Dread and fear danced across her nerves. She didn't want this. Both Poten and Cornibus soldiers fought and died around her in the forest. An ache of sadness and resignation filled her soul. She couldn't stop them. She had tried. Her healer spirit screamed its despair to the heavens.

"This is your fault."

She closed her eyes in denial. "No," the whimpered word forced its way from her throat. This wasn't her fault. She had tried. Why was she being tormented like this?

"Watch, my Oracle, the chaos you didn't prevent."

The scene shifted and before her stood Alastar and Lael back-to-back fighting the attacking Poten soldiers. Near them was a Cornibus soldier with blond hair and colorless skin. She couldn't see his face, but she knew he was fighting to protect her friends.

Suddenly, a black shadow rose from the ground and spewed a blood-red cloud toward the three of them. Evil vibrated in the air from the cloud. It was death coming for the three embattled people.

She had to save them! Fear and some unseen force stopped her from moving. She struggled and fought, but nothing worked. She had to watch in horror as the red cloud swept over them and when it dissipated, only their bones remained.

Grief and anger filled her as she ran toward them. She reached them and with shaking hands reached out to touch Alastar's skeleton. The bones crumbled into powder and were blown away by the wind.

"No!" she raged and then the bright light blinded her vision and she fainted.

Serenah woke with a choked gasp, her eyes wide and frantic. Her gaze swung around the room as her racing heart slowly calmed. She was in her room and not in the nightmare that had plagued her for a month now.

She pulled her knees to her chest and slowed her breathing. The anxiety from the nightmare was still poking at her fears. She knew the dream was from Autem. The problem was she couldn't figure out what he wanted from her. She did know, however, that she wouldn't allow the vision to come to pass. She would save those precious to her as well as anyone who helped them. She would save everyone. She couldn't let the evil win.

She left her bed and went out on the balcony. The early morning sun's warmth kissed her skin and soothed her terror away. She couldn't continue this way. Lael was constantly worrying about her health. She didn't have the heart to tell Lael the truth. She didn't want Lael or Alastar to fret over a nightmare.

She also couldn't shake the feeling that the nightmare was a warning that she must not ignore. She didn't know what to do. Sighing, she went inside and called for Lael to come to help her get ready for the day.

Once Lael arrived, she got dressed quickly, the power of the nightmare fading from her thoughts for the moment.

"What's on my schedule today?"

"My Lady, you are going to visit Grand High Priestess Sacer."

"Ah, I forgot that was today." She hummed to herself. Maybe Sacer could solve the mystery of her nightmare and maybe get rid of it. She really wanted to get a good night's sleep again.

"Anything else, Lael?"

"You have your lessons with Lord Hulight in the evening."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, My Lady. His Majesty and your sister are away from the mansion today."

Serenah felt a pang of loneliness. Even here in this new place, she was unwanted. She fought to push away her turbulent emotions. She needed to stop getting worked up over things she couldn't change. This was the way it always had been and would probably stay that way until the day she breathed her last.

"Very well, let's eat and get going."

"Yes, My Lady."

Lael served breakfast and Serenah ate it all. She had just finished when Alastar arrived and announced that the car was ready for their trip to Sacer's house. She followed him to the car garage and got in. The drive to Sacer's house was twenty minutes away from the mansion.

Serenah admired the view, her head bobbing to the music playing on the radio. Her current obsession was the human called Eminem. She was moved by his raw, unapologetic songs that resonated with her soul. Though her life was nothing like his, many of the themes in his music mirrored those in her own life. She really liked these humans and their talented ways.

They arrived at their destination and Serenah took in the scene before her. The house was modest, the lawn well-maintained, and the blooming variety of flowers invoked an immediate sense of peacefulness. She took a cleansing breath of air and relaxed. Just like back in their old world, the power of the Grand High Priestess was no joke. It was the best cure for a hurting soul.

The door opened and one of Sacer's novice priestess gestured for them to enter. They went in and Serenah's curious gaze roved over the interior. The inside was bigger than the outside. She could sense illusion magic around her.

"Excuse me, is the outside the illusion?" she asked their guide.

The priestess slowed her steps and answered, "Yes, Your Highness."

Serenah didn't speak anymore. They went to the end of the long hallway and stopped in front of a white door. The priestess knocked twice before opening the door and gesturing for them to go inside.

She went by the girl and grinned when she spotted Sacer sitting behind a desk. The Grand High Priestess stood with a smile.

"Your Highness, please have a seat."

She went and plopped down in the closest seat. Alastar bowed to plopped down in the closest seat. Alastar bowed to Sacer and withdrew to the hallway.

"He is as solemn as ever," mused Sacer.

"Alastar, solemn? Surely you jest, Grand High Priestess," scoffed Serenah.

"I guess the eyes of a friend are blind."

"Maybe," admitted Serenah with a laugh.

Sacer sat beside Serenah, her eyes scanning her face. "You haven't been sleeping well, have you, Your Highness."

Serenah nodded. "My sleep is plagued by nightmares."

"And what are they?"

She hesitated to answer. She didn't want to give voice to them. She felt that if she spoke them aloud they would come true.

"You are safe here. My barrier will prevent misfortune."

Serenah chewed on her bottom lip and steeled herself. She spent the next fifteen minutes telling Sacer her nightmares and how long she had been having them.

Sacer frowned. "So a whole month? Your Highness, did you go outside the mansion at any time?"

"Yes. Alastar and Lael took me to Norton so that I could see our new home."

"Did you have any nightmares the night you went to Norton?"

She thought back and gasped. "You're right! I started having them that night. Is it connected?"

"Yes, it is. You encountered something there that resonated with Your Highness's farseeing ability."

Serenah frowned. All children when they reached the age of five were tested in the temples to learn what abilities they possessed or would possess. Her ceremony had caused a commotion. She didn't really have any memories of it, but Lael had told her what happened. Farseers were rare and none of the royal lines in the history of the kingdom had ever been blessed with that ability until her. The same thing applied to her healing ability.

Being an exception brought only pain and misery. She would have been happier without her abilities. Her farseeing ability she never bothered to train. She didn't want to see the future especially when she had too much trouble dealing with the present while combating the past.

"I can do without that power, thank you very much," she complained.

Sacer shook her head. "You must stop denying yourself, Your Highness."

"Why? Being myself has caused nothing but pain and heartache. I'm tired of suffering."

"Our great god Autem, gives us trials to make us stronger. They are never more than we can bear."

"I don't know about that," muttered Serenah. She didn't agree with Sacer's words, but she didn't want to contradict her anymore.

Sacer gently patted her hand and peered into her eyes. "Everything feels harder in the moment but when you look back, you will realize it was worth it."

She let go of Serenah's hand and walked over to the cabinet. She opened it, rummaged around until she found what she wanted, and came back to Serenah with a small box in her hand. She held it out to Serenah.

"What is it?"

"Something to help you, Your Highness."

Serenah took it and opened the box. Inside was a medicine bead filled with swirling colors. She felt a trace of magic that she couldn't identify. It wasn't harmful but still hid its nature. She looked at Sacer. The priestess would never give her anything harmful.

"Thank you."

"If you need more, come back. Ah, let me give you one last piece of advice."

Serenah paused and listened to Sacer's next words.

"Stop fighting your fears in your dreams. Confront them. And pay attention to those in your dreams. Those people will be your allies and salvation when you need them."

The hairs on her body stood on end at Sacer's words. It felt like a prophecy was uttered. She shivered and bowed to Sacer before leaving the room. Her thoughts tumbled about. She had much to think about.

"Your Highness?"

She blinked and turned to Alastar. "Let's go."

He searched her face and grunted an acknowledgment before taking the lead. They got in the car. She kept stroking the box. Would this help her sleep? Alastar didn't ask her anything on the way home either. For that she was grateful. He was her rock, and she would be so lost without him.