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For a moment I feared my defenses would collapse, but I forced myself to build them up one painful brick at a time. “No, he doesn’t. He betrayed me.”
Bolt frowned, his fuzzy forehead furrowed. “But he didn’t betray you. He wouldn’t—”
“Enough,” Mother said, and once again Bolt fell silent. “I’m in need of your powers. Create a concealment bracelet for Eden; because of her unique makeup she’s not invisible to Mortals, something she needs to be with the plans I have for her.”
“I’d love to help Eden.” Bolt offered me a small but sweet smile, which I did not return. He withered beneath my scowl before tentatively glancing up at Mother. “I’ll need some star berries and nebula moss.”
Mother set him on the bed and left the room to fetch his materials. The moment we were alone, Bolt anxiously searched my face once more.
“Are you sure you’re alright, Eden? You don’t look well.”
“I’m not,” I said stiffly.
He wrung his legs together, clearly agitated. “But why? I thought you’d like the Nightmare Realm. Don’t you?”
How could I like such a dark and gloomy place? Thankfully, I was spared an answer by Mother’s prompt return. She handed the moss and berries to Bolt, who after another concerned glance at me obediently ate them. After waiting a moment, he created spiderweb thread, not clear like a normal spider’s, but the color of amethysts. He pulled out his knitting needles and, using the magical thread, created a bracelet.
I watched, mouth agape. Mother smirked, looking quite pleased. “He’s one of my most remarkable creations. Whatever he eats influences the color and power of his thread, which he can use to create all sorts of unique magical things. I really outdid myself when I made him.”
Bolt was a rapid knitter and soon finished his project. He handed the silky bracelet to me and I pulled it onto my wrist. “Why do I need to be invisible to Mortals?” I asked, already dreading the answer.
“I have excellent news.” Mother settled back onto my bed and took my hand between hers. “I pulled a few strings, and you’ve been approved to receive a nightmare weaving assignment.”
“Aweaving assignment?” My stomach knotted at the thought.
“Considering you’re strangely opposed to stealing your magic from others, weaving nightmares will provide you the powers you need...that is,ifyou win.”
My heart pounded almost painfully in my chest. “But I don’t want to be a Nightmare Weaver.”
Mother’s eyes narrowed. “Why wouldn’t my Nightmare daughter want to weave nightmares for a pathetic Mortal who deserves to be scared night after night?”
I shifted beneath her disapproval. “I don’t know how to weave nightmares.”
Mother waved aside my concern. “You’ll learn.”
“But I’m a Dream Weaver, not—”
“Youwere,” Mother corrected sharply. “Stop clinging to the past; it’s limiting your future. You’re a Nightmare and need to stop deluding yourself to thinking you’re anything else.”
When I remained silent she cupped my chin to tip my face up so our gazes met. I wriggled beneath her piercing attention, wanting desperately to escape it, even after her face softened.
“I put a lot of work into arranging this opportunity for you. You wouldn’t do anything to disappoint me, would you? Because I won’t have a disappointing daughter.”
I shuddered and breathed a sigh of relief when Mother released me.
“You’ll receive your assignment tonight. I expect you to be at the Weaving Pool at dusk.” With that she left the room, slamming the door behind her. A tense silence filled the space her formidable presence had created until Stardust morphed from her bed-bug form, which she’d used to spy on our entire exchange.
“Detectives live for such conversations as the one I just eavesdropped on.”
I sighed wearily. “Is that all you have to say about it?”
“I have many things to say, but doing so would require uncouth language not fit for someone of my caliber.” She frowned. “I don’t like the fact that she created that spider, nor that she’s arranged for you to have a weaving assignment. An assignment makes your stay in this gloomy world more permanent than I’d like.”
“Have you found any evidence to get me out of here?”
Stardust shifted guiltily. “Not yet, but I assure you I will. Then we’ll never have to set foot in this realm ever again.”
And then I wouldn’t belong anywhere.
