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15
Raven
It was an odd place,this dream gateway or whatever it was. Everything around me was in soft focus. Gray, smoky fog spanned as far as the eye could see. Under my feet was a flat gray walkway that reminded me of cement but with the texture of a cloud. It was strange. I almost felt like I was floating, but my feet were grounded. As if I weighed almost nothing. Each step felt like bouncing and I was afraid that if I jumped, I’d keep floating away forever. Did gravity even exist in this place?
“You might be able to help,” Luka said, reaching for my hand. “Focus on Professor Halifax’s being. Your feelings about her and the way she made you feel when you were in her presence.”
“The fear part or the feelings of her being a magical badass?” I asked.
“Maybe not the fear so much as that was more about the event than her,” he said.
“Alright,” I said. For all she’d done to me, she had at one point, been a mentor. She’d helped me regain my magic and find out about my past. I knew she was powerful, though apparently, she had the wrong kind of magic to open a portal.
Ahead, I saw a dark archway form out of black smoke. “What’s that?”
“An opening to a dream,” Luka said. “Let’s find out if we got the right person.”
I squeezed Luka’s hand, not wanting to let go as we approached the black smoke. There was nothing visible through it and a creeping sense of dread clawed at my chest. It didn’t feel right. It felt like I wasn’t all here. Like I was watching myself instead of actually moving through the archway.
The air felt thicker and cooler as clouds of black mist wound their way around my ankles. I held my breath as blackness took over, leaving me in what felt like a moment of freefall.
Just as I was about to panic, the smoke cleared and we were standing in a field with a long table in front of us. The table was surrounded by people in fine clothes and they appeared to be sipping tea. Trays of sweets, bowls of fruit, and towers of tiny sandwiches lined the table. Bouquets of fresh flowers dotted the center of the table and butterflies flitted around them.
A warm breeze blew a loose strand of hair, making it tickle my face. “Where are we?” I whispered.
“We’re in someone’s dream,” Luka said.
“Professor Halifax’s dream?” I asked.
“Hopefully,” he said.
I scanned the gathered people, looking for a familiar face. Then I spotted her. Professor Halifax was at the head of the table, smiling down at those gathered around her.
She was in a flowing white dress and a wide brim hat. Not something I’d expect to see her in but it was rather sunny in her dream.
I pointed to her. “She’s there.”
“I see her,” Luka said. “Here’s where it gets delicate. We need to feel like we’re part of the dream. It will help her stay asleep longer.”
“Okay,” I said.
“See what they’re wearing?” he asked. “Imagine yourself in something similar so you blend in.”
I looked down to see that I was still in my shorts and tee shirt that I’d gone to sleep in. Actually, I wasn’t sure if I was asleep but that was a question for another time. I closed my eyes and imagined myself in a white lacy dress that might be appropriate for an occasion such as this.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a cocktail length lace sundress.Not bad.I turned to Luka and he was in a cream-colored linen suit. He lookedverygood in that suit.
He extended his elbow. “Shall we?”
I slid my arm through his and we casually walked to the end of the table where Professor Halifax sat. Her eyes widened when she saw us and she stood.
“Greetings, dear professor,” I said as if we were old friends.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “How did you get into Faerie? You shouldn’t be here.”
“Why not?” I asked. “Am I not fae?”
“Of course you are,” she turned to Luka, “you. This is a dream, isn’t it?”
