Chapter 1
1443 Words
The sound of Circe’s boots hitting the cobblestone streets is completely drowned out by the exciting discussions happening in the city. The Yule festival is a couple of days away and the air is electric with excitement.
She has never been to the city for Yule, although she’s always wondered what it looked like.
The shops are decorated with all sorts of colourful items and the market is more upbeat than normal. People are laughing, and even the stall owners are sharing their goods with friendly faces!
They usually want to find out how much you can pay, but not this time of year, it seems. She hears the odd “Blessed be” and it makes her smile as she makes her way to the castle. Her red cloak flapping at her sides, she almost feels like little red riding hood!
Her stomach is doing flip-flops from all the excitement around her, and she will hopefully be able to convince Ariel to join her in the city soon, but the old witch seems to want to avoid all other people.
There is a story there, but Circe decided not to pry. If Ariel wanted her to know, she would have told her. Just like she doesn’t want to tell Ariel about the shame she feels in abandoning her family.
The smell of freshly baked bread hits her nose, and she walks into the bakery to buy some, unable to resist the smell.
***
Harro watches the girl walk through the streets in the city. She has been haunting his dreams… Or rather, he has been haunting hers, but he didn’t intend to! He was drawn to her by accident and hasn’t been able to stop himself.
She carries so much pain but at the same time so much strength, that he is too scared to approach her. She turns into the bakery, and he slips into the alleyway to wait.
Wishing he could erase all her pain; he immediately notices her leave.
He doesn’t have to follow her because he knows where she’s going. She goes to the same place every time she comes to the capital. Watching the royal children play in the garden before making her way back into the forest, where he loses her.
Her changing form comes to mind and he sighs. Such a powerful being will never be interested in a low-level dream walker like himself. He shouldn’t even be following her, because it’s clear that she is trying to avoid being noticed.
***
Circe buys Ariel a new bowl in the market for Yule, then makes her way to the castle, where the wall is open. The children are growing up so fast, and she wishes she could spend real time with them, but she is content to just watch over them.
This is her destiny… She has made peace with the fact that she wasn’t meant to be Alpha of their pack, and her father has probably already named Gareth as his successor.
She doesn’t blame him. Not only that, but she let them down… They probably think she’s dead, although her mother would probably have felt it if she died.
Taking her usual position near the wall, she peeks through the hedge and smiles when she sees the little boy and girl being looked after by the nanny. She swears that they have grown more each time she comes back.
Noticing the beautiful Yule decorations outside the castle, her heart yearns for her home and her family. Her mother and sisters will be in the kitchen cooking up a storm by now, and she wonders if they are going to come and have their celebrations at the castle or if they will be staying at the pack grounds.
It would be so great to see them, even if it’s from afar. As soon as the nanny takes the children back inside, Circe makes her way back to Ariel’s, shifting the moment she is out of sight.
“Did you have fun?” Ariel is in a better mood these days, and it must be the Yule season. Not that she’s rude or anything, she’s just not the world's friendliest person most days.
She likes things done her way and only her way.
“Yes, I bought you something for Yule, but you will have to wait until then before I can give it to you.”
“That’s not very nice.”
Circe laughs at the old witch’s reaction and starts to prepare their dinner. Her life hasn’t changed that much since she left the pack. She makes meals, helps keep the place clean, practices her magic, and except for patrols, she now guards her little niece and nephew.
“The city is pretty amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Oh? Did your parents not bring you here for Yule?”
“No, they are pretty traditional and have the celebrations at home.” She is careful not to mention where home is.
“Ariel, I’ve been having this dream… About a strange man…”
“Oh, honey, don’t we all.” Ariel bursts out laughing, but when she notices that I’m not joking, she stops.
“Okay, tell me about it.”
“This is going to sound crazy. Could it be that there is still poison left in my body that makes me hallucinate?”
“No, that’s not possible. Why? Is your dream that good? I haven’t heard you moan or anything.” She winks at Circe, who clicks her tongue at the thought.
“It’s not that kind of dream! It’s my nightmares. I’m reliving what happened, but then he shows up out of the blue. He doesn’t do anything or say anything. He just stands there. I have no idea who he is.”
“Are you sure? Haven’t you perhaps met him and forgotten?”
Circe shakes her head. She’s racked her brain trying to figure it out, but he doesn’t seem familiar at all.
“Is it possible that there could still be dream walkers?” Circe frowns.
Dream walkers died out centuries ago. They were banned from performing their craft because of how dangerous it was, and like a human whose wolf dies, they eventually all died of broken hearts after not being able to dream walk.
Ariel shrugs and doesn’t look too interested in the subject.
“Do you think this man is a dream walker, but then, why would he be in your dreams if you don’t know him?” She looks puzzled suddenly.
“Circe, have you been careful? I know you don’t want to hear this each time, but I also know that you are running from something. I would hate to have to fix you up again.”
“Of course, I’ve been careful!” She leaves the conversation there, not wanting Ariel to ask questions she’s not ready to answer.
***
Harro walks into his little hut and pours some water over the hot pebbles in the middle. The steam flows into the air, and he breathes in the sweet scent of lavender. After a long day of helping people, and following the beautiful lady in his dreams, he needs to rest, and sleep.
But he can only hope that when he does, his mind won’t travel to her dreams.
***
Circe’s jaw clenches into the flesh of an arm, and she shakes her head, making her canines sink in deeper as the witch screams in agony.
“You tried to kill my sister!” Circe growls, even though she knows the witch can’t understand her, but then she feels someone watching her.
Instead of just the guards, he appears out of nowhere. Was he there before? Is her mind now recalling details she didn’t realize before? She tries to pull herself out of the nightmare, but it continues, and she doesn’t pay his presence any further attention.
He is simply a part of the background.
***
If there really is a dream walker out there, Ariel needs to find out. He will be in grave danger if the wrong people find out. As soon as Circe is asleep, Ariel opens her tarot cards to ask them, and he appears on her third card.
A dream walker… Why would he be in Circe’s dream? Why would he be entering without her permission? Could he be a part of what she’s running from? If only the girl would talk to her and tell her what happened, then she might be able to help her and stop the dream catcher from doing whatever it is that he is plotting.
- Writer
