In Dreams: The Nightmare King

Meddling

"You WENT INSIDE MY HEAD?  BOTH of you?  WHY?"  I snarled at them.  Brie blanched and backed up a step.

"Well, Kaden thinks.."  Brie started, but Kaden silenced her.

"I believe you may have accidentally wandered into the Banishment in your nightmares."  Kaden stated.  "So we went in to find out and..."

"I went in too because I was curious..."  Brie interjected quickly.  I growled at her and she bit her bottom lip.

"And while I was there, I sort of stabilized your dreams, and pulled you back from the nightmares.  Sort of...feeding you good dreams instead."  Kaden finished, flinching.

"Oh, that's not so bad."  I shrugged and scooped up another forkful of eggs.

"That's it?"  Kaden asked incredulously.

"Wait a minute-you said you fed me dreams?  Doesn't that mean you were also 'feeding' yourself in return?  Isn't that how that works?"  I yelled.

"Well, to be fair, he fed off me too."  Brie offered  "There doesn't seem to be any ill effects to either party.  I was observing as closely as I could, though I'd really like to get a set up going and measure the process with some EEG machines, or maybe MRIs..."  Brie was rambling again, lost in thought.  I took several deep breaths to calm myself, while glaring at her.

"Listen, I appreciate the fact that I didn't have to watch myself die multiple times last night, but I would have appreciated it MORE, if you had gotten my consent FIRST.  Ms Smarty Pants Scientist, you know personally how much I hate being used as a lab-rat."  I accused and then pointed to Kaden  "And you!  You can read it in my head!"  Brie looked ashamed for a moment.

"Well, after we got out of your head, I had Kaden put me under and let him feed on me next to make observations and to be sure it did you no harm...  So it wasn't just you..."  Brie objected.  I rubbed the spot between my eyebrows.

"That's not the point Brie...and it doesn't make it any better."  I began.

"What we did was wrong, and I apologize."  Kaden offered, shaking his head at Brie to quiet her.  "From here forward I will ask you permission concerning your dream states."  Mollified, I went back to eating.  Kaden grabbed a piece of toast off his plate and Brie cautiously changed the topic to the plans for the day.  Apparently, they had come no closer to locating the whereabouts of the shoes, so the plans were to do a physical search at the of lab to see if anything could be found.  Even if the shoes couldn't be located, Brie was hopeful that a paper trail might be left behind.  If nothing came to light at the old lab, the plan was to start calling the moving company Monday morning for an update; and as a last resort, search the new building if we couldn't locate the truck(s).  By the time they had finished updating me, everyone had finished eating and Brie had cleared the counter.  She pranced out the door to start her car, and I was about to follow when Kaden grabbed my arm and held me back.

"Rue, do you remember seeing him in you dreams last night?"  Kaden asked urgently.  I didn't need Kaden to specify that 'him' meant his brother, a.k.a. the 'nightmare king'.  I shook my head.

"No, I seriously don't remember any of my dreams."  I responded.  Kaden nodded like this is what he was expecting.

"I hate to ask you this, and I know it's a big request, especially since we trespassed last night, but do you mind if I..."  He motioned towards my head  "..sort of check in to see where he's at right now?"  I gritted my teeth, the painful memory of the headache was still fresh, and I was still angry at Kaden and Brie for their behavior.  Unfortunately, I did have to acknowledge the wisdom of knowing where our enemy was.  I nodded reluctantly, my temple already throbbing at the thought of it.

"But if I say pull me out-I want you to do it RIGHT THEN."  I told him harshly.

"Understood.  I'll try to block the pain as best I can."  Kaden said gratefully, and grabbed my hand.  My knees hit the floor almost immediately, and I could feel my eyes rolling back in my head.  The empty place was back again.  Lightning flashed across the sky and a brisk wind blew my hair and clothes wildly.  A storm was brewing and it looked dangerous.  I turned in a circle, looking for danger, already feeling like I was being watched.

"Kayden?"  I yelled.  "KAYDEN?!"  My heart rate spikes as I saw something move in the dead expanse.  The oppressive feeling of something sneaking up behind me, had me jerking around, trying to see everywhere at once.  "Come on Kayden, get me out of here.  NOW."  I mumbled and then just as suddenly as it appeared, it was gone, and I was huddled on the floor, clutching my head, screaming in pain.