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So he simply saluted his men, checked to make certain that his glaive was secured in the scabbard crossing his back, and dove in.
Long moments later, Co
As a smaller, wirier body wrapped around his, his roar of outrage reflected off the surface of the water and released his mounting tension. Co
"Wait!" Sheron cried.
Co
"We did not conclude our discussion."
"So start talking before I lose what's left of my patience."
The Elder pushed back his soaked cowl. "Remember what I told you about the slipstreams we established in the Temple?"
"Yeah."
"And how the only location in the Twilight that is secure from Nightmares is the cavern you have commandeered?"
"Yes."
"Nightmares infiltrated those streams, Bruce, melding with the Guardian in transit to form one being."
"Fuck me." Co
"Not so far as we know. Unlike the slipstreams in the cavern, these are opened only briefly, just long enough to make the jump. Then they are closed again."
"How did you figure out what was happening?"
"We began by sending a guard through in a rapid cycle-in and out."
Co
"It became apparent over time that some of the guards were not well," Sheron continued. "At first we assumed it was due to the location."
"Being outside the cavern."
"Yes. Then they began to change. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. Eliciting fear and sadness in those around them seemed to be very important to them. They grew more violent and cruel. Their eyes began to change color. They stopped eating."
"Oh man…"
"We realized then what had happened. The Nightmares inside them were taking over, urging the Guardian into acts of terror so they could feed off those negative emotions."
Since the Nightmares had discovered the human subconscious through the fissure created by the Elders, they'd been using the power of the human mind as sustenance. Fear, fury, misery-these were easily aroused through dreams and fed Nightmares so well.
Lowering his sword, Co
"There were a dozen in the original trial, but only one affected Guardian remained alive and you killed him today."
"Be thankful for small favors, eh?" Co
Sheron removed the scabbard belt from his too-lean waist and emptied the water that had collected inside it. Then he sheathed his glaive and moved to a nearby rock, leaving a trail of droplets in his wake.
"What aren't you telling me?" Co
"What I came here to tell you." The Elder settled onto a large rock and spread out his sodden robes as much as possible. "The trial was deemed a success before the symptoms of Nightmare possession began to present themselves. We were testing for successful round-trips, not side-effects. An additional contingent of guards and Elders were sent through before we understood the extent of the problem."
Co
"We ca
"What the hell have you done? How many of those things are out there?"
"Ten of the lot were unable to return. We have sent twenty more through since then. A gamble. Those who are unaffected will hunt those who are and put them down. Cross will expect the Guardians to search for him, but there is no way for him to know about the hybrids."
Before the rebellion, Aidan had been Captain and Co
"Why are you telling me this?" Co
"Cross's death is not something I want."
"But you want the Key dead," Co
"We will manage that when the time comes."
"Like hell you will!" Co
The Elder would make a great hostage. They tumbled, rolling across the sand-
Gasping, Co
"Hey." Stacey's voice was husky from sleep. In the faint glow from the muted television, he saw her head turn toward him. They lay on the sofa; him against the back, her against him. "Are you alright? Did you have a nightmare?"
He pushed up and climbed over her carefully. "Yeah."
"Want me to make you some hot tea or something?"
"No." Bending, he kissed her forehead. "Go back to sleep. I just remembered something important and I better write it down before I forget it again."
Co
As he flipped through pages of lovingly drawn renderings of Aidan, Co
Co
He smiled, once again noting how the chill created by his dreams faded just because she was near. It was amazing what the feeling of female comfort could do for a man. He could see how Aidan's relationship with Lyssa had changed his friend in wondrous ways.
Which only made Co
He was here for a reason. His actions in this plane of existence would keep the people he cared about safe. It also kept the promise he'd made long ago-to protect the Dreamers from the mistakes of the Elders.