I dreamed again that night.
“Gloria!”
I was already awake and looking around. We were in a lush meadow, the grass swaying in the gentle breeze. It was flat as far as the eye could see. “You came.”
There were two this time. The amber-eyed singing one was sitting, but she had a pair of red-gold wings sprouting straight out of her shoulder blades. The second had auburn hair with highlights, slanted, almond shaped eyes, and tawny wings. “Why do you keep summoning me?” I asked the amber one. She laughed, a sound that echoed faintly of a song not from this world. “We don’t summon you.” The tawny said, once the amber girl had stopped laughing. “You come to us.”
“But why?” I pressed, stepping forward. They tipped their heads at the same time, scrutinizing me. “A mystery indeed.” The tawny one commented. “I told you.” The amber one smiled at me, but that only made me more frustrated.
“You told her about me? Then those dreams were real...right? Am I dreaming right now?” I flexed my fingers, but refrained from pinching myself. The amber one nodded. “I did, and those dreams are real. But you are dreaming right now.” she swept her hand to encompass their entire surroundings. “This is a real place, however. Real in the sense it has been slightly augmented, but overall it is the same.”
I bent down to touch the grass beneath my feet. It felt sharp and spiny when I brushed it, but smooth when I pressed harder. I straightened, and squinted at the horizon. A bright spot was emerging, growing hotter and more blinding by the second. I was forced to look away as it spread over the grass. “What is that?” I hid my eyes. The amber girl looked at the tawny one with a flash of pity in her eyes. “That, my dear, is the sun.” The tawny one said, her face as impassive as ever.
“That bright fire spot?” I could feel the heat now.
“Yes.” She sighed softly, a small whoosh of air expelled from her mouth.
“I...I’ve never seen the sun before.”
“We know.”
“Then...why have you brought me here?”
“You know in your heart.”
“Could I visit this place again?” I asked tentatively.
Their spines stiffened simultaneously. “No.”
The answer was quick and cold.
“But there’s so many new sensations I’ve never seen or felt or heard before. Surely...”
“It’s too dangerous!” The amber one cried out, and the tawny one’s head whipped towards her, mouth opening. But the amber one barrelled on. “You can’t come because it isn’t safe! You need to stay in your world for now until you’re ready!” Her eyes were wild now as she turned to the tawny one, who narrowed her eyes, and opened her mouth again. “Go to the sun’s grave. Then, you will be ready.”
“Lu....Lucy, you can’t possibly…” The amber girl trailed off after seeing the fire in the tawny girl’s eyes, a fire to match the sun. “Go.” She turned to me, a brisk movement that cut off all arguments from the amber girl. I started to fade, my body dissolving into the wind. As I disappeared, the tawny girl turned back to the amber girl, who’s eyes were wide and scared. “Lucy? Is that the best you can do?” The tawny one joked. The amber one’s voice was low and fierce. “Her family will die, and yet you have given her an invitation into our hellhole! She will never make it. Her blood is on your hands!”
She spun around and vanished into thin air. The only thing left behind was a single golden feather, which floated into the tawny one’s hands. I was completely invisible now, but when she spoke, I could tell her words were meant for me. “Sacrifices will be made, no doubt about that. But if I have a chance to save my world, I’m going to take it.”
ns 15.158.61.20da2
