I had been stumbling about aimlessly for hours. Learning the mechanics of a dream-spirit "body" was a challenge that I was far from ready for. Lilith had exercised great patience, but even now she was becoming frustrated with how poorly I was doing at simple things like walking, moving my "arms" which were thin, spectral shadows, or anything of the like.

"You need to be more sure of yourself, or you'll never understand how this works or become successful at Traumwanderung."

I groaned.

"That's easy for you to say. I mean, I've just now been ushered into this world of magic and dream bodies or whatever."

"I understand that, but is this not proof enough that you live beyond eternal sleep? What more do you need to believe the greatness that's been bestowed upon you?"

I frowned and tried to think of anything that might be keeping me from just... being... It was all so much to take in, and I just couldn't bring myself to understand that the inevitable had finally happened and that I was still okay.

"I just... I was expecting the end. My mind isn't ready to come to terms with an alternate ending just yet. I can't understand why I can't just move past it, but it's really bothering me that all this is happening. I know it sounds awful, but it all seems like a terrible joke—that I really am asleep and that this is just some horrible dream."

"That's just it, Aurora. You are dreaming. But this is how our kind dreams. You'll just have to get used to it. You'll see, after time, that I've done you no real harm and that I have, indeed, saved you from a Fate far worse. If you can figure out how to walk, I'll even take you to the castle to see what might have befallen you."

I huffed. That sounded wonderful, if I could ever just figure out how to walk. Reaching deep into my center, I centered myself around the absolute reality that existed: I was asleep. And it was not the End that I had been told it would be. It was about time I start coming to terms with this—there was nothing I could do to change it. I could only move forward.

A wave of adrenaline coursed through my spirit and I began to move. Lilith gasped with excitement and clapped her hands together as I made one fluid motion to shoot across the room. I was a little overzealous as I crashed into the wall—apparently we could not fuse through them—and grabbed the windowsill to steady myself upon impact. I had successfully been through Traumwanderung.

"You see now that you can't go through barriers, no?" Lilith chuckled. "I remember my first attempts at Traumwanderung. I ended up shooting across an empty field and into the angry horns of a bull none to happy to wake."

I laughed trying to imagine my mother being chased by an angry bull. She was far more frightening and stunning than any creature on Earth. I wondered if she was as young as me when she did it the first time. Perhaps I really was just like her—beyond are near-identical visages.

"Now that you've figured out how to move, I suppose I can at least help you along to your father's castle, no?"

I smiled eagerly. Taking her hand, she yanked me out into the dying light. The dawn had come and the day had been reduced to dusk—I had wasted much valuable time just trying to figure out how to move. My spirit felt lithe and free as we tumbled across many blurred landscapes and shopping squares. I hoped internally that none would see us.

What seemed like seconds placed us at the door of my father's castle. It was much less appealing up front than it was from a distance: a far-away dream was always far better than reality, I supposed. Shifting myself upright in the wake of such a sudden flight, I prepared myself for what might lie behind the drawbridge.

"How are we supposed to get in?"

"Well, I suppose we wait until someone brings it down. Or, we could float up to a window and try to find entry there. Your choice."

"Won't someone see us?"

"Are you really that daft, child? No one saw us as we came here, did they? Don't you think you'd notice two women hurtling through the sky at such break-neck speeds? You can only be seen if you reveal yourself. That's why it's one of the Big Three. You have to knowingly and intentionally break the laws of Traumwanderung. I mean, if we came and sat in front of a mirror, we would not see ourselves. Despite it being legal, we still have to choose to be seen even through the accepted ways."

"Okay, good, so no one will see me as long as I don't willingly make that choice."

"Of course. So, window or wait for the drawbridge?"

"Why would we wait?"

Lilith shrugged.

"I thought you might want to take the time to ask some questions first. But if you're certain you want to go see what's inside right now, that's your prerogative."

I didn't like the vagueness of her answer. Why would I want to pry further about something that she had offered to me in the first place? She was getting shiftier as this little escapade of dreams tramped along. I hoped that she would not ultimately prove traitorous. I made a mental note that, if I were left to my own devices at any point, that I would find a means of protecting myself from her in this state. I hoped that such a power was possible to find and master within a short time frame.

"Let's go."

She grabbed my wrist and, together, we glided up along the castle walls before settling before a low window. Ushering me into the halls, my mother pulled me along through dark corridors filled with well-dressed knights and ladies all proceeding to some raucous event farther up the stairs. My curiosity piqued, I turned to follow the sounds.

"What's going on?"

"Come. You'll see," Lilith said slyly.

Dread washed over my shoulders at the tone of how she said this. Whatever I was about to see would surely make me angry. I regretted not choosing differently to wait for the drawbridge. It was too late to turn back now, though.

A loud, deep voice arose amid the throng of courtiers and nobles who were now gathered before two gargantuan doors that flowed in to an even more crowded ballroom. Two massive thrones entwined in gold and silver ivy sat upon the top of four stone steps adorned in scarlet carpet.

Chandeliers filled to the brim with warm, yellow blinking candles filled the room with a far cheerier atmosphere than did the nervously chittering people beneath them. Anticipation washed about the room, threatening to drown them all should an answer not be provided soon.

Turning back to the thrones, my mouth fell agape as I beheld my father for the first time—he was wearing picturesque robes of the finest silks and patterns of blue vivid enough to rival the most valuable sapphires; his crown bore many elaborately cut gems and symbols to further imply his authority over the crowd that now afforded him their undivided, silent attention. His features were slightly like mine—his face was angular like mine, though his chin sagged under the weight of a few too many turkey legs and pies. Despite being overweight, his general stance and build reminded me of how I often carried myself. There was no doubting he was my father, despite my striking resemblance to my mother.

"Charming, is he not?" Lilith whispered suddenly.

A wicked smile had spread across her cheeks, threatening to pierce my soul with a fury that was now rising up as I looked at her—something was terribly wrong. And she was the cause of it. I tried to keep my face from betraying the fact that I knew, but somehow I understood that she could sense that I didn't trust her. She said nothing, but her smile faded and was gradually replaced by a thin line of enigmatic stoicism.

"My subjects, I have grave news," he announced.

His voice was surprisingly soft, despite his looming nature. I smiled. It was nice to hear my father's voice, despite the apparent pain that was headed my way.

"My daughter has been put to sleep by the witch. She has met her Fate, as we all knew she would, despite my greatest efforts," he coughed.

I thought I caught a tear or two threaten to escape to his cheeks, but he blinked before I could ascertain the truth of that perception. The crowd murmured sadly. They all knew as well as I did that my "end" was inevitable.

"As a result, I must forfeit the kingdom to the heir that would have married her."

This resulted in a sea of angry, shocked gasps from the crowd. He motioned them to silence before continuing.

"It is only right that her suitor take the place of her—I have no other heirs and I must find someone to take her rightful place upon the throne that can secure the future of the kingdom. Unless she is awakened by 'true love's kiss' in the next six months and that person is deemed fit to rule the kingdom, then I will officially name Phillip the heir to the throne. There can be no other way."

I shrieked. I was glad that no one could hear me. My mother had begun to laugh.

"Well, I've left you with the skills to move and the Big Three. I've helped you as far as I may and gotten my revenge. I won't stop you in your quest to find the one, but I won't help you any further, either."

I whirled on her to scream at her, but she was already fading.

"What about the rules? Who can help me if I don't know what to do?"

"Figure it out, for all I care," she hissed.

The candles above flickered and she was gone. She had deceived me and walked away with all she'd hoped for. Worst of all, she'd damned me to an even more horrible Fate than eternal sleep—she'd left me with the weight of the kingdom on my shoulders, and only six months to find a worthy suitor to save it. She had won, after all. Or had she?