️⚠️Warning: Mentions of trauma and slight mentions of torture in this chapter. If affected, please read with caution. ⚠️

~~~~~

{•Larisa•}

I sat by Lynette's right as she slept, Remington at her left, and held her hand.

Its been almost 24 hours since she fell under the spell, and there's been no luck in anything.

Sebastian continued to interrogate Alister and Hermes, but they wouldn't say much, other than the reason being they were helping Remington.

We've tried to find the Sandman, but have had no luck either.

Everyone is also trying to look through Lady Eloise's notes, but she wrote everything in a code that not even Emerson himself had been able to crack completely.

Only word he was able to decrypt was a single phrase: Eye in the Sky

What was strange was that according to Emerson, that was the only single phrase in a simple binary decryption, taught as a first year lesson even at the Academy to the younger ones, among other symbolic decryptions that don't even have a known key.

It appears the elusive Calypso wanted to keep even her own secrets hidden from her enemies, even after death....

I looked over at Lynette, or now Dream, and held her hand.

The day I first met her, I knew she was someone special. That she belonged alongside with me and Shy. Despite her curiousity and nervousness, she remained strong and never faltered, automatically knowing what was at stake and handling it as bravely as she could.

A true Obsidian woman, ever since the beginning...

When Emerson rescued her from Lilith's torture, and I saw what became of her, my heart shattered.

I stayed by her side days and nights, angry that my blood or anyone else's wasn't healing her fast enough, and already mourning the loss of my brother-in-law, and trying to stabilize and care for Obsidian while also in hiding was all so stressful.

Now, her being in this dreaming state for who knows how long, it brings back unpleasant memories of those days seeing her heal from burns, gashes and more.

"I never wanted to be in this position again...." I said softly with a frown.

Remington looked up at me sadly, then pursed his lips. "You mean after... After she was tortured....?"

I looked up sadly. "I'm only glad you never saw her like that, Remington...." I said. "It was awful.... Its different now, of course, since she's only sleeping and unharmed, but.... This still brings back bad memories of when she was in recovery..."

He looked over at Lynette as she slept peacefully, then reached over and held her hand. "Everything that's happened to her.... Sebastian was right.... Bringing her here was a bad idea...."

I looked at him in surprise. "Don't say that...." I scolded. "If you had left her in Vancouver with her memory wiped clean, she never would have known the truth about herself."

He looked up at me.

"She would have lived the rest of her life alone and in fear.... Thinking that she was abandoned by her family, and never knowing that her parents sacrificed everything, even themselves, just so she can live another day...."

He looked up at me with sad eyes. "I never wanted her to suffer for the truth, though..."

I frowned. "I know.... I guess that's why the truth always hurts...." I said.

He sighed and held her hand.

"After she's taken her throne, I want to take her out of Obsidian for a while...." I said.

I nodded in understanding.

"I know she has her duties, but.... She needs a break from all of this...." He said.

Before I could respond, all of a sudden Lynette shifted in her sleep, groaming as her face contorted in discomfort, and I froze.

"Lynette?" I asked worriedly as Remington moved closer.

She only whimpered and struggled, still sleeping as I stood up.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"I have no idea," I said as I quickly got up and rushed over to the door, seeing Austin and Colson stood guard, and turned towards me.

"Get me Justin, Duchess Shy, and the Priestess, now!" I ordered.

Colson bowed before rushing off to get them, Austin looking over as Remington held her.

"Lynette, what's wrong?" Remington asked frantically. "Wake up, say something!"

"What's happening?" Austin asked in shock Lynette struggled and whimpered in her sleep.

"I don't know," I said as we rushed back in.

It didn't take long before Colson came back with Shy, Justin and Genevieve, along with Emerson and Damiano.

"Shy, what's happening to her?" I asked as Genevieve quickly examined her and Shy took her stethoscope and listenedto Lynette's heart.

"I'm not sure, but her heart's racing," she said worriedly.

"Is it a nightmare?" Colson asked as Genevieve placed her hand over Lynette's head, Ethan approaching to help them.

"Not exactly... He body's responding to something else, something stronger," Genevieve said.

"What can be stronger than a nightmare to cause her to react like this?" Emerson asked.

Justin frowned as he looked up. "... Trauma...." he said.

We stared in shock at him before looking at Lynette as she shifted in Remington's arms.

"She's seeing something..." Emerson said with a frown.

"There's no way you could see what's going on in there?" Victoria asked.

"Lieseil's damn genetic mind block won't let me," Emerson said with a grunt. "It all comes up blank every time I try."

"Your majesty.... Her whole side is really hot to the touch..." Ethan said, looking up at us.

I furrowed my brows and walked over as Shy switched places with Ethan and moved the blanket, placing her hand over Lynette's side.

"He's right, its too warm," she said, then carefully lifted up the nightgown to reveal her waist, the men aside from Justin, Ethan and Emerson stepping out of the room.

She then froze as she saw Lynette's side and I walked over.

"Oh my god," Shy gasped as I looked, covering my mouth in shock.

Her birthmark was blistered and red, as if she had been burned and branded...

"What the hell does this mean?" Shy asked, looking at the Priestess and Justin, both looking equally shocked.

Genevieve looked at us, then back at Lynette worriedly.

"I-I don't know...." she said.

I looked at them, and then Emerson, who I realized was deep in thought.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He looked up.

"I can't see what's going on... However, I may have another idea," he said, then pouted his lip a bit. "Though I'm not gonna be feeling too cute afterwards..."

We looked at him curiously as he stepped over and carefully held his have over Lynette's head, his eyes glowing white.

"Tibi fortitudinem meam do..." he chanted softly. ("I give you my strength.")

《Meanwhile....》

{•Sebastian•}

"You have to tell us something, Alister," I urged. "Because it is not looking good for either of you."

Its been almost a day already, and nothing from the Warhol's to give us a definitive answer.

Lynette is still under the Dream Sand's spell, and with her genetic mind shield, not even Justin can see anything going on.

Alister sighed, Hermes sitting next to him while we interrogated them in the Council Room. Andrew and Michael were with me.

"As stated before, Frederick, its classified and we are sworn to secrecy-"

I slammed my hands against the table in frusteration, making everyone jump.

"My little brother was locked in a cell, like an animal.... He looked alone, and terrified, and confused," I snarled, feeling my vision go red. "Not long after that, he woke up on a shoreline miles away, bruised and battered into the fucking rocks, and thirsting for blood!!"

"Frederick," Michael said. "Restrain yourself, please..."

"I will not," I snapped, looking up at him. "My family is being hunted and murdered by their parents, all for a crown that isn't even mine, and now the woman who put herself through heinous torture just to protect me and my loved ones, who is their niece, is under a sleeping spell after learning something ugly, and they refuse to give any answers!"

All of a sudden, before he could say anything else...

"Aah!" Alister groaned out loud, making the three of us turn and see him holding his side, as if he'd been wounded.

"Brother?" Hermes asked, but suddenly winced and held onto his side as well.

"What the hell?" Michael asked as Andrew looked equally disturbed and confused.

Alister then moved his coat aside and lifted his shirt, gasping quietly.

We froze as we saw his Visigoth birthmark looking red and burned, even blistering.

Hermes looked horrified before lifting his shirt, seeing the same mark on his hip, just like Alister's and Lynette's, also in the same condition.

"Dear Hecate......" Michael said in shock as we saw them.

"What is this?" I asked them.

"She's in trouble..." Alister said in realization, looking at Hermes.

"She?" Andrew asked in confusion.

"Something is wrong," Hermes said, looking at us worriedly.

That's when I froze in realization at what he meant and what was happening.

"Oh no.... Lynette," Andrew said, as if he understood as well.

Both me and him then ran out of the room.

"Wait, Frederick!!" Michael called out in confusion as we hurried to Remington's room.

***

{•Lynette•}

Alexander took a step forward, making me step back.

"H-How are you in my dreams?" I said nervously as I glared.

"My dear, I'll haunt your dreams until the day you die.... Even if you killed me that rainy night, I am still very much alive in that pretty little head of yours," he snickered.

I let out a shudder as I nervously stepped back.

"Get... Get out of my head...!!!" I shouted, backing up.

"He can't hurt you, Dream... He's dead, and this is your dream world," he said.

"He... He did things...." I whimpered as I tried standing steady. "He... He killed Remington...."

All of a sudden....

"Tibi fortitudinem meam do..."

A familiar voice echoed around us all, and suddenly I felt myself surrounded by a strange, glowing warmth.

"What the....?" I asked, as suddenly I felt my body befoming steady and stronger, as if I got a sudden urge of energy.

"Interesting.... Looks like that oracle bastard is better than taken for...." Alexander scoffed.

"You have more strength...." Morpheous said.

That's when I rrealized something.

"Wait... I-Is this Alan?" I asked.

Sandman nodded. "You're more powerful than Alexander... Especially now, and you can control him...." Sandman said.

I looked at him in surprise. "What...?"

"Crude, Morpheous," Alexander snarled. "Of course, this is a family matter, so I suggest you mind your own business."

I looked down at my hands, seeing the strange white glow that enveloped my body, then back at Sandman.

"You sure he can't do anything to me?" I asked Sandman.

"You can decide what to do with him," Sandman said. "Even just by thinking it... Its your world here, and you decide what he is...."

I pursed my lips and nodded, now getting an idea.

"Then let's give him a taste of his own medicine then," I said as I faced at him.

He snickered. "Oh really?"

"He's right.... You're dead... You can't do anything to me, not anymore...." I snapped. "I won't let you or Lilith destroy me from the inside anymore!!"

All of a sudden he grunted and almost fell back, gripping his neck.

He straightened himself back up, revealing something on his neck.

"A shock collar?" He scoffed at me
"Charming, my dear."

"Payback for putting us all through one," I snarled, and then let it shock him once to test it as I thought about it.

"Aah!!" he shouted, gripping his neck and falling to his knees.

I walked over to him, Sandman with me, and stood before him.

"You're a cruel, sick, twisted animal.... A pathetic excuse of a father, and of a grandfather..... You made my mother's life hell, and even mine back in the real world.... But that doesn't mean you get to do the same in my dreams," I snapped.

He yelped as I shocked him again, nearly having him convulse on the ground for a while.

Whoa... Where is this coming from?

It can't be from Alan....

Alexander groaned in annoyance as he sat back up. "I know I should be proud of you inheriting a Visigoth's sense of viciousness.... However, I'm wishing it was under different circumstances than this," he grumbled.

I had another thought that shocked him again and sent him on his back.

I then grabbed him by the hair and yanked him up, making him yelp.

"Dream...?" Sandman asked, worriedly.

"I. Am not. Like you," I snarled at him through gritted teeth.

He snickered. "You sure about right now?"

I shocked him a bit again, making his grunt before continuing to speak

"I end the cycle here.... The Visigoth's reign ends with me.... Because I am a Lieseil... I am a Warhol..." I said. "More importantly, I am princess and future Queen of the Obsidian Empire.... Even here... And you're nothing, just like your wife..."

He glared up at me, his eye twitching

"Now.... Here's how this is going to go..... You're going to tell everything I need to know" I said. "You're going to tell me everything I need to know, and not tell a single lie, or any detail opted out.... Or else..."

He grunted as I gave him a warning shock, then gripped his roots, making him grunt.

"Do you understand..?" I spat the last word at him

He looked up at me. "I understand....Your highness...."

I then let him go and stepped bqck as he took a few deep breaths.

"Dream..." a voice spoke, and I looked to see Sandman looking at me questioningly.

I then realized what happened and froze a bit, but then gulped and composed myself.

What... What the hell was that just now?

I took a deep breath, feeling a shudder before we looked back at Alexander.

"First question," I said. "What does my mother know about Remington and the mental estate?"

He scoffed. "Very well... I don't know much on that, I admit, but.... I do know this..."

***

{•Remington•}

I watched as Emerson relaxed and moved his hands before groaning and stepping back.

Sebastian and Andrew had rushed in, since apparently they caught on to what was going on.

That's when Lynette relaxed in my arms, still asleep.

I sighed with relief when suddenly...

"Alan?" Shy said worriedly, making me look up and seeing how pale he got.

"I-I'm fine," he mumbled incoherently. "I think she-she got it...."

Suddenly his legs gave out and he collapsed, Colson and Sebastian catching him.

"Mi amor!" Shy gasped as she rushed to him while they held him up. (My love!)

"Brother... Look at me, say something..." Sebastian urged him, holding his face in his hand.

Emerson just softly mumbled incoherently as he looked up at us, looking pale and disoriented as Justin knelt down and checked on him, Shy holding his hand.

"He reached his limit giving the duchess his life force..." Justin said as Sebastian held him, sitting on the ground, his hand holding his head. "He couldn't break through her genetic mental shield, so he enforced it with his own mental strength in order to help her overcome her trauma."

"Will he be okay?" I asked worriedly as we looked at Justin.

"He just needs to regain his energy..." Justin assured. "Being a vampire, some blood alone will help him recover, but he still needs to rest... An oracle giving his mental strength can be exhausting, nevermind risky... Get him to sleep and recharge for a while, he'll be alright after some time..."

"We can take him to the infirmary," Sebastian assured, holding our little brother close to him as Emerson looked hazily up at us, his hand meekly clinging to Sebastian's.

"Help him up, please," Duchess Shy ordered as she and Sebastian went to stand.

I looked back worriedly as Ethan and Colson then helped Emerson, who stumbled a bit as he tried to stand. Sebastian held him steady as they all exited the room, Shy following close behind.

"You should go with them...." Larisa said, making me turn to her.

I looked at Lynette worriedly.

"She's calm now and the queen and I can stay with her. Duchessa Shy will send for some medicine to treat her burns," Victoria added.

"Go with your brother, Aldous. Lynette will understand, and she would want you to be with him..." Larisa assured.

I pursed my lips, knowing she was right. Lynette wouldn't want me to chose her over Sebastian and Emerson, especially when one of them is hurt.

I sighed softly, but then nodded and kissed Lynette's hands before standing up.

"Anything happens, call me as soon as possible," I said.

Larisa nodded. "Of course," she said.

I took a deep breath before hurrying to check on my little brother.

Whatever is happening in there... I just hope Lynette is okay now...

~~~~~

In celebration of the new Fever Dream album, here is a new chapter for you all! 🌻

This album definitely captures the essence of this band, and the boys works so, so hard on this album, and putting so much effort into every detail and lyric. 🖤🖤🖤

What is your favorite song from the album??
Hard to pick my favorite, but I've had Oblivion and Line It Up on replay for the past 3 days, and Punching Bag is definitely in my Top 3 choices. ♥️

Wishing you all a safe and fun Happy Halloween as well! 🖤🎃👻💀🦇🧡

🎧 Currently in Sapph's playlist:

Devon Cole "W.I.T.C.H."

♡~ sapphire.