{•Lynette•}

I looked around in confusion at everything.

What am I doing back here?

Wait.... How am I even here?

Wasn't.... Wasn't I just in Obsidian? In my mother's office vault with Sebastian?

I observed my surroundings before suddenly...

"Hello, Dream...." A voice spoke and I turned to see a strange man in black, pale skin and silver eyes.

"W-Who are you?" I asked.

"I am known by many names.... However, from what I understand, the people of the realm you grew up in call me by my tools..." he said. "The King of Dreams being one of them.mmm"

I furrowed my brows before I looked at him in surprise.

"You... You're the Sandman?" I asked.

He smiled softly, nodding.

"You're a smart you woman... Just like Eloise was," he said.

"You knew my mother?" I asked curiously.

"As well as your father.... We were friends...." he said. "I am very close to all in the Void Realm, as my role there is important."

I took a deep breath. "I'll admit, you're not at all what I expected...." I said.

"I am aware of the ridiculous depictions that humans in the Earth realm have of me," he scoffed softly with an eyeroll.

"Yeah, life on Earth is a mess, honestly," I sighed with an eye roll.

He chuckled softly. "Your father said to me the same thing once..." he said. "You're a lot like him, you know... As well as your mother... You look so much like Eloise, rest her soul. Your eyes, however.... You have Bartholomew's eyes..."

I smiled softly.

"Of course, your mother was less stern and critical than he was, I admit..." he said.

I scoffed. "I'm guessing my dad wasn't exactly the cuddly type most days..."

"We had our moments, I admit.... A very stubborn man.... His heart is in the right place, however..." he said with a small smile.

I sighed as I looked down. "Yet he had my boyfriend locked in an asylum?" I asked him.

"That's something I can't explain, really.... However, I assure you, your mother and father are not monsters, despite how things looked in those files...." he explained. "I can assure you, your family was only trying to help your mate..."

"With magical sand and hydrotherapy?" I asked, confused.

"Usually, no humans should have possession of my tools, such as my sand or dreamstone.... However, your mother was very persuasive, and I gave her some....."

"What did Re- Aldous have that would require Dream Sand?" he asked.

"Your mother didn't specify, Dream..... However, I did always sense something was wrong with Remington's mind, especially when he dreamed.... Something beyond my comprehension," he said. "It all seemed to stop mostly when he became a vampire, however.... They seemed to be starting now that he's half mortal...."

My eyes widen as I realized he knew Remington's real name.

I then frowned and looked at him worriedly. "Can you at least tell me if he's going to be okay?" I asked.

"He will be.... However, when you get back, and you are to fight your grandmother, I suggest you get him his fangs back as soon as you can...." he said. "Your mother's notes will explain everything...."

I pursed my lips and looked around at the park.

"Why am I back here?" I asked. "How did I even get here?"

"A old friend bought you here," he said, holding his hand out to the sky.

I then heard a familiar screech and look over to see a familiar figure swoop down and land on Sandman's extended arm, perching himself there.

"Horus..." I said. "You know him?"

"He is a good friend. He was a gift for your father," He said.

How did he get into my dreams?

That's when I remembered everything and gasped.

"T-The sand, he... He took it!!" I said, pointing at him. "He dumped it on me, after... After I found that picture of Remington...."

"Per his master's request, I assume," he said.

I furrowed my brows, then remembered everything else.

"Wait... W-Why would my uncles put me in a sleeping spell?" I asked. "D-Did he really have something to do with what happened to the Blackwell brothers?"

"Not your uncles.... Your father," he said.

My eyes widen. "Wait..... M-My father really is alive!?"

"So it seems," he said. "He must want you to know something...."

I looked at him curiously.

"White hawks are known to be messengers of the gods, travelling between the many realms, both physical and spiritual," he explained, gently petting Horus as he chirped."They are also known as symbols of protection and wisdom."

"Well I hope there was something wise about dumping a whole bag of Dream Sand on me and sending me here because my missing father told him to," I scoffed, raising an eyebrow at Horus.

He chirped as he tilted his head curiously at me.

"It is where your life began, is it not??" Sandman asked.

I pursed my lips and looked down.

"Your dreams were always hard to read, just like your father.... You have a unique genetic marker from him that blocks anyone from fully reading your mind," he said.

"That's why Emerson was never able to see my nightmares," I noted.

"Yes... Despite that, however, a change in your dreams was sensed after Remington came into your life," he said. "Once you were exposed to someone from the Void realm, your connection to Obsidian was repaired after being severed for so long...."

"Because my father had to send me here...." I said, looking around at the park. "Or else I would have been brainwashed or killed...."

I looked around the park before I recognized a familiar oak tree, and walking over to it, Sandman following me as I approached it, standing under it.

"I remember spending hours under this tree...." I murmured. "Reading and..... Playing with Ellie, my doll..... Trying to get my mind off of my situation... Sometimes dreaming of a new life...."

"Your abusive homes.... Being abandoned...." He murmured.

I sighed. "Yeah...." I sighed, observing the tree.

I then noticed a strange carving on the trunk and furrowed my brows as I examined it.

"747...." I said in surprise. "What's this doing here?"

"They do say these numbers are signals from angels..." He said, making me turn.

"Angels?" I asked.

"Good angels, I assure you.... Not fallen ones..." he said. "If I'm correct, these numbers are a symbol of the Divine.... Meaning you are on the right path for your mission....."

"My mission...." I mumbled, then looked around us.

That's when the wheels in my head started to turn.

"Its all in the details.... The right path...." I murmured, then looked around me.

I then noticed the nearby street, with a law building across from the park.

74-7

Horus then screeched and flew off, flying over and perching himself on the rail of the front gate of the building.

That's when it hit me.

"Okay.... I think I get it....." I nodded in understanding, then turned to Sandman. "You up for a Vegas tour of my brain?"

"I may have time," he joked, and I turned back to the building.

"Then let's see where this path takes me...." I said, and headed over to the street.

***

{•Remington•}

I sat by Lynette's side as she slept soundly, holding her hand.

We had her resting in our room now, and Austin was on guard with Colson at the door while Sebastian and Michael interrogated the Warhol's.

Priestess Genevieve put a preservation spell on Lynette in case it did take weeks for her to wake up, that way her body wouldn't starve or get dehydrated.

Damiano and his coven were investigating Lady Eloise's notes as to why I was held in an asylum years ago.

Questions had jumbled in ny head, especially after seeing those photographs.

Why was I in that padded room? What did they do to me? What was wrong with me? Did the same thing happen to my brothers?

Why can't I remember any of it at all?

I sighed and softly tucked her hair behind her ear when the door opened and I looked to see Chris walk in.

"I have to admit, Aldous, your older brother is a terrifying interrogator...." he said. "I wouldn't want to be at the other end of that conversation if that were me...."

"He's been like that for as long as I can remember...." I sighed. "Have they said anything?"

"Nothing concrete... Those Warhol's are as vague as I remember them," he said, crossing his arms. "Though I'll be honest with you, its best you worry about your mate for now. Frederick and Andrew have things under control while Damiano and his coven investigate things."

I pursed my lips and nodded as he looked over at Lynette.

"How is she doing?" he asked, looking over.

I looked back at her. "She's okay.... Thankfully she's not in any danger here, just sleeping..... I just don't like the idea of her sleeping for weeks...."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that, then," He said with a soft tone as he approached closer. "I also heard Justin failed to look into her dreams... Alan mentioned some sort of mind shield..."

"Yeah... He was never able to look into her mind to see the meaning of her dreams being so cryptic in the beginning.... They were hoping to go in to get her to wake up, but no luck..." I explained.

"A unique genetic marker.... Just like Lord Lieseil..." he said. "Futher confirming her blood line...."

"Now they're trying to find the Sandman, see if they're able to get him to help wake her..." I said as took a deep breath and held her hand again.

"Its incredible.... The daughter of Lieseil is also daughter of the infamous Calypso herself...." Chris scoffed. "Never did I think that child would even exist in this lifetime... Let alone have such a powerful lineage.... Yet here she is, in the flesh...."

"I only ever heard rumors of Calypso.... Never thought she was a Blackwell spy," I said. "Of course, my mother and father did have their private affairs... Things not even Sebastian was ready to know of just yet..... However a child of rebellion hired as a lady-in-waiting, then turned secret spy and teacher who married an Obsidian founder and then was carrying an heir to the throne definitely is something unexpected...."

"I'll say," Chris said with a slight scoff as he looked at Lynette. "I remember being a child when I met Eloise only once.... She was helping deliver some aid to Salem after the plagues claimed a few lives there... My father included.... Your duchess here is practically a carbon copy of her...."

"They say she's Lilith's dopplegänger," I said, looking up at him. "I don't see it..."

"No... Neither do I...." he said. "Lilith's youth is rotted by her cruelty, no matter how immortal she is... You can tell compared to Eloise or Dream...."

Remington looked over and pursed his lips.

"I know you.... Something else is on your mind," he said, crossing his arms.

I looked up at him and sighed, deciding to tell him what I was hoping to do before this happened, and reached into my pocket for the little box before handing it to him.

He curiously opened it and his eyes widened.

"I see...." he said.

"I was hoping to ask before we go into battle," I said shyly.

"That's wonderful, Aldous... I know she'll happily accept," Chris

I smiled, holding her hand. "If we win this fight...."

"No if's.... We will win this," Chris assured, cutting me off. "We will end this tyranny, or die trying."

"I-I know, but... If we do win, I want to take her out of Obsidian for a while.... Give ourselves a break. After everything that's happened, she deserves it the most...." I said.

He frowned softly, looking at her.

"We will win.... After all, she is destined to lead us," he said. "Losing is not in the cards for her..."

I took a deep breath and looked at him before back at her.

"I hope you're right...." I said.

He smiled and patted my back as he handed me the little box again.

"I'll leave you two some more privacy... I'm going to go see if they need my help looking for Lord Morpheous...." he said.

I smiled and nodded. "Thank uou, old friend."

He nodded with a bow before leaving the room.

I looked back at Lynette as she slept soundly, and reached up to stroke her cheek softly.

"Please wake up soon, my love...." I murmured. "We need you.... I need you...."

I really do hope she's okay in there...

~~~~~

Video: "Lifeless Stars" by Palaye Royale ✨

Since I've been obsessing with The Sandman on Netflix, it felt right to include him for this story a bit. Highly recommend the show if anyone hasn't seen it.⏳

I just want to take a moment to day, that if I could right this very second, I would give the boys in Palaye a big hug right now... Because holy hell do they fucking need one.... 💔

This Fever Dream tour definitely pushed them all past their limits so many times, and yet they kept going and going despite everything that was thrown into their path. All for their Soldiers of the Royale Council, for their love of music and creativity and and expression, and for each other.

Its why I admire this band so much and hope one day I get to meet them and tell them how amazing they are. 🖤🖤🖤

I had hoped to see them for my birthday last month in Florida, but it was on a weekday and I live like 5 hours away from where it was taking place (I was also JUST starting a new job after leaving a really toxic one, so it was a lot of settling and getting used to a new higher position on top of that.).

These boys deserve the fucking world and more. Much love to them forever and always.. 🌻♥️

🎹Currently in Sapph's playlist:

Falling in Reverse
"God, If You Are Above...."

♡~ sapphire.