Because of a Dream-2

She did not wake until the second evening. I had fallen asleep on the couch, the hum of the still night still ringing in my ears. Sometime later I was in that half awake, half asleep stage. I could hear the moan of the wind-you know how the wind sounds right before a storm? For some reason I couldn't shake this dream I was having. I dreamt I was walking down an isle in a church. The pews were old, and the church had a musty smell to it. The lights flickered once and went out. I knew there was something lurking in the shadows behind the alter, knew it was waiting for me. Lightning flashed, and the tiny church trembled with the clap of thunder that came next. In the next flash of lightning I could just make out some sort of shaggy creature. In the quiet darkness that followed, I heard a rustling. Before I could cry out, the thing had rushed me, knocking me on my back. I stared into the eyes of some kind of gremlin. It had row upon row of jagged teeth. Its putrid breath was a yellow haze in front of me, and was making me nauseous. It raised a hand, it's claws gleaming in what little light there was, and then plunged them into my chest. I screamed, pain shooting through my body. 1

I could feel someone shaking me awake.2

"Amien you must wake up." came that soft whisper.3

My eyes flew open. Rain was coming in through the open window. The wind blew her hair in tangles around her face.4

I stood up quickly to close the window, but the pain from my dream shot through me like a dagger. I took a shaky breath and looked down at my chest. I could just out five puncture marks.5

"But it was only a dream." I looked at her puzzled.6

A worried look came over her face like a shadow. I blinked twice and fell into the land of darkness.7

The sun was shining on my face. I opened my eyes and the world span about. I closed them quickly, afraid of getting sick.8

"You must rest, Amien. The venom of the knarlfore takes time to run its course."9

"But I thought it only happened in my dream." my voice cracked.10

"Do not worry about what a knarlfore is. It only resides in the dream realm."11

She shook her head. I took a closer look.12

"What happened to you hair? And you...you aren't blue anymore?"13

A smile came over her features.14

"Ah," cane the whisper, "I can't look like myself in this world."15

Her skin was still pale, milky, soft and beautiful, just not blue. She had shoulder length curls, and the wing tipped ears were just normal ears. 16

She smiled wider, and before my eyes she changed back; the blue skin, the fire hair, the ears. Call me strange, but she was the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on.17

"Shh." She frowned,” Don’t trouble yourself with such trivial things. Do not think on my appearance. I am still who I am. And I know, this is all confusing, all new to you."18

"But..."19

"Everything will be revealed in due time."20

"What about a name?"21

"Name?"22

"Yes, what people call you?"23

"Ah, my betreen? Yes, well you may call me Eliralim."24

Eliralim? Fits her perfectly.25

"Rest now Amien. Sleep." she whispered.26

There was just something about her voce. well for starters it was always a whisper. It sounded something like waves lapping against a shore, but something like the wind gently calling to the beings of the night. No matter, I began to feel drowsy. I fell asleep to her humming and a gently breeze of early afternoon brushing my cheek.27