I let out a huge exhale as I recognized Bethany Grey. “Um, okay. And you care because…?”
She grimaced. “Heaven help me, you are so much like your mother. We’re finally going to begin our dream training session tonight. I would’ve preferred to have done this much sooner, but seeing how you skipped the last few sessions…”
“It’s not my fault I was sick.” Conveniently, I silently added. In truth, I blew off the first one because it seemed like a waste of time after all I’d learned from my mother. And the second had been scheduled a couple days after I found out the truth about Nightmares from Mr. Marrow, and I didn’t think I could face the possibility of learning any more unpleasant facts. “And I’m nothing like my mom, thank you very much.”
Bethany huffed then turned on one thick, bulky heel of her Dr. Martens boots and headed down the hallway toward the exit. I followed after her. She wore all black clothes like me and had her hair pulled back in a severe bun. Her resemblance to a gorilla was more striking than ever in that getup.
“How come I didn’t know we were doing this tonight?” I asked as we descended the stairs into the tunnels.
“Last-minute decision. Lady Elaine had some concerns over the apparent lack of progress in your dream journals.”
“Like she’s got any business complaining about lack of progress,” I muttered, although I suspected the truth was that Lady Elaine sprung it on me so I couldn’t ditch again.
Bethany marched along, ignoring me.
As usual, Eli was still awake when we arrived. To my horror, Lance was up, too.
“Well, here she comes,” Lance said when I came through the door. “Quick, Eli, better run and hide before she curses us.”
“Leave her alone,” said Eli.
“I quite agree,” added Bethany, following me in.
Both boys startled at the sudden appearance of this strange, oversized woman in their dorm room.
“What are you doing here?” Lance said with his mouth hung open like a hooked fish. His fingers, which had been twirling a joker card, stilled mid-flip.
Bethany fixed a glare on him. “Not your concern, Mr. Rathbone.”
“But … you’re Bethany Grey, right?”
She gave him a mock bow. “So glad to know you’ve heard of me.”
Lance gulped. “Yeah, you work for Consul Vanholt. Sort of his personal … something or other.”
“Yes, that’s right, but no time to dwell on specifics. Off to bed with you.” Bethany shooed at Lance like a dog, and to my surprise, he obeyed, disappearing into the bedroom without a word.
Now it was me looking like the hooked fish. I’d never known Lance to be obedient to anybody. I stared at Bethany, feeling more curious about her than I ever had before. “What exactly do you do for the consul?”
She waved the question off and turned to Eli. “On to the sofa, young man, and hurry up.” She snapped her fingers. “We don’t have all night.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why are you here?”
I stifled a groan at Eli’s antagonistic attitude and jumped in between him and Bethany. “It’s okay,” I said, thumping his shoulder. “She’s a Nightmare, too. She’s going to teach me some things, so we’re both going to enter your dream.”
Eli frowned, eyeing the woman who stood nearly as tall as he did, which was saying something. “You’re not actually going to sit on me, are you?”
I hid a giggle even though I sympathized with his worry. Bethany would crush him.
She scowled. “Don’t be ridiculous. A Nightmare doesn’t have to sit on your chest to enter your dream. That is merely the most effective position for creating a strong connection between dreamer and Nightmare. But only a single touch is necessary for entry. There are even some Nightmares powerful enough to enter your dreams from a distance.”
“There are?” I said.
Bethany glanced at me, frowning. “Didn’t you know?”
I shook my head.
“Not surprised. I’m sure Moira failed to teach you anything useful.”
“You’re probably right.” Seemed there were a few things Bethany could teach me after all.
“Humph,” Bethany said, although she sounded mollified.
Eli sat on the sofa, and we waited for him to fall asleep. Then Bethany and I moved into position on either side of him and entered the dream.
I was in the tunnels again and had to fight back panic. I managed it, but only because there wasn’t any sign of somebody on fire. Actually, there wasn’t any sign of anybody period, not even Eli.
I took off at a run, trying to find him. The tunnel curved around then ended at the threshold of a vast underground chamber. Lit torches hung at intervals around its circumference. The purple haze of the flames told me it was Everlasting Fire, created by a difficult spell that few magickind could perform.
In the center of the chamber, Eli stood next to what looked like a raised altar with a long, rectangular box set on top of it that seemed to be made of some pale crystal. Facets of it twinkled in the light of the purple flames.
Eli spotted me and shouted from across the room, “What is this place?”
“No idea,” I hollered back.
Bethany emerged from the tunnel next to me and the two of us headed into the chamber.
“You’ve never been here before?” I asked Eli when I reached the raised altar.
“Nope.” He was staring fixedly at the box, which was indeed made from some kind of crystal.