15. The Dreamer-What the Danger is

Present

Anna eyes were finally laying still.  The drugs had won and her sleep was easy, without dreams.

"My poor baby," he whispered softly.  Claire was at home catching up on her needed rest.  She had been watching vigil every moment since the call.  The call saying their daughter had been a hero in the explosion.  The call that told them she was in the hospital.  Now it was his turn to watch over their daughter.

His fingers twitched.  Something dark, something, something long remembered and never forgotten.  Never could have forgotten.  That scent was now on his daughter.  Dusted, as though the thing was smugly saying "I have your daughter,".

Aislinn.  He had to talk to Aislinn.  Curling his finger in Anna's palm, he relaxed.  Breathing.  Falling to asleep at will was the first trick he had learned.  The next was trickier and one he had no experience for.  Father and daughter, something in them, in their DNA, was exactly the same.  Both had the Dreaming Powers, inherited from him.  Which meant, hopefully, her genes which gave her the Dreaming gift were the same as his.  Pulling on their relationship, he delved inside of her unconscious mind.  And Dreamed.

"I was wondering when you would see me again," the small Japanese woman said from the corner.

"Tell me everything," the words were quicker and harsher than he intended.  One eyebrow lifted on the white face as she smoothed her schoolgirl outfit.  It was black and electric blue, to match her hair.

"She's been fighting against the barrier for some time.  A man cares very much for her and is calling her name. She doesn't know who it is, but she knows them in real life.  She has been wondering who loves her that much," she paused to consider the girl's father.  For his part he seemed to be doing rather well.  The swirling emotions were being kept calm.

"And so the barrier broke.  I tried to grab her, warn her, and take her away.  She was in my arms, I told her she shouldn't be there, and we were both yanked," this time he did not control his emotions as well.  She calmly pretended not to notice the fifty caliber handgun which had appeared in his hands.

"As I was fighting it, she awoke.  It set the bomb, hoping she would Dream to save her life.  Then he could destroy her and your line completely," the air shivered with her words.