Dream Killer: Book One in the Nadia Chronicles

The pounding of their own feet was all that broke the silence for hours until Althea spoke up. “Dimitri, honestly I don’t think I can keep up this pace.” Althea’s voice sounded like the rest of her body felt, exhausted and weak.

Dimitri was not feeling much better but his will to keep going was stronger. He knew that he could probably keep up his pace for four or five more hours though they had been half jogging for twelve or more hours only resting long enough to eat and stretch. Althea had packed up the cave just as the sky was changing from midnight blue to a musty green, the first signs of sunrise. As they jogged, they had sun for most of the day with occasional cloud coverage. However, a big storm was moving in and the sun was going to set within the hour. Dimitri knew he could keep walking even after dark and through a storm if necessary. But if Althea faltered from exhaustion she could easily dump their precious burden. He looked past Nadia’s unconscious form to take in the droop in Althea’s shoulders and the way Althea was beginning to shuffle her feet with each step.

He was glad for the straps of leather he insisted on using to make a shoulder harness for the stretcher even if it had caused his jacket to be shortened by a few inches. Dimitri knew they would need their hands from time to time and the harness put most of Nadia’s weight on their shoulders. Nadia was not tall or big, but after being awake for over a day or two a little weight felt like a ton. Althea’s slumping shoulders showed it too. Dimitri knew that she needed sleep, but he also knew they were too exposed where they were.

“We need to travel a few miles more.” Althea groaned but Dimitri continued, acting as if he had not heard her. “There is a shelter there. It isn’t much, but it will protect us from the elements tonight and it gives us a little much needed security.”

Althea slowed, glancing over her shoulder at Dimitri. “Do you mean the old ruins where the Village of Bedros used to be?” Dimitri nodded once. “But,” Althea continued. “I heard that city is haunted with the un-avenged spirits of the dead villagers. I heard it was burned to the ground with the villagers locked inside their own houses. The lucky ones never woke before death claimed them.”

“That is the rumor,” Dimitri said casually and shrugged off Althea’s growing fear. His answer did not sate Althea’s confusion.

“Why, in Baako, would you want to stay among the dead, dead that can,” she paused, searching for the right words. “I don’t know, attack you or just ruin a good night’s sleep?” Her fear was becoming more evident with every word.

“What is this?” Dimitri asked. “Is Althea, the big, bad hunter, who needs only herself for company, afraid of a few ghosts? How can this be?” His sarcasm colored every word, but his exhaustion could still be heard.

“Shut up,” she growled. “Let’s go. The faster we get there the faster I put Nadia down and go to sleep, forgetting you two even exist.” She trailed off, mumbling to herself about ungrateful guardians and every cuss word she could string together.

Dimitri smiled to himself, though the smile didn’t make it to his eyes. He was worried. They were moving faster than he ever thought possible, but they were not moving fast enough. Dimitri considered his options for the thousandth time that very long day as he watched Nadia shaking slightly under his jacket. He could get Nadia and Althea to the safety of the abandoned, ruined village and then leave them there. After all, he would move faster by himself and may even get a healer back to Nadia within a day or so. However, the thought of leaving Nadia was painful to Dimitri.

He thought about all that could go wrong. What if they were attacked? Althea is a formidable fighter, from what he had heard, but he had never seen her in action. Also, why is Althea really helping them? She could be working for the enemy or as a bounty hunter or she may just leave Nadia alone with no protection after Dimitri left. She doesn’t really seem to have the maternal touch, Dimitri thought to himself. He glanced at all the places Althea was carrying a weapon and thought about all the other places Althea may have had a weapon stashed.

I don’t think I will leave Nadia with this hunter, he thought with a stubborn head nod. But, with the weather changing so rapidly I may not have a choice.

Dimitri had hoped they would have had another week or more before the snow arrived, but that didn’t seem likely anymore. There was also the village to contend with. He had been there many times since its abrupt and destructive abandonment and knew Althea’s fear was justified. Dimitri hoped the village would be quiet that night. He struggled with his internal argument most of the way to village.

“Dimitri,” Althea sounded annoyed. “Seriously, I have been calling your name for like ten minutes. What the hell were you thinking about?”

Dimitri looked around taking in the village for the first time in more than a year. It had been twenty years since the horrific fire had wiped out most of the villagers and nature was steadily reclaiming the space once more. Dimitri and Althea were at what would have been the south gate. Dimitri knew the best building for shelter, and safety would be the City Center. The City Center was built for city business, a shelter for those that needed it in the long winter months, and a temple to the gods. Dimitri knew the building was made of sturdy stone rather than the wood that was used for the rest of the village. He hoped at least parts of the City Center were still standing. He was also warier and more alert since they had entered the village. Dimitri felt exposed in that dark and death filled place. As a boy, he used to explore the ruins, even staying among them. He never felt threatened, but he also never felt alone. He thought Althea’s fear of ghosts was not ridiculous in a tragic place like this one.

“I’m sorry,” Dimitri continued to scan the village with his eyes. “We need to go to the center of the village, but keep your eyes open for animal as well as human visitors. This is the only shelter for miles around.”

He didn’t have to tell Althea twice. She was alert to any movement, whether imagined or created by the wind. She let go of the gurney relying only on the leather straps. With her hands free, Althea could openly carry her knives, one for throwing and one for fighting. She opened her eyes wide trying to pierce the darkness, but most movement was small and from the constant breeze that was rapidly changing into a freezing wind. Althea saw a small creature, similar to a squirrel, scurry from one tree over to the next and a large owl take flight to do it’s nightly hunting.

Dimitri was also trying to pierce the darkness with his gray-blue eyes, but he was more intent on the building he could just make out in the distance. Seeing the shape of the City Center gave Dimitri hope. He knew that at least a part of the building was still standing. They would soon get some much-needed rest with as much security as they could hope for from the building. Between Althea’s fear and Dimitri’s excitement to get Nadia into a safe place they practically ran to their destination.

Dimitri was shocked to see that the City Center looked practically untouched by the nature that was reclaiming the rest of the village. The oversized wood doors were long gone and the black granite no longer shined, otherwise the outside of the building looked sturdy and secure. The inside of the building lost much of its luster, but that was to be expected, Dimitri thought. There were many rooms on the first floor just off the entrance of the building and even more up the two grand stair cases. Dimitri noticed the black and white floor tiles were covered in debris and signs that animals had been coming and going for years. That put him back on his guard. Dimitri remembered how the City Center used to be the jewel of this area and for miles around. It was a place that people used to talk about in respectful whispers and would fall silent the first time they saw it. It was grand beyond what a simple village should have had. Yet, that one had and cherished it. It saddened him to see the over large chandelier was sitting on the floor and looked damaged beyond repair.

“I think,” Dimitri sighed at the loss of the grandeur of the building. “That we should camp upstairs provided the roof has held. It will keep us safer from animals and intruders.”

“Fine with me,” Althea said awed by the size of the building. “Why would a village this small need a building this grand?” she wondered aloud looking past the damage.

“Even simple villagers need a place to meditate, gather, and feel safe,” he answered with an edge to his voice. “But there is also the rumor that the gods themselves demanded a grand building and may have helped with the construction. Some believe this building has been here many millennia longer than the village.” Both Dimitri and Althea never let their voices travel above a whisper as they spoke just inside the front entrance. “Okay,” Dimitri said after another minute. “Let’s get upstairs. But tread lightly. I do not know what kind of shape the stairs are in and would hate it if we came this far only to fall through to our deaths. Once we get to the landing I am going to leave Nadia with you and explore each room before we settle for the night.”

Althea understood the reasoning behind his words but she was still ready to fight them. “No,” Althea said overly tired and annoyed. “We can leave Nadia alone for a couple minutes and check the rooms together. We will get done faster and get to sleep sooner.” Dimitri was probing the stairs with his eyes and did not give her an answer or acknowledgement of any kind. Althea wasn’t even sure he had heard her hoarse whisper and didn’t really care. She was not under Dimitri’s command and planned to do as she had said. Althea hated men who felt they always had to ‘protect’ their women. She had to answer to no one, least of all someone else’s guardian.

When they had reached the landing Althea and Dimitri gently lowered Nadia onto the floor and placed their bags around her. Dimitri immediately started off toward the right side of the room with the intent of checking all the rooms before sleeping. Althea armed herself once again and moved off to the left.

“Stop.”

Both Althea and Dimitri turned, ready to fight but found Nadia instead. Nadia was standing and alert. She sounded distant and to Dimitri’s ears harsh and unkind. Nadia was looking at Althea, “If the unbelieving and unworthy disturb the dead they will not hesitate to disturb you back. Are you prepared for that, Althea of Earth?”

Dimitri shot Althea a searching look, but she was white and rooted to the spot staring at Nadia.

“How?” Althea began, but no noise left her mouth. “How could you know that, Nadia?”

Nadia’s laugh was as harsh as her voice and Dimitri was convinced they were no longer speaking to Nadia. “Who are you?” Dimitri spoke softly and controlled despite his fear and rage. It was Althea’s turn to shoot Dimitri a searching look, but he was staring at Nadia. “Who are you?” He repeated through gritted teeth.

“Dimitri of Bedros, Gaia and Benicio’s son.” Nadia slowly looked over at him.

“No, that is who I am. Who are you?” Dimitri sounded casual, but he was starting to tremble with uncontrolled fury and exhaustion.

“I saw you many times when you were a boy and as a younger man,” the voice said. “You came here and stayed for weeks at a time. Did you ever find what you were looking for?”

“No,” Dimitri said simply.

Nadia continued, “You were looking for an answer to why someone would do this.” She gestured to the ghost town with Nadia’s arm revealing many of the bruises she had sustained while in the river and some she had received while in the dream realm. “How those who followed this person could look away when the screaming started. How they could walk away when they knew the death they had caused. How they could sleep at night when you could not for fear of hearing the screams of those you could do nothing to save.”

A tear rolled down Dimitri’s cheek. “Yes.” He whispered in a voice heavy with deep sadness.

“He sacrificed himself to give you and your brother time to escape,” the voice sounded softer and full of emotion of years lost. “He was a brave man and his actions saved many that day. You were but a mere child and yet you carry the burden of those dead so long ago. Why?”

“He was my father and everyone who died in the village were my friends and neighbors,” Dimitri said as he looked at Nadia, but spoke to the ghost that possessed her. “My father was grievously tortured and for what? Why did they even come to this village? What were they looking for?”

“You know the answers to your questions. You must stop looking outside and start looking within.” The voice was beginning to sound more distant as if it were walking away down a distant corridor. “You. You and your brother did not cause the fire nor have any more to do with the death here than to escape it. The enemy tortured your father to find you and your brother, because of what he knew you both would become. How he knew of you is a better question, but if you had died in the fight or the fire that took place in this sad place this world and others would have lost so many. Let the pain in your heart go. Learn to accept and you will receive the answers you seek and need. For you, a gift from the grateful.”

The voice was a mere whisper by the end and Dimitri had to walk closer to hear it. Instinctively, Dimitri knew when Nadia was Nadia again and jumped to catch her as she fell. Nadia gasped, curling into a ball. She never opened her eyes, but she continued to struggle for breath until she stopped breathing altogether.

“Nadia?” Dimitri breathed. “Althea. I need you. She needs you.” He glanced around and saw Althea was still rooted to the spot.

Althea could fight with words and weapons against an enemy she could see and feel, but to fight the dead? The dead have nothing to lose, no fear of the living, no flesh to cut. Althea felt completely out of her element and, for the first time in a long time, she was afraid.

“Althea,” Dimitri tried again to no avail. He turned back to Nadia. “Please, Nadia. You have been so strong. Please.”

He laid her flat onto the makeshift blankets and placed his ear against her mouth to see if she was breathing. Nothing. He pinched her nose and breathed two short breaths into her mouth. He saw her chest rise but knew it was only because he was breathing for her. He began giving her compressions, but was losing hope rapidly. Dimitri had seen death before and was trying desperately to stave it off. He was not helping Nadia by pressing on her already injured ribs. He did not know that he was weeping softly until the tears hit his hands.

He did not know he had more company than Althea until he heard, “Stop, son.” But Dimitri would not stop until he was forcibly pushed away from Nadia. “Look at me,” the voice said once again.

“Father?” Dimitri asked. “How can this be?” Dimitri considered the face of his father, not a day older than the day he had died. Dimitri was the spitting image of his father, Benicio, except his eyes. Dimitri had vivid gray-blue eyes and Benicio had emerald green eyes.

“There is not much time son,” Benicio said quickly in a distant sounding voice. “I must pass on a gift to you if you are to save this girl. You have proven yourself more than worthy of my gift, but you were unable to receive it until you came to see me. I am now the guardian of this place and all like it, but, more importantly, in life I was a healer. Do you remember?”

Dimitri was trying to grasp how the ghost of his father could appear to him and to understand what his father was telling him. But Dimitri was desperate for Nadia. Nadia had not taken a breath for several minutes but Dimitri was still unwilling to give up. “Father,” Dimitri pleaded. “Save her. Please.”

“I cannot,” Benicio said simply.

“So, that is it then? I am just supposed to accept her death, like I had to accept yours?” Dimitri had begun to sob and it was difficult to understand him through his tears.

“No son, by finally accepting my death you will save her.” As Benicio spoke he reached out and grasped Dimitri by the shoulders. “Look at me son. For you, a gift from the grateful.” Dimitri obeyed through his hopelessness.

Several seconds later Althea was shaking Dimitri’s shoulders. “Dimitri.” Althea screamed. “You were just giving Nadia CPR and collapsed.”

Dimitri wiped the sweat from his forehead, while searching the room with his eyes. “My father? He was just here. He touched my shoulder and.” His eyes had

dropped to Nadia’s pale, dead form. He reached for her thinking of her infectious laughter. He remembered what she looked like when she jumped out from behind the tree ready to attack him. How strong she was when she was protecting him. Dimitri pulled Nadia into his arms, sobbing.

“Father, please, I don’t know what to do.” He looked around again, but only Althea was there. Looking back down at Nadia he whispered, “If I could take your pain I would. I cannot live without you. Baako needs you, I need you.”

Althea knelt next to him slowly placing a hand on his shoulder, “Dimitri, she’s gone. Let her go.” Althea reached for Nadia, but a look from Dimitri stopped her.

“No, I can do this. I have to do this.” Dimitri buried his face into Nadia’s tangled, curly hair and whispered into her ear. “Come back to me Nadia. Come back. I love you.” He felt the pull before he knew that his father’s gift had worked. Althea gasped and Nadia stirred in Dimitri’s arms.

“How?” Althea began, but stopped when Nadia opened her eyes.

“Dimitri?” Nadia questioned in less than a whisper.

“I can’t believe it.” Dimitri began exhausted. “Nadia, how do you feel?”

“Kind of terrible, but alive.” Her voice was pained and croaky from not being used. She grinned up at Dimitri through her obvious pain. “You brought me back. I heard you calling me and then felt the pain lessen.” She reached up slowly to Dimitri’s face and wiped his tears. “Thank you.” Nadia’s eyes were fluttering with exhaustion and pain but she wound her arms around Dimitri as he continued to hold her. “Stay with me. Don’t let me go,” she whispered.

Dimitri was overjoyed to hear her speak and feel her arms around him, but did not understand. “If I can heal now, why are you not healed completely?”

Nadia fought to keep her eyes open. “You are too tired,” she said matter-of-factly. “I felt your gift but it feels drained. Don’t worry,” she added looking into his concerned eyes. “You have saved me from the dream realm and taken away some of my pain. I don’t need anything else tonight.” To prove her point she snuggled into his chest a little closer despite her broken rib and other internal injuries she still carried.

“Tomorrow, then.” Dimitri was gently laying her on the ground and himself next to her when he spoke. “Tomorrow, I will heal you completely and you will feel no pain anymore.” Nadia was asleep once more before Dimitri finished speaking, but Dimitri stayed awake just long enough to cover them both with his jacket and stroke Nadia’s hair.

Dimitri fell asleep wrapped in her arms before Althea had time to comprehend the scene before her. She stared at Dimitri’s and Nadia’s sleeping forms for a long time torn with what she should do.

“What now?” Althea whispered, glancing around the room as she laid out her weapons before she finally dosed off.