Conor now knew the dreams would come. Each night he closed his eyes with a troubled heart. Each night he drifted off to sleep trying desperately to plan how he could avoid the unavoidable ending. As his eyes drew closed he readied himself for his nightly battle.

Catlin couldn't remember how it was she ended up in the council meeting room of Ian's tribe. The stinging night wind howled outside the tiny building. She felt unease and drew her sword. The hissing of metal seemed somewhat loud... too loud. Nervously, she paced about the room waiting. The approaching sound of footsteps drew her attention back toward the door. Conor rushed in.

"Catlin, you have to get out of here."

His voice was panicked. He ran over to her and pulled her toward the door. Catlin could feel every small bump and ridge of his hand on her arm. Her senses were overly active.

"Conor, what's wrong?"

"Please, Catlin. You have to get out of here," his brown eyes pleaded with hers.

Without a word, she followed him out into the night. From a distance she could see a man in a brown robe approaching. It was Longinus.

"Go... GO!" Conor yelled. He pushed her towards what seemed the escape route, away from the approaching Roman. "Conor! Come on!" She tried to pull him with her. He pushed her away.

"Catlin, please... Do as I say. Go!"

Catlin didn't want to leave, but the order had been direct and she knew for once not to question it. She ran and tried not to look back. She heard the sound of Conor battling Longinus. Still she did not turn. Then the sound of someone crashing into something. A small groan. Heavy hearted, she recognized the sound as Conor. Her feet inexplicably began to slow. It was as if she did not control her own body. She heard someone approaching. Then a cold hand grabbed her arm. Finally, she turned. The pallid face and fetid breath of the 400 year-old man were there in front of her. Smiling, Longinus twisted her arms behind her back. Catlin writhed to free herself, but it was no use. His strength was too great. Longinus pushed her back to where Conor was slowly staggering to his feet. A determined expression played across the prince's face as he steadied his sword in an attack position. In a single swift moment Catlin felt herself being lifted into the air. Then in a blinding flash of pain she was hurled into the side of the small building she had been in moments before. It was all she could do to keep conscious. Her body cried out and throbbed. Catlin felt a wet stinging in her eyes. She brought her hand to her face and wiped away the blood that was seeping from a gash above her temple. She saw Conor try to run Longinus through, but his attack was slow and clumsy. She thought she heard the centurion laugh as he knocked Conor to the ground. Longinus turned back toward Catlin and pulled her to her feet by her hair. She whimpered in pain, but could no longer struggle. It took all her energy to fight off the inky darkness beckoning to take over her vision.

"Longinus," Conor's feeble voice cracked. "Longinus!"

She again felt herself being lifted into the air. Catlin braced herself for the next blow. A moment or two went by before she realized that she was still held aloft by Longinus. Slowly she felt herself being lowered to the ground. In a brilliant flash of light someone appeared between she and Conor. The being was neither male nor female. The voice it spoke with was Catlin's own, and in her mind, but the words were clear.

"Longinus... This spell is broken. You will not come again to these people in their dreams. I will not allow you to use our ways to carry out your deeds."

Catlin felt and heard her heart pounding. She heard Conor's heartbeat. She heard the quiet breath of those sleeping in the village. She heard the quick palpitations of a rabbit. She heard the fluttering of owl's wings. The groan of a tree branch. She heard everything around her. It washed over her in a roar.


Diana yawned wearily. She and Antonius had been tracking Longinus for over three hours, but still, they hadn't yet caught up with him. The Queen was not stupid. She was sure Longinus knew what they were up to. It had been unfortunate that she had not chosen a smarter soldier, but she wasn't in the position to be picky this time.

"All right Longinus, you win," she yelled out in the darkness.

"My lady!" Antonius whispered sharply. "He will hear us!" Antonius was smart enough to know that Longinus was not as forgiving as Diana. The immortal appeared out of the brush to Diana's left. A satisfied smile played across his face.

"You're a little too late, Diana. You've missed her."

Diana stared at him. Her mouth opened, as if to speak, then closed. She held out her hand. Longinus took it and helped her off her horse.

"I don't understand why you feel the need to keep things from me," she said placing her hands on his chest.

"Because, my love, you are only looking out for yourself... If it suited you, you would ally with Conor in a heartbeat."

"It's impossible to lock me out, Longinus. I know you too well."

"We'll see."


Catlin gasped for air. She sat up straight in the bed. The roar still lingered in her ears. Feeling suddenly claustrophobic, she stumbled outside. Seconds later, Conor emerged from his room coughing.

Her eyes found his in the night. He quickly crossed over to where she had slumped to her knees.

"The dream?" he asked quietly.

"I was there... I felt- it was..." she couldn't continue, just exhaled a shaky breath.

Conor knelt down next to her and placed his left arm around her shoulder. With the back of his right hand he stroked her cheek.

"Shh. I know... I know."

Conor had become used to the dreams. It was easier for him to return to reality. "Come on." He helped her up and walked her back into her room. They sat down on the bed. "It's over," he said squeezing her hand.

"Conor, what was that? What just happened to us?" she gasped, her eyes wide.

"Whatever it was, I think it's over now," he smiled. Genuine relief registered on his face. "Now go back to sleep. We'll talk about this in the morning." He leaned her back on the blankets and stroked her hair. Her heart slowed it's racing and as her eyes fluttered closed she could barely make out Conor's figure standing at the doorway. He cast a watchful eye on her then disappeared into the night. Sleep took her and it was void of dreams.