(DREAM SHIFT) means a shift in dreams (Duh!)

Chapter 12

What lies Within Your Dreams

Tk slipped into a fretful sleep filled with dreams, not just dreams , but memories from very long ago, memories relived like a ghostly projection.

Five year old Tk walked down a long stone hallway, her bare feet just visible beneath her soft white muslin nightgown barely made a sound on the cold stone floor.

'Mama . . . papa?' she whispered. She sought out first her mother and father, then her brothers and sister but had not found them. She heard the faint sounds of music and laughter float up the grand staircase and she followed it to the large french double doors of the ballroom which now stood open, and people dressed in fantastic costumes of vibrant colors and patterns, and all wearing masks some were plain and simple others elaborate and fancy, but many were monestrous and terrifying.

'Ohh look a wee babe out of bed.' someone jeered.

'Did the big bad monsters try and eat you?' another asked in mock concern.

'Boo!' Someone in a horrible ghoul mask cried which in turn made Tk cry in fear.

'Oh the little babe's crying.' a woman in a demon mask crowed.

'What's going on over here?' a man's stern voice demanded.

'Just a bit of fun highness.' the woman in the demon mask replied seductively eyeing the man in the horned mask.

'Tk? Tk what are you doing down here little one?' the man asked kneeling down in front of her which made Tk sob harder at the mask that was just inches from her.

'Tk, Tk hush little one it's alright, it's alright, it's just me little one, see.' the man said as he removed his mask.

Tk looked up into the mismatched blue and green eyes of her favorite older brother, Jareth.

'Jareth.' she cried throwing her small arms around her brother's neck.

'Come here little one, up we go.' Jareth said as he picked Tk up and brought her back up to her room and tucked her in.

'I don't want to go to sleep the dream will come back.' Tk whimpered.

'What do you see in the dream?' Jareth asked sitting down on the edge of the bed.

'In the dream mama and papa are killed, and a bigger girl is sad and then the bigger girl is talking to goblins then she cries when she's crowned.' Tk said.

'Then what happens?' Jareth asked.

'Then I wake up cause I gotta go potty.' Tk yawned.

(Dream Shift 465 years later)

Tk climbed out of bed and dressed quickly, then made her way down to the dinning hall.

'I can't wait for my special birthday breakfast?' Tk said to herself as she entered the large dinning hall to find it surprisingly empty, she sat down and a covered tray appeared before her, she took the cover off the tray expecting her usual birthday breakfast, that cook made only for her, on holidays and her birthday, banana chocolate chip pancakes, but upon lifting it found only porridge.

'No pancakes? But cook always makes them for my birthday.' Tk murmured.

Tk finished the porridge and sighed in disappointment as she got up and walked to her father's large study where they always opened presents, knowing her family must be waiting there for her there.

'Good morning, I'm here!' Tk said as she entered the study then stopped short, there was no one there, only two presents and a note. Tk picked the note up first.

"'We've gone to the Elf Kingdom for a ball in honor of the engagement of Princess Draca of the Dragon Kingdom and the heir to the Kingdom of Elves, Prince Aden. We didn't think you'd want to come with so we let you stay home, we'll see you in a week.'" they didn't even say they loved me or good bye or happy birthday.' Tk said a faint waiver in her voice.

'Well at least they left some presents.' Tk said hopefully as she tore the wrapping from the first gift, her smile fading a little as she grabbed the second one and opened it, her mouth dropped open in disbelief.

'Socks and a book about manners.' Tk said hurt, her voice cracking, and tears started to make their way down her cheeks as she fled the study and took the stairs two at a time and ran into her room slamming door then curling up on her bed and crying.

'Happy -bloody- birthday to me!' Tk wailed into her pillow.

'Happy birthday, birthday girl.' Rosie said as she appeared in the room, making Tk sob even harder.

'Tk, why are you crying pumpkin, what's wrong?' Rosie asked pulling Tk into her arms.

'Socks and a book! That's what mama and papa gave me! They're not even here. I didn't even get my special breakfast! They did it again!' Tk wailed into Rosie's lap, a mortified look painted across Rosie's normally peaceful and happy face.

'Oh pumpkin, that's horrible, come here I think you'll like my present much better then those others.' Rosie said putting a big box on the bed, and watched as Tk looked at it before untying the big yellow satan ribbon from around the big red box and lifted the lid off, inside were six other boxes each tied with a yellow ribbon, the first box contained a big leather bound book of parchment paper for writing, drawing or just what ever, the second and third each held two brand new pots of ink, emerald green, dark blue, black, and violet. The fourth had ten new quills made of dazzling black raven feathers, the fifth box held a glass bottle of lilac oil, her favorite scent, and the sixth and last box contained a crystal.

'Whenever you need me pumpkin, just say my name and I'll come to you.' Rosie said hugging her close.

"Nothin' like a little snack to help a guy get to sleep." Argon whispered to himself as he took a bite from the large two and a half inch thick sandwich, that he lovingly dubbed the 'Gut-which' that within eight minutes had disappeared and was followed by a mug of milk, then with a large yawn he hauled his butt up and back to bed, he passed by Tk's room and stopped at the soft sounds of crying.

"Tk?" Argon whispered.

"A-Argon. . .is that you?" Tk whimpered opening the door.

"Yeah it's me. Are you ok Tk? Why were you crying?" Argon asked.

"Yeah, I'm ok, just a bad dream, that's all. I'm sorry if I woke you up." Tk whispered

"Nah, you didn't wake me up, I couldn't sleep, so I got a little snack, well if you're ok I let you get back to sleep. See you in the morning Tk." Argon yawned heading back to his room.

"Night Argon." Tk yawned going back into her room.