The creature stood in the shadows, mesmerized. The power in the boy was much more focused; it sang louder than it ever had, and the creature responded to its call. He lost track of how long he stood enthralled outside the structure behind the main house. The old man had helped the boy, and now he was the most open he had ever been to his power. The residual power flowing from the small structure was intoxicating. Then the creature felt a thrill of fear – was it possible the boy would learn how to access the power on his own, before he could steal it?
The shiver of emotion surprised the creature – he had drifted so long in the human realm that it had literally been ages since he felt anything. He enjoyed creating fear and pain in others, but their emotions touched him very little. How was it that the power in this boy could call up such emotion in him? It wasn't hard to determine; it had been so long since anything was out of his reach, so long since the last time he had been denied, that the quest to possess the boy's power had reawakened old feelings in him. It was invigorating.
The creature changed his feelings into actions. Realizing that this was the opportunity he had been seeking he left the enthralling siren call of the boy's power and headed toward the house. The boy would never come to him voluntarily; he had to be drawn in. His brother was the one who had saved him from the fire before; there was no way the boy would leave him to a fiery death. With growing anticipation the creature approached the house. With the old man and the boy deeply involved in their work there would be nothing to stop him from taking the brother.
Confidently the creature approached the house. He could see the brother through the window. Unaware of the danger lurking so close by he had allowed himself to fall asleep on the couch. The creature arrogantly approached the porch certain that nothing could prevent him from taking the brother and ultimately possessing the younger boy's power. That was until he attempted to bound up the porch steps. Like a man in a dream, the creature lifted his foot to take the first step…and missed.
Frustrated and uncomprehending the creature tried again. He lifted his foot and moved forward to go up the stairs, but an invisible presence prevented his forward movement. Frustration blossomed into anger. He would not be denied! He attempted to enter every door and window, but each time was prevented by some invisible force. Consumed with rage, the creature stood where he had begun – the view of the sleeping man on the couch only infuriated him further – the boy was so close! How was his access being denied?
The creature suppressed his rage by pure force of will. On some level he knew he was now working against the clock – whereas time usually held no meaning for him, he understood that he needed to be in possession of the brother before the boy accepted the power within himself. The unusual circumstances again sent a thrill of emotion through the creature. The anticipation and challenge of this quest were like nothing he'd felt in ages, and they spurred him on to greater efforts.
Once again in control, the creature examined the house clinically. Almost immediately he could identify the source of the power preventing his access to the house. Hanging in regular intervals around the porch, and likely within the house, were simply woven dream catchers. Though their construction was not complex, the creature could see that the dream catchers were imbued with white power. Now he understood why the brother had not sensed his presence – he was surrounded by the old man's energy and protection. The creature could use that to his advantage. The brother had been lulled by the false sense of security, so much so that he was deeply asleep inside the house. Once the creature had breached the house the man inside would have no warning of his arrival.
The creature turned his attention back the porch; there were three dream catchers hanging there. He focused specifically on the one hanging closest to the front door. The creature didn't need to eliminate all of the potent talismans; he merely needed to weaken one. All he needed was a breach through which he could enter the house. Again, time was working against him and it gave him a thrill. There was no telling when the boy and old man would return. There was no telling if the brother would awaken and elude him. The thrill of the chase drove the creature on.
Though the old man had a certain amount of skill, the creature had lived for far longer than the span of one human life, and the power at his disposal was nearly boundless. The creature was physically unable to touch the dream catcher dangling above the door, but he didn't need to. This creature was one who encouraged death and decay. All of the materials that made up the talisman were natural materials – all of which tended toward decay, he just needed to encourage it.
As he allowed his power to work, the creature gazed upon the man sleeping just out of his reach. For as long as he walked in this human realm, he had never come to understand these lesser beings. What was it about being born into a family that made them so protective of each other? What was it that compelled them to intervene to the point where they were willing to give up their already short lives for one another? What was it about this man that would draw the other to his side? He didn't know. But he did know it to be true – that was enough.
A soft clunk indicated that the dream catcher had fallen. The creature tested his power against the force that had kept him at bay. A satisfied smile crossed his face as he successfully stepped onto the wooden staircase. Moving swiftly and silently the creature glided up the rest of the stairs and entered the house.