That night, lying awake in the bed I had shared with Lauren for six short years, I wondered what the dream king was doing. He seemed to be calling to my girls, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. The worst part was that Matthew had warned me something might happen.
Right before falling asleep, I remembered Matthew's warning: "Something's up with the Boss. He seems more brooding and angsty than usual. And he keeps messing with two rings that look exactly like your fiancee's." I had shrugged off the dream, thinking I was just coming up with things to keep me occupied. Now, I decided to get some answers.
Unlike the other times I had knowingly been to the Dreaming, I did not find myself on the beach with the multi-colored-eyed dolphins. I found myself right outside the dream king's castle, only it was draped with black cloths. Gone were the fantastic spires and graceful turrets. Now it was just squat and solid. And draped with black mourning veils. Matthew was waiting in the doorway, underneath the guardians.
"What's wrong here, Matthew?" I asked the raven. He looked at me with eyes filled with sadness and pain and replied, "The Boss is dyin'. He won't be here much longer and is talking with his successor." Today, Matthew's shifting between human and bird forms was more obvious, making me wonder what else was going on. He led me through the castle, heading towards the throne room.
I stopped at the door, suddenly seeing Morpheus's successor. It was as if I was seeing double, but in opposite colors. The man he was talking to wore all white and had white hair. Then I noticed the similarities. The visitor had black eyes and pale skin. It was like seeing Yin and Yang personified. Morpheus looked up at me and wearily waved me in. I slowly walked in, looking at the differences to the throne room.
Other than the shape, everything was the same. I stopped a few feet from the throne and stood awkwardly. I didn't know how to begin. Morpheus saved me by pointing to the man beside him. I turned my head towards him as Morpheus said, "Namesake, this is Daniel. He will be taking my place. Soon." I inclined my head to Daniel as he did the same to me. I turned back to Morpheus and took a deep breath.
"Today, my daughters came to me with an interesting story. It involves my wife," I began. I sat down on the ground before continuing my story. "They told me they had found rings in a box of newspaper clippings that look exactly like my wife's. The one she was buried with. And, even stranger, the words Forever and Love were inscribed on the bands. What does it mean?" The dream king slowly unfolded from his throne, his hand wrapped protectively around something.
"I sent them to be found my Elizabeth and Aislynn. Interesting name choice for your younger girl, by the way. It seems your family follows the dream names," Morpheus replied. "They are important to the Dreaming. I do not know why, Destiny did not disclose that. But if they come to you with stories of meeting odd, disturbing, or threatening people, do not discount them. Your daughters will be visited by my siblings." After that exhaustive, for him, paragraph, Morpheus sank back to his throne and held out his hand again.
Feeling deja vu, I again held out my own hand and caught the ring that tumbled down. I noticed Daniel watching carefully, as if cataloguing everything in his mind. The ring again had a green stone, but was streaked with bands of silver. Looking on the band, I noticed Eternity inscribed within. I looked quizzically at Morpheus, but he just smiled.
"Hold on to that, Morpheus Visare Talbot," he told me. "You may need it. This will be the last time you see me. Good luck and take care." Daniel inclined his head one last time as the room faded out. Before everything went completely black, I noticed a very confused-looking man standing in the room behind Morpheus. I thought that he had a decidedly bird-like look to him before surrendering to the blackness of deep sleep.