"You know this isn't necessary." Vince groused, trying to sound convincing. Truth be told he was grateful for the help of his friends, though this was pushing the limits of his frayed patience. He batted Raia's hand away as the aerial artist attempted to place a newly plumped pillow behind his head. She smirked and shrugged as she surrendered it to him and sauntered gracefully over to an overstuffed chair tucked into the far corner of the room.
"Max said that somebody should watch over you, just in case." Raia said matter of fact, as she folded her lithe frame into the soft cushions of the chair with an ease that Vince envied.
He sighed as he tugged the blanket higher. "I don't need a babysitter." Vince stated wearily as he folded an arm beneath his head.
"Of course you don't." Raia soothed from her corner. "But, I'm not leaving."
Vince shifted his gaze to the object hanging above his head. Ruvi had called it a 'dream catcher'; it sounded like an appropriate trap for a dream weaver. The golden circle shimmered in the dim light of the room. Light blue threads wove an intricate design within the circle; long white feathers hung from within its center. The hypnotist had assured him it would work. It had been blessed by a great shaman, a gift to an ancestor of Ruvi's in return for saving the man's life.
It will prevent anyone from infiltrating the dreams of the person in possession of it. Ruvi had promised, but was it strong enough to keep the dream weaver out?
Vince blinked heavily as he fought sleep. "I'm not going to be able to sleep with you sitting there staring at me." He grumbled.
He heard Raia smile as she whispered a reply. "Just pretend that I am not here, that you are safe in your bed, in your home, with your family."
Vince sighed, he let his eyes slide shut as he did as she suggested. Raia smiled softly as she watched him slip into a deep sleep, a slight smile on his face. Her eyes shifted to the ring hanging over her friend. "I hope you are right, Ruvi." She murmured softly.
oOo
A peaceful quiet blanketed the carnival, the air itself seemingly at rest as the occupants of Trolley Park slept soundly in their bunks…all except one.
Raia slept soundly, curled in her chair, unaware of the turmoil nearby. Vince's hands unconsciously fisted the twisted sheets tightly as he let out a soft moan, his eyes darting rapidly back and forth beneath his pale lids. His body jolted violently and then slacked still against the bed as he sank deeper within the dream.
Come to me…I'm waiting for you.
Vince let out a sharp gasp as he felt his body freefalling into a dark abyss. He had no sense of which way was up and which was down as he flipped end over end deeper into the oppressive darkness. The cape whipped wildly around him, tangling in his limbs as he fought to free himself. Then suddenly, he struck a solid surface with a thud hard enough to chase the air from his lungs. A low moan escaped his lips as he rolled over onto his side and slowly swayed unsteadily to his feet.
A heavy mist hung in the air around him, like a thick wet woolen blanket, preventing him from being able to see more than a few feet before him. A gloved hand reached up unsteadily as a sharp pain erupted in his chest. He looked down in surprise as his fingers settled into the deep gashes marring his armored chest plate. He crouched defensively drawing the cape closer as the mist rippled around him.
I will discover your secret, Cape. You will fall…and then you will die.
Vince reached up and touched his face, relieved to find the mask still firmly in place, though the fabric felt frayed and worn.
"Who are you?" He yelled into the darkness.
A blood curdling scream sounded in the distance, sending a chill through his blood. It was a woman's scream. Dana. The cape rippled as Vince dashed into the mist.
Raia's eyes slid open as she slowly sat up, her sleep muddled brain attempting to make sense of the sudden sense of urgency that plagued her. Her eyes settled on Vince's form and she remembered. She slipped from the chair and rushed to his side, staring down at him helplessly as his head whipped from side to side as he struggled within his dream.
"Vince." The word came out slightly above a whisper. "Vince!" she yelled loudly demanding him to wake up but her plea had no effect. She turned and fled the room, running as fast as she could through the darkened Park. Raia flipped back the curtain flap rushing into Ruvi's tent. "Ruvi!" she shook the man violently, as she fought to catch her breath. She dropped heavily onto the bed beside him as she continued to shake him.
"What do you want, woman?" Ruvi mumbled.
"I feel asleep." Raia gasped as she fought to breathe. "I'm so sorry. Vince is lost in the dream. He won't wake up…I can't wake him up." She cried.
Ruvi's eyes shot open as he sat up suddenly, catching Raia's failing wrists easily. "He didn't wake up, because he can't."
"You're going to help him, right?" Raia asked as she slid off the bed, allowing him to throw back the covers.
Ruvi nodded as he tugged a t-shirt over his head and shoved his feet into his shoes. "I'm going to try." He stated as he moved quickly toward the door.
"I'm coming." Raia said, quickly following the hypnotist.
The sight that greeted Ruvi, as he rushed into the room, was as he expected. Vince's face was contorted into a severe grimace as his head moved restlessly against his pillow. He gripped the sweat drenched sheet tighter in his white knuckled fists as a low groan escaped his lips. Ruvi reached forward and firmly grasped Vince's wrist…the man's pulse was racing as if he were running a marathon…or fighting a battle.
"Get me a chair." Ruvi ordered as Raia swiftly complied. He sat down next to Vince's bed and gently placed a hand against his friend's forehead, stilling its movements.
"Vince," Ruvi spoke softly in a soothing tone. "Listen to my voice. I need you to listen to my voice."
Vince relaxed ever so slightly. "Good. I need you to listen to my voice and only my voice. What you are seeing right now is not real. You are in a dream; it is not real." Ruvi continued. "I need you to picture a doorway. Can you see the doorway, Vince?" He smiled slightly as the man's pulse began to slow beneath his grasp. It was working. "Now open the door and walk through."
Vince drew a deep breath and sat up suddenly, his blue eyes staring wildly at the room around him. Ruvi released his grasp, shifting a hand to his friend's shoulder as the glassy blue eyes turned toward him. "You are safe now. Relax. Rest." Ruvi soothed as he gently guided Vince back down against the soft pillows. "That's it. Just rest."
Vince's eyes slid shut as his body relaxed in a restful sleep.
"Is he going to be okay?" Raia asked hesitantly. "Is it okay for him to go back to sleep?"
"Yes," Ruvi answered. "I will watch over him now."
He turned and gently squeezed the hand Raia had unconsciously clenched against his shoulder. "Go and get some rest." He watched as she left the room, before turning his gaze to the dream catcher as it swayed softly beneath the soft breeze moving through the open doorway.
What manner of magic was this?