Chapter 5
House of Dreams
When I opened my eyes and saw myself standing in the glossy foyer of Anubis house, I knew my eyes weren't actually open.
"This is a dream," I told myself with a laugh.
"If by a dream you mean something that happens while you're asleep, then yes, this is a dream," a middle-aged man whom I hadn't noticed called from the staircase where he was resting hunched over. "If by a dream, however, you mean something that's not real then no, this isn't a dream at all."
"Who are you, Ra?" I inquired sarcastically. With all the insanity in my life as of late, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if that's who he claimed to be.
"Osiris actually," he remarked with a small grin. "Ra is my grandfather and you already met my nephew earlier I believe. I'm not surprised at all Anubis paid you a visit."
"Well he is apparently my patron, so no, I'm not surprised either. What can I help you with Lord Osiris?"
"You'll learn to believe I'm sure," he continued as if my snide comments didn't bother him one bit. (Which probably was the case, but whatever.) "Colton will help you learn to believe."
It wasn't until the words came out that I realized my sarcasm had dissipated, "Is he a superhero too?"
"He is the lost son of Patricia and Eddie Miller if that's what you mean," Osiris answered with a nod. "I can see his soul and it is special."
"So let's say all of this is true," I wasn't sure what to believe anymore, but theoretical situations I could do. "If I'm the Chosen One and he's my protector or whatever is he the Chosen Two?"
Osiris obviously found that hilarious, because it took him a minute to respond. "No, the proper term is the Osirian. The Chosen One is the name given to Anubis' servant. Mine is a bit more straightforward I'm afraid. The Osirian's destiny is to protect he or she's Chosen One from the dangers the job presents. Where the Chosen One's abilities correlate with death, the Osirian, who is infinity more powerful, can do whatever needed so long as it will protect the Chosen One. He or she couldn't, however, use the Osirian powers to kill the Chosen One. It's quite simple actually."
"More power, less situations you can use, got it." I told him with a nod. "So that's Colton and the Chosen One…"
"Mainly the Chosen One's abilities stem from death and control over dead things." Osiris must have seen the horror on my face, because he quickly continued. "Not zombies. More like moving wooden furniture or talking to ghosts. This house too, being named after Anubis, had a special connection to the Chosen One. Doors open for he or she, objects move. Stuff like that."
"Nice lesson, but why are you here?"
"You need to get close to Colton." The brash way he said it caused my cheeks to flush red in embarrassment. "I don't mean like that, though there is nothing stopping you. All I mean is Colton needs to trust you, as there are things he knows that you won't believe until he informs you. Destiny has bound you together, but you'll find life has given you quite a few things in common."
I didn't see what was so funny about Osiris' words that warranted the laughter he gave, but I pretended not to notice hs amusement as he pretended not to notice my sarcasm. "Let's say I do do as you say and go befriend Colton. Then what? How do I explain to him that he has long lost parents, never mind that he's some freaky Egyptian protector or me? I'll sound nuts because this is nuts."
"Disbelief won't be a problem for Colton," Osiris assured me. "The personalities of the Osirian and Chosen One are always opposite in nature Where you life is based around skepticism, Colton's is based around belief. Besides, Colton has already had a few visions himself of his mission. Just become friends and he'll tell you more than I ever could. Good luck, Eve. You'll need it."
"Osiris, wait!" I called but the 'god' had disappeared leaving me alone in a dream version of Anubis house. Unsure how to wake myself, I found my feet wandering and my mind lost in memories of the whispering house telling me to find the Chosen One.
Well, that shouldn't be too difficult, I snorted mentally. I am standing right here after all.
"Eve?"
Spinning around at the familiar accent, I found Colton standing next to me. Correction. I found a dream version of Colton standing next to me. None of this was actually happening and I had to keep reminding myself of that. "Hey," I told fake Colton with a smile. "What's up?"
"Nothing, Eve, if I show you something do you promise not to tell anyone what you saw?" Colton seemed nervous as he asked, and I had to chuckle. Even in my dreams I could make men nervous by my sheer presence.
"Of course," I told him curious to see where this led despite knowing that place couldn't possibly be real. "Lead the way."
"I've come here in my dreams since I was a kid," dream Colton explained once he led me down into the creepy basement. "Except in my dreams I was never actually me but a teenage stranger. Still, when I got to the house I knew this was the place. There are tunnels running under the school, I know it, and these tunnels are important."
Tunnels. I remembered an old recurring dream I had as a kid in which I'd spent a lot of time in tunnels…actually, looking around at the cellar I realized this place too was where my tunnel dreams had begun. Even before he opened the trap door I knew the 1890 pass code because I'd spent so many hours watching through someone else's eyes as I opened these same doors. Did these tunnels I'd always dreamt about actually exist in Anubis house, or was this just my subconscious bleeding through? As much as my logical mind said the latter, a nagging feeling in my gut told me that well Colton and I weren't really here, this place did actually exist.
"I used to too," I admitted softly and Colton didn't even seem surprised.
"I know," he answered with a beaming smile. "We came here together. Your golden spirit could be seen when we were kids just as well as I can see it now."
"But if we both know these tunnels why are you bringing me down here? I don't understand!" Ugg why couldn't my dreams for once make sense?
"Because I had a new dream of us looking at this mosaic in a library and this is the only way I know how to get there," Colton stated plainly as if I'd just asked what 1+1 equaled.
"I remember the library… there was a girl wearing a mask and then this guy who looked like you came in and…" suddenly the penny dropped and I knew that somehow what Nina had told me was true because it had to be true. How else could I have spent years dreaming of my parents and their friends because that's who they are. Colton is a dead ringer for his dad and that's who I always saw banish some ghost from a mask a younger Nina who looked a lot like me wore. "Colton? Is this real or are we dreaming?"
"Well I know I'm dreaming of course, I felt myself go to sleep. And you're not real because you're in my dreams so I don't exactly know the answer to your question."
Wait, so Colton thought this was his dream? Could it be possible… no? You can't share dreams. Or can you when there is magic involved? I didn't know, but I did know I was way out of my depth. "Colton. There is a possibility this actually is real. No don't give me that face I don't believe it either but to be sure we need a code word. Tomorrow morning I'm going to ask you your favorite drink and if you say…"
"Vodka with two lemon?" Colton suggested causing us both to giggle.
"Okay if you say Vodka with two lemon we know this was real and then we go and find the real library and the real mosaic. Deal?"
"Deal."