"Dreams: Chapter Four" by Christina Stratton

Bryant looked past the Child and at Aubrey’s still unmoving form. She was no longer naked yet her clothes were torn and tattered, as if she had been fighting a great evil.

“It is good news that you say she belongs in D’Tinios with us, because her aura showed when you were within her soul. Many young girls have had bright, common blue auras, meaning nothing but a kind pure heart. But hers was a strange blackish-red aura, one that I’ve never seen before…Do you know?” Bryant’s eyes never left her body, he could still see her aura fading, he could sense that she was unconscious but unharmed, her energy slightly drained.

“As you know, the more powerful the creature, the darker the aura, the color of the aura is dependant on the heart and the soul, not the mind. Aubrey has a hidden past, evidently full of evil. She herself, though, is as pure as they come. In fact, she may be a goddess of some power, but that is yet unknown. Black is only common in the Children of the Royal Bloodline, as in direct children of the Roi Lui-même . Red auras mean power, rage, violence, and much untapped energy. My guess would be that she is the Lost Daughter, the Eldest Child, and my Sister. Nothing is exactly clear at this point. You must bring her back as soon as possible, preferably tonight.” The Child’s knowledge was always surprising, but Her news startled the Prince. When he looked back to question further, She was gone.

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'NO! SHE CANNOT BE!!!' The voice was unheard by the two she was watching. She can't be the Lost Daughter, she just can't be, the thought flashed like fire in her mind.

Pacing in the shadows, she thought about all the plans that were now being shattered before her very eyes. She had worked so hard to make everything perfect for his return. So hard to make things right.

And now.

Now his sworn nemesis had returned with 'untapped energy'. She had watched what had happened, she saw the aura, the power in Aubrey's eyes. She heard the authority and knowledge in her voice. All that was left was the Prince's move.

How much will he tell her?

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Bryant walked to Aubrey's limp form and knelt down beside her. He gently laid his hand on Aubrey's forehead and closed his eyes. He could feel a dull throb in her mind, so he concentrated his energy there, just enough to numb the pain for awhile. When he opened his eyes, he noticed that Aubrey's body had gone through some changes.

First her long black hair was now highlighted purple, which made her skin look even more pale.

Second, she seemed somehow more...elegant and beautiful and yet stronger. It was almost as if she was taught how to act as a noble-born lady as a child.

But the most noticeable change was a small symbol glowing on her left wrist. Bryant recognized it at once. The upside-down moon was a symbol of power. The small red circles surrounding it stood for humility. The black tribal art between the points of the moon was a simple glyph of authority. But all three together was the sacred symbol of the King Himself.

"Aubrey...Aubrey, get up." Bryant gently shook Aubrey's arm.

Aubrey suddenly jerked, curling her legs up to her chest, and shivered.

Bryant took his coat off and laid it over Aubrey's body. Then, he gingerly picked her up and sat down with her on his lap, on a bench in the gazebo. He waited for her to wake up and laid his head back against a post of the structure. Bryant closed his eyes, hoping to rest for a short time.

"Bryant? Bryant, wake up." It was Aubrey's voice that woke him a little while later.

"Good morning, sunshine. You look as beautiful as ever." Bryant's words brought a blush across her face.

"What happened? Why am I laying in your lap?" Aubrey looked less angry and more confused that earlier.

"Get up and I shall explain everything to you. Just promise me that you won't blow me off, that you will at least listen and consider what I have to say, please?" Bryant helped Aubrey off of his lap.

Aubrey thought that Bryant was different. He seemed more composed, more...refined than when she first met him. "All right, I promise, as long as you tell me the whole truth and nothing but, okay?"

"Okay. I guess I should start by telling you who I really am and where I come from, huh? My real name is Prince Bryaniels R'nault. No it is not French, it is D'Tinioan. That is the name of the world from which I come. I am from the Royal Bloodline, the Frija'eds. My father, King Arn, was seduced by a Frija'ed. She told him that the child she bore by him was to wed the Lost Daughter, to bring complete rule and peace to the land. When I was born, she died and left me with an item of power. Hold up your left hand, wrist up," when she did so she was startled to find the symbol, "You and I have matching symbols on opposite wrists. I was told that the Lost Daughter would have the Symbol of the Frija'eds, and that was to be the one I married. You have the Symbol..." Bryaniels let that sink in before he continued on,
"No. I am not going to demand that you wed me without your love. I fell in love with you, not even knowing that you were the Daughter that I was to marry. I took the risk of loving a mortal, and actually made the right choice. No matter, but we need to get you home before the sunrises because you need rest."

"Yes, take me home right now! You are a freaking nut case! What kind of a sick person spends their time spinning tales?" Aubrey didn’t know what else to think.

"Fine, if you don’t want to believe that there is more to life than this,” Bryaniels/Bryant gestured to the surround areas with his hands, “than you can walk away. Walk away, and I will never bother you again. But, if you want something more out of life, something to make that hole in your heart complete, then you accept my story and come with me. Raise your hand, palm vertical and open. Like that. Concentrate on one item that is NOT me. Found that item?" He waited for her to nod her head, though reluctantly, "think of the element fire and picture the object being burned."

Suddenly, hand burst into flame, startling her, and a small ball of fire shot out and hit the bench she had been concentrating on. The bench caught on fire, and without delay, a second ball shot out of Bryaniels’ hand, freezing the bench. The fire sizzled out, leaving Aubrey in shock.

"Will you come home with me, Aubrey? Will you come back to the world in which you belong?"

Aubrey turned and looked Bryaniels in the eyes.

"I need time." And with that, Aubrey left Bryaniels to think alone.