Delphic Song

Chapter Four

My legs carried me over the ground in swift strides as I approached it. Reaching out a hand to touch it, I let my fingers trail over the silky exterior. They broke through the glass, sending currents spreading out from my fingertips. The light flickered, the blue changing hues from dark to light.

This is definitely a dream. I didn’t need to doubt that now.

Then why did it feel so real?

I lifted my head, watching my reflection in the glass do the same. I swallowed, then pushed my arm deeper into the mirror. It parted around my arm, and I could only explain the feeling as dipping my arm into water.

Suddenly, something grabbed my hand and yanked. I gasped, pulling back, but whatever had my arm on the other side was stronger than me. Pulse racing, I tried to resist, but I was only getting dragged forward. Fear made my limbs and brain numb, and with a final jerk I was pulled headfirst into the mirror. 

“Awake.” A hand shook my shoulder, rousing me from my sleep. Instantly awake, I jumped up, my heart thumping in my chest as I took in my unfamiliar surroundings. Frantically, I scanned the area, absorbing the huge trees and the mist snaking around their thick trunks. Everything was alien; I had never seen this place before. My chest constricted, so tight that I gasped, falling to my knees. Where was i?

“Are you hurt?” the same voice asked. It was distinctly a man’s, rough but gentle and in an accent I couldn’t place. My eyes darted up to his face, and my frantic breathing stopped altogether. He was beautiful.

He had this ease and grace about him that reminded me of someone… someone I knew. It took me a moment, but it dawned on me where I’d seen it before: Nate. His features were surprisingly similar to Nate’s as well. High cheekbones, long nose, and wide forehead. He was wearing dark pants and a white shirt with a light leather vest. His pale hair was swept back in a low ponytail, making his expression all the more intense as he stared at me. I blinked and looked down when I realized that I had been staring at him too long.

Oh, crap. I winced inwardly when I realized I was still wearing my ridiculous pajamas, and was suddenly glad I was sitting on the ground.

“I’m fine,” I forced out. Avoiding looking at him was difficult, but I didn’t want to get drawn into his beauty again. Instead, I focused on my surroundings. The tiny pink and blue flowers blossoming off a vine nearby. A vibrant green bush covered in large purple berries – I froze. Were those eyes? I peered closer, tearing my gaze away when I realized I was right. Only, the eyes were most definitely not human.

The man stepped closer, and my eyes darted around in search of a place to rest. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice concerned.

Swallowing, I finally gave in and looked up into his face. Breath, Gwen. In, out. In, out. “Yes.”

He examined my clothes skeptically, raising an eyebrow, and I blushed, squeezing my thighs tighter together and tugging at the hem of my shirt. I expected him to make a snide comment about what he was seeing, but instead he held out his hand to me. Taking it, I gave him a small smile. The initial shock of waking up in a strange place was wearing off. Although, I wasn’t quite sure if you could ‘wake up’ inside a dream. Because I was most certainly still dreaming.

“Where are we?” I asked, glancing around us. “This place doesn’t look like it belongs anywhere near Fryeburg. Way to exotic.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him start, his eyes widening a fraction of an inch before he composed his expression again. He cleared his throat.

“What are you wearing?” he asked instead of answering my question. “I have never seen this apparel before.”

I snorted. “Apparel?”