Uncertain Allies

24

Meryl sat bundled in a blanket in front of the fire in the second-floor parlor. She sipped tea from a large mug. Briallen watched her either like a concerned mother or a bird of prey. “Sit down, Bree. I’m not going anywhere.”

Briallen gave her some space, but didn’t sit. “Damn right, you’re not. What happened?”

Meryl brushed her hair back from her forehead. “My hair feels weird.”

“I wouldn’t let them cut it. I thought you would be mad,” I said.

Meryl pulled several strands in front of her face and examined them. Her eyes went wide. “Shit. How long was I out?”

“Almost three months,” I said.

She sloshed tea on the blanket and almost dropped the mug. “Three months? Are you kidding?”

“What’s the last thing you remember?” asked Briallen.

I noticed a slight trembling in her hand as Meryl placed the mug on the table beside her chair. “I was with Eorla down in the Weird. We were trying to contain the Taint. Did it work?”

I nodded. “Completely. Eorla absorbed it all and suppressed it inside herself.”

“Damn, that woman’s strong,” she said.

“You both passed out. I thought you were . . .” I couldn’t finish the sentence. Seeing Meryl collapsed on the street, no sign of life or essence, had torn something inside me that night. I lost control and went on a rampage.

“Wow,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. We waited as she absorbed the news. “I ain’t gonna lie—it hurt like hell. I tried to wall off the pain, but every time I shielded myself, the Taint got stronger. I kept building the protection spell until I couldn’t even think anymore. I remember burying myself deeper and deeper in my mind while the Taint rushed through me. The next thing I knew, I heard Nigel calling my name.”

“We took you to Avalon Memorial. Gillen tried for months to revive you. Nigel found the way though,” said Briallen.

Meryl hummed in understanding. “Not surprised. He told me he was trance-lost once, and he got back by following a powerful essence.”

“I never heard that story,” I said.

Meryl shrugged. “I’m sure he told you things I never heard either.”

Briallen paced in front of her again. “What did you mean he tried to kill you?”

Meryl picked up the mug again, no tremor this time. “I was dreaming, then I felt this jolt that made my head feel hazy. The dream stopped, and I heard someone calling my name. Eventually, I saw Nigel’s essence. When I moved toward it, his essence seemed to push me away.” She turned to Briallen. “You were there, too, Bree. Why’d you leave?”

“I was anchoring Nigel while he searched for you. When he saw you, Nigel said he needed selenite to boost his essence. He said you were too deep for him to pull you out. I was getting the crystal when you did whatever you did up there.”

I pulled my chair closer. “You said he pushed you away.”

She played with her hair, checking its length. “I realized I was in a trance, and when I tried to return to my body, he blocked me. Then he tried to rip my mind apart.”

“Why the hell would he do that?” Briallen said.

Meryl shrugged. “It wasn’t clear. My sense was that he was looking for information. Something he needed to know before he finished me off. Something about you, Grey. Something about an essence source.”

I gripped the arms of my chair. Touching someone’s mind in a trance state was an intimate process. If someone you didn’t invite in gets into your mind, your defenses are limited. “I’m going to kill him.”

Meryl batted her eyes at me. “That’s sweet, Grey, but I took care of it.”

Briallen stopped moving. “Is he dead?”

Meryl shook her head. “Nah. I locked him down in a suspended trance. By the way, nice sanctum you got there, Bree. It should keep him there a good long time.”

“You have to let him out,” Briallen said.

“No,” she said. Her tone said there was no arguing.

Briallen back off. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“No. We won’t,” said Meryl. They stared at each other, both defiant. I was surprised when Briallen looked away first. Or maybe I wasn’t.

“What essence source?” I said to break the silence.

“I don’t know,” said Meryl. “I only sensed his intent, not his full thoughts. I was kinda busy trying not to lose my mind.”

I took her hand. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Yeah, well, don’t be too sure about that. I told you I was dreaming. I think the shit’s about to hit the fan.”

Meryl was the only True Dreamer I’ve ever met. Her future visions were filled with symbol and metaphor, but she always knew what they meant. “What’s going to happen?” I asked.

“The end of the world, I think. Is there any more tea?” She held out her mug.