Aspen and the Dream Walkers

  Chapter 17

  Second Move

  Leeman's house was bigger than expected. He hadn't exaggerated about the amount of bedrooms; there were eight in total. Aspen had been told to pick a room, and she'd walked through each one before carefully choosing a large corner room upstairs with massive windows that faced the south. It had plush carpets and pale curtains. The bed could accommodate two people comfortably, and a door led from her room into a private bathroom all her own.

  She sank back on the soft quilt that covered the bed and sighed in contentment. The house overlooked the playground she was so fond of visiting.

  Warm rays of afternoon sun heated her skin pleasantly, and she could smell the meat stew her mother was cooking for dinner. Her stomach growled in anticipation, and she rolled off the bed to follow the aroma.

  The kitchen matched the rest of the house in size. A sturdy table and chairs stood in the middle of the room, and modern appliances graced the counters. Norma stirred a pot on the gas stove, and Leeman sat at the table with his hands wrapped around a mug of coffee.

  He glanced at Aspen as she entered. "Do you like the room you've picked?" he asked.

  "It's fantastic." Aspen grinned. "It's the biggest room I've ever had. I've even got my own bathroom."

  Leeman smiled broadly. "I've just boiled water. You'll find cocoa in the middle cabinet and milk in the fridge." He pointed to the massive stainless steel double-door fridge behind her.

  "Thank you. Can I get you a cup, Mom?"

  "No thanks, honey. Uncle Leeman already offered."

  Her mom seemed more relaxed than when she'd first arrived. She'd chosen a room close to her daughter and had unpacked her meager belongings quickly before she'd rushed down to make a meal. She hadn't mentioned the scene with Stephan and Miriam yet.

  Aspen poured hot water into a mug of hot chocolate and laced it liberally with milk. She stirred three spoons of sugar into the brew and swallowed noisily.

  "Sorry about the sound effects." She smiled. "It's just so good."

  Norma placed the wooden spoon on a dish next to the stove and planted a kiss on Aspen's forehead.

  "Don't worry, sweetie, no one is going to moan about that here." She stood back thoughtfully. "This feels so different. I can hug and kiss you without being shouted at."

  Leeman fisted his hand, and the knuckles on his fingers turned white. "I should've hit him harder," he said with a scowl.

  "Don't worry, Uncle Leeman, you were fantastic. Thank you for bringing us here. I've never been so happy in my whole life." Aspen's face was radiant.

  His eyes softened as he looked at her. "Sorry it took so long, Princess. I didn't know. You didn't tell me your life was so bad."

  Norma looked at the two and frowned, probably wondering why Leeman would say that since he'd supposedly never met Aspen before.

  Aspen glanced nervously at her mom and wondered how to distract her. "Will I have time for a quick bath before dinner, Mom?"

  "Absolutely, honey. The stew will hold till then."

  "Thanks, I'll be back soon." She washed her cup, dried it, and darted out of the room.

  After running a deep bath, Aspen lay back and soaked in the hot foamy water. The bathroom was light and airy, with white tile and chrome finishes. There was a wide sink in the corner, and an enormous shower stood next to the tub. It felt strange not to bathe in shallow cold water. Miriam normally used all the hot water in their dingy old bathroom, and Aspen had to hurry whenever it was her turn.

  Now, the warm water relaxed her muscles and she breathed in the rose-scented bath salts she'd sprinkled into the tub with a contented sigh. A motorcycle spluttered and roared outside, and the sound made her sit up instantly.

  That had to be Stephan's bike; the sound was unmistakable.

  She reached for a plush towel and dried herself quickly, her calmness forgotten. After throwing on a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt, she ran downstairs in her slippers as fast as she could. A tiny drop of moisture from her ponytail splashed on the floor as she wrung it out in the kitchen.

  "Uncle Leeman. Is that Stephan outside?"

  "Relax, Princess. He doesn't know where we are. He's just riding up and down the street because he doesn't know what else to do. Our SUV is in the garage, and there's a high wall out front with a locked wooden gate."

  She trembled slightly but forced herself to be calm. Stephan wasn't as strong as she was, and he couldn't hurt her anyway.

  Her mother stood nervously in the kitchen with a wooden spoon in her hand, her eyes wide with fear.

  "Mom, I'm starving. When do we eat?" Hopefully that would distract her.

  "Supper is ready, sweetie. Can you help me set the table, please?"

  While they all tried to ignore the drone of the motorcycle's engine, Leeman opened the cutlery drawer and showed Aspen where everything was stored. He then reached for three plates and placed them on the tablecloth between the knives and forks she'd arranged in a U formation around the table.

  Norma spooned rice on each plate and ladled steaming meat stew over it.

  "Hmm, it smells great." Aspen sniffed appreciatively.

  Her mom smiled. "Dig in, sweetie, before it gets cold."

  Without hesitation, Aspen loaded a fork with rice and meat, then blew at the steam that rose from it. She crammed the food into her mouth and repeated the process until her plate was empty. No longer able to hear the motorcycle, she relaxed and finished her supper.

  "Wow, looks like you were really hungry." Norma grinned.

  "Absolutely famished."

  Leeman scraped his plate and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "We need napkins. If you keep cooking like that, I'm going to embarrass myself and lick the plate." He chuckled.

  A flush of color tinged Norma's normally pale skin. She hadn't been complimented much in the past, and she obviously didn't know how to react.

  "I'm glad you liked it," Norma said shyly. "I raided your fridge and whipped up whatever I could find."

  "That was really awesome. We'll go shopping tomorrow and you can buy whatever else you need."

  "Thanks." She smiled. "I've made dessert too. I don't know if you want some just yet, but I've baked an apple pie."

  "Norma, that's the best news I've heard all week." Leeman smiled at her lazily and she blushed again. "But first, I have something to show you." Pushing his chair back, he motioned for them to precede him to the kitchen door. He led the two women out into the huge backyard. Maple and oak trees lined the enclosed garden, and a long wooden garage was tucked behind the house to the left. Wild roses curled along the side of the garage wall.

  Aspen followed them curiously. Once they'd reached the garage, he opened the doors and escorted the two of them inside. It was dark in the room, and he felt for the light switch.

  As the fluorescent light flickered to life, Aspen saw a late-model white Honda compact. The car stood in the middle of the floor, and she rushed up to it and ran her fingers along the sleek metal surface.

  "I'd like you to have this car," Leeman said and touched Norma's shoulder.

  She gasped in surprise and shook her head. "Is this for me?"

  He nodded and pushed her gently toward the vehicle. It took a moment before she walked up to it and stroked the hood reverently.

  Aspen opened the door and slid into the passenger seat. The car smelled of new leather, and she sank back into the upholstered seats.

  "No, this isn't possible. This can't be true." Norma stared in wonder at Leeman. Her face crumpled suddenly and tears rolled down her cheeks. "This .?.?. this is too much," she said as she sobbed.

  Leeman walked up to her and enfolded her in a bear hug. "It's okay, Norma. You deserve to be spoiled. This is just the beginning."

  "Wow, Mom, now you can teach me how to drive." Aspen laughed as she climbed out of the car.

  Her mother smiled and wiped her eyes. "I promise I'll teach you soon." She studied the car while Leeman kept his arm draped across her shoulder.


  "Didn't you say there was dessert?"

  Norma beamed up at him. "I'll make you the best dessert every night."

  Leeman walked Norma back to the kitchen as Aspen closed the garage door and switched off the light. Her mother's face was so animated, and she couldn't be happier for her.

  Once they were inside, her mom asked them to sit at the table and then dished up the pie. She placed a portion in front of each person, along with a small fork for each. Aspen jumped up and filled their glasses with juice before they began to eat. She sipped her drink and licked the tines of the fork slowly, savoring the sweetness of the pie.

  Minutes of absolute bliss passed, and she couldn't remember when last she'd been so happy. With a sigh, she pushed back her chair and said, "I've had too much to eat. Thanks, Mom, that was delicious."

  Leeman agreed. "Yes, thanks, Norma." He leaned back and rubbed his stomach. One of his shirt buttons had come undone, and Norma noticed the dream catcher as it gleamed against his skin.

  "Hey, you've got the same necklace as I have." She pulled her dream catcher free and held the disk up in the air. The ridges reflected light in soft waves. "It's so pretty. Aspen has one as well. Did Roman give it to you too?"

  Leeman and Aspen remained silent and looked at each other warily.

  "Did I say something wrong?" she asked.

  "No, Mom, it's all good," Aspen reassured her. "Uncle Leeman, I think it's time that you tell Mom what we are."

  Rather than argue, he reached for his dream catcher. It glittered magically.

  "What do you mean?" Norma asked. "Aspen, you're scaring me. Does this have something to do with what happened to Stephan earlier?"

  "Mom, relax." She placed her hand on her mother's arm.

  "It's okay, Norma. Aspen and I have a secret that we need to tell you."

  Norma covered her daughter's hand with her own.

  "My surname is Walker, right?"

  Norma nodded her head.

  "Roman comes from a long line of Walkers-Dream Walkers. Dream Walkers have been on this earth for centuries. We live in a plane parallel to Earth."

  Aspen could feel her mother tense up, and she gripped her hand tightly.

  "There are good and bad people living on this plane. The Chancellors are the bad guys. They become powerful and multiply on fear. Fear is what feeds them. Nightmares are ideal for creating fear, so they try and make as many bad dreams as they can. A small child in the middle of a nightmare is the perfect vehicle for strengthening Chancellors. They live on the energy created by that fear."

  Norma's lips tightened, and Aspen could tell that her mother thought he was crazy.

  "We're the good guys." He smiled. "Our mission is to stop nightmares before they start so children don't suffer and Chancellors don't multiply. We live amongst you, but we can live on both planes. Dream Walkers have different clans. We come from the Power clan, and live in the city of Lanta. There are other clans, because our magic alone is not always sufficient to stop the Chancellors. One of our close clans is the Fire clan in Vega, but we all have a common goal, and that is to stop the Chancellors. Roman was the leader of the Power clan."

  Norma pulled Aspen toward her and edged away from him.

  "Wait, I'm telling the truth." Leeman leaned forward. "Roman saw you and fell in love immediately. He wasn't supposed to find an Earth girl, that's not our way. Nothing that I said helped, he was determined to have you and he asked our magic man to find a spell to let you live in Lanta. We've had humans living there before, but that was centuries ago, and the spells have been forgotten."

  "Leeman, you're not making sense, but it's okay." Norma stood up. She pulled Aspen up with her. "Thank you very much for your hospitality, but I think it's best if Aspen and I leave now."

  "Mom, wait." Aspen drew her dream catcher from underneath her T-shirt. "Uncle Leeman isn't lying. Watch this."

  She pressed her finger into the indentation on the charm and concentrated hard. A burst of energy rushed through her body and she closed her eyes. Seconds later, she stood in her father's house in Lanta.

  Ginny held a broom and swept the floor. She blew a strand of fair hair from her forehead and looked at her suspiciously. "Hey, are you here for the day?" she asked.

  "No, sorry. I'll be back soon." Touching the dream catcher again, Aspen felt herself transported through planes, and a feeling of warmth traveled through her body. Once she'd opened her eyes, she was back in Leeman's kitchen.

  Norma stared at Aspen in shock for a few seconds. Her eyelids flickered and she fell backward. Leeman caught her as her body crumpled, and he lifted her easily.

  "Help me," he said and strode through the kitchen into the living room.

  Aspen ran in front of him and moved a cushion on the couch so that her mom's head could rest on it. Leeman placed Norma carefully on the comfortable sofa.

  She looked so pale against the dark brown fabric. One hand on the coffee table served to balance Aspen as she knelt next to her mother on a wool rug.

  Leeman paced up to the stone fireplace and back, waiting for Norma to stir. After a while, she groaned and opened her eyes slowly.

  "Mom, are you okay?"

  Norma lifted a trembling hand to her cheek and said, "I think I've had enough surprises for one day."

  "I'm so sorry." Leeman bent down and ran his finger lightly against her forehead. "I wish that it could be easier on you, but we had to tell you the truth."

  Aspen nodded. "Yes, Mom. It'll be easier if you know what's going on. Above all, we need you to keep wearing your dream catcher."

  Norma clutched her necklace and rubbed it gently.

  "It'll protect you from any Chancellors crossing into our plane. Daddy wasn't wearing his when they came before .?.?." Her voice trailed off.

  Norma sat up slowly with her back against the arm of the sofa and spoke to Leeman. "Can you disappear just like Aspen did?"

  "I'm the leader of the clan, Norma. Our family has been regarded as the most powerful Dream Walkers since the beginning of time. That's why I'm in charge now that Roman is gone. Of course I can disappear."

  He held the dream catcher and was gone in an instant. Seconds later he reappeared with a handful of yellow flowers.

  "These are for you-from Lanta."

  Norma buried her nose in the bright blooms and sniffed deeply. "Thank you. Roman would bring me the exact same flowers, but he wouldn't tell me where he got them from." She looked up at Leeman as he towered above her.

  He gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry that we had to keep this secret from you. Aspen is special in more ways than you can imagine, and you're under the protection of the clan from now on. You'll never have to worry about being alone again."

  Norma smiled and stood up. Hugging her, Aspen smelled the fresh fragrance of daisies in her mother's hands. The dull roar of a motorcycle outside didn't make her mom tremble anymore.