Aspen and the Dream Walkers

  Chapter 8

  Dream Catchers

  The waters of the Dream Walker Lake lapped next to Aspen's head as she woke up from her sleep.

  "Thank goodness, I thought you'd never get here." Sandy was waiting for her and helped her to stand up. A girl with similar features stood next to her and waited patiently to be introduced. "This is my sister, Ginny."

  The girl was just as small as Sandy, but her hair was braided in coils that were wrapped around her head. She had almond-shaped blue eyes and a long nose. Bowing her head slightly, she greeted Aspen.

  "Welcome, Princess," she said.

  "Huh?" Confused, Aspen stared at Ginny.

  "Never mind," Sandy said and pulled her forward. "Time's running out. We've got to get you dressed."

  "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" She pointed to her faded jeans.

  "Come on." Sandy rolled her eyes. "You can't wear that to a royal ceremony."

  "What's royal about the ceremony?"

  "Never mind, just hurry up." Ginny grabbed her other hand and dragged her along impatiently.

  As they walked, Aspen saw a large group of people next to the lake. Men with pitch-black hair hammered planks of wood to form tables and piled logs into a campfire shape. Others assembled wooden chairs and erected sails to create makeshift tents. Women with long silver-blond hair basted pork hindquarters on spits over large fires, occasionally turning the meat to distribute the heat from the flames.

  Small black cauldrons contained bread, which baked next to the meat. The smell was incredible and her stomach growled with hunger. Everyone smiled and bowed their heads as she walked past them.

  Aspen heard Goldilocks before she saw her. The big bird waddled toward her and flapped her short wings in excitement.

  Dylan walked behind the goose, carrying several pieces of firewood on his shoulder, and his muscles flexed under the load. As soon as she saw him, her face lit up and her stomach swirled with nerves.

  "You're here." Blue eyes locked on hers, causing a loud thumping to start up inside her chest.

  "I made it, yeah." She lifted her chin and rubbed her fingers nervously behind her back.

  "My house is ready for her." He spoke to Sandy but stared at Aspen. "She can use my room. Her clothes are hanging on the closet door."

  "Thanks. See you later." Sandy grabbed her arm again and tugged her forward.

  Even though they were out of earshot, Aspen could still feel his eyes on her. She couldn't help but exaggerate the swing of her hips, knowing he was watching.

  "Wow, he is so cute," Ginny exclaimed.

  "Who, Dylan?" A surge of jealousy rose so quickly that Aspen missed a step and almost tripped.

  "Who else?" Ginny sighed. "He's so dreamy."

  "He's okay, if you like that kind of guy." Aspen spoke before she could stop herself.

  Ginny looked at her in disbelief. "Don't you think he's hot?"

  "She does. Trust me, Gin, she's told him to his face already." Sandy grinned broadly.

  "Shut up. I didn't!" Aspen swatted Sandy's arm and then grabbed her sleeve as her friend continued to tease her.

  "Forget about him, Gin, he's a marked man." She raised her voice while Aspen tugged on her sweatshirt. The two girls laughed as Aspen tried to hold her back. Sandy slipped out of her grip and ran ahead of her.

  "I'm so sorry, I .?.?. I didn't mean anything by it," Ginny stuttered.

  "Don't be an ass, Sandy. He doesn't belong to me."

  Aspen stopped chasing Sandy and her friend shouted back at her, "Trust me. You're going to get a lot of interest very soon. He'd better stake his claim." Dodging a soccer ball that bounced nearby, Sandy ran to kick it back to a small group of children, and they cheered her on.

  "Goal!" she shouted triumphantly, and then dashed back to her sister and Aspen.

  "Are all the people at the lake clan members?" Aspen asked.

  "Yes, and a lot more are on their way. We have about four hundred members, so we'd better hurry."

  Once they reached Dylan's house, Ginny opened the front door. Molly greeted them with a bow and then led them to a room that could only be his.

  Aspen stood still and scanned the room, taking in his personal space. The room was dominated with a large bed that was neatly covered with a gray-and-white quilt. His fresh fragrance seemed to hang in the air, and she reached out and lifted a pillowcase to her nose to inhale his scent.

  The curtains matched the bedding, and the floor was made of pine and polished until it gleamed. A lacrosse stick and several footballs were placed neatly in a red box behind his door, and a damp towel hung from a hook above it. A small bathroom adjoined his room, and she could see beads of water as they clung to the glass door of the shower.

  He'd just bathed! The thought of Dylan in the shower made her breathing hitch, and Aspen turned around in a hurry.

  She cried out in surprise when she saw a beautiful lacy dress embroidered in the palest gold hanging from the closet door. Tiny onyx beads dotted the undulating ribbons, and the material sparkled in the light.

  "This is so beautiful." Touching the material softly, she sighed. "Is this for me?"

  "Just for you," Sandy said with a smile. "It's your coming-of-age outfit."

  "I thought you said jeans would do."

  Sandy grinned and pinched her arm. "Hurry up, everyone will be here soon."

  Aspen removed the clothes she was wearing and carefully lifted the delicate dress over her head. The fit was perfect, and Ginny zipped the back closed. Then she stepped into a pair of strappy gold shoes that sat on the floor next to the dress, and twirled in front of a narrow mirror on the wall. The outfit was incredible, and she looked even more dainty and fragile than before.

  Ginny grabbed a brush with nylon bristles and pulled it through Aspen's long hair in even strokes until it shone.

  "You look so pretty," she said as she dropped the brush on the bed.

  "Thank you. The dress is lovely."

  "Here, use this lip gloss. It's all you'll need." Sandy handed her a cylinder of gloss.

  Aspen ran the shiny finish over her lips and as she did, the room darkened and she glanced out the window at the sky. "Oh no, it's Lavendula. We need to hide."

  Ginny walked over to where she stood. "Don't worry. The houses and the lake are safe zones."

  Aspen raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

  "It's true. Our elders created potent spells centuries ago, and they've been sheltering our houses and the lake from invasion ever since. We're not scared of Lavendula unless we leave those areas."

  "What about the river? I was attacked by spiders there, and it wasn't safe at all. "

  "Nope, that's not included in the spell."

  Aspen moved to the window and glanced at the ominous sky.

  "We'll wait here until it passes," Sandy told her, "and then we can go back to the lake. Everyone should be there by then."

  Aspen waited patiently by the window for Lemona to begin. Ginny and Sandy dressed themselves in white clothing and high heels while she stared at the scenery outside.

  After a while the sky lightened, and the three girls left the safety of Dylan's house and walked toward the lake.

  When they arrived, Aspen was shocked to see how many people were crowded into the small entertainment area. The lake was peaceful and ripple-free, reflecting the hills flanking it. Small insects hummed and buzzed along its banks while the smells of barbequed shank filtered through the air, making Aspen's mouth water.

  Row upon row of chairs had been set up audience style with an aisle that divided the two sides evenly. The aisle led to a large fire pit stacked high with logs. A small table covered in white muslin sat next to the pit.

  As Aspen approached the chairs, she saw Dylan leaning against a table. He'd changed into a pair of black pants and a formal white shirt. He watched in silence as she walked up to him.

  "So, what do you think?" She smoothed the dress against her hips nervously.

  Dylan said nothing fo
r a moment, merely smiled at her, and then closed the distance between them until she could feel the heat of his body against her chest.

  "You look beautiful," he murmured.

  She drew a sharp breath as he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed his mouth on the ring he'd given her. Sparks skipped along the surface of her arm as he touched her.

  He reached down to her wrist and gently removed the brown leather strap she'd received for her birthday, saying, "You'll get it back soon." Then he turned her toward the aisle and nudged her forward with a warm hand on the small of her back.

  Crowds filled the seats around her. Every person dipped their heads at her as she passed, in what seemed suspiciously like respect. She nodded back, unsure of what was expected of her.

  Someone lit a fire in the pit, and the dry wood crackled and hissed as it burned. Aspen watched as two men dressed in white robes approached her.

  The larger of the two men looked very familiar, but she couldn't remember where she'd seen him before. He had shoulder-length black hair and a strong jaw. His nose was slightly crooked, but his eyes twinkled like silvery-blue stars. The second man was short and seemed to be of American Indian descent.

  "Aspen Walker," the taller man boomed. She shrank back as he reached out for her, but Dylan's touch kept her in place. The tall man's calloused hands held her small ones as she stared up at him.

  "My beautiful niece." He smiled broadly and bent to kiss her on both cheeks.

  "N-niece?" She stood back and stared into his vivid blue eyes. He did look familiar, and then she realized that he reminded her of her dad. She didn't remember her father and only knew him from the one photo of him that remained, and it was dog-eared from wear. She kept it hidden in her clothing drawer-where neither Stephan nor Miriam could find it.

  "Yes, Aspen. You are the daughter of my brother, Roman."

  Her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Are you sure? I have a real uncle?"

  The man lifted her feet off the ground and hugged her to his chest. "Yes, little princess, you have a real uncle. My name is Leeman, and I am the king of our clan."

  Aspen could hardly speak. Tears of joy slid down her cheeks. "I'm so happy to meet you. I thought I was alone-well, just my mom and me."

  He placed her back on the ground but kept hold of her hand. "No, little princess. These people are all your family. Look around you." He pointed to the crowd. They all smiled at her and clapped loudly. The sound overwhelmed her; the cheers and applause enveloped her and her heart brimmed with emotion.

  The applause died down and her uncle turned her to face the fire pit. Flames of red, orange, and yellow licked at the dry logs, and smoke filled the air.

  "Demothi is our spell master. He will create your own special dream catcher to protect you from harm."

  The smaller man nodded at her and held out a tiny copper hoop attached to a suede cord. Magically, he drew thread from the air and wound it around the loop. Colorful sparks burst from the thread and bounced into the fire as he wove the strings through and around the circle.

  The crowd oohed and aahed with each dazzling spark of red, gold, green, and blue that shot out from the yarn. Aspen was awestruck.

  The bright, colorful yarn seemed to solidify and faded into a coppery metal that hissed as it cooled down. Once the charm was completely solid, he handed the necklace to her uncle, who raised it in the air for all to see. The copper gleamed as though it had a life of its own. Slowly, he placed the cord over his niece's head and lifted her hair to allow it to fall around her neck.

  She was too scared to touch it.

  "Aspen Walker, we welcome you as a Dream Walker. You are covered by the dream catcher and it will protect you wherever you may fight the enemy."

  She stared earnestly at her uncle's face. The heat from the fire pit warmed her, and she felt her cheeks flush. Dylan stepped forward and handed her bracelet to the leader.

  Leeman placed it around her wrist and tied the thongs. "This is a symbol of your status in the clan. My little princess, I have waited for you to join us for too long. We welcome you as the daughter of my beloved brother, Roman. Princess Aspen, take your rightful place as royalty in our clan."

  The crowd erupted into cheers again, and Leeman hugged his niece tightly.

  Aspen buried her face against his shirt. What had he said? She was a princess!

  The sounds of flute music and drums filled the air and the crowd dispersed, but the noise level escalated. People laughed and squealed with joy, dogs barked, and Goldilocks quacked above the racket.

  "Come. Let us eat," Leeman's voice boomed.

  Dylan had been standing behind Aspen during the ceremony, but now he walked around and bowed deeply in front of her. When he stood back up and held out his hand, she laughed nervously and took it.

  "Don't bow to me. That's not necessary."

  "I'm showing you respect and my eternal allegiance, my princess. Of course that's necessary," he said solemnly.

  Aspen swatted his arm. "Don't be silly. It's still me, you know."

  Dylan smiled and rubbed the soft skin on her hand with his thumb, causing a zing of current to trail up her arm. His gaze didn't drop from hers. "I know it's you."

  Her stomach flip-flopped again.

  After leading her to the food tables, he lined up behind a row of people and she breathed deeply. They stepped aside for her to join the line, and her plate was heaped within a few minutes. Leeman motioned for her to join him at one of the tables.

  Aspen sat down next to her uncle and placed her plate on the cloth. There wasn't an empty seat for Dylan, and he seemed reluctant to join them, so she picked at the juicy pork with a knife and fork and watched him leave.

  "What did your mother tell you about us?" Leeman asked, and licked pork grease from his huge fingers.

  "She didn't tell me a thing," she replied.

  Leeman slammed his fist down on the table. The utensils and plates rattled loudly. "Didn't she tell you anything?"

  Aspen dropped her head. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't know that you-this-existed until a few nights ago." She pointed around her as she spoke.

  Music drifted sweetly through the air as Leeman took in a deep breath, obviously trying to control his temper. "I'm sorry, little princess. I didn't know. I thought that she'd realize that Roman wasn't joking."

  "What do you mean?"

  Leeman sighed and adjusted the belt on his robe. A young girl placed a wooden pitcher full of juice on their table and turned to tend to the other guests. Leeman lifted the pitcher and filled his glass and Aspen's before continuing.

  "Your father was the king of this clan for many years. He earned that right when he was sixteen years old, after our father had been killed by the Lord Chancellor." His huge hand clutched at the glass.

  "When he was younger, he ventured to the other side-your side. He met a beautiful woman and fell in love with her. Humans cannot enter our world, and he couldn't bring her to live here." Leeman sat back while he spoke.

  Aspen stopped chewing, mesmerized by his tale.

  "He struggled with the thought of leaving this world, but then he found out that his beloved was pregnant and that he would be a father. He came to me and offered up his crown to be with his sweetheart and child."

  "That was me," she said flatly.

  "Yes, that was you. Roman gave up Lanta in order to be with you and your mother."

  Aspen's throat constricted and she took a sip of juice. The sweetness burned and she choked for a second.

  "How did my father die?" she asked after her throat had calmed down.

  "Roman was a powerful king," Leeman continued. "He was feared by Chancellors everywhere. Once he'd moved to the human world, he took off his dream catcher to protect you and your mother. The Chancellors would be drawn to its power, but couldn't kill him while he wore it. If your dream catcher is around your neck, it protects you from physical harm. Your body may be hurt, but it will recover. Unfortunately, it's a magnet for Chancellors when worn." r />
  He popped another piece of pork into his mouth and chewed. After swallowing, he took a sip of juice and spoke again. "He could only protect himself, not the two of you. That's why he kept it locked away where it wouldn't be a beacon to the Chancellors. They would kill the two of you if they found him with you."

  "But they found him anyway?" she whispered.

  "Yes, they found him during a storm when he was at work. They didn't know about you at all."

  Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She glanced up and saw Dylan watching her intently from a tent nearby. He tilted his head slightly, almost as if he wanted to know if she were okay.

  After nodding silently at him, she put her knife and fork down. Her appetite had disappeared completely.

  "Did my mother know what my father was?" she asked.

  "He told her in his own way, but he was scared of losing her. When he came back at night, he would tell stories of how beautiful you were and how he loved you both so much."

  She smiled sadly.

  "I think he wanted to explain everything once you were older. He couldn't risk your mother questioning his sanity, and he definitely wouldn't cope if you were taken away from him." Leeman looked at Aspen and placed his hand over hers. "But you're here now, and we're here to help you and to teach you how to be a strong warrior."

  "I want to learn," she said forcefully. "Tell me how to conquer the enemy. Show me how to destroy my father's murderers."

  Leeman chuckled and swallowed another mouthful of food. "Soon, little princess, very soon," he promised.

  Aspen glanced around but Dylan had disappeared. She placed her cutlery together on her plate and accepted a bowl of water with a slice of lemon in it to rinse her hands. After she'd wiped her mouth on a small towel, she handed her plate to a server and excused herself from Leeman.

  Dylan wasn't in the tents and she couldn't find him anywhere. As she walked past the last tent near the lake, she saw him. He stood next to the most beautiful girl that she'd ever seen.

  Thick hair tumbled to the girl's waist in fiery locks of red, and she wore a tiny white miniskirt that showed off her tanned legs to perfection. Her waist was small and she was stunningly beautiful in all aspects. As Aspen watched, the girl stepped closer to Dylan and slid her hands up his chest, then settled them around his neck and pressed herself against his body.

  Aspen sucked in a breath.

  Dylan didn't push the girl away. Instead, his hand rose up and circled her waist in a move that spoke of complete familiarity.

  Aspen didn't wait to see what happened next. She spun around and rushed back into the tent.