Free Moonshadow by J.D. Gregory

carpets lined the wooden floorboards and on the walls hung old portraits of various people, none of which looked at all like relations of Darien and Andrew.
    While Diana looked the room over, Marjorie prepared the bed for them. After Darien gently laid Lani down, she quickly rolled over onto her side in the fetal position—she was definitely not alright. When Lani began to hold her belly tightly, Diana knew her roommate’s real troubles were going to begin very soon. Diana sat down on the bed and gently caressed her friend’s head.
    Darien noticed as well and had a genuine look of concern on his face. She was surprised by how gentle he had been with Lani since the moment he had picked her up. Diana never once sensed he felt annoyed or put out by any of her troubles. He seemed sincerely concerned for her well-being. His current attitude was a stark contrast to how he had been acting earlier in the evening. Diana would be lying if she said she wasn’t the least bit confused by his actions.
    “Marjorie, I know you were probably about to turn in for the evening, but could you brew a pot of tea— vethelas , if you please.”
    “Of course sir, it would be no trouble at all,” she said with a smile and walked out.
    When she was gone, Darien turned his attention to Diana. “The two of you should be comfortable in here. Marjorie will be bringing up an herbal tea that should help your friend’s body purge whatever was given to her. I will leave you be.” He smiled and made to leave.
    “Darien,” she called out and he turned to look at her. “Thank you—for everything.”
    With a strange look of conflict in his eyes, Darien smiled and nodded before closing the door behind him.
    Leaving her extremely mixed emotions concerning Darien Shepherd for the time being, Diana settled in for a long evening of taking care of Lani while her body rejected whatever poisons were currently coursing through it.
    Diana hoped it didn’t last too long—she really needed some sleep.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
     
    O Reluctant Prophet, what did you see
    As you dreamed in whale’s belly darkness deep?
    O Thracian Bard, by what mystery did
    You walk the paths of darkest Tartarus,
    To charm the hearts of dread Hades
    And his reluctant queen Persephone
    Thus claiming the hand of Eurydice.
     
     
    The swirling darkness sprang forth like a mighty fountain, enveloping Diana in its embrace of shadow.
    The forgotten fear erupted from within, even before the vertigo of falling took her and she screamed into the nothingness.
    The descent could have lasted mere moments or several hours, but Diana finally felt solid ground beneath her hands and knees. Her mind was reeling and unable to focus, her spirit attempting to regain a small amount of peace.
    Diana finally opened her eyes . The weight of many years of defeat fell heavily upon her as she gazed out into the dark sky of swirling purple clouds and pulsing green lightning.
    Her night terrors had returned.
    She’d been sensing it for days but had tried to deny them her consciousness—if she didn’t acknowledge the nightmares then they weren’t real, were they? The tactic had worked for years, but Diana now realized her curse was not so easily broken.
    She began to sob, remembering those terrifying nightmares that came on the cusp of adolescence. They had been frightening, seeming all too real; and unlike most people, Diana remembered every agonizing detail when she awoke.
    Diana screamed out in frustration to the world of dreams.
    Like past nightmares, the atmosphere that surrounded Diana began to shift and contort as if affected by her emotions. The hazy dream world seemed to twist and wrench along with her heart.
    Remembering the danger such emotional states could bring upon her, Diana willed herself back to some semblance of calm—if she wasn’t careful, the Terrorfiends would find her. The creatures of the nightmares were always drawn to her when she lost control.
    She looked around with