Free The Dream Sanctum: The Eternal World by Kay Solo

better option. Surprisingly, Lindsay seemed
eager to get back in – much more so than Kai was. Kai honestly felt like
sitting this particular night out and perhaps having a normal dream for the
first time in weeks, but he decided not to say anything. He was sure he wasn’t
the only one dealing with fear.
    Kwin seemed to have gotten over the shock that
had shaken her earlier and was back to her normal self, taking charge of the
group and laying out a tentative plan for the night.
    “I should stress that this is my plan and my
plan only. If you do not wish to join me, you are more than welcome to do
anything else,” Kwin emphasized, but the others unanimously refused.
    “With what I just saw, I’d rather stick with
you, if you don’t mind,” Ella said, and Lindsay nodded emphatically.
    “As you wish,” Kwin replied, raising an
eyebrow.
    They returned to bed, planning to meet in
front of what used to be the gates to Golden Capital. Instead of falling asleep
quickly as he usually did, Kai lay awake for nearly half an hour, replaying
what had happened over and over in his mind. The city’s glittering window’s
shattering, buildings collapsing, people screaming…
    He rubbed his eyes feverishly, trying to shut
out the noise. He didn’t want to go back just yet, but everyone else was there,
and he wanted to be there to help in any way he could.
    Ten minutes later he arrived in the forest
near the city gates, searching through the crowds of people who were milling
about uncertainly. Clouds of dust still filled the air and people were picking
their way through the debris, looking confused and scared.
    A great shadow fell over him as he reached the
gates, and as he looked up he saw the great black dragon, Asmodiel, standing on
top of the gate, his wings outstretched. His full wingspan stretched more than
the entirety of the city’s grand entrance and nearly to the guard towers at a
distance on either wide. It was an impressive and intimidating sight. Asmodiel
stared at Kai as he approached, and his gaze made Kai very uncomfortable.
    “Kai, you’re late,” Kwin said, tugging at his
sleeve.
    “Sorry, I couldn’t fall asleep. What’s going
on?”
    “Ask her ,”
Kwin answered in a tone full of disgust, jabbing her finger towards the gates.
Standing underneath the massive form of Asmodiel were Dumar and Semyaza. The
woman with the butterfly wings was now addressing the crowd.
    “As I have said repeatedly, Golden Capital is
off limits to everyone, no exceptions,” she called impatiently. “The city is
badly damaged, and for your own safety you must stay out.”
    “Funny how it’s always someone else deciding
what people need to do for their own safety,” Kwin muttered. “What’s going to
happen? I’ll get a bit of dust on me? A rock will fall on my head? Gee, if only
this were a dream world where none of that actually mattered.”
    “Hey, who are they to decide what everyone
else gets to do, anyway?” Ella fumed. “They’re just dreamers like the rest of
us, how can they take control like that? Alastor, go beat them up.”
    “I’m a little puzzled about that myself, but I
think Kwin would be uncomfortable with that for some reason,” Alastor said as
he looked at Kwin pointedly, but she ignored him.
    “There’s no point trying to get past them. I’m
not scared of them, I just don’t want more drama,” Kwin explained. “Anyway, if
they’re standing around here that means they won’t get in our way while we
search. Do you all remember what we’re doing?”
    Before anyone could reply, a deep rumbling
sound caused everyone to fall silent immediately. Lindsay gasped and grabbed
Kai’s hand, but the rumble passed harmlessly only a moment later.
    “There’s no need to be alarmed, it was only an
aftershock!” Semyaza shouted to the crowd as they started to mutter nervously
amongst themselves. Kwin rolled her eyes.
    “Thank you so
much for explaining what an aftershock is; I thought it was