Free Forsaken Dreamscape (Nevermor) by Lani Lenore Page B

you,” she assured him.  She saw a gracious smile rise up on
his mouth but it vanished as he began to speak urgently.
    “Now
that I’ve found you, we can’t wait another moment.”
    “For
what?” she asked.  Then it came to her.  “Rifter, do you know how to fix
things?  Can Nevermor be saved?”
    “I
have a plan, but I can’t do it without you.  Your presence changes everything.”
    Wren
felt something then that had abandoned her since laying eyes on this place: hope .
    “The
truth is that I am nothing without them, Wren.  I learned that back then, but
it is even truer now.  I need you to help me find them.  They will listen to
you.”
    She
knew exactly who he was speaking of.  The Pack…
    “But,
why won’t they listen to you?” she asked before she had thought much about it.
    The
look in his eyes then was dangerous, and she did not know how to respond to it.
    “They
have grown as well, you see, and are slowly becoming corrupted by the
darkness.  Some have even seen the Scourge’s side of things.  I know this.”
    Wren
could hardly believe that, but she supposed that a lot could change over time –
even a few years.
    “What
makes you think they will listen to me then?” she asked, overwhelmed by it all.
    Rifter
looked up at her, his eyes lighting wildly.
    “You
are a prominent figure to them,” he explained.  “They protected you – fought
for you.  You’re beautiful and innocent, and haven’t been touched by this
corruption.  In their eyes, you can do no wrong.  They have missed you just the
same, and when they see you, they will be able to trust me again.”
    Trust
you?  
His statement struck her, but she did not say anything toward it.  Wren
considered it all, biting her bottom lip thoughtfully.
    “Will
you help me?” he asked eagerly.
    She
felt pressured, but she could not say no to this.  She couldn’t go back to the
asylum now – wouldn’t – and if she was going to be here, she needed to make
herself useful in restoring the place.
    “Of
course I will help you,” she said with a brave smile.
    His
face lit up with pleasure.  “Good, I’m running low on help these days.”
    Wren
felt better at that, seeing how he looked at her so affectionately.  Perhaps
this was the side of him that she remembered – or the one she had retained. 
She needed to hold onto that if she was to accept what he was now.
    She
thought of kissing him then, never mind the fanged teeth.  His mouth was still
attractive, and she’d wondered if his kiss would recall anything to her.  She
was just about to move closer when they heard the cracking sound above.
    Rocks
shifted, grinding together, breaking apart.  Wren’s immediate instinct was to
duck down, fearing that the beasts outside had found them, but it was much
closer than that.  Tiny pebbles began to fall as the ceiling of the cavern
shifted.
    It’s
a cave-in! she realized frantically.  We’ll be trapped!
    Rifter
was quick to push her behind him, guarding her as the ceiling fell, and Wren
had just lifted her eyes to observe the rubble before she gasped at the shock
of her revelation.
    The
pile of stone was alive !
    The
creature before them was some sort of hard-shelled beast with crystals growing
from its back, but it had awakened at the sound of their voices – or perhaps by
Rifter’s presence.  It had been a long time since Wren had seen a creature like
this, but Rifter was not shaken.  He drew his sword – a basic piece stolen from
a pirate – standing firm.
    “Find
a place to hide!” he told her hurriedly.  “I’ll keep it off you.  Go!”
    Wren
didn’t question it.  She backed away into the rock formations of the cave as
the nightmare creature lunged at Rifter on all fours, but he was quick as
ever.  The years had not dulled his senses.  He stepped out of the way as the
monster dove past, leaping up as the crystals grazed his sword.
    Wren
moved blindly, seeking a place to hide.  She did not have to know