Dreamer (The Dream World Chronicles Book 1) by Camille Peters (thriller books to read .txt) 📕

tried to shake herself from Iris’s hold, but she held firm until Angel gave up with a sigh and a string of muttered threats about how she planned to crush every nightmare of Blaze’s from now until the end of eternity.

Blaze smirked, triumph flashing in his eyes, before finally glancing towards me. “Why, it’s Dreamer Eden. I haven’t seen you since our little rendezvous at the Dream Library.” His smile grew more sinister. “Trinity took a particular interest in you after she discovered some rather interesting things in your heart.”

I could still feel her slithering stare, sharp and invading, just like her sudden inquiry: Are you really a Dreamer? My heart pounded at the memory. “I don’t recall her mentioning she'd seen anything unusual.”

He studied me with a rather unnerving leer. “You seem to be keeping secrets even from yourself. Perhaps you should have her look again.”

On cue, Trinity appeared beside him and beamed when she saw me, such a contrast to Blaze’s cool hostility.

“It’d wonderful to see you again, Eden.” She looped her arm through mine as if we were the best of friends, a gesture which caused Angel’s eyes to narrow suspiciously. I tried to tug away, but Trinity’s hold was firm. “It’s been too long since we’ve had a chance to visit; I’ve been anxious to see how you’re doing.” Her grin broadened as her gaze rested on my locket. “I’m pleased you’re doing better than when we last met.”

My cheeks warmed. “A little.”

“How wonderful. You wouldn’t mind if we had a little chat, would you?” Her grip tightened. “In private?”

Before I could respond, she tugged me away from my friends, Blaze trailing behind. Angel and Iris looked like they were about to follow, whereas Stardust was suddenly nowhere to be seen. Trinity pulled me down a side street and we were lost in the swarming crowd.

She stopped in a secluded area beneath a bridge, where no exhibits were set up for yards. “This will be the perfect place.”

I rubbed my throbbing arm after she finally released me. “What do you want?”

“To talk. We didn’t have much of an opportunity when we met before, but now is the perfect time.” She smiled again, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Why would you want to talk with me? You’re a Nightmare.”

“Isn’t one of the festival’s purposes to build friendships between our two worlds? What better way to do so than by engaging in a friendly conversation…about you.”

I didn’t like the urgency in her tone, nor the strange hunger filling her eyes. “What about me?”

Trinity’s gaze lingered on my still considerably empty locket. “Although you’ve managed to win a few Weavings, with your abilities you should be crushing your Nightmare partner every night. He sure seems particularly interested in you, although he can’t quite figure you out…but we know better, don’t we?”

My heart hammered, both at her words and the intimidating way Blaze hovered nearby, watching me. I didn’t like where this conversation was going. I glanced around, but the pockets of Dreamers and Nightmares wandering past paid us no attention.

“There’s no reason to be afraid, Eden,” Trinity laid a gentle hand on my arm; I recoiled at her prickling touch. “We want to help you. It’d be a shame to waste your amazing abilities.”

My unease grew, causing my stomach twist in anxious knots. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do.” She looked around, checking that none of the surrounding Dreamers and Nightmares were within earshot before leaning closer and lowering her voice. “I’m talking about your unique ability to see dreams.”

I stumbled back. For a moment I couldn’t speak. “What do you mean? I can’t—it’s impossible—”

“Oh Eden, you know you can’t lie to me,” Trinity said with almost sickening sweetness. “I read it in your heart the day we met, and I can sense your fear at having your secret discovered now.”

Goosebumps prickled my arms. “You have no proof.”

“Don’t I? Would my knowing you recently saw Darius’s infamous spider nightmare suffice?”

For a moment her words startled my mind into silence. She couldn’t mean…since she could only read feelings, not minds, the only way she could know about my abilities was if Darius had told her…but surely he wouldn’t. But even as I adamantly tried to deny it, the truth seeped over me, sharp and poisonous. Despite my wanting anything more than to trust him, in the end Darius had betrayed me—a betrayal deeper and more painful after everything I’d confided in him.

I gritted my teeth. That. Conniving. Spiderweb. Creep.

“There’s no need to get upset.” Trinity patted my clenched fists, and this time I didn’t flinch away.

“We want to help you,” Blaze said. “There’s never been another gift like yours.”

“That’s right. We hate seeing you waste your potential. With your incredible abilities, you should have considerably more dream dust than this.” She lightly tapped my locket with her orange fingernail. While this morning I’d been pleased with my increased amount, it now seemed pathetically small under these Nightmares’ scrutinizing gazes. “First, you must better understand dreams. What do you know about them?”

“They’re created by Weavers and are comprised of sensory details woven together with magic, which creates a story that unfolds for the Mortal while they sleep.” My voice was a monotone, all emotion drained out of me at the news about what Darius had done. Her revelation only confirmed what I’d longed not to be true—my friends were right to warn me to stay away from Darius.

Trinity sighed. “Such limited knowledge. Of course it’s not your fault, Eden dear. After all, you weren’t raised in the Dream World, nor did you attend the Academy. Considering you’re the only one who can see dreams, you of anyone should know that they’re so much more. Without your ability, we’d all believe dreams vanished immediately after they’re viewed. But thanks to you, we know they exist afterwards, and not only that…”

“They can be entered,” I said.

Trinity’s eyes glistened. “Exactly. This reveals an unbelievable and previously unknown truth: dreams