CARLYLE

I needed to fix a few things, but if I didn’t get some sleep, I’d probably just get bitchy and make it worse. I hauled myself back to my room and tumbled into bed, sleep claiming me almost immediately.

At some point, my intense weariness must have faded, because I jerked into that semi-lucid state I’d experienced before, where I was somehow aware of both my bedroom and another place.

I was back in Jack’s trailer. My body still seemed to be made of smoke and shadow and nothingness, but I was back. Trapped between the two places, my heart began to beat fast enough to power two bodies.

This time, I seemed to have more control over my body. I was able to drift around and explore his trailer, though I still couldn’t grasp or open anything. I floated around the tiny space, peeking in each corner and through the open windows, even into the bathroom.

He wasn't there. No one was inside or even outside in the darkness. I started to grow worried - of course it was possible Jack was gone for any number of normal reasons.

It was also very possible he was missing for something more sinister.

I wondered how long I would stay here in the dreamscape - had I been summoned here? Was it just random? I wanted to figure out how to get here when I needed to, rather than waiting for a chance opportunity.

If this were truly a bond, I should be able to visit Jack when I was awake, too. I settled on the bed and stared at the scratched picture on the wall, waiting for what seemed like hours.

It got to the point where I was about to fall asleep inside my dream, which would have been really fucking weird.

A noise outside the trailer snapped me to attention, and I froze as something rattled the door handle. Jack hadn’t seen me before, but what if this wasn’t Jack? What if someone else could see me? I rose from the mattress and tried to hide under the tiny table in the corner of the kitchen area.

Nerves buzzed in my ears, and the smoke that made up my body began to vibrate and swirl. The door burst open, and I let out a sigh of relief. It was Jack. He looked pale and sick, but he was here, in front of me. He was alive.

A harsh voice outside the trailer kept me from rushing forward, and an unseen hand shoved Jack so hard he stumbled to his hands and knees on the trailer floor before rolling onto his side. A meaty hand reached in and grabbed the doorknob, slamming the door shut with a force that rattled the trailer.

Jack heaved a breath and dragged himself across the narrow space to the mattress. I threw myself down next to him, my arms reaching out to hug him tight.

My body passed right through his, and he shuddered like he was trying not to vomit.

"Jack?" I whispered. His eyes shifted in my direction, and energy zinged through me. He searched the whole corner my body occupied, squinting, but only blinked and shook his head.

I tried to touch him again, but it was as though his disbelief rendered my presence impossible. My hands, which had looked fairly solid when I first arrived, were starting to fade and become slightly transparent.

“Jack...” I tried again, my heart breaking as I let my eyes slide over his body. He was being tortured again. It wasn’t as bad as the wheel of knives from the night we first tried to rescue him, but there were layers upon layers of bruising. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked much thinner, his cheekbones and jawline nearly gaunt.

He slumped down on his side, and I aligned my body to face his, trying to imagine we were lying together in a real bed, somewhere safe. I searched inside my body for even a scrap of his bright, beautiful garnet magic. My skin shimmered briefly with a layer of scales, and as I ghosted a hand over his face, he recoiled in shock.

His eyes grew wide, and he began to stare intently at the place where my body was resting.

“Jack?” I tried again, my fingers stuttering through the air as I tried to touch him and failed.

"Fuck," he muttered. “If only...” Rolling onto his back, he began to knead at his temples.

Sadness washed over me, and I felt tears sliding down my face. I was convinced this was not a dream - my heart was seeking his through the bond. Either the bond itself was too weak, or I was.

Would he ever be able to see me? I had to figure this out, so we could rescue him for real.

An idea began to edge into my mind. If I was really here, and he just couldn’t see me, then maybe I needed magic that had to do with sight.

Maybe I needed a taste of Killian’s Second Sight.

Maybe... just maybe he would give it to me, now.

Feeling helpless but not hopeless, I did my best to snuggle my ghost body up to Jack, vowing to figure out this mess no matter what it took.

––––––––

SOL

I needed to see Carlyle and apologize. I was still fucking mad as hell about what she’d done, but I knew my anger was directed more toward myself. I should have been more observant about what she was feeling and doing.

I should have been able to protect her better, too. All my rage was really just fear that when it came down to it, we wouldn’t be able to keep her safe from either world - not Earth, and not Haret.

I needed to keep her fucking safe. If I lost her now, I’d lose my goddamn mind.

Creeping into her room, I found her curled in her bed, twisting against the tangled sheets and whimpering in her sleep. Her hair was sweaty, and her skin was still smeared with dried, dark brown blood.

The sight made me sick all over again.

“Shortcake?” I whispered, afraid to startle her out of her dream. Nightmare, more likely. I rested my hand lightly on her shoulder, stroking her soft skin with my thumb. “Carlyle, wake up. It’s just a dream,” I murmured, leaning closer.

She moaned and arched her back, but the gesture was more like pain than pleasure. My grip tightened, shaking her a little.

“Carlyle, wake up.”

She made another growl that sounded like fear or frustration, and her eyes fluttered open.

“Come on, sweet girl,” I said, gathering her into my arms. She was shaking, and she curled her body around mine like she’d never let me go. My heart swelled with that idea - I’d never let her go, either.

Standing, I gripped her close to my chest and carried her into the bathroom. Sitting on the edge of the wide jacuzzi tub, I started the water, getting it nice and warm. She was as compliant as a child as I began to peel the crusted remains of her shirt away. Her eyes were dull and glassy, like she was still half asleep, but she let me lower her into the tub.

I fetched a soft washcloth and a bottle of cupcake-scented body wash I’d bought for her earlier. Leaning over the edge of the tub, I gently scrubbed away the blood and any remaining shreds of mattress from her body. The water turned a light shade of pink, which would have been pretty if I hadn’t known what was causing it.

She was fully awake by the time I was done, and she reached over to pull the plug. Silently, we watched the pink water drain away. I scraped up the matted bits of thread and tossed them in the trash.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered when I turned back to her. “I was being selfish, even though I told myself it was for Killian.”

“I’m actually kind of fucking impressed,” I admitted, thankful Jai wasn’t around to hear it.

“I am kind of a badass,” she said, grinning up at me cheekily. “So, are you going to join me in this tub, or am I going to have to use my fingers to get off?”