Chapter 3, part 1
Finian had quite the headache when he emerged from his shower in his pajamas and flopped on his bed. First, the pink-haired unicorn was all over him like he was the only human in the world, and then he went all ga-ga for his best friend! On one hand, he no longer had to worry as much about doing embarrassing things while trying to get through to stubborn invisible people. But, on the other hand, was it really the right thing to do to leave him alone with Jack? What if he drove Jack crazy? What if they got into some kind of fight?
He didn't know when the troubled thoughts faded into the background and he started dreaming. But, the next thing Fin saw was a nude man sprawled across a waterbed.
"I...am pretty sure that I have never seen you before in my entire life." Fin stated with finality.
"Why, helloooo lovely maiden," The man cooed. "Do you like what you see?"
"I'm quite sure he does not," a familiar voice boomed through the space before Alistair appeared to stand protectively in front of Finian, eyes narrowed on the young Nightmare spread on the bed.
"M-Mr. Montcroix!" The Nightmare yelped as he scampered off the bed and covered his privates with his hands. "My apologies! I didn't know he was yours!" He added as he ran off and disappeared from the dream entirely.
Fin frowned, wondering what that was all about. "Was that someone you knew?" He asked Alistair as his navy blue eyes peered over at him.
"Just a young pup who should still be at his mother's knee." Alistair scowled as he walked over to the bed. "Waterbed." He snorted. "He must be from the Diego house." His voice was condescending but he couldn't keep himself from wobbling the warm surface of the bed. "They may be onto something, though..." Alistair said to himself.
Fin snickered and walked over to carefully sit and then drop back onto the waterbed. He patted the spot next to him in invitation. "I have a lot to talk to you about, 'Mr. Montcroix.'" He began. "To start...is Montcroix your last name?"
Alistair was more than happy to slide onto the wavy bed next to his chaste maiden. "Yes. Alistair Montcroix. But I like hearing my first name from your lips."
"Alistair? Why is that?" The teenager questioned.
"It makes me feel closer you to." The nightmare rolled to his side to look Fin in the eye. "And I can imagine you calling it out in passion."
Fin's face blossomed into a pink hue. "A-Alistair..." He continued. "I was trying to tell my best friend Jack about you, but Lee'en appeared out of nowhere again and started freaking out. He even began t-to sniff me and said that I was still chaste. Do I...do I smell funny to you?"
Alistair leaned into Finian's space, drawing in his scent. "You smell... delicious." He nuzzled in to scent behind the human's ear. "Like coffee, chocolate, and caramel." Fin felt a whisper of a kiss behind his ear. "It's intoxicating."
The human's heart skipped a beat and he felt heat pooling in very embarrassing places. "B-But, is that what my 'chastity' smells like? What happens when I'm no longer a virgin?" He wondered out loud.
"The basic notes of your scent won't change, especially to the mate you choose." Alistair traced a swirling finger on Finian's hip. "But it won't broadcast like it does while you're a chaste maiden."
"Lee'en said that I had to choose someone when I turn eighteen or all of you would die." Fin relayed.
Alistair looked shocked then angry. "I can't believe he told you that."
"I-Is it true?" Finian asked, his blue eyes seeking cobalt. "I wouldn't want any of you to die just like that."
"Oh course not!" Alistair growled. "That manipulative lying little..." The nightmare took a deep breath to calm himself. "I'd like to tell you I'm surprised a Unicorn would lie to you so he could pressure you into mating with him, but I'm not." Alistair sighed. "To claim a chaste maiden is the ultimate achievement for one of them. They sometimes don't even keep the deflowered maiden as a mate after taking them to bed." The look in Alistair's eyes showed his disapproval. "Here I can protect you from any nightmares that might seek you in your dreams, but I am... needed in my world during your daytime." The larger man's voice became tender as he cupped Finian's cheek. "Ask it of me, though, and I will stay by your side, day or night, for as long as you need me."
The human once again subconsciously leaned towards the warmth of Alistair's hand as he let out a sigh of relief. "So, neither of you would die." He deduced. "He also said that when I turned eighteen, I could cross over into your world. Was that a lie, as well?" He asked.
"No one will die if you don't lay with one of us. It's despicable the unicorns use such tactics to coerce maidens." Alistair rubbed his thumb over Finian's cheekbone gently. "It is true that you can cross over when you're eighteen." Alistair was so close the tips of their noses touched. Fin's vision was filled with eyes like cobalt crystals. "I dream that when the time comes, you'd choose to cross over with me. I want to be with you... forever." Alistair blinked slowly, dark lashes fanning down and then lifting. "The boundary will take you even if you've given yourself to me, but it accepts the chaste most easily. It will also take others as long as they are of age, though the magic has a bit more trouble holding onto them. It's dangerous until you are fully mated to one of our kind, but I won't let harm come to you."
Fin's blush became a vibrant red hue that seeped all the way down to his neck. The Nightmare was so close that he wanted to fan himself to fend off the heat that radiated from his own skin.
"Why with me?" He whispered, confused. "We hardly know each other!"
"I've seen your dreams, read your heart," Alistair said softly. "I know you, Fin. I want you... and I want you to know me."
"Would you show me your dreams?" Fin asked. He couldn't very well read Alistair's heart himself, but thus far he seemed kind.
"I would be honored." Alistair pulled back slightly. "You're sure? It might be a bumpy ride."
The human nodded. "I want to see what your dreams are like."
"I won't be able to guide you, but you can wander wherever you'd like." The nightmare's eyes twinkled with excitement. "I'd never hurt you, not even in my mind, so you'll be safe. I'll be watching, opening any paths you need. Let me know when you want out." Alistair snuck a kiss to Finian's cheek. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, I think so." Finian responded, feeling a bit excited about the idea of seeing the Nightmare's dreams.
Alistair scooted up on the bed, making small waves under them. He lay on his back, reclining on the pillows.
"Come lay on top of me." the nightmare beckoned with a raised hand, fingers curling invitingly.
Goodness, Finian thought to himself. But, he carefully scooted closer until he could snuggle against the Nightmare.
"You trust me," Alistair said with happy wonder, stroking a hand through Fin's blue and black hair.
"You haven't given me a reason not to yet," Fin pointed out as he snuggled just a bit closer.
"I never will." Alistair promised. "Now, lay your ear over my heart and close your eyes."
The teenager ignored his blush that time and did as instructed. He heard the Nightmare's heart skip a beat and it brought a gentle smile to his face even as he shut his eyes.
"I love how you feel against me," Alistair confessed. "Listen to my heartbeat. Let it beat for you. Let the sound fill you until it's all you hear. Let your heart match mine. When the time comes, let yourself fall. I'll catch you."
Though he was a bit concerned about the falling bit, Finian did as he was told. He took deep breaths and listened carefully. When the pulsing of both their hearts aligned, he gasped as he felt a sudden wave of vertigo. "Whoa!"
"Hush," came a gentle whisper in Finian's mind. "I've got you. Open your eyes."
The human blinked cautiously, surprised to find himself in a garden. It was no little tilled up patch of dirt, though. Rows of squash and peppers hid behind lush rose bushes. It was a riot of vegetables and flowers everywhere he looked. The wild garden was surrounded by tall willows, their branches swaying in the breeze. Movement caught his attention, and he turned to find a little oasis in the middle of the carefully weeded plantings. A tiny pond, flashing with the whites and golds of koi, was circled with paving stones. A woman with midnight blue hair tied in a high ponytail sat on a wooden bench, watching the fish and tossing them breadcrumbs.
"She's beautiful," Fin whispered. "Who is she?"
"I'm Alistair's mother, silly boy." She didn't look up but a smile curved her lips. "Are you going to come over or keep hiding behind the clematis?"
Finian flushed with embarrassment, but slowly made his way over. "Y-You're very lovely, madam." He admitted quietly. His gaze shifted to the colorful koi. "How many of them are there?"
"Thank you. This is how Alistair sees me, the truth is likely less kind." She looked to the fish that, now that Finian was closer, he realized were the strangest koi he'd ever seen. They all had odd gray symbols on them. It was almost like some foreign writing. "There are more than I can count. We can't see all of them all the time." She dropped a handful of breadcrumbs into Finian's palm. "You should pet one."
The expression on the teenager's face brightened right up at the very idea. "I'd love to!" He carefully sprinkled the bread crumbs over the area where she had not fed yet and carefully reached down to slide his finger along the back of one of the fish. "Wow..."
The fish suddenly turned, catching Fin's finger in its toothless mouth. It didn't hurt, but a strange tingle raced up his arm to his head. His vision blurred and his view was suddenly replaced with a view of what looked like a mostly empty classroom.
::
"Mr. Montcroix," called a tall austere man with maroon hair back in a tight braid. A red diamond sat like a tattoo on his forehead. "Are you ready to tell the truth about who released the hart from its enclosure?"
Finian's vision moved from left to right and he heard a young voice answer.
"I have nothing to say, sir, other than it is wrong to keep such a creature captive, especially in a tiny enclosure where it can't escape any cruel passerby who wishes to torment it."
"Then you'll accept the punishment for all of them," the man said icily. "Two others were seen with you. You'll take their punishment as well." He pulled a thin cane from a drawer.
"I understand, sir."
::
The vision faded, and Finian realized the fish had swum away.
The human desperately searched for the fish that he had touched and tossed him the biggest chunk of bread from his hand, for brave little Alistair.
"Your son is brave and kind." He whispered to the elegant woman.
The woman looked very pleased. "I agree, but I am biased." She brushed a few crumbs off her skirt. "You must not have seen the memory of when he was five and painted his entire body with my rouge and then hid up a tree, refusing a bath."
Finian laughed, the sound a bit louder than he had intended. "Forgive me, I just...think that is incredibly charming." He admitted. "He sounds like he was quite the handful."
"He was something." The woman smiled wistfully. "So, he's chosen you? You must be something special."
The blush came back full force and Finian wondered if he would ever be able to control it. "I...I don't know about that. I'm just a kid." He muttered.
"We'll see." She smiled knowingly, jeweled eyes twinkling. "What brings you here, little one? Alistair's never let anyone see his mind before."
"Alistair has seen my dreams, so I wanted to see some of his." Fin replied honestly. "I-I want to get to know him."
"You should look around." The woman smiled gently. "You can see some of his childhood here. This place is where he feels most safe and comfortable. Maybe you'll see it for real someday. I have more bread if you want to play with the fish." She nodded to a break in the willows. He noticed the crest on her forehead as her bangs shifted. It was a branching vine circling a rose, all in deep indigo. "When you're ready, go that way."
Ever more curious, Fin stood and gave her a smile. "Thank you. It was nice meeting you!" He said as he headed towards the break in the willows, as instructed.
The woman waved and returned to tossing treats to the strange koi.
Finian stepped between the trees, finding a worn path. He followed it, stepping over roots and fallen trees, surprised at how thick the woods had become. When he looked back, he couldn't see the willows. The path thinned, becoming difficult to follow. Fin was relieved when he saw light through the trees. Finian brushed leaves from his hair as he stepped out on the sunbaked dirt. The young human squinted as he peered at what was nearly a mountain in front of him. As his eyes adjusted to the light he saw he had a choice to make. There was a trail cut into the side of the mountain, meandering jaggedly up the slope. Below it was the wide mouth of a cave, the flickering light of flames beckoning from within.
Finian looked longingly up at the slope that curved upwards, but in the end, he chose to follow the flickering light in the cave.
"I wonder where this one leads..."
As Finian entered the cool darkness of the cave, flickering flames set in the wall and shielded by glass chimneys. At first the rock beneath his feet was rough but as he continued forward, it grew smooth, then was covered by a soft red carpet. Stone walls gave way to wood and led to a long hall. Fin didn't even know if he was still in a cave. Doors began to appear, first one, then more, until the hall was lined with them. Every door had a small window with a wooden shutter hiding what was behind it.
The teenager hesitated, but walked over to the first door. After he went through it, he opened the window's shutter, letting him see back into the hall. A soft moan made Finian straighten, hand still on the door. He couldn't seem to stop himself from turning to see who'd made the erotic noise.
The voice had been startlingly familiar.
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