Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

He watched from the corner of his eye as she paced in the pure white room. There had never been a dream like this before. Where were the trees and birds? It felt so empty with just two people in the room like this. Finally, she turned, catching his gray eyes in her green. ”John, I've told you time and time again to stop this nonsense. That girl is no good.” She arched an eyebrow at him. ”She's cheating on you, you know.”

”You're dead, Teresa. How do you expect me to believe any of this?”

“Fine. Don't believe me. But don't come crying to me when you find out that I'm telling you the truth.” Teresa half turned, but she added, ”By the way, you know you're gay, right?”

Morpheus awoke with a start. John must have woken up and broke the connection. Slowly, he felt his body change from Teresa's back to his own. His chest and buttocks flattened, and he thinned until he turned into the Angel with Black Wings yet again.

Morpheus looked up at the sky, and he realized that it was daylight. He had fallen asleep in that tree last night to tend to “business”. Without his brothers, dream dealing was a considerably difficult task for the god, but somehow he managed it, able to fly through the realm of dreams alone and not forget a single body. And though he had slept, he was exhausted. His wings were aching from all the flight. Normally, the three brothers would fly to three different people for a few minutes, then trade off for a few more before they went to everyone else, that way, not only did the brothers have enough time to rest, but everyone thought that they had an authentic dream. Of course, it was and authentic dream, but not in the sense that mortals believed “authentic” to be. Mortals, after all, didn't know the ways of gods.

Morpheus leaned his back against the tree, groaning from exhaustion. He knew he needed to get back to Robin and his group, but he was simply just too tired at the moment. Perhaps just another five minutes. But no, thought he for five minutes mean to Icelus and Phantasus another world of hurt and Corruption. Morpheus mentally kicked himself for being so selfish, and he slowly climbed down from the tree. Flying would have been faster, but his wings were too worn. They flattened against his back, a sign that he would not be using them that day, unless, of course, he was desperate.

One delicate step after the other, he began on his way back to the camp. Upon his arrival, he saw the girl that was un-trusting of humans step away from a tree that had a bag hanging from it. Had Morpheus visited her that night? He could not remember. It was as if he had been going through the movements, but he wasn't paying attention. The god glanced briefly in her eyes before looking back at the rest of the group. He spotted a few men, three of them, actually, and they appeared to be watching one other man climbing a tree. Morpheus followed their gaze to see something golden, sparkling, pinned to the tree. A smile fell upon his face when he saw the arrow. None other than Robin Hood, of course. Morpheus was growing quite fond of the man. But his attention quickly turned to the saddened girl again. What had her name been? He had heard it among amiable chatter between campers. Nairi, he believed. Now she was talking to that cat, whom he didn't know the name of, and whom he had never visited in dreams. Morpheus tended to factual dreams, and he had heard that this creature was quiet crazy. In a good way, as Phantasus liked to put it, though.

Morpheus approached her, not appearing hesitant or reluctant. He was considerably cleaner than most of the other people at the camp, which was strange, considering Morpheus had been part of the stinking downpour just the night prior. He stood next to the girl with the pelt, and he parted his ghostly white lips, a sure sign that he was going to start a speech. Or rather, for better comprehension of Morpheus's speaking habits, a Shakespearian monologue. His voice, however, was low, because he didn't want just anyone to hear what he was saying. Just her. It appeared to be a waste, saying such a long speech in such a quiet voice. But that was Morpheus. When he had something on his mind, he was going to say it, despite the audience. He just adjusted his vocal volume.

”See, dear comrade, how the sun does rise, as if these grounds were not cursed with the stinking scent of sin and Corruption. The clouds are of gray and white hues, and it smells of early rain. How often do we travel to rid ourselves of the troubles we come to face day to day? We move to avoid the rain, reeking of Corruption, and we rest at night so that we can only continuing moving the next day. Does it not seem as if we are avoiding the darkness, not only inside, but exterior to our beating hearts as well?” He looked up at the sky now, his golden eyes narrowing against the harsh sunlight. ”But how rude of me. I must seem so intrusive. Know that I know not everything about you, my dear. I have visited your dreams. Sometimes I am the villain, while others I am the dead. But I do not feel your emotions, and nor do I care to. I only know that same image that plays in your head every night it seems.” His eyes turned back toward the girl Nairi. ”That is all I wish to know. Any more, and I fear I would break. But know that you are not treading this life alone. I have seen the way those men look at you, as if not possessing the respect that they themselves request. They want to be treated as equals, but their definition of equality has been scarred and twisted into something so unreal, is it really even considered equality? Many a non-human has gone unappreciated. Do not assume that you are alone. There is always someone who understands a small portion of the life you live. And should you ever need an escape from the rain, know that walking away from it is not the only solution. Should you decide to want to dream something different, speak to me, and I will present you with a sanctuary within your slumber.

“But enough of this talk of escape. How is the Fire Elemental?” Morpheus knew, or rather had the feeling that he was un-Corrupted, and he was glad for that. He didn't know what he would do if he had to face that again. His eyes glazed over, and he got to thinking about his brothers once more.

The three of them flew back to the cave, darkness embracing them almost instantly. Their uncle silenced them as soon as their feet touched the wet cavern floors. ”Your father slumbers, he said, leaning against the damp cave wall, his dark clothes blending in well with the eternal night within the cavern. Icelus laughed loudly.

”When does he not? Hypnos may sleep for nights undisturbed. Trust me, dear uncle : If we were to frolic here now, he would not awaken.” He provided a playful wink in Phantasus's direction, to show that his nature was good, and that he wasn't wanting to really get either of them in trouble. Phantasus provided a weak smile. So little did Icelus take into consideration.

”It matters not,” Thanatos said grimly, ”for your father has been asleep only since he arrived after his job of placing people in a slumber.

“He has such a simple job,” Icelus snorted.

”And you, dear brother, are ungrateful,” commented Morpheus, arching a dark eyebrow at his brash sibling.

”And what is this ungrateful nature of mine you speak of? Where within me does it lie? Like Hypnos, if it exists, it slumbers for an eternity. Ah ah! An eternity! We do an eternity of work it seems, whilst Hypnos complains about closing eyes!”

“An eternity?” hummed a voice covered with sleep. Icelus's face paled.

”Father,” Morpheus greeted the man, a small smirk of satisfaction brought upon his face. This was what Icelus deserved, speaking about his own flesh and blood this way.

”Hello, my son,” Hypnos greeted. ”I thank you for not waking me, Morpheus, Thanatos, and Phantasus.” He looked over at Icelus. ”You think you work for an eternity, do you? Such a pity, now, that I have to show you what an eternity is.

“There is a princess, Icelus, that has been doomed to slumber until her true love's kiss. It shall be, more or less, the closest thing to an eternity that you shall ever experience. What, Icelus, do you stall for? The Maiden awaits the singing birds in her slumber! Once your tigers arrive, I will need not to put so much 'unneeded effort', as ou would claim, into her rest. Make haste! Make haste!” Hypnos said nothing more, and he turned to go back to his bed. Icelus turned and walked off, exiting the cave to obey his father's command. Morpheus watched, his lips pulled into a frown.

”It matters not if he feels shame,” Thanatos said in a pitiful voice. ”All everyone wants with shame is death, and death will never come to us gods! Hear me weep, Dream Brothers, and understand that the only thing that keeps me sane is your father.” Thanatos turned and followed Hypnos. Morpheus and Phantasus exchanged knowing glances before turning and flying after Icelus.

When he noticed them from the corners of his eyes, he said, ”Why do you share my discipline?” His voice was meant to sound stern, but a feeling of care and understanding could be found in it. Icelus knew exactly why his two brothers had followed him, and Morpheus knew that Icelus loved them for it.

”You, Icelus, with your head hanging, have yet to realize that we are brothers, and brothers we shall be forever,” Morpheus said, his voice barely audible above the wind.

The three flew through the clouds, doing spirals and frightening night birds, laughing into the still night air. They flew until they saw the pointed towers of a castle, and they landed on the spot that the dragon was to guard. The three men, unnoticed by the beast with red scales and wings, crawled inside through the window, and what they saw fascinated them. She was beautiful, with wavy blonde hair and fair skin, her delicate body slumped over to the small bed that she was sleeping on. Morpheus, tempted to kiss her himself to see if the spell would be broken, approached her, reaching into his small sack of sand at his waist. His thin, pale fingers sprinkled sand onto her eyelids. The portal into her dreams were opened.

The three gods disappeared from the “real” world into something even darker than that of Hypnos's cavern. ”Where do we venture?” asked the usually silent Phantasus. Morpheus did not speak a reply, but he walked, the sounds of his footsteps guiding his brothers to follow him. Not five minutes passed when Morpheus rolled his eyes.

”Do not feign innocence, Icelus. Phantasus treads not on my foot as we walk.” Icelus muttered an apology, and Morpheus got the feeling that the boy was slipping away.

He did not know at the time that it was the Corruption.

At first, Morpheus had assumed that his father had betrayed his own kin, but then he realized that it was not so. Neither Thanatos nor Hypnos knew of the brothers' fate. It was simply poor luck and going unappreciated by mortals that brought the dream brothers here.

Blinking, Morpheus looked once again at the Selkie girl, his lips slightly parted. No, he wasn't going to speak again. She was probably grateful for that. Morpheus spoke as if he belonged in an epic poem. He had a tongue not of silver, but of velvet and gold. He used metaphors in his vocabulary, though he did not mean to. It was just how he spoke. She would understand. Hopefully. He turned to look at the pink and purple creature, and he wanted to smile, but he didn't. Morpheus hardly ever smiled. He was just too serious. So he merely glanced, hoping that he hadn't interrupted the two for something. Though Morpheus was wise, he wasn't necessarily the most intelligent person when it came to timing.