Dream Lords 2: Dream Lords, #2

By Raquel Pagno

Dream Lords 2
by Raquel Pagno

The Nightmares Devourer 

There are ancient beings capable of feeding on the most horrendous nightmares. There are powerful creatures, equipped with skills capable of cheating death.

There are ancient beings capable of feeding themselves from the most horrendous nightmares.

There are powerful creatures equipped with dowries capable of cheating death.‌ ‌

‌

Hank‌ Hirano couldn’t believe what was happening. He‌’d always known that

Humans were not able to give birth to Kitsunes children. Even so, all the precaution was ‌not enough and he ended up putting Lorena’s life at risk.‌ ‌

He couldn't stand to live with guilt if the worst happened. He swore to Lorena and to ‌himself that he would find a solution, and together with that man, he discovered the existence‌ of‌ a‌ Baku,‌ ‌the‌ only being  capable‌ of‌ making ‌a ‌person ‌immortal.‌ ‌

Three years after the battle for the extinction of the dangerous organisation the Dream Lords, Hank and Lorena have a new challenge: leaving for Japan in search of the last Baku and convince it to save Lorena's life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201964573

Book preview

DREAM LORDS

THE NIGHTMARES DEVOURER 

RAQUEL PAGNO

For Walli Silva, Yasmin Pandy and Andrea Cristina Sobral. This book was written by you, for you and would not exist if you did not exist.

PROLOGUE

Japan - June 1575

The sky stretched over Nagashino like a gray cloak. The smoke from the thousands of flaming torches and arrows camouflaged the enemy army and made Takadatsu's eyes sting. A river of blood flowed under the Samurai's feet soaking the skin that enveloped his feet and ankles, but the warrior did not feel the warmth of the warm viscous liquid splashed in every visible inch of his skin.

Incited by the heat of battle, he brandished two swords in attack and rearguard, observing the approaching defeat that seemed imminent. Around him, more and more allies fell defeated, increasing their fury, isolating the heat and tiredness that dominated him.

With animalistic howls, the warrior moved forward fearlessly, attacking more than one opponent at a time. He carried with him the glory of fame, which he considered a burden, but above all, he carried the title of Immortal Warrior. It was not in vain, and each time an enemy hit him, he forced himself to remember the special artefact he had inherited from his father and which now lined the platinum armour.

Takadatsu had grown up listening to ancient stories, legends of supernatural beings full of magical powers, and he didn't always believe them. Even though he was part of a people whose culture was full of myths and beliefs, he did not consider himself a superstitious person. He never imagined that soon he, a skeptic, would one day find proof that everything he ignored was the purest truth. Far beyond that, he was part of it now. The proof was in the artefact he always carried, wrapped in his muscular and invincible body.

A second lost in thought was enough to distract him, a fatal mistake. He turned the Katanas over his head and his chest was left unprotected, opening the perfect gap so that his opponent's sword blade could be thrown in the exact direction of his heart.

The Immortal Warrior groaned and bent over his own body. His wrists, once firmly clenched on the Katana's grips, he lost his grip as the air left his lungs. His eyes closed slowly, at the same time that the enemy's eyes sparkled and the sword was pulled hard for an eternal moment. Pulling himself back upright, Takadatsu faced the rival's wide-eyed gaze, who watched in amazement as the steel blade fragmented as if it were made of glass.

On the Samurai's chest, only a narrow mark embroidered the platinum armour, limpid and shiny as before. Not a drop of Takadatsu's blood tainted it. Now he could no longer deny the veracity of the stories he had always judged to be mere beliefs. His mind wandered in search of an explanation. Was it magic, luck or, in fact, the power that emanated from the creatures? Takadatsu retained a single certainty, that he was still alive.

01

Brazil - September, 2017

Good morning, baby, Hank kissed Lorena’s lips sweetly, waking her from a good dream to an even better reality. Since she had moved to Akiro's mansion, after her mother's and her own wedding, Lorena had the impression she was living in a fairy tale. Not that she was some kind of princess or had crystal slippers, fairy godmother or any of the typical clichés from books. No, she had a lot more than that. She had a family.

Three years had passed since the wedding. Despite the protests, mainly because of her young age and Hank's, who had just turned eighteen at the time, Lorena was certain that she had made the right choice. She loved him, which she had never thought it possible before, and she never intended to part with him.

The three years of married life went by at an absurd speed. Lorena remembered the wedding day as if it were yesterday. And also on the wedding night, when special care had to be taken to avoid a possible pregnancy. Lorena was just a human, too weak to bear a Kitsune child, both were aware that they could not take the slightest risk.

Still, like most women, she dreamed of becoming a mother one day. And Hank assured him that, within a few years, they could resort to the only possible solution, to adopt. The suggestion had satisfied her, despite the fact that she was aware of all the waiting and bureaucracy that preceded an adoption process. And she also knew that as soon as she laid her eyes on the child who would be her child, her heart would recognise it instantly.

Anyway, it was decided that after both of them graduated, that if everything went well, they would start the journey towards forming a real family, a complete one. Lorena had not yet spoken to Hank about it but she was willing to adopt not only a child, but a family of siblings. She had always heard sad stories of children being separated in orphanages. She wanted to be able to prevent it from happening at least once.

Lorena watched Hank. Her husband retained the same mischievous smile of years ago when she first met him. The smile that she hated and that later made her fall in love with him. His eyes, despite having no oriental features like Akiro’s, what made his origins very clear, hid something wild that she now knew how to recognise. It was the animal inside him that, even while asleep was always alive and apparent in those eyes.

She had married a Kitsune and had adapted well to Hank's sporadic transmutations into his true form, that of a gray fox with five majestic tails. Living with Hank's second family, the band of Kitsunes, was also not a problem. Five members remained of the massacre carried out by the malicious members of the organisation the Dream Lords. Lorena didn't even like to remember that the foundation created by her own father, at the cost of his soul's sacrifice, had been used for evil and not for good, its true purpose.

Good morning, she replied, sleepily.

Aren't you going to get up? It’s eleven o'clock already, Hank had been surprised by Lorena's exaggerated drowsiness for the past few days. He used to be the lazy one in the family and he was often thrown out of bed by his wife in the early hours of the day.

Already? Lorena's eyes widened, startled by the late hour. Not that she had an appointment for the day. It was Sunday and, most of all, the couple was on vacation from college, where she was studying History and Hank Biology, as one would expect to judge by the desire to become a geneticist, in order to better understand the nature of his species. She really wanted to enjoy it, although she had never been one to sleep in late. Maybe she had a cold. She cleared her throat trying to feel some discomfort in theret but everything seemed normal.

Why are you so sleepy, huh, Madam Sleeper? asked Hank playfully starting to tickle her, the only tactic that had been working to get Lorena out of bed lately.

‘I think I caught it from you, it must be because I’m living with Lord Lazy," she babbled amid laughter.

Oh, really? So is it my fault, madame? Prepare yourself for the consequences of your insolence, he threatened her intensifying the tickling. You should respect your husband a bit more.

No! Hank, stop! she could barely plead, she was laughing so hard. Please please!

So you want me to stop? Okay, I'll stop, Hank said, as he continued with the torture session,but only if you beg for mercy.

Cle... clem... clemency! Lorena was trying really hard, even so, Hank did not stop.

Ask for water, he demanded.

Water... water... water! Water! Stop it, Hank!

Then he stopped. With one hand tightly attached to Lorena's waist, he pushed himself up hoisting his body over hers. He propped himself up on his elbows and with his hands free, freed his wife's face from the disheveled strands of long disheveled brown hair and faced her.

Is everything alright with you?

I’m fine, I'm just a little tired, Lorena was felling exhausted all the time in the last few weeks. She didn't know how to explain why she was so tired and drowsy, she knew it wasn't normal. Or at least, it had never been until now. Apparently, it would become a constant.

Huh! Tired of doing nothing? The holidays are almost over and we haven't even enjoyed it yet. No travel, no fun. You don't even want to go to the pool. I thought you were a little fish because you enjoyed so much to stay in the water before, now you don't even come close to the edge of the pool. There's something wrong with you, baby.

It must be age, she laughed.

My God, what will it be like when you’re thirty? Hank's eyes widened in pretend outrage. I better ask for a divorce now, just in case.

Don't even think about such a thing, Mr. Kitsune! You are my pet, did you forget that? And you will continue to be so, she teased him.

Pet, is it? I'll show you what your pet is capable of!

Hank got to his feet, dragging Lorena to the edge of the bed with him. He put his arms under her body and picked her up while with the tip of his foot he pressed the control that raised the tilting glass door that led to the pool patio, an improvement that the two made a point of including in every ground floor room of Akiro’s house after their wedding.

You’re crazy, you're going to drop me! Lorena shouted but Hank ignored her completely starting to race towards the pool.

Don't you dare, Hank Hirano! but it was too late, the boy accelerated and reaching the edge, rested his foot on the pavement getting the maximum momentum and jumped so high that Lorena feared to take flight out of his lap. A second before falling into the water, she closed her eyes and pinned the tip of her nose between her forefinger and thumb.

The water was so cold that when she was submerged her warm body, the newly awakened Lorena, felt the violent tremor of the thermal shock followed by a twinge of pain in her head and a nauseating sensation. Hank had released her underwater and returned to the surface in search of air. She struggled but failed to emerge.

She struggled for a while seized by anguished agony, as if she were in a nightmare. Defeated she allowed the air to escape from her lungs, forming bubbles that rose quickly, breaking free and surfacing, while she tried to regain control over the arms and legs that refused to obey her. Finally, a tingling sensation invaded him. Numbly, she let her lids close and stopped resisting as she descended more and more until she reached the floor at the bottom of the pool.

02

By Inari, Hank! What sort of a joke is that? Akiro raged in the name of the major deity of the Kitsunes. It wasn't just today that the patriarch was angry. Even the presence of Laura, Lorena's mother, now his wife, who had previously been so beneficent, was not able to calm his nerves.

There was something going on with his father, Hank felt it, but he had no idea what it could be. It was as if Akiro was angry at something and poured the burden of guilt on the people around him. But, as always, the man would remain closed up and any attempt to get information out of him would fail. Hank knew his father very well, always mysterious and full of secrets.

Dad, it was just a joke. How was I supposed to know that Lorena was going to pass out? Right under water? I've never seen that happen! replied the young man, who now, in addition to being worried, felt guilty that Lorena had almost drowned.

Of course, a stupid joke, so stupid that it almost killed your wife, Hank looked down to not look at his father. When are you going to grow up, huh? You’re already a man, you should have learned to be more responsible.

Your father is right, Laura interjected, as she sat with her daughter, lying on a deckchair beside the pool, she could have died.

I’m fine, Lorena tried to sit up but felt her head spin and needed to sit back down so as not to fall.

So well you still can't even stand up, muttered Akiro.

Really? Are you thinking that I was going to hurt Lorena on purpose? I don’t believe this! Hank put his hands on his head and started to pace.

Mother, please, this time Lorena managed to sit down it was just a joke. I don't know what happened down there but it had nothing to do with Hank. Suddenly, I felt weird, I got a little claustrophobic, I think, and I couldn't get up.

You must have hit your head on the bottom, Laura started ruffling her daughter's hair looking for a bruise.

No, I'm sure I didn't hit my head. Stop it, mom! she got angry and as she hurriedly got up another wave of dizziness hit her. Hank ran to support her but Laura was already holding Lorena’s elbow.

We'd better go to the hospital. There may have been something serious about the blow, Laura insisted.

I’ve already said that I didn’t get hurt. My God, mom! Does it cost anything to listen to what I say? Lorena took a few steps towards Hank, who hurried to support her.

The consequences of these things can take time to appear and they can be very serious, you know?

Your mother is right, Lorena, Akiro approached the couple. If you don't want to go to the hospital, at least let me call the family doctor to have a look at you.

No need, Uncle Akiro, after her mother's wedding the girl had adapted to call her stepfather uncle. I already said that I'm fine. I must have blacked it out because I was fasting. It would also have happened if I wasn't in water.

Are you sure? Don't you really want me to call the doctor, if only to reassure your mother? Akiro wrapped his arms around Laura and kissed her on the forehead.

There is no need. I'm fine, Lorena said vehemently.

If she says she is fine then it is because she is fine, said Hank, irritated. Come baby, I will make you a hearty breakfast.

They were entwined in each other’s arms as they walked inside the house. Laura and Akiro watched them until they were out of sight; Laura shaking her head indignantly and Akiro resigned to his son's irresponsibility. Despite his good grades, Hank had always been a rebellious child. At eighteen, when he discovered that he was actually a magical and empowered being, just like his father, and, mainly, after destroying, together with Lorena, the powerful and malicious organisation of the Dreams Lords, it was expected that he was more of a grown up. Much to his father's disappointment, Hank remained the same.

Lorena sat at the kitchen table and waited while her husband made breakfast. Hank was not a culinary ace but he knew how to make an omelet with mushrooms like no one else. It had become Lorena's favorite dish after the wedding, especially when it was accompanied by an extra-large glass of orange juice. Knowing that little detail pleased his wife's palate, Hank selected the oranges and was ready to to squeeze them.

Vòilá! as he finished his culinary adventure he stretched out his hand and bowed awkwardly, then held out the plate with the omelet, depositing it in front of Lorena, beside the glass of juice.

A gentle vapor emanated from the plate, spreading the aroma of the meal throughout the room. Lorena put her hand over her face covering her nose. She became pale and ran away, locking herself in the bathroom. Hank went after her but he didn't arrive before she could lock the door. With no alternative, the boy waited outside, until she finally opened the door again.

What was that? Did I do something wrong? he asked, mentally going over the ingredients of the omelet to make sure he hadn't used any ingredients that Lorena didn't like. He found none.

No, nothing wrong. It's just that I'm still not feeling very well.

I think my father was right, you need a doctor.

Ah, Hank, you too now? I already said I'm fine. I just need to rest, she said, taking a step toward the corridor that led to the bedroom but Hank grabbed her by the arm, stoping her.

No, ma’am, you will not go anywhere without first eating something. I didn't cook like a slave for you to dismiss my omelet, he pursed his lips in a pout dissatisfied. Lorena kissed him, then returned to the kitchen, frowning at the plate.

Would you be very offended if I didn’t want the omelet?

Err, let me think... he tapped his chin with his fingertips, looking up, pretending to be focused on his