Dream Walker

By A. J. Alexander

Koyu thought she had done her duty, but deep inside she knows it will never be over. She is bound to her master forever and will have to execute his every command. But when he demands she’ll invade his sworn enemy’s dreams, she chooses to rebel.

Koyu risks her existence to help the ‘other side’ by purposely disobeying her master's orders. Koyu knows she'll pay with her life for her impertinence. Is there, indeed, no hope for her?

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. J. Alexander
• Release date: Nov 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005522254

A. J. Alexander

I'm a romance author working on a paranormal romance/fantasy series, "The Council Of Twelve" series. The books are mainly suitable for young adult readers, but I heard there are quite a number of readers beyond their teenage years who enjoy them a lot. I'm very honored and proud to hear that.My rare free time I'm spending in extreme reading, excessive pool swimming, and playing monster-monopoly. My strongest support system is my sister, most of my family, my friends, and black MaineCoon cat.

Book preview

DREAM WALKER

Book Five of the Council of Twelve Series

AURORA JEAN ALEXANDER

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Copyright © June 2019 by Aurora Jean Alexander

CONTENTS

Dream Walker

Character guide for ‘The Council of Twelve’ Series

Interview with Alfred

Excerpt from Book #6 in ‘The Council of Twelve Series’ – River Guardian

To Wendy and Chris

For providing a loving home and for believing in me.

For giving me a chance

and for taking care of me and 'the Blackling'.

Thank you!

DREAM WALKER

Birmingham, England, 1813

Excerpt from Jonathan Drew’s diary:

…The moment I entered this house and met the daughter, I realized I had lost my soul. Her exquisite beauty took me by surprise; her slim and elegant features, the high round breasts… I was lost.

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When she passed me, she gave me a look and a smile full of so much promise, so much pleasure, I noticed my arousal immediately and cursed myself for it.

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After dinner, I had the impression she wanted to talk, but we did not have a chance to get close until that unique moment, when she passed me and a strand of her long, silky dark hair brushed over my arm. It gave me goosebumps, and I heard a whisper: ‘…tonight…your room…’

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When she left, I endured the loss in a nearly physical manner. I turned to her father. He watched me with a certain mild curiosity. I felt my cheeks getting hot and stammered an apology. But he only smiled. I’m used to this, don’t worry.

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While we enjoyed brandy and cigars, the longing in my chest became stronger until it ended in a nearly physical pain. I wanted her. I wanted this woman. The only way to avoid making a fool out of myself in public was for me to retire for the night."

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Now, ready for her, I’m taking these notes, my stomach is in a knot, my skin tingles, and I am harder than I have ever been before. And here she is, entering my bedroom without knocking, breathing down my neck. And all I can think is how I get myself into her. I need her; I want her…

San Fernando, CA, present time

Isat on the ground in front of my shelf and had a little book in my hands from which I read the diary entry of this poor haunted man as I pursed my lips. How well I remembered. He was cute in a way. He considered himself experienced and an educated man who knew how to get along with the ladies. He had to realize eventually; he was no match for me.

It took a mere thirty minutes to arouse him enough to cause a heart attack of the finest sort. My mother judged my work afterward and said it was ‘such a feast’!

But I had experienced nothing but emptiness. I closed the little book, got up and walked over to the fireplace. There, I held a match to the diary and waited until the old paper pages caught fire. When I was sure it would burn to ashes, and nobody would be able to save it, I let it fall and stepped back, softly whispering, Rest in peace, poor soul. I’m sorry for what I did to you. For a second, I noticed a soft pull in my inside when I took the next breath. The moment the book finished burning and the ash flakes fell apart, I had the impression that a light blue flame escaped, but I thought it was an illusion. Still, something didn’t seem right. I wanted to step closer, but then I answered a call.

My mother was calling me. Ebiere had an appetite for men that could not be satisfied. She enjoyed what she was doing. Every single night she seduced several victims, often leaving them broken, crying lumps of misery, only to return the following night to finish them off.

I knew I had to do what I was born to do. I shared my mother’s blood and her faith. I didn’t need to like it; I just had to do it. There was no escaping, no hiding. I was born into this existence. Deep in thought, I put on my jacket and slipped into my shoes. I then grabbed my purse and was out the door. Like so many other days I joined the ranks of those who had to go to work and acted like I was expected somewhere soon. The reality was different. I needed the sun on my skin to get the darkness out of my life and the melancholy out of my bones.

I sat down on the stairs of a little bookshop. I was familiar with the owner. Sometimes he let me sit there since I once told him it was relaxing and peaceful. Occasionally he brought me some water and even coffee once.

I thought about human beings, men and some men in particular. The owner of the little bookshop, for example. He never became one of my victims and I never intended to make him one. I wasn’t my mother. Ebiere did not only follow her master’s orders. At times, between her calls, she decided herself who would become one of her victims. She enjoyed the hunt, the seduction, the control and I despised her for her lack of control and her cruelness.

I couldn’t find a flaw in this man, and I was convinced he was never in danger because he was good to the core. Not even my mother had figured out when or why our victims were to be finished but then, she didn’t care too much. She loved her duties and didn’t ask too many questions. I never saw her have any doubt or hesitation.

She got the call, she seduced, destroyed and sometimes even killed her victim.

I sometimes wish I had the chance to ask questions, but, except that one time I dared to ask them and she looked at me like I was an alien that had grown antennae, I never tried it again.

I grew up protected and loved, a rare beauty amongst the pale and boring English Society roses, with my tanned skin, pitch black hair and big russet-brown eyes. I had no idea what I was and what my future duties would be until my twentieth birthday when my mother welcomed her daughter into the dark world.

She explained to me my future tasks. It was her, introducing me to my calls, the things I had to do. It was her finally telling me what I was, a succubus, a female seducer and destroyer, a demon.

Ebiere didn’t take the time to inaugurate me into my future carefully. She dryly and clearly explained to me how to best use my abilities as a succubus; she even introduced me to two of my sisters and a few cousins.

We all are inhumanly beautiful. Our tasks are to manipulate men, our victims, and give them pleasure at first, the enslaving kiss next, and the kiss of death at the end. Sleep inducement and resuscitation are also among our abilities. The older ones possess inhuman strength, but one talent we all have is dream walking. We can not only meet our victims in flesh and blood; we can visit them in their dreams, to ensure they become addicted to us and our talents before we ultimately destroy them.

It took me days to stop crying.

The owner of the bookstore came outside, handed me a cup of coffee and sat down next to me. I accepted it and gave him a fleeting smile. Thank you. The man nodded. After a while sitting there, he directly addressed me, How are things, Sweetie? You still got problems in fulfilling your duties?

I abruptly turned my head. I had never talked to him about me; I had never told him my name. How could he possibly know what or who I was?"

The elderly man smiled. Sometimes things are not what they seem to be. You are aware of that of course, Koyu.

I had no idea what to say. The man reached over and offered me his hand. Let me introduce myself. I’m Alfred. I’m a Cherub.

I caught myself gaping at him. Then I remembered my good manners and accepted his friendly gesture. We shook hands and Alfred grinned. You are surprised about my looks, right?

I was blushing. I’m sorry, Alfred. I’m stupid. The moment you said ‘Cherub’ I, of course, pictured fat little boy-angels with the golden curls and the chubby cheeks. Alfred snickered Yes, I’m afraid, that’s what I expected. Most things in our world are much different. The good thing is, as a Cherub, I’m immune to your abilities. The bad thing is, I’m a messenger, and in my position, I have to report you.

I looked at him and remained seated. Yes, I figured sooner or later I’d be going there. I was lucky for more than two hundred years.

Alfred softly shook his head and touched my shoulder with his soft and warm hand. I know what my duties are, Koyu; to see, to accept, to think, to report and to comment. And that’s what I did. Therefore, it’s not like you will be picked up by the ‘demon squad’, as we call them. But I had a friend send my report to Andreas and he forwarded it to the Council of Twelve.

At these words, my heart nearly stopped beating.

The ‘Council of Twelve’; twelve of the most powerful individuals in existence; and now they were focused on me and suddenly I wasn’t a hunter anymore. I had become the target. I didn’t expect to be fast enough to look for a hiding spot.

Alfred laughed. No, you’re not. My buddy told me they have been watching you already.

I sighed. I guess this means the death sentence for me. Alfred smiled. I won’t promise you anything, Koyu. But keep one thing in mind, we are no monsters up there. I turned to him and found his benevolent face looking at me with almost fatherly affection. When you sat down on these steps you did not just find a space to relax. You probably found survival.

I nearly cried. It was one of those days when I had not received a call. I planned to enjoy the day, but the fact was, I couldn’t. In my entire life, I never had the chance to only to have fun. I was always, always interrupted. My days were ruined by calls.

That’s why I decided to sit next to Alfred, not to move and even to try to look bored.

Normally this worked for me. But not today. I was ‘zapped.’

Within a fraction of a second, I was painfully torn through dimensions, colors, material, walls; nothing mattered anymore. My brain reacted with sudden dizziness from that way of traveling and only calmed down when I was standing in front of one of the most handsome and dangerous men in existence. I was shocked. Of course, I knew him. No matter how often I met him, he still made the hair on my neck stand up. I didn’t care much about how many Armani suits he owned and how much of the most expensive perfume he bathed in, he was not my type. Cruelness oozed from every pore