The Blue Door - By Christa Kinde Page 0,75

was really glad to know them.

He came to her in a dream that was so bright, it outshone the sun.

It was Harken, she was certain, yet he wasn’t quite the same Harken she knew. He looked much younger; he stood straighter, and there wasn’t a trace of gray in his thick black hair, which had been twisted away from his face in a series of long coils like heavy ropes. He wore shining raiment, and from under the edges of his sleeves, she could see the twisting ends of his furled wings, the deep red pattern clearly visible against his dark skin.

“Mr. Mercer?” she asked, just to be sure.

“Yes, Prissie,” he answered in a deep voice untouched by age. “Are you surprised?”

“I think I should be,” she admitted. “But you look more angelic this way.”

He beamed at her with that wide, white smile she’d known since childhood, and she found herself smiling back. “I have a message for you,” he revealed.

“Again?” she whispered nervously.

His deep chuckle set her at ease. “It’s a simple message this time. One I’m sure you’ll understand.”

“All right,” she replied bravely. “I’m listening.”

Holding her gaze, he paused dramatically, then quietly said, “Wake up.”

Prissie opened her eyes.

Moonlight streamed through the diamond panes of her window, scattering pastel colors onto the floor beside her bed. A glance at the clock showed that it was still the wee hours of the morning, and though the house was quiet, she sat up, listening. Her dream was already fading, but she felt restless.

A soft thump. A distant whimper. The muffled patter of footsteps. Prissie swung her legs over the side of her bed and tiptoed to her door in her nightgown. There it was again. A soft cry from down the hall. She peeked out just in time to see a light come on in the next room over, illuminating the space under the door. A few seconds later, her younger brother poked his head into the hall, and she quietly asked, “What’s the matter?”

Beau beckoned to her urgently. “Sis, come help me. Something’s wrong with Koji,” he called, trying to keep his voice down.

Hoping that the young angel hadn’t gone all pointy-eared and glowy on them, she hurried down the hall. The little boys’ room was actually the largest of the upstairs bedrooms, and it was shared by Prissie’s three younger brothers. Two sets of bunk beds filled up most of the space, and Koji had been given the bunk under Beau’s. “What happened?” she whispered, hoping they wouldn’t wake Zeke and Jude.

Beau shrugged. “Not sure. I think it’s a bad dream, but I can’t wake him up.”

To her relief, Koji still looked like the normal kid he was supposed to be, however, he also looked anxious. His face was creased with worry or fear, and he tossed his head from side to side while making indistinct noises of protest in the back of his throat. “A nightmare?” she murmured, but that didn’t make any sense. Koji shouldn’t have nightmares because he didn’t really sleep.

Prissie thought back on what Koji had told her about his nights. There had been something about communicating through dreams, so maybe his mind was elsewhere? Sitting on the edge of the bottom bunk, Prissie grabbed the young angel’s shoulders and gave him a firm shake. “Koji … Koji, come back. Are you listening? I need you to listen to me, Koji!”

Dark eyes sprang open, wide and unseeing as he struggled to catch his breath. Slowly, Koji focused on Prissie’s face. “There you are,” she scolded. “You had me and Beau worried for a minute.”

“Prissie?” he whispered, his voice hoarse.

“Obviously,” she returned tartly. He sat up awkwardly, glancing around the room with a mixture of confusion and dread. And then, the young angel whined softly, threw his arms around Prissie, and began to sob. “Wh-what’s all this?” she stammered, looking to Beau for help.

Her brother backed up a step. “Lemme get a glass of water … and tissues?” he offered.

Prissie was about to protest when Tamaes stepped into the room behind her brother. Trying not to gawk, she nodded to Beau. “That would be good.”

The Guardian dropped to one knee at her side and lightly touched her shoulder. “Don’t be afraid,” he urged earnestly. Placing his large hand upon Koji’s back, he said, “You’re safe, now. Tell me, where did you go?”

“I … I am not certain,” he replied in a muffled voice. “It was dark. So dark.”

“Something in the darkness frightened you,” Tamaes prompted. “Did