Snowscape Trilogy Read online

  Book 3

  Nathaniel

  Chapter 1

  Nathaniel roamed one end of the snowscape to the other looking for any sign of her former presence there. Besides the memories he carried with him as he journeyed, he found none. She had gone from him for now. Her choice in the making. He wandered along a deserted path; a metaphor he had made for himself and listened for the telltale swoop of wings that would bring new tidings. Although an angel now once again, he still stood in favor with many of the demon realm and many would be companions tried to grace his doorstep with pleasantries in order to gain favor with the once ruler of hell. Despite the inevitable boundaries of the snowscape, many had found its nooks and passages.

  As he kicked a lone stone out in front of him, he watched the dust rise and be swept away in a warm breeze. Glancing up he looked directly into blue fire eyes of a demon he had once called kin and whom now called him master.

  Before the fall Mara had been the prince of seduction and as such, his vanity fell with him and he never appeared less than perfectly coifed. He had visited the snowscape only a handful of times to bring important missives form Lucifer himself or to harken the call of angels stirring prior to Amy’s birth. Nathaniel had not seen or heard from his former compatriot in over 30 years. But time for demons, like angels, did not pass in years, but in centuries.

  “Can we go someplace less bleak?” Mara asked with a frown.

  Pushing back the cowl of his black robes that had become his costume of choice, he frowned at Mara and took in his visitor’s approach. “I did not invite you and as such you can go back to where you came from bleak or not.”

  “Come now Nathaniel. I bring news from the very throne of hell. I know you are among the angels now and head over heals in love with this dream weaver, but you must not forget your place in the grand scheme of the game.”

  “I am not playing a game, Mara.”

  He smiled broadly back through perfect white teeth and brushed a scant bit of duct that had collected on his shoulders. “Nathaniel. You are always playing the game. Do not think that just because you have made yourself a home here on this plane and traded in your horns for a halo that we’ve skipped your turn? Now, enough of this nonsense… I bring dire news of your precious Ambrosia, do you wish to hear it or not?”

  “I have little patience for your flare for the dramatic today, Mara. Pray tell what are you speaking of?” He was careful not to let any emotion escape through his voice. No weapon of hell is as strong as words that make your opponent weak.

  “Nicor tried to wed your very love this evening, but as such failed and the dream master fell to her death.”

  “Lies.” He shot back. Nathaniel knew she had survived the fall from the tower and of Nicor’s plot by Amy’s visit earlier this evening. Mara, however was not privy to know such things and with and internal sigh, Nathaniel found he was once again playing the part of the master deceiver. He had tired of these games long ago and had spent 25 years avoiding any communication to Amy so as not to have to deceive her. It was a refreshing experience and one he had hoped to continue.

  Mara smiled a gentle apology. “From the mouth of Satan would you expect any less? He knows she visited you and that the former angel is currently holding her. I was just testing your skills. You seem to be out of practice lying to heavenly creatures and times being as they are, I did not want to see you killed because of it. I am happy to report that I believed you wholeheartedly. Except for a moment when I mentioned her name. Your eyes betray your desire, Nathaniel. Now… for the real reason I am here.“ Mara unrolled a missive, tinged with scorching around the edges and dutifully stood a little straighter as he read. “Lucifer sends his tidings, of course. Although demon now, Samandiriel has not yet pledged allegiance to the master of the underworld and as such his location remains… undisclosed to the royal fiery one. Lucifer bid I come visit you to pick your brain and discover if you are known to the current location of the one known as the dream master, the weaver of dreams, ect, ect, ect….”

  With a sweep of his hand Nathaniel and Mara was transported to a small table and chair set up outside a friendly French café. Espresso already set, a waiter quickly delivered a small tray of sweet breads and scurried off. Unlike the real France, this current corner of the dream world remained perfectly quiet, bereft of street noise and always rain free. Mara nodded in agreement and quickly took a sip from the offered cup.

  “Had I know the letter would have moved us to a move civilized locale I would have started with it instead of the test.”

  Nathaniel pursed his lips. “In my current mood you are lucky I had not just turned you to ash the moment you appeared, my friend.”

  “You can do that here? My my, I now see why you were so willing to give up your place in hell.”

  “What brings you here, Mara? I know that you would not have jumped at the assignment had there not been a good reason.”

  “Well luckily for you I am more loyal to our friendship than to the politics of either heaven or hell. Tell me first are the rumors true. Have you fallen in love with this human?”

  Nathaniel turned his head slightly and nodded once. “Yes.”

  Mara gently released the grip of his cup and the soft sound of ceramic clink echoed off of the snowscape silence. “To what end Nathaniel? You are here? You gave up all of your power to rule here, but you are also now unable to leave. To what end will this love take you? She cannot stay. She might well choose the angel. If she gives herself over to him then you are forbidden from even touching her? God and Lucifer will have your head. She is a prize you cannot claim.”

  The former demon sat silently looking at one of his oldest companions. He and Mara had seen the rise and fall of many kingdoms. Many tidings. Many angels. Nathanial smiled at Mara a dark and brooding grin. “Sometimes the heart is not given to reason. Did you not learn that lesson well enough when you fell for a human?”

  The rage and fire burned suddenly from within Mara as he sat silently across the table. The dreamscape, reacting to such emotions started to increase in temperature around them as the ground turned from pavement to dirt to ash, but Nathaniel sat comfortably sipping his espresso. Not bothered by his behavior, the demon lashed out. “Why would you speak of her to me?” Mara demanded between clenched teeth.

  “Why are you really here?” Nathaniel asked looking halfheartedly to the oncoming storm that Mara’s anger brought.

  “To see how my oldest friend is faring in the oncoming storm.” This time he could not keep the words from sounding rehearsed.

  Nodding once again he stood up and raised his slender arm subtly within the confined of his robe. “You forget Mara. You are a demon and I am now and angel again. We can no longer be called friends. Please inform your master to keep his cold, conceited heart out of my realm. And give Lucifer my tidings.” With a quick flick of Nathaniel’s arm Mara was thrown out of the snowscape and directly back to hell.

  Chapter 2

  Nathaniel went about his quiet musings and watched others dream carefully for any given sign of Amy. He knew her power grew ever stronger and within a few short hours she would become the most powerful human that had ever lived. God had cultivated her and her life for eons and watched for the perfect opportunity of a human soul that he had found worthy. He had watched and waited and lined everything up serendipitously for a simple angel to fall in love with a simple human and although he wept at their pain, he presented them with a choice. They chose correctly and although proud as a father should be, God ached at tearing the lovers apart. But being an intelligent ruler, God had learned from the previous mistakes made in the creations of a dream weaver and knew that this girl must experience all of these things. Love. Pain. Surrender. Choice.

  Even with the foresight that he had wittingly became a pawn in Gods plan, Nathaniel had resigned himself to that fact and had played the fool willingly.

  The angel to the snowscape had the luxury of more time and more influence than Samandiriel or el
se Sam would have discovered long ago that Ambrosia Ross had no real choice. Amy will not be allowed to love. Not fully. Had she married Nicor and made love to him, the demon would have unpleasantly found her body burned to a charred crisp by sun up. Such was the price of disobedience. God had sent down a rumor carried on the wings of his most trusted angel, Gabriel. Of course the angel could not tell that it was an untruth for their breed could not easily recognize lies any longer. The dream weaver must remain pure, but it also must be her choice. No other can sacrifice for her. No man can take her either willingly or by force or her life will be forfeit. She must fully give herself over to the snowscape or she would die. And God would try again with another.

  Such was the game that Nathaniel played with her. Make her love him and no other. Their union could never be consummated here in an unreal world. And her heart would belong to his and no other. She would be safe from the ravages of lust, love, and human contact. He would own her power, her heart, and her loyalty. His scheme was coming to fruition and yet he found little pleasure in it.

  Nathaniel’s musings once again led him to the wooded enclave they often found themselves in and with it the memories he held of how he carefully treaded the line between sanctity and virginity. He smiled to himself as her remembered her fragrance of clover on his lips. How she felt between his fingertips. He could feel her hair tickle his face and could see her searching green eyes trying to un-cowl him for so long. He looked up to find himself standing next to a large oak tree and smiled more deeply. He could almost hear her call to him.

  “Nathaniel.” He stilled as though death captured his heart. She was here. Calling for him.

  “Ambrosia,” he breathed out barely a whisper.

  Suddenly she came crashing towards him falling over the scraps of greenery that littered the ground. He could barely make her out, which means she was not asleep. Not fully.

  “Nathaniel!” She called again looking around.

  Stiffening he reached up to pull over the hood and put on the mask that he always wore around her. “Ambrosia. I am here.”

  She caught sight of him finally and smiled. His heart beamed at the gesture. “Thank god. Sam and I were captured by some of Nicor’s men in the Poconos. They have us held in a truck and I think they are taking us back to the city. I don’t know what to do. I can feel it inside me. The power.”

  “Is Samandiriel with you?”

  “Yes, but he can’t move. I don’t even know how I’m talking to you right now. I’m still awake and can see him in front of me.” Her voice cracked ever so slightly. “They’re taking me back to Nicor. Nathaniel I’m afraid.”

  He rushed to her and gently tried to grab her hand, but his passed through her fleeting form. “Your power is growing. Soon you will be fully in control and able to move between realms without needing to sleep. That is why you are able to see me right now but cannot touch me.”

  “Can you help me?” Her fear cut him to the core, but he kept his voice calm and unwavering.

  “My Ambrosia. I can only guide you from this side. I cannot step back to that side any longer. It is the price I was willing to pay for you. But I can tell you this…” His indecision coursed through his body only momentarily. Consequences be damned. “Do not lie with Nicor no matter what happens, or you will die.”

  “What?”

  He gently traced the outline of her cheek, which trembled even so slightly. “It is a test from God. You must remain virginal or you will die. There is no sidestepping fate in this. The angels have harkened the coming master of the snow scape for many years and God has laid down many tests for you and this is the final one.”

  Her lips parted slightly as she looked at what he could imagine was Samandiriel’s still form across from her. “Sam and I-” A spike of cold fear shot through him rendering his thoughts blank.

  “Did you?” he could not finish the words.

  She shook her head silently. “I wanted to and he stopped me.”

  Despite the fear Nathaniel shared with Amy he smiled and looked to Sam. Their hatred and his jealously had traveled with them through the years, but in this one girl they finally found their truce. Doubting he could hear the words, Nathaniel said, “I didn’t think he would have figured it out.” Turning back to the trembling girl he said, “You have to get out of there, Amy.”

  Even coated in fear he could hear the sarcasm dripping back from her frustrated words. “I know that. How?”

  “If you are able to talk to me while still awake, then you must be close to coming into your full power. If that is the case then use it. You cannot be stopped by angel or demon should you will it.”

  “That’s nice and poetic and all but what does that even mean? I can’t stop the air currents here.” Meekly she added, “I’ve tried.”

  “Amy. You control the entire world’s dreams. Go find someone and wake them up.”

  Book 1 – Part III

  Dream Master

  Chapter 22

  It was all so simple when Nathaniel put it that way. I smiled meekly to him and said, “Do you want to come with me?” He nodded and with a moment’s thought we were in the soothing dream of a nearby cop that had fallen asleep in his patrol car just down the road from where the current convoy I was in was driving. He had what I had learned was somewhat somber dreams of raking up mid may leaves with his children now grown and moved out. It was a dream of a happier time, a simple thing that had imprinted itself wholeheartedly into his mind that it appeared to him almost every night. He would never remember it the next morning though. Just wake up with a sense of comfort and a small degree of loss. The melancholy nature called to me to keep watch, but given my current state I was not allowed that small comfort. He was close and had a car. Everything I needed at the moment. With some gentle prodding, Nathaniel at my side whispering in my ear, I planted a subtle suggestion for officer Doyle to wake up with the sudden sense that something was amiss, before pushing him off of the precipice of sleep. My voice still ringing in his ears he awoke and pulled out of the parking lot full force without looking for any oncoming traffic.

  Had I not been in the car he rammed right into, I would have been more disturbed with the results of my new power. I could have killed him, had I timed it differently. For the first time, I had a clear sense of the power that I now controlled and why I was a prize to be fought over. The human emotion is a powerful thing and can easily override all other senses. And I now controlled those emotions.

  As the patrol car slammed into the side of the van Samandiriel and I were currently tied down in, I could see Sam’s eyes wince open slightly as his head crashed into the cold metal siding behind him. He hadn’t yet been awake for me to warn him about the oncoming crash and I wasn’t entirely sure it would work anyway. I had braced myself, ready for it and as the van tumbled over onto its side I could faintly hear groans coming from the front cab in addition to the not so melodious din of glass breaking and metal crunching.

  Now sideways, I hung precariously in front of Sam’s still form. I kicked his leg, putting a little more anger in it than I intended. Nathaniel’s recent revelation that I indeed had no choice, was cutting my to the soul and all I allowed myself to feel at the moment was the need to escape and the driving anger behind it. I would not be played a fool. Not by God, by Nicor, not by Samandiriel, no one. I kicked him again, harder this time for good measure and he began to stir

  “Sam wake up.” He groaned again and moved slightly from side to side. “We have to go. Come on!” I kicked him again. His eyes opened slightly more and I could see them slowly coming into focus. “Come on demon. Work your fiery magic and get us out of here already.”

  I could see the corner of his lips begin to turn up. He mumbled something and I kicked him again.

  “What was that for? “ He managed to eek out.

  “For lying to me. Now can you get us out of here already.”

  He tested the zip ties that held him in place against the van’s interior. “When did I l
ie to you?”

  “Never mind that. Can we go please?”

  He sat back. “We can. If you happen to have a knife on you.”

  “Can’t you just demon something out of the air?

  “I don’t think you understand how demons works. I can’t just magically make things appear on whim.” I tried to slump but given my current angle it was pretty much impossible. “How did we get here?”

  “We were ambushed in the hotel room and I think they knocked you out before putting us in the back of a van. “

  “But why are we sideways?”

  “I managed to convince someone to ram into us?”

  He grinned at me in a boyish and yet completely seductive way. “Well done dream master.”

  My fluttering heart fought against the next words, but truth was truth. “It was Nathaniel’s idea actually.”

  He sighed, the grin, falling. “Next time tell Nathaniel to send us the Jaws of Life too. Are you injured?” His slight retained amusement reminded me that I was still pissed at him. Therefore I kicked him again. “Hey!”

  “I am everything but okay right now. You-“

  “Shhhh” he motioned to the back of the van with his chin. I could hear the voices now too and despite the inner hope of the Pennsylvania police department being right outside the doors, I could smell the sulphur coming in like waves.

  I blinked in the sudden light as I could see Nicor’s tall form now standing, basking in the full moon’s glow behind him. He laughed wholeheartedly before speaking. “Now, I am truly excited to see you have both made it out of this trouble unscathed.” Tiling his head, he looked towards me. “I have to say you being upside down is an intriguing notion.

  “Nicor,” I answered back, not wasting any more chances at sarcasm before my dying breath. “How did you get out here so quickly? I didn’t know demons had wings.