Chapter 16 - Unicorns and Horses

Weaver

It had become a habit over the past months. Francis would pile his tray with breakfast enough to feed a small army. Selene would arrive shortly with her grey backpack. They'd feast on pancakes and bacon while she wrote her story and he sketched his visions from a different lifetime.

And I watched her from the other side of the café while I pretended to be doing something else. While I pretended not to be envious. Nor jealous.

Francis got to read her story in print-or at least a soft copy of it. I got to watch her tale formed in her dreams.

I closed my eyes behind my shades and I sunk lower into the chair. Last night's dream was very intense. It took all my resolve not to reveal myself. It almost didn't matter that my father had not yet decided to improve my appearance in Selene's musings.

It had been three full moons since I first entered her world. And each week, she had grown more beautiful. I had initially thought she chose a portal to nightmares-the best writers often pulled ideas from all sorts of fear-but no. All her creations were a concoction of surrealism, terror and reality.

Last night's creation was extremely tempting.

My beastly form slavered at the sight of an ageless Selene standing before her cyclones. The small tempests pulled at her clothes, like puppies eagerly vying for their mistress' attention. I could imagine how they felt. At one point, her long dress wrapped around her legs too tightly and she stumbled.

I had to stop myself from going to her.

I was not prepared for what she did next.

Selene slowly stood up and discarded her tunic. Her delicate parts were concealed by shadows as if even in the privacy of her own dreams, she knew to remain modest. Tasteful.

And beautiful.

From what I could see, she was all satiny curves. She was resplendent. Alluring.

My prehensile tail coiled around my hind legs, warning me, knowing how tempted I was to step forward. The coal eyes of this monstrosity I inhabited grew brighter and I gritted my pointy fish teeth as I struggled against the lure.

Selene fused with her cyclones, all creamy flesh and dark tresses, before she completely disappeared in their turbulent embrace.

I exhaled in relief. I was not certain how long I could have resisted.

A sugary sweetness wrapped around me, the aroma snaking through and around the holes of my cranium. This was her scent. I could drown in her saccharinity.

It pulled me forward. And I followed, but stopped myself by the edge of the gummy barbed shrubs, making sure I stayed hidden in their silhouette.

The whirlwinds merged and grew violent. The product spun and expanded and wrenched the forest by the roots. My viscid cover was a good choice because it held tightly to the earth and kept me hidden while everything else was deracinated. I worried I was going to be exposed.

Then a hush. And everything fell to the floor. The raging tornado simmered and spewed a giant rock. The rock cracked in the middle, and from it stepped out a fire-breathing baby unicorn.

That would've been cute had it any skin.

For a few seconds, it had worn silvery fur, but just as quickly, its coat dissolved as if removed by an invisible carving knife. The little creature's hide had been peeled off and its flesh decayed with every fiery neigh. The white of its skull was starting to show as the meat was ripped off its head. It brayed in agony. Or anger. Or pride. I couldn't tell. I had mirrored thousands of beasts, but never a unicorn. I found the creature too fanciful. It often made an appearance in Phantasos' delusions.

This one though beckoned me. With its pelt stripped, it looked more interesting and less whimsical. And when its entire fleshy surface was gone, it stopped crying and started galloping and toasting everything in its path.

It looked adorable. It sort of reminded me of... me.

The remaining twister fizzled to a cloud of dust that then coalesced and formed into Selene who was now covered in a glittery fleece cloak that reached her feet.

She approached the horned pony. She gently touched the spine on its forehead and the creature grew five times bigger, smoke still coming out of its nostrils.

In the next instant, Selene was astride the massive beast, her bare legs straddling the creature's back. She was all white flesh, dark tresses and silvery fur. She kissed the nape of her steed and whispered to its fleshless ear. Following her bidding, it careered into the forest, a powerful vehicle for Selene as she explored her kingdom.

Again, I driveled. I would've offered myself for her to mount had my father allowed me one of my true dream forms.

Soon. Once I earned my wings back.

**

Here I was having the most poignant reverie when my annoying little brother chose to bounce a ball on my table. Francis grabbed the ball before I could stab it with a bread knife.

"School's out for summer. I know you don't have any homework. Selene and I are off to play basketball. Come with?" Francis asked.

I saw Selene standing behind Francis, looking even smaller since Francis had grown at least two inches the past months. What was it with Selene making babies grow?

I wanted to decline, but then I thought Selene would probably just sit down while Francis threw a few hoops. He was going to try to impress the girl. I could join Selene on the bench and... talk. I hadn't said much to her since I gave her the chocolates. She'd been pretty civil with me since and I didn't want to change that. Maybe I could improve it today by starting a conversation and asking her what her plans were this summer.

"Okay," I said as I stood up.

Selene looked surprised. She wasn't expecting me to go with them. I smiled at her and said, "We don't have to play. Francis just likes to run around, dribble and spin the ball."

"Is that so?" Selene asked as we headed to the court a few blocks from the café.

"You know that's not true," Francis answered. "Hey, Ice. I bet you Selene could beat you at Horse."

I barely contained my laughter. But I didn't want to upset Selene. I would humor Francis, get this over real quickly after letting Selene make a few shots so she wouldn't feel so bad, then I'd ask her out for a milkshake maybe. Maybe she'd ride on my bike.

Just like she rode on that damn unicorn. Just like she straddled that pony, letting me see the creamy skin of her legs. Such caramel sweetness. The image did something to my nether regions.

An infinite goddess in her dreams. An innocent youth in front of me.

Uncertain if I liked where my thoughts were leading, I said, "Sure. What are we betting on?"

"If you win, you don't have to give me a ride to the café the entire month. If Selene wins, you have to treat me and Selene dinner at Big Plate all Tuesdays and Thursdays of summer."

I wanted to laugh. I'd still be going to the café this summer if Selene would be there.

"Why Tuesdays and Thursdays?" I wondered.

"Selene's mom's home early on those days. All the other evenings, Selene needs to take care of her sisters."

"I see," I answered. Another indication of Selene's selflessness. The girl's a saint. I'd let her stand right next to the basketball ring and hope she got at least one in.

"You're on. Let's go."

**

I never had a chance.

Francis opted not to play the first round of Horse. Just me and Selene.

I had said, "Ladies first." And she did her challenge shot. She did a hook shot with her right hand while her left hand covered her eyes. She threw one from behind the board. She did a long-range bank shot. She asked Francis to stand in front of the ring and try to block her-but she pulled off a tear drop. I tried to do the same, but Francis effectively blocked my shot-infuriating conspirator that he was. That was the quickest H-O-R-S I'd ever spelled.

I was sweating.

Selene did another reverse layup. Which I managed to copy. Whew.

Then she bounced the ball between her legs, spun around, jumped backwards and shot a fadeaway.

E.

My mouth was probably hanging open. I looked at her, incredulous. "How?"

"My father taught me to play the day I started walking." Selene smirked at me before she turned to get a face towel from her bag.

"You're magical. Like a unicorn," I babbled.

Selene laughed. "I wouldn't go that far. Anyway, since I won and today's Thursday, we'll meet you at Big Plate for dinner." She paused for a bit and blushed before she continued, "Perfect timing because we're celebrating. I'll pick up the tab for dessert."

"Really? What are we celebrating? How bad Ice is in basketball? I took a video of his failed shots and I'll upload it later," Francis said and I immediately whacked the side of his head.

"Ow!"

"What are we celebrating, Selene?" I asked. I wasn't sure, but it might've been the first time I uttered her name. Those two syllables tasted delicious on my tongue.

Selene was blushing, but grinning widely now. She turned to face my brother. "Francis, I just finished my first book and I've got an outline for the second one and some ideas for the rest of the series. I want to thank you. Had you not been there for breakfast every morning, I don't think I'd have the drive to write. I've never felt so inspired."

Francis looked confused. It was odd because he knew she was writing a story. Perhaps he didn't expect her to finish her book so quickly?

"That's amazing," Francis said. He had quickly covered his frown with a smile. "Where are you getting all these ideas?"

"From my dreams!" Selene exclaimed. "I'd been trying to write for years now, but I had always lost my drive after the first chapter. But since I bumped into you, it felt like I'm on hyperdrive... hyperwrite... whatever. I don't know how, but all these ideas kept flooding in since we started having breakfast together. I think it happened when I saw that first abstract you made. It triggered something. It's like my subconscious found a way to a portal full of these wonderful concepts."

Francis looked at me. I looked away and wore my aviators.

"You're my lucky charm!" Selene added before she hugged Francis. Then she carried her backpack and said, "Anyway, I got to run. I have to pick up my sisters and help my mom with dinner. But I'll meet you guys at Big Plate later."

**

Right after Selene left, Francis rounded up on me.

"What have you been up to?" he asked, contained severity lacing his words.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I answered nonchalantly.

"I've read her stories," Francis persisted. "They're good. Too good, in fact. I don't know how you're doing it, but you're not supposed to influence her dreams. Whatever it is you're doing with Selene, stop it. You know mother hates it when you interfere."

"Again, I have no idea what you're talking about. Selene and I are not even friends," I gritted out.

"You're not fooling me, brother. Fine, you're not friends, but you're no longer at your dog and cat or cat and mouse routine. Don't think I haven't noticed you've been oddly happy lately, Icelus."

"Shush, Francis. You are being ridiculous." As if I could do anything in Selene's dreams. Father made sure I couldn't. Wouldn't.

I walked away from Francis. He was starting to annoy me.

"Have you found your way back to the tunnels?" Francis asked a little too loudly as he yanked my arm to face him.

"What if I have?" I snapped.

Francis visibly paled at my admission. "You know we have to learn our lesson, right?" he asked more quietly this time.

"What is the lesson? Not to interfere? Well, I'm not interfering with anyone's dreams. I am a weak mortal in this sphere. I could do nothing!" I growled, getting frustrated with my incompetence. And I wasn't just talking about the horrible basketball game I played.

"I am sure it's more than just not meddling. We have to learn to respect the dreamers," Francis told me.

But had I not shown more respect for Selene than any other entity? She made me feel inept even as she inspired me. I knew she was a true weaver.

Between the two of us-her an infant and me an ancient jaded god-she was the true weaver.

And the realization struck me.

How the proud had fallen.

"Do you know what Selene's book is about?" Francis asked me.

"The typical teenage fantasy? Hot winged demons saving the day?" I replied, barely listening to myself as I pondered on my admission.

Francis stared at me for a while before saying, "It's not about demons."

"Unicorns?" I guessed again.

"No."

I raised an eyebrow, not really caring if Francis told me. I would find out later. Maybe.

Francis looked me in the eye even though I was wearing my shades. Gravely, he said, "Selene had described you perfectly. As if she'd seen you. As if she'd touched you."

I didn't know whether to feel flattered or concerned.

"Mother would be so upset if were exposed," Francis said before he walked away.