Dream Dark | |
Author(s) | Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl |
Publication date | January 1, 2011 |
Chronology | |
Preceded by (in-universe) Beautiful Darkness |
Followed by (in-universe) Beautiful Chaos |
Dream Dark is a short story that takes place between Beautiful Darkness and Beautiful Chaos and focuses on Wesley "Link" Lincoln.
Synopsis[]
When Link joined his best friend, Ethan Wate, on a quest through a mysterious network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, he knew the journey would be dangerous. But returning home to Gatlin, South Carolina was just the beginning...
Wounded during a climactic battle, Link discovers that tending his injuries won't be as simple as visiting a doctor and that healing his arm should be the least of his worries. For being bitten by a Supernatural does more than break the skin -- it changes a person, inside and out, turning Link into someone more and more like the dark creature who injured him.
Plot[]
The story begins with Link at his home. He is beginning to experience strange symptoms after Lena 's Seventeenth Moon, during which Sarafine Duchannes pulled out the moon, forcing Lena to claim herself and causing a battle between Abraham and his followers and those who care about Lena's well-being; Lena eventually Claims herself to be both Dark and Light.
The first indication that something is wrong with Link is his loss of appetite, which immediately arouses suspicion in his Southern Baptist mother, who is very proud of her cooking. He also has heightened senses, and the smell of the food almost drives him to the point of vomitting. He then begins to experience increased strength and senses, which further convinces his mother that he's hiding something, and forces him to see a doctor under the suspicion that he is using steroids.
Later, he sees Ethan and Lena, and they put the pieces together and realize that his bite from John Breed, an Incubus-Caster hybrid, put him into transition into being an Incubus himself. Upon this realization, he is encouraged by Ethan and Lena to talk with Macon. Macon is no longer an Incubus, but still very knowledgeable nonetheless, and is happy to help Link learn how to accept and use his new gifts, as well assisting him in adapting to a diet of the dreams and memories of Mortals. He and Ridley attempt to continue their on-again, off-again relationship, but she is still frustrated and bitter at the change in the balance of power between them; before, she was a powerful Siren and he was merely a Mortal, but now she is the Mortal and he is the one with the gifts of speed and strength. It is also revealed that after the events of the Seventeenth Moon, Liv has been continuing her studies of the Caster world with Macon in the tunnels, despite the fact that her actions that night have destroyed her chances of becoming a Keeper.
During one of Link and Macon's meetings, Macon gives Link an envelope and instructs him to take the message to his friend, Obidias Trueblood, who lives in Barbados. He emphasizes that the message is of utmost importance; when Link asks him why he wasn't doing it, he said that it was too dangerous for a Caster, and that he is the only one he trusts who is strong enough to do it. Macon also has Boo Radley accompany Link to help show him the way, although it could be assumed that he also wanted to be able to see what happened on the trip through Boo's eyes.
As he travels through the tunnels, he runs into a strange, unidentifiable creature, and his instincts take over--he uses his strength (as well as the gardening shears in his pocket) to protect himself and disable the creature before swiftly continuing on his path. Upon his arrival to Obidias' home, he finds Obidias on the ground, being fed on by Hunting Ravenwood, who was sent by Abraham Ravenwood. Hunting leaves in a rush, leaving Link unharmed but Obidias is nearly dead. Obidias has just enough time left to explain to Link that while he is a Dark caster, he is not "one of them" (ie: Abraham, Hunting, and Sarafine) as Link assumed, and goes on to explain that the Order of Things is in chaos, and suggests that some broken things cannot be fixed, implying that the Mortal world is in danger. He apologizes to Link and through him, Macon, for being unable to help more. After he dies, Link is confused, shocked, and frightened at what had just transpired, and opens the letter to see if there is any helpful information in it. The letter is blank, and Link realizes that the task for Macon was a test, and hopes that it is one that he passed.
Chapters[]
- The Story No One Ever Heard
- The Birds, the Bees & Mötley Crüe
- Your Average Superhero
- Mortal Wounds
- Priority Mail
- Apocalypse
Characters[]
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