#morpheus oneshot

Let's face it he's very gothic himself

He would understand you a lot better than you think.

If you look closely at the gif above you can see an earring on Morpheus's ear and I'm here for it.

Remember how he was able to understand why Zelda felt at home in the gothic cemetery? That moment was so wonderful for me.

Morpheus also understands the importance the subculture has to a lot of people but wants to sit down and hear it from you.

His favorite kind of goth music is gothic Instrumental.

On the topic of music, I think he would listen to "Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows".

He likes your dark clothes.

He let's you paint his nails black.

If you ever put on corpse makeup he would cock an eyebrow in curiosity. "What is this?" "It called corpse makeup?" You answered. He gets close to your face to study your work. "And... what is its purpose?" Morpheus would do anything for you at least once and after you pull his teeth a little.

Imagine how patient he would be as he lets you paint his face. He would probably feel a little silly because it's not his thing but instead he would try to focus on how well you painted his face.

A dream doesn't really like human clubs all that much however if he had to choose he'd prefer to be at a goth club.

You drive a Hearst which he finds interesting.

He would find it very enduring that you're so comfortable with the idea of Death since he's so close with his sister.

Death would adore you.

You feed a random raven that likes to follow you which Dream finds cute. Chances are it's either Matthew or some other raven Morpheus sent to watch after you.

Likes to make gothic dreams for you. He would build you a gothic palace just to watch you waltz and dance around all happy. You might even be able to convince him to waltz with you. Dream could teach you some old waltz from the 1800s.

One present from Morpheus was a great pet bat that was big enough for you to ride. He also made sure it loved to cuddle so you wouldn't ever feel lonely.

Brings you creepy cool flowers that would only exist in the dream. Like black roses, flowers with blinking an eye in the center, Venus fly traps that act like puppies, etc.

Shows you the gothic literature and poetry in his royal library. You would have days where he might even be able to read them to you.

Dream would add to your oddities collection by gifting you skulls, bones, and other things from "mythological" creatures. You would ask if their real and he would just smirk. "I don't think you would believe my honest answer." Like, imagine after he uncreates the corinthian he gives you the skull for safekeeping.

If you are a gothic artist who likes to make creepy things, Morpheus may not admit it but he would get inspired by your work and make a nightmare or two

Dream becomes very obsessive/ possessive with you

When Morpheus started to realize the intensity of his obsessive love for you he marched into Desire's realm and demanded to be set free from whatever cruel joke this was. To which Desire laughed and told him that they had nothing to do with it and they didn't. Morpheus's love for you grows all on its own. However, desire would be lying if it didn't intrigue them as to why it was happening. Morpheus believed desire yet still asked...no beg for this feeling of Desire to be removed. Again Desire laughed and says no.

He would follow you 24/7 if he could but he can't so he sends a raven to watch over you and report back to you.

Morpheus does find time to watch you which he seemed to find more and more. What that really means is he's neglecting his duties and Lucienne is having to cover for him.

Morpheus isn't sure why he loves you so much but he does. He's tried to make dreams inspired by you but always says they weren't good enough and would just uncreate them.

Dream watched in the pouring rain as you lived your little mortal life with others. You smiled as your date held their jacket over your head, shielding you from the rain. Morpheus's first feeling was utter sadness. Why can't he be mortal with you? Why can't you be endless with him? Later as he thought back on the night he felt anger fueled by his sadness. Your date had horrifying nightmares till they were out of your life for good.

Visits you in your dream but stays hidden.

Morpheus does eventually start to slowly himself in your dreams little by little.

He's quiet but you feel safe in his presents.

Dream would make your dreams more romantic. He tries to let you know his love for you without a word.

Lord Morpheus doesn't know what he could say to you as much as he wants to so for a long time you thought he was mute.

The quiet man loved to show love with gentleness. The way he gave you kisses on your hands, cheek, or even your forehead was nothing but softness.

Morpheus also likes to show off a little to impress you. He'd show off his powers and dreams to you watching your eyes light up.

He wants you to come back to the dreaming and live with him as his spouse.

Morpheus starts to slowly show up in your waking life. He doesn't want to scare you off so his careful with how he goes about it.

The first waking meeting you had was at a bookstore. You browsed the Greek mythology section and spotted a book you want however it was just out of reach. As you struggled to reach it a hand grabbed it for you. "Thank you so much-" You stopped when you saw his face. "You are very welcome..." He paused waiting for you to give your name despite already knowing it. "Y/n." He smirked "Y/n~" your name rolled off his tongue easily. You and your new stranger friend ended up sitting down and speaking of books. He described a library from his home where he had every book imaginable. Of course, you didn't believe it. "How about I show you sometimes?" You entertained the idea and agreed. A few days later you dreamt of him giving you a tour of an exquisite library with every book ever written and every book that will be.

Morpheus may try to convince his sister's death to have your afterlife in the dreaming. If Death believes Morpheus has no ill inattention then she may agree however if this obsession becomes dark then she would never go for it.

Morpheus is gentle lover but knows when to be dominant.

I feel like he's a little kinky but I'm not sure what kinks he would have.

"Fine, little brother. I will do as you ask. However, if they wish to leave the dreaming for their intended afterlife you mustn't stop them."

He is completely against kidnapping you. Morpheus doesn't want you to be trapped against your will. However, he isn't against scaring you into complaints.

Morpheus would only resort to scary you if you didn't return his feelings.

Dream would give you nightmares about your wake life. Make you afraid of the people around you while still giving you sweet loving dreams about him

If loving dreams still don't work he will terrify you into compliance

"I'm not scared of you!" You screamed at the dark figure haunting your dream. "You should be."

It would feel like he's haunting you.

He loves hunter x prey dynamics.

If this scary Dream of the endless was haunting you, the corinthian would find out and convince you he can keep you safe from dream.

Corinthian had found a way to keep you from the land of the dreaming and Morpheus feels like he can't see straight. Of course, Morpheus would lose his shit.

He would snap and the no kidnapping rule would be uncreated faster than any hope you had of leaving him.

You would be kept in a magical room in Morpheus's palace that could fulfill all of your desires. Morpheus's goal would be to keep you out of reach of those ploting against him and to help you forget how trapped you are.

Morpheus deal with his sister would be off the table yet because death only spoke of the conditions of your afterlife.

The Greeks had given them back what was left of Hector’s body, so they could have a funeral. Cass had been permitted to attend, if only to not arouse the suspicion that her absence would have no doubt caused. But her parents grief had blinded them, and when no one was looking she had been able to slip Hector’s dagger into the flowing fabric of her dress. When she got back to her room, it hadn’t been hard to use the dagger to rip her bedsheets to form a rudimentary thigh holder for the dagger’s sheath. She had decided to keep it on her at all times until the time came.

She looked up as the door was pushed open. Alexander flew out of the window and up onto the roof, where he could still be in hearing range without being seen. But luckily, it was only Agnes anyway.

“My lady.” She said breathlessly as she bowed her head and the guards shut the door behind her. “Your brother has returned, Achilles is dead.”

The news should have filled her with joy and hope, but instead pure dread settled in her stomach. She had learnt her lesson now though, she didn’t let it show on her face and instead plastered on a smile. “That is wonderful news.”

“The Greeks are retreating. The city is saved.” Agnes smiled, happy tears filling her eyes.

“Then I order you to take the week off. Go and see your family out of the city to celebrate.” She smiled, hoping Agnes would believe the tears in her eyes were also from happiness.

“My lady, I could not. That would leave you alone.” Agnes said, her face falling.

Cass walked forward and took her hands in hers. “I insist. Now the war is over, I believe my father may have a change of heart. If you leave now, you can be home before tomorrow afternoon. I will still be here when you return.”

“As you wish, my lady.” Agnes curtsied and moved towards the door before pausing. “I hope you enjoy the festivities, even if they will not bring the Prince back.”

“Thank you, Agnes, for everything.” Cass smiled, the tears beginning to fall as the door closed behind Agnes.

“My lady?” Alexander flew back down to land in the window ledge.

“Tomorrow night, the city is going to fall. I will not have her here when it does.” She turned to face the bird. “She believes me because it was not a prophecy, because I gave her a good enough reason to leave without question. But I cannot help the others.”

“It is not your fault.” He flew in to perch on her shoulder, his claws digging lightly into her skin.

She looked up at him. “I know, but that does not make it any easier.”

The bird inclined his head, as if he was listening to something. “Lord Morpheus wishes to speak with you tonight, he will we waiting in the library.”

She took a breath, wondering how she would even fall asleep with all the nervous energy beginning to form. “I will be there, if I ever actually manage to get to sleep.”

***

Cass found herself stood in the library as soon as she fell into a deep enough sleep to slip into the Dreaming. It must have been almost dawn, but her mind hadn’t stopped racing for most of the night, constantly replaying what was to happen the following night. But the weight on her shoulders eased slightly as she took in the surroundings shelves that were stacked high with scrolls of parchment. Alexander stayed in the waking world, ready to wake her if anything happened earlier than it was supposed to, leaving her seemingly alone in the library.

But she knew she wasn’t as she walked further in. Places in the Dreaming felt different whenever Morpheus was present in them, it was like they had more energy than normal, his very presence bringing them into sharper focus. She used that as her focal point and found him leaning over a desk in the far corner. Rolls of parchment covered each inch of the dark wood and he seemed engrossed in them.

“Sorry. I did not mean to keep you waiting.” She said, coming to a stop a few steps behind him.

He did not turn to look at her, instead focusing on moving the papers in front of him. “It is no matter, I have plenty to keep me busy.”

“What did you wish to speak to me about?” She asked, moving closer and peering over his shoulder at the papers in front of them. They looked like plans for something, extensions to the palace maybe.

He finally stood up straight and turned to look at her. “You have seen your death?”

“I have. Why?” She whispered, trying not to think of the images she had seen.

“It will be easier for me to give you a place here in the Dreaming if I know when it will occur. My sister is rather fast at taking souls when the time comes.” He said, but something about his tone suggested to her that he wasn’t telling her everything.

“Three months from now, mid-month I think. I cannot be entirely sure.” She said, watching confusion flash through his eyes.

“But you said the city falls tomorrow.”

“It does. I do not die in Troy.” She didn’t elaborate, unwilling to drag up what was waiting for her in less than a day.

Morpheus’s eyes seemed to darken as the air grew thick around them. “What happens tomorrow night?”

“Nothing you can prevent, and I do not wish to spend this time thinking about it.” The room darkened, her emotions brushing up against his and causing a reaction stronger than normal. Before she even felt the ground move beneath her, the pair of them were stood in the bright sunlight of Fiddler’s Green.

Morpheus’s face was unreadable, but she knew he had felt their emotions playing off each other as well. “Very well, we need not discuss it further. Alexander will stay with you, so I will know if something changes.”

She just nodded. The air still felt heavier than usual, like his power was seeping out into the air between them. “I have to go.” She whispered, finally bringing herself to look back up at him. Confusion clouded his features and his lips parted as if he was going to protest, but she cut him off. “There is to be a city wide celebration tonight, I will be expected to help with the preparations.”

“Then I will not keep you.” His tone was light, but the worry lines creasing his brow didn’t disappear.

She nodded in his direction and woke herself up before she could say anything she might regret.

***

Paris avoided looking Cass’s way the entire time they were helping oversee the preparations outside the palace. Two guards hovered close by, keeping an eye on her, as per her father’s orders. She knew he had told them to take her back to her room and lock the door at the first sign of trouble. Hector’s dagger was still strapped to her thigh, but if it came to it, she would go without complaint. Tonight could only end one way, no matter what else happened.

Alexander cawed softly from where he was perching on the statue in the centre of the courtyard. She shot him a small smile to show she was fine and went back to showing the people in front of her where he father wanted the drinks station to be placed.

Until her younger brother, Helenus came sprinting through the arches. He took several deep breaths before hastily speaking. “Come see what the Greeks have left us!”

Everyone dropped what they were holding and raced after Helenus, everyone but Paris, Cass and the two guards. The two siblings shared a brief look before Paris averted his eyes and stalked after their brother. Cass moved slower, the two guards following her like shadows as they walked through the city. People were swarming the streets, all moving in the same direction. The reason for the excitement became very clear as they reached the city gates.

A giant wooden horse had been dragged through the gates and into the entrance square. People were swarming all around it, talking about how the Greeks must have seen the error of their ways. As they walked closer, the inscription on the side became clear: The Greeks dedicate this thank-offering to Athena for their return home.

Cass’s blood ran cold, The Greeks will commit sacrilege to enter the city, but the people will not see it. That prophecy was been the only one that had been triggered by Paris’s presence. At the time, she hadn’t known what it meant, but the horse in front of her fulfilled it perfectly. Horses had always been scared to the people of Troy, and the Greeks must have known that they wouldn’t want to destroy even a replica.

She pushed through the crowd, aware of Alexander flying above her as she made her way to Paris. She caught her brother by the arm, unflinching under his burning gaze as he turned to face her. “Paris, this is a trap. You must tell them to take it back outside the city walls.”

Paris glanced behind her and she knew the guards must have joined them. “This is another one of your delusions, sister. The Greeks have retreated, this is merely a symbol of their surrender. They know what horses mean to the people of Troy, it is merely a gift so we will not follow to finish the job.”

“Or they knew what horses mean to us and they hoped that would mean we would not destroy it! Please, Paris, listen to me. Something is wrong. They will listen to you.” She tightened her grip on his arm.

“You would do well to keep this to yourself, if father hears, he will lock you back up. Maybe for good reason.” He ripped his arm away from her and stalked off towards Helenus.

Cass watched him go, her mind reeling. What was going to happen, was going to happen. She hadn’t been able to stop it so far. But she was here this time, standing mere feet away from the issue. And she would be damned if she let it go. She glanced around the square, making sure not to draw the attention of the guards. It was getting late and the torches lining the walls had begun to be lit. An axe had been left alone underneath one, the blade embedded into the wooden block of a woodcutter who was clearly admiring the craftmanship of the horse.

More people started to fill the square as the news of the horse spread through the city like wildfire. She glanced back at the guards; one woman could move through a crowd faster than two men in full armour. She moved without thinking it through further, darting between people as she ran towards the torch and axe. The shouting of the guards was lost in the crowd as she yanked the axe out of the chopping block. The torch took less effort as she pulled it from the wall. She risked a glance back at the guards, finding them still trying to push through the crowd, before running back towards the horse.

She kept the torch and axe as close to her as possible, unwilling to even risk a bystander being hurt. She was only a few steps away from the horse when she was tackled from the side. The torch and axe went skittering across the stone paving as she rolled over and swung at whoever had grabbed her. But Paris caught her arms, crossing them over her chest and pinning them down.

“Paris, let me go!” She shouted in desperation. She knew this was it, her one and only chance. If they got her away from the square, the future would be set in stone. “Paris, please! You don’t understand, please.”

“I warned you, sister.” He murmured as the guards finally managed to push through the crowd. “Take her back to the palace. It seems the end of the war has not brought an end to her delusions.”

“Paris, please!” The guards grabbed each of her arms and hauled her to her feet. “It is a trap, if you do not listen to me, you will doom us all! Paris!”

But he turned his back and ignored her shouts as she was dragged from the square.

***

“I need you to do something for me.” Cass told Alexander as he flew down to perch on her window ledge.

The bird cocked his head to the side. “What is it?”

“One of the guards outside has the only key to the door. When it starts to get bad, they will abandon their post and I do not wish to be trapped in here.” She told him, glancing out of the window to where the sun was beginning to dip beneath the horizon. “There is not long left.”

“Leave it with me.” He flew off, leaving her alone again.

She pushed herself up onto the ledge, bringing up her legs and curling them beneath her. The sound of singing drifted up from the festivities, firelight flickering throughout the city. She wondered how much everyone had drank, how much of a resistance there would be when the fighting started.

There was a squawk in the hall, followed by muffled cursing and she couldn’t help the small smile that overtook her face. She returned her gaze to the city and found her thoughts drifting towards Agnes. She hoped, more than anything, that her friend had managed to get away in time. Even if she could only save one person from the coming bloodshed, it was better than nothing.

Alexander flew back down and dropped a gold key into her lap.

She picked it up and smiled at him. “Thank you.”

He bowed his head in acknowledgment before looking out of the window. “How long now?”

“When it goes completely dark.” She pulled the dagger out of its sheath and twirled it in her hands. “When it gets bad, I want you to go back to Morpheus.”

He hopped up to perch on her knee. “He said-”

“I know what he said. But what happens next, I would rather not have anyone see it.” She turned to look at him. “Please, grant me this.”

“Very well. But Morpheus will not be pleased.” He said.

“I will talk to him when I next see him.” She assured him. The sun had fully set now, and with it, the feeling of dread began to fully settle in her bones. She replaced the dagger in its sheath. And they sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity.

The change was so subtle at first, that neither of them noticed it. The noise had been at a constant level all night so they didn’t pick up on the change in tone. But soon the shouts of jubilation shifted into screams of terror. Both Cass and Alexander went rigid and shared a look. The bird flew up to perch on her shoulder as she swung her legs off the window ledge and climbed down. The key in her hand cut into her palm as she closed her hand into a fist around it.

They heard shouts down the hall followed by footsteps as the guards were alerted to what was going on. She waited several breaths before slotting the key into the lock and turning it. She felt the bolts move and ripped the door open.

She glanced down the corridor but it was deserted. The screaming was coming from the front of the palace, so she knew her best bet was out of the back. That would also put her in the opposite direction of Athena’s temple. Maybe, just maybe, if she didn’t make it to the temple, her fate would be different. That the man wouldn’t-

She took a breath and walked out into the corridor. She pulled the dagger from its sheath as Alexander’s claws dug into the bare skin of her shoulder. She regretted not changing out of her best dress into something more practical, but there was no time for that now.

She made it down to the back door without issue, all the corridors were deserted. She pushed open the door and stepped out into the warm night air. It was a beautiful night, too beautiful for the bloodshed that was currently occurring. She turned her attention back to the raven. “Go home.”

“I would rather stay.”

“You promised me, remember. Go.” She made sure her tone left no room for argument and he reluctantly took off.

She regretted it as soon as he was gone, leaving her all alone. But she knew she wouldn’t be alone for long if she stayed put. So, she gripped the dagger tighter and started walking. If she could make it to the back city wall, she might be able to slip out unseen and make her way to somewhere her face was not known.

She stuck to the backstreets, ducking out of sight each time she even glanced movement up ahead. She changed course several times as she heard the clanging of metal and blood curdling screams she knew she would haunt her for how ever long she had left.

She ducked out of sight as she heard voices up ahead; Greek soldiers talking about locating the missing members of the royal family. She allowed herself a brief moment of relief, hoping her younger siblings had somehow managed to get away. She had only seen Paris’s death, so she held onto the hope that the others would be safe. She was still holding onto the hope that she could get away. But it was only too late that she realised her mistake.

In evading the last soldiers she had taken a dead end street that led to the last place she wanted to be. She was about to turn around when she heard voices coming up the path. She turned and ran, swallowing down her fear as her sandals beat against the path. She crested the hill as the reality truly set in. She blindly stumbled into the temple and threw herself down at the feet of the statue.

“Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, I kneel at your alter and beg you for protection. I know my brother wronged you, but I ask for mercy now, for you to intercede before the man following me has the chance to defile your temple. Please.” She gripped the dagger tighter as she heard footsteps echoing up the front steps and her tears began to fall, dripping off her nose onto the floor bellow. “Please.”

“You are in the wrong temple, priestess. I am not sure Apollo would abide by you asking another god for help.” The voice was gruff and she refused to turn around and look at the man.

“This is a place of worship, acts committed here will be judged by the gods themselves.” Cass glanced up at the wooden statue in front of her, silently pleading for mercy.

“I am Ajax, head of the western armies, and I have the favour of the gods, witch. I will do what I wish without fear of repercussion.”

She listened closely as he stepped closer, waiting for the right moment. When he was close enough, she swung around and slashed the dagger across his abdomen. He cried out and stumbled backwards, giving her the chance to dive around him. She bolted for the exit, but a hand grasped her ankle and pulled her back. The air was pushed from her lungs as she hit the floor, hard. He started pulled her back towards him and she clawed at the floor and kicked out her free leg in an attempt to get free, but he was twice the size of her.

He grabbed the back of her dress, succeeding in ripping the fabric and causing it to fall from her shoulders. She choked down her fear, swinging again with the dagger, but he caught her hand and ripped it from her. She used the distraction to move again, but in doing so, the dagger ripped into the skin above her left hip. She hardly felt it as she managed to hit him in the face. He barely flinched, his eyes darkening further with rage. He raised a hand to hit her but then his attention was drawn upwards.

Alexander flew into the room and straight at Ajax. The man stumbled back to avoid the ravens claws as he went straight for his eyes. Cass pushed herself backwards until she hit the foot of the statue. She should run, but she was frozen to the spot, trying to hold her tattered dress to her chest.

Alexander’s claws dug into Ajax’s face, leaving deep grooves in it’s wake. The bird evaded most of the mans attempts to grab him, but as always, all it took was one lucky shot. Cass screamed as Ajax got a lucky shot in with the dagger and Alexander fell out of the air at her feet.

She reached out and pulled the raven into her lap, gently stroking at his blood stained feathers. “I am sorry.” She choked out. He croaked weakly before his eyes went dull and he went still. She stopped trying to control the sobs trying to escape her chest as Ajax got back to his feet. She screwed her eyes shut and tried to press herself closer to the statue as he approached.

But before he reached her, he dropped to his knees and started screaming.

Her eyes flew open to find Morpheus standing in front of her, glaring down at the man who was still screaming, backing away from something she couldn’t see. She could feel Morpheus’s anger, the rage simmering underneath his skin, and knew he was showing Ajax his worst nightmares.

“Morpheus?” She eventually managed to choke out.

He turned to face her, his eyes softening as he took her in. He unclasped his cloak and pulled it from around his shoulders in a graceful arch. He wrapped it around her shoulders as he knelt down in front of her. She used her free hand to pull the heavy fabric closer to her, noticing for the first time that the darkness inside his cloak seemed to contain galaxies.

“May I?” He held his hand out towards Alexander and she was surprised to see tears in his eyes.

She handed him over and pulled the cloak closer around herself. “I told him to leave, but he came back and tired to protect me. I am sorry.”

“He did as he was asked.” He said, waving his free hand over the bird. She watched as Alexander disappeared in a flurry of sand. “He is at peace now.”

“You were not supposed to be here.” She said, trying to stop the tears that were still streaming down her face. She noticed Ajax had dropped her dagger and reached out to grab it. In doing so, the cloak fell open slightly, showing Morpheus the wound in her side.

“I know.” He whispered, his gaze dropping to the small pool of blood that was beginning to form beneath her.

“The fates-”

“Are my problem.” He cut her off. “I have an offer for you.”

She looked up at him, his eyes seemed to be glowing again. “What is it?”

“Immortality. An eternity in the Dreaming. You could spend the rest of time learning all there will ever be to know.” He shifted forward, watching her reaction closely as he reached out to look at the wound in her side.

“What is the cost?” She asked, knowing from personal experience, that there was always a price to pay.

His fingers ghosted over the injury and he flinched at the same time she did. “Your help. There are times I have to step away from the Dreaming, you would watch over it in my absence. You would also help me create new dreams and nightmares. That is all I will ever ask of you, your life is still yours. But there are more men on their way, I need an answer now.”

She studied him closely, but her mind was already made up. “Yes.”

Chapter 11

Taglist: @yanna-banana @thefinalgirlpng @itshamleth @lokigirlszendaya​ @yunloyal

More footsteps echoed up the stone staircase as Cass’s legs gave out and she dropped to her knees. Her grief was all consuming and she didn’t even feel her knees connect with the hot stones.

“Cassandra? What is the meaning of this?” Paris said as he reached the top of the stairs. He walked forward, but stopped to take a shaky breath as he laid eyes on the scene below. “No. That is not possible. Find Prince Hector, and tell the King and Queen I wish to speak to them.”

“Hector is right in front of you, Paris. Killed by a knife to the throat while he attempted to bid for peace.” Cass said, her voice heavy. But anger began to ignite beneath the emptiness in her chest.

Paris made a noise of disbelief. “Hector is head of the army, he would not do something so unthought through.”

“He was trying to prevent more blood shed.” She pushed herself to her feet and turned to face him. She was only a few inches shorter than him, and it became obvious as she stepped up to him, rage starting to burn in her dark eyes. “He was trying to save our people from a war you started because you desired someone who was already someone else’s. And now my brother is dead.”

Regret, grief, acceptance and then rage flashed across Paris’s face. “This war has been brewing for decades. It was not the fault of a single man.”

“Peace could have been reached. It was you that chose to commit an act that would be the catalyst to all out war. Make no mistake, brother, this was your fault and the blood that has been split is on your hands.” One day she might regret her words, but in the heat of the moment, she meant each and every one.

“Enough!”

They both startled back to find their parents and other siblings at the top of the stairs. Their father stepped forward and the guards bowed. “What is the meaning of this? Cassandra, I forbade you from leaving your room.”

“Hector went to the Greeks in a bid for peace, trying to do what no one else had the courage to! But after he killed Patroclus, Achilles only wanted revenge. See for yourselves.” Cass gestured over the wall and kept looking the other way as her family walked past. The guards went with them and she used their distraction to walk away. Her mother screamed but she just kept walking, the emptiness in her chest beginning to fill with the pain of loss.

***

Cass collapsed underneath a tree on the edge of Fiddler’s Green and finally broke down. Her fingers dug into the soft earth covering the tree roots and she tried to focus her energy on growing flowers, even as the sobs in her chest grew. The flowers had barely bloomed before they wilted again.

“Oh, my dear.” A soft voice said. “What on earth is the matter?”

She turned to find Fiddler’s Green sitting on the grass next to her. His human form was dressed in the same dark green robes he had always been when he appeared to her, his glasses halfway down his nose as he looked at her with sympathetic eyes.

“My brother is dead.” She choked out as she hugged her knees up to her chest.

His face dropped and he reached out to rest a hand on her arm. “My condolences. I am sure Death eased his passing.”

“I hope so.” She wiped at her eyes but the tears kept coming. She had yet to meet any of Morpheus’s siblings, but he always talked about Death with a fondness he didn’t hold for the others. “There is not long left now before my city falls; a week, maybe two.”

He opened his mouth to reply until his gaze was drawn to something behind her. “Lord Morpheus.”

Cass turned her head to find the King of Dreams walking towards them, the hem of his black robes almost shimmering in the sunlight. There was a deep frown on his face and he looked more uncomfortable than she had ever seen him.

“I will take my leave.” Fiddler’s Green moved his hand to her shoulder and squeezed it in a comforting manner. “Everything will work out in the end, my dear.” He bowed his head to Morpheus before disappearing in a flurry of flowers and leaves.

Cass kept her eyes on where he had disappeared as Morpheus moved closer. He lowered himself to the ground next to her and the grief in her chest began to ease. She noticed his proximity always seemed to calm her racing emotions and wondered if it had something to do with who he was as the King of Dreams, or if it had something to do with the reason she had an affect over the Dreaming.

“I am sorry about your brother.” He said softly, and she didn’t ask how he knew what had happened.

“I do not want to see the future anymore. I used to think knowing what happens would make it easier, but I was wrong.” She dug her teeth into her lip in an effort to keep the sobs locked in her chest before taking a shaky breath. “Take it from me. Please, I do not want it anymore.”

He moved closer and took her chin between his thumb and index finger, tilting her head so she would look at him. “I cannot take the gift or the curse. The power of the gods differ from that of the endless so I am unable to undo it. But trust me when I say, this feeling will pass.”

“How can you be sure?” She asked, bringing her hand up to circle his wrist in an effort to stop him pulling away.

“Because I lost a sister once. I was not as close to her as you were to your brother, but it will get easier, I promise.” He dropped his hand from her face, but turned it over so he could grasp her wrist in the same way she was holding his.

Her lips parted as she tried to understand what he had said. “You can die?”

“Every living thing can die, the endless are no exception. There just has to be someone to replace us when we do.” He dropped his gaze to their hands but she kept staring at his face. She knew he wasn’t human, but she once again saw a flash of humanity in him. He clearly cared deeply about those he was close to, he just had a job to do above all else.  

He looked back up at her, an emotion she couldn’t place swimming in his blue eyes. “Alexander will be with you when you wake.”

“Why?”

“I do not think it fair for any living thing to spend their last waking weeks alone.” He said, his expression not betraying anything he was thinking.

She felt tears prick her eyes again and she hastily tried to blink them away. “Thank you.”

“You do not need to thank me. Now come, Abel has a new cake he wants you to try.”

She let him pull her to her feet and lead her towards the House of Secrets.

Chapter 9

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He sighed, Lucienne cared more about the other residents of the Dreaming than any of them ever cared about her. He turned and walked down the stairs, coming to a stop in front of her. “I cannot cut contact, Lucienne. Cassandra of Troy is soul bonded to me. That is why she has an affect here, and why I can feel her pain.”

Her eyes widened. “All the texts say the endless are exempt from soul bonds.”

“I know. I spoke with the fates, they told me someone I know is playing a jest, unaware of the consequences that breaking a soul bond will render.” The image of Cass lying motionless in a pool of her own blood as the light faded from her eyes reappeared in his mind and he quickly pushed it away.

“Do you know who formed it?”

His shoulders dropped. “Not yet. There are many possible candidates, old and new gods I may have angered that could form the bond if they had access to something to enhance their power. Whoever it is, they are aware of the fate awaiting Cass. But they are unaware of the consequences it will have.”

“Her death will break the bond.” Lucienne realised, her years of reading the books in the library giving her more knowledge than him sometimes.

“I already have a plan in place.” He assured her.

“Then she knows, what she is to you?”

“No.”

“Sir-”

“I have it handled, Lucienne. She has seen herself surviving the initial fall of Troy, and she will not leave her family while they still live. I will step in after their demise, before anything can happen to her.” He said. He felt the familiar tug at his heart as Cass slipped into the Dreaming, far from the palace.

Lucienne frowned. “Do you think that wise, sir?”

“What do you mean?” He asked, frowning now as well.

She took a breath. “I mean, she is highly devoted to her family, even after all they have put her through. Do you really expect her to understand why you waited to tell her?”

“I do not have a choice, Lucienne. I cannot risk the stability of the Dreaming.” He sighed.

“Even then, she will still be mortal, she will still die.” She pointed out.

“When the time comes, I will ask my sister for help. Death has the ability to grant immortality and I do not think she will say no when I explain the situation.” He knew Death would give him a lecture when he told her, so he was putting it off for as long as possible.

***

Morpheus watched Cass laugh with Abel and Cain. The three of them were sat in the space between the House of Secrets and the House of Mysteries, a tea set sat out on the picnic blanket in front of them. Gregory’s head was in her lap and she was idly stroking his nose as she talked to the brothers. He felt a wave of possessiveness pass through his chest, but he pushed it down, knowing it was nothing more than the bond reacting. The same way he knew it was the bonds fault that his heart skipped a beat when she noticed him and her whole face lit up.

“Lord Morpheus.” Abel and Cain said at the same time as he walked up to them.

“Would you like some tea?” Cass asked, holding up a tea pot.

“No. I wish to show you something.” He held out his hand to her, not oblivious to the shocked look on both Abel and Cain’s faces.

She gently nudged Gregory off her knee, the gargoyle huffing in protest, before taking his hand and letting him pull her to her feet. He turned to leave, but she tugged on his hand to stop him as she turned back to her companions. “I will see you tomorrow night, I expect to try that cake you mentioned.”

Abel smiled. “Of course, my lady.”

She turned back to Morpheus and he started walking. “You can taste the food here?”

“Sometimes. I have to concentrate and it is almost as if I am eating a ghost of the food rather than the food itself, if that makes sense.” She said.

He gave a stiff nod; more of his power must be seeping through the bond than he first thought. It raised more questions as to what would happen when he eventually brought her into the Dreaming in her full corporeal form.

“What is it you wish to show me?” She asked as he led her through the palace gates and into the throne room.

He gestured to the stain glass windows. “Battle lines are being drawn among the gods. They are choosing sides in the war, I thought you might like to see who was on your side.”

“It will not matter.” She whispered, taking a step forward to better see the sigils in the glass. “The gods will not join the fight, not in the end, when it counts. Aphrodite will save my brother, Paris, and prolong the war, dooming my people. Even I am fated to lose my freedom begging for Athena’s help at the foot of her alter. And yet, I still hope I am wrong.” She turned to give him a tight smile.

“How do you still hold onto hope?” He asked, genuinely curious to her answer.

She stepped up to him and took his right hand in her left, dropping her gaze to their entwined fingers. “What does humanity have, if not hope, King of Dreams? What would I have if I let go of hope? Madness and hysteria, locked away and hidden from the world. I have to hope that somehow I am wrong, that somehow this is all going to work out. Because if I do not, I will truly lose my mind.”

He let her words wash over him, her proximity and the weight of her hand in his feeling like the most natural thing in the history of the universe. “How long?”

Those two little words seemed to hang in the air between them, the weight settling on both their shoulders. He watched her shoulders rise and fall as she took a deep breath, her right hand moving to join her left on his hand. Her fingertips skimmed over the exposed skin of his wrist that was visible beneath the skin of his robe. It is just the bond, his mind whispered to him as he felt his heart jump.

“Not long now.” She eventually whispered, her voice much steadier than he expected it to be. “The Greeks have surrounded the city. Hector will go to them in a bid for peace, but Achilles will stab him in the throat and then drag his body around the city wall. Paris will kill Achilles, and Troy will think it has won the war. But the Greeks will have a plan to breech the walls, one that I cannot yet see. The rest of my family will die, apart from my brother’s wife, my mother and I. We are to be the spoils of war.”

Rage filled his chest and the Dreaming reacted accordingly; the throne room darkened and the energy in the room seemed to warp around him. But Cass did not step away from him, the same way she had not stepped away from him in the dream of her would be suitor. He knew it was the influence of the bond that made her so sure he wouldn’t hurt her, even if she was still mostly oblivious to its existence.

“Morpheus.” She said his name the same way she had last time and he snapped himself out of it, the room lightening again and the Dreaming returning to normal. “You must have seen so many people meet grizzly ends.”

“That does not make it easier.” He admitted. “And I have not know most of them personally.”

“I was hoping to ask something of you.” She said, her fingers still tracing patterns on the inside of his wrist.

“I am listening.”

“After… At the end, I was hoping you might grant me a place here, like you did for Abel and Cain?” She finally looked up, her dark eyes hopeful as she met his own.

His heart stopped and his lips parted with his exhale. “You will always have a place here.”

“Thank you.” She smiled, her hand squeezing his.

He bowed his head in recognition before tugging her towards the library. “Lucienne mentioned a book you might like.” He said, already formulating a plan to keep a closer eye on her in the waking world now the end was drawing nearer.

Chapter 8

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“There are worse men you could have been promised to. Coroebus and Orthronus are both noble men.” He pushed himself up into the ledge and she moved her legs to make room for him.

“That is not the point, Hector.” She turned back to look out of the window, watching the city bathed in the last golden rays of the day. “First he locks me in here and then he expects me to marry to help win a war I tried to prevent from happening.”

“We are in the war now, none of us can change that. All we can do is play our part and hope to survive.” He said, pushing his curls back from his face.

“When do you return to the front?”

“As soon as night falls. I will talk to father again when I next return.” He said, turning to look at her.

She looked back at him, meeting his eyes for the first time since he entered the room and immediately regretting it as the world seemed to lurch around her and she felt the now familiar tug of the fates.

“The eldest sons death approaches,

slain in a bid for peace.

He will be avenged by the lost prince,

a well placed arrow will fell the Greek’s Hero.

But the city will still burn.”

***

Cass regained consciousness to find herself propped up against the wall beneath the window. Hector was knelt in front of her with a worried expression on his face and his hands on her arms to keep her upright. She reached up and gripped his forearms as tears started streaming down her face again. “Do not return to the front.”

“Cassandra.” He sighed and dropped his head forward, his dark curls bouncing into his face. “I have to go. I am head of the army, they need me.”

“Please. Stay here, stay safe. Please.” She choked out, trying to stop the sobs escaping her chest.

“I have to go.” He pulled her into him and she clutched at him as if that would make him change his mind. “I will see you when I next have chance to return. Be safe, sister.” He kissed her forehead before standing and walking out.

She couldn’t stop the sobs that racked her chest as the image of Hector clutching at his throat as blood poured through his fingers kept replaying in her mind. She blindly pushed herself off the floor and fell into her bed. She hoped all the crying would tire her out, she wanted nothing more than to be anywhere but here.

***

“What are you doing?”

Cass turned from the dream in front of her and looked at Morpheus as he stepped up to her side. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye before turning back to the scene in front of them.

Orthronus was sat at a table piled high with everything a person could ever want; gold, jewels, weapons, and enough food to feed an army. He was staring greedily at it all, bouncing back and forth between the piles.

“After a seven months at war with no end in sight, my father has decided to offer my hand in marriage to two possible allies in an effort to get them to join the war effort. This is the first of the two, Orthronus, he is twice my age and apparently coverts wealth above all else.” She explained.

“How old are you?”

She turned to look at him. “We have known each other for over a year and you do not know how old I am?”

“Do you know how old I am?” He raised an eyebrow.

“I am twenty-three. And I assumed you had been here since the beginning of time.” She said, realising she actually had no idea.

“I have not been here since the beginning of time.” He said softly. “Destiny came first, and then creatures could die before they could Dream, which required Death. But they could Dream before they could Desire or Despair. And then before she was Delirium, my youngest sister was Delight.”

She pinched her eyebrows together. “Why did she change?”

“None of us know, not even Destiny.” He turned his attention back to the man. “Are you planning on staying here all night?”

“No, I still wish to see what the other dreams about. I believe it was you who told me dreams can show us what people are really like.” She smiled before asking a question she was sure overstepped whatever relationship they had. “Will you come with me?”

“I have nothing else to do.” He held out his hand, his fingers curling around hers when she took it.

“One thing before we go.” She turned back to Orthronus and with a wave of her hand all the food in front of him turned into worms. He shrieked and fell back from the table as Morpheus shot her a look.

“Was that necessary?”

She pulled him out of the dream. “I have been locked in a room for half a year, I take my amusement when I can get it.” She was pleased to see the ghost of a smile on his face.

“Who is the other suitor?” His voice seemed harder than normal.

“His name is Coroebus. He is a prince and is, in my opinion, the better of the two options.” She was still getting used to navigating the waters of the Dreaming, so she let Morpheus take the lead. “We met several years ago at a tournament my father held in honour of my nephews birth.”

They landed in the entryway to a large, airy villa. Cass took the lead, pulling Morpheus along as they tried to find where Coroebus was in the dream. It was only when they heard noises coming in the direction of the bedroom that dread at what she might find settled in her stomach. Morpheus seemed to come to the same conclusion because his hand tightened around hers as they made their way down the corridor.

They both froze in the doorway, because the person they were looking at on the bed was Cass. Her hair was array where her head was thrown back on the bed, her skin flushed, and her dress was hanging off indecently. Coroebus was on his knees in front of her between her legs, his head luckily hidden underneath her dress.

Before Cass fully had time to comprehend the scene in front of her, the entire dream darkened. She thought it was her doing until she glanced at Morpheus to find him simmering with rage beside her.

“Morpheus.” She whispered, resisting the urge to step away from him as she was once again reminded that he was not human.

Coroebus screamed and she turned her attention back to the bed to find she had been replaced by a gorgon, snakes hissing and writhing where her hair should be, and her claws cutting into the bedding as she started moving towards him. Coroebus scrambled backwards away from the bed, trying to get away until his back hit the wall.

“Morpheus.” She tugged on his arm, finally drawing his attention back to her. His eyes seemed to glow like gems in the darkness and she once again resisted the urge to run. “I do not wish to traumatise him, he has an army to lead!”

“He will recover.” He said, but a moment later they were standing in his throne room instead.

Cass took a shaky breath and sat down on the steps that led up to the throne as she tried to get her head around what had just happened. Morpheus stayed standing, his hands clenching and unclenching as he glared at the wall. She wondered why he was reacting so strongly. If anyone should be having some form of a breakdown it was her; she had finally began to realise what would happen if one of the suitors helped them win the war.

Before she realised it, the emotions she had been repressing since Hector left forced their way to the surface and tears started streaming down her face again. She pulled her knees up into her chest and buried her face in them, barely hearing Morpheus’s footsteps over her sobs as he walked over and sat down next to her on the steps.

“I became a priestess so my father could not force me into a marriage. And I was prepared to give up everything that entailed, even after what happened with Apollo, just so I would not have to spend my life trapped by a man I did not love. But now, none of it mattered anyway.” She wiped at her eyes, keeping her focus forward and not on the man next to her.

“Surely you have had lovers?” He asked softly.

She resisted the urge to laugh. “I kissed a stable boy once and my father chopped off his hand for daring to put a hand on me. As a priestess, relationships are forbidden and if I broke those vows and my father found out, he would have pushed a marriage on me.” She glanced at him and, before she could stop herself, asked him the same question. “Have you?”

He turned to look at her, his blue eyes calculating as he took her in. “Yes. I have had many mortal lovers over the ages, some more important than others. And I was married once, to Calliope-”

“The muse?” Cass cut in before she could stop herself.

“Yes. We had a son, Orpheus, he was torn apart and she blamed me so she left.” For the first time since she had met him, he seemed wracked with grief.  But he hid it well and turned the conversation back to her. “Did something else happen today?”

“My brother, Hector, will die in the next few months and that will be the beginning of the end for Troy. The city will not last longer than half a year.” She felt her eyes start to burn and changed the subject once again. “I never thanked you for allowing me use your library.”

“You do not need to. No one here ever reads the actual texts, we are always focused on the dream records. I know Lucienne is glad of the company outside of me and Merv.” He gave her a small smile. “I am too, I keep the residents of the Dreaming at arms length so I am glad for the company.”

“I am glad for the company too.” She smiled softly. “Have you figured out why I have an affect on the Dreaming yet?”

Something flashed through his eyes, but it was gone before she could truly read it. “No, I am still looking for the answer.”

“My lady?”

Cass jumped, looking around for the source of the voice.

“Someone is trying to wake you.” Morpheus explained.

She sighed. “Thank you, for listening.”

He bowed his head. “I will see you soon.” He waved his hand and she vanished from the Dreaming.

Chapter 7

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