Book of Dreams by Traci Harding Read Free Book Online Page A

if I don’t know what I want?’ Kyle looked about him, hoping the nasty little creature hadn’t gone.
    ‘This is your dream time,’ Crystaleyes’ voice called from beyond the mist. ‘Use your imagination!’

 

RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS
     
    The crystal ball held Kyle’s attention until the eerie chuckles and screeches of the local inhabitants snatched his focus; he was immediately very aware of being alone. His eyes darted about in search of company, but the red mist had grown too thick. ‘So now what?’ he said quietly to Book.
    ‘Wanna smoke?’ It was a puny, grey excuse for a devilish creature that strode forward out of the red haze. It stood just under a metre tall and was puffing madly on a huge joint. ‘It’s real good stuff.’ It coughed to confirm its claim. ‘Or perhaps a cone is more the order of the moment?’ It pulled a large bong from midair. ‘It’s packed nice and tight, just the way you like it.’
    ‘Book?’ Kyle queried, but again his guide was out to lunch.
    ‘Aw,’ the creature waved off Kyle’s concern, ‘Book won’t want any, the bloody goody-goody,’ it advised, holding the joint out to Kyle in offering. ‘But you … well ,’ it emphasised, motioning to their surroundings, ‘I know how you like a good smoke and, hey … you don’t have anything better to do now, do you?’
    ‘Um?’ Kyle frowned, for he could hear someone crying in the distance. ‘Is someone in trouble?’
    ‘How about a bourbon?’ This demon was a deep shade of brown and had a great tyre of flab around its middle that wobbled as it staggered about. It popped onto Kyle’s shoulder to offer a full bottle to him. ‘It’s well aged, the kind of drink you only dream about.’
    Kyle shook the creature off and it landed on the ground beside the grey devil. ‘Careful, you nearly spilt the booze!’ It stumbled up to standing. ‘What’s the matter? Don’t you want to party?’ The demon attempted to do a little dance and fell over, which amused the grey demon no end.
    ‘Party! Did I hear someone say party?’ A third demon, red in colour and very overweight, entered the scene towing a cart piled high with junk food. It was munching on a burger and literally oozed grease through its pores. ‘What’s your pleasure, treasure? Pizza, burger? How about some fries?’
    The crying was getting louder; it sounded like someone, or something, was in real torment. ‘Who is that?’
    ‘What the fuck do you care?’ A green devil appeared on Kyle’s shoulder. ‘You got conned into this ridiculous quest with no idea what you were up against. So, fuck ’em!’ This devil had wings and took to the air to flutter in front of Kyle’s face before Kyle had the chance to shake it off. ‘Nobody gives a toss about you, my friend, except us. You know it, I know it, they know it.’ It motioned to its associates.
    Kyle was starting to feel flustered, and the dope and pizza smelt really good.
    ‘In times of trouble who was there for you? Not those fucking guides of yours, that’s for sure! All they ever managed to do is land you in the shithouse … remember?’ The green cursing devil grabbed the bottle off its boozing mate.
    ‘Hey,’ the inebriated devil objected.
    ‘Save some for the kid.’ The winged demon held out the bottle to Kyle and served him a wink of encouragement. ‘There’s only one place you’ve ever felt good about yourself and that was right here with us. Go on, you know you want it.’
    Kyle reached out to accept the bottle, but in his hand was the crystal ball that Crystaleyes had given him.
    ‘ He has yet to even master his physical body, let alone the others ,’ Crystaleyes had said.
    Kyle quickly withdrew his hand. ‘Oh, I get it.’
    ‘What is there to get?’ The flying demon took to the air to be in Kyle’s face again. ‘Everything you’ve ever desired is right here.’
    ‘I don’t think so.’ Kyle’s resolve hardened and so did the attitude of his demons. ‘I’m pretty sure