Read The Book of Dreams for Free Online Page A

wintergreen. He seemed surprised to see her, as if he recognized her from somewhere, and he searched her features curiously.
    The blood rushed to Dana’s face. She turned away. It was not just from shyness. She was unsettled by that look, so keen and intense. When she found the courage to glance back again, he had returned to his reading. She was relieved, but also a little disappointed.
    • • •
     
    Once the school bell rang and the day officially began, Dana settled into her usual state of “betwixt and between.” With half a mind, she listened to what she had to learn and made notes when necessary. With the other half, she looked out the window, lost in thoughts of Faerie.
    Beyond the asphalt grounds of the schoolyard, a line of old oak bordered the road. Where their leaves were beginning to turn, faint stitches of bronze trimmed the green. Gray squirrels scrabbled in the branches, busy with their work. Dana smiled as she watched them. But what was that above the treetops? A white blur in the sky. At first she thought it was a bank of clouds herded by the wind, then she realized it was a great flock of birds. A mild shock ran through her. What were they? There were so many of them, all different shapes and sizes, but every one was snow-white. She felt her heart lift like a bird that wanted to fly too, and she followed their movement with longing.
    A harsh voice broke Dana’s reverie, followed by an outburst of laughter from the class. Words filtered through Dana’s confusion.
    Woolgathering … daydreaming … featherbrain .
    To her horror, she found herself in the glare of exposure. The whole class was staring at her with open amusement while the teacher scowled from the front.
    It wasn’t just the unwanted attention, the unkind words, or even the embarrassment. Something else alarmed Dana. She knew instantly in a way she couldn’t explain that she was under attack. Struggling through her bewilderment, she faced her tormenter.
    Mr. Crowley. When he had first entered the room, the universal reaction had been shock and dismay. He was not the jolly, pink-faced man who had made them all laugh at orientation. In a few short weeks some awful change had come over him. For one thing, there had been a drastic weight loss. Was cancer eating away at his insides? His skin seemed to hang on his big-boned frame, like the hide of a dead animal. And his hair was much thinner, falling in oily gray strands to his shoulders. There was a greenish tinge around his lips that pressed thinly together in a perpetual sneer. When he spoke, spittle gathered in the corners of his mouth and his tongue darted like a lizard’s. And even his voice had changed; from a friendly baritone to a creepy whisper. But worst of all was the dead look in his eyes.
    Dana shuddered as she met the cold gaze. There was something awful here, something far worse than his appearance. She could sense the ill will bearing down on her; an implacable hatred. It made no sense. What had she done? A buzzing noise rang in her ears, growing louder and stronger till her head began to ache.
    She felt as if she were falling … falling backward …
    It is dangerous to approach evil. The best thing you can do is run away .
    Dana had no idea who or what was speaking to her, but the soft voice fluttered through her thoughts like wings. It was all the encouragement she needed. Mustering whatever resolve she could, she made her escape, journeying in her mind toward Faerie.
    Despite her panic, Dana got there easily. In a matter of moments, she was running up the hill to reach the great portal. Music and laughter echoed from within. The warmth of the Summer Country bathed her face. But before she could step inside, it happened.
    There was a blinding flash of light and a monstrous roar.
    And her world blew apart.
    As if in slow motion, she saw the great stones leap into the air. Then they crashed to the ground, shattering like glass. The pieces flew everywhere, strewn like bones