“Well,” I said, “that’s too bad, because I’m not running away with you, and I am going to do what the senate wants and be the best dream-seer ever.”
“You are so stubborn.” Moira shook her head.
Encouraged by her frustration, I added, “You forgot rebellious and a smart aleck.”
She glowered at me for a second, then grinned. “I know. I’d expect nothing less from my daughter.”
Crap. I hated when she turned the tables on a perfectly good argument. Why did she have to get all proud about my misbehavior? Why couldn’t she stay angry and maybe ground me like a normal parent? I supposed I could turn the tables back on her if I started behaving like the perfect kid, always doing what I was told, never back talking, but I just didn’t think I had it in me.
“All right,” Mom said. “I suppose running away really isn’t an option.”
I stared, speechless at her sudden reversal, and a little suspicious, too.
“Don’t look so shocked. Contrary to what your father says, I can be reasonable. But I’m not happy about this. You’ve no idea the danger.”
“I’ll be fine, Mom.”
“Of course you will, until the killer finds out you’re a dream-seer. When he does, what do you think he’ll do next?”
I gulped as horrible visions of the killer coming after me flashed in my brain.
Moira smirked. “That’s what I thought. You haven’t thought about it.”
“Wait a minute. If that’s true, why hasn’t the senate kept me and Eli a secret? Far as I can tell, everybody knows about us.”
“That’s because the discovery of a new dream-seer pair is too prestigious for the senate to keep it quiet.”
“How do you mean?”
“It’s about status, Destiny. A dream-seer is a powerful tool, a weapon, and the Magi Senate is now the only governing body in the magical world to currently have one. The Magi Parliament in Britain had the last pair years ago, and it helped them gain the power they have now. The senate will seek to do the same with you. They’ll want everybody to know.”
I frowned, less than thrilled at the idea of being the government’s shiny new gun. “So you’re saying I might predict more than just stuff about the killer?”
“Yes. In the past, dream-seers have identified spies, uncovered assassination attempts, all sorts of things.”
So much for hoping this would be a one-time gig. I bit my lip. “So we’re like the psychic CIA.”
Moira tapped her foot. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“But why are dream-seers so important? It seems a lot like being an oracle to me.”
“Not at all. Oracles only see what they are able to see. They have little control in directing the subject of their visions. Dream-seers don’t.”
I started to nod then stopped. “Hang on. How do you know so much about dream-seers? Until yesterday I’d never heard of such a thing.”
A somber look crossed Moira’s face. “Because you’re not the first in our family to be one. Our ancestor was one over a thousand years ago.”
I frowned. “Well, if I really am so important to the senate, they must be doing something to keep me safe.”
“Are you sure?”
Well, no, but I refused to admit it. “The killer’s not just some random psycho. He’s looking for something specific. Rosemary was guarding something, or at least the Keeper spell on her was.”
“How do you know that?” Mom sounded breathless with shock.
I thought about placing the blame on Elaine, but I wouldn’t put it past my mother to take vengeance on the old lady. “I put two and two together.”
Moira crossed her arms. “I know you don’t really expect me to believe that.”
I closed my mouth and refused to say more.
She sighed. “Well, I guess it’s too late to pull you out of this. I suppose I’ll just have to keep an eye on you myself.”
I tried not to laugh. “You’re going to be my bodyguard?”
“Either that or I’m going to kidnap you.”
I put my hands on my hips. “You could help me instead. The sooner they catch the killer, the more likely I’ll live to see junior year.”
“That’s not funny, Destiny.”
“I’m serious. Nobody will tell me anything. I don’t even know what it is I’m supposed to be looking for other than the obvious. But I doubt this guy’s just gonna show up in Eli’s dreams.”
Moira nodded, her short, pixie-cut blond hair fluttering around the sides of her face like butterfly wings. “You’re right. But nobody can tell you what to look for. There’s no way to know. Every minuscule aspect of a dream could be brimming with signs of impending doom. Or it could mean nothing at all.”
“That’s helpful.”
“But I can teach you a few tricks about dream-walking. Come on. Let’s get to it now while we’ve got a chance.” She strode toward the door.
“Where are we going?” I said as I followed after her.
“The janitor’s closet.”
“Mind telling me why?”
“That’s where I put Bethany. She’ll make an ideal candidate to practice on.”
* * *
You know how they say nurses make the worst patients? Well, the same was true of Nightmares and dream subjects. Bethany detected us almost at once. Her dream was taking place in a vast room that bore a strong resemblance to the pictures I’d seen of Senate Hall where Consul Vanholt and the rest of the Magi held their meetings. Bethany appeared to be occupying the consul’s chair.