by Christy Shorey and you

ARCHIVE: NOV. 26 edited for spelling and grammar

2030 words

Margot paced the room. She was antsy. It had been four days since she had last seen Dresden.    Rather than dwell on when he would return, as she was sure he would, Margot tried to pour her attention into her new project at work. She gave Azfar the specs on the computer she would need to create the database, and it had arrived, affording her the chance to see how well it was connected with research in the system.

Margot quickly determined that the best way to get access to the data she needed would be to complete the structure for the database, and instruct Azfar to hire a temp to input several test files to ensure the database did what it was supposed to. With Rose still out, Margot had no problem pulling files from those records she had already noted as interesting; those that had potential.

While Margot managed to remain distracted at work, it waiting for Dresden to come around was harder at home, where Kyle would wander around like a lost puppy. She had warned him not to ask where Dresden was, or when he was coming back, and for the most part he remembered, but his actions made it clear that he had gotten used to having Dresden around.

Margot let out a sigh. She had sent the database specs to herself at home to add the finishing touches. Azfar had managed to hire a temp for the next day, and she wanted to make sure it would be as easy as possible to pull the information she needed from the files. She had sent Kyle out to buy dinner.

There was a knock at the front door. Margot shook her head, she had made sure to send a key with Kyle so he wouldn't disturb her on his return, but more often than not he forgot he had a key, or couldn't figure out how to manage it and the things in his hand.

Margot wondered how it was she was cursed to only being attuned to someone as simple minded as Kyle, and forced to draw her help there. She was surprised when she opened the door and saw Dresden there. It was clear he had been turning away when she opened the door, and he stood, frozen, as if deciding between leaving or turning back. He finally turned to face Margot.

"Hi," he said, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Hi Dresden. Still unsure if you want to help me?"

Dresden gave a short nod. "I, I came to a choice, but it depends on you, really."

"Would you like to come in?"

"Not until we straighten this out."

Margot nodded, flipped the switch to turn on the exterior light, and stepped out onto the front step with Dresden. He took a small step away from her, though she gauged it as a gesture to make room for her rather than trying to flee. She indicated for him to continue.

"I want to work for you. I really liked the research, but there are a few things I require in order to do this."

"Go on." Margot folded her arms, the night air sending a chill down her spine.

"I'll need help grading papers- I can't keep my class acting scenes out, it doesn't cut it for grades, and we're almost done with Shakespeare anyway."

"I can lend a hand, I guess," Margot began, but Dresden shook his head.

He ran a hand through his gray hair, and took a deep breath. "I'd like Kyle to help with that."

Margot arched an eyebrow at him, but gave a nod.

"Right. And in order to help narrow down the search, I'll need to know what it is that I'm looking for, exactly. I've only had a vague set of ideas to work from before, and that was enough for the basics, but if I'm going to get more useful information, I need to know why this information is important to you."

"Of course."

"And, um," Dresden looked down at his feet, then back up and much to her surprise, met Margot's eyes. "You have to promise you won't use your power over me. I don't really know the extent of what you can do, but I want to be here because it was my choice, not because of something you did to me. If you can't trust me without that, then I don't think I should be here."

Margot considered the man in front of her for several moments. He was right; it would be so easy to plant the idea that he wanted to be here, that he was volunteering to work for her. She had done it so many times in the past, throughout history with the people she had surrounded herself with. It was the best way to ensure that they didn't turn against her.

And here was a school teacher, the first person in hundreds, if not thousands, of years, demanding respect; standing up to the potentially great wrath of a dragon. But for him, the dragon was still a creature of myth, something created from stories, regardless of the fact that he was talking to one. It would be so easy, especially with him standing right there in front of her, challenging her, for Margot to send out her will and crush his fragile human mind.

But she could still use him. And he had the gall to stand up to her. She nodded. "I promise to not use my power to have sway over you. I may use it to keep track of you, to make sure you are safe - befriending a dragon can be dangerous you know. Is that acceptable?"

Dresden's hand moved back up to his hair, and found a lock. He tugged on it a bit; bit his lip. "You really have enemies?"

"Closer than I want to believe."

"Okay, that's fine. But no controlling my thoughts or anything like that."

"Not at all. I may let you know what I'm thinking from time to time, but you'll know it's my thoughts, and not your own."

Dresden hesitated again, and Margot gave a small, reassuring smile. Finally he returned an uneasy smile. "Okay."

"Dresden!"

Margot and Dresden both turned at the sound of Kyle rushing up the sidewalk, bags of food bouncing against his leg. "You're back!"

Dresden gave one more hesitant look at Margot, then turned to the young man. "Yes, I'm back."

Margot opened the door and shivered. It was more than just the chilly night air. It was fortunate Dresden had returned when he did. Her dragon dreams had started creeping into her sleep when she was in human form - she was loosing time.

***

Logan sat against the end of his bed, watching several dreams he had picked out play back on the visual output device for Lacey. She watched the dreams, and he interjected strong emotions that he had experienced along with the dreamer. She was wrapped up in the images crossing the screen, and didn't notice when his commentary stopped.

Lacey hadn't pressed him to share what he knew, and though it had been three days since he promised to tell her, she hadn't spoken a word. But looking at the dreams made him realize how urgent his search was becoming.

The dream faded out, and Logan leaned back and pulled the necklace from the nightstand, disabling the device. Lacey blinked and looked over at him curiosity on her face. He stood up, and indicated she should remain seated.

"My oldest memory, I think the first life I lived, was that woman you saw in the stone room, from the day when you captured my memory. She was, I was," Logan sighed, and sat down on the bed. "Let's stick with she, it will be easier."

Lacey didn't respond, and Logan was grateful she was letting him maintain the illusion she wasn't there. "She was a powerful sorceress - Laurallynn was her name. She lived in a different realm - I'm not sure if it's a different dimension or a different planet across the galaxy, I suppose it doesn't really matter. It was a planet, though, similar to earth in many ways, but different in others. There is a power there that can only be explained as magic in terms that would be understood in the here and now.

"Laurallynn was naturally talented in magic, and studied it as well. She was unrivaled in her studies, except for one person. Marcus. Marcus was, he was, it's hard to be objective about this. Marcus craved power. He craved recognition. He was strong, and wanted to be the best. It irritated him that Laurallynn was a match for him, exceeding him some areas, while falling a mere step behind him in others. His quest for power got out of hand, he resented that Laurallynn could stop him, and he went to prove that her power was no match for him.

"But my past self was wise, as well. She saw his weakness easily and exploited it, bringing him down where others had failed over the years. In retribution, however, Marcus used his magic against Laurllynn, dooming her, me, to this series of lives.

"I didn't know before, but that series of memories made it clear - the cycle of these lives is tied directly to Marcus. It is clear that I have moved across time and space, and I now know I am always reborn where he is present. He is the only one who can end the curse that he put me under, that he put Laurllynn under. And so I am trapped, following the cure - but my past selves have shown me that it is not enough to find him, otherwise I would not still be stuck in the cycle."

Logan lay back on the bed, and looked up at the stars on the ceiling. "Several of my past lives, Lucas Trenton, Laural Cooper, Lynn Weinberger on this planet, to name a few, have succeeded in finding Marcus as he appeared in that time and place, but have failed to break the cycle. The last memories of all of them are on the day they were going to confront him.

"So I am stuck looking for clues as to who Marcus is now, and then I'll have to find a way to make him end the cycle. It has gone on for much too long."

Logan closed his eyes, and waited for Lacey to finally give up on him, to tell him that he was being ridiculous. He heard her move, and felt the bed sink as she sat on the corner. "Well, that might explain one thing, at least."

Logan cracked an eye, looked at Lacey's silhouette in the semi-dark. "Explain what?"

"Maybe I can stop your memories because I'm related to you? My great grandmother was one Lynn Weinberger. What do you think the odds are that it was you?"

Logan sat up, and looked more closely at Lacey. She had a crooked smile on her face. He shrugged. "With the way things are going? I wouldn't be surprised."

"Who would have thought it," Lacey said, getting up. "The mysterious man that's been haunting my dreams is my great grandmother. I'd better not tell people that, or they'll send me back to those annoying psychiatrists."

"I won't tell if you won't," Logan said.

"Deal. So you sleepy yet? I still haven't had the pleasure of watching you dream."

Logan sighed. "Why not," he said, replacing the necklace to its spot on the nightstand. "I can't promise it'll be exciting." He adjusted the device to search for a dreamer.

"Show me?"

Logan showed Lacey how to find a dreamer, and briefly explained how he set the device before laying down for bed. She figured out that she could do a manual search for dreamers that might make the night more productive, and Logan had to suppress a sigh. Once she was settled on the edge of his bed, he lay down.

"Pleasant dreams," she said, patting his hand as he closed his eyes. "Maw-maw."