Chapter 1

In the soft dark near midnight, Grandma woke suddenly. She lay still for a heartbeat, listening, until the screams from her subconscious echoed into reality. She frowned and cocked her head, but they did not subside. With a shadowy sigh, she heaved herself from her bed, wrapped herself in a night-cloak, and shuffled from the room. Hiccoughed sobs, growing steadily louder, called her onward, and she followed them down the hall to her granddaughter's room. In the doorway, she paused, watching the young woman's head thrash to and fro, her fists clench and relent, belying the bleak dreams that plagued her. Grandma's frown deepened, and she moved to alight gently on the side of the bed.

"Jordan!" she whispered, reaching for her, "Jordan, wake up!"

With a sharp cry, Jordan bolted upright. She flung her arms instinctively around her grandmother, her chest heaving with soundless sobs. Silent tears wet her cheeks as she clung to the comfort of the older woman's steady form.

"They killed her, Grandma!" she wept, "They killed her…!"

Her voice was hollow, heavy with unfounded despair. Grandma held her tight, rubbing her back with tender, comforting strokes. The night pressed soft dark around them, broken only by the light of the blossoming moon as it filtered through a gap in the curtains. All was quiet, except for the rush of Jordan's breath in her chest, and Grandma scowled out at the silver orb over Jordan's shoulder. Her steel-grey eyes narrowed, accusatory.

But she kept her voice low, a mellow query. "Killed who, child?"

Jordan pushed back, trembling as she relived it. "The Queen! They murdered her in cold blood!"

Grandma crooned deep in her throat, reached out to tuck a strand of Jordan's hair behind her ear. "Hush, child… It was only a dream."

Jordan frowned, uncomprehending, shook her head.

"It was so… real."

Grandma cleared her throat, pushed to her feet, turned on the sidelight. "Only dreams, my love. Go back to sleep, everything will be brighter in the sunlight tomorrow."

Jordan met her liquid gaze, held it for a moment. Grandma's easy, encouraging smile did not falter, and at length, Jordan nodded.

"Only dreams…"

She whispered Grandma's words over to herself as she reclined, clinging to them. Grandma retreated to the doorway, watched as her breathing settled, and then her brow knitted into a dark frown. She clucked under her breath, shook her head, and closed the door quietly behind her.

It was the eve of Jordan's twenty-first birthday. Grandma had expected this.

Dreaded it.

And would deny it to her grave.