Elysian Dreams Read online

  Hypnos sat forward. “So you do remember some people? And who is Helios?”

  Daphne didn’t feel like being tested, but she assumed Hypnos knew what he was doing. “He’s the god of the sun. He is the sun.”

  “And who is Gaia?”

  “She is the mother of us all. She is the earth, the land. She’s everywhere.”

  Hypnos nodded. “Why do you believe this?”

  “What do you mean, why? It’s true. I don’t just believe it. They’re my parents. I may have forgotten some things, but I know my parents.” Hypnos looked very serious, and it was beginning to make her nervous. She hadn’t forgotten her parents. They loved her and cared for her.

  “Your parents are the sun and the earth. Sounds like something a tree would say.”

  Daphne stared at Hypnos. Was he trying to make her laugh? Did he have something awful to tell her? “I guess so. That’s an odd association, but that doesn’t really matter. Please explain to me why I can’t go home. You said it’s because I’m alive again. I asked if I was dead, and you said no. You said your home is in the Underworld. How could I be there if I wasn’t dead? It was a beautiful valley, but no one else was there. That couldn’t have been the Elysian Fields. All the good people are there.”

  “You remember the Elysian Fields?”

  She wanted to roll her eyes, but she stopped herself. “Everyone knows about the Elysian Fields. Children know about them. Why wouldn’t I know something that basic?”

  Hypnos took her hand. “Daphne, until this moment, it didn’t matter what memories you still had. Now it does. I’m trying to figure out what you remember. You seem to have forgotten everything you knew before you were…transformed.”

  “Transformed? Is that why every inch of my body aches? What happened to me?”

  Hypnos didn’t reply.

  “Hey, let’s skip what I do or do not remember. I remember you. I love you. You are my friend. Tell me something now!”

  “You were under a spell. You’ve been a tree for hundreds of years.”

  “Hundreds of years? I haven’t even been alive that long.”

  Hypnos considered this. “How old are you then?”

  Daphne thought. Nothing came to her. Nothing. She reached back as far as she could. She was sitting by a river, and Hypnos asked her if she felt better. She smiled at him and said yes. Before that…there was nothing. Her stomach lurched. She pitched forward and vomited on the floor. Her breath came in gasps, and her heart started to pound. Her stomach kept convulsing until she began to spit bile out onto the floor.

  Hypnos knelt down beside her, stroking her hair. “I’m sorry I can’t make this easier.”

  “Who were those people, Hypnos?”

  First he helped her back up onto the couch, and then he pulled her into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. “The woman was Aphrodite, the goddess of love. The man with long blond hair was Zeus, the king of the gods. The other blond man was Apollo, the god of light.”

  “And what do they have to do with this? They all acted like they had something to do with this, with me.”

  “They do. Do you want to know now?”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I don’t know. Is there anything I don’t know about you? About us?” She hoped there would be, but it didn’t seem very likely.

  “Not the way you mean. I am the god of sleep, dreams, and death. I’m your friend, the only friend you’ve had for centuries. About a hundred years ago, you drank from a river in the Underworld, the Lethe. It made you forget everything I need to tell you.”

  “I wanted this? To forget? Is it that bad?”

  “Yes, you wanted it. It’s not so terrible, but you were tired of remembering.”

  “Okay. So, who are my parents?”

  “Peneus is your father. He’s a river deity, though not as powerful as me or the others you saw earlier. Your mother was mortal and has been dead for a very long time. You remember what mortals are? Who they are?”

  She looked up at him and nodded. “Yes. They live in the other world.”

  “Good. Yes, that’s right. You’re a nymph. Immortal, with your own powers, but not quite like a god.”

  “Not as powerful?”

  “Yes. After you were changed, Helios and Gaia probably came to see you in the field in Olympus to take care of you. I’m not sure though. You never told me about those things, and I rarely went there. I always saw you as you are now, in human form, in the Valley of Dreams.”

  Daphne pulled away from Hypnos. She closed her eyes, remembering something. She remembered voices, but they weren’t clear. “I don’t know. Maybe. It doesn’t make sense now.”

  “I think your memories are breaking through.”

  “Will they just come back?”

  Hypnos shrugged. “I’m not sure. The spell to release you might fight the effects of drinking from the Lethe, but I cannot be sure. I think we may need other help.”

  “Who?”

  “Mnemosyne.”

  “Who is that?”

  “She’s one of the Titans. She may be very hard to find, but she’s better than the alternative.”

  “Which is?”

  “Apollo. He’s the god of truth, but I don’t think he could help near as much as she can.”

  “What is she the goddess of?”

  “Memory. She may be able to restore your memory, but we have to find her and ask her first.”

  “Is it so hard? Can anyone else help us find her?”

  “Zeus, perhaps. They had many children together a long time ago.”

  “They were married?”

  Hypnos smiled. “No, they weren’t, but he might know how to find her.”

  Daphne thought carefully. Did she want her memories back? If she willingly gave them up, they must be painful. What would it do to her? Even with Hypnos there, she began to feel afraid.

  “Hypnos, does my father know yet?”

  “I don’t know. It’s possible he doesn’t.”

  “Can I see him now? Can he come with us?”

  “Would you feel better?”

  She sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t understand what’s happening at all. If I was cursed, why have I been brought back? I was happy. Why take that away from me?”

  “Someone was…trying to make something right. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “So why was I turned into a tree then? That doesn’t sound normal to me.”

  “I suppose I need to explain this before we go to your father.”

  “Explain then.”

  Hypnos took her hands. “Keep an open mind, all right?”

  She nodded. His hands shook a little, and she wondered what kind of horrible tale she was about to hear.

  “You were turned into a tree by your father. He did this to protect you.”

  “Protect me from what?”

  “You and Apollo were sitting together, and you were both shot with magical arrows.”

  “What? Who did it? Why would they want to hurt us?”

  “It was Aphrodite’s son, Eros. Aphrodite was angry with Apollo because he had mocked her son’s archery skills. She made two special arrows. One made Apollo fall very deeply in love with you. The other made you hate him.”

  “It made me hate him? Why?”

  “So you would hurt him by rejecting him. You ran away, and he started to chase you. He only wanted to catch you so he could find a way to help you. He was confused but knew something magical had been done to you. You hated him so much though that you didn’t want him near you. You ran to your father’s river, and you asked him for help. He was no match for Apollo, so he did what he could.”

  “He turned me into a tree? Hypnos, this is ridiculous. I don’t care what you think or what you’ve been told, but I would remember being a tree!”

  “No, you wouldn’t.”

  She pulled away and stood as he reached for her. “Sounds pretty damned memorable to me.”

  “Will you believe your father?”<
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  “Why didn’t he change me back? Surely someone could if all this other stuff is possible.”

  “You refused. You said you didn’t want to be changed back.”

  “I wanted to be a tree? No, that can’t be possible.”

  “The arrow made you hate Apollo so much you didn’t want to live in the same world as him. Aphrodite asked you over and over again, but Zeus finally made her leave you alone.”

  “This is a dream. This is not happening.” Daphne closed her eyes. “This cannot be happening.”

  He stood and moved closer to her. “Let’s go find someone who can help. Please?”

  She turned back to him. “If you want to help, then comfort me.” She twined her arms around his neck. “Make me feel better.” She pressed her lips to his.

  He jerked away from her violently.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  He looked confused. “I shouldn’t be able to kiss you. It should make you fall asleep.”

  She frowned, but then she moved close again.

  He backed away. “Daphne, my kiss could kill you.”

  “Then stop kissing me if I fall asleep.” She touched her lips to his, and nothing happened. She kissed him again, and still nothing.

  “I don’t understand,” he said.

  “Don’t try to.” She pulled him close and kissed him deeply.

  He resisted, but she rubbed her body against him. He opened to her and returned her kiss. His hands roamed over her back. She deepened the kiss, feeling desire surge inside her. She’d wanted this for so long. If everything around her was about to change completely, she wasn’t going to give up this chance. The kiss seemed to thrill him, so she used that to her advantage.

  She ran her hand down his chest, and then opened his pants. She had her hand on his cock before he could protest. He groaned as she stroked it to life. It felt good in her hand, very long and very hard.

  “Daphne, I don’t want you to regret this.” His voice had grown husky. “You’re hard to resist. I’ve never been able to kiss anyone outside of a dream.”

  She looked up into his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere until you give me this satisfaction.”

  He groaned. “Then I won’t let you go until we’re both satisfied.” He grabbed the straps of her dress and ripped them. Her dress fell to the floor. He took her face in his hands and kissed her roughly, pushing her back slowly until he had her pressed against a small table. He lifted her up onto it, and she leaned back against the wall. His hands ran over her breasts, and she shivered at his touch.

  “Yes, Hypnos, yes.” She could feel her need for him building. She wanted to feel him inside her, pumping into her. Her fantasies had recently become more intense. She’d been sensing he’d wanted this as much as she had, especially the past few weeks. Whatever had happened to him had given him more passion, and that was just what she needed from him at this moment.

  “I’ve always wanted to touch you,” he said as his mouth descended on her breasts.

  She gasped when he ran his teeth over her nipple. She’d never felt anything like this. The delicious sensations overwhelmed her. His fingers moved up and down her thigh. His touch tormented her so sweeetly. She shifted under him, wanting him to touch her.

  He brought his lips back up to hers as he pulled her hips forward. He pulled his cock from his pants, and its head touched her. He rubbed it against her opening. “Are you sure, Daphne?”

  “Yes.”

  He rubbed her back, breathing deeply. He seemed to be under great strain, as if he was holding back. “You probably don’t remember this, but you’re a virgin.”

  “I don’t care. I need you so much. Hypnos, please.”

  He hesitated, and she held his face in her hands.

  “I trust you above any other. You’re right. I didn’t think about being a virgin, but it doesn’t change how much I want you. All I feel is desire. I’m not scared. You’re the man I want to give myself to. I’m happy you’re the first.”

  He took her left hand in his and kissed the palm. He pushed forward, penetrating her.

  She shifted back to welcome him. She sighed as he slowly filled her. She searched her mind for memories of this with another man, but they weren’t there. She didn’t understand how she could want this so much if she’d been a virgin, but perhaps that was why she needed it with such intensity. There was some pain, but being with him lessened it. She knew pleasure would come if she let him have his way with her body.

  He cradled her in his arms as he moved deeper inside her. He kissed her face and hair, groaning with pleasure. “You feel amazing. I’ve thought of this often.”

  “So have I. I didn’t understand why you didn’t want me.”

  Hypnos thrust faster. “Oh I did, but given your circumstances, I couldn’t. I care for you too much to hurt you. I never knew when a day like this might come.”

  She shook her head. “You wouldn’t have hurt me.”

  He stroked her face. “You don’t know that. I have changed in so many ways.” He moved in long, deep strokes. “I’m not hurting you?”

  Her pussy throbbed with need. Everything felt tight, ready to give. “Oh no. I’ve never felt like this before. It felt strange at first, but now it’s amazing. Hypnos, I don’t care what happened before. I love you. Only you.”

  He suddenly looked very sad, but he kissed her before she could say anything else. She came, bucking against him. She held him as she shook. His cock felt hot and hard and wonderful inside her trembling pussy. She pressed against him to take his cock deeper. As the pleasure moved over her, she knew she’d go crazy if they couldn’t do this again.

  He began to move again, and she soon felt him release into her. He held her tightly, and his kiss grew more anxious. They both trembled as they pulled away from each other.

  She looked up into his eyes. “I’m sorry if you didn’t want me to say it. You had to know I loved you, and I had to say it.”

  “I already knew it. I shouldn’t have touched you.” He turned away from her.

  She walked ahead of him and stopped him. “I disagree. I needed you.”

  “Do you feel better now? I don’t.”

  His words stung. She hadn’t expected him to say he loved her too, but she hadn’t expected him to react like this. “You seemed to enjoy it. Are you saying you regret it?”

  He shook his head. “You misunderstand completely. I wanted to do that to you the first day I heard you singing. But as much as I love you, my heart has not turned that way. As much as I’ve thought of you and wanted to touch you, I am not meant to fall in love. It’s too dangerous.”

  “That started out very sweet, and it ended very pompously. You’re better than me then, is that right? You’re too good for me because I’m a nymph and you’re a god?”

  “What did I say to make you think that?”

  “You can fuck me, but you’ll never love me?”

  “Desiring a beautiful woman is not wrong. I was trying to be honest. If I were meant to love you, I would by now.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can feel desire and loyalty. I can care what happens to others. But I’ve never felt love, not this kind of love. And I never will.”

  “You love her!”

  “Who?”

  “That blonde girl who comes to the Valley of Dreams. You look at her differently.”

  Hypnos sighed. “That’s Persephone. She’s the queen of the Underworld. She is married to my master. That is what makes her special to me.”

  “You always told me not to approach her.”

  “I didn’t want her to know you were there. Hades didn’t even know.”

  “Hades?”

  “The god of the Underworld.” He frowned. “I’ve talked of him many times since you drank from the Lethe. Why don’t you remember him?”

  Daphne stared at him. She’d never heard the name Hades before. “No, you haven’t. You’re trying to make me think I’m just a confused little girl.”<
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  “No, I’m not. All the magic you’ve been subjected to must be affecting your mind.”

  She turned away from him. Zeus was king of the gods, and he was interested in what happened to her, if Apollo could be believed. “Zeus!” she cried.

  The blond man appeared in an instant. His eyebrows shot up when he looked at her naked body. He snapped his fingers.

  She looked down and saw her dress, showing no sign of a rip, was on her body again. “Ah. Didn’t think about that. Can I do that myself?”

  “Yes, you can,” Zeus said. He was glaring at Hypnos.

  She snapped her fingers as he had done, and her dress became blue with long sleeves and a shorter skirt. The material felt cool and comfortable.

  She explained, “I am mad at him, but he hasn’t done anything wrong.”

  “I have trouble believing that,” Zeus said as Hypnos adjusted his pants.

  “You are the king of the gods. For now I would prefer your help because Hypnos and I need some time apart. Will you help me?”

  He walked over to her. “Of course. My spell to free you nearly killed you. I will do anything you ask.”

  “Take me somewhere else. I want to think.”

  Zeus nodded. “I will.” He turned to Hypnos. “We will discuss this in detail later.”

  Hypnos bowed to Zeus.

  She looked at Hypnos. “It may be a few days before I want to see you again. Think about the things I said.”

  “I will, Daphne.” He looked stricken and helpless. She’d never seen him like that before. The changes in his moods, the conflicting desires that seemed to pull him in two directions and make him both regret and question his actions confused her. She wanted to understand, wanted to help him.

  She went to him and kissed his cheek. “You are my friend, but you’ll forgive me if I decide to fight for more because I truly do love you. I do not regret what just happened, and in your heart you don’t either.” She turned back to Zeus. “I’m ready.”

  Zeus took her hand, and light flashed around her. She closed her eyes and hoped Hypnos would see things differently the next time they met.