In Dreams by Erica Orloff Page B

with best-friend worry.
    He nods.
    “Well, first, when you are in the Underworld—your dream world—you’re still in charge. That is what lucid dreaming is.”
    “But I don’t feel in charge.”
    “You are. It’s your dream world. You must try to pay attention to the voice.”
    “I do.”
    “No, not his voice. Your subconscious voice. Your own voice.”
    “I don’t have any idea what you mean,” I whine.
    “Have you ever had a nightmare during which you were incredibly upset, but while you were in the middle of the nightmare, you heard your own voice, perhaps advising you to stop the nightmare? That little voice going ‘Wake up, wake up’? Maybe you even felt in a world between the nightmare and waking—you were aware you were thrashing, you knew it was a nightmare. But you were still in its grips.”
    I think about it. “Ye-ah,” I finally say.
    “That is lucid dreaming. The dreamer controls the dream, not vice versa.”
    “I still don’t understand. Even if I know I’m dreaming, I’m still in the dream world.”
    “People who lucid dream can change the ending.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes. Let me give you an example. Chase dreams are extremely common. They usually symbolize stresses chasing the dreamer, phobias, or times when life gets overwhelming. Have you ever had one?”
    I nod and look at Annie.
    “Sure,” she says. “Like, I’m pretty sure everyone does.”
    “Have you had one that was terrifying? Truly terrifying, heart pounding?”
    Again, we both nod.
    He smiles. “The lucid dreamer will stop that dream. She’ll turn around and say, ‘Why are you chasing me?’ And that simple act usually stops the dream, stops the pattern.”
    “Okay. So I know I lucid dream,” I say. “Maybe that comes with being Morpheus’s daughter, too. But controlling it? I don’t think I could do that.”
    “Yes, you can.”
    “How?”
    “It’s training. That’s where I come in. I’ll be here with you. I’ll teach you how. You just need to be aware.”
    Easy for him to say. “Have you met Epiales?” I ask him.
    He coughs slightly. “Ahem . . . um . . . well . . .”
    “I’ll take that as a firm yes.”
    “Fine. Epiales is . . . rather . . . difficult. Do you know the history of the Underworld?”
    “No,” I admit. “I’m still trying to get up to speed with who’s who.” So many gods, and they’re all related in odd ways. It’s impossible to keep themstraight unless you’re part of their family. Even if you are part of their family.
    “Hades is the brother of Zeus. At one time there was a great war. It lasted a decade. At the end of which, Hades, Zeus, and another brother, Poseidon, drew lots to divide up the world—all of the world both seen and unseen. Zeus got to rule the skies from Mount Olympus, Poseidon drew all of the seas, and Hades is king of the Underworld. He’s got a bad marriage, among other things. And the Underworld is a complicated and strange and murky place. On the fringes of the Underworld is the land of dreams, the land of Night. Morpheus, Hypnos, Nyx, and Epiales, and their kind all exist between Zeus’s kingdom and the Underworld. An in-between place—one where they are beholden to both Zeus and Hades. Morpheus is closer to Zeus, and Epiales to Hades. Death and nightmares are closely entwined, after all. However, all of the realms are in delicate balance. Death must exist. Hades is not evil—he exists to maintain balance with Zeus and Poseidon. Just as Epiales is the balance to Morpheus. But . . . he is extremely difficult to control. And becoming less so by the century. He is a fearsome enemy.”
    “Wonderful,” I groan.
    “That does not mean you cannot fight him, Iris.But to do so, you’ll need to dream lucidly.”
    “Can I ask you something?” I hesitate.
    “No secrets in here. Not anymore. Ask.”
    “You and Aphrodite exist here. And Epiales, he’s shown up in the real world. Can Sebastian come into this world? Could I