‘You could challenge him.’
‘And risk all out civil war?’ There’s a derisive snort. ‘Hardly. Even if we succeeded, who would replace him? Certainly not me. Besides, almost everyone believes in the Mayor. There’s so much damned hero worship going on that he could murder someone in the middle of the damned square and people will still believe he’s a good guy.’
‘You need to do something. The Department is getting too powerful.’
My eyes widen. The Department? Whose dream am I in then? Is it the old man’s? How can he still be dreaming if he’s already passed away? I draw as close as I dare, realising I’m on the edge of a small clearing. I peer out from under a heavy leaf-lined branch.
The man nearest to me is sitting on a log. His clothes remind me of a cowboy’s: a blue plaid shirt, boots and worn jeans. He has a tanned and weathered face and I place him in his mid-forties. I study his companion. Until now, he’s had his back to me but he half-turns so his features are silhouetted against the flickering fire. There’s something dark and predatory about him that makes me shiver. He has long, dark hair which curls just above his shoulders and there’s an aquiline cast to his face. Even through the shadows falling against his cheek, I can make out a curving scar. He screams danger.
‘Well,’ says the cowboy, ‘you should think about it. I know a few others are working against him but they’re never going to get anywhere. You have a shot.’
‘Everyone hates me. He’s made sure of that.’
‘I don’t hate you. People will realise the truth about the Mayor sooner or later. But if it’s later...’ His voice trails off. ‘Think about it anyway. It’s time I was going. I have an early start tomorrow.’
‘Believe me,’ his dark friend growls, ‘it’s all I’ve been thinking about.’
The cowboy doffs an imaginary hat and glances up at the sky. I follow his gaze, seeing nothing more than black night. When I look down again, he’s vanished. I gasp as a steel grip encircles my wrist and drags me out. I try to pull away but the dark man who’s grabbed me is far too strong.
‘Who the hell are you?’ he demands. ‘Did the Mayor send you?’
‘I don’t know who that is!’
He shakes me. ‘Don’t play dumb.’
A sudden rush of anger possesses. ‘Dumb? You prick!’ Stupid dream man. I slam my free hand into his chest, briefly registering rock-hard muscle.
He narrows his grey eyes at me, glancing up and down my body. I feel oddly naked and vulnerable but I refuse to let him see it. ‘You’re an outlier,’ he says in disgust, releasing his grip.
I back away, rubbing my wrist. ‘No, I’m not. What’s that anyway?’
He sighs. ‘Just pinch yourself. You’ll wake up quickly enough.’
I pause. ‘You know this is a dream?’
‘As you do, so it seems.’ He steps backwards and eyes me speculatively. ‘Have you been here before?’
‘No,’ I answer warily. ‘Where is here?’
His body relaxes. ‘Never mind,’ he dismisses. ‘You don’t belong here so toddle off back to where you came from. Give yourself a pinch and you’ll wake up safe in your bed. You’ll forget any of this ever happened.’
I fold my arms and glare at him. I really don’t like him. ‘Actually,’ I announce, ‘I think I might stick around here for a while.’
He circles round me. ‘If you don’t do it, I’ll have to do it for you.’
‘Don’t you dare touch me,’ I hiss.
‘You’re quite spikey, aren’t you?’
I don’t like the way this is going at all. I’m just about to march away when he lunges towards me, nipping the skin on my arm between his finger and his thumb.
‘Ouch! That hurt!’
He stares at me. ‘You’re still here.’
‘Well, of course I’m still here. You can’t make me leave.’ Actually I have no idea whether that’s true or not, but it sounds good. This guy is starting to really piss me off. Three nights, three dreams and three men and none of them have been anyone I’d want to dream about. ‘In fact,’ I begin, ‘you can go and...’
He spins round before I can finish my sentence, thrusting me behind him.
‘What are you doing?’ His shoulders are broad and when I try to move to the side, he pushes me back again.
‘Be quiet,’ he hisses.
‘No, I will not damn well be quiet. You can’t tell me what to do! You probably don’t even exist.’
‘Fine. It’s not like it’ll really hurt you anyway.’
‘What won’t really hurt me?’
He steps to the side and I see what he’s talking about. Standing at the far edge of the clearing and watching us with her shining yellow eyes, is the unicorn.