I walked into the Dungeons of Lorlenalin. The fires crackled from the torches suspended on the walls. I moved to the end of the deepest labyrinth where the stone hall ended and the world opened up into the mouth of a cave. There, in the depths of my Mind’s Belly, Asha slept.

The white dragon had curled herself — or himself — into a ball and he — or she — snoozed peacefully. I smiled. She opened a blue eye at me, and I smiled even brighter. I leaned forward and rested my forehead on hers.

“Hello, Asha,” I said. He purred. Dragons purr… by the way. They purr.

I wrapped my arms around her neck and hugged her warmly. From my pocket, I withdrew an avocado and tossed it to her, which she caught and gobbled, eating it down with her giant teeth.

She wore no chains or collar and the back of the Cave provided a wide opening where she could fly free among the clouds.

“Come,” I beckoned, and she shifted and moved. A moment later, I was walking back down the hall, Asha — now 18 inches in length — was wrapped around my leg as I walked.

The Door I had found in the back of my Mind on the 2nd Level had stayed opened all night. The vines as tangled and consuming of the door as ever.

As I came to the edge of the Memory Maze, I could see the first Golden Stone.

The Unknown.

I sense of relief came over me. At long last, I was ready to exit the Purgatory that had enslaved me for nearly two years.

“You ready?” Bergen asked, waiting for me beside the Door.

I nodded.

He bothered to put on a shirt this time and his two-handed sword Firstborn — The only blade known that could kill a Fae — was strapped to his back as always.

I came to the door and peered out into the Unknown.

“You’re wearing that?” he asked.

I snapped my fingers. My nightgown shifted into my Uber-Awesome black leather boots, my black corset, and matching black pants. My hair was braided and I wore a pirate hat to complete the ensemble.

“Really?” he said.

“I am a pirate,” I said.

“You ready?” he asked.

“I am.”

I took a step, my foot touching the Golden Step and just as quickly, in that breath, I, Bergen, and Asha were swept away to the first World.

We hit the ground with class. I in my hero pose on bended knee, like the Rogue that I was. Bergen, behind me, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Asha hissing.

We stood, composing ourselves as we looked around. Courage to Learn. We stood in the middle of a busy market. People moving about, ignoring us for the most part. People.

I felt my heart sank.

“It wouldn’t be a challenge if it were easy,” Bergen said.

I sighed.

“No. It wouldn’t.”

“What are we here for, do you think?” he asked.

“To build,” I said. “We need to build this Summit.” I felt sick.

“You’re here to find people,” he said. “Your people. Nothing more.”

“If my people were easy to find, then I could find them…” I looked around. Every person was closed off. Holding a Secret within. Too scared to show me their Secrets. Too broken to show me their Dreams. But I needed their Dreams to see if they belonged to me.

I felt sick again.

“Bergen.”

“Anna,” he said. “Calm. Why don’t you consult the Oracle.”

He pointed beyond the busy street and there I saw the Oracle. I felt a twinge of sick and hope and nodded. It was worth a shot.

“I’m going to get supplies,” he said and he left me alone with Asha and my task. I sighed and pushed through the crowd.

I pushed back the curtain and the haze. The purple smoke — proved drug and my head was spinning almost too soon. A moment later I was in a different room entirely. In a different realm. Seated at a table in a cave. The market outside was gone. I smelled sage and lavender and I felt way too sleepy.

“Well, well, well,” I heard the familiar voice. “You finally succumbed to me,” she said.

I groaned and felt my arousal awaken through my body. My body swelled with the wet, and I relaxed too easily in my chair. I had barely noticed that I was naked save for my boots and my hat. I knew too well who she was.

She was me.

“And tell me, dear lass,” she said. Coming to sit on the ground before me. “What brings you here?” Her hand caressed my knee and then my thigh, and I opened my legs as if obeying, craving, asking. She leaned down and moved between my legs. Her warm mouth touched my lips she parted with her tongue. I moaned and sat back as she drank.

My head was a cloud as she drank. I couldn’t think.

It had been too long since… I let the sensation envelope me. I didn’t know where I was or for how long. I simply enjoyed while she drank me. I moaned, the dizziness washing over me, carrying me. Her gentle hands enveloped my things and then my ass and I widened my legs, inviting her deeper.

She sank deeper, burying her mouth and tongue deeper and she drank. My hands went to her head and I moved, following her mouth as I suddenly crave something else inside of me. My mind drifted back to Him and my King.

I released all that I was and I allowed the pleasure to take me. I had no idea how long it had been, only that I needed this. I wanted this. And it was wakening something inside of me I had long since forgotten.

She lapped and suckled as I ground my body into her and she drank. She drank deep and long. At long last, I arched my back and I filled her mouth with my juice. She drank and groaned. And a moment later, I was drifting to sleep, drugged on pleasure, hormone, sex, and release.

“I don’t want it!” The Voice screamed. “I don’t want it without Him!” She screamed again, and I was one more layer deep within the Self.