The Dream Sanctum: Beyond The End Read Online Free PDF

you?”
    “Not at all!” Frederick replied. “You really should have more faith in my
driving. That and the confounded directional assistant kept yelling at me for
running red lights.”
    “Yes, it does tend to do that. Something about not wanting the car’s
occupants to die a horrible death. Oh well. I’ll take care of these kids now.
Thanks for the help, Fred.”
    Frederick gave the three friends a short bow, then bustled off through another
large set of doors behind the staircase. The man up top hurried down to them,
skipping numerous steps as he came.
    “Welcome!” he said happily.
    Alastor looked very much like he did in the Sanctum, albeit a little more
disheveled. He was dressed comfortably in faded jeans and a loose t-shirt, and
his brown hair was uncombed. He looked slightly tired, as though he had just
woken up.
    Kwin was the first to step forward, and she extended her hand.
    “It’s good to see you again, Alastor,” she said politely, but after a
moment they were locked in a tight hug.
    “You too, kiddo,” Alastor replied with a grin. “It’s been forever since
I’ve seen you up and about in the real world. You’re looking great! Must be the
lack of hospital food, eh?”
    “You have no idea.”
    They both laughed, and Kai noticed a look in Kwin’s eyes that he had only
seen once before back on the fields of the Coliseum. She looked at Alastor with
unfettered admiration and respect, and Kai realized that apart from her own
father, Alastor was probably the closest friend she had in the world.
    “Now then, you two!” Alastor said suddenly, turning to face Kai and
Lindsay. “Great of you to come along, I’m glad you could make it. It’s… are you
all right?” He trailed off and his smile faded slightly as he looked at
Lindsay, but then he laughed. “It was Fred, wasn’t it? Don’t worry about him,
he’s a good driver. Then again, I suppose I should have warned you about him
before he came to get you…”
    Lindsay only nodded, and Kai noticed that she still looked slightly pale.
    “Anyway. Ah, yes! You can all come up to my room if you want. I’ve got
maps and books and things to help us prepare. We’re up for a fascinating
journey, I can’t wait.”
    The trio followed Alastor up the stairs, then through a number of doors
and hallways until they finally reached his room. It was devoid of any
furniture except a bed, a desk and a bookshelf, but despite this, it was
incredibly messy. The unmade bed was shoved into a corner, and the desk was all
but buried in crumbled paper and open books. The blinds on the room’s single
large window were pulled unevenly halfway down, and a lonely sock dangled
precariously from the valance.
    “I cleaned my room just for you guys!” Alastor proclaimed proudly.
    “Really? In that case, what room are we standing in?” Kwin asked, staring
around at the mess before her.
    “Oh, it’s cleaner than it was before. If Fred hadn’t gotten here early I
might have been able to finish. Oh well.”
    Lindsay, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke up.
    “Your house is amazing! What do you do ?”
    “Ah, this is my parents’ house. They left it to me and went off on their
own,” Alastor answered.
    “Oh? Are they traveling or something?” Lindsay asked.
    “Nope! They disowned me,” Alastor replied cheerfully, responding as
comfortably as one might when discussing the weather. “I didn’t turn out like
they wanted me to. Something about being an insult to the family’s lineage or
something. But instead of kicking me out, they kicked themselves out.”
    “That’s horrible!” Lindsay gasped.
    “Not at all! I mean, have you seen this place?” Alastor laughed, then
adopted a more serious expression. “I understand why they did it, though. It
was an insult to me. They left me here, insinuating that I would never go
anywhere or amount to anything. This is a house, but also a prison. I’ve never
thought of it that way, but I was always the weird