Cuchulainn was peacefully dreaming when a brilliant light shone through his bedroom window. He shielded his eyes and heard a voice speak his name. The light dimmed as he reached for a weapon to swing and saw a glorious angel, its wingspan enveloping the scene.
“My dearest Cuchulainn,” it spoke again.
“You know me?” said Cuchulainn, holding a crowbar.
“As you know me,” the angel said. His face was that of Cuchulainn’s late foster-brother, back from the dead!
“Ferdiad!?” Cuchulainn sat upright. “You are a celestial messenger?”
Ferdiad looked down with the kind eyes and charming smile Cuchulainn had so envied. His wings lowered, and he stood before the bed. “I am here,” he said.
“I prayed you would come,” said Cuchulainn, “to any heaven that would answer.”
“And I alone heard you,” said Ferdiad.
Cuchulainn began to weep. “Oh, Ferdiad!” He hung his head. “How I missed you! I am so alone, rudderless without your guidance. I try to honor you, but I fail! I humbly ask your blessing.”
“But you honor me well! And carry my legacy!”
Cuchulainn sniffled. “Do I?”
“Always, brother.” Ferdiad smiled brighter.
“We must wake the uncle! He will want to see you.”
“He can’t see me,” said Ferdiad. “This is the realm of visions and dreams.”
“What?!” Cuchulainn shouted. “You would invade my dreams?!”
“You are affronted,” Ferdiad sighed.
“I am a victim!” Cuchulainn clutched the crowbar again. “You violate the dark sanctums of my psyche!”
“Cuchulainn, please.”
“It is just your way, Ferdiad! To steal into a man’s dreams, unwelcomed! Into his room!”
“You regress to petulant rivalry.” Ferdiad shook his head.
“Villain!” Cuchulainn spat at him. “Pervert!”
“Oh, Cuchulainn. Ever so proud.”
“Fink! Leave me!” Cuchulainn turned on his side. “I wish to sleep.”
“You are asleep!”
“Then I wish to dream of something else! Go from here and send me a chambermaid!”
“That’s not how it works, Cuchulainn.”
Cuchulainn sat back up and shut his eyes tightly. “I shall dream you into hell and burn you to cinders!”
“Oh my god,” Ferdiad laughed. “You act absurdly.”
“Die!”
“I can't!”
“We will see,” said Cuchulainn. He concentrated and manifested on himself the black wings and vicious talons of a vampire bat.