Page 1 of King of Inferno

Lifting the Veil

Time is like a grain of sand blown away in the wind or swallowed up by the depths of the ocean—for us, it doesn’t exist. We are in all moments.

We are in the past, present, and the future. Time is the one gift I have reserved. I’ve always had an understanding of who each of my sons would be. I gifted them with powers that would suit their temperaments.

I had also intended to gift them with companions who matched their essence and would complete them. They were not meant to know loneliness as they weren’t meant to know the fractured concept of human time.

The start of the wars changed it all. Their mates were stolen from them. This was the first wrong I needed to right.

“Why is it you are following me?” I say as I stop in the corridor as I make my way to the ethereal pools.

I turn my head slightly to the left as I feel the presence of my sibling. Everyone I’ve trusted has an assignment to carry out. Rüya is no different. He and Güç have worked closely together on this mission.

“I didn’t know she would give her life,” he says from behind me.

Thunder sounds outside and rumbles through the corridor as my anger rises from him questioning me. He doesn’t need to know the ins and outs of what I have planned; he only needs to do his part.

“Have you done what I’ve asked of you?” I rumble, my back still to him.

It’s not like he’s in a form that will be visible to the naked eye anyway. Rüya is one who likes to remain in our original form. Pure energy.

“Yes, the dreams have begun. The veil has been lifted. He can feel her now. It is only a matter of time.”

Time. I snort. Everyone uses the word so freely without understanding its true meaning or purpose.

“You have insured she will remember what I have gifted her with?”

“Yes, brother. She will come into her true nature. The dreams will guarantee this.”

“Well done.”

“Tanri, Güç … is she really gone?”

“Are we ever truly gone? You know as well as I do. You cannot destroy energy. It is re-formed to manifest in another form. Güç will always be with us. Her purpose has just changed.”

With that, I continue walking. Everyone has a part to play. Even I will play my part.

Dreamtime

Istumble into my apartment, exhausted and ready to face-plant in my bed. I need sleep. I crave it. Working two jobs and going to school part time is wearing me out.

However, I have no choice. At thirty, I thought I’d have my own place to go home to and have some peace. Nope, no such luck there. I’m dragging my butt into an apartment I share with three roommates.

It’s what I can afford living single in New York City. Not the ideal situation as I grew up in foster care and have always been painfully shy. I wish I could at least say I’ve made friends with these women, but I have not.

I could disappear tomorrow, and no one here would care. They probably wouldn’t even bother to report me missing. To be honest, I’m too tired to care either way.

I’ll be happy not to find anyone passed out in my room. Angel has a habit of bringing randoms home who end up in my bedroom for some reason. I’m not in the mood for that.

My feet feel like lead—my soles are on fire. I can do little more than drag them as I make my way to my room. My lids feel like sandpaper. I’m struggling to complete a thought at this point.

“You look like shit,” Tangy says as I drag by her on the couch.

I barely lift a hand to wave at her as I pass by. I feel like shit, so there’s no need to respond to her words. Eight hours on my feet as a medical assistant and then a five-hour shift cranking out coffee will have anyone dead on their feet and unable to string together a sentence.

Add to that the fact that for the last two months, I haven’t been sleeping through the night because I’ve been having these weird dreams that feel so real it’s no wonder I’m a walking zombie. Those dreams are so haunting. They feel more like memories that are resurfacing after being suppressed for years.

“I hope you have your earplugs,” Tangy calls after me.

---