Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles

Author:Janella Angeles [Angeles, Janella]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

“What the hell was that?” Kallia swore, slowly rising. Her entire dressing room had rippled under the force, but nothing could compare to the sound. Ominous and heavy, thundering loudly overhead again and again.

Until at last, silence.

“I think … it stopped.” Aaros cautiously uncupped his ears. The air had grown still, the walls no longer shaking. The sudden peace seemed to unnerve him even more as he made for the door. “I’ll find out what’s going on and check on the Conquerors.”

Kallia nearly followed, but willed herself to regain focus. She’d finally reached the right headspace for performing when the room began to shake as if the Alastor Place were careening off the surface of Glorian with every thunderous boom.

The force had sent a few small paintings clattering off their nails, along with the drape she’d thrown over the dressing room mirror. She waited a few beats for her heart to slow. Her pre-show ritual was a sacred time. It would take longer to achieve that concentration again. Meditate and relax. Separate.

Separate from all else, and you will conquer on your own.

Jack’s words. His centering mantra that had become hers. She wanted nothing of him fixed in her mind, and yet his words were all she knew.

Nothing could ever be just a coincidence.

Furiously, she shoved the nearest portrait back into place and began setting the room to rights. Did he have to intrude upon everything she did? Ironic how fear was the last thing coursing through her blood. Only irritation.

“Jack.” She sighed sharply, reaching for the drape to hang over the mirror. “What did you do this time?”

Terrible things

Kallia dropped the drape. She spun around at the voice, finding no one else with her.

The worst things imaginable, to those like us

Her blood drew cold. If the icy wind in the darkest parts of the Dire Woods could talk, it would sound just like this. A choir of voices becoming one, all-knowing and watching.

And much closer than she realized. The mirror had frosted at the edges, fogging the center until her reflection was no more than a blur the color of her gown. Kallia didn’t dare touch the surface; the chill seeped through her dress, deep into her bones. She couldn’t stop shivering.

“Sh-shut up,” Kallia muttered, unwilling to entertain the illusion further.

She was not afraid.

Not of glass, or what lurked behind it.

Taking a deep breath, she ignored her reflection and picked up the drape again, rising to her toes to hang it over the ornate frame.

Don’t

Don’t let him win

You’ve been hidden for so long

Let us help you, Kallia

At her name, she froze, grateful the drape partly covered her face.

What if he steals you away again?

Then you’ll never know

“Leave me alone.” Her fingers trembled, the drape slipping between them as she tried securing it tightly. “Whatever you are, I want nothing to do with you.”

Did he teach you that?

Everything in her paused. The whispered question struck her like a knife; she’d never considered it like that. Never once thought that his warnings and lessons could all be lies.

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