Rise of the Forgotten
Page 27
Other Titles By Rebecca Mickley
The Farthest Star Series
Available on StudioPrey.com
Gateways – Book 0.5 (Only available on StudioPrey.com)
Dawnbreak – Book 1
Exile’s Return – Book 2
Rise of the Forgotten – Book 3
The Farthest Star – Book 4
Sins of the Solar Republic – Book 5
Electronic Souls – Book 6
Captain Tosk – Book 7
Starfall – Book 8
Angels of Our Yesterday – Book 9
Demons of Our Tomorrow – Book 10
The Nightmare God Series
Hillsong Chronicles Series
(BONUS)
Ghosts of the Nightmare Gods
A new urban fantasy series from Studio Prey
Chapter 1
He was floating through the depths of time and space, passing a mystery of the universe when he heard the doorbell ring, bringing him rapidly back to the reality of the Charming 3/2 Ranch Style Home in the Riverview Subdivision. As if sensing his moment of his return, there was another ring, which seemed somehow more emphatic.
“Let’s see what the gods have sent me this time.” He muttered under his breath. He hated being interrupted.
He opened the door to find a quiet mousey girl standing before him. Barely 5’4, with thick glasses, and disheveled hair, she was doing her best to look nice, but she was only managing overtaxed librarian. She tugged nervously at the cardigan wrapped around her shoulders, too warm for the day, but whatever, at least she was interesting.
“I’m sorry Sir, my car, just randomly stopped and I can’t get a signal. Would you mind calling a tow truck for me?” She said quietly, almost like she was embarrassed to even speak.
This, this is what they sent me? He said to himself. There was a stirring to the air, then a subtle green flash, as it subsided a form began to take shape in the corner. He felt the presence of a familiar wisp fade in next to him.
“The fates aren’t without their sense of humor ya know, and if you would stop for a moment and stop being cynical…. Well you might even see that there’s something there.” The spirit replied in a huff. This was quite a feat taking that he didn’t need to breathe. His form grew more solid to Shawn while remaining invisible to his guest and revealed a visage akin to a young twenty something, swept back brown hair pulled back in a gentle wave over his pointed ear tips while his green eyes sparkled with mirth which concealed a lurking seriousness. He radiated power, and the sudden appearance added mystery to the moment.
“Excuse me, Sir?“ Oh yes, she was still here, that’s right. He thought to himself, experiencing linear time with its many inconveniences. There was never any time to stop and appreciate the little things.
“Yes, I’d be happy to make a phone call, would you come in and make yourself comfortable? No need to wait out here.” He added a little magic to that last part, just a touch, to make her feel safer about the whole deal.
“Yes... That would be just fine. Thank you.” She said, nodding, her head seeming almost heavy.
“Great, make yourself comfortable on the couch and I will grab my phone in the next room.” He replied.
Surreptitiously he slipped out, into his room reserved for ritual and he reached out to the wisp again. He appeared almost instantly.
“You rang?” Oh, he was being a smart ass, perfect.
“Oh, that tone again? Really? What did I do this time?” He replied; feigning hurt.
“Do we really have to go into it? After how you came by this place?” He said, picking at an old wound.
“It’s a Charming 3/2 Ranch Style Home in the Riverview Subdivision, which has been my patch of forest to guard for the last few millennia.”
“Yes, but the person you changed and slipped into his life had a destiny ya know.” The wisp replied.
“He’s much happier as a mother, I mean... I could show you…” This really didn’t need any further explanation did it? He saved his grove, everyone was happy. Except the Fates, apparently but you couldn’t win them all though, could you?
“Enough, the Fates have decided that since you think it’s fine to interfere with their weaving…” The spirit took on a more formal tone, switching from banter to the official business at hand.
“Wait a minute...Wait just a minute.” Shawn temporalized, holding up his hands.
“Yes?” Dil raised an eyebrow as a grin spread across his face.
“They tapped you directly?” The guardian’s face grew shocked.
“As I said, you’ve pissed them off. Since you have decided to interfere with their…” Dil began
“Pissed them off? They tap a wisp directly for the first time in ages after bulldozing into my territory, disrupting my grove...” He protested indignantly. The spirit ignored him and continued on.
“Then they will use you to correct it.” The wisp replied with a tone of finality.
“Dil,” he said, for the first time using his name, which got the spirit’s attention as it always did.
“Yes?” He took on an exasperated put-upon look.
“They’re absentee landlords. Why be their errand boy? I don’t see a binding collar?” The spirit’s look flashed from put upon to aggravated.
“When the fates talk, you’re supposed to listen. If you had learned that, if you had respected that…” Dil lectured.
“Respect goes both ways. They want it, don’t put golden threaded mortals in my way, infringing on what’s mine.” Shawn said dismissively.
“Gods, this is the whole point.” Dill muttered. “You act like a teenager sometimes. So young man, it’s time you learned some responsibility.” Dil took on a mocking fatherly tone.
This time it was Shawn’s turn to look annoyed, and then a moment of awareness dawned.
There was someone waiting in the living room.
“You don’t mean.”
“Yes, they are giving you an assistant, a charge, to keep you out of trouble for a few centuries, maybe a few other surprises. They weren’t too keen on giving me many details to pass along. They are deeply aggrieved. Enough to send me and break ages of silence. ” Dil went on, his words falling with the weight of final judgement.
“This is an outrage! I am a Guardian, a firstborn, charged with sacred duties and they dare treat me this way? Fuck them.” He growled.
The story continues in Book 1 of The Nightmare Gods series