by Talis Jones
Do you know the quickest way to kill a person? She asked no one at all. Crown them king. If their fellows don't kill them first, they will be the one doing the deed.
Steeling her spine she resigned herself to her fate. She knew it was time and she could not change her loneliness.
Suddenly a howl rent the air. She turned but could not see him. He was close but would come no closer. Yet he had come all the same. He had come to say goodbye. He knew.
A tear slipped free and glided down her cheek before the wind stole it from her.
Breathing deeply she took in the sea air, her lungs memorizing its taste, its freshness, its life. Closing her eyes her ears drank in the sound of the waves, feeling her heart match its rhythm and her body yearn to yield to its pull. A small clatter of loose stones snapped her attention and when the figure reached her side she turned her head slowly. No hate filled the girl's eyes looking back at her. She had not expected Adrianna to come, she should have been dead, yet somehow she felt unsurprised by the Weepy by her side. She was a pure soul. Of course she chose to remain in Oneiroi. Of course she came to her murderer's end with comfort and pity in her gaze.
She did not know if she was grateful or annoyed. “Of course you found me,” she murmured to herself.
“You're not surprised I'm alive?” Adrianna asked carefully.
Cassandra almost laughed, though the sound never made it past her thoughts. “No,” she frowned. “I'm not.”
Cassandra's end had arrived and she knew Eisen would be punished for his part, but not Adrianna. Adrianna was the balm the Island needed to restore its peace, its possibility. Adrianna would be the light that brought healing to the people and she would do so without hating her for it. Cassandra's body felt weak and it threatened to weep for she was not alone and she was not unloved. Suddenly it felt impossible to let go. Everything was too much.
“You have to let go,” Adrianna reminded her.
She knew this. Unable to turn away from the sea that had wrought her nightmares and dreams, she asked softly, “Will you sing to me?”
And she did.
As the lullaby poured from her lips it mingled with the calling sea and leaning against Adrianna's strength
she
le t
g
o . . .
Glossary
Below are listed several words entwined with the story of the Otherworld. For more information, context, pronunciations, etc. visit www.talisjonesofficial.com.
Ahktun – Attention
Alvidar – Goodbye
Belísama – Beautiful
Bihana – Morning
Bon – Good
Figo/Figotu – Oneiroian swearword used as a vague exclamation of frustration
Indit – Go
Intermezzi - Intermission
Irrumabotu – A highly offensive insult. Similar to “Go to Hell” but far more derogatory and rude.
Ja - Yes
Noche – Night
Nothus – Rude word for “bastard”
Nyet – No
Porfabór - Please
Queentia – An Oneiroian card game involving a pair of dice and a set of beaded wooden counters used to keep score as well as manipulate each hand’s outcome
Slahncha – Cheers
Spaseeba – Thank You
Acknowledgments
I cannot believe the series is over. I began writing about Oneiroi five years ago and now it's all come to a close. Some might find it odd that I chose to write a third book to focus on Cassandra rather than let the duology be, but her story was there from the start and it demanded to be told. Perhaps this won't be happiest book, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.
As always and with everything I first thank God for guiding me down this path. Writing never ceases to be a mad adventure from start to finish and despite occasionally hating it (I'm still waiting for a magic spell that takes my ideas and poofs them onto paper all nice and done) I find it's an adventure I can't give up.
Thank you to my parents for supporting me in so many ways even if my stories only ever reach a handful of readers.
Thank you to Andy for sticking with me and designing the amazing cover for this book.
Thank you to my beta readers: Sarah and Claire. I truly appreciate you letting me use you as sound boards to work out my ideas and plot knots.
Finally, thank you reader for choosing to pick up this book and choosing to continue the Otherworld series and scratch that itch of curiosity. I hope you enjoyed the adventure. It takes a massive amount of work to write a book and your appreciation makes it all worth it.
About the Author
Talis Jones is a Mexican-English author of magic and mischief. Graduated Suma Cum Laude with a degree in Theatre she has explored both stage and film, now finding herself drawn towards the literary world as a new venue for storytelling.
Find out more about Talis and her books at www.talisjonesofficial.com.
Also by Talis Jones
Otherworld Trilogy
Crooked Raven
Carrion Crow
Wings of Ruin
Walking Shadows Saga
Alarum
Dust to Dust
Solus
Become the Ultimate
Hello reader! Thank you so much for choosing to read one of my books! After all, what is a book without someone to read the story within? If you enjoyed this book (which I sincerely hope you did) and you would like to help me out then would you please take a couple minutes to leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads? Reviews not only help other readers discover my books, but actually help boost my rankings and, in short, allow me to continue publishing books as a way to afford food to eat. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy, but if you could take a moment to pop online to review I would be wildly grateful. Thank you!
-Talis