Epilogue
Somnium
(A very, very long time ago)
An elderly man tossed and turned in bed, tormented by disturbing dreams of infidelity. His body was on fire, and sweat dripped down his forehead. His wife shook him awake, and he sat up abruptly in bed.
The connection collapsed.
Somnium chuckled as he gripped the arms of his dark throne.
He closed his eyes, searching for his next victim and relishing the torment he inflicted on the sleeping beings of Xyberus.
His lips curled into a wicked smile as he sent out dark dreams of agony, fear, deception, and pleasure.
Images of writhing bodies, sinful lust, and psychological distress were among his favorites now.
He delighted in their anguish, inhaling the air around him deeply and exhaling through his unholy lips.
He laughed as he focused on a young woman, sending her images of fear-inducing snakes.
“Immortal Somnium.” He lost his connection and seethed with anger. His gaze fell to a shadowy snake, and he let out a low growl.
That one was going to be good.
“What is it?” His eyes locked onto the snake, making its body shimmer with changing opacity.
“Someone is here… they wish to see you.” The shadow flickered, awaiting a response.
He glanced across the polished tiles in the long, empty room toward the double doors and spotted a young woman.
He snorted in disgust. What did a fucking Fae want with him?
She stood in the doorway, watching him with wide eyes. He saw her eyes widen even more as he looked at her through his mask, and his covered lips curved into a smile.
Fucking good. Be scared.
He studied her closely, noticing she cowered between the rooms, clearly frightened of what monster was concealed within.
“What do you want?” he shouted, his voice reverberating off the worn, hollow walls and the cracked bone mask that covered his face.
She hesitated as she entered the room and caught her dress on something, causing her to stumble. As Somnium watched her collapse to the floor, his seafoam-colored eyes sparkled with delight at her unease.
She quickly rose and cleared her throat. “I’ve traveled far…”
She nervously glanced around, her eyes briefly resting on the empty throne beside him. The dusty throne, covered in spider silk, would have matched his own if it hadn’t been vacant for so long.
Anger erupted within him, and he snarled as he stood up, his black snakeskin armor rattling with the movement. “What do you want?!”
She quickly glanced back at him and cleared her throat again. “Kalon de Somnium, I’m an oracle, and I’ve come to tell you that the tree has fallen, the Mother Goddess’s stone is now dark, the guardian has been captured, and the gods have been banished. We must wait for the return of yanantin.”
Following the events of years past, Somnium had grown tired of the war against the monsters and gods and instead chose to spend his time alone in his realm, Noctrya.
Did this imply that his heart, his love, his everything—the reason he continued to breathe each day—would return?
For the first time in decades, a faint hint of optimism wove the first mending thread through his shattered heart.
He smiled and began thinking of ways to torment that pathetic man who pretended to be a monster king, and he would do it for her.
He closed his eyes and started to scan the minds of the beings of Xyberus. He would find her, even if it took a thousand years…
He would find her.