1 #3
“To become a Shadow Weaver.” The words tasted prophetic on my tongue.
A declaration of assent despite my lingering fear.
“I want the demons to pay for what they did to my family, to me, to all of us.” His jaw worked as if he wanted to argue but couldn’t.
I stepped closer, until our shadows tangled beneath our feet.
“And if this is the only path that gives me the strength to fight back, then shouldn’t I take it? ”
His expression cracked. “Be wary, Esmer. Revenge carves deeper than you think.”
“So does grief,” I countered fiercely. “And I’ve grieved for much in this life.”
He reached for my face, tracing my jaw with a slow brush of his clawed thumbs. The shadows around our feet curled upward, drawn to the tension racing between us. “Once we step into this, there’s no going back.”
“I know.”
“No soft ending. No quiet life.”
I leaned in, our foreheads almost touching. “I know that, too.”
We locked eyes and the illusion shattered, bringing everything into motion. We acknowledged Somnus’s call, opening an invisible door to allow him entry into our domain, and within a breath he was back by our sides.
“When did we become Weavers?” Erebus immediately demanded, crossing his arms.
If it was even possible, Somnus’s thin mouth slid into a more self-satisfied smile.
“So, we all agree that you are Weavers. Wondrous,” Somnus said, beaming as he drew near.
“I have reason to believe your destiny locked into place the moment you both stepped free from the castle. Now, onto business.” He motioned toward Erebus’s castle.
It was still half-deteriorated and barely clinging on to life.
As if to further emphasize that point, one of its spires collapsed with a resounding crack. “You need to attend to that.”
“I’m not going back inside,” Erebus growled, his tone positively vicious.
Somnus raised an eyebrow. “Why not? You are free now, Shadow Weaver.”
“I will not be tricked again.”
“Suit yourself. Rule over a kingdom of dust, debris, and trees the colors of beetles.” Somnus’s eyes hardened.
“But your acolytes would surely prefer a comfortable and decent home—especially since they have no physical bodies to return to in Noctis. Let me remind you that these dreamers are deceased in the mortal world.”
“They’re all… dead?” I asked, blanching.
“See for yourself. Ask them to try waking up. They can’t.” Somnus’s face was impassive. “My theory is that if a person’s Corrupt body dies before Mithras can purify their soul, they don’t go into the afterlife. They come here instead.”
“That’s unheard of, Somnus,” Erebus bit out. “The Dream Realm isn’t filled with corpses.”
He shrugged. “These are strange times, Erebus. And it is stranger still that, as their Weavers, you and Esmer are responsible not only for their training but also for the quality of the lives they will live. You’ll need to make this domain a home.”
“Laughable advice from you, Somnus,” Erebus snapped. “You rule over a pit at the dredges of the Realm.”
Somnus smiled again, ever pleased with himself.
“True. It is a pit. But it is a magnificent pit of darkness with a castle at its heart built from the finest bones. Every room is meticulously carved, as though we share the body of some great fallen creature. It brings my acolytes both pride and joy.”
“Does it, now? Because that sounds absolutely wretched,” Ceveon remarked, making a face.
Sorren nodded sagely. “Lord Erebus’s castle is horrible, but it sounds like a sanctuary compared to Somnus’s.”
“You’re not listening to me,” Somnus said, sighing into his hair.
“You need a central structure, Shadow Weavers. Castles exist within each Weaver’s domain because they act as anchors.
If the anchor is abandoned, the domain risks collapsing.
Remodel yours as you please, but it must be kept.
Don’t let your fear of the dark keep you from rising above it. ”
His logic made sense; if this domain was to be our home, why not design it to feel like one?
I found myself aching to create something beautiful out of the fractured castle and the vast unkempt grounds filled with nothing but iridescent trees.
Something that made me feel safe and hopeful the way I’d felt years ago in my shared bedroom with Eden.
Back before I’d begged her to dream with me.
“Anything else?” Erebus snapped, nearing the end of his whisper-thin patience.
“Oh, yes,” Somnus answered, as if casually remembering something vital.
“When your castle is rebuilt and your domain suitably stabilized, I will summon the Light Bringer and the other Weavers to gather around your table. Fenrir, Nephthys, Ceres, Lelantos, Xander, Theia—we must all discuss what needs to be done to save Noctis and the Realm. The Shadow Weavers shall host a civilized banquet.” He cast a withering look at each of us in turn. “Emphasis on civilized.”
“It will be our honor,” I said with what I hoped was a confident smile, ignoring the glare Erebus shot my way.
“One of you, at least, shows promise,” Somnus sighed. Then he glanced at the stars as if ascertaining what time it was. “Oh, and you have one month. Perhaps less if the Dream Realm shatters and the demons overtake us before then. Good luck, Shadow Weavers.”
Somnus quickly disappeared into a swirl of black.
“Smug bastard, isn’t he?” Ceveon quipped.
And then the hundreds of dreamers erupted into chaos.