It is obvious what killed him. I know of only one beast that can sear the earth and a body in this manner. This was the work of a dragon, but why? They don’t usually go on the attack, plus they are so well camouflaged most humans pass by them without ever noticing.
I do not cover my face. My tears are for them. I grieve for them. I mourn for them. The remorse I feel is like a weight that would pull a mortal soul to the very depths of Tartarus. I sob my apology.
I hear him begin to whistle an old familiar tune, and the storm of memory starts—Kate, the garden, and the mistake that forged everyone’s destinies. Maybe this was destiny correcting itself.
They are the afraid, the lost, the forsaken, and the forgotten. I never forget, though. I know them all…
Something in my voice chased the remaining traces of shock from her face. Her smile told me I was welcome here, even though I wasn’t sure she knew who I was.
For those few brief moments, as we walked and talked, everything seemed right with the world.
There would have been more but a black tentacle shot out, hard and fast from a wall, separating the lovers and sending the Other Than sailing backward.
I could feel a smile and…and other sensations as she entered my mind, blowing away the dead that resided there. The silver thread exploded in my mind. Then I flew.
“Yes, the one you call Than stole your Master’s robe. He is choking your Master, do you not want to stop him? Do you not want to kill Than?”
“The living, breathing pulse of Gaia, the pulse of the world. Isn’t it beautiful, Thanner?” Hyp spoke reverently from beside me.
That seals it in my mind, I knew it, Frankenstein, 1931. It was Hyp’s favorite movie.
“Peek-a-boo, I seee yoouuuu,” Emma said from nowhere, the “you” becoming a deep distorted growl.
They watched me as I went by, the sleepwalkers, their eyes turned into his. They gave Cheshire cat grins and snickered.
His arms were wrapped around her as she cradled the baby. They smiled, staring lovingly into each other’s eyes before sharing a kiss.
“Ohhh, well excuse me for dying! I mean, look at those two assholes in robes over there. What is that…a prison?”
