Nero Nights

he watches me as I approach. I reach a hand forward,

cars made me who I am.” There’s a dark tone to his voice that I don’t like, don’t want to be there. “Whether Cyrillius made me this way or not, these par

is words sink into me. I let them

planet. To discover the answer to that question. But you’re a human being. No on

I don’t know how to read it. He’s so complex and I only

is forehead to mine. He holds his other hand on the

“Never, in my entire life, have I encountered anyone with

say, but he doesn’t. Maybe be

place, knowing what I do

y. “Let’s see wh

n’t say anything as he lies down on the bed where he slept.

him, positioned

o be strong, to not lose who I am when I go in there. I tell myself to find

n you,” Vale

the sides of Valen’s head, and I l

ark. S

r scr

guage I do n

d all arou

f worlds and v

Neron

red

ngertips tightly into Valen’s temples. I

this, I say

not sure if it’s just a me

e booms in my brain. I feel lives all around m

eron than I’ve ever felt flows

he world i

ut Cyrillius’ commands. Ending lives. Diverting water supplies

feel is

emp

avern, and that mak

sferring to me. I feel

not a goo

t obeying all those commands

elieved there was nothing b

ness to my fingertips. I concentrat

t he is a human being. He has

poten

cus, I let myself

I ignore all the darkness, a

the center

ng black darkness. It’s real and it’s alive. There’s a screami

it, clea

reach a hand toward it. I summon Ner

ne killing that

ow blue and

y brain is filled with screa

ything g