He laughed. “Not exactly what I meant. Do you remember coming to Valero? All the way from Humpuck? You followed a beam of light above the city, something that normals can’t see. Something that most people, even supernaturals, can’t see.”
My forehead wrinkled with remembrance. “It was the same color as Samyaza’s light. It happened when he first died. I couldn’t resist, I had to come. I had to follow.”
“My point exactly. It was a king’s radiance, and it called to his heir, his princeling. I have a feeling you can tap into that radiance, too, and you probably won’t have to actually die to throw up a signal. It’s like a distress call. Do you see where I’m going with this? You see the connection? You and me, kid. Sunlight, and, um, I don’t know. Nephilight, I guess?”
I looked up into the clouds, eyes growing wide with understanding, my insides tingling with excitement. “You’re saying I should build a beacon. Call on the nephilim. Lead them here.”
“Not just lead them here.” Apollo gripped me by the back of the neck, turning my head so that we saw eye to eye. “Lead them. It’s your call. It’s your birthright.”
I glanced across the land that we all called home. Lina was in the kitchens, her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth as she applied a blowtorch to some crème brûlées. Priscilla watched with pride. Marcel looked like he was about to pass out from excitement. Artemis and Florian appeared to be in some kind of eating contest, Samyaza half-reading and half-watching to make sure nobody choked to death. And Mom, she was just happy to be old Josie Albrecht again, just happy to be tasting life.
Would they be okay with the idea? Would we be ready to take on so much? It made perfect sense. This was where the nephilim would be safest. We could watch each other’s backs, no longer be so vulnerable, build something for ourselves. I remembered being so confused and frightened the day I awakened. I didn’t want any of the others to be frightened again.
“I’ll have to ask Artemis,” I said, my mouth parched from hanging open a little too long. “I’ll have to ask Samyaza, probably Raziel for help, too.”
“It doesn’t even have to be here. If you pooled all your resources, you and your siblings might even be able to carve out some spiritual real estate, make a home for yourselves. The choice is yours, Mason. Live up to your name, truly. Maybe it’s time to build something. Something big.”
Could I do it? A light in the darkness, a guiding star for those who’d been as lost as I was. No nephilim would have to live in fear or isolation. Neither the Seven nor the high heavens could threaten us ever again.
“A nation, Mason. A kingdom. A palace.”
I shook my head, my eyes filled with sunlight, my head filled with stars.
“No. A sanctuary. A refuge. A home.”
END
See where it all began.
Witness Mason Albrecht’s awakening in Ex Nihilo.
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Also by Nazri Noor
Infernal Inheritance
Demon Prints
Tome Raider
Grim War
Ex Inferis
Sins of the Father
Fallen Reign
False Gods
Morning Star
Holy Hell
Ex Nihilo
Darkling Mage
Shadow Magic
Dark Harvest
Grave Intentions
Oblivion Heart
Midnight’s Son
Last Rites
Blood Pact
Soul Fire
Endless Knight
Penumbra
Crystal Brawl
About the Author
Hi, I’m Nazri, a Filipino-Malaysian author based in California. I’m trilingual, but I really only write in English. I can also speak just enough Sindarin and Valyrian to impress absolutely no one. My urban fantasy novels focus on heroes who use wits, style, and their wildly unpredictable magic to save the day. Think sass and class, while kicking ass.
My influences come from horror and fantasy: HP Lovecraft, Anne Rice, George R.R. Martin, Chuck Palahniuk, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman. Growing up I was shaped by the Blood Sword, Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf, and Grey Star game book universes. I’m also inspired by video games, specifically the Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and Persona series.
Long story short, I’m a huge nerd, and the thrill of imagining wizards and monsters and worlds into existence is what makes me feel most alive. Writing, to me, is magic. If you enjoyed my work, please do consider leaving a review on Amazon. Even just a sentence can do so much. Reviews help readers like you decide whether they’d like my books, and they help indie authors like me with better visibility and credibility.
And do join us in the Arcane Underground, my own reader group on Facebook. You can talk about the books with other readers or even ask me questions about my stories. I frequently share free and discounted books from myself and other authors, but most importantly, the group is always the first to learn about upcoming releases and see new covers as I reveal them. We also post memes. Lots and lots of memes.
I hope to see you there. Thank you for reading, and thank you for supporting independent authors everywhere.
