The Drowned Gods, #2
Stranger Skies
by Pascale Lacelle
Contents
Chapter 8: Kai
Overview
Kai endures a composite nightmare that intersects with Emory in the sleepscape and reveals a crowned umbra urging, “Open the door.”
He pulls Emory free by telling her to wake, then wakes violently himself, briefly attacking Baz. An obsidian crown manifests in reality, hinting at escalating sleepscape bleed-through.
Summary
Kai cycles through shifting nightmares: Baz’s past at the printing press, Dovermere’s chaos, and a Trevelyan Prep memory with Farran Caine, which hardens Kai’s resolve to guard his heart. Fear smells like his own, confirming the terror is his, not Baz’s.
The dream pivots to Emory as a living door besieged by accusing students and Keiran Thornby’s grip. Recognizing the sleepscape’s pull, Kai speaks to Emory directly, telling her the assailants aren’t real. Darkness coils into a spiral, spawning umbrae.
A towering umbra crowned in obsidian emerges, speaking in an ancient tongue whose meaning Kai feels: “Open the door.” Fearing Emory could be overtaken, Kai orders her to wake, and she disappears. The crowned umbra launches; at Kai’s touch it dissipates, leaving an obsidian crown in his hand as the nightmare fractures.
Kai jolts awake in Baz’s room, disoriented, and mistakes Baz for an umbra, choking him before realizing the truth and releasing him. As Baz steadies him, the obsidian crown from the dream lies on the floor—impossibly real—before disintegrating like a spent dream.
Who Appears
- KaiEclipse-born plagued by nightmares; meets Emory in the sleepscape, faces a crowned umbra, wakes violently, and manifests an obsidian crown.
- BazTries to wake Kai; is briefly strangled in Kai’s panic; then grounds and reassures him afterward.
- EmoryAppears in the sleepscape beset by accusing students; responds to Kai’s warning and wakes before umbrae overtake her.
- Crowned umbraTowering nightmare figure with an obsidian crown, telepathically urging, “Open the door,” before dissipating at Kai’s touch.
- Farran CaineFrom Kai’s school memory; a bittersweet chess scene symbolizes Kai’s resolve to protect his heart.
- Keiran Dunhall ThornbyAppears in memories and Emory’s dream as a grieving student and accuser restraining Emory.