Page 71 of The Iron Vow

I followed the massive trunk down, past branches and faces twisted in agony, to the roots of the tree itself, and the blood in my veins turned to ice.

At the base of the tree sat a throne. Tall, elegant, made of polished obsidian, it sucked in the light and reflected the crimson glow of the tree behind it.

A body sat atop the throne. A man, tall, lean, and cloaked in black, his chin resting on his chest as he slept. The robe he wore was so dark, it was impossible to tell where it ended and the shadows began. His hair was black, his face and long, spindly hands stark white, giving him the appearance of an old photograph, something not entirely real.

A tingle of fear skittered up my back, along with a very real sense of shock. Wasthisthe Nightmare King? After everything we had faced, monsters, Elder Nightmares, scenes straight out of horror movies, I was not expecting the ruler of Evenfall, the Nightmare King himself, to look like a normal, handsome,youngman.

Even though that might’ve been shortsighted. Even though the rulers of the Nevernever, from Mab to Oberon to Titania, were all beautiful, ageless, and immortal, because that was how Faery worked. The Nightmare King, for all his power and ability to cause fear, was still an ageless eternal.

The world flickered.

The tree vanished. The throne disappeared. We stood in a black void, an abyss with no ground, no stars, no sky, nothing but darkness. Terror flooded my soul so completely, I couldn’t breathe. What sat where the throne used to be defied description. A roiling, pulsing mass of tentacles, claws, spines, teeth, and eyes. It was oily and scaly, covered in blood and hair, chiton, bones, and exposed muscle. It was every Nightmare monstrosity somehow rolled into one horrific abomination, and just looking at it made my eyes burn.

I flinched, turning away, and when I looked back, the chamber was normal. The tree and the throne were still there, with the sleeping form of the Nightmare King sitting motionless in the obsidian seat. But my heart still pounded, cold sweat now creeping down my spine.

“The king.” I didn’t know who whispered the words, Nyx or Other Nyx, but they sounded as horrified as I felt. “This...this isn’t right. That is not the Nightmare King.”

“Are you sure?” Even Ash didn’t sound as unfazed as he normally did. “If the Nightmare King is the essence of fear and terror, this certainly fits.”

“She’s right,” said Other Nyx. “I don’t know what thatthingwas, but I clearly remember who I served for countless ages. Yes, the Nightmare King can be every fear and terror mankind has dreamed throughout time. But he ruled fairly, and he loved Evenfall and all those who existed in it. He was never pure, unfiltered chaos. This...this is madness in physical form. This is not the king.”

“Well, it’s sitting on a throne,” Puck whispered. “And it sure acts like it belongs there. If this isn’t our Nightmare King, then who is playing imposter?”

“Not an imposter.” Grimalkin appeared on a coil of root, eyes glowing in the eerie red luminance around us. “I believe I have the answer, though it is not one you are going to like. The person currently sitting the throne...isthe Nightmare King, and is not the Nightmare King.”

“Uh.” Puck gave a very deliberate blink. “Okay, I’m pretty sure I’m speaking for all of us when I say this—what?”

“Oh,” Gilleas breathed, as if he too, had come to a realization that had completely eluded me. “Oh, ancient cursed gods. I believe you are correct. We are still in the Dream.” His hand rose, thin black fingers covering one eye socket. “Oh, gods, we might not survive this.”

“What are you talking about, Grim?” I demanded.

“This is still the king’s dream,” Grimalkin said. “We have not found a way to the king himself. The dreamer cannot physically exist within their own dream. They may see themselves within the dream, but that ends as soon as they wake. This place, however...” He glanced up at the tree looming overhead. “This is the place where the Nightmares are born. Where they are dreamed into the world. The fact that there are no more Nightmares in the castle is indicative that the king is simply not dreaming them any longer. Because his Dream is fading. You can see it happening around you. He is losing his hold on this reality, and his Dream flickers with every breath. How much longer it will remain is uncertain, but this world is starting to fray apart. I do not believe we have much time left.”

My stomach tightened, and I saw Keirran clench a fist. Strangely, though Varyn’s gaze hardened, and he glanced protectively at Other Nyx, the two Evenfaeries were frighteningly accepting of their world falling apart in front of them.

“But that still doesn’t tell us who is sitting on the throne,” Other Nyx said. “And why Grimalkin said it is and is not the Nightmare King. That doesn’t make sense.”

“It does,” Gilleas murmured, still sounding pale and shaken. “The cat already told you as much. This is the place where Nightmares are born, where they are dreamed into the world. It is possible to exist in your own dream—not physically of course, but how many nightmares consist of running away from something, or being lost, or falling from great heights? We have already met one, possibly two, named Elder Nightmares. And what is currently sitting the throne now...is the most powerful Nightmare of all. The king’s worst fear—becoming what the Nevernever thought him to be. Driven mad by anger and vengeance, wishing destruction upon the world should he wake.”

A chunk of ice settled in my stomach, spreading a chill through my insides. The worst nightmare of the Nightmare King. It would sound comedic if it wasn’t completely terrifying. A named Elder Nightmare who thought he was the immortal ruler of the Evenfey.

“So, itisthe Nightmare King,” Keirran said. “Or a version of him, anyway. How powerful will he be, compared to the real one?”

“I do not know,” Gilleas replied. “But he will be powerful. Extraordinarily so. He is a Nightmare, but he is also the Nightmare King. He could be just as immortal and unstoppable as the real king himself.”

“Enough to actually believe heisthe real king?” Ash wondered. “Enough to be able to speak to us through the Elder Nightmares?”

I drew in a sharp breath. “Of course,” I whispered. “If this Nightmare really is that strong,hemight be the entity we saw below InSite. The one who threatened the destruction of the Nevernever.”

“Right,” Puck muttered. “So, what you’re saying is, we should absolutely, one hundred percentnotwake him up. Or he’s just going to go on that rampage that could end in the destruction of the Nevernever and possibly the world.”

“I would very much advise against waking him up,” Gilleas whispered. “Even if this is a Nightmare and not the real king, I honestly do not believe we would survive the encounter.”

“What we need to do is find the door,” Ash said. “Gilleas, obviously this Nightmare wasn’t here the last time you came looking for the king. But do you remember where the door was located?”

“Yes.” Gilleas nodded. “I remember it appearing on the other side of the trunk. If we skirt the throne and walk around the back of the Nightmare Tree, hopefully it will be there.”

“All right,” I said, nodding. “Let’s go, then. I don’t think I have to tell anyone to be as quiet as you can.”

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