Dreams of the Forgotten Dead Read online

  Dreams of the Forgotten Dead

  Eric R. Asher

  Also by Eric R. Asher

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  The Steamborn Series:

  Steamborn

  Steamforged

  Steamsworn

  Skyborn

  Skyforged

  Skysworn

  Stormborn

  Stormforged

  Stormsworn

  The Vesik Series:

  (Recommended for Ages 17+)

  Days Gone Bad

  Wolves and the River of Stone

  Winter’s Demon

  This Broken World

  Destroyer Rising

  Rattle the Bones

  Witch Queen’s War

  Forgotten Ghosts

  The Book of the Ghost

  The Book of the Claw

  The Book of the Sea

  The Book of the Staff

  The Book of the Rune

  The Book of the Sails

  The Book of the Wing

  The Book of the Blade

  The Book of the Fang

  The Book of the Reaper

  Dreams of the Forgotten Dead

  The Vesik Series Box Sets

  Box Set One (Books 1-3)

  Box Set Two (Books 4-6)

  Box Set Three (Books 7-8)

  Box Set Four: The Books of the Dead Part 1 (Books 9-14)

  Box Set Five: The Books of the Dead Part 2 (Books 15-18)

  Vesik: The Dufris Years (Books 1-8)

  Mason Dixon – Monster Hunter:

  Episode One

  Episode Two

  Episode Three

  Episode Four

  Season 1 Box Set

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  Copyright © 2021 by Eric R. Asher

  Smashwords Edition

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Smashwords Edition, 2021

  Smashwords Edition License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Edited by Laura Matheson

  Cover typography by Indie Solutions by Murphy Rae

  Cover design ©Phatpuppyart.com – Claudia McKinney

  ~

  For Bill.

  ~

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Also by Eric R. Asher

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  A Word from the Author about the Vesik Narrators

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Note from Eric R. Asher

  Also by Eric R. Asher

  About the Author

  A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR ABOUT THE VESIK NARRATORS

  I’m sure some of you are wondering why William isn’t narrating this return to Damian’s point of view. You may not have heard that we sadly lost William in 2020. As a small tribute, we assembled all of the Vesik titles he narrated into a box set called Vesik: The Dufris Years. We’ll all miss him.

  As many of you realize at this point, Forgotten Ghosts ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and then I decided to do a grand experiment with novellas that many readers didn’t realize were part of the main story. So if you haven’t listened to those, go grab The Books of the Dead box sets narrated by Erin Moon. Once we realized William wouldn’t be be able to record The Book of the Ghost, auditions started up again. And this time, because the majority of the novellas are from the point of view of Vicky, Sam, Nixie, Beth, and Zola, we were on the hunt for a female narrator with a range to rival William. From Graybeard’s squawk to Sam’s sarcasm and Vicky’s fury, Erin Moon took over admirably, injecting emotion and life into these characters.

  And now we come back to Damian, who will be voiced by another narrator with a dynamic range that has blown me away. Travis Baldree stood out across the many auditions we held, and I hope you all enjoy his take on these characters as much as I do. His ability to maintain the feel William established and Erin continued has seriously impressed me. Am I also chuckling at the fact I’m making Travis read this last bit as an intro to an audiobook he’s narrating? Absolutely yes. Now please sit back and enjoy the latest adventure with the misfits.

  CHAPTER ONE

  I remembered the worst hangover I’d ever had. It had taught me an important lesson about never getting into a drinking contest with a fairy. But it was nothing, I mean nothing, compared to the living alarm clock standing at the end of my bed. Hangovers were one thing, but being brought back from the Abyss after being drowned in the powers of the Wild Hunt—and by a Titan no less—was quite another.

  I glowered at the beautiful, feathered bird. “You better be glad you aren’t a pigeon.”

  The iridescent peacock cocked his head to the side before ruffling his feathers and, I swear, stomping his feet.

  A messy halo of blonde hair sat up next to me, smacking her lips as if trying to scrape off some regrets from the night before. The bird called again, like a bullhorn attached to a goose, startling Nixie into full alertness.

  “Who hated you enough to give you that bird?” I whined. “And why is it here?”

  Nixie blew out a long breath. “I told you, it was a gift from one of the clans near Sri Lanka. It is a sacred gift, Damian.”

  “Gift,” I muttered.

  “Nagma means well.” Nixie groaned and flopped back down onto the pillows. “I told you, once the clan heard I was planning on moving the throne back to Atlantis, they insisted.”

  The peacock bleated in agreement.

  “What does that have to do with the bird? If Nagma is so loyal to you, why would she punish you
like this?”

  “Damian, some traditions you don’t question. It’s said these peacocks are great protectors. And moving the seat of power to Atlantis is going to give Nagma more say in their local governance. Something Lewena would never have allowed.”

  “Do you think peacock tastes like fried chicken?”

  The bird honked at me again before pecking at my exposed foot.

  “Ow. Oww!” I scrambled to take shelter under the blanket.

  “You do realize that bird can probably understand you, right?”

  I frowned at Nixie. “I was beginning to get that impression.”

  “Are you done packing?”

  I glanced around my bedroom at the few stacks of cardboard boxes, a rather distressed chest of drawers, and a handful of trash bags to be donated to the local shelters. “You know, I think I am.”

  “I still can’t believe Calbach is building out a new apartment for you in Death’s Door. Is there enough space on the top floor?”

  “He seems to think so. And considering he was able to keep the place from collapsing after Bubbles and Peanut ate away the supports, I’m willing to believe him. I was a little worried about putting a shower up there. Humidity and books, you know?”

  “But you think it will be acceptable now?”

  “Calbach does. Something about the vents and pipes in the wall or whatever.”

  Nixie grinned as she slid out of bed. “It all sounds so scientific when you put it like that.” Her nightgown shimmered, only to be replaced by polished armor and treated leather.

  “No shower?” I asked, pleading with my eyes as best I could.

  Nixie rolled her eyes and sighed. “Come on, then. Let’s get this over with.”

  “So romantic.” I swallowed a laugh.

  She cast a smile over her shoulder as her armor vanished, leaving only a gentle curve of skin as she slipped into the bathroom.

  The peacock honked again, jarring me out of the moment before I hurried past him to join Nixie in the privacy of the shower.

  * * *

  Showered and dressed a while later, I found the peacock camped out on the old oak coffee table. That was one thing I wanted to take to the new apartment. It would be hard to let go of the battered leather couch, but Calbach swore he’d have something even better. Time would tell.

  Nixie poured a bowl of game feed into a dish usually reserved for the cu siths. Whatever smells or fur lingered in that bowl from those monsters visiting didn’t bother the bird. He happily smashed his face into the assortment of preformed nuggets.

  I separated the boxes I planned to take with me from those I’d be donating. Nixie stayed on the couch near the bird while she checked her phone. It wasn’t that long ago she couldn’t really carry one without a good deal of trouble. Waterproofing was far better than it used to be.

  My phone buzzed as I taped the last box shut. I re-read the message, trying to remember what had happened before I’d fallen into Nudd’s trap. Before the nightmares came and I’d been dragged into the Abyss.

  I couldn’t stop the shiver.

  D. Time to talk?

  “Everything okay?” Nixie asked.

  I nodded. “It’s Samir, asking if I have time to talk. Was my car in the shop? Did something happen to it I don’t remember?”

  Nixie shook her head. “I saw it in the parking lot when Sam dropped us off here.”

  “Right, right. Sam drove us.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s just, sometimes my memory is a bit spotty.” I read Samir’s message again and texted him back.

  Sure. What’s going on?

  My phone rang a few seconds later, breaking the sacred texting code of conduct. I hit the speaker button and set my phone down on a nearby stack of boxes.

  “Hey, Samir. You’re on speaker.”

  “Damian, it is good to hear your voice. It has been too long!”

  I laughed under my breath. “That’s a good thing. It means my car has been running well. Maybe you’re too good at your job.”

  “Maybe you replaced too many engine parts? Not enough original left inside the old girl to break down.”

  The irony wasn’t lost on me. It was Samir who had done the restoration work when the original engine finally locked up. “Are you calling to remind me about my oil change?”

  “Ha! No, my friend. You are not due for two months. I have … I have an issue. A question, really, I guess.”

  I exchanged a glance with Nixie and didn’t miss her crinkled brow.

  “It sounds crazy, but I know you do crazy.” Samir paused. “I think I have a ghost in the shop.”

  With that, I let out a more earnest laugh. “Samir, the whole city is packed with ghosts. I’m sure every shop in Saint Charles has a ghost living there, and West County is no different. Well, not living there, but you know what I mean.”

  “It’s not so simple. I don’t want to talk where they might hear me. Employees. They scare easy.”

  “I’ll be at Death’s Door in an hour or so. Feel free to drop by after that.”

  “Good. Okay, good. I’ll do that. Damian, it might be more than one. It … I’ve seen things I can’t explain. And it’s only been since the battles in the east.”

  “What battles?” I asked. “You mean in Falias? When we fought Nudd?”

  “I think it started before that, but not long before. I don’t think they’re all human, Damian.” A door chimed in the background, and Samir went silent for a moment. “I’ll see you at the shop. Thank you, my friend.”

  The call dropped.

  “What the hell was that?” I asked.

  “Has he always been able to see ghosts?” Nixie asked.

  “Not that I know of. I’m pretty sure he’s as normal as Frank.”

  “Sounds like this day just got a bit more interesting.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t say that. I don’t need interesting. I need plain vanilla ice cream and a poorly cooked hamburger. Give me boring for the next year, thank you very much.”

  Nixie’s smile widened as my ramble continued on, lamenting the lost days where the most interesting things that happened were under-seasoned cookouts or movie theaters finally serving alcohol.

  “You say that like you didn’t bring a parrot back to life and trap a pirate in it when you were a kid.”

  My rambling lament stopped, and I blinked at Nixie. “Well, that’s taking things a bit too literally.”

  “Are you saying I count as boring? Or do you not want me around for a year?”

  “That’s cheating.” I gestured uselessly. “Now you’re cheating.”

  Nixie bared her teeth in a wicked grin. “Am I?”

  The peacock honked and shook his crest as if he found Nixie’s retort unbearably amusing.

  “Not you too, bird. Let’s introduce you to the cu siths and see how that goes. Turn you into a chicken nugget. Peacock nugget. Whatever.” I paused and looked at the bird. “That’s his name. Nugget.”

  The peacock honked in what I liked to imagine was irritation.

  Nixie laughed, hopped off the couch, and leaned forward to give me a kiss before she started sorting a few more of the marked boxes. “Let’s go see what Calbach’s done to the store, shall we?”

  Nugget leaped from box to box before landing on Nixie’s shoulder. He honked and settled in while she eyed him suspiciously.

  “A gift,” I said.

  Nixie scowled.

  CHAPTER TWO

  After fifteen minutes of combing through boxes to find the car keys I’d apparently packed away, we were off. Sort of. My ’32 Ford wasn’t exactly spacious, and in that moment I became one hundred percent aware that it wasn’t made for peacocks.

  While our honored guest might have had enough room in the back seat if he stayed in one spot, he instead thought it would be more effective to stick his ass between the front seats and spread his feathers in our faces. I leaned as far to the side as I could as we backed out of the p
arking lot.

  “This is fantastic,” I grumbled.

  Nixie’s phone dinged, and she tried to read it around the edge of the peacock’s feathers. “It’s Euphemia.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “It’s fine, I’m sure. Some of the undines I met in Atlantis have surfaced close to Ireland.”

  “Peacefully?”

  Nixie laughed. “Yes, yes. I guess I didn’t tell you everything about Atlantis. They only wish to live in their homes in peace. Word must have reached them about Nudd’s fall. Why would you think they would not visit in peace?”

  “Well, you told me you had to fight to the death when you visited Atlantis.”

  “Touché. I’ll have to take you there one day.”

  “To Atlantis?”

  “Yes, it’s quite remarkable what they’ve done to the city.”

  I leaned back and glanced at Nixie behind the feathers. “On the bottom of the ocean. I can see a few transportation issues with that trip.”

  “Not if I drown you first,” Nixie said with a brilliant smile.

  I met her gaze for a second as I guided the car through the next intersection. “You can drown me when I’m already dying and not a moment before.”

  Nixie pouted in the passenger seat. “You realize how long that could take now? You ate like a million souls and might outlive the planet at this point.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “Unless something from the Abyss eats you. That could certainly shorten your lifespan a bit, but I just don’t know if gathering up the pieces and dropping them in a bucket will have the same satisfaction.”

  Apparently satisfied with the growing horror on my face, Nixie exploded into laughter, to which Nugget bleated out another honk before thankfully moving to the back and settling down. I glanced at the bird in the rearview mirror.

  “Threats of dismemberment and drowning seem to have calmed him down quite a bit. Do you think the cu siths will try to eat him? That would be … so tragic.”

  Nixie snorted when Nugget unleashed a particularly hostile honk. “I don’t think we have to worry about that. Nagma wouldn’t send a peacock if she thought it would be in danger.”