Meanwhile, Zeke was dreaming a meeting with Lilith.

“I have considered your offer, and I accept.”

Lilith smiled and clasped her hands together. “Wonderful! I’ll be so happy to welcome you home.”

“I have conditions,” said Zeke.

“Of course. Let’s hear them,” Lilith looked tolerantly annoyed.

“You let Papa go.”

“Denied. Samaal is my son and my prisoner. He stole you from me and must answer for it. Next condition.”

Zeke shouted, “He has answered for it! He is my father. I love him. Let him go!”

Lilith sighed. “I give you my word he will not be harmed further. And you can visit him when you get here. Next condition.”

Zeke’s heart was pounding. He feared he was about to overplay his hand. “Free the Ikon trapped in the Bone Gauntlet.”

Lilith laughed in surprise, then she recoiled, realizing Zeke was serious. A tense and silent pause lingered between them. “I will consider your request,” she finally answered with a flick of her wrist. Then she and the dream vanished.

But Zeke fell into another dream. He dreamed of a dark tunnel, like the ones back home. It had the same unsettling nature as Lilith’s hallway door. It was calling out to him, inviting him. Something about it felt hopeful and familiar.

So Zeke stepped into the tunnel, turned a bend, and walked onto a grand stage surrounded by an army of cainkin. A fiery line streaked across the sky. And a dark-furred kitsune sat center stage next to a grand harp.

Confused, Zeke asked, “You’re a kitsune, like Mama, right? I thought she was the last. Does she know you’re alive?”

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The dark kitsune twitched a little and then began to play the harp. He was quite skilled and made beautiful, haunting music. Zeke was enchanted. He sat on the floor and listened to the kitsune’s sorrowful song.

“So they never told you about me,” the dark kitsune asked. “About the son they had before you?”

Zeke was dumbstruck.

“We are not brothers. I am their son. You are their… instrument. Understand?”

Zeke shook his head in shock. “Wow, that was rude! Fine. We’re not brothers. Maybe we could be friends?”

The dark kitsune’s tail twitched and he started a different song. He said, “You would not like me if you knew me.”

“I disagree. Let’s find out who’s right. I dare you. I’m Ezekiel, but you can call me Zeke. What’s your name?”

The song changed again to something softer. “I’m Hormiz. You can call me Hormiz.”

“Glad to finally meet you, Hormiz. I wish it could have been sooner.” Zeke looked around at the army of snarling, winged cainkin. “And perhaps under different settings.”

Hormiz seemed only now to notice the cainkin. “Hm? Oh, them. This is where I relax and count the troops. You can choose the setting if you like.”

Zeke thought a bit and then imagined the cave he grew up in. A beam of light was shining on a cherry tree. The lightning bugs and glowing mushrooms were in full effect. They sat by a fire on the porch.

Hormiz still had his harp. He played a new tune and said, “This is beautiful. I’m sorry I destroyed it.”

Zeke stood up. “That was you?! You’re the one who took Papa!”

Hormiz said, “I told you, you wouldn’t like me.”

Zeke said nothing. He looked out over the comforting vista. Finally, he asked, “Does Mama know?”

“Stop calling her that, you boy! She is not your mama!” Hormiz stopped playing. “And yes, she knows! She gave me up! She’s just feigning ignorance.”

Zeke was stunned. “Okay, what is your damage? That is an unhinged response.”

Hormiz took a breath and continued playing. “Rowan and Samaal both claim Lilith stole me as a baby. This whole time, they believed me dead.”

“Well, there’s your answer. There’s no way our parents would give you up willingly. But Lilith set her own son on fire. And she sent you to brutalize him. She would definitely steal a baby.”

Hormiz played a thoughtful melody.

Zeke was pondering out loud, “I wish we could have grown up here together… like brothers.”

Hormiz fumbled a note. “We should wake up,” he said, and Zeke woke up.