Sam had no idea how long he’d been in the windowless, blindingly bright room. It was impossible to know. Perhaps days. He’d been beaten and burned, again and again, and he’d blacked out several times, but the lights never went out.

He was exhausted but he couldn’t sleep. The flower-man wouldn’t let him sleep. But maybe that was a blessing, because Sam was afraid to sleep, to dream, for dreams were Lilith’s domain. With Sam’s current mental exhaustion, he’d be powerless in her kingdom.

Maybe that was the point all along. Maybe the flower-man was just softening Sam up for Lilith to sink her claws into him.

The flower-man was softening him up again now. He was biting off Sam’s fingers slowly, bit by bit, like a preying mantis eating a cricket one foot at a time. Sam was pinned against the wall and screaming.

It lasted a long time, until all of Sam’s fingers were chewed down to the nub. His blood covered the floor, staining the lights red.

And finally, Sam blacked out and stayed out.

For a time, Sam was safe in the dreamless sleep of total exhaustion.

But as time passed, he dreamed. His memories and fears were all stirred up in a frenzy, and someone else was guiding his thoughts.

Sam couldn’t think clearly. What was he doing here in the caves again? Where were Rowan and Ezekiel? Little Zeke. His son. His life. His joy.

What were we talking about? Oh, the fathers I met while I was wandering Eden in search of your Mama.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

There was this one time, I was working on a farm down in Lower Garden. The farmer’s daughter had eloped with a neighbor’s son, and she was begging her daddy to forgive her and love her new husband.

The farmer was angry, but he said ‘I just want you to be happy. I don’t like your decision and I don’t like how you handled it, but I love you. I love you for who you are, not the person I imagined you were.’

And I’d never seen anything like that. I’d never seen nurturing love. And it broke me, because I wanted that when I was growing up. I wanted someone to hold me and comfort me and teach me to be confident and happy.

When I first held you in my arms, such a tiny little thing, I felt that old hurt and anger. And I knew I had to do right by you. I wouldn’t do to you what my parents did to me. I wouldn’t abandon you. I wouldn’t hurt you.

You look just like your Mama. But with my grey eyes and black hair. I’m so glad we had you.

Shouldn’t you be training? You have to be ready for the day Adam or Lilith come.

Didn’t Lilith come already? No?

No. Training, right. We should be training. The Ivory Blade. Right.

What? No, the sword is yours. You have to hold it.

They think the sword is what matters, but it’s you, son. You’re what matters.

Of course.

We talked about this.

The sword is just a conduit. You’re the Ikon.

Oh, I don’t know. We’re safe here underground. No one can find us.

Well, your Mama will know what to do. I leave those things to her. She knows this world better than I do.

I suppose I would go to Safo. Your Aunts Gwen and Morgan live there. Sooner or later, Rowan will go there. So I would just wait there.

Wait.

Why do you look so much like me?

Why are you so upset?

Son, I love you. I just want you to be happy.

Son?

Hormiz?