I feel the breath of a hundred different types of magic trying to illuminate the room only to be snuffed out by Des’s power. Along the walls, I hear plants rustling. It takes several seconds for me to realize they’re withering, dying. “Before there were plants, before there were animals, before there was even light, there was darkness,” Des says, his voice silky smooth. “From that darkness, all our deepest desires and most secret fears were born. And I know all of yours. Perhaps I should share them…”
