The Nightmare (The Mist #2) - Regine Abel Page 0,31

contagious enthusiasm. “That’s when my Merax showed up. He was badass and killed a huge Beast in front of us. It wasn’t as big as the one your Nightmare devoured, but it was still impressive.”

I laughed and shook my head. “You know, listening to you talking, I could see people holding Beast fights the way they do dog and cock fights.”

My smile faded at the troubled look that descended on Riley’s face.

“Those already exist,” he said grimly. “There’s some crazy shit happening out there. Beast vs. Beast is fine. The problem is when they start throwing humans in an arena with those creatures and take bets on how long they’ll survive, and which Beast will get to them first.”

I covered my mouth with my hand as I stared at him in horror. He snorted and gave me a sad smile.

“Some humans are the real monsters,” he said dejectedly. “But that’s a conversation for another time. Anyway, my Merax did his thing then started stalking me, trying to get me to come to the window near him. I got in that corridor, while he followed me.”

“Did they pull the seahorse fairy stunt on you?” I asked with curiosity.

He shook his head. “No, Julia told me her nightmare ate it. I got a Pegasus Bambi.”

“Aww! He must have been soooo cute!” I said with a smile.

Riley chuckled. “He was… Until Merax ate it.”

I gasped, and my companion burst out laughing at my shocked expression. “Your Nightmare ate Bambi?” I exclaimed, flabbergasted. “You didn’t try to stop him?”

He shrugged in a ‘What can you do?’ kind of way. “I tried. For a second, I thought he would listen, but in the end, the temptation of an easy meal was just too great.”

“Doesn’t that frighten you?” I asked, troubled to find him still so excited—almost proud—of his Nightmare’s uncontrollable urges.

“No,” Riley said with calm conviction. “Merax is the sum of all my fears. I’m a gay man who was raised by devout Christians. I conjured Merax to punish me for my sinful desires and impure thoughts.”

“They’re not sinful,” I said with a frown. “There is no shame in being who and what you are.”

Riley smiled gently and with an inner peace that made me realize I had misinterpreted his current feelings about his sexual orientation.

“I have learned that since,” Riley said. “But at the time, Merax embodied all the bullies and haters that had made my life hell growing up. All those who had rejected me over the years… When I realized who he was, I panicked. I literally wanted to run out of here and go back home. If not for the Mist, I might have done just that.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” I said with commiseration. “I almost fled the minute we arrived. I had not prepared myself to look at the Mist again.”

“Again?” Riley asked, his curiosity piqued.

I told him the story of Jared’s death, and how growing up in a dysfunctional family had spawned Zain.

“But he didn’t kill the fairy,” I said with undisguised pride.

“Which puts you in the driver’s seat of this entire operation,” Riley said without bitterness or jealousy, but with an enthusiasm laced with curiosity.

I recoiled at that comment. “What do you mean?”

Riley opened his mouth to answer, but something behind me drew his attention. He suddenly smiled and waved. Looking over my shoulder, I saw a woman with a slight limp come towards us. Blond with green eyes—although her dark eyebrows hinted that she was really a brunette—the female appeared to be in her early forties. Despite her limp, she walked straight, with determined steps and had a commanding aura about her.

“Julia,” I guessed.

“Yep,” Riley said.

After some quick introductions, Julia went to get some food then came back to join us.

“So, I hear your Nightmare upstaged mine,” I said to Julia in a friendly tone.

She snorted and shook her head. “Hardly. Your Nightmare kicked some serious butt with style and ease. Mine was just an elephant in a china store. He’s a bully. He made a show of slaughtering the weak ones to scare the others into thinking he’s stronger than he truly is. Your Zain would make mincemeat out of him. If your boy is willing, mine is in need of a spanking.”

Riley and I burst out laughing at her dejected expression. She smiled, but I didn’t miss the sad glimmer in her eyes.

“You think he’s unredeemable?” I asked in a sympathetic tone.

She shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it