Into the Mist, page 39
“I was looking to the southwest. Like I do every night,” said Imani. “I knew when Mercury joined me, but I couldn’t say hi or anything. It was like my ability to speak was frozen, and then, sure as hell, there was a thaw because words suddenly poured out of my mouth: He will come. The Destroyer. Prepare or perish. That was it. Nothing else came to me. Maybe, I dunno, maybe I was sorta delirious or in a trance or something. I, um, haven’t said anything, but when I go out there and stare toward my babies, I can feel them. Through the earth. And I know that doesn’t make any sense at all. So maybe what I said doesn’t make any sense either. Maybe losing them has made me lose my mind too.”
“You’re definitely not losing your mind. Your eyes glowed green,” said Mercury. “What you said makes sense, even if we don’t understand it yet.”
“Then we prepare,” said Stella.
“For what?” Imani shouted and then quickly closed her mouth as the three women peered into the darkness of the cave behind them where everyone else was asleep. When no one stirred, she continued more quietly. “I don’t know why I said what I said, and I also don’t know what a Destroyer is. How do we prepare for something we have no clue about?” She sighed and reached across Stella so Mercury could pass her the joint.
“We build our network of homes. There.” Stella pointed up. “Right away. As in we begin tomorrow. We build knowing that it has to be our sanctuary and our fortress.” She looked from Mercury to Imani. “We aren’t fragile or hysterical, stupid or inept. We’re smart, strong, capable. We’re survivors. Hell, we’re magical! We can do this. We must do this.”
“I know you’re right.” Mercury spoke slowly, like her words were heavy. “I know we have to go on. And pretty soon I’ll probably even want to go on. But right now I’m defeated. I don’t want to deal with any more apocalyptic shit. I just want to sleep and sleep and sleep.”
Stella put her arm around her best friend. “It’ll be better in the morning, and then maybe a little better the next morning—and so on and so on.”
“Time dulls the pain,” Imani said. “It doesn’t stop it, but it does make it easier to bear.”
Miserable, Mercury met Imani’s gaze. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to compare my grief to yours. I only knew Ford for just a few days. That’s nothing compared to—”
“Love doesn’t have a time stamp.” Imani interrupted her. “Allow yourself to grieve. It takes nothing away from my loss.”
“Thank you,” Mercury murmured. She reached across Stella and hugged Imani and then hugged Stella before standing. “I can’t be awake any longer today. I just … I just want to sleep.”
“Night-night, Acorn. Love you. Sweet dreams …” Stella’s voice drifted after her as Mercury, with Khaleesi at her heels, made her way quietly to where she’d set up her sleeping bag, pillow, and blankets. The T-shirt she slept in was folded neatly on her pillow. She took off her boots and the beautiful dress that held such sweet memories, and pulled on her shirt. Then Mercury slipped inside her sleeping bag and fluffed her pillow, smoothing the soft material that covered it before she lay her heavy head down. Khaleesi let her get settled and then circled several times before curling up, pressed against her back.
Mercury hadn’t been lying to Stella and Imani. She really wanted to do nothing but sleep, and within just a few breaths she willingly gave in to unconsciousness.
The dream began with warmth. It radiated from behind Mercury. Her sleeping body responded, leaning into the heat. Mercury sighed happily as the warmth that was at her back spread, enveloping her, cocooning her, comforting her. Mercury breathed deeply, relaxing into the delicious heat.
Dogs are so great, her dreaming mind thought. We don’t deserve them, but I’m really glad we have them.
A deep chuckle tickled her ear. Something brushed against the bare skin on her neck, causing her to shiver.
I’m not sure whether I should be offended or flattered at being called a dog.
In her dream Mercury gasped at the familiar voice and tried to roll over, but his arms held her back tightly against him as he spooned her. Ford?
What do you think? Can Khaleesi do this? Warm lips followed the path of the shivering skin on her neck. Or this? Teeth gently caught her earlobe. Well, perhaps biting you isn’t the best way to show I’m not a dog. He chuckled again, and his warm breath played across her skin.
Ford! Mercury reached back to touch him. He was solid and so, so real that it made her ache. But you’re not really here. You’re just a dream.
Does this feel like I’m just a dream? His lips found her neck again, and he kissed the smooth curve where it met her shoulder.
No, she said breathlessly as his kisses sent more heat throughout her body.
I’m real. He kissed her neck to punctuate his words. I’m supposed to be here. I’m meant to be here. I’m destined to be here. I’ll always be here. With you.
I guess that’s why I wanted to go to sleep so badly. I was going to conjure you into my dream.
Bellota, you didn’t conjure me into your dream. You conjured me into your life.
He moved her thick hair and kissed the patch of skin peeking above her T-shirt and then something brushed softly over her skin, causing her to squirm.
His laugh was low and rich and sensuous. You are ticklish. I wondered. I also wondered if you would taste as sweet as I imagined. You do, Bellota. You do.
The butterfly wings tickle stopped when he shifted and dropped something on the pillow beside her face. It didn’t matter that it was so dark that she couldn’t see it. She could smell its sweet scent.
A flower from your grave. I—I thought you’d like it if I made them bloom for you.
I did. I do. I also like your dancing, though next time you waltz, it should be in my arms.
I wish I could dance with you again, but instead I got you killed. I’m so sorry, Ford. I didn’t mean— She reached back to let her fingers sink into his thick, dark hair, but her words broke off as she felt something strange—a hard nub, like a protruding bone or the beginnings of a horn. Wait—what the hell is that?
Soon, Bellota, soon you’ll be ready to understand. Until then, know that I will be near—always and forever. Always and forever …
The cold woke Mercury. She sat suddenly, shivering—and then her dream came flooding back to her, and she spun around to look behind her. Nothing. Khaleesi had moved to her feet and was blinking sleepily up at her.
“Sorry,” Mercury whispered as she leaned to ruffle the dog’s soft ears. “I didn’t mean to wake you.” Then she shivered again, only this time from lingering desire. “That was some dream. Wow. My imagination is definitely working on overdrive.” Mercury sighed heavily as grief chased away Ford’s dream presence. She pulled the sleeping bag up and then turned to fluff her pillow—and froze.
There, beside the imprint of her head, rested a single yellow wildflower.
Don’t miss
OUT OF THE DAWN
by
P. C. Cast
Coming to you in the Spring of 2023
From your favorite booksellers and e-retailers!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
THANK YOU TO my awesome agent, Ginger Clark, for believing in this book as much as I do!
I’ve loved returning to my editor and friend Tara Gavin! We make a great team.
Speaking of teams—my team at Crooked Lane is exceptional! Special thank you to Madeline Rathle, Rebecca Nelson and Melissa Rechter.
A special thank you to Diana Gill, who helped me with the blueprint for this book.
I must acknowledge the faculty I taught for fifteen years with at Broken Arrow South Intermediate High School. Teachers are magick! My intent was to do us proud and to showcase our resiliency, intelligence, experience and humor—we’re superheroes!
As always, a big MAMA LOVES YOU to my daughter, Kristin Cast, who talks me off many plot ledges and gives excellent writing advice. Mommy/baby!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
I WROTE THE FIRST book of this duology, Into the Mist, for the same reason I wrote the very first book I published, Divine by Mistake. I wrote Divine by Mistake because, even though I adore fantasy novels and have been reading them since I was nine years old (beginning with Tolkien!), I had a difficult time finding high fantasy that included characters to whom I could relate. So, I simply wrote a high fantasy novel and peopled it with relatable characters.
Same thing with Into the Mist and Out of the Dawn! I love getting lost in apocalypse novels! But I have a very difficult time finding apocalypse novels peopled with characters—most especially women—to whom I relate. Because of that I decided to write the novel I most wanted to read. Apocalypse fiction with a feminist focus, peopled with real women (teachers!) who react to extraordinary events as I would, my friends would, or my daughter would, and so on.
So, let’s think about relatable characters. What makes a character relatable to you? What makes them unrelatable? To whom did you most relate from Into the Mist, and why?
The bombs that devastate the fictional world of Into the Mist are symbolic for the destruction the patriarchy has caused in our world over many generations. Discuss that symbolism and its many layers. How does the biological agent, the green mist, play into that symbolism?
Would you have left Timberline? Why or why not?
Stella and Mercury decide to keep the fact that they have a working vehicle hidden from the people at Timberline (at first), and then later the people in Madras. Was that wise or selfish?
The biological agent released by the bombs alters the DNA of some of the women who inhale it. The first and most obvious element of that change is that their blood causes plants to grow. I added this element as symbolism as well as a plot device. Discuss how it can be both.
The heroines in Into the Mist are determined to rebuild their society as a matriarchy. What does that mean to you? It’s clear by the reaction of some of the men at Timberline that it’s a rather shocking idea. Why are they shocked? Compare and contrast this to how a group of survivors would react if men took charge. How would their priorities differ? How would the new world they create differ?
In Madras, Mayor Cruz seems to have created a utopia—a sanctuary for survivors—but we discover that she has a much darker agenda. Yet she has attained quite a bit of power and has many followers who are more than willing to overlook her nefarious behavior in exchange for safety and security. Do you find that credible? Why or why not?
Pagan ideology and rituals are an important part of Into the Mist. Can you see the reflection of a matriarchal society in that ideology and those rituals? Imagine if your country was Pagan and matriarchal. How would that alter your world?
Karen is deeply Christian, although as her experiences change and her world expands, she begins to understand the value of alternative belief systems. Do you think her change is credible? How do you feel about her change? Do you believe she can still be Christian and embrace her new spiritual powers?
I created my core group of women to represent archetypes: the warrior, the seer, the mystic or wise woman, the healer, and the spiritualist. Identify which character you believe personifies which archetype, and why. Which archetype do you relate to and see in yourself the most?
Also available by P. C. Cast
Sisters of Salem, with Kristin Cast
Spells Trouble
Omens Bite
House of Night, with Kristin Cast
Marked
Betrayed
Chosen
Untamed
Hunted
Tempted
Burned
Awakened
Dragon’s Oath
Destined
Lenobia’s Vow
Hidden
Neferet’s Curse
Revealed
Kalona’s Fall
Redeemed
House of Night Other World
Loved
Lost
Forgotten
Found
House of Night: Legacy The Graphic
Novel
Goddess Summoning
Goddess of the Sea
Goddess of Spring
Goddess of Light
Goddess of the Rose
Goddess of Love
Warrior Rising/Goddess of Troy
Partholon
Divine Beginnings
Divine by Mistake
Divine by Choice
Divine By Blood
Elphame’s Choice
Brighid’s Quest
Mysteria, with Maryjanice Davidson, Susan Grant, and Gena Showalter
Mysteria Nights
Mysteria Lane
Mysteria
Tales of A New World
Moon Chosen
Sun Warrior
Wind Rider
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
P. C. Cast is a number-one New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, who has more than twenty million books in print in over forty countries. She is a proud member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame and is the author of the wildly popular House of Night series, as well as many other YA, fantasy, and paranormal romance books. P.C. splits her time between her beloved Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the Pacific Northwest.
This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real or actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2022 by P. C. Cast
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Crooked Lane Books, an imprint of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.
Crooked Lane Books and its logo are trademarks of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.
Library of Congress Catalog-in-Publication data available upon request.
ISBN (hardcover): 978-1-64385-918-7
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-64385-919-4
Cover design by Peter Strain
Map design by Sabine Stangenberg
Printed in the United States.
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Crooked Lane Books
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New York, NY 10001
First Edition: July 2022
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P. C. Cast, Into the Mist
