A.F. Henley

Doren was born with a powerful gift -- a gift he's managed to use to put him well on his way to becoming a star. But there is more to that gift than just musical talent, and as careful as Doren is to hide that fact, there are some who know of the power behind the sound, and all the ways they could abuse it.<br><br>August's goal in life is simple: make an impact in the music industry. An opportunity to work as the personal assistant to Doren seems to be exactly the kind of break he needs to accomplish that goal.<br><br>But all too often in life, simple becomes just another complication, especially when there are people whose goal is even simpler: destroy and dominate.

The Gift

“Come on, Doren,” August asked the concrete. “Where are you?”


He leaned in closer, pressing his ear until it hurt, and he was just about to give up when he got a sudden image of Doren lifting his face to the ceiling and taking a deep breath. August’s reaction was immediate and stupid; why he did it August couldn’t even say. The image had startled him, and he immediately jumped away from the wall and planted his feet in the direction to his left. Shaking, tethered to a feeling he couldn’t explain, he started walking.


The room he found was alive with music and lights. People swayed against one another, shouting into each other’s ear. The floor was sticky with spilled booze and the walls slippery with condensation. The atmosphere was entirely overwhelming. August didn’t like clubs, there was far too much sensation being thrown at a person all at once. He found it stifling, then and more so now.


Chapter 25