Prologue

New Year’s Eve, 1969, New York City

Hannah’s heels clicked sharply against the concrete sidewalk, her pace quickening with every step. Cold sweat trickled down her spine as she glanced over her shoulder. Among the sea of revelers preparing to welcome the new year, a stranger stood out. A man she’d never seen before, draped in a black long coat and a matching fedora. His eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. His presence was undeniable, and only she had the eye to see it.

The subway station was a blur of activity, as she strode in, a symphony of rushing feet and echoing announcements. The flickering fluorescent lights cast a pallid glow on the worn tiles and peeling posters, creating a somber ambiance.

Hannah’s breath misted in the chilled air, mingling with the acrid scent of metal and dust. The clatter of departing trains reverberated through the platform, drowning out the distant strains of celebratory music. She clutched the strap of her satchel, eyes darting around, hyper-aware of every shadow and silhouette, searching for any sign of the man who had been tailing her. The station’s eerie echoes seemed to amplify her sense of urgency, driving her deeper into the subterranean maze.

She had little time to ponder his intentions. All that mattered was her way out. She knew that he, like her, was an Endless— a hybrid, both human and something more. The thought of his pursuit sent her heart racing.

Why was he following her? The question didn’t matter anymore. On this night, while the rest of the world celebrated and prepared for a new beginning, she’d chosen a different path. One that would take her away from the city, from this endless struggle, and from her own existence.

Tonight, as the clock struck midnight and the world ushered in the new year, she would be long gone.

Unable to bear the pain any longer, Hannah’s memories led her to a pivotal moment in this lifetime. She stood at the crossroads, the world around her a blur of uncertainty. A place in time she no longer wanted to be a part of. The rumbling tracks of the morning train resonated through her bones, a symphony of choices echoing in her mind.

A decision had already formed in her heart, a desperate bid to escape the agony that had consumed her. As the train’s distant horn drew nearer, Hannah’s steps carried her closer to the edge, her soul yearning for release from the torment of a love lost. In that harrowing moment, she stood at the precipice of a choice that would alter the course of her existence once more.

“Hannah! Just give me a minute, please.” The hybrid hollered from somewhere behind her.

She glanced back, but couldn’t find him in the crowd. How did he know her name? What did he want from her?

“Too late,” she muttered. “Perhaps in another lifetime…”

Then she made the ultimate step toward the tracks… and faced the oncoming train.

It is done.

And in a blink, Hannah stood in the ethereal glow of The Light, its brilliance bathing the space in a radiance beyond mortal comprehension. It was a place of transcendent beauty, where the very essence of creation emanated, and to which all souls would ultimately return. Her surroundings seemed to ripple with a harmonious energy, a symphony of colors that danced and swirled, weaving together in a mesmerizing display of cosmic artistry.

As The Light addressed her, Hannah’s heart fluttered with a mixture of reverence and trepidation. The weight of her decision bore down on her, a culmination of lifetimes and choices leading to this pivotal moment.

The voice of The Light reverberated like a celestial melody, carrying the wisdom of the myriad ancient stars. “Hannah... you are a descendant of the Endless. Why did you decide to end this life?”

Being a mortal demigod could either be a blessing or a curse. The Descendants of the Endless were the half-immortal humans and hybrid beasts that walked the earth from the beginning of time. They were the fantastic beasts that wielded formidable strength and sentience… powerful humans, who bent the laws of the universe by sheer will. They were gods.

Their mortal bodies may die, but their essence lived on, adapting to new bodies lifetime after lifetime. Their awareness of who they truly were, and their collected memories remained— unless they chose to forget— like Hannah did.

“Because love never dies. It can only be forgotten.”

Her gaze remained fixed upon The Light, her eyes pools of reflection in its luminous presence. The truth, unvarnished and pure, welled up within her. The memories of Rhamiel, their love and the bitter fracture of it, echoed through the corridors of her soul.

Hannah’s memories unfurled like ancient scrolls, revealing the countless lifetimes she and Rhamiel had shared. Against the backdrop of time’s relentless march, their souls had intertwined, danced, and yearned for one another. Across the vast tapestry of existence, their love had endured. A beacon of light in the depths of eternity.

In the lifetimes before, they had overcome insurmountable odds. Through epochs and distances, they had managed to find each other. It was as if the universe itself conspired to bring their souls together, binding them in an unbreakable bond.

But in this most recent incarnation, something had shifted. There were no formidable obstacles blocking their path, no cosmic challenges to overcome. Instead, the stars had aligned in their favor, and they had found each other with an ease that seemed almost too perfect.

Hannah’s heart ached as she recalled the initial moments of their union. The joy of their reconnection had been unadulterated. Yet, as the days turned into weeks, she began to notice subtle changes in Rhamiel’s behavior. A shadow had fallen over his eyes, and he began to tell her lies, fabricating excuses for his unexplained absences.

Her memories turned bittersweet as she recalled the first time she caught a glimpse of his betrayal. It had been a fateful evening. The moon hanging low in the sky like a silent witness to their love’s unraveling. Rhamiel had whispered honeyed words to another woman, his eyes alight with a deceptive charm that had once been reserved for her alone.

The shock of the revelation had pierced Hannah’s heart like a dagger. Her world crumbled around her as the truth unfolded before her eyes. Rhamiel’s betrayal cut deep, and her soul was torn asunder. She remembered the tears that streamed down her cheeks, each one a testament to the love she had given and the trust that had been shattered.

But what had wounded her the most was Rhamiel’s reaction when confronted with his deceit. He had shifted blame onto her, his words a cruel dagger aimed at her heart. Accusations and recriminations had poured forth like a torrential rain, drowning their love in a sea of bitterness.

It was a pain etched in the annals of her being, a scar of longing that transcended the bounds of time.

“I seek to forget, Great Light,” she answered, her voice a whisper that reverberated through the boundless expanse. “To start anew, to find a love unburdened by the weight of our shared past. I understand that by taking my mortal life, I am surrendering my freedom to choose how I’m to be reborn. I leave that decision to The Light.”

The Light’s response was gentle, yet laced with a solemn warning. “But you will also forget the essence of The Endless within you… those who have gone the same path had lived in confusion, and most were driven to insanity… are you sure about your decision, Hannah? You will be reborn into a life of an ordinary mortal. You will know nothing of your powers or how to wield those powers.”

The gravity of her choice hung in the air like a lingering note of an elegy. To relinquish her memories meant surrendering the very essence of her being to the uncharted abyss of rebirth. It would be a journey fraught with uncertainty, a tapestry woven in shadows.

Once more, The Light spoke, its words a solemn decree. “You must understand, once this path is taken, there is no return. The tapestry of your existence will be reset, and the threads of your past lives shrouded in obscurity. The path to self-discovery may span more than one lifetime, and the road ahead will be fraught with challenges.”

Hannah’s chin lifted, her gaze unyielding; her resolve a beacon of determination in the face of cosmic uncertainty. “I choose this path, Great Light,“ she declared, her voice steady and unflinching. “I would rather navigate the harsh labyrinth of self-discovery than bear the eternal ache of a love lost to the sands of time.”

With her answer, the die was cast, and the decree of The Light settled upon her like a mantle. In that hallowed moment, Hannah’s soul embraced the unknown, ready to embark on a new journey through the tapestry of mortal existence, her memories veiled in shadows, her heart open to the promise of a future untethered by echoes of the past.