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One Thousand and One Dark Nights
Once upon a time, in the future…
I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.
I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and
the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast
library at my father’s home and collected thousands
of volumes of fantastic tales.
I learned all about ancient races and bygone
times. About myths and legends and dreams of all
people through the millennium. And the more I read
the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered
that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually
become part of them.
I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher
and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I
would not be telling you this tale now.
But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off
with bravery.
One afternoon, curious about the myth of the
Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to
see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar
(Persian: ??????, “king”) married a new virgin, and then
sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written
and I had read that by the time he met Scheherazade,
the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand
women.
Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived
in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged
places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had
never occurred before and that still to this day, I
cannot explain.
Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have
taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can
protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to
protect herself and stay alive.
Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.
And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a
point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.
And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that
he might hear the rest of my dark tale.
As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new
one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before
you now.
Prologue
~Zane~
“It’s all lies.” I scowl at my manager of more than twenty years as I sit across from the older man in my office. He looks tired. Frustrated.
And I can’t blame him. I feel the same way.
“Listen, Zane. This isn’t the first time in the past couple of years that you’ve had a scandal. I know being a celebrity is synonymous with—”
“Hell on Earth?” I finish for him, narrowing my eyes. I know what he’s about to suggest, and it makes me damn angry.
“Maybe,” he says with a nod. “But you’re a good actor. And before now, the tabloid scandals blew over quickly. No big deal.”
“Not this one.”
He blows out a breath. “I think it might be a good idea to lie low for a while.”
“That’ll just tell the world that I’m guilty. And I’m not.”
“Go on vacation, Zane. Take a few months off. Get the hell out of Los Angeles. You need it. I’ll handle things here.”
“I don’t like the thought of tucking my tail and running, Hugh.”
“You’re not. We can make an official statement if you’d like.”
I scrub my hand down my face. “Probably won’t matter, but yeah. Let’s do that. I’ll go up to Seattle and hang with Rina for a couple of days.”
“Months,” Hugh says. “You’ll go for months. You’re exhausted. You’re overworked. And you’ve been in the news too much lately.”
“Okay. Fine. I’m gone. I don’t have to be on set for seven months. I’ll take six of those to let this all blow over. Make it fucking blow over, Hugh.”
“That’s my job.” The other man nods then stands and leaves the office.
I take a moment to gaze around the space at the trophies and plaques. The photos. The glamorous life of an Oscar-winning actor.
Lonely. Superficial. Fake.
That’s what this is. I’ve known it for years. But it’s my life.
One that doesn’t fulfill me at all.
Maybe six months away will be good for me.
I grab my cell and call my best friend, Sabrina Harrison Demarco. I haven’t seen her since the holidays, which was more than eight months ago.
“Shit, time flies,” I mutter as I listen to the ring in my ear.
“Hey,” Rina says. “Whatcha doing?”
“I’m about to start making some arrangements. Looks like I’m coming to stay in Seattle for a while.”
“Oh. Really? I can get the guest room ready. Ben’s at the gym, but I’ll let him know.”
“I don’t think you want me in your guest room for six months.”
A long, heavy pause follows.
“What’s going on, Zane?”
“I’ll tell you all about it when I get there.”
Chapter One
~Aubrey~
I’m so glad that I drove into Seattle first thing this morning and not late last night.
I made it as far as Portland yesterday. I thought about pushing through those last few hours to get into Seattle by around ten in the evening, but I didn’t like the idea of finding my new rental in the dark.
Now, in the warm glow of the mid-morning sunshine, I’m so glad I decided to wait because the city is beautiful.
