Apparently, I’m the Apocalypse

Kael Veyron had a problem.

Actually, he had several.

He was powerless.

Something ancient and possibly insane was living inside his head.

An entire organisation apparently wanted him erased from history.

And, judging by the way his legs were shaking, he was beginning to suspect that he might have made a terrible mistake by asking the mysterious voice questions.

I am the reason your world exists.

Kael stared at the ceiling of his bedroom.

“Okay.”

Silence.

“That’s a pretty impressive introduction.”

Nothing.

“Do you have a name?”

Silence.

“An age?”

Silence.

“A favourite food?”

Are you always this irritating?

Kael sat upright.

“Oh, good. You can hear me.”

Unfortunately.

“Wonderful. We’re making progress.”

I have existed since before the birth of your civilisation.

“Congratulations.”

I have witnessed the rise and fall of kingdoms.

“Very impressive.”

I have watched gods perish.

Kael nodded.

“Yet somehow, you ended up inside a broke teenager’s head. Life really does come at you fast.”

Silence.

For several seconds, Kael wondered whether the entity had abandoned him.

Then—

I should have let the world end.

Kael grinned.

“See? We’re already bonding.”

He was beginning to like this voice.

Not because it was helpful.

Not because it was trustworthy.

But because annoying something that claimed to be older than civilisation was proving to be an excellent use of his time.

Unfortunately, the feeling didn’t last.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through his palm.

Kael gasped and grabbed his wrist.

The black mark had returned.

Seven thin lines surrounded a dark central circle, each one pulsing with a faint red light.

He stared at it.

“Right. So we’re back to the creepy hand.”

Be silent.

“Oh, now you want silence?”

Something is searching for you.

Kael stopped smiling.

“What kind of something?”

Something that should not have survived.

A cold sensation crept down his spine.

“Could you be more specific?”

No.

“Could you at least pretend to be useful?”

I could remove your ability to speak.

Kael froze.

Then he slowly covered his mouth.

The entity went quiet.

Kael waited three seconds before lowering his hand.

“That’s cheating.”

And yet, you stopped talking.

Kael stared at the ceiling.

He had officially been threatened by a supernatural voice inside his head.

Somehow, that wasn’t even the strangest thing that had happened to him in the last twenty-four hours.

He needed a holiday.

Preferably somewhere without ancient curses.

Or voices.

Or people.

Especially people.

Unfortunately, fate had apparently reviewed his preferences and decided to do the exact opposite.

A knock sounded at his bedroom door.

“Kael?”

He recognised the voice immediately.

His older sister, Elena.

“Are you awake?”

“No,” Kael replied.

There was a pause.

“Then why did you answer?”

Kael considered this.

“Sleepwalking.”

“Open the door.”

“That’s not how sleepwalking works.”

“Kael.”

“Coming.”

He got out of bed.

Before opening the door, he glanced at his palm.

The mark had disappeared again.

Good.

One less problem.

He opened the door.

Elena stood in the hallway with her arms folded. She was twenty-three, with dark hair tied into a loose ponytail and the permanently exhausted expression of someone who had spent too much time raising a younger brother.

She looked him up and down.

“You look terrible.”

“Good morning to you too.”

“Did you sleep?”

“Define sleep.”

“Kael.”

“Then no.”

Elena sighed and stepped into the room.

“I heard what happened yesterday.”

Of course she had.

The entire city had probably heard about his awakening by now.

Kael leaned against his desk.

“Let me guess. The family disappointment has officially become the family disaster?”

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Make jokes whenever something hurts you.”

Kael’s smile weakened.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Elena walked over and straightened the collar of his shirt.

“You know you don’t have to pretend you’re fine with me, right?”

Kael looked away.

That was the problem with Elena.

She noticed things.

It was extremely inconvenient.

“I’m fine,” he said.

She gave him a look.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“And you’re a terrible motivational speaker.”

“Would you prefer that I start crying?”

“Honestly? That would be a little concerning.”

Elena smacked his arm.

“Idiot.”

Kael smiled.

There it was.

For a brief moment, everything felt normal again.

Then Elena noticed his hand.

“What’s that?”

Kael’s smile disappeared.

“What?”

She reached for his wrist.

“Your palm. It looks like there’s something wrong with it.”

He pulled his hand away too quickly.

Elena frowned.

“Kael?”

“It’s nothing.”

She can see it.

The voice returned so suddenly that Kael nearly jumped.

Do not let her touch the mark.

His stomach tightened.

The mark wasn’t visible.

Was it?

Elena stepped closer.

“You’re acting strangely.”

“I’m always strange.”

“Stranger than usual.”

“That’s a hurtful thing to say to someone who’s emotionally vulnerable.”

“Kael.”

He swallowed.

Then he forced a laugh.

“I’m just tired, Elena. That’s all.”

She studied him for another moment before finally stepping back.

“Fine. But if something is wrong, tell me.”

“I will.”

It was a lie.

And judging by her expression, she knew it.

But she didn’t press him.

Instead, she reached into her pocket and placed a few folded bills on his desk.

“Buy yourself something to eat.”

Kael stared at the money.

“Where did you get this?”

“Work.”

“Elena.”

“What?”

“You haven’t been paid yet.”

She went still.

Kael looked at the money again.

Then at her.

“Did you borrow this?”

“It’s not important.”

“It is if you’re borrowing money because of me.”

“Kael, please.”

He clenched his jaw.

For the first time that morning, he couldn’t think of a single joke.

Elena had been working extra shifts for months to keep their household running. She’d spent years putting his needs before her own, and now she was giving him money she couldn’t afford to spare.

Because he’d failed.

Because he was powerless.

Because the world had decided that being ordinary was a crime.

He pushed the money back toward her.

“Keep it.”

“Kael—”

“I said keep it.”

She stared at him.

He exhaled and rubbed his face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

Elena’s expression softened.

“I know.”

She picked up the money.

Then she pulled him into a hug.

Kael stiffened.

“Elena.”

“What?”

“You’re crushing my ribs.”

“Good.”

“I think one just broke.”

“Wonderful.”

“Tell my story.”

She laughed.

And Kael, despite everything, laughed with her.

For a few seconds, the world was simply the world.

No ancient entities.

No forbidden powers.

No terrifying secrets.

Just his sister, holding him together when he couldn’t quite manage it himself.

Then Elena stepped back.

“Come downstairs. I’ve made breakfast.”

Kael followed her out.

He had absolutely no idea that someone was watching the house from across the street.

Or that the stranger had been standing there since midnight.

Or that the stranger had just received an order to kill him.

Eight minutes later.

Kael stared at the plate in front of him.

Then he stared at his sister.

Then back at the plate.

“Elena.”

She continued pouring tea.

“What?”

“Is this breakfast?”

She looked at him.

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’ve always wanted to experience what eating a building material feels like.”

Elena narrowed her eyes.

“Eat your food.”

Kael picked up his spoon.

The porridge had the consistency of wet cement.

He took a bite.

Chewed.

Swallowed.

And looked toward the ceiling.

Mother, if you’re watching over us, I would like to apologise for every terrible thing I have ever done.

Elena kicked him under the table.

“Stop making that face.”

“What face?”

“That face.”

“This is my normal face.”

“Then you need a new one.”

Kael gasped.

“That’s the second insult you’ve given me today. I’m starting to think this household is hostile.”

“Eat.”

He took another bite.

The entity suddenly spoke.

What is that?

Kael nearly choked.

He coughed into his hand.

Elena immediately looked up.

“Are you all right?”

“Perfectly.”

You appear to be consuming something resembling construction mortar.

Kael stared at his plate.

Then he burst out laughing.

He tried to stop.

He really did.

But the entity’s complete seriousness made the situation unbearable.

Elena looked at him as though he had finally lost his mind.

“Kael, what is wrong with you?”

He wiped his eyes.

“Nothing.”

Your sister is a terrible cook.

Kael slapped a hand over his mouth.

Elena stood up.

“Finish your breakfast. I’m going to work.”

Kael nodded furiously.

The moment she left the room, he leaned forward.

“You can’t say things like that!”

Why? It is an accurate observation.

“That’s my sister!”

Then perhaps you should teach her to cook.

Kael stared at the ceiling.

“I am begging you. Please don’t get me killed.”

I am not the one who prepared the food.

Kael buried his face in his hands.

He was going to die.

Not from a supernatural battle.

Not from an ancient curse.

From living with an immortal idiot.

By noon, Kael had made a decision.

He needed answers.

The mysterious mark.

The voice.

The woman who had ordered his existence erased.

And the strange vision of seven figures kneeling before an unknown throne.

He couldn’t keep pretending that everything was normal.

He also couldn’t afford to sit around waiting for someone to explain it to him.

Which meant there was only one place to start.

The Royal Academy’s public archives.

If there was any information about the eighth existence, he would find it there.

Or get arrested trying.

Either way, it would be more productive than arguing with the voice in his head.

Kael grabbed his jacket and left the house.

He made it three streets before he realised someone was following him.

He slowed down.

The footsteps behind him slowed too.

He crossed the road.

The footsteps followed.

He stopped outside a bakery.

The footsteps stopped.

Kael stared at the shop window.

A man stood behind him, dressed in a long grey coat.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Face hidden beneath a dark hood.

Kael sighed.

“Listen, if you’re here to sell me something, I’m broke.”

The man said nothing.

“If you’re here to recruit me into a secret organisation, I’m also broke.”

Still nothing.

“And if you’re here to kill me, could you give me five minutes? I haven’t had lunch.”

The man slowly raised his head.

Two pale symbols glowed beneath the hood.

Kael’s smile vanished.

Move.

The voice inside his head had never sounded like that before.

Not amused.

Not irritated.

Afraid.

Kael barely had time to react.

The stranger disappeared.

A violent gust swept across the street.

Something struck Kael in the chest and sent him crashing through the bakery’s wooden door.

He hit the floor hard.

The shopkeeper screamed.

Kael groaned.

“Okay,” he wheezed. “That’s one way to enter a business.”

The stranger stepped through the shattered doorway.

People fled.

The shopkeeper disappeared behind the counter.

Kael scrambled backward.

“What do you want?”

The stranger tilted his head.

“Your existence is forbidden.”

Kael blinked.

“That’s a little dramatic.”

“You must be erased.”

“Have you considered therapy?”

The stranger raised one hand.

Dark energy gathered around his fingers.

Kael’s blood ran cold.

Listen carefully, the entity said. You cannot defeat this creature.

“Great. Wonderful. Love the encouragement.”

You have approximately three seconds.

“Three seconds to do what?”

Survive.

The stranger lunged.

Kael threw himself sideways.

The attack struck the floor, splitting the wooden boards apart.

Kael scrambled to his feet.

“HEY! THAT WAS EXPENSIVE!”

The shopkeeper screamed from behind the counter.

“GET OUT OF MY SHOP!”

Kael pointed at the stranger.

“HE STARTED IT!”

The stranger turned toward him.

Kael immediately regretted speaking.

The second attack came faster.

He saw the dark energy gathering.

He tried to move.

Too slow.

Something inside him snapped awake.

The world stopped.

A drop of water hung motionless in the air.

Fragments of shattered wood froze above the floor.

The stranger stood perfectly still, his hand inches from Kael’s face.

Kael couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t move.

But he could hear the voice.

Interesting.

Kael’s eyes widened.

“Interesting?!”

You have activated a fraction of the power.

“WHAT FRACTION?!”

An extremely small one.

Kael stared at the frozen attacker.

“Can I have a larger fraction?”

No.

“WHY NOT?”

Because you would die.

Kael looked at the stranger’s motionless face.

Then back at the invisible presence inside his head.

“Right. Fair enough.”

The world shuddered.

The frozen raindrops began to move.

The stranger’s eyes widened.

For the first time, he looked afraid.

He stumbled backward.

“No…”

Kael stared at him.

“What?”

The stranger looked at Kael’s hand.

The black mark had returned.

Seven thin lines surrounded the dark circle.

But this time, something else was happening.

A faint eighth line was beginning to form.

The stranger dropped to one knee.

His entire body trembled.

“No,” he whispered again. “It can’t be.”

Kael glanced at the mark.

Then at the kneeling man.

Then at the ruined bakery.

He sighed.

“Look, mate, I don’t know what you’re seeing, but if you’re about to start worshipping me, could you do it outside? The owner is already having a difficult day.”

The stranger raised his head.

His voice cracked.

“Forgive me.”

Kael blinked.

“What?”

“I didn’t know who you were.”

The stranger pressed his forehead against the broken floor.

Kael took a cautious step backward.

“Okay. This is officially getting weird.”

Agreed, the entity replied.

For once, Kael was delighted that they agreed on something.

Then the stranger whispered a name.

A name Kael had never heard before.

A name that made the voice inside his head fall completely silent.

“Lord Azael.”

Kael frowned.

“Who?”

The stranger looked up.

And smiled.

Not with relief.

Not with gratitude.

With terror.

“Your executioner.”

The black mark on Kael’s hand burned.

The voice returned.

But this time, it wasn’t speaking to Kael.

It was speaking to someone else.

“You have made a terrible mistake.”

The stranger began to shake.

And somewhere beneath the Royal Academy, a second throne cracked.