“The Darklings?” A trail of burning tears, one by one, flow down my cheek. I try my best to whip them away. Each one keeps coming. Another and another. I didn’t want to cry, but there was a part of it that felt so damn familiar. It was pulling at every ounce of my soul. How could I push down the gut-wrenching feeling? It was impossible. Completely. Utterly. Impossible.Through the sniffles, I attempt to focus. It was essential to find out what was going on with me. “Wait, I have heard of those… in my books.”“I am sure you have.” Raquel rolls his eyes. “The human version, I am sure.”Tucking a curl behind my ear, I stare at the floor, knowing he is probably right.“Well, tell me about the Darklings.” For a moment, I pause before looking up into his deep blue eyes, hoping for answers. “Your side of the story.”Raquel looks me up and down and defiantly shakes his head no. “I think you have been through enough for one night.” “Oh, come on, Raquel!” I fuss with exasperation. “It can’t
“The World of the Unknown. A book to die for.”My mother used to tell me stories of Vampires, Werewolves, Demons, the Orramoths, and the worst of them all, the Darklings. Most of the creatures she told me they blew out of proportion. She said writers did this to make a dollar or two, and some did it to scare the shit out of their kids and make them listen.&nb
Prologue: The world has changed now. Nothing is as it once was. The humans live in the dark, using the moon as their only source of light. The sun has abandoned them, leaving only chaos and what many humans have described as the word Armageddon. The only time the sun casts through the Earth's surface is once a decade. The humans consider it a delicacy, for it is just a small taste of what they used to have. Life, death, night, and day. They are all decided by me and me alone. The question has always been, "Why would I have chosen such an undesirable fate for the living?" My answer, "I did it for him. I did it because he is mine, and I am eternally his."Chapter One The Call Heart-wrenching screams expel from my burning lungs. The flannel sheet is soaking with sweat, and my heart is pounding against my chest. One more breath could make the difference between dying in peace or living another day to suffer through the same nightmare that I have dealt with for the last seven da
Deeply staring into my eyes is a pair of the darkest sets of sapphire blue that I have ever seen and a set of lips smirking devilishly towards me. Just staring at him takes my breath away. I cannot seem to move or speak. My legs and arms become paralyzed. I probably look like a fucking fool.What the hell! This is freaking embarrassing! Why can't I break from his stare?He strums his finger across his parted lips and watches me with amusement. Oh, come on. Say something... anything. This is embarrassing as hell!A sound I have never heard before lullabies through my ears. It reaches to the depths of my soul. It is nothing I have ever compared to. It is sweet and angelic, yet terrifying at the same time. It is terrifying because I know just from the sound of his voice, I will never be the same again. He hums within my ear, "It is nice to find you finally, you, Katrina."The room spirals around me, taunting me with his odd comment and tempting lips. "It is nice to find you, finally, yo
I glance back and forth at the scattered cars, trucks, and motorcycles in the dark. The dark has a way of playing tricks on me sometimes, but I know exactly where I usually parked my car... two cars down from the security pole light for protection when I leave late hours of the night.Next to the pole light, I look around, but the only thing left is an empty glass beer bottle and cigarette buds. "Where the hell is my car! I need to get away before anyone else exits out of the glass door. Before he does!” I know I am running out of time, but I have come across one major problem, I scan everywhere, even in the places I never park. Roughly, I run my hands through my disheveled hair and tremble in shock. "It's gone. It’s fucking gone.""Where is my car!" I scream out loud. “Who the hell has the fucking balls to steal my car!” Rage pours through my bones, knowing I am doomed. I cannot afford another car, let alone money for a taxi ride home.Pools of tears fall into the palms of my hands
Gradually my eyes flutter open to the morning sun blazing through the windows. It burns at first. Not ready to get up, I close them back again and roll onto my side while pulling my pillow against my chest. I always hold my pillow in the mornings. It is the one comfort I look forward to and cherish as a part of my daily ritual.When I squeeze my pillow, I realize something is… off. My pillow isn’t lumpy. The fabric brushes smoothly along the side of my face. Come to think of it; even the sheets feel... different. I feel like I am laying upon pure Charmeuse silk, each part of the fabric gliding across my skin. “I must be still dreaming.” I think to myself and cover back up.My full-sized bed is the same place I have laid upon since I was a child. The mattress is the same, so I know this could only be nothing more than a wonderful dream. Too bad, though, I could get used to waking up like this. I could only imagine having the wealth to afford such luxuries. “But why does it seem so rea
The stranger's knees bump against the back of my back bare legs, showing me just how close he is. Shivers run down my body, causing my nipples to harden. I cover my breast and clit the best I can, but I know he is still right against my ass. I look back to the bed for a sheet, but he has removed it. “Are you kidding me?” Ever so gently, he brushes the curls of my hair away from my neck and inhales my scent. “Mmm, you smell lovely this morning.” There was no way possible he was going to take me from behind. In a blink, I whip around and face him. My natural reflexes surprise me by the speed I pull off. I blow my frizzy chestnut hair from my face. The stranger is standing in front of me, smiling with deep, hungry eyes. “I am nothing more than a game to him! Common sense, Katrina! Start using it, or the battle is over before it begins!”"Hello, my love. You are a sight for sore eyes. Did you sleep well?" He asks, then stares at my nipples. "Mmm, it seems you did."“Where did the shee
"So, you think, offering me only sweet words from your precious tongue will be enough to earn your clothes back?" He asks as he licks his lips hungrily.Bargaining such a promise may not be a powerful gesture too many, but I may have a chance to him. The second I had made the offer, his body momentarily relaxed, and the grasps of his cool fingers around my waist side lightened up enough to help me back away. “How do you believe that is so, Katrina? Words are just nothing more than words. Nothing more.”“Oh, come on. Even you don't believe that.”“Oh,” He crosses his eyebrows and tries to come closer. “How are you so sure?”“Because words affect everyone. Especially when used… appropriately.”“Careful, Katrina. Don't push your luck with him.”He stares me up and down from head to toe and thinks for a moment.“Hmm, true. You are right, Katrina.”Gently, he tucks my hair behind my ear, causing chills to spread my spine. He leans in and whispers, grazing his lips against my ear.“Words can