“I NEED MORE! WOW! Okay, K. N. Corwin has created a dark, beautiful, intriguing, complex, frightening world here.” —Mystique Roberts
From the Publisher: “My name is Arianna Riddler. I never expected to be writing this. Living in a small mountain town, I had my dog and everything finally seemed to be falling into place. I had a nice home, a small cabin—a place to clear my head after my mother’s recent passing.
But then I started seeing things. Weird things. Things that don’t make sense. And one day my dog freaked and dragged me through the forest, only to dig up this random box. The instant I opened it, I was caught in the eye of a storm. I blacked out.
When I woke up, nothing looked familiar. I found myself surrounded by strangers. They’re all talking about this prophecy, and this Darkness…hinting that I am the one the Darkness wants. Not to mention the army of undead, soulless, fantastical creatures they claim are stalking the place.
Well. Now I’m terrified.
I’m left with a choice. Fight, or flee? And if I run… where do I go?”
More info About the Author: K. N. Corwin lives in the mountains of the Laurel Highlands in southwestern Pennsylvania, with her intended and a little fur abyss named Wizard. When she isn’t in service to the crown, K. N. Corwin passes time convincing herself it’s time to write… drinking wine, and eating charcuterie.
May it also be known that she is prone to crossing oceans for love, and trekking through marshy highlands in leaky shoes.
Just short of an hour later, we bid Mags farewell and started making our way back to the cottage. The children ran ahead like normal, and Adelle walked steadily beside me, her footfalls quiet and monotonous. We didn’t talk much.
Honestly? I was rather content with it. It allowed me to process at least some of what I’d witnessed over the past twelve hours.
The wind whistled as it swept through my hair, whispering great and terrible secrets. I noticed storm clouds sweeping in over the horizon, so I picked up my pace a bit, glancing over at Adelle.
“Aye, there be storm clouds, but we’ve plenty o’ time t’ get home.” Adelle assured.
I simply nodded, drawing in a breath. I felt a bit weak after what had occurred, and didn’t want to drain my energy reserves any more by aimless chatter. Casting my eyes around the stunning valley, I drank in its infinite radiance.
Though the air of deep mystery here was quite alluring, something still felt off. A nervous tick sitting in the epicenter of my consciousness. Even before hearing the so-called prophecy, it moved in my bones so clearly, so undeniably.
So much beauty here, yet…
I knew if I did not remove myself from the manic cycle my thoughts impetuously forced upon me, I would soon wish for death. Anything was better than this torture.
Adelle broke our silence.
“Are y’ feeling alright?” She inquired.
I paused and assessed, drawing in a breath. Nervous, yes. But even still…I felt okay. Besides, the beauty that surrounded us left me awestruck, and I wanted nothing more than to be out in it.
“Yeah, this is all just very new to me.” I replied, peering around.
Adelle nodded. “I know. I promise y’ I won’t lead y’ astray.”
She took two rather large steps and caught up to me, grasping my shoulder gently. I met her gaze and nodded. I knew she could be trusted. Something about her caused me to never even question her intentions anymore.
We followed course through the village, then veered off at a fork about a half a mile from its perimeter. Taking the path to the right, my mind still bantered on. Soon, we found ourselves at the edge of the forest.
The children were so far ahead we couldn’t even see them anymore. Adelle paused, resting a hand on my forearm.
“I need t’ run ahead and make sure they’re alright. Do y’ mind?”
She searched my eyes for any hint of anxiety. I gave her no signs. Hell, we weren’t that far from the house.
“Not at all, go do your thing. I’m quite enjoying this walk. I’ll see you back there.”
She smiled, set down the basket with the cream and eggs, and pulled me in for a hug. I gasped slightly as she squeezed me tight.
“A’right. Thank y’ dear.”
She released me, and picked up the basket, picking up her pace as fast as her short little legs would carry her. I picked up speed as well, but only very slightly. I wanted to relish every moment of this.
The sun was beginning its venerable descent, and glorious gold and red streaks dashed across the ever-dimming sky, leaving only the deep and brilliant cerulean night above in their wake. The storm clouds, ominous as they were with their shadowed, dark tones, hovered in place in the distance. I almost failed to realize that nervous tick as I followed the path alongside the rim of the forest, lost as I was in my inquisitive nature.
The bark of the pines took on a purple hue in the fading light, and the soft brush whispered under my feet, enticing me further. Always a new adventure, it seemed I was forever pondering just what lies around the next forbidden bend. The soft light trickled in through the edge of the tree line, and I could see fine silver streaks from the rising moon begin to weave their way through the forest.
“This is so beautiful.” I breathed aloud, lost for other words.
The path turned into the trees, and I furrowed my brows. None of this looked familiar.
Is this the way back?
I wandered further into the forest, unable to help feeling deeply drawn to the heart of the woods. On and on I crept, for hours it seemed, but by the time I noticed how far I’d actually been walking alone, it couldn’t have been too long. The moon was still hanging over the horizon, and it had only just started to appear after Adelle and I parted.
A rustle of branches behind me caught my attention. I whipped around, but was immediately disappointed, for nothing presented itself. Frozen, I remained still as stone, waiting for something to come barreling out of my peripheral vision.
And yet…there was nothing.
I spied a break in the trees. I started walking faster, feeling unsettled despite the moon’s overt presence.
A shadow of movement flickered on the edge of my vision. My eyes darted to the left. I froze, instantly paralyzed by a pair of large, onyx eyes. Waves of shock and fear crashed through me as I beheld a being of unfathomable beauty and terror. Try as I might to attempt even the twitch of a finger, I couldn’t. I was spellbound.
The being stood close to seven feet tall, and its skin beheld the same dark sheen as its abysmal eyes. Huge black wings descended towards the earth, adorned by feathers so large and blue-black, it might have stolen them from ravens. Its head was naked like the rest of its body. I drank all this in, unable to tear my eyes away.
One blink, and it vanished. My heart pounded in my chest like a powerful war drum, and with shaking hands I tore through the forest to its visible edge. It only took five minutes to get back to the perimeter. By this point the sun had set. I broke through the trees and gazed up to the sky, immediately nauseated as my eyes rested on a blood-soaked moon.
A terribly unsettling vision overcame me.
Blood-curdling screams resounded throughout the valley. Corpses of creatures from every race littered the earth. There were fallen elves, gnomes, werewolves, angels, demons, fae, even some of the trees. There was blood everywhere I looked, and I could see no sign of the culprit. All of a sudden, the creatures would convulse and start to hemorrhage, spattering blood everywhere.
Why were they all dying?
One small, nude creature with hollow black eyes fixated on me. Long, tattered purple wings cascaded down its back, and open wounds oozing pitch black blood littered its gruesome form. We locked eyes. I wrenched my mouth open to cry out but found myself mute in unshakeable desolation. The creature extended a clawed, slate hand and opened its wretched mouth as if to shriek.
The moment that followed left it writhing on the earthen floor, choking on its own blood. I wished for nothing more desperately than to turn and run from this callous place…and yet, still, I could not move.
A flash of light hurtled me back into my current reality. I fell to the ground and sobbed, completely unable to comprehend what I had just seen. There were no words to describe the feeling of utter devastation I’d just experienced.
My quaking breath dragged my solar plexus down into the pit of my stomach. All I could do was lie there, nearly incapacitated. For how long, I am unsure, but at last I was able to pry open my eyes. With a deep, shaking breath I gazed up to the sky.
The moon no longer shone a shade of dark crimson. Instead, it glimmered blue now, its indigo glow a welcome change to the vision I had just beheld. I blinked my eyes, perplexed, and lay on the ground for a few more minutes, trying to take deep, calming breaths. When I eventually decided I better get going, it was tough. Rising to my feet was nearly impossible. Somehow, clumsily, I managed, and hobbled my way back to the cottage. It took much longer this time.
As I approached the cottage, some of my terror began to wane. I opened the wooden door, and was greeted by a calm, yet powerful energy flowing throughout the house. I could almost see it, weaving webs of blue and silver—reminiscent of the soft light of the moon which guided me home.
“Arianna, is that you?” Adelle inquired.
“Yeah, it’s me,” I replied, my voice a bit husky and soft.
“Are y’ alright?” She asked cautiously.
I stumbled into the kitchen. The second Adelle laid eyes on me, she rushed to my side.
“What happened?”
I grabbed her arm and slowly made my way to the table, collapsing into one of the sturdy wooden chairs. I took a few slow, deep breaths, attempting to collect myself, but the breathwork was futile. All I could see when I closed my eyes was that fae with its hollow, dismal eyes pulling me deeper and deeper into its abyss, and those creatures asphyxiating, strangulated by their own blood.
Adelle clamped a hand on my shoulder and lowered to eye level. She peered deep into my eyes, and the look of concern and understanding in hers was undeniable.
“Tell me what y’ saw.”
I was still shaking from the experience. It took everything I had to get myself together but finally, after a few more calming breaths, I was able to speak.
“There was…something in the forest,” I breathed.
“Aye, I know y’ saw somethin’, what was it?” She questioned.
I tried to wrap my brain around it.
“It—it was this tall, like, dark-skinned being, with wings…its eyes were pitch black and it had to be close to seven feet tall…agh…” I sputtered.
I couldn’t tell her about the vision. I just couldn’t.
Adelle nodded.
“Aye. It seems you’ve met a member of the Aphoti.”
Her solemn tone was anything but comforting.
“Aphoti?” I inquired.
Adelle nodded. “Aye. They…are th’ fleet of beings who steal th’ souls of innocent beings. To use for their master’s own gain.”
I twisted even tighter inside, unable to shake the vision of all the fallen creatures. A vacant stare loomed in my eyes.
“That…wasn’t all I saw.” I stammered.
Realization struck Adelle like a flash of lightning. Her next words were more serious than ever.
“I am so sorry I left y’ out there alone. I never should have. From now on, I or Darren will never leave your side. I promise.”
She gazed at me with concern in her eyes. After a moment she spoke again. My heart locked in my chest, and I had so many more questions I couldn’t even think straight.
But one rang out louder than the rest.
Darren?
This excerpt is published here courtesy of the author and should not be reprinted without permission.
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