Dark World
Danielle Q. Lee
ISBN 978-0-9865680-4-6
Copyright © 2011 by Danielle Q. Lee at Smashwords
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. And any resemblance to actual persons, living, dead (or in any other form), business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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For Lea,
thank you for being there for me and helping me bring Dark World to life.
Who is this irresistible creature who has an
insatiable love for the dead?
Living Dead Girl.
Rob Zombie
Part One
Scarlet
Eve of Fate
“Where are you hiding?” Scarlet whispered, searching the dark horizon. Palms and forehead pressed against the cool glass, she sighed, her warm breath captured on the pane. Only visible on the clearest of nights was her favorite constellation—the Phoenix. She peered into the darkness, Edmonton’s city lights glaring back at her.
Soon part of the cluster came into focus, sparkling from millions of miles away. Even though she couldn’t see the entire sequence, Scarlet smiled, satisfied with just a peek.
Already October, a chill lingered in the air, foreshadowing the onslaught of snow. She didn’t mind though, stars were easier to see in the winter sky.
Gentle nuzzling against her calf, followed by a quiet mewl, pulled Scarlet from her hypnotic stare.
“Well, hello Miss Seraphine,” she said, sweeping the fluffy feline into her arms. The Persian’s eyes narrowed, her slit-like irises submerging into a pool of ocean blue, purring as she pressed her face to Scarlet’s cheek.
“Oh kitty, can you believe my dream is really coming true?” Anxiety trickled through her stomach. Was she ready for this? She’d dreamed of this moment for two years. And now, it was finally happening.
With the sound of approaching steps in the hall, Seraphine stiffened, leapt from Scarlet’s arms, and pressing her stomach to the floor, crawled under the bed.
The door flung wide open. Hands fanning her face, Shelby strolled across the room with the poise of an old-fashioned debutante.
“Well, Miss Scarlet, I do declare, there’s finally goin’ to be a rooster in the henhouse,” Scarlet’s best friend announced with a Southern drawl.
There were times, like now, that Scarlet wished her parents hadn’t named her after the spoiled Southern belle from Gone With the Wind. It was just plain annoying.
“Quiet! My mom will hear you,” Scarlet warned, a heat rising to her cheeks. “I’m not allowed to date yet, remember?”
Shelby’s dark-brown eyes rolled. “You’re almost seventeen for goodness sake, when is that woman going to lighten up? At this rate, you’ll end up a forty-year-old virgin!”
Scarlet winced at the word virgin and decided to change the topic. Flicking her long brown hair off her shoulders, she closed the door behind Shelby, then walked to her stereo. “Wanna listen to the new tunes I downloaded to my iPod?”
Shelby shook her head. “Nope, come on, spill it. How’d he ask?”
Blushing, Scarlet moved to the bed and sat down. Shelby followed suit. She then relived the moment he asked her out and her heart picked up pace.
Rory Dean.
His name alone elicited a wave of tingles up her spine.
A shy smile tugged at Scarlet’s lips as she readied to divulge the juicy details. “Well, you know how I have a spare between Biology and Latin?” She grabbed Shelby’s hands and held them excitedly, beginning her story. “He must have been waiting for me outside the classroom and…”
Scarlet’s bedroom door burst open, revealing her older brother in all his self-adoring glory. Dressed in his gym clothes, she surmised he was just leaving for a workout.
“Hi Greg,” Shelby blurted, dropping Scarlet’s hands and turning pink.
Scarlet tossed him an irate look. “Do you mind?”
He grinned at Shelby, relishing the female attention. His expression turned arctic as his gaze shifted to his sister. “Shut up, Sticks. Do you have the car keys?”
Her jaw tightened. She hated when he called her that. While it was true she’d been too skinny when she was younger, she felt she’d filled out nicely over the last year or so.
She snatched the keys from her night table and launched them at his face, hoping to gouge an eye or stab a nostril. “Now piss off!”
“Wow, cranky!” Greg sneered at his sister, then left, slamming the door behind him.
Scarlet opened her mouth to continue gushing about Rory, but paused when she saw a pout marring Shelby’s lips.
“What?”
“It really bugs me when you talk to him like that.” Her normally bright eyes dimmed. “Rory is your crush…Greg is mine.”
Bewildered by Shelby’s interest in her brother, Scarlet apologized, “I’m sorry Shell, I’ll try to be more considerate.”
Excitement returned to Shelby’s eyes. “Okay, tell me more about Rory!”
“Okay, well, he must have been waiting for me to get out of class because he was standing by the lockers when I walked out.” Scarlet wound a ribbon of her long, mouse-brown hair around her finger as she spoke. “He said, ‘Hey Scarlet, you wanna see a movie with me tomorrow night?’ and I seriously almost fainted.”
“Oh my god! That’s so awesome!” Shelby squealed, burying her face into one of the decorative pillows on Scarlet’s bed. After she composed herself, she asked, “Which movie are you going to see?”
Scarlet paused, responding with a nervous laugh, “I have no idea!”
Erupting into a fit of giggles, the two girls then sprawled out onto the bed and basked in the moment.
“Scarlet Prince,” Shelby began with a sigh, “you are one lucky girl.”
Scarlet had to agree, though, she wondered why Rory had taken such a sudden interest in her. He hadn’t said more than two words to her the whole two years they’d attended high school.
I don’t care, I’m just happy he decided to ask me out now.
“What are you going to wear?” Shelby narrowed her eyes at Scarlet’s open closet.
Scarlet shook her head, stating for the second time that night, “I have no idea.”
Arms wrapped around her library books, Scarlet scanned the hallway with a disquiet flutter in her chest. Tonight was the night of the big date and she wasn’t even sure she could go through with it. Not because she didn’t like Rory, quite the opposite, but because she’d been a nervous wreck ever since he’d asked her out. After so much time admiring him from afar, she couldn’t believe this was actually happening.
She’d never been on a date, what if she messed it up? Then he’d never want to see her again. Her steps slowed, her mind whirling with worry. What does this date mean? Were they just going out on a date? Or were they going out? Like boyfriend and girlfriend? How was she to know? How was she to ask?
What if he only wanted—she shoved the thought away. She wasn’t ready for that. No way. Besides, her mother would kill her if she did.
Scarlet continued her trek to the library, still attempting to quell the butterflies multiplying in her stomach. In a way, she hoped she wouldn’t run into him at all, she’d probably just end up babbling like an idiot. With a sigh, she realized that the entire date might turn out poorly. Her nerves were almost certainly going to get the best of her.
She turned into the entrance of the library, colliding with a freshman as he exited.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, his pimply face enflaming as he ogled her chest. Rushing past her, he turned and scurried down the hall with all the grace of Mr. Bean.
That’s going to be me tonight, I just know it. Just some nerd with a crush.
Pushing the library door open, Scarlet’s fretting vanished the moment she entered into her element. A wave of tranquility embraced her with the sight and scent of books.
Her books made a loud clunk as she placed them into the return bin. From her perch behind the desk, the librarian, Miss Collins, gave her an appreciative glance. Scarlet always thought she was pretty cool for an adult. Far from the stereotypical old, bespectacled spinster, she’d sport a new and fantastic hair color every other month or so, dark purple being a perennial favorite. Probably in her mid-twenties, she could have passed for a senior in the crowded high school, what with her silver lip ring and the blue butterfly tattoo on her shoulder. Scarlet made a mental note that she should get a piercing of some kind. A respectable one, of course. Considering a librarian wore one and all, it couldn’t be that risqué.
She took a sweeping glance around, Miss Collins’ rebellious Dewey Decimal system in full display. Instead of the traditional form of organization, the eccentric librarian had chosen to separate the classics and new-age fiction.
To Scarlet’s left was the vintage novel section, timeless tales of romance, hardship, and inspiration. The antiquated voices of Dickens, Austin, and Carroll calling her to re-read their adventures.
On her right, the world of modern fiction offered a plethora of paranormal mysteries, thrillers, and fantasies. Spectacular stories about boy wizards, secret aliens hiding on Earth, and sparkly vampires in love.
Although enthusiastic about literature, it was not Scarlet’s first love.
Astronomy.
Stars, planets, and just that big black space overhead were her greatest obsessions. The infatuation began when she was five. Given her first telescope on Christmas morning, there it stood in all its glory, just waiting to unveil the secrets of the universe to her.
Her world just made so much sense when daylight was gobbled up by the vast shadow of space. While she loved the clouds and the sea of blue overhead, nothing could compete with the Milky Way and its spray of illuminated diamonds across the galaxy.
Scarlet made her way to the science section like she was on a mission. She knew the exact location of her favorite book: Mythology and the Stars. It described the locations and configurations of star patterns in which the ancient Romans used to conjure their gods and goddesses. Though she’d borrowed it from the library too many times to count, it never ceased to lure her to read it again. She ran a meticulous finger over several book bindings, then frowned when she realized it was gone.
Sighing, she resigned to satiate herself with a large hardcover on the Big Bang Theory. A quick glance around the busy library however, proved fruitless for a place to sit.
The floor it is.
Scarlet crossed her legs and sunk to the floor, the open book resting on her knees.
She had no idea how long she’d been sitting there, lost within the minds of Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Carl Sagan, when she suddenly became aware of a presence looming over her.
“Is this seat taken?”
Scarlet craned her neck, following a pair of jeans-clad legs to the top. Her face burned when she realized who it was.
Rory.
A flurry of fresh nerves rolled through her stomach as she waved an unsteady hand over the space of floor beside her. Not wanting him to see what she was reading she slammed the large astronomy book shut, consequently blowing a hefty draft of air into her face, sending her hair flying back. Quickly pulling off her glasses and tucking the flyaway strands behind her ears, she tried her best not to look as nauseated as she felt.
“What are you reading?”
He reached to take the book off her lap, his hand grazing the inside of her thigh in the process. Her mouth, now completely devoid of saliva, dropped open at his touch. A delicious, musky scent wafted from him, leaving her light-headed and somehow less intelligent.
“No, I mean, it’s just…something for science class,” she stammered, wishing she hadn’t picked such a geeky book. As far as she knew, guys didn’t particularly like girls with nerdy interests. At least, that’s what the teen magazines suggested.
“Hmmm…” A playful smirk pulled at his lips while he flipped through the pages. “Very interesting.”
“Interesting?” Scarlet repeated breathily, resisting the urge to run her hands through his wavy, blonde hair.
“Yah, I never pegged you for an astronomer,” he stated, giving her a winning smile that made her stomach drop. “I guess that’s another thing we have in common.”
“What? You? You’re into…astronomy?” She raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Nodding, he continued to peruse the pages with vague interest. A moment later, he suggested, “Maybe after the movie, we can go out to my favorite stargazing spot.”
“Yes! That would be wonderful!”
“Great!”
Upon standing, he offered her his hand and she accepted, clumsily pulling herself up. Scarlet winced as her left leg prickled, announcing it was totally asleep. She tried to stand still, pursing her lips into an awkward smile. Normally, if her leg was to fall asleep, she couldn’t help but shake it and whine until it was awake, but since she was attempting to appear cool, she just stood there and squirmed, enduring it.
His eyebrows furled, eyeing her up and down. “Do you…have to go to the washroom?”
Horror, sheer horror, swept over her. Hot blood raced to her face and she contemplated running out of the room in similar fashion to the zitty, red-haired kid she’d bumped into earlier.
“Um…no, my leg…it’s asleep.” If there was a hole in the general vicinity, Scarlet would have crawled into it—and died.
With a grin, Rory helped her to a nearby chair. She rubbed her leg with her hand and silently cursed herself for acting like a doorknob. Chin down and hair veiling her face, she avoided raising her head to look at him.
He’s probably trying to think of a way to get out of the date tonight.
She stared at the floor, numb with humiliation. Between the narrow slats of her mousy brown hair, she saw him kneel before her. He reached out, cradling her chin within his palm, and gently lifted her face to meet his gaze. The warmth of his hand made her woozy, but it was nothing compared to the way he made her feel when his blue eyes locked with hers.
“Scarlet,” he started, tucking her hair behind her ears and leaning closer to her, his hot breath feathering her face. “I’ve wanted to take you out for a very long time…”
Only inches away, he tilted her chin up further and before she knew it his soft, warm lips were pressed against hers. Electricity surged through her body. Her head swam with delicious dizziness.
She was wandering in a perfect dream. A fairy tale.
My first kiss…was from Rory Dean.
Great Expectations
“Is Shelby picking you up tonight?” Scarlet’s mother inquired, glancing back at her daughter as she stirred a steaming pot of noodles on the stove. Already paranoid of getting caught, Scarlet was certain she saw a flash of suspicion cross her mother’s eyes.
“No, I’m, uh, going to meet her there, I’m just driving myself,” Scarlet stammered.
Rory had offered to pick her up, but considering her mother’s adamant rules against dating, Scarlet convinced him to meet her at the theater.
“I don’t want you out too late, sweetie. Okay?” Her mother turned her head in Scarlet’s direction to give her the I-mean-it eyes, waving a dripping plastic spoon haphazardly in her daughter’s direction. “You know what night it is.”
“Don’t worry, mom, nothing’s going to happen to me.” Scarlet fought the urge to roll her eyes.
Ironically, she already knew she was going to be late. Rory had invited her to go stargazing after the movie, she couldn’t say no to that.
I’ll deal with the consequences later…he’s worth it.
“Hello my gorgeous girls,” her father’s cheery voice embraced the kitchen.
“Hi Daddy,” Scarlet smiled, rising and hugging him. His dark brown hair, spackled with silver, was matted to his head from a long day under a hard hat. Slivers of sawdust loitered on his broad shoulders, the bane of a hard-working carpenter.
“Hi honey,” her mother called back as she fished out a spaghetti noodle and tested it for doneness. “How was work?”
“Oh good,” he answered with a sigh, indicating that it wasn’t that great, but didn’t really want to go into it. “And yours?”
“Good, I have to go out to Mrs. Dempsey’s house this evening and change her dressings.” Being a respite nurse, she often worked odd hours.
Her father then turned towards his daughter. “And you, Miss Scarlet? How was your day?”
She nodded. “It was good,” she echoed their sentiments, though, in reality, her day had been outstanding, having been kissed by Rory and all. But being that she wasn’t allowed to date, she felt mildly dismayed that she couldn’t share it with them.
“Shall we have a movie and popcorn night?” her dad asked, stealing a cookie from the cupboard with one hand and shushing Scarlet with the other.
“Scarlet is going out with Shelby tonight,” her mother answered, catching him with the cookie and flinging her test noodle at his head. Her dad ducked, leaving the perfectly al dente noodle to stick to the wall behind him.
“Shelby?” Greg wandered into the kitchen at just the right moment, a crude smirk painted across his face. “I’m gonna get me some of that.”
Scarlet bristled, glaring at him as he sat across from her at the table. “Shut up, Greg, she doesn’t want whatever diseases you might have from the last hundred girls.”
He grinned wider.
“Guys,” her father warned, then looked genuinely disappointed. “Oh…well, maybe we can hang out tomorrow night.” His blue eyes widened, realization dawning. “But tonight is…”
“She knows, she has to be back early.” Her mother’s tone almost made Scarlet change her mind about tonight. Almost. “Right, young lady?”
“Yes mother,” Scarlet replied, “I promise I won’t be late.”
Guilt trickled through her. Scarlet hated lying to her parents. They came by their paranoia honestly. October was notorious for kidnappings in the Edmonton area. Not every year, but too many to go unnoticed. Strangely, it almost always occurred in threes. Three teens in just one night.
Except the first time. Sybil Kavanagh. That’s where the craziness began.
In the early 1900s, Sybil went missing from her home in the middle of the night. The only items the police recovered were her clothes and jewelry, found in an undisclosed location. The papers speculated she’d been part of some kind of Satanic cult, but it was never confirmed by authorities.
Sadly, one year to the day of his sister’s disappearance, her only brother, Vincent, mysteriously vanished as well. Their parents were completely devastated. Their mother wound up in a mental hospital, while their father took to the bottle. Candlelit vigils were still held on the anniversary of Sybil and her brother’s disappearances, even though they occurred almost a century ago.
The disappearances continued, leaving a community gripped in terror. No one knew why. Or how. They only knew the day. October 1st, by the light of a full moon.
With help from the internet, the police discovered Edmonton wasn’t alone in their plight, hundreds of cities all over the world were experiencing the same phenomenon. Kids going missing on the same night. Almost always in threes. Their bodies never found.
Her mom set a plate of spaghetti before each of them. Scarlet wound the noodles around her fork and filed them into her mouth. Courtesy of the new and unsettling ambiance, her food had been rendered tasteless despite the flavor sliding past her tongue.
An uncomfortable hush fell over the table, a century of superstition and legend thickening the air. No one had to say the words out loud. She already knew what they were thinking.
Today was October 1st—and there was a full moon.
After supper, standing before her closet, Scarlet sighed and inspected her lack of options. “What the heck am I going to wear?”
She posed the question to Seraphine lounging regally on the bed, who in turn raised a single, lazy eyelid in her owner’s direction. Scarlet leafed through a few old dresses, then decided to call Shelby for some advice.
Quickly grabbing her cell phone and pressing her best friend’s number, she waited for her to answer. Scarlet tapped her foot and paced the room, enduring what felt like an endless stream of rings. “Hey Chickie! You excited or what?!” Shelby’s exuberant voice responded, obviously aware of her caller’s identity, courtesy of call display.
“Sort of,” Scarlet replied wryly. “I need help…what the heck should I wear?”
“No problemo, I’ll be there ASAP.” Shelby giggled and hung up, leaving Scarlet to gape at her cell phone. Momentarily terrified, Scarlet tried not to think of what her dear, sweet, eccentric friend might suggest she wear.
Less than ten minutes later, there was a light tapping on her bedroom window. For years, Shelby had scaled the latticework nailed to the side of the house. Many nights, she would sneak over and the girls would eat junk food, watch chick flicks or play with Shelby’s Ouija board.
As she opened the window and helped Shelby inside, Scarlet eyed the knapsack on her friend’s arm with trepidation churning within.
“What’d you bring?”
“You’ll see,” Shelby said with a naughty twinkle behind her chestnut eyes.
“I don’t want to look like a slut or anything,” Scarlet warned.
“Trust me, will you?”
Shelby tossed her bag onto the bed, earning a glare from Seraphine, unzipped it and began pulling out various items: a couple of very short skirts, a pair of tight, black jeans, and two or three small sweaters, but it was the black boots she yanked out that made Scarlet sweat. What exactly did Shelby have in mind? All Scarlet hoped was that Shelby didn’t leave her looking like Lady Gaga.
“Will you stop looking at me like I’m a serial killer? I promise, you’ll look hot!” By throwing one of the skirts onto the bed, she gave Scarlet the signal to start trying things on. Scarlet warily removed her jeans and long sweater. After sliding the first skirt over her hips, she was officially horrified.
“Shelby! I can’t wear this! It barely covers my butt!”
“You waxed, didn’t you?” she teased, breaking into a giggle. “Don’t worry. You’ll be wearing thick, black tights.”
“Nullus,” Scarlet remarked, implementing her Latin fluency and shaking her head. She shimmied out of the short, black skirt and threw it back on the bed. Reaching for the next skirt, she knew right away it was the one. Mostly because it was longer than the last. She zipped it up and breathed a sigh of relief. Though she was a bit concerned that it was candy apple red, it looked quite respectable.
“Oooo, I like that one! It’ll look awesome with the boots.” Shelby’s eyes widened and she grinned like the Cheshire Cat, nodding as she looked Scarlet up and down.
Finally, after debating with Shelby about which sweater to wear and how many buttons to leave undone, they came to an agreement. Scarlet stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself in amazement. She actually looked, as Shelby would say, hot.
Scarlet took in a shaky breath.
“What’s up?” Shelby’s eyebrows drew together.
“Just nervous. What if he decides he doesn’t like me after all?”
Shelby shook her head. “Not possible, you’re too awesome.”
“But…what if?” Scarlet thought she might cry. Whether it was from nerves or simply lack of confidence, she wasn’t sure she could go through with it. “What if it’s just not meant to be?”
Seated on Scarlet’s bed with a sympathetic expression, Shelby patted the space of mattress beside her. “Come, sit. Give me your palms,” she ordered.
Scarlet sat, delivering her open hands as requested. Shelby peered through her glasses, inspecting the tiny lines and cracks that marked her friend’s hands. After several minutes of humming and hawing, poking and prodding, she looked up. Her expression read like that of a true fortune teller: mysterious and foreboding.
She cradled Scarlet’s right hand within her own and pointed to a long line running from her middle finger to her wrist. “See this line, it’s your Line of Fate,” she explained. “It’s very straight and deep.”
“So…what does that mean?” Scarlet asked, skeptical.
“It means,” Shelby stated with a confident grin, squeezing her friend’s hand reassuringly, “that you have an amazing destiny ahead of you, so quit worrying so much.”
“Wow!” Rory’s eyes lit up, scanning Scarlet from head to toe. “You look amazing!”
He slid his hand around her waist, the heat leaving an invisible burn beneath her clothing. Pulling her to his side, he led her through the entrance of the theater. Her heart was pounding so hard against her ribcage, she worried he might actually be able to hear it.
Guiding her to the lineup to purchase tickets, she stole a glance at his handsome face. His strong angular jawline, dotted with dark, freshly shaven hairs, flexed as he chewed a piece of gum. His eyes, ocean blue with glints of amber flecks, gazed forward. Light toffee waves feathered over his ears, curling ever so softly at the tips. His scent. His eyes. His hair. All of them made her weak. Breathless.
He caught her drinking in his beauty at least once, responding by leaning over and brushing her forehead with a soft kiss. Warmth invaded her cheeks and she wished she knew how to act cool.
Surveying her environment, she squinted in attempts to read the various posters hanging about the foyer. Shelby had insisted that Scarlet not wear her glasses, which in hindsight seemed kind of stupid considering they were going to a movie. The mascara and fake lashes Shelby forced her to wear were irritating her so badly she had to concentrate on not bringing her fists to her face and rubbing to kill the itch.
“Would you like some popcorn or a drink?” Rory asked softly, leaning against her as he spoke. His warm breath tickled her ear, leaving her delightfully woozy.
“Sure,” she replied breathily, trying to resist his hypnotic eyes.
“Cool.”
After buying some snacks, he led her into the darkened theater. Still oblivious to what film was playing, she waited until they found a seat to ask.
“So, what are we watching?” Scarlet peered around the room, the dimmed lights barely penetrating the darkness.
“Howler, it’s a horror movie. I hope you like scary ones,” he replied, tossing a piece of popcorn into his mouth.
She tried to sound sincere. “Oh yeah, great.”
Having been plagued by nightmares since she was a child, watching a horror movie was the last thing she needed. The occasional thriller wasn’t bad, but anything remotely gory could cost her weeks of sleep. A moment later, he casually slid his hand onto her thigh, quelling her apprehension over the movie.
He’s worth it, she told herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. So worth it.
“What did you think of the movie?” Rory asked, holding the passenger door open for her.
Honestly, she thought it was disgusting and was thoroughly grateful she’d left her glasses at home, but in attempts to sound pleasant, she replied, “It was pretty good.”
With a hearty chuckle, he watched her slide into the seat, then closed the door. After climbing into the driver’s side and starting the engine, he turned to her. “You still up for some stargazing? We can come back for your car later.”
A shiver of excitement slid up her spine as he stared right into her eyes. “Yes, of course,” she said, trying not to sound as excited as she felt.
God, he’s good-looking!
Feeling awkward, she looked away and watched the bright lights of the city twinkling by. Edmonton’s Whyte Ave was alive with Friday night excitement. Throngs of people from all walks of life strolled the length of the boulevard. From coffee shops to night clubs, hemp boutiques to antique stores, the patrons flocked to the highlight of Edmonton’s night life. Bright eyes, smiling faces, no indication that anyone was worried about it being October 1st, so why should she be?
Stealing a sideways glance at Rory, she suddenly wished Shelby was there to brighten up the conversation. Were first dates always this awkward and uncomfortable? Or was it supposed to be easy and laid back like she’d always dreamed it would be? For years Scarlet had longed for this moment. Pined for this chance to be so close to Rory, to hold his hand, to be his girl. But something didn’t feel right. A seed of self-doubt had sown itself in her stomach and was growing too fast for comfort.
Eyes trained on the darkened sky, lost within her thoughts, Scarlet barely noticed when they turned onto a dirt road.
“What’s your favorite constellation?” Rory asked suddenly as he switched on some tunes and rested his palm on her thigh.
The heat from his hand burning through the red skirt made her dizzy. She searched her mind to remember the name of any constellation, let alone her favorite.
“Um, I’d have to say…the Phoenix,” she stammered.
“Oh yah,” he replied nonchalantly, bobbing his head to the blaring music.
After clearing her throat, she asked, “And you?”
“What?” He shot her an odd look.
Heat flushed through her face. “Which constellation do you like best?”
“Oh, um, you know…the Big Dipper. Want some gum?” Abruptly, he took his hand from her leg and reached for a pack of gum in the console.
Politely accepting and placing the gum into her mouth, she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach she couldn’t quite identify. An instinct trying to claw its way to the surface of her awareness. Before she could explore it further, he pulled the car onto the side of the road.
“Ready?” he asked sharply, exiting the car before she could answer.
“Sure,” Scarlet responded to the empty driver’s seat. The tension inside knotted tighter—something wasn’t right.
She watched as he heaved a large duffel bag out of the trunk. After slinging it over his right shoulder, he nodded curtly to the right. “This way.”
A shudder rolled over her, prompting her to pull her thin jacket tighter around her. Scarlet stared down the dark, country road. The distant city lights dotted the pitch horizon like a miniature galaxy.
What if he’s taking me out here to rape me?
It would be the perfect place for him to attack her, they’d driven at least twenty minutes from the city on a dirt road.
Sybil…
The urban legend of missing teenagers invaded her thoughts.
You’re just being silly!
She gave her head a shake, pulled in a centering breath and forced herself to enjoy the odd excursion.
“So, you come out here…often?” she inquired through chattering teeth, hoping he wouldn’t get them lost and they’d freeze to death. A smile tugged at her lips as she imagined them huddling together to keep warm. It would, at the very least, be a romantic way to perish.
“Yes,” he replied curtly, leaving Scarlet to wonder if she’d insulted him somehow. They continued to walk in silence for what felt like hours, her romantic daydream of cuddling to keep warm dissolving with every step.
The dark path ahead, lit only by the intermittent glow of a clouded moon, seemed to be luring them into a world of unforgiving shadows. Without her glasses, she was being led blind into a hostile wilderness. Her trust in him, this boy she really didn’t know, was waning.
Fallen branches and dry autumn leaves crunched beneath their feet as he took her deep into the heart of the forest. With no idea where she was, she suddenly realized how stupid she was for allowing him to take her somewhere unknown. No one knew where she was.
No one—except Rory Dean.
The Dark Path
The branches reached for her like the outstretched arms of rapacious mummies. Their spindly wooden fingers entangled in her long, brown hair, pulling strands out by the roots. Tears welled into the corners of her eyes. Even though this was her first date, Scarlet was now convinced it was probably the worst in recorded history. Rory wouldn’t answer any of her questions. In fact, he hadn’t acknowledged her but once since they’d left the car.
What the hell is going on?
A sick sensation rolled through her stomach with the realization that she was in serious trouble. If he was going to rape her, she should at least come up with a plan of escape. But how? The woods were thick and dark and she hadn’t paid attention which direction he’d driven from town, not to mention she didn’t have her glasses.
“Rory, please, you’re scaring me,” Scarlet pleaded as he trudged ever silently ahead of her. Upon receiving no answer, a surge of anger raced through her. She planted her feet solidly on the ground, her fists balled tight. “Rory! I want to know what the hell is going on! Now!”
He stopped and exhaled sharply, spinning around to glare at her. “We’re going to look at the stars. I thought that’s what you wanted.”
His expression was so fierce, Scarlet trembled. “I want you to take me home…right now.” She tried to sound assertive, but couldn’t still the quiver in her voice.
He narrowed his eyes at the moon as if searching it for guidance, then turned and began marching through the woods again. Bewildered, Scarlet knew she had no other option than to follow him. It was either go with him or freeze to death, lost in the forest. It was in that moment, when the tears began gliding down her face, that she heard laughter ahead. As she squinted and focused on the winding path before them, she could distinguish a light flickering through the network of trees.
A fire? What the…? Is he taking me to a party?
Confused, and becoming even more terrified, she pressed through the dense foliage. Sharp branches and thorny bushes tore her nylons and sliced at her knees. While it didn’t appear any blood had been drawn, thin scratches welted at the top of her shins. For once, she was thankful for Shelby’s fashion sense; if she hadn’t been forced to wear these boots, everything from her ankles up would be slashed.
“Rory! You made it!” a voice rang out from near the blazing bonfire.
“Barely,” Rory responded through gritted teeth, tossing an irate glance at Scarlet, igniting a fresh burn of anguish in her heart.
She gaped as she watched him high-five three beer-toting jocks. What was this? It was obvious they’d been expecting him. Was this all a setup? Was this going to be some kind of gang bang? A mixture of fear and disgust coalesced in her stomach, threatening to make her vomit with every terrifying churn.
Her thoughts flickered to Sybil Kavanagh, the teenage girl who’d gone missing from her home so many decades ago. Was this a scene from her life? The last scene? Scarlet’s imagination wandered dark territories, leading her through a labyrinth of horrifying destinations, all of which resulted in nothing but dead ends and unfathomable nightmares.
Rory scowled, his blue eyes surveying the scene. “Where are the other girls, Steve?”
Steve eyed Scarlet nervously, his fingers combing his shaggy blonde hair. “We couldn’t get them to come.”
“What?!” Rory roared, his face flushed and eyes dark. “We need three!”
Scarlet took a frightened step back and hugged her shoulders. A lump formed in her throat as she watched things go from bad to worse.
What is he talking about? Need three for what?
His friends shrugged and looked at one another with glazed eyes, obviously less concerned than Rory.
After shifting his gaze to the moon again, Rory announced, “We’d better get started.” His eerie stare fell on Scarlet, darkness pulsating behind his eyes, adding cryptically, “We have no choice, we’ll just have to use one.”
He knelt down and unzipped his duffel bag, producing what looked like a large, black blanket and an antiquated scroll. A tremble possessed her body and her eyes watered with fresh tears.
This is it Scarlet, something awful is about to happen.
The other boys hooted and hollered, retrieving their own piece of dark fabric. Horrified, Scarlet watched with wide eyes as each of them swung the cover over their shoulders, secured it at their necks and finished by raising a cowl over their heads. She drew in a sharp breath when she realized what they really were.
They’re not blankets…they’re cloaks!
A fear like she’d never known occupied her soul.
“Rory,” Scarlet’s voice quivered. “What’s going on?”
Unresponsive, Rory stood stoic, watching the unveiling festivities with a horrible grin carved upon his face. Scarlet’s body shook while they began arranging something on the forest floor. The moment Steve pulled out a can of black spray and painted a symbol on the ground, the situation became more transparent.
A pentagram.
This was some kind of ritual.
Scarlet wasn’t sure what was going on, but she wasn’t going to hang around to find out. She forced her quivering legs forward and ran for the trees. Hot blood raced from her pounding heart and into her head. Lines of sweat dripped over her brow while she pushed her body as hard as it would go.
“Get her!” Rory yelled, his voice a mesh of anger and perverse amusement.
I’m almost to the trees. If I can just get there, I can hide.
Shelby’s boots were like lead on her feet, hindering her as the chunky heels plodded against the ground. The tree line was so close now, only a few more feet. She could hear them right behind her, jeering and laughing like a pack of jackals. She didn’t dare look back for fear it would slow her down. Scarlet could almost touch the boughs as she neared the edge of the woods. Visions of seeing her family and Shelby flashed through her mind. Her thighs burned and her feet protested with every step, but she wouldn’t let herself stop.
Almost there!
As she broke through the wall of branches, a sense of liberation embraced her.
I did it!
A new emotion rose rapidly to the surface, overshadowing her elation. Betrayed by her imperfect vision, darkness blurred before her, the trees and shrubs blending into a haze of silhouettes.
Which way?
Panic eroded what remained of her nerves, the thudding of footsteps closing in on her. Her heart beat against her chest like a furious gorilla, caged and wild with fear. Sweat beaded and ran from her brow, plummeting like lemming off her chin and splattering against her bare, heaving chest.
She had to make her move. Now.
Just move, Scarlet! Move!
Willing her feet forward, she plunged into the thicket of shadows before her, arms outstretched, feeling her way through the web of branches. Between the sound of leaves crunching beneath her feet and her heartbeat smashing inside her eardrums, she couldn’t determine how close her assailants were. Summoning any courage that may be hiding in the deep crevices of her soul, she began to run. Blind and terrified, she prayed she’d get away. Prayed for a happy ending.
Her prayers would go unheard, replaced only by screams.
Halted in mid-stride, a terrific pain seized the back of her head. Scarlet was yanked backwards and her body hit the ground with a resounding thud.
“Stupid little bitch,” muttered a voice she recognized as Steve’s. He pulled her by the hair like a cave man, dragging her back toward the fire.
“Let me go! Please!” she shrieked, kicking and thrashing wildly.
Scarlet could scarcely believe what was happening. It didn’t even feel real. The whole scenario had the makings of a horror movie, only she knew it was real. Terrifyingly real. She stole a fleeting look at Rory, but his back was to her. Scarlet prayed he would come to his senses and whisk her away from this nightmare. Maybe if she cooperated, they would just finish up with their sick little game and she could go home. Not knowing the first thing about cults or rituals, she hoped they wouldn’t hurt her, or worse, kill her.
“Why are you doing this?” Scarlet’s lip quavered uncontrollably as she was led to the center of the pentagram. Rory had his arm draped over her shoulder, guiding her. Herding the lamb to slaughter.
With a sinister glow behind his blue eyes, he smiled insincerely. “We need to make a sacrifice under the full moon, to appease our God.”
In a small voice, Scarlet offered, “Lucifer?”
The boys laughed at her in unison while they formed a circle, corralling her into the center of the pentagram.
“No Scarlet, there are far more powerful beings in Hell than Lucifer,” Rory retorted, his voice dripping with condescendence. He then raised his arms and yelled, “We serve Malus, Queen of the Underworld.”
Scarlet stood in horror while Steve and the other boys began undressing her. The red skirt, Shelby’s boots, and all other articles of her clothing were tossed pitilessly into the raging bonfire. Though it took everything in her not to fight, she realized it would be pointless to even try.
“Why…why me?” Her body wracked with sobs. “Why did you choose…me?”
He chuckled and rolled his eyes as if she should know the answer. “Why you? Why not you?” Rory straightened his shoulders and approached her. He grabbed her by the neck, tightening his grip. Breath caught in her windpipe, she glared as he brought his face inches from hers. “You made it easy for me. You’re weak. Pathetic. You had to be cured of your human weakness. I’m giving you a gift.”
Rory loosened his grip on her throat, then leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Disgusted, she fought against the human shackles holding her in place. He pulled back, a twisted grin on his handsome face.
She stared into his eyes, the eyes of insanity, searching for that guy she once admired from a distance. He was nowhere to be found. A demon lived inside him. A monster.
Scarlet wrenched from his grip, a strangled cry escaping her. He sneered, then sauntered back to the head of the pentagram, giving a nod to his minions.
Naked and shivering as bitterly cold wind stung her bare skin, they forced to her lie down in the center of the emblem.
“Are you…going to kill…me?” Hot tears ran down the sides of her face as they bound her wrists and ankles, attached them to tent pegs, and nailed them into the ground.
Rory bent down, and placing his lips just inches from her ear, whispered, “Don’t worry, there is no death—only transition.”
It was then that Steve produced a vial of liquid and leaned over her. She pursed her lips tightly together. Undeterred, he grabbed her naked breast and gave it a hard squeeze. Her jaw dropped open to protest but he dumped the liquid into her mouth before she could utter a sound. Upon slamming her chin shut and clamping a hand over her mouth, he pinched her nose and ordered, “Swallow.”
Her lungs begging for air, she gulped. Bitterness slid past her tongue, then burned all the way down her esophagus. She tried to cough and spit it out, but it had already starting taking affect. A calm sensation permeated her body, sedating her. The world spun. Everything became hazy and incoherent. She now believed she was dreaming.
It’s just a nightmare. I’ll wake up soon.
A monotonous chanting began. She was vaguely aware of Rory and the boys standing in a circle around her, their voices blending like a thunderous song. Scarlet tried to turn her head, but her muscles were non-compliant. She felt so light, like drifting in a dream. The enormous full moon hung overhead. A silver talisman suspended in the black fabric of space, its steely hue sporadically blemished by a drifting charcoal cloud. The stars stared down at her, winking and sparkling as if sending her secret messages.
“Help me!” she called to them inside the confines of her delusional mind.
Her disjointed thoughts shifted to her mom, dad and brother. They were probably going to miss her. She wondered how long it would take the police to find her body? What if she was never found? What if she was murdered and Rory and the boys were never brought to justice? Was Shelby going to be angry about her clothes?
Her mind couldn’t function. Couldn’t focus.
She gaped at their cloaked faces and wondered if these were the last moments of her life. Inside her paralyzed body, Scarlet’s soul began to struggle. She wanted to live.
Please no…not like this.
Rory unrolled the tattered parchment. Amid the blotches of ocher staining the document, the scroll’s golden lettering leaped from the page, glistening by the light of the moon.
Rory hovered over her, reading from the script, hollering words in some other language. At first, she thought it was some kind of Satanic gibberish, but as she listened closer, she realized she could understand what he was saying.
“Hera nos Regina of Atrum. Tribuo nos immortalis!“
Struggling against the pall of the drug, she focused on his voice, translating as he spoke.
It’s like…Latin, she thought, suddenly grateful for obsessing over the ancient language.
“Hear us Queen of the Dark, we give you this soul in exchange for power and eternal life. Take this child into your bosom of evil, feast upon her spirit. Grant us immortality!” Rory commanded in the foreign tongue.
She watched as Rory rolled up the scroll and tucked it into a large pocket on the front of his robe. From the same pouch, he then produced what appeared to be a box cutter.
Oh god!
When he crouched beside her, a rush of adrenaline forced her heart to palpitate faster than she thought it was capable. He edged the blade up with his thumb; a clicking sound preceding the appearance of the razor. Scarlet followed the pointed tip as he loomed over her. The horrific thought of him carving out her eyes crossed her mind. He placed the steel tip against her forehead and sliced what felt like another pentagram. The pain was excruciating, but because of the tonic, her body lay frozen in torment. Warm liquid pooled, then trickled in thin streams from the wound, winding past her eyes and into her hair. She almost wanted to die right then. Her will to live was fading like the last light of sunset.
Please let this be over soon!
As if her wish had been granted, she witnessed Steve place an object into Rory’s waiting hands. It was a very long—very sharp—knife. Holding the silver dagger over her, Rory paused and held her gaze a moment.
Maybe he’s having second thoughts…maybe he truly cares for me.
With anticipation swelling in her heart, she held her breath. But her hopes were dashed when a glint of evil crossed his eyes.
In one fluid motion, he plunged the steel blade into her chest.
And the world stopped.
Dark Butterfly
As hard as it was to play dead, Scarlet forced the pain aside, sipped shallow breaths, and stayed as still as possible. Even when Rory crouched down and closed her eyelids with his fingertips, she refused to believe this was truly happening.
“Untie her,” he said, hollow and uncaring.
Rough hands removed her bindings, leaving her paralyzed body splayed unsympathetically.
“Okay, we’d better get out of here,” Rory stated.
She cringed inside her broken body.
They’re just going to leave me here?
Like someone had telepathically received her cry, one of the boys asked, “We’re just gonna leave her here? What if someone finds her? What if they link it back to us?”
“Maybe we should bury her,” added another.
“We have to leave her here, in the pentagram. It’s what the ritual says. It’s been done this way for centuries. Don’t worry so much, Malus will protect us,” Rory explained and then added with a frustrated sigh. “Let’s just go, we have to get her car from the theatrer parking lot and dispose of it.”
They all laughed as they walked away.
Anger occupied her soul like a demon taking possession. Wrath sidled next to her pain, owning her thoughts and emotions.
All she wanted to know was why? What could they possibly have gained from this? She wanted to stand up and scream at them, demanding an answer for her premature demise. How could her life be over when it had so recently begun? She’d only gotten seventeen years. She’d wanted marriage. Children. Travel. A life. Now it had been stolen from her. All that remained were the skeletons of hope, a graveyard of buried dreams.
Her ears perked, Scarlet listened as the sound of dry grass and leaves crunched beneath their feet, then slowly faded away.
Silence.
Hot, angry tears flooded from behind her eyes and rolled down her temples. Frozen like a marble statue by the elixir, she was forced to endure her last moments inert. In the dark. Alone.
The excruciating pain in her chest was nothing compared to the agony of her screaming soul.
Why? Why me?
She just wanted to go home, wrap her arms around her mother and father, Shelby, and maybe even Greg. None of this was right, it wasn’t meant to be this way. All the years she’d been robbed of. All the experiences she’d never know. Anger consumed her, leeching her soul of forgiveness.
If there’s an afterlife and I can come back, I’ll haunt those bastards until the end of time!
As her lifeblood slowly drained, pooling in the grass beneath her, she realized it was time. All she hoped was that she’d been a good enough person to go to a better place. As her last breath warmed the cool night air with a final cloud of exhalation, Scarlet waited for something that resembled leaving her body and the appearance of the tunnel of light.
It never came.
An unfamiliar sensation possessed her. Fear twisted around her soul like a venomous serpent.
The ground shuddered beneath her, then began to give way.
Oh God! I’m sinking!
Her lifeless body began to submerge into the center of the pentagram. Enveloped into the dense, cool earth, Scarlet could only surmise that the ground had opened up and was swallowing her whole. Loose soil spilled from above, sealing her into a tomb—a grave.
Am I dead? I can’t be, I’m still in here.
Trapped in an undead body, fully aware, yet incapable of movement or escape, she was falling through the cracks of existence and couldn’t do anything about it.
Is this Hell? Is this what it is?
Scarlet searched for something—a memory—to soothe her. To take her away from this nightmare. She reached into the recesses of her mind, recalling the first time she observed the stars up close.
“Daddy,” young Scarlet began, dancing around her father as he set up her new telescope. “Why are the stars so far away?”
He winced as he cranked a bolt on the side of the contraption. “They’re very hot, honey, if we get too close, we’ll get burned.”
“Why do they sparkle?” she inquired, scrunching up her nose.
He replied with a shrug, “I guess that’s just their way of saying hello. Here,” he said, taking his daughter by the hand and showing her how to peer into the eyepiece, “they’re saying hello to you, right now.”
An ache in her soul jarred her back into reality. Behind her sealed lids, her eyes stung with tears.
I would have loved to say good-bye to the stars…and to you, Daddy.
Somewhere in the midst of the pain and darkness, Scarlet felt her consciousness slip away. Immersed in a nightmare, her psyche locked itself into a room deep within. A childhood prayer echoed through her broken thoughts:
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Calm fell over her, blanketing her like a shroud. For a split second, she thought an angel may have heard her prayers and had come to save her. But the withering of her soul told her otherwise. An emptiness gathered within, a black hole owned the space where her essence once dwelt. An eclipse. A shadow of what once was Scarlet.
Still aware of her surroundings, she could no longer ignore certain sensations—certain hungers. An instinct overwhelmed her, one she could not name, but it presented itself as desire.
She felt her body change, morphing into a sleek predator of unprecedented strength and prowess. A sharp pain stabbed behind her eyes and a burning filled her lungs as she tried to inhale.
A flame of hate smoldered beneath the surface of her skin, burrowing itself deep into her soul. Bitterness settled on her heart like thick, dark ash.
The girl she’d worn beneath this skin fell asleep.
Dark arms embraced her, pulling her under. Stole her from her world. Her life.
Sinking.
Then it stopped.
She was Scarlet no more.
A foreign whisper invaded the privacy of her mind. A female voice she would come to know well.
“Welcome…to Dark World.”
Part Two
Dark World
Dark Evolutions
In the beginning, there was darkness…then light kissed the earth. A cascade of illumination warmed the surface, encouraging the growth of plants, animals—and humans.
Over the course of millenniums, the humans evolved, mastering the arts of fire and technology. They populated the planet in epic proportions—but they weren’t alone.
While modern humans believed the earth to be a solid chunk of rock, portions of the mantle had fallen away eons ago, leaving a cavern the size of a large continent. Life not only grew within the subversive realm—it flourished. Alongside the evolution of the humans on the surface, a powerful underground race spawned from the seeds of magic and elemental gods—demons. The source of their immortal power, a Crystal Pyramid, magically reflected light from the sun above.
Led by an all powerful demon, Lucifer, the Legion of demons ruled Dark World for thousands of years.
Amidst their reign, a cataclysmic earthquake shook the earth to its core, opening an abyss and swallowing a small portion of the surface. Thousands of humans and mystical creatures were stolen from the world with a sky and brought down to dwell in the underground kingdom. Weak and frail, the humans naturally became the demons’ slaves. Forced to mine precious bloodstone, they were all but bound to an eternity of hell.
To free themselves, they did the unthinkable—they sold their souls to a demon—Malus, Queen of Dark World.
Empowered and desiring to overthrow her husband, Malus sent scouts to the surface to recruit more souls. The scouts learned that the humans were willing to sacrifice their youth in exchange for supernatural powers.
It was then that a ritual steeped in the dark arts was born.
By the time King Lucifer discovered the plot to overthrow him, it was too late. Malus, his wife, had become untouchably powerful and the underworld was overrun with a dominant new race: shades.
Determined to right the wrong, the King removed six pages from the Devil’s Bible and hid them. Using the last of his powers, he sealed the abyss to prevent further communication with the humans. However, dividing the power of the Bible came with a terrible consequence—the Crystal Pyramid ceased to light Dark World, leaving the demons weakened—and mortal.
Today, the demons have become the slaves—their extinction imminent.
Black Chrysalis
Kane’s seven foot frame stood poised atop an obsidian boulder. He held his large body motionless, thigh muscles flexing beneath his black skin. Horns the shade of midnight adorned either side of his head, drawing to a whorl at his temples whilst dark blue dreadlocks fell between his folded wings, stretching the length of his back.
With his ebony hooves balanced precariously at the edge of the rock, the demon’s arm muscles twitched in anticipation. His glowing sapphire eyes focused, angular ears twitching with his prey’s slightest movements.
His black skin reflected the crimson hue emanating from the outlying magma rivers, other than the bioluminescent creatures around him, his only source of light.
To his right, a distant range of volcanoes roared and blustered, spewing angry streams of hot lava from their gaping mouths. Ahead, the arid sands of the Crimson Desert lie flat and unyielding. A sprinkling of ash snowed over the landscape in attempts to blanket the dry, cracked terrain, but was blown away by consistently zealous gusts of air.
The searing wind blew across his arms, raising the tiny hairs. Though heat was always welcome upon demon skin, he wondered how a cool ocean breeze might feel against his face.
A streak of envy tainted his concentration and his dark brow furled.
Humans, he brooded.
He ground his sharp teeth together, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. Wielding a smooth, silver dagger with bended arm, the demon awaited the perfect moment to strike. Before him, scoring a wavy pattern in the red sands, a lava snake inadvertently glided towards his death. With scales the color of fresh magma, the snake tasted the environment with a thin, forked tongue. Its lithe body no longer than two feet, it sashayed ever closer to the waiting demon.
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