Dark

By Crymsyn Hart and Anastasia Rabiyah

Written by Crymsyn Hart and Anastasia Rabiyah

Revenge is a dangerous twister of fate.

Kelly has been running all her life, but now something’s caught up to her that she can’t escape from. The ugly little world she’s been trapped in for the past ten years is being whittled away, piece by piece, person by person. The monster destroying it is as much a mystery to her as he is to himself. Her only hope is to find a way to run before it’s too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Purple Sword Publications
• Release date: Jan 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370049714

Crymsyn Hart

Crymsyn Hart is a bestselling author of Erotic Romance. Her worlds are filled with luscious vampires, gorgeous gods, quirky witches, and everything else that goes bump in the night. Hell, there is even a delicious cheesecake god floating around, but if I were you I wouldn’t eat his brownie cheesecake. Crymsyn worked as a psychic for many years in Boston while attending Emerson College. She graduated with a BFA in Writing, Literature, & Publishing. When she gets bored, she sneaks away to local cemeteries and coffee shops to find peace and quiet. Granted, graveyards might be a great place for the dead, but she still has to listen to their chattering. It can get annoying when all you want to do is write, but she can tell you quite a ghost story. Crymsyn shares her life with a small zoo, two playful puppies and her hubby Mark. If you come after dark, you’re more than likely to find her snuggled up with a gory horror movie, or a bloody vampire movie. Crymsyn has a collection of Living Dead Dolls and five bookshelves overflowing with books. Of course there's always room for more.

Book preview

DARK

Crymsyn Hart and Anastasia Rabiyah

Published By Purple Sword Publications, LLC at Smashwords

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

Copyright © 2018 CRYMSYN HART AND ANASTASIA RABIYAH

Edited by Shoshana Hurwitz

Cover Art Designed by Traci Markou

ISBN 9781370049714

Prologue

Dark. It was always dark around him. He tried to imagine what daylight would feel like again on his skin, but the fleeting memory of it only lingered a moment, and the ghost of it made him try to remember a life he had left behind so many years ago. There were times all he wished for was salvation from the hell he survived in, but there was no end for him. Never-ending, that was his existence, and he knew it, no matter how many times he tried to find a way to sever the thread of life that ran through him. Fire had licked his skin and burned away his muscles, but when the pain left his limbs and he was barely more than a thought, his body reworked itself and he found he was whole once more with the hunger wracking his body until it drove him to action.

Driven by the starvation, the need to feed. That was his purpose and had been in those early years after the change. Time had changed him, chiseled away at his purpose, until he was not so sure anymore. There was always the hunger, but he found that, too, much like his body’s ability to rebuild itself, was something that just was. It neither controlled him nor let him have full control of his will. So when the woman stepped across his path and he heard the gentle thrum of her pulse, he both wanted to devour her and then not.

The light from the hallway glowed around her silhouette. Light. He blinked at its brilliance and growled under his breath.

Hello? she called softly. Anyone here?

He had chosen this place of hiding because, from the looks of it, he didn’t think anyone had been there in years. There was trash crumpled in the corner of the main room, and a distinct scent lingered that spoke of neglect and dust.

He supposed she was attractive or would be to the others like her. He wasn’t like them much at all anymore. The idea of attraction really only applied to his need to eat. He remembered having sex so long ago, but that idea didn’t spark any interest in him now. The idea bored him.

Her heeled boots tapped as she walked into the main room of the apartment. Well, damn, she whispered to herself. I must have the wrong address. She kept rambling on to herself. He hated when they did that. Made them seem loony.

He sighed and figured she heard the soft sound. It didn’t matter. They never lasted long once they stumbled upon him.

Chapter 1

Kelly glanced at the paper Rick had given her, the key to the door dangling from its ring on her pinky finger. Four thirty-three Rose Street, apartment seven. This is the place. That ass must have stopped for ice cream again. A shiver ran up her spine. She glanced around the dark space and frowned. Behind the couch, a shadow moved. Just a little shift. Then the sigh. She swallowed and froze.

Ah, well, I guess I better get going, she forced out, trying to sound normal. But what did normal sound like anymore? She didn’t remember. Her life was a long string of bad luck and constant change. It was never normal.

She backed away. Whatever, whoever, it was in the shadows was watching her. She didn’t want to turn her back and get caught by surprise. Something was very wrong here. Rick never sent her anywhere he didn’t mean to. Sure, she’d screwed up last time, but she didn’t think it was bad enough for him to off her.

A growl reverberated in the room. It wasn’t a dog. She knew that much for sure. Then the shadow rose slowly as if it were a beast on four legs that had learned to stand like a human on two. It was dark, so black that the shadows of the room flowed into it, drawing her eyes and keeping her mesmerized.

Only it wasn’t an it at all. It was a he, male and naked, his parts hanging out for all to see. She drew her attention up from his crotch and took in his body, roughly hewn muscle and scars, so many thin, black lines that they made an artistic pattern across his skin.

Kelly couldn’t move. Her conscience screamed at her to run like hell, but her body did not respond. She’d seen a lot of freakish things since she started working for Rick. Weird trinkets he sold in the shop, stuffed, dead things that couldn’t or shouldn’t be real. But nothing compared to the monster standing by the worn-out couch in apartment seven.

Shit, she whispered.

His cold eyes narrowed. His mouth opened as if he might speak, but he only snarled and started walking toward her.

Fear stole her breath. She started to wheeze, her asthma constricting her throat. The monster might as well have been choking her to death without laying a hand on her.

What...do...you...want? His voice sounded dry and long since used up.

She wished she could get away from him; anywhere would be an improvement. Please, God, she begged in silence. Get me out of this one, and I swear I’ll go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life. But God had not answered her, not even once in her life. She did not expect God to answer now.

His ice-cold fingers slipped over her wrist and squeezed. Her whole body started to shake. Red and purple spots began to float before her eyes. Need my inhaler. But her fingers would not obey. The damn little thing was in the side pocket of her purse. If she had any control of herself, she’d have taken the puff and shot from that freak show like a bolt of lightning.

His face inched closer until his large, flat nose brushed against hers. Vaguely, she was aware that she could smell him, and as strange as it seemed, he smelled so very good. The darkness closed in on her vision. Her eyes fluttered. Kelly had passed out a few times in her life, but now was not the time to do so.

What...do...you...want? he asked again.

She tried to remember. Rick had sent her to get the package from