Into the Abyss

By Julian Soriano

Adriana has escaped her unjust execution in Volaria and now travels through the land with her newly found companion, the exotic beast called Monoceros that she has lovingly named Priscilla.

Upon her arrival in a small town, she discovers that the peace of its otherwise carefree inhabitants has been broken with the disappearance of a boy under suspicious circumstances. Against all the warnings of the simple and sorely superstitious townspeople, Adriana ventures off into an eerily tenebrous forest called the Abyss in order to find the boy and restore the tranquility of the town.

Yet as she ventures further into the darkness, she learns more of the land's past, as well as her own.

Mystery and dark magic follow closely in Adriana's footsteps, as she and Priscilla wade through the dark and pressing atmosphere to uncover the truth. Magical forces run rampant around them, and the journey ends with them both descending deeper into the Abyss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Julian Soriano
• Release date: Feb 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393060246

Julian Soriano

Julian started out as a visual artist. Since he was a child, he was always fasinated by fantasy characters and dreamed of creating his own. He felt visual art limited his ability to tell the stories he would often imagine and gave writing them a try.  His first pursuit at writing is a novelette named "Beautiful Despair". A dark themed collection featuring morally grey characters within his fantasy universe. The manifestation of the tales came from the idea that people are not good or evil. They are a combination of both and are shaped by events. His first full length novel "Daylights Affliction" was released shortly after and was inspired by the life cycle of the sun, greek myths , and eastern concepts of the afterlife. "Daylights Demise" the sequel is scheduled to be released in late April of 2021.  If you are a fan of Epic Fantasy that features an indepth magical system , progression in its application, and strong characters like D.K. Holmbergs "The Dark Ability" , delve into his series.  Julian lives in New Jersey without pets, and without snoring when he sleeps. 

Book preview

Into the Abyss

Julian Soriano

Published by Julian Soriano, 2021.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

INTO THE ABYSS

First edition. February 12, 2021.

Copyright © 2021 Julian Soriano.

ISBN: 978-1393060246

Written by Julian Soriano.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

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Into the Abyss

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Also By Julian Soriano

About the Author

Chapter 1

THE OLD, DECREPIT MANOR sang its wails of creaks and groans as the wind outside caressed it. The rooms, covered in a heavy coat of dust and stripped of all but worthless remnants of furniture, were bathed in the crimson light of a late sunset. In that intense glow streaking through the wooden planks that barred the windows, Adriana was able to see a faint crevice in the wall in the shape of a door.

She had been searching through the abandoned edifice for what must have been hours, finding nothing but bits of rotten wood and piles of waste. Just outside the overrun garden, her faithful companion Priscilla stood grazing and waiting for her, stopping from time to time to frown and neigh nervously, as if warning her of the lateness of the hour.

Her fingers followed the contour of the thin crevice—it had to be a secret door. Without any visible mechanism to pry it open, Adriana leaned on the wall with all her weight. The door-shaped piece slid heavily on its iron tracks laid into the flooring, revealing the dark, damp space of a new room. It opened slowly, as an ancient tomb gradually revealing its stowed-away secrets into the new light. As it came into view, Adriana could see signs of recent habitation for the first time—there was a small straw bed laid in a corner, and several empty plates and jugs that must have held water while the prisoner was enclosed here. As she leaned closer towards the makeshift bed, her brief excitement with her findings was quick to die out. As certain as she now was that the boy had in fact been held here, it was obvious that his captors had moved him, leaving nothing behind that might clue her in to his present location. She sighed, unsettling the wispy balls of dust that had gathered on the floor.

As she stood up and turned to leave, her eyes fell upon the wall opposite to the door where a large oil painting had been hung. Apart from being the only object of value she had seen in the entire estate, it seemed to have been recently dusted, as the surface shone in the faint light projected through the doorway.

Adriana approached it, curious to see what it depicted—what could have been so important that it warranted the care of the people who had been in this room not long ago.

Dark green silhouettes of trees jotted out of the glistening pitch as the landscape of a forest at night began to form before her eyes. As she peered deeper and deeper into the shadows formed by the trees, she felt the gilded frame slowly drift away into the corners of her vision, until she could see it no more. A cold and fragrant breeze seemed to blow about her, catching strands of her hair in its wake. She could feel the smell of ferns flow through the old and dusty room, and a faint sound of crickets began to fill her ears.

Before she could turn away, Adriana found herself at the edge of the forest depicted in the painting. She hugged herself, feeling the night air blow through her thin linen clothing. The room in which she had been standing was now completely gone. With hesitant steps, she passed under the thick shade of the trees that rose quietly before her.

A shiver of fright ran down her spine, chilling the blood in her veins. A distant sob could be heard echoing in the hollow gallery formed by the thick canopy of leaves above.

Edan? she whispered the name of the boy and heard a scuttling sound from beyond the obscured tree trunks. Edan, is that you? she called again, louder this time, feeling comfort in the sound of her own voice. The sobbing broke out again.

She began to run in the direction of the sound, calling to the boy in an attempt to comfort him. I am a friend, Edan, I’ve come to take you back. She cried, her voice almost muffled by the loud rustling of leaves.

Before long, she reached a small clearing, where she could see the boy sitting on a gnarled tree trunk. She approached him carefully, fearful that she might scare him away.

What are you doing so far away from home, Edan? she asked when she was close enough. She rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.

The boy turned to face her, his reddened blue eyes fixing on hers. He looked just as all the townspeople had described him.

The men, he whispered softly, as if weary of being overheard. They took me here. They won’t let me go home.

Don’t be afraid. I will keep you safe now, Adriana told him, a faint smile dawning on her face.

But the boy did not smile back. You can’t. You have to go back, he replied. And then, his face contorted into an expression of horror. They are coming, he whispered and broke free of her grasp.

No! Come back! she cried, but the boy had darted into the thick of the woods like a scared animal at the sound of footsteps.

Adriana felt an ominous gaze peer into the nape of her neck. Though completely unarmed, she immediately spun around to confront it and saw several men come forth from the forest into the faint light shed down by the stars. They were all clad in black, their faces obscured, and the only objects that shone through were the sharp, curved blades in their hands.

You are not supposed to be here. One of them hissed at her, and she felt her heart pounding violently, as if to burst out of her chest. She took a few steps backwards and hit the stub on which Edan had been sitting mere moments before. She suddenly felt her stomach knot, thinking of how far she had left Priscilla behind, and how sorely she needed her to make her escape.

If only I could reach her... she thought, clenching her fists in frustration.

And then, Adriana felt another presence sweep forward, unseen yet powerful. The very air around her became thick with an eerie sort of electricity. It rushed forward in an instant, and a bright flash of light blinded her and made her squeeze her eyes shut. The whole scene fell into dark pitch.

When she could once more perceive the men before her, she noticed that a shimmering wisp now stood between her and her assailants. Another burst of light, and a strong force flung a torrent of dried leaves up into the air. The men staggered, their black robes melding into the shape of a flock of crows that scattered noisily into the night sky. Their caws pierced the silence, pounding down on her ears with an infernal cacophony of sound.

Dazed by her intense emotions, Adriana stumbled and fell backwards, but instead of feeling the soft, dried crackling of the forest bed, her back hit the dusty floorboards of the old manor. She was back in front of the old painting, although she could no longer see it.

The crimson light of dusk had faded entirely from the open doorway, leaving Adriana in perfect darkness, barely aware of her surroundings. At first, she was frozen with terror, and for a few moments she stood still, listening acutely to the groans of the old house. To her frightened mind, they seem to meld into whispers, and she immediately scrambled back to her feet and darted through the open door. She reached the parlor she had previously searched through in minute detail. After the sun had set, the wind had gotten worse and it was now ramming the broken windows against their crooked frames. Her heart beat with such vigor that it clouded her vision, and throughout the faintly lined forms around her, Adriana could see dark silhouettes forming from the sinister fancies of her mind’s eye. The entire manner seemed to shrink around her, like black talons tightening around helpless prey.

She could not fathom going back the way she came—the winding stairs were still a long way down a narrow corridor with no windows, now dark and filled with unseen peril. Instead, she walked over towards the nearest window. It was barred with wooden planks, but her state of terrified alertness granted her resolve. Gathering all her strength, she rammed her foot against the old wood, desperate to make her way out. The weak planks and dirty glass gave in immediately under her blow, violently shattering as they fell into the snaking weeds of the untended garden below. She kicked the remaining debris over and climbed the windowsill.

From up there, she could see the glimmering lights of the city in the distance—a beacon to safety and a warm bed. Down below stood the even more comforting form of her striped companion, peacefully grazing just beyond the iron wrought fence.

Adriana gave a short whistle and Priscilla immediately turned her majestic head in her direction and extended her feathery wings with a powerful gust of air. She took to the air, rising up to meet her as she flung herself from the broken window. She landed on the beast’s broad back and clung to her white mane as they gently glided onto the soft dirt road. Priscilla began galloping back towards the city. Adriana looked back, watching the abandoned manor fade into a black stain against the dark blue of the night sky.

Chapter 2

AS SHE REACHED THE entrance of the town, Adriana began to feel ashamed of how easily she had fallen prey to her own emotions.

Sorry if I scared you, busting the window like that. She spoke aloud to Priscilla, caressing her silken coat. It seems all that training with the army is beginning to wear off, I think.

Priscilla neighed gently and shook her head.

I know, Adriana replied pensively, her gaze lost on the road ahead.

The city that unfolded before them as they walked towards the Elder’s house had barely any semblance of being inhabited. No living soul roamed the streets after sundown—even the dogs were locked safely in their kennels, for fear that they may be possessed by evil spirits. Adriana had never come across people with such a great fear of the night. As dusk came, they would all diligently board the windows, pouring salt before doorways and hanging little bunches of basil to ward off unwanted visits by the undead. A lantern glowed warmly outside every house, with enough oil to last until dawn. If, however, the wind would blow it out, the people inside would cower in their beds, sure that the spirits were lurking around, trying to seep into their home—the city was cursed, after all.

Adriana had heard of this curse many times—everyone she had spoken with in the city had mentioned it, although, so far, she had never seen any of its effects.

Well, apart from the boy disappearing and turning up in a painting. She thought to herself. But one magical object gone rogue does not a curse make.

Priscilla walked slowly down the cobbled path leading up the hill to where the Elder lived.

You like the night air, don’t you? Adriana asked the beast, seeing how slowly she was making her way up the slight incline. "Yeah, I like it