Crimson Noir

By Layla J. Omorose

THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN.

There was a time, not so long ago, when Vincent Labarge was the most covetous mage. His thirst for power lured him to the forbidden temptation of blood magic. Driven mad by bloodlust, he was unstoppable to all who challenged him... until he crossed the one witch he shouldn't have. Captured, he finds himself begging for mercy from one who has none to offer.

FATE IS SHAPED BY THE UNEXPECTED.

A simple work trip morphed into the unimaginable when Malaysia Watts found herself hunted by unseen forces. Her only hope of salvation is to accept guidance from a possessed wolf with the ability to shapeshift into a living god. When her journey began, Malaysia wanted nothing more than to find her way home. Yet, as the days passed, a burning ache ignited within her to claim the man beneath the beastly facade.

DESIRE IS IN THE BLOOD.

Now that Malaysia has awakened a long-forgotten hunger inside of Vincent, can he fight his yearning for a taste? Or will he succumb to his ravenous desires?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Layla J. Omorose
• Release date: Feb 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215591079

Book preview

COPYRIGHT

CRIMSON NOIR

A Grimm Retelling

Copyright 2023

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2023 by Layla J. Omorose

Book Design by Layla J. Omorose

Cover Design by Brooklyn Ann

Proofreading by Tia Silverthorne Bach

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

A Note from the Author

This story was originally published as part of AMR Authors: Brothers Grimm anthology, and inspired by the Grimm story, The Old Woman in the Woods.

I hope you enjoy my take on this classic Grimm tale.

- Layla

MORE BOOKS BY LAYLA J. OMOROSE

Hound Series

Eternal Fire

Eternal Earth

Eternal Light

Faye Princess

DarKnight: Ancient Bloodlines

DarKnight: Dawn of the Red Sun

Fairytales

Seducing the Black Prince

Seraphim Series

Seraphim’s Lament: Infernum

Table of Contents

COPYRIGHT

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

MORE BOOKS

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Crimson Noir

A Grimm Retelling

1

Why… why is this happening to me?

The question roared in Malaysia Watts’s mind as fear and panic drummed in her veins. Horrifying images of her boss and co-workers being slaughtered in front of her by several masked figures was branded into her psyche. Sadistic and twisted laughter echoed from behind Malaysia. A terrifying reminder that she was the only survivor, and for that she was being hunted.

Run! Faster!

The voice in her head screamed, and she pushed her legs harder.

As Malaysia ran, her heart pounding in her chest, she could hear their footsteps behind her.

They’re gaining on me…

Growing closer with each passing moment.

I can’t let them catch me… I can’t.

If they caught her, she was as good as dead, but not before she was made to suffer for blinding one of her assailants and escaping.

Move your feet…

Pumping her limbs, Malaysia stumbled over rocks and tripped over broken branches. Several times she fell to the ground, her breath leaving her in a rush of air. Each time she fell she scrambled her way back to her feet, ignoring the growing sting radiating from the cuts and scrapes covering her body.

SNAP!

From beside her echoed the damning sound of snapping tree branches.

NO! Nonononononono…

The beat of her heart traveled from her chest to her ears, and the rapid drumming of her pulse hammered away at her hearing, drowning out all other sounds except for the loud rush of malicious footsteps.

Malaysia looked to her left, sure that one of her pursuers had managed to catch up to her. Luckily for her, there was nothing but dense forest trees. A subtle sigh of relief escaped her.

Maybe it’s nothing.

Gradually her pace began to slow. Her body reaching its limits.

As Malaysia slowed to a light jog, she looked to her right, expecting to see more trees. Instead, Malaysia stumbled over her feet as she glimpsed a shadowed figure running alongside her. Its yellow eyes peered out at her from the darkness.

Once again terror took hold of her and filled her veins with adrenaline. She sprinted again, ignoring the burning in her arms and legs. Darkness filled her vision, the little bit of moonlight she’d used to guide her disappeared the deeper Malaysia went into the forest. Before her eyes could adjust to the total darkness, her foot slipped. A startled yell escaped her as she lost her balance. Her arms swung wildly as she tried to catch herself, but it was useless. The ground was uneven, and she couldn’t see a thing. Malaysia hit the forest floor full force… and then Malaysia was rolling, head over heels down a steep hill. Her world spun, and just as she was sure the contents of her stomach would spew all over her face, she came to an abrupt halt.

Agony washed over her, traveling along her spine until it reached her skull and pierced the soft tissue of her brain. Another miserable cry escaped her. The sound echoed painfully through the humid night air.

Quiet! An unfamiliar voice thundered in her head, and Malaysia offered a pained whimper as she slumped against the tree behind her. Leaning back as she began to lose feeling in her body, she turned her gaze towards sky and saw nothing but the haunting limbs of the forest trees blocking out any and