A River In Darkness Novels & Stories

I shoved him down hard. The bullet ripped through me instead, and I collapsed on him. His eyes went wide, real terror flickering there for the first time. "Natalie…" Gunfire answered back. Bernard's crew was not having it. The world started to spin, pain crashing over me like a wave. Francis' voice was calling my name, fading into the distance. Then, everything went black. ...

The impact with the black, subterranean river was like crashing into a wall of solid ice. The freezing water violently shocked the remaining air from my lungs, instantly snapping the intoxicating haze of the oxygen-starved ecstasy we had just shared. Darkness swallowed us whole. The current was a roaring, subterranean beast, tearing us down a jagged stone chute buried deep beneath the foundations of Rome.

The darkness provided me with cover as I made my way toward the river Elbe. As I walked along the deserted streets, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in my stomach. The recent events in Altona had left me on edge, and the ghostly figure's warnings only added to my anxiety. The sound of my footsteps echoed in the empty streets, and I quickened my pace, eager to reach the river. The moon was full, casting a silver glow on the water as I arrived at the riverbank. The sight was both eerie and beautiful, and for a moment, I forgot about the danger that lurked around every corner.

I remember reading about it long ago when I helped Kyra learn more about her family. “Before you cross over, there is one more thing…” Zeus said. “What is it?” I silently prayed it wasn’t more bad news. “Each River will take a full day to pass. It is always dark and gloomy since there isn’t any sun that shines within the realm.” “That I already knew.” I shrugged.

POV DARLENE The silence that followed the destruction of the obsidian bridge was a physical weight, a thick, suffocating blanket that seemed to drown out even the frantic pulse of my own heart. I stood at the jagged edge of the cavern, my fingers digging into the cold, damp stone until my knuckles turned white. Below, the River of Shadows churned with a violent, ink-black froth, its waters having swallowed the crimson fire of the man who had become my entire world.

I was indebted to him, he had set me free and was fighting the dragon so I could stay here in my blissful ignorance. The news stories just kept coming though and I couldn’t seem to avoid them, bodies washed up on the river, businesses robbed, cars crashing on the highway. The small port city was now a warzone in my wake. To make matters worse I had begun looking over my shoulder as if I expected to find someone there, all the horrible things around me I felt like the time in my world was slowly dwindling away. I felt like I was holding on tightly to a sinking ship, ready to drown with it.

We didn't let the darkness win. END OF VOLUME ONE

“Or maybe I’ve just stopped running from what I am.” The path narrowed as we moved deeper into the woods. The mist thickened. Even the birds stopped singing. After a while, we reached a dark clearing. Before us stretched a wide river, the River of Shadows. Its surface was black, smooth, and eerily still. No ripples. No wind. Just silence. Hardin squinted. “Doesn’t look like normal water.” “It’s not,” Lotus said through my mind. Her voice was steady. “Be careful, Jade. This river feeds on emotion. Fear makes it stronger.”

River Black River held the candelabra in her hand, holding it aloft, looking around the huge room. It was so big, it dwarfed her living room back at her parents’ house. Everything was draped in white cloth and for a moment, she felt lost in that room too. It had no windwos and seemed to be below ground, in a basement level, though she wasn’t entirely sure. It had been a disorientating walk in the dark mansion. River hoped it was nicer during the day. Less confusing. In truth, she hoped that when she woke up, she’d be inside her tent, safe and sound and all this would be a strange dream.

The girl threw herself off the bridge, her white dress billowing like a butterfly with broken wings. The foam disappeared into the river. In the crowded traffic on the bridge, the busy night scene mixed with the tired eyes of people returning home, leaving only the white figure behind. The waning moon hung blood red in the dark sky like a theatrical curtain. The bat wings twisted and turned, creating a dark and eerie dance. Parker looked down at the gloomy river, where passing cars' headlights flickered briefly before disappearing. The water was black and cold, giving the impression of staring into an abyss without a bottom.