Anthony Horowitz Horror Books Novels & Stories

OSTARA’S POV Anthony’s study always felt like the safest room in the house—dark wood, steady lighting, walls lined with books that made everything feel grounded. Today, even the room seemed on edge. We spoke in angry whispers, the kind people use when they don’t want the person in the next room to hear them. Anthony leaned close to me, jaw clenched, voice low. “I don’t trust her. Not one bit.” “I don’t either,” I whispered back. “But have you actually looked at her? She didn’t even look like this when we found her after she disappeared for all those years!”

"They have, ever since she was born." Cassandra set the little serpent among the piles of gold coins. The creature sagged in defeat and exhaustion after lying before that terrible fire. "There it is," Vasilisa's voice came from behind a mountain of walnut-sized raw rubies. It wasn't hard to find the book. It was placed on a golden stand in between two golden Sirin statues. The grimoire turned out to be the largest book Cassandra had ever seen, with pages made of parchment illuminated with tracery, and it was open to a page thickly covered with elegant, intricate writing.

I go to the library where I see Abner Brooks. “Ahh, young Morgan, I’m not surprised to see you here.” He gives me a genuine smile. “I came to look for books on word alchemy, I’m not sure what or if they have any here.” “They do,” He bobs his head in thought, “Not a whole ton but Bear Clans are very spiritual and keep many records of Witch Alchemy.” He leads me to a section in the back and shows me a bookshelf of old and dusty books that look like they haven’t been touched in centuries. If at all. “Knock yourself out, let me know if I can be of any help.”

But was it the happy ever after for the royal kingdom and people of Hamster? The dead body of Otaku was found by some Aghoris who passed by the way. They were experts in practice of black magic and sorcery. With their evil powers they brought Otaku alive. For the wickedness he nurtured in his body and blood, Otaku became a master in Tantrism. He is now no more a human who has life principled to birth and death but a vampire, a sex hungry beast and a lust filled addict who had mastered on sorcery.

They sat like that for a while, shoulders touching, diary open between them. Raven reached for the black tome she’d left on the nightstand the night before. She had been studying the final sections late into the previous evening—the most dangerous rites, the ones that bound not just flesh but will, not just bodies but souls. Pages filled with warnings written in silver ink that seemed to pulse faintly when she stared too long. Victoria watched her turn the pages, expression thoughtful. After a moment she took the diary again and wrote: *We have a vast library here.*