Beneath The Neon Book Novels & Stories

in elegant gold script, and beneath that, smaller text that I couldn't quite make out from this distance. The moment we stepped out onto the sidewalk, the air changed completely. Cool night breeze carried the scent of expensive perfume and cigarette smoke, mixing with the aroma of street food from vendors stationed strategically around the club district. Neon glow reflected off the glossy surfaces of luxury cars parked along the curb—BMWs, Mercedes, the occasional Tesla that hummed silently among its gasoline-powered companions. The rhythmic thump of music pulsed from inside the building, so deep and insistent that I could feel it in my chest, synchronizing with my already rapid heartbeat.

As Drew pulls me closer and kisses me softly under the faint shimmer of lights, I can’t help but think… How could a man so sweet have been hiding beneath the surface all this time? THE END

“Guest room one. Guest room two. Fancy marble bathroom. Another guest room. Why do I feel Greg has more guest beds than friends?” “Rich people love rooms they never use.” Then I paused. Door slightly open. Lights off. Just enough shadow to look... lived in. I nudged it. Guitar in the corner. Black bedding. Posters. Scent of cologne and something smoky. “Hold on,” I said. “This one’s different.” “Ooooh, do it. Go in.” “Char, I swear—” “Do it, coward.” I rolled my eyes and nudged the door open.

My sneakers squeak embarrassingly loud on the polished marble floor as I follow him inside. And wow. High ceilings. Art I don’t recognize but definitely can’t afford. The air smells faintly like lemon and something sharper — expensive wood polish, maybe. I feel like I’m trespassing in a museum. The driver leads me down a hall and stops at a huge double door. “The kitchen,” he says, and then — like some kind of robot — he turns and leaves without another word. Cool. Super welcoming. Definitely not weird at all. I push the door open and—

Either way, its off-key resonance seemed to be drawing the zombies and Mer to it, as many had already reached the street and moved amongst the smoke. He continued to dive into the smoke, trying to spot the Emissary, when strange neon lights caught his attention. From above, the neon formed circles within circles and overlapped with a pentagon. It was not too dissimilar to what the witches in Tabitha Marie’s kitchen had been spellcasting within, except one made of neon tubing light, and moving. They carried a stretcher within their circle.

She didn’t even notice when she got so cold. “I see you prefer to shop in large quantities,” Yuna looked at the stack of books with a malicious glance. “We don’t have Simmons in the store, but we have a couple of books in stock: “Prayers to the Broken Stone” and “The Fall of Hyperion.” — “Hyperion” is not particularly interesting to me, but I would buy a collection of his stories. - Okay, I’ll call tomorrow and order delivery - it’s too late today. They probably dumped everything. And I'm closing in about twenty minutes. If you don't have plans, then let's go home together.

He muttered as his hands started roaming her chest. “I still have to pack.” She rolled her sad eyes at him. “5 minutes then.” Without waiting for her to respond, he crushed their lips together and started kissing her… Fifteen minutes later, the family of five gathered in a detached, small house behind their main building. The boys and Ashley carried well-packed backpacks, and their mother carried a small beach bag that was bugling with god knows what. They quietly entered a room that looked like a library. Bernard pressed down on a pitch black, glossy looking book and a clunking sound filled the room. Gradually, one of the bookshelves started moving inward until a doorway appeared. Bernard p

" One evening. None of names, none of strings. I will pay you sufficient to cover your sister's operation in return. My head whirling, I fixed on him. Though Lily's life hung precariously, it was a Faustian deal. I couldn't afford to let fear or pride control me. Alright, I said, my voice hardly audible. "one evening." He nodded, glad. Excellent. My hotel tomorrow evening. I'll have the cash on hand. Twenty-24 hours later was a swirl of nervousness and getting ready. I stayed with Lily all day trying to reassure her and myself that everything would be fine. I headed to the opulent penthouse in the middle of the city, the spot Ethan had as night fell.

“No, it’s just... I’ve noticed how you two are around each other. He cares about you, probably more than he realizes. And that’s good for you, because he’s the most sincere one in the house.” I didn’t know how to respond, so I said nothing, keeping my eyes on the path ahead. “Just... be careful with him, okay?” Neel continued, his voice soft and emotional. “Dev’s been through a lot. He hides it well, but he’s carrying more than any of us know.” “I’ll be careful,” I promised, my mind spinning with Neel’s words. Had Dev said something to him? Across the block was a quaint, nearly deserted bookstore nestled between a coffee shop and an antique store. The wooden sign above the entrance swayed sl

Steele and Neon got to the Human City in two hours, an earlier faster than Neon planned. The two hadn't said a word to each other since they left the Council and with their eyes fixed outside the windows, they didn't look like they'd be speaking with each other any time soon. Neon led him to a nearby garage where she handed a man there some money and took a car key. The man opened the garage's gate to reveal numerous luxurious cars. The headlight of a Lamborghini flashed twice as Neon got close to it. She got into the driver's seat anf Steele got in after her.