Dark Lullaby Novels & Stories

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

My eyes fall shut, trying to keep the tears at bay. “I accepted the path of darkness for myself. I’m a vampire,” Lucas continues. “That’s what we are. That’s what’s inside of us. Darkness.” He slips one hand under me, and my heart swells in my chest. “I believed I could never be anything but dark. I let it consume me, and I told myself that’s how things were meant to be. For over a thousand years I clung onto that false truth…and then I met you.” A tear rolls down my cheek.

The liquid inside is a vivid, unnatural purple, too bright to be anything good. My breath catches. My father holds it up like he’s showing me a jewel. “This,” he says, “is not wolf’s bane.” My blood freezes. “It’s a newer dose,” he continues lightly, eyes never leaving mine. “A refinement. More… enthusiastic. We call it Vesperbane.” The name sounds like dusk and death. He shifts closer to Adrian. Adrian’s eyes flare, rage, warning, refusal. He strains against the chains, gag muffling whatever sound he tries to make.

Aerian screeched. It was so damn dark where she was it was almost impossible to see her. Even with my wolf vision I could just barely make her out. The only part of her that was easily seen were her eyes. They were glowing brightly. There were three dead wolves lying in front of her. The others were standing there snarling at her as she stood over Benny’s unmoving form. I let out a growl as more wolves descended on us. I heard someone yell at me. As I looked over my shoulder, I saw a wolf lunging towards me. Before it could land on my back a stream of the brightest light, I had ever seen hit it. The wolf flew several feet way hitting a tree. When I looked at the wolf it was burnt to a crisp.

I have been so wrapped up with Adare, that I didn't even hear him come in. “No,” I say. “It’s just a lullaby.” “Yes. About killing werewolves.” “No, it’s not. It’s about keeping him safe from monsters.” “The monster with the big teeth and glowing eyes?” I go over the lyrics in my head. In the last stanza, the mother uses the monster’s coat to keep the baby warm. “Shit.” Kane laughs and sits next to me. “You’d be surprised how many lullabies are about something dark and terrible, but maybe try one of the human songs, I don’t know.”

He stumbles down the staircase and falls into a drunken, stupor-ed sleep in front of the TV. A vicious silhouette slinks from behind his daughter’s door. Nebulous shadows like a black hole reverse birthing a galaxy. It stands by her bedside. A freezing draft teases the lacy curtains. The window pries open and in slips a chill breeze like the death of an empire. “Nothing here?” A chthonic voice echoes. “Oh, but of course there is.” The shadow brushes her hair back. Kisses the child’s brow. It sings a lullaby, somber, like the wind, and rocks her with arms like sin.

The lie tasted bitter, and Lila kicked me gently under the table, her eyes saying *hold it together*. By the time we escaped back to our room, the sun had long dipped below the western spires, painting the sky in bruised purples and golds that filtered through our window like accusations. Lila fell asleep quickly after lights-out, curled on her side with earbuds in, soft instrumental lute music drifting out like a distant lullaby meant to soothe restless wolves. I lay in the dark for what felt like hours, the narrow bed creaking every time I shifted, moonlight spilling across my sheets in cool silver rivers that made every shadow look like the curve of Jason’s broad shoulders, the sharp line

The room was drowned in silence. The dais figure then spoke, a rich, throaty sound that washed over the room like a comforting duvet. “My friends. My family. The full moon is coming.” “The moon is coming…” the crowd groaned in unison. “Tonight we gather in preparation for this divine blessing, this power of nature that sets us apart from the world.” “We are apart from others. We are special.” The crowd muttered together. “But tonight we are not alone. There is one amongst us who should not be here.”

“You’re...fuck...you’re so fucking good at this.” I hummed softly around him, letting the vibration ripple through him. I knew what it would do. I knew it would draw another guttural moan from him, and I wasn’t disappointed. His head tipped back, his jaw clenching as a deep groan tore from his throat.

'' He whispered. ''No, don't stop...'' I whispered back drowsy with sleep. I have gotten used to cold and dark that I almost love it now. ''Goodnight Sky'' Shit! What was I doing? This wasn't going to end well at all.