Darker

Athena, a gifted pianist, loses everything after a mysterious accident robs her of the use of her hand. As she struggles to rebuild her life, dark secrets about her husband Leon and her best friend Crystal come to light—their betrayal runs deeper than she ever imagined. With the help of Arthur, a mysterious man with a vendetta, Athena devises a plan to expose their deceit. But as they work together, the lines between trust and suspicion blur, leaving Athena wondering: is Arthur truly her ally, or does he have ulterior motives? As their game reaches its peak, will Athena find justice, or will she become ensnared in an even darker web of betrayal?

A dark and gloomy villa stood in the middle of the barren landscape, hidden from sight by a perched hedge. It was phenomenal and spectacular, but it makes it appear to have succumbed to a sullen and ominous atmosphere, both inside and out. A lanky hedge and gnarled shrubs give off the impression that the house has indeed been overlooked. The rainstorm seeping from the sewer pipes made the place appear miserable and dispirited. Needless to say, the house appeared razed to the ground and devoid of life. The house was made of rune stone that had been smeared darker in spots by downpours, sending it an insidious demeanor even during the day. The window frames were all padlocked and bricked up in steel frames and woods, as if what was inside would have been too grotesque to see, trying to give the impression that someone must have attempted to prevent something horrible from escaping. People have claimed that the residence was plagued by the witch who died there, but there has been no tangible evidence to substantiate their claims. It was even widely speculated that the villa was venomous and mowed down the leaves of trees that come into direct contact with its concrete pillars. People also construed a terrifying presumption that whoever tries to enter the house will never make it out alive because there is something inside that you would never dare to see with your very own eyes. Whatever was real or not, it was unmistakably foreshadowing, exponentially cold and savage at a hundredth of a thousand glances. A breathtaking doll sat competently on a rocking chair inside the house. Waiting complacently for someone brave and heroic enough to unravel the abominable and ghoulish mystery and paradox behind her enchanting, spine-chilling smile.

At just twelve years old, Elena Windsor's world crumbles in a single night, branding her as The Traitor's Daughter. Once living a fairy tale life, surrounded by love and the Alpha's Sons-Triplets she prayed would be her mates-her world flips when her father, a loyal beta, is falsely accused of heinous crimes within the Shadow-Hunters pack-of killing the Luna and poisoning the Alpha. Cast out and labeled, Elena faces torment from former protectors turned tormentors. Determined to clear her father's name, she endures relentless hardships and hurtful words. Her sole mission is to erase the damning label that defines her existence. Yet, a chilling turn comes when the childhood prayer's acceptance leads her down a darker path and what made it worse was that they had other plans than rejecting her....... Join Elena on a journey of truth, unmasking hidden monsters and fighting to remove her damning tag.

Bill is a nobody, a health inspector who’s not above taking a few dollars to overlook a restaurant’s mouse problem, and hated by nearly everyone except his long-suffering girlfriend. His nephew, Trent, isn’t much better: sexually and morally confused, he’s probably the worst teenage con artist on the East Coast. But today, these two losers harbor a sentient parasite with a sarcastic sense of humor and a ravenous appetite. As the parasite figures out how to control its new human hosts, the focus of its desires grows from delicious cheeseburgers and beer to something much darker and more dangerous.©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Ferngrove must pay for their crimes of stealing an ancient jewel from a Fae High Lord, Valen, and harnessing the power within it. So every century, a daughter of the chief must be taken to Lyria, the realm of the High lord and there she will spend her remaining life paying for her ancestors crimes. After another century, Valen descends on the village once more, taking the beautiful daughter of the chief of Ferngrove, Maerwynn. And he imprisons her in his Court subjecting her to a cruel fate. As the days pass, Valen finds himself inexplicably drawn to Maerwynn, her unwavering strength and beauty stirring something long dormant within his dark heart and when Maerwynn, finds out she's more than a mere human and her destiny is tied to Valen, she gathers enemies like bees to honey. Determined to protect her from the dangers lurking within his own realm and beyond, Valen finds himself making sacrifices he never thought possible, defying the very nature of his being but nothing can stop the war coming. But nothing can stop the war coming, for it will consume completely. ************************* He fixes me with a steely gaze, his voice taking on a darker edge. "You have no business with my Court or any other Court in Lyria, to be precise. You're here to atone for the sins of your ancestors, and you will do so while knowing your place," he declares, his words cutting through the air like a knife. I swallow hard, feeling a heavy weight settle in my chest at his harsh tone and the gravity of his words. "And what is my place?" I inquire, my voice barely above a whisper. His gaze hardens, and his words send a chill down my spine. "My prisoner."

I once had everything, but now I have nothing. He is no longer nothing to me, but rather everything. I lost everything in a single night. My love, My life. My relationship. But I discovered so much truth. We are liars. Playing with him or her. Dark Truth requires sacrifices, and now I'm the one sacrificing my love for them. He had no idea about my bargain. I left him in the dark, where he was still fighting his demons. His family is playing with him, and the one I enjoy the most is on the bet. Love Or Family I selected family, and he chose me because of my ability to pay or what I had accomplished. Revenge We met years later, but he had a darker side. Have a past that continues to plague me in the present. ent. He changed and played with me, and I allowed it. Again, falling for him was one of my most serious mistakes. He damaged me yet gave me a life I didn't expect. Forever Nothing will stop me, not even my past. My present. I have no choice except to leave them alone. So, how did I get him to fall for me again when I could only give him pain? He needs to live alone, without me. Without my innocent love.

" You're mine, little bird." My blood thrummed loudly in my ears as I crawled away from him on the floor. With long strides, he was already standing above me. He pulled me up and covered my mouth with his palm. Panic set in, my limbs shaking in terror. "You need a reminder of who you belong to." His mismatched eyes boring into mine. I shook my head, violently, tears wetting his hand over my mouth. He brought the knife to my face." Tell your lover, Zayden, not to get involved. I already graced you with the wedding. Marry him, but 7 days after the wedding, come back to Denver, where you belong." I nodded desperately, hoping he wouldn't hurt me. " I'll leave a souvenir." He chuckled and then dug the pocket knife into my side. **** Lillain's life is a delicate mess. Having survived her traumatic childhood by suppressing her memories, she has to do everything to survive, which includes agreeing to a contract marriage with her boss to have access to his wealth. Engage to Enigmatic and wealthy Zayden, she hides a dark secret. She's been threatened by a mysterious figure from her past. Her past was coming back to haunt her. Zayden eventually discovers her secrets and confronts her. But Lillian can't confide in him - she's trapped in a web of fear and trauma, leaving Zayden devastated with the fear of losing her. The biggest shock comes when the mysterious figure appears, his menacing presence threatening to destroy Lillian's carefully constructed plans. With her world spinning out of control, Lillian must make a choice: confront her demons or risk losing everything including the man she had fallen in love with. But Little did she know that she wasn't the only one keeping secrets. Zayden had secrets, secrets darker than hers.

" W-What do you think you are doing?". I said almost in a whisper. " I am , my wife I am here to make our marriage night a memory ". He said with no emotions or may be I can not see them because he is smirking. " You forced me I will never be your WIFE! ". I almost shouted the last part but I guess that was a mistake because his dark eyes became more darker as he pressed himself on me . (Unedited Version but Story and Plot are great. Read at your own risk)

"If you take an inch towards me, that's it. Your fate is forever sealed!” Frederico said, with a smirk on his lips. I have no option, I can't let my father die because of my selfish decision, so I gave him my word. "Yes. I agree, Red. I will be your toy!" Nothing could have prepared Rose to face the man she left behind eight years ago—her ex-boyfriend, who is now a ruthless Mafia lord. But this time, she’s entirely at his mercy. Frederico Grey Di Grazia has become a cold-blooded billionaire, a man who lives for power and control. Once the man she loved, he's now a figure of vengeance, dominating the darkest depths of the Italian underworld. Trapped in his twisted game, Rose must make an impossible choice: surrender to Frederico’s brutal whims or risk everything to defy him. But as his intentions grow darker and his interest in her becomes dangerously possessive, Rose begins to understand that escape might cost more than her freedom—it could cost her heart.

Peter's eyes pleaded. "I'm sorry for what I did, but—" Dominic cut him off. "If I had not married your daughter, you would have fallen here in pieces by now." Peter's voice barely audible. "I'm sorry..." Just then, the office door swung open. Valerie's soft voice interrupted the tense scene. "Dinner is ready." Every head turned towards the door. Valerie's eyes widened as she took in the room's atmosphere. "Dad?" Dominic's expression remained stern, but a flicker of warning flashed in his eyes. He nodded subtly at Kael. Kael strode towards Valerie, his movements fluid. "Vel, let's go." Valerie's voice trembled as she asked Kael, "What's going on? Why is Dad kneeling there?" Kael's expression softened, but his eyes remained guarded. He offered a gentle smile. "You don't need to worry about him, Valerie." Valerie's concern deepened. "But what's happening?" Kael's tone turned cold. "Anyway, that man doesn't deserve anyone's concern." Valerie's eyes widened. "That man is my father." Kael's jaw clenched. "That man was neither a good father nor an honest man. He's getting what he deserves." Suddenly, the sound of a bullet firing cracked through the air. Valerie's eyes went wide, and she took a step forward, but Kael grasped her hand, holding her back. "Don't go there, Valerie," Kael warned, his voice low and urgent. "The boss is very pissed off right now. It's not safe." Tears welled up in Valerie's eyes, spilling down her cheeks. "He was my father," she whispered. Valerie, wife of mafia king Dominic, faces danger when Viktor, seeking revenge, targets her and their unborn child. Despite Arthur's protection, Valerie is kidnapped and brutally attacked by Viktor, resulting in the loss of her child. The tragedy unleashes Dominic's darker side, transforming him into a heartless and cruel leader, driven by vengeance.