Novel Candle Co Novels & Stories

“Is there a store I can order something from. Lamps. Anything.” “Not in this weather.” He reached under the counter and produced a small wooden box. Inside were three thick candles, the kind that came with their own glass holder, wrapped in ribbon. “These will do. Scented. For couples.” He held them out with the satisfaction of a man solving a problem efficiently. “You and your girlfriend will enjoy the night. It will be magical.” Amanda did not correct him. I watched her not correct him and felt something warm move through my chest that I decided not to examine too closely right then.

Maybe they would be back by the time I was done picking some of the candles. Walking down the aisle of floral scented candles, I looked for one that'd cause an aphrodisiac effect, make sparks fly and ward off all his exhaustion. I might have just found it. Patchouli and rosewood. Delighted, I took the little jar secured with a red silk ribbon tied into a bow when two eyes white as a ghost's popped up at the back out of nowhere. A scream escaped my lips as I receded, my back hitting the shelf behind.

Then I heard Noah’s quiet curse from the couch and the soft thud of his laptop closing. “Stay there,” he said. “I know where the candles are.” I stayed. I listened to him move through the dark with the confidence of someone who had lived in this space long enough to map it by muscle memory. A drawer opened in the kitchen. Something rattled. Then came the scrape of a match and the small, warm bloom of light. Noah walked back into the living room carrying three candles in an old ceramic dish we used for keys and loose change. He set them on the coffee table. The flames threw soft, moving gold across the walls and his face.

Lillian found herself walking hand-in-hand with Nicholas through the square, marveling at how quickly Port Haven had become home. A vendor selling handmade candles called them over, insisting they take a moment to smell the fall-inspired scents. Laughing, they indulged, breathing in the fragrances of spiced apple, pumpkin, and pine. Lillian selected a small candle with a cinnamon scent, her favorite since childhood, and tucked it into her bag, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction from even the smallest pleasures.

The room was adorned with a few scattered furniture pieces, consisting of a single sofa, a coffee table, and a TV. The walls were painted with a bright shade of yellow, giving the room an airy and welcoming feel. The light from the candle flickered, casting a warm glow on their faces. The smell of fresh coffee mingled with the aroma of Clancy's scented candle, making the room feel cozy and comfortable.

I flinched as I saw the insanely large flames of the two black candles, burning the whole wax within seconds. "Relax," Nova said calmly. "The black candles are supposed to burn the demonic energy, while the white candles should bring her peace." I smiled nervously and nodded. Perhaps the blowing-up candles shouldn't freak me out, but this day had been more than enough horrifying to make me jumpy. I took a deep breath and watched the white candles light brighter and brighter until they illuminated Marlene's body. Then the light became so strong that it began to hurt my eyes. I closed them for a second, and when I opened them again, the lights were gone, and so was Marlene's body.

“Because I’ve been thinking about this for weeks.” He led her over to the table, and as they approached, Claire noticed a series of candles arranged along its length, their flickering flames casting dancing shadows on the walls. Aiden reached out and lit one of the candles, the soft golden light revealing a row of gleaming jars filled with different colors of wax. Her heart pounding in anticipation, Claire watched as Aiden selected a jar and carefully removed the lid, the warm, sweet scent of the wax filling the air.

Using the lighter, he lighted the 'candle'. The 'candle' was really made up of a tubular metal, one-inch wide and three-inch long, but with dulled spikes of half-inch long. The spikes dotted the whole of the metal tube outside. It was hollow and had a metal vial inside, which had a wick and oil. The fire was slow-burning and it gave the metal a low heat. The heat could be handled by bare hand but when it was inserted between the legs, the pain was excruciating. "Come here, Hess..."

The image burned into his retina before the darkness returned, deeper. “Stay where you are. I have candles in the kitchen cabinet.” He navigated the now-labyrinthine familiar space until he found the cabinet. His fingers searched the top shelf, locating the cold cylinder of an emergency candle and, beside it, a box of matches. The scratch of the match was obscenely loud, a small yellow explosion that illuminated his tense face for an instant before he touched the wick. The flame was born, flickering, then steadied, casting a trembling sphere of golden light and dancing shadows.

With Bennett's fiery temper, Sean could end up worse than just beaten. Sean could not risk it. His face darkened with a terrible gravity. In a heartbeat, Sean blurted, "Honey, Mom's spiritual advisor said you should light a candle on the quiet rooftop before the baby comes, to pray for a safe birth!" A rooftop? The only way up was the stairs. It looked like Sean had a plan to send me tumbling down. I did not argue. I just followed him up the stairwell. "Babe, I'll lead. Watch your step, okay?" said Sean, his concern as thin as ice.