The Forest Of Vanishing Stars: A Novel Novels & Stories

Forbidden Fires ••• The forest beyond the northern ridge lay in a fragile calm. Mist curled between ancient oaks, the moonlight seeping through the canopy in silver threads that danced across moss and roots. Aella walked beside Thalen, her palms brushing along the Heartwood’s energy beneath the bark, the pulse of the forest reflecting the hammering of her own heart. Their victory against the Red Fang had left adrenaline still coiling through their veins, heat lingering from the intensity of battle, but there had been no time, no space, to acknowledge the fire that had grown between them.

She was scared that they would be naive again and will lose everything, and she could hardly think about anything other than that as they sat quietly on the rooftop, breathing in the cold air and sitting in silence. The eerie darkness of the night burned into her mind -- and she was pretty sure that this particular night would never escape her memory. She gazed up at the pitch-black curtain draped over the sky, and the twisted, warped shapes that the stars made against the blackness — she wondered what the stars thought about their relationship. She hoped that they wouldn't ever be star-crossed. The milky speckles seemed to twirl and dance along in various patterns, and seemed to be tugging

Just as I was about to knock, a luxury van pulled up in front of the house. Out stepped Hilary, holding Lily's hand. "Mommy, that's the bad man!" Lily spotted me and pointed straight at me. Ignoring the murderous glare Hilary shot me, I turned toward the villa's entrance. "Nick!" she shrieked behind me. "Haven't you had enough?! Didn't you promise to leave us alone?! Go away!" She grabbed Lily and moved to push me back, but just then, the iron gate opened. An older woman with graying temples walked out.

The valley sky was now sickly bruised purple and charcoal black, pulsating like a wounded animal. There were no stars shining, just a gruesome red smear low on the horizon, as if heaven bled. Deep in the forest, beneath the twisted trees and half-forgotten remains of old wars, there was a village still. No singing. No dancing fires. No barking dogs. Only breathing. Then. Not even that. A cold gust swooped by like death on a leash, and behind it came a whisper. Not the wind. A laugh. A dry, rough rasp.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow across the forest as Clara, Ashani, Isla, and Emily made their way deeper into the heart of WildWood. The air was thick with a strange stillness, an unsettling silence that seemed to echo in the absence of the usual nocturnal sounds. There were no crickets, no rustling leaves, no hoots from owls. It was as if the forest itself was waiting—waiting for something.

And delicious. Maybe it was deliciously delirious. Sasha was still whispering to herself when she realized she was no longer in the barn. She blinked, drinking in the details of her surroundings: the glass ceiling, the lavish bed, and the roaring fireplace. Indeed, Fire Moon Pack may be the Pack of Flames but they were situated near the Verdean Forest, the very heart of coldness in all of Westfall. That’s why their pack is cold too, even when winter is now leaving. Perhaps the chilling secrets of the mysterious forest has stretched itself as far as their packlands, dropping the temperature into a cold that can make anyone immensely shiver.

The journey ahead was still fraught with unknown challenges. As the guardians regrouped, preparing to depart the Nexus, a sudden, dissonant hum echoed throughout the realm. The harmonious strands of moments that made up the Nexus began to waver, their luminescent glow flickering ominously. Nebula, her senses always attuned to the cosmos, suddenly looked up with alarm. "Wait... something's not right. The stars," she whispered, her voice edged with panic, "some of them are... vanishing." The guardians followed her gaze upwards, witnessing a surreal sight. The once vibrant constellations were slowly but steadily dimming, stars winking out of existence as if being erased from the fabric of time.

Ornais shook his head, he knew that this would end badly. Daniel closed his eyes and focused on Abigail. Soon he was inside her nightmare. He watched as a version of himself massaged her head. Daniel found it entertaining how he had invaded her inner mind from just one “accidental encounter”. The nightmare turned very quickly as imagined version of himself starting burning the places on Abigail’s head his fingers touched. Then the chair turned around and Abigail looked as if she was staring at a ghost.

The shadows whispered ancient secrets, their voices taunting and elusive. With every step, Claire's celestial powers flickered, sensing the dissonance in the forest's energy. It was as if the ethereal forest itself mourned the loss of its harmony. Determined to unravel the mystery, Claire and Dakota followed the trail of darkness, their hearts filled with equal parts concern and hope. Finally, they arrived at a clearing bathed in eerie moonlight, where a figure stood, shrouded in darkness. It was Zane, but he seemed changed—his eyes clouded with an unfamiliar intensity and his features contorted by an amalgamation of shadows.

We begin swaying to the music as we keep glancing at each other. I have found my happiness and piece of mind even after a lot of struggles. Looking into Gabriel's eyes, I just know it that this is just the beginning of something bigger. I am happy to announce that FADED is a paid story on goodnovel with over 3K views. It honestly means a lit to me as a young writer. I urge you to continue supporting me by reading my other works on my profile. I will be dropping the synopsis and cover in some time. There is still a lot to discover for Lyka and so, don't miss out on book two which I will perhaps be dropping next year.