The Gormenghast Trilogy Novels & Stories

"The trees... they didn't just fall. They were eaten. Not by fire, not by saws. They’re just... gone. And the snow has turned black." The Shadow-Beast of the First Hunt Marek’s face went pale. He scrambled to his feet and began flipping through the ancient leather book he always carried. "Elias, if the explosion cracked the seal on the Iron Peaks, we are in more trouble than Silas could ever cause," Marek whispered. "There are legends from the First Hunt—the time before the Crescent Moon bloodline even existed. They speak of the Gulgatha." "What is a Gulgatha?" Kael asked, stepping closer.

What are you waiting for? Like a robot or a victim of a magical saga, Ragnar trudges forward with stiff legs and through the gates of Morkai. The wolf's cloak seemed to spring to life and flow to meet him. A hazy and weak wolf spirit was following the comet embryo. He seemed to hear a loud roar, like the ghost of a pack of long-dead wolves. The ghosts surrounded him and headed for the arch. They were running in his mouth and his nostrils were open. He felt steam rising from his throat and filling his lungs. Thinking he would suffocate in the throbbing, putrid air, he continued to move forward and towards the large door… For a moment he thought it was over. He looked at three menacing old men

“I was what was left of him.” Rael’s breath caught. “The Hollow Crown… it turned you into this.” Vame nodded. “And if you continue down this path, it will do the same to you.” No one spoke. Then the ground trembled. The Hollowed One Rises A deep, resonant groan echoed from beneath them. The ground split as something rose from the rock, a figure larger than any shadow before, its body a fusion of bone and rusted metal, eyes burning with the same crimson light that had pulsed in the ruins.

My ears began to ring with pain as a result of the blow and her continuous orchestra of screams. I was not going to give up. I pushed myself back to my feet, ready to try again. When the shadow of evil appeared behind her, growing taller by the second, I gasped. Furious green eyes pierced the darkness. I forced myself out of my trance and ran toward her. When the shadow met my run, it transformed into a wind-blown tornado, swirling around her at breakneck speed. The faster the tornado spun, the thinner her slender frame became.

Hadn't blinked, hadn't breathed in any way Alvar could see, one hand still locked around the crown's dark metal, eyes open and fixed on absolutely nothing. The black mist had grown bolder in that time. It no longer simply circled him—it rose in slow, deliberate waves now, coiling upward from the base of his spine until it took shape at its peak, unmistakable, a wolf rendered massive and ghostly in curling smoke, jaws parted in something that might have been a snarl or might have been grief. Then it dissolved, always, before anyone could decide which. "That's the third time it's done that," Eryndor said, quiet, watching the smoke fold back into nothing.

Then I add, “But I’m not in any rush to be a grandmother.” Noah chokes on air. Emily snorts in the front seat. Raven bursts into laughter. “Trust me,” Raven says, wiping her eyes, “I’m not ready for that stage of life either.” The tension breaks. Just for a moment. Just long enough to breathe. Grace and Liam are already hauling my books into the dining room when we arrive. Stacks and stacks of them—old leather-bound grimoires, Warren family journals, spellbooks, prophecy collections, everything I’ve ever studied.

I gasped as I looked back up at Xipher, and he smiled and softly nodded his head. “A storm is coming.” He said in a voice that sent dreaded shivers through my body as I turned, looking out over the glowing land. To Be Continued in BOOK THREE “GUARDIANS KINGDOMS”

"My name is Driemala, an elder. It was a pleasure meeting you, Rohama." For seconds, I speculated he could read minds. How was he able to know my name? "Indeed, a mystery have come. But no one could say what it tells us about. The time must be nearing." And to add, I'm flustered with his speaking. Was he pertaining to me?" "Come," he said. My eyes immediately catch Merko's. I even pointed myself. He nodded. Slowly, I paced and stopped at the three step stairway. Was it designed for giants? One stair could atleast equal to three regular footsteps. I frowned but continued walking till I was standing infront of the elder. He smiled. The heck? How can the teeth be still complete?

The first thing we do is drop Cas off at the forest so he can run around with the other Howlers. Then Sebastian and I start making our way to the Coven’s mansion, where my family’s apartment is. Our mansion is unique. It’s vast and constantly expanding. It’s also odd with staircases that lead to nowhere, windows that never see light, strange paintings, and doors that open to nothing. Shadows swirl around the walls. The mansion is designed this way to confuse spirits that may make their way to the coven’s realm. It doesn’t happen often, but a few have snuck through before. We have reapers to handle those spirits.

I'm sure the twins by now each had a demon of their own and were waiting for us back at Tamner's village. Hunter had come a long way from the person I'd met on the dirt driveway in front of the Reinhart house. And even Ezra was making progress, growing more and more sure in his decisions as the leader of one of the Necromantic families. I just hoped I could keep up. It was time that I got to work. Closing my eyes, I turned my focus inward, to the great wellspring of my power. What used to be a shimmering green and gold of power, now was something darker and not so bright. The color shifted as it moved, following an unseen current that flowed beneath its surface.