Warm Light Cool Shadows Novels & Stories

The warmth. The light. Gone.

The frequency shifted. Silver-white light seeped from the door seam. Not the blinding, white-hot silver-white from when she had walked into the gate. A soft silver-white. Like moonlight falling upon snow. The light spread along the door seam. Like water seeping into a parched riverbed. It flowed over his back, casting his shadow onto the stone floor of the corridor. The shadow was long. A seated posture. Five hundred years. For the first time, his shadow was not the shape of a kneeling man.

The windows reflect the room back at itself, showing me ghost versions of the kitchen island, the marble counters, my own figure moving through the darkness. I don't turn on the main lights. I find the small lamp above the stove — a deliberate choice, placed there for exactly this purpose, for the small hours when you need light but not too much light. It creates a pool of warm yellow that turns the rest of the room into shadow. The effect is intimate, almost sacred. A circle of light in the darkness, and me standing in it.

As I dragged my exhausted body out of the conference room, Sabrina stopped me. "Beta, Matteo's office looks a bit too plain. Go up the mountain and pick some wild daisies to brighten it up." Wild daisies grew in places covered with thorns, and wolfsbane was hidden among them. One wrong move, and you would get poisoned. I refused. "The Alpha doesn't like wild daisies. His office has always been decorated with roses only." Sabrina's expression immediately soured. "Are you questioning me? Fine, then. Since you say Matteo doesn't like wild daisies, let's go ask him."

I didn't need to think twice as I ran out, tagging closely behind him. It was already dark outside but I was so grateful for the little light that pitched in through the cracks on the wall. I take a deep breath, and the air seems sweeter, fresher. I blink repeatedly, letting my eyes adjust to the gentle glow from the moon. It's not harsh or overwhelming, it's just right. As I look back, I feel like the dungeon isn't as frightening in the light. The shadows that seemed to move and twist in the darkness now seem like mere projections of my own fears. The light chases them away, and I feel a sense of peace settle over me.

CHAPTER SIX : THE FIRST DEATH Lyra woke up cold. Not regular cold. Not the kind of cold that came from winter weather or a lack of blankets. The kind of cold that came from lying on frozen ground with no pack bond to keep you warm. The kind of cold that sank into bones and stayed there. The kind of cold that could kill. She opened her eyes slowly. Everything hurt. Her head pounded. Her chest ached like someone had carved out her heart with a dull knife.

My head bounced with a loud thud that echoed through my ears and darkness captured me. Relief flooded my body as I laid in the darkness. I felt light and peaceful. There was no pain, just lightness. It felt like I was floating. I was no longer falling, just still in the darkness. I pulled myself to my feet and felt the floor beneath me. I looked down at my stomach like there should be something there, but I couldn’t think why. I wandered through the darkness looking for a way out like normal. There was always a way out, but this time it was not obvious. The darkness was a bottomless pit. I walked and walked.

“Alright, you win. Maybe I’m a little predictable.” “Not predictable.” Sienna leaned forward. “Reliable. It’s different.” “You make me want to be better, Sienna.” Enzo said softly. “That’s not something I’m used to.” The mood shifts as Enzo stood and walked to the balcony. Sienna follows, the cool night air brushed against her skin. The city lights twinkled in the distance, a stark contrast to the dark world they inhabit. Sienna stood beside him. “It’s beautiful out here.”

I closed my eyes, letting the gentle warmth seep into my bones. The dimmed lights of the bathroom cast a warm glow, creating a serene ambiance. The sconces above the sink emitted a soft, golden light, casting a warm reflection on the water's surface. The LED candles flickering on the countertop added a peaceful ambiance, their gentle dance mesmerizing. The water's surface reflected the soft light, creating a shimmering effect that seemed almost hypnotic. I felt my worries slowly drifting away, carried by the gentle lapping of the water against the tub's edges.

"Not interested in being taller than your husband, Rita? I ignored their words, grateful that they had flashed me a glimpse of their heels. As we had gotten ready, my fireplace has slowly disappeared, turning into a staircase. I looked over the girls in my room, the rest of our sisters filing in. Silver, blue, brown, green, pink purple, maroon, and ice added to the ruby, gold, yellow and white. If only Klover were allowed to join us, then we would be balanced out with the black of her wardrobe. I started down the stairs, listening for the tap of eleven other sets of footsteps as we journeyed into the dark of our Uncle's Underground kingdom.