YASpooktacular: The Darkness part 13

The Darkness Part 13 Heather Brewer

The Darkness

I’m sure you fabulous YA Fans have been following YASpooktacular, a wonderful event hosted by Danielle and Khelsea.  YASpooktacular features two scary stories, written in 13 parts by various YA authors.

I am hosting part 13 of The Darkness. This part was written by Heather Brewer, whom you can read a little bit about after I post her part of the story. To read the beginnings of each story you can check these links out!

Story 1, Part 1: Heather Brewer on Frenzy of Noise
Story 1, Part 2: Kimberly Derting on Reading or Breathing
Story 1, Part 3: Courtney Allison Moulton on A Good Addiciton
Story 1, Part 4: Chad Kallauner on Book Labyrinth
Story 1, Part 5: Jennifer Archer on Once Upon a Review
Story 1, Part 6: Ariane Mandell on Paperback Dolls
Story 1, Part 7: Kevin James Breaux on A Tale of Many Reviews
Story 1, Part 8: Lani Woodland on Courtney Reads
Story 1, Part 9: Christina Ferko on Michelle & Leslie’s Book Picks
Story 1, Part 10: Amanda Hocking on Ticket To Anywhere
Story 1, Part 11: Danielle Burner on YA Addict
Story 1, Part 12: Christine Johnson on Mundie Moms

The Darkness: PART 13

Reluctantly, hesitantly, holding his breath, Jeremy held out his arm to the demon and waited for what would come. His mind filled with panicky solutions, but none made any sense at all. It was this. This or nothing.

His eyes locked on Anna’s form. It was for her, all for her. He wanted to hold her image in his mind and remember that until the bitter end. Her beautiful, cherubic face. Her tender lips. Oh, how he loved her. Like no one before.

Jeremy’s heart beat harder at the lies he told himself. He had loved another. Long ago and far more than he’d ever loved Anna. Her name was Bryn. And she had been made of darkness as well. But the demon’s hunger for more had been the death of her, and since then, Jeremy had been searching for the smell of orchids, the soft kisses, anything…anything at all that reminded him of Bryn.

He reached out with his other hand, gripping the demons arm, a daring look in his eye. “Do it then. Go on, do it. My blood won’t wait all night.”

The demon grinned, so wrapped up in his lust for power that he was completely oblivious to what was happening all around him. He saw only Jeremy, saw only that his goal was in sight.

The sky’s light took on that strange tone between here and there, between now and then, that signified that morning was on its way, and Jeremy smiled as the demon lifted the blade. There was truth in death. So be it.

The light hit them both, and when it did, the demon lurched forward in a howling scream so loud that Jeremy almost let go of it to cover his ears. But he held fast, refusing to let the demon seek the hidden places where it would find solace. Only he could do this. Only he could keep a creature of evil in the light of the sun.

The tiny hairs on Jeremy’s arms curled, singeing until there was nothing left. A hot prickle crawled up his arms and across his chest, a warning ache before the true pain would begin. Then his skin lit aflame and the fire lapped at his sleeves, burning them away. The heat filled him–his eyes, mouth, lungs, soul–until he was sure he’d become one with it. He turned his head, locking his gaze on what he was certain must have been Anna’s form, and his heart caught fire too. He wished he could take it back, take it all back, make Bryn alive once more and save Anna the heartache of being no more than Bryn’s replacement, but he couldn’t. It was too late for that. Too late for everything. He was burning. And soon he would be dead.

The demon’s screams were endless. It wrenched away from him, but Jeremy gripped its now ashen form tightly, until slowly, the thing began to crumble between his fingers. A lazy breeze exploded its form into nothingness. And Jeremy waited for death.

All around him there was light. But the burning had wilted away to no more than an afterthought. Anna was gone, as was the cemetery, the zombies, the vampires. All that remained was Jeremy, a creature of darkness, and the pleasant glow of that strange light. He turned his hands over in it, noting that he was no longer singed, no longer wounded at all from the flames, and realized that this was death. This was what death felt like.

“You’re not dead, Jeremy.”

He lifted his head at the sound of that voice–a voice he’d not heard in too, too many years. And there she was, eyes bright and wondering, a warm smile on her lips. Bryn. His Bryn.

Blinking, he took her words in with wonder. “How can that be? I must be dead. You’re here.”

Bryn shook her head slowly, gesturing behind him, to where Anna now lay, unconscious. “No. I’m sleeping. Wake me up.”

Jeremy furrowed his brow. “But she’s not you. No one is. And she’ll never be.”

Bryn approached him then, and put a soft, caring hand to his cheek. “There is truth in death. And the truth is that I’ve returned to you in that girl’s form. Love us, Jeremy. Protect us.”

Her last words were but a whisper, and when Jeremy blinked again, he saw that he was back in the cemetery. It was silent. No battles, no screams. And empty, save for he and Anna.

Kneeling at her side, he brushed his fingers across her brow and allowed himself a small smile. No wonder he loved her. She was both his Anna and his Bryn. She was his everything.

Anna’s eyes fluttered open and she scrambled to stand. “Jeremy, what happened? Where’s–”

He pulled her close, hushing her concerns with soft kisses. “You must have fallen asleep waiting for me and had a bad dream, that’s all. Come on. I’ll walk you home.”

As they wound their way out of the cemetery maze and out the gates, Anna’s eyes kept finding him with a questioning. And though he was certain that she must be wondering about the validity of his story, she surprised him by saying, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in the sunlight before.”

Jeremy smiled. “That’s because I’m more of a night person.”

About the author via her website bio:

Heather Brewer was not your typical teen growing up. She wore black, danced under full moons and devoured every book in sight.

She hasn’t changed much.

Today, Heather can be found writing in her funky, black Happy Bunny jammie pants, dancing under the full moon, devouring every book in sight, and attending renaissance faire in costume (and in character).

When Heather’s not writing, dressing up, dancing and reading, she’s answering email, which she LOVES to get.”

Still looking for some scares? Be sure to check out the other story A Soul Laid Bare, by clicking this link.

 

A Soul Laid Bare

A Soul Laid Bare


Still here? I guess that has earned you a treat!

 

Treat or Trick

Treat!


What treat do I have for you awesome troopers? Why an ARC of Nightshade by Andrea Creamer.

To enter, just leave a comment at the bottom with the word wolf in it. The contest ends 11/1 at midnight EST. I will pick a winner during the day on 11/1. This contest is not international.

Finally, be sure to check out the awesome PRIZE PACK that Danielle and Khelsea are giving away!

The following two tabs change content below.
April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.
About April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Comments

  1. Chrystal 678 says

    Great ending to the story! and, um…….wolf! 🙂

  2. Yeah! Jeremy and Anna are finally together!

  3. Oh Yea!! A happy ending I love it! I am so happy they got to be together!!

    Kristen
    My Bloody Fairy Tale

  4. I love Vamps and Werewolves!! Too bad this story didn’t have any wolves. It had demons and zombies and Vampires!!

    Kristen
    My Bloody Fairy Tale

  5. I so want to read this book about wolves! 🙂

  6. grumpybybirth says

    I am so confused on this story, but I am glad Jeremy is back with Anna/Bryn. The only thing that would have made it more confusing is if wolves were in it. ;-}

  7. I love the ending, nice sacrifice of ones self, and yea for getting the girl!

  8. Great contest! I am writing a story about a Wolf pack actually – oh the coincidences!

    I loved YA Spooktacular and I hope it becomes an annual (semi annual?) thing!

    Thanks! 🙂

  9. Very nice end!!! They are finally together now! =)

    milagp1@yahoo.com.br

  10. I agree with someone else’s comment. The story was hard to follow toward the end, but I’m glad Jeremy and Anna/Bryn could be together.
    Oh, and “wolf.”

  11. Yay! I can’t believe it’s over.

  12. I like the ending, even if I don’t understand how Jeremy can be still alive.
    Thank you for the story!

  13. Oh, what a great ending for Jeremy & Anna/Bryn.
    This was a great story to follow, it had zombies, demons, & vamps; all that was missing was an appearance by a wolf.

  14. I like to read a book with a wolf in it.

  15. I officially loved this story! The installments were all wonderful and this one was a great way to end it.

  16. Aww! I loved it, perfect ending.
    Bravo to all the writers, this was so fun and such a great story!

  17. germaine.dulac says

    Aww…nice ending! Bryn’s intro was a little confusing, but the story was fun. I hope they’ll continue the YA spooktacular next Halloween…with a wolf story. 🙂

  18. latisha depoortere says

    I loved it what a good story I love happy ending. Thank you for a great story really enjoyed it alot of fun!
    tishajean@charter.net

  19. wow!!! What a great ending! I love this story!! Hope there you guys do this event again next year!!!

  20. Kate (S.o.L.a.R.) says

    Great ending! Love the last line! Classic Heather!

    Oh, and wolf 😉

  21. Samiyo Farah says

    Yay, Anna/Bryn and Jeremy have finally go their happy ending! 😀

  22. Sometimes I wish I was wolf.

  23. Ahh its over 🙁 Happy ending though 🙂 err wolf lol.

  24. Erica Onuoha says

    I love a happy ending. This was an awesome from the begining to the end. Wolf.

  25. Katie_Fogle says

    A great ending to a great story! The only thing it was missing was a wolf. =)

  26. I enjoyed this story. I hadn’t heard of this before. I’ll have to go and read the other parts now…Wolf 🙂

  27. Ok..Didn’t quite see that ending coming..Loved the story..
    Happy Halloween to ALL!
    ^”^

    baby_blackroze@yahoo.com

  28. Yay, happy ending! This was a really neat idea!

  29. Oh how I adore happy endings, even though the story was a dark one.

  30. Yay! I got my happy ending. The only thing this story was missing was a wolf.

  31. Well, I don’t like that Bryn came out of nowhere in the last part of the story, but I do like that Jeremy and Anna survive, and he gets to enjoy daylight again! Yay for happy endings!

  32. I thought this was a good ending… I’m glad that the solution required sacrifice, but that Jeremy ended up being alright. I agree with those who said that Bryn came out of nowhere… that was kind of strange, but I think it worked.

  33. nice ending!

  34. I’m glad there was a happy ending. 🙂

  35. Time Stand Still says

    Loved this story most, of the two. Great way to end it.

  36. Awe! What a cute ending! I love the last line, too!

  37. Oh!!! I am so glad the way that this ended, although I am left with a couple questions, but ultimately satisfied!!

    Now all I need is a wolf and my day would be set. :]

    Erin

  38. That was a satisfying ending for the story. I’m not disappointed.

    jlynettes @ hotmail . com

  39. ChristinaF says

    Have a trick or treat
    And prepare to meet
    Creepy creatures of the night
    But watch out for those that bite
    A were*wolf*, goblin, or vampir
    All hope to see your life expire!

    Happy Halloween everyone! 🙂

  40. Nice ending! And I can’t wait to read this book about wolfs!

  41. Loved this story and the ending line was perfect…I wonder what it would have been like if there was a wolf involved?

  42. Nice ending.

  43. “Im not much of a night person”…

    Great ending line!

  44. Great story!!

  45. I’m so impressed!! This had to be so hard to do! Great story, I really enjoyed it!

  46. Awesome ending 🙂

  47. What an awesome story! Loved it!

  48. Claire @ YA Bookie Monster says

    What a cute ending! YAY!

  49. Wow! Awesome ending. Thanks for this. 🙂

  50. I really loved your story! Thanks for the chance to win

  51. Wow! Now that’s great ending. I wonder what’s going to happen for them now? Are they human? More more more!

    Oh, and “wolf,” because, hey, why not?

  52. wow what a cute ending 🙂

  53. Ohhhh so cute!!! <3 I love stories with happy endings, especially the ones with vampires and ghosts and maybe even a wolf or two! 😛

    callmeghostgirl@yahoo.com.au

Trackbacks

  1. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Irish / Gail, heatherbrewer, April C, Danielle Bunner, April C and others. April C said: I think I got in all the links and parts I was supposed to… #YASpooktacular http://bit.ly/c0HVOi […]