YASpooktacular: The Darkness part 13

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

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

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!

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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.

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