THE DARK GOD

Night markets.

Not my favorite.

Rico Mendez.

The fool who flirts up a storm with my woman.

Both set me on edge.

I march down the cobblestone streets. Loud and overfilled. Flurries of snow descend from the sky, little frozen fluffs landing on my exposed biceps. I did not bother bringing a coat. The ice in my veins is colder than any Russian weather.

The old village is up ahead, atop the snowy mountains.

I make my way towards it, passing vendors and shoppers, gritting my teeth, earning several stares from the locals.

I’m used to people trembling at the sight of me, though it seems I also have a tendency to inspire fits of lust in women, but there’s only one woman I’ve ever truly wanted. She’s the reason I’m here tonight.

Finally leaving the night market, I enter a more rural part of the town, the blankets of snow gradually ascending. I trudge through them until I reach the bottom of a steep mountain. Seamlessly transforming myself into shadows, I slither up the snowy hill, darkness trailing behind me. When I reach the top of the entrance to the small village, my body takes form again.

It’s quiet and dark. Most of the villagers should be asleep by now. My footsteps crunch on the soft snow, until I come to a halt in front of the boy’s Izba, a simple log home. It might take me a few days to wipe them out.

Entering the modest log house, my presence goes undetected. The furnishings are simple, mostly made of wood from the nearby forest. The smell of pine wood wafts into my nose. I walk over to the boy’s creaking bed, turning and tossing in his sleep, likely a bad dream. I cause those too.

Invisible poison, made of something older than time itself, enfolds his body. He jerks, murmurs– the curse seeds itself and I step back. I proceed to mark the Godmother, the old woman snoring softly, her frail body wrapped around thick covers. They will both wake with no memory of why they’ll see things they otherwise should not.

The marks will draw my spirits here, haunting them, driving them over the edge until the victims are begging for death.

I walk out of the tiny log cabin through the door, the object not a hindrance to my movements.

More than likely, I might end up decimating the entire village. I’ll curse them all, and stalk the surrounding areas too. I can’t be too sure how far his visions have spread.

Destroying souls is no easy task, but her wish– is my command.

Especially when she was perched on the armrest so deliciously close to me, giving me the perfect view of my beautiful little Goddess. My will to reject her in any shape or form was nonexistent. Every inch of my body was fighting not to touch her, imagining my hands caressing the back of her spine, and more.

In the end, I couldn’t help myself when I grazed her back gently with my fingers. And then I made one or two more confessions than I had planned, telling her I wanted her. The temptation to touch her, even a small caress of her face, was too hard to resist. I needed something to anchor me, keep my desires under control.

I will trace my shadow into every alley of this town if I have to. For her, I’ll move mountains, including this one. This task will be completed with the utmost precision.

NEXT CHAPTER→ Chapter 8

THE GODDESS

Xander sits on the dark green tufted chair in one of the smaller, more intimate rooms in my sprawling mansion. I decide to join him, perching myself on the edge of the armrest next to him, awareness sparking in my bones as I feel him watching me like he’s devouring every inch of me. His left arm rests dangerously close to my back, the phantom touch of his fingers sending prickles up my spine.

“Do you remember that family you marked in Russia?” I say, settling in as I gaze down at him, “all those years ago when we met?”

“Met?” He flashes a devilish grin at me, “that’s one way to put it.”

“Xander.” I scold, shooting daggers at him with one look, yet I can’t help the small smile that reaches my lips. He fidgets with his fingers, brushing the fabric of the chair behind me, and it almost feels like he’s touching me. I should have taken the chair across the table from him. Why did I choose to sit here, this precariously close to him?

He sinks back into the green fabric. “I do remember. I’m listening.” His eyes land softly on mine, his focus on me so complete, it awakens every cell in my being.

“Well,” I continue, speaking more deliberately this time, “they had a son, the older sister, and Vlad was the father”

“Vlad who?” A slight puzzled expression crosses his features, barely noticeable. Xander rarely shows any emotions, even when he has shown tenderness on occasion. I feel it more than I can see it, though I have noticed the walls gradually coming down, each time we meet.

“The vampire who convinced the witch to make him fertile.” I reply, admiring the man who truly does look like a God, even surprisingly more so in broad daylight, a truly rare sight.

“Ah, that one.” His voice comes out low and deep.

“Yes. Most people don’t know this, but the firstborn child of the cursed and the undead was prophesied to be born with a rare gift–not only foresight, but the ability to change destinities and reshape the future itself.” I sigh, playing with the hem of my skirt, “before he died, I promised Vlad that I would protect his child. Of course, I only agreed because I wanted to hide him from the world, until I felt he was ready. I sent a fairy godmother to look after him.”

Xander listens patiently, his intense eyes still single-mindedly anchored on me.

I gaze out the twelve pane window, staring at the rustling leaves of the trees crowding the view, “The problem is… the child is failing. He is unable to control his mind and entirely powerless to hide its secrets, and it’s only getting worse as his powers grow. The prophecy also predicted this– that he might falter, should his parents die too young.” I glance down at Xander, implying his role in the death of the boy’s parents.

“I don’t follow prophecies,” comes his shameless response.

“I know, anyway…” I proceed, offering him a hint of a smile as I watch his eyes light up ever so slightly, and I try not to react to the warmth spreading across my belly.

“I had contemplated keeping him alive to begin with. It was always a risk, allowing him to live, with the kind of ability he has, but,” I let out a long sigh, “I decided to give him a chance. Unfortunately, it does need to be dealt with now, and I am unable, perhaps even admittedly somewhat unwilling to deal with it myself, given how long I have let this go on.” I peer outside at the foliage that adds to the coziness of this room.

“What do you need?” His voice is steady, already offering his support without question. It’s actually one of his most endearing qualities.

“Two things. First, everyone who has seen what he’s seen, must be hunted down. That child can see things even I can’t–and he’s shared those visions, knowingly or unknowingly. Those visions can’t be erased once seen, but they cannot be allowed to exist either.”

I pause, looking gravely at him. “Secondly,” I lean back, placing my right hand on the back of the chair, leaving his left forearm now resting between my outstretched hand and my back. I notice the tension in his arm, the veins underneath protruding out more visibly, “these people can’t just be killed. If their souls carry the visions, they can still be stolen, so I need their souls erased too.”

A wicked smile spreads across his face, “You want me to drive them to madness? Then send their souls to oblivion?”

“Whatever it takes, and that includes everyone, the godmother too.” I lock eyes with him, my expression serious. It is of absolute importance that this task is executed effectively, and I know Xander, he is disciplined and thorough.

He chuckles gruffly, moving closer to brush the back of his fingers along my chin for a short second, “I never thought you’d ask”. A fire sparks in the pit of my stomach, a single touch from him sending my heart fluttering. I gather myself quickly.

“Can you do it?” I ask quietly.

He moves to stand, his left fingers grazing my back like it’s an accident, but I know he meant to do it. He strolls towards the large window in front of us, and I watch the sunlight streaming in through the window outlining his broad shoulders, and the shape of the muscular torso. What a contradiction, the Darkness standing in broad daylight, though a shadow of darkness still trails him everywhere he goes, and no shadow lands on the brown carpet.

I take in a short inhale, bracing myself for possible rejection. “Is it too much to ask?”

“No, it’s not,” he assures.

“It seems like it is.” I admit, concerned.

He turns around, daylight on his back, his gaze bearing into mine. “Trust me, I’ve done much worse. I’ll get it done.”

My shoulders ease. He is unwavering, as always. “Thank you.” I say, a quiet smile pulling at my lips, feeling genuinely grateful for his help.

“Of course.” he replies, warmth flickering in his eyes, his eyes never leaving mine.

“If you need anything–” I raise both my eyebrows.

“I will let you know.” He replies.

“Good” I say softly, still holding his gaze.

“Katherine,” he exhales slowly, his features mellowing.

He pauses, “I’ve missed you.”

My heartbeat stutters.

Silence fills the room.

I can tell the words cost him something to say, as his eyes lock onto me, grow more intense.

The pulsing in my chest is still uneven, but I muster the courage to say, “I’ve missed you too.”

There are few things that I mean more deeply than what I just admitted, and even fewer that want to be said aloud.

I stare at him as he just stands there, unmoving, like a rock, but I feel his entire essence spill across the room and trap me in a tight hold.

Eventually, he takes slow steps forward, moving to stand in front of me, his right hand reaches out, and gently tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his finger lingering behind my ear. “Have you changed your mind?”

I know exactly what he means as I look down for a moment, my heart heavy, considering my next words carefully. “I don’t know.” I shake my head in a subdued motion. “It’s complicated.” My words come out as a whisper.

“My favorite words.” He states dryly with sarcasm, hanging his head down, as he turns away from me, dropping his arms to his side. I stand up, taking small steps towards him, looking for words to say that I cannot find. An all too familiar scene that sends a small panic surging through my body.

Then unexpectedly, he veers around, standing inches from me in an instant, his face nearly touching mine, making my heart beat faster.

He leans in, sending shockwaves through my body, “I want you, but you don’t make this easy,” he whispers softly into my ear, his thumb caressing my right jawline. My mouth parts, incapable of forming any words. His face is so close, it draws the oxygen out of my lungs—he’s never touched me like this before.

His hands on my skin, his body enclosing the space around me, the closeness of his lips—it all feels like the most natural things in the world. I want to stay like this, in this protective shelter of his body— his touch, but I cannot allow myself to get used to this.

He retreats, walking past me, aiming for the door, and I learn to breathe again.

I struggle for words before quickly regaining my composure, as I reach out to grab his hand, my fingers small and delicate looking in comparison to his large rough ones. “Xander, I don’t want to hurt you.” My tone is kind. I want him to know that I do care about him.

“I can’t decide if that makes me feel better or worse.” He chuckles cynically, looking down at our touching fingers. A pang of guilt jolts my heart.

“I’m sorry.” I say, with as much sincerity as I can muster.

He studies our hands for a long moment, then he lets out a low, guttural sigh, shutting his eyelids, caressing my fingers before he completely pulls away from me, disappointment staining his features.

“When do you want me to start?” His baritone voice bounces off the green panelling on the wall, framed with tendrils from the hanging plants.

“As soon as you can?” I keep my voice low and gentle.

‘Where is the boy now?” The darkness around him is already starting to expand.

“Still in Russia.” I reply, staring at his departing back.

He looks back at me one last time, watching my face closely, “I’ll head over tonight.”

I nod, and he disappears through the doorway, shadows forming on the frame before evaporating into the air. The room already feels emptier without his overpowering presence. I am conflicted in more ways than one.

Staring at the door, a faint pain stabs at my heart. I tell myself this man is dangerous, forbidden—yet I long to live in his embrace.

I wander towards the large imposing twelve pane window, and lean my hand against the cool textured glass, trying to find solace in the tall oak trees outside. Strong and unyielding, just like Xander.

NEXT CHAPTER→ Chapter 7 (Xander’s POV)

THE GODDESS

I walk briskly through the hallway of my mansion, heels striking sharply against the light wood floors. Each step echoes through the silence, bouncing off the grey and gold pillars adorning the walls.

As I round a corner down the hall, I catch sight of Mira, waiting for me, in front of the gigantic black doors to my office. We smile at each other, as I approach her. “The brothers are here,” she informs me.

“Mendez?” A grimace forms on my face.

“Yes,” she nods, her expression dismal.

I sigh in frustration and roll my eyes. “Who else?” I ask.

“The warlocks–Adrian and Kuzack”

“I see.” I nod. “Thank you Mira,” I offer her a warm smile, as she departs.

I open the wide heavy doors, and step inside. The tension is immediate as I enter the room. It’s almost suffocating.

“Adrian. Kuzack.” I nod, greeting them as the four men watch me cross the black tiled floors of my office and ease myself onto a dark grey armchair with gold legs. “Mendez.” I look over to the brothers, acknowledging them.

“Please, sit,” I say, gesturing to the sofas on either side of me.

“Mendez?” Rico Mendez’s smooth, velvety voice travels down the room, “We do have names you know?” he says, eyeing my body like he’s undressing me. Rico is known as the heartbreaker, the shameless flirt who leaves trails of dejected women in his wake. Covered in tattoos from head to toe, he is also the pompous brother.

I glance quickly at him, signalling disinterest in his games. “Well, at least for today,” I say, “you’re both Mendez.” I don’t have time for his nonsense today.

“In that case,” he retorts, “you’re Miss Sunshine,” a playful energy fills his voice.

I shoot him a bored look, then proceed to disregard him.

The old warlock, Kuzack bursts out in a boisterous laugh. “I would not flirt with the Goddess if I were you,” he says in his thick Polish accent.

“Who says I was flirting?” Rico winks at me, and I don’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. This is not my first time managing Rico’s misplaced priorities during our meetings. He has propositioned me more times than I care to count, and Kuzack is right. Now that Xander has returned, though the reason for his return is still not entirely clear to me, he has always shown a certain level of possessiveness around me, and that can’t be good for someone like Rico.

I recline into my armchair, eager to be done with this meeting, “Gentlemen, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?” I offer a polite smile, trying to seem courteous.

“Pleasure indeed,” Rico mutters under his breath, but I ignore him.

“I am here to talk about the grounds in Iceland,” Kuzack states, placing his left palm on his chest, as he takes a seat on one end of the sofa under the oval sunroof encircled with grey metal vines.

“We’re all here to talk about the grounds,” Adrian cuts in, his body fidgeting in frustration, as he sits on the other end of the same sofa.

“What about it?” I ask, placing both arms on either side of the arm rest of my chair, legs crossed.

“I want to build there.” Kuzack pronounces his letter ‘A’ like a ‘U’.

“All of you?” I ask, studying the men in the room, my words coming out an octave higher.

“One of us”, Adrian interjects, adjusting the collar on his shirt, glaring at the others around the room. “Most likely me.” adds the short and stumpy warlock.

Kuzack scoffs. “Please, least likely you,” ridicules the old man.

Adrian looks thoroughly insulted as he side-eyes Kuzack.

I let a moment of silence pass before speaking.

I have become rather weary of this topic, having revisited it too many times, as well as having to continuously thwart off their requests. “Kuzack, you and I,” I say, gesturing my right index finger between us, ”have personally talked about this a million times before. You cannot build on those grounds. None of you can build on those grounds.” I eye the four men, my finger forming a small sweeping motion across the room.

Rico leans forward. “I don’t get what the problem is. It’s not like we haven’t built on sacred grounds before,” he argues, his body moving with agitation.

“This one is different.” I turn my head towards Rico, my voice stern, staring him down. “Look,” I snap, pivoting back to face Adrian and Kuzack, “I don’t enjoy meddling in your business, anymore than you want me to, but… there’s something about that place…” I tilt my chin forwards.

All of them just stare at me, visibly disgruntled.

“Selandra died there.” I continue, gritting my teeth in impatience.

“Who’s Selandra?” Adrian frowns, the stumpy warlock squishing his thick head between his stocky shoulders.

“A useless minor goddess.” Andre’s voice is barely audible, though the mocking in his tone is clear. I can feel him eyeing me from the side, as he has been this entire time. The shy brother, or so they say, though he’s never shied away from devouring me with his leering.

“Why would we care about that?” Adrian returns his attention to me, slightly jumping up in his seat.

“Fine.” I breathe out. “Do you want to know the truth?” The frustration in my voice is palpable.

“Yes!” Adrian’s stubby arms fly up into the air.

“Selandra was the woman who raised me, and I killed her there.” I waste no time mincing my words, as the group falls into stunned silence. Sometimes, honesty really is the best course, especially if it shocks them into a blissful quiet.

The silence is broken by a familiar voice that I have come to find mildly unpleasant. “My, my, sunshine. You are full of surprises.” Rico somehow always manages to sound lewd, regardless of what he’s saying.

I shoot Rico a warning look. “Kuzack is right. You should be careful what you say to me.” He lifts his tatted arms up in the air in a show of innocence, though the look on his face remains obstinate.

Kuzack’s heavy accent fills the space. “What happened after you killed her?” His voice comes in low hush.

“When I killed her,” I pause, leaning forward in my seat, “something evil leaked out onto those grounds. Now, this might actually sound appealing to you gentlemen, but, trust me when I say this, if you try, it will destroy you, and after that, it’ll spill out into the rest of the world.” I take a deep breath and relax into my seat again. “Right now, it’s contained.” My sight drops to the floor, recalling the incident. It still haunts me till this day. It was the first time that I’ve ever murdered someone. One might say that it was a significantly monumental moment in my life, particularly considering who it was.

I peer back up at the room. The air is thick with unease.

Rico settles back in his seat, “Well fuck me,” he huffs out. I lift my eyebrows at the irony of his words.

I contemplate my next words. “Do whatever you want.” I finally say, “I’m not going to stop you, but rest assured, if you build there, I will hunt you down.” It is impossible for them to miss the finality in my tone. I do not approve of violence, but there are circumstances in which I am compelled to act.

No one answers as they rise from their seats. One by one, they leave quietly, without a word–unsettled, displeased.

Once the door shuts, I immediately sink into my chair and rub my temples, the weight of everything catching up to me. I can still feel Rico’s lingering gaze on me, crawling up my sides, causing my body to shiver in revulsion. The attention I get from these men is simultaneously flattering and disturbing all at once.

A few minutes later, Mira peeks in. “How did the meeting go?” A look of concern dawns her features.

“As well as it could have,” I articulate each word with unhurried precision, allowing my exhaustion to consume me. I bend my neck backwards on the armchair, shutting my eyelids.

I hear her faint footsteps moving towards me. “Sorry to hear that.” I open my eyes to her gentle voice, and gaze up at her. I find a sympathetic face staring down at me.

“If one of them is actually foolish enough to do what I told them not to, we’ll have no choice but to carry out a massacre, and Mira, you know how I despise massacres.”

“I do.” Mira nods in understanding.

I sigh again. “It is how it is sometimes.”

She takes a couple of steps closer to me. “You know, I’m here if you need anything right? We’re in this together, all of us.” She places a hand on my shoulder.

“I know.” I rest my hand over hers, grateful for the support.

Mira, Matt, even the others, they have been here for me through the years, and for that, I truly am thankful. Regardless, being powerful is still a lonely place to be. I’m the one who holds all the cards, the one who makes all the decisions–and that can be painfully isolating.

I dare not say it out loud, but many times over I have imagined what it would be like to have him by my side–the one person who might understand me. Even if that him in question, is a sight feared by most. I must be deranged, because I’m probably the only one who thinks that standing inches away from one of the most vicious creatures of nature, is the safest place in the world.

NEXT CHAPTER→ Chapter 6

THE DARK GOD

She called my soul black, a statement I find deeply endearing. She also said she’d worship me on her knees, in front of the entire council no less. That nearly undid me. The image burns through my consciousness—her, kneeling on the floor in front of me. I’d give anything to be that close to her, on her knees or not. It’s the reason I couldn’t stay away any longer. I finally let myself see her for the first time in years, and I was constantly teetering at the edge of control. She may not fully admit it to me, or even realize it herself, but she had publicly pledged her allegiance to me, which only makes me more possessive of her, and there’s no turning back.

God only knows how much I want that woman. I laugh at the irony of the word God. Hell– I am a God.

I run my hands through my dark hair, thinking through the things I need to get done for tonight. Jack is first. I fully intend to dispose of him. He’s a dead man walking already. That imbecile insulted me in public– a reputational inconvenience I cannot let slide– and he tried to insult my woman. That, I can never forgive.

Is she my woman? I let out a deep breath. That complicates everything. Convincing her won’t be simple–but her body responds to me in ways that her words do not, and I feel her warmth, every time I look in her eyes. She may not yet be wholly mine, but she is claimed in many other ways that matter. Damn me.

I need to release more demons tonight– the ones I’ve kept caged. There are too many out there prodding at the thin veils between this realm and the other ones. Mortals and supernatural beings alike tend to orchestrate their own demise.

I appear in Jack’s apartment– small, tainted with the smell of stale smoke and unfortunate decisions. He steps out of another room. Gaudy wallpaper coats the walls. “Who the hell are you?” his voice quivers with fear.

“Hell, I am not. But Darkness, I am.” My tone is lethal and precise, as I pin him with my feral gaze. His face drops, as realization sinks in.

He fumbles for the lights, but we remain in darkness. I stare at him, unflinching, disgust running through my veins. He shoots a jagged bolt of lightning at me, then throws wind like a child throws a tantrum. Pathetic. I don’t move. My shadows curl around him and lift him by his throat; he claws at emptiness, choking and wetting himself in the process.

I stalk closer towards him, slow and deliberate, letting the darkness trail me. “You asked to take me on, so here I am, Jack.” I do not bother to hide the malice in my voice. “You have three days to live, and they won’t be pleasant.” I growl. Terrorizing my victims, letting them suffer before Death’s door closes in on them, sometimes it’s a natural part of the undertaking. Other times, it sends a message. Deterrence is its own currency.

I drop him onto the hideous carpet. He coughs uncontrollably, begging for his life. I ignore him and turn away.

As I leave Jack’s building, I stand in the rain– thunder folding into the darkness. I let it drown me, as I try to fight the same feelings I’ve been fighting for years. She may not know it yet, but she already owns a part of me that I thought had died centuries ago.

NEXT CHAPTER→ Chapter 5

THE GODDESS

Walking out of the eventful council meeting, I round a corner in the building and notice a large shadowed figure standing in the corner of one of the rooms. Not moving, just watching. Surprise filters through me at the thought of who it could be, and I wonder if I am imagining things. I come to a standstill, angling my body towards the room, trying to get a better look at the dark silhouette. Recognition floods my body, as he gradually steps out of the darkness, and it is unmistakably him.

Xander. An intimidating presence–even in broad daylight.

It has been years since I have seen this man. My insides flutter at the sight of him, a sight that I have dreamt of seeing many times over.

I glance around the black hallway with gold trimmings, to see if anyone else noticed, but it’s empty. We are completely alone.

I step inside the room with a measured pace, as he closes the gap between us.

“Xander,” I say calmly, my expression unaffected, though my eyes greet him with warmth.

“Katherine” he replies in a seductively low voice, with a dangerous edge that feels familiar. It stirs something in me that I haven’t felt in a long time.

“How are you Xander?” My voice is gentle, steady. Few people are ever afforded the opportunity to see this side of me, the one that softens only for him. And I can always tell how much he loves it when I do that. I notice the tension in his shoulders dissolve, as he meets my gaze–intense and unmoving. “Fine. How are you?” Traces of concern and care lace his voice, and I feel his body close in on me in a stance that feels almost protective.

I smile faintly. “I’m okay.”

He continues to gaze at me without uttering another word, studying my features, like he used to do. I don’t know what I expected, standing this close to him. I have forgotten how steadying his presence feels, even reassuring.

Finally, he breaks the silence, as he exhales, slow and deliberate, as though he was holding his breath the entire time. “I heard about what happened in the council meeting.”

“Which part?” I ask. I’m sure that he must have heard of my bold comment, but I choose not to acknowledge it for now.

“The one with the kid.”

“Oh…”, I glance down, then back up at him, my daring comment continuing to linger in my thoughts, though I still don’t admit to it. “Yes, he was quite the character, and not a very smart one.”

“No, he wasn’t,” he replies, with a cunning smile, his eyes still on me.

I inspect the different expressions that move across his features, all subtle, barely visible. “Are you planning to kill him?” My tone is even.

He doesn’t answer right away. Then, with a devilish grin: “I haven’t decided yet”. His eyes come to life with the promise of something menacing.

A couple of seconds pass in this gloomy study, before he steps a little closer to me, “Did you mean what you said?” I can feel his anticipation–watching, waiting for my answer.

I meet his eyes, then slowly look away, blushing ever so slightly, fully understanding his question. “In some ways, yes,” I answer, but only partially, never wanting to fully give myself away, “although,” I continue, “I definitely said some things that I never would have said out loud, had I not wanted so badly to shame that arrogant bastard.”

Hints of a small smile reach his face. “Would you have said it to yourself?” His eyes glint with mischief.

I smile from ear to ear, before my eyes soften. “It’s complicated Xander.”

He looks at me, eyes bearing into my soul, as he has had a tendency to do in the past. “Don’t I already know that…” His tone is suggestive, as his voice lowers an octave.

Though I know that he is trying to tease me, my heart drops at the meaning behind his words. Sadness washes over me.

I hesitate, but then start to turn to leave, “It was nice seeing you, Xander.” I smile at him again, meeting his eyes with affection, and I see the desire and yearning burning behind his. The hunger in his gaze flares, but I know not what to do, except to resign myself to our situation. Even though all I want to do is walk myself across this room towards him and reassure him that I care just as much as I think he does.

As I proceed to leave the room, his voice reverberates through the bronze walls and the dark floorboards, “I heard you need help.” His words stun me. After the way we left things the last time, I had feared that I would never see him again, much less receive his help for any reason.

I stop, and pivot. “I can’t ask that of you.” I don’t want to use him, if I cannot give him what he wants from me.

“Yes, you can,” he says firmly.

I pause, considering his offer. “Are you sure?”

“I am, I want to help.” Xander never says anything he doesn’t mean, and I know he means it.

“Okay” I say softly, “I’ll reach out when I’m ready.”

He nods, “Whenever you need.” He had always been exceptionally reliable, and only now, looking into those eyes, do I recognize how much I’ve missed them.

I turn and saunter out of the study as I feel his shadows dissipate into the darkness.

It has always been in the nature of my job, to co-exist with the monsters, and Xander makes even the other monsters look tame. I’ve always known who he is, what he is, and yet– I have spent so much time with him. I even trust him.

But I can never be too cautious. Even my own power has its limits, especially against a being as ancient as he is, even though every cell in my body tells me that he would never hurt me.

NEXT CHAPTER→ Chapter 4 (Xander’s POV)

THE GODDESS

Present Day.

Staring at the candelabra in front of me, forearms resting on the long dark oak table in this massive dimly lit council room, my ears start to hurt from the obnoxious laughter echoing from behind me.

“He can’t be that scary,” comes the voice of a young man, loud and arrogant. “Heard he was rejected by some woman, and she’s still alive. Bet I could take him on.” My eyebrows shoot to the sky in amusement at his comments.

“I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you,” another voice chimes in from the back. “Heard that was an exception.”

“Think I’d manage.” He scoffs, his voice brimming with confidence.

“Do you know who you’re talking about, boy?” Kuzack’s hoarse voice travels down the table from my left. I turn my head to look in his direction, and see that the old warlock is still staring at the tall gothic windows in front of us, and not at the voices coming from the row of chairs hugging the walls at our backs.

“Yea. The Darkness. Don’t think he’s as terrifying as everyone says,” the young man’s voice rises an octave, “Reckon it’s just rumors, designed to scare us off.”

Kuzack breaks out in a loud cackle as low snickering sounds vibrate from the other council members across the room.

I turn slowly in my seat, and look the young man dead in the eye, draping one arm around the back of the chair, my face intentionally emotionless. He freezes for a moment, before his feet shuffle nervously on the floor. Judging by the way his eyes dart quickly around the room and how he awkwardly readjusts himself in his chair, something tells me that he might even still be a virgin. I know how easily I can unnerve an inexperienced boy who is still growing into adulthood, just by giving them a bit of attention. “What is your name?” My voice comes out gentle and controlled, almost seductive, but with a harsh undertone.

He just gawks at me, before the word “Jack,” finally comes tumbling out of his mouth.

“Jack,” I say slowly, “Do you know why you’re seated against the walls and not at this table?”

“Becasue I’m new?” He tries to sound self-assured but his body gives him away.

“Exactly.” I say sharply. “And inexperienced.” I emphasize the last word, taking my time to pronounce every syllable.

He lifts his chin slightly in a failed attempt to signal dominance.

I continue, “some names are not meant to be spoken aloud, especially not in such a provocative manner–unless, of course, you have a death wish.” I tilt my head. “He does listen, you know? And you’d better hope you never meet him.” I let my words hang, savoring how they make him squirm in his seat, while he tries to hide it. “Others have sat exactly where you now sit, and most of them died before even having the chance to sit at this table.”

Just as I start to pivot back in my seat, the kid finds his courage, ”Was it you who turned him down? You must not have liked him that much then, eh?”

The room falls silent, as I slowly turn back to face him again, this time a look of admonition painted on my features. He is already shrinking in his seat, probably regretting his words. The audacity of this idiot.

“Actually Jack, I’ve never met anyone who made me so desperately want to worship on my knees, until I looked into the depths of his black soul.” My own words astonished even myself, but I felt that I had to defend Xander’s reputation, lest anyone dare think that man is anything less than the most spine-chilling brewing storm, a near absolute divinity of perfection, though I’d scarcely admit it to myself. I also could not resist the opportunity to cut Jack’s ego at its legs, knowing the scandal of my words will land harder than any insult. I flash a cunning smile at him, “Not that you’d know what that’s like.” And I watch as his face flushes bright red, pleased at how easily the truth can cut deeper than any lie ever could. His mouth gapes open slightly before he quickly looks down at his feet.

The old warlock, Kuzack, chokes on his coffee, and I sense several pairs of eyes bulging out of their sockets.

I sigh, spinning around to stare at the flickering candelabra in front of me again, rolling my shoulders back.

Xander might genuinely kill him.

My thoughts naturally drift to Xander, the being whose presence envelops every room he enters.

Every time I think of him, I feel a kind of ache reserved only for those we still care for, even after we’ve let go of them, but I am resigned to the situation. As I should be, even if I miss him all the time.

I cross my arms, steadying myself, trying to push aside thoughts of him from my head, as I mentally prepare for the council meeting.

NEXT CHAPTER→ Chapter 3

THE GODDESS

Images move through my memory, like wind rushing through a tunnel, from darkness to bright lights, in the Great Hall of the tsars.

The Winter Palace of St Petersburg, Russia.

My mind flashes back to the fateful day that changed my life – the day he changed everything.

I will always remember the first time I saw him. More myth than man. Impossible to ignore, and even harder to forget.

We had received the reports, about the curse that had befallen the royal family. They were not extraordinary in any other way by any account. They were simply human.

The only reason they bore any significance to us at all, was due to the fact that they were the keepers of a secret relic.

A relic that belongs to the underworld.

We stood there, at the edge of the red carpet leading to the thrones on the dais. The usual radiance on their faces had dulled. They looked pale and tired—especially in contrast to the glow of the gold adorning the palace walls, an obscene display of wealth.

The King coughed like an old man decades his senior, hunching over in his high chair, as I sauntered over towards him and the Queen to greet them. Questions circled in my mind. Their daughter, standing beside them, could barely keep herself upright without exerting a tremendous amount of effort. It was a depressing sight to witness.

They were dying. That much was clear, and I felt sorry for them.

As I walked past their row of guards, one in particular caught my attention. From the corner of my eye, I noticed something different about him. I sensed it too, and it made me look straight at him.

I paused mid-step. He was standing at the other end of the line of guards, at the front, close to the Queen, already looking right at me. His jaw was tense, his eyes locked on mine, I felt his gaze burn through me, like there was no one else in the room. It unsettled me, being watched so intently, like he was consuming me from the inside out. He was one of the most devastatingly attractive men I’ve ever seen, which only served to throw me further off my balance internally. His face, his body, his commanding stature, the way he filled the space he stood in, stirred desires in me that I had never felt before. It was like falling a thousand feet in the air, terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. After living for over 300 years, I do actually know what that feels like, but I did not let it show.

I had never laid eyes on him before, yet I knew instantly what he was. An ominous presence—the shadows surrounding him fell just a little darker. What he was not, was one of the guards. He was only pretending, though he barely blended in – a force disguised in human form. The air around him hummed with extraordinary power, and something forbidden radiated from his soul, but somehow, no one else seemed to notice.

I tore my gaze away from him, turning my head back towards the royal couple and continued my walk, cautiously approaching them. I bowed my head slightly and offered them polite smiles as they greeted me in return.

I hesitated a moment before speaking, guilt already filling my core. “I’m sorry,” I said softly. “But unfortunately–,” I paused, titling my head as my frown deepened, “I cannot help you.”

They looked at me, stunned and dismayed. I knew that they had hoped I would be able to save them.

I pressed my lips together in sympathy, wishing I could offer more.

But not this time.

Strictly speaking, I am an Olympian, though banished to Earth, but still formidable in my own right. Nevertheless, I had no intention of challenging him, not unless I absolutely had to.

The Queen opened her mouth to speak, but no sound escaped her thin lips.

I sighed, bowing my head once again before turning to walk away. I could feel him watching me as I exited the Throne room. I wondered if he thought that I might have tried to expose him.

It was not the first time that I had walked away from those who were at death’s door. Cold as it may have seemed, and heavy was my heart, I decided that he could have them. My actions were not a form of allegiance. I merely respected the fact that this was not someone to be trifled with, and there was also much more at stake. I needed to protect my main purpose for being there.

“What happened?” Mira asked, as I walked by her and Matt.

“Let’s go get the dagger,” I said, ignoring her question for now, half tilting my head back towards them without breaking stride.

They followed me in silence for a couple of minutes. I led them down an empty hall with numerous large white windows and doors leading to the outside, the ceilings above painted with colossal depictions of people and religion. We made our way to the War Gallery, where I pressed my hand against a tile on the wall, opening a hidden doorway to reveal a sealed vault behind it. I broke it open easily and stepped inside, the two following close behind me. I locked the door as I moved to retrieve the dagger from a sealed glass box.

“Did either of you see the guard next to the Queen?” I asked, glancing back at them.

“No,” Matt replied, as Mira echoed him, with a slight shake of her head.

I returned my attention to the glass case, working on opening it. “He was not a guard. It’s the Darkness.”

“The darkness?” Matt asked, sounding completely confused.

“Wait,” Mira said, stepping closer to me, “You don’t mean, The Darkness, do you?” Her voice wavered.

I retrieved the dagger, slid it into one of my side pockets, and turned back to face them. “Yes. That’s exactly who I mean. The Darkness.”

Mira gasped softly, one hand covering her mouth.

“The royals are already doomed,” I said, raising my brows as I moved back towards the door. “There’s nothing left to do here. We’ll just have to keep the dagger ourselves for now, and maybe find a new keeper in the future.”

The three of us stepped out of the vault, and I shut the door behind us. It was quite unfortunate that things got complicated. I would have rather the dagger remained at the palace. Moving around objects of such tremendous value is always a risk.

“You think… he’s the one cursing them?” Matt asked, his brows furrowed.

“He most definitely cursed them.” I responded with a nod, meeting Matt’s gaze.

“Huh. Why?” Matt asked, hands on his hips, as he shrugged.

“I don’t know,” I pursed my lips and shook my head slightly. “But, we should go. Let’s not linger while he’s here.”

As we strode out of the palace, passing the Great Hall once again, the King called out to me, “Please,” he said meekly, “we need your help.”

I paused mid-step and slowly turned back to face the King. His eyes were teary, his grief raw. I felt compassion twist inside me, but I kept my voice steady. “I am sorry,” I said gently, shaking my head. “But I cannot.”

He looked grief stricken as his face crumpled. Beside him, the Queen slumped against her seat, her lips too thin for words.

And behind them both, I saw him.

The Darkness had moved closer to them, standing just behind the King’s chair. He was already staring at me, and I felt the gravity of his gaze – like lightning had struck me, but in the most seductive way imaginable. For a breath, I was caught in it. There was something very intense about this man, this being. I felt buried under the weight of his focus on me.

I looked away quickly as we made our way out of that opulent palace, filled with expensive stones and rare jewels.

I knew that we had lost in some way. Whatever game was being played, we were already behind, but I had still chosen to allow the situation to run its natural course and for intentions to reveal themselves with time, as I always had.

I could sense that this was bigger than him, the Darkness would not have shown up in St Petersburg of his own accord.

Someone had made a deal with him.

Someone brave enough – or foolish enough – to do so.

Regrettably, I was foolish too. One day, I would come to learn that my usual nonchalance was not my wisest move.

It was as expected, the last we ever saw of the Russians, but not the last I ever saw of him—Him? He would go on to haunt my every move, awake or asleep.

NEXT CHAPTER→ Chapter 2

For Chapter Release Dates & Announcements → TABLE OF CONTENTS

“I am aware of the many men pining for my Goddess….” said between gritted teeth.

- God of Darkness

My name is Katherine of Etruria,

Daughter of Zeus,

A King among Gods,

And Themis,

Goddess of wisdom and order.

Born to do what they will not –

Keep the world from unraveling.

Kuk–the first known Deity of Darkness. Ancient Egyptians believed that he existed before the beginning of time – a formless dark state in the universe. They called him the “bringer-in of light”, because he was the darkness before dawn. Long forgotten, some say he disappeared into the unknown, entering “eternal rest”.

Then came Erebus – the Greek God of Shadows and Darkness. A Primordial God, born from Chaos, the Romans called him Scotus. Erebus and his sister Nyx filled the world with Darkness, in new sinister ways, far beyond the cover of night.

And when the Dark Ages arrived, starting in the 5th century, the world was filled with its own kind of Darkness. It was a time of transformation, as old empires collapsed, and new ones started to rise – the perfect time for the primordial pair of Erebus and Nyx to introduce new, unholy elements into our fragile world.

Then the New World was born in the 11th century, and along with it, a new God of Darkness was also born. Descended from Erebus and Nyx, he came into existence in the dead of night, and as he opened his eyes for the first time and took his first breath – dawn descended upon the Earth.

NEXT CHAPTER→ Chapter 1

© 2026 N.C. Edmonds

Registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. All rights reserved.

SAVE this article for quick access to chapters and to stay informed on any changes.

Links to all chapters will be provided below.

PROLOGUE

Chapter 1: Russian Palace

Chapter 2: Council

Chapter 3: Gloomy Study

Chapter 4: Jack (Xander POV)

Chapter 5: Goddess Mansion

Chapter 6: Russia Conversation

Chapter 7: Russian Job (Xander’s POV) - 10/30/26

Chapter 8: Council 2 - 11/06/26

Chapter 9: Versailles - 11/13/26

Chapter 10: Peter - 11/20/26

Chapter 11: Kaethros - 11/27/26

Chapter 12: Nyhrhall - 12/04/26

Chapter 13: Xander Going Away - 12/11/26

Chapter 14: Childhood - 12/18/26

Chapter 15: Unknown (Xander POV) - 12/25/26

Chapter 16: Iceland - 01/01/27

Chapter 17: Callan - 01/08/27

Chapter 18: Iceland Reflection - 01/15/27

Chapter 19: Hall of Secrets - 01/22/27

Chapter 20: Cressida - 01/29/27

Chapter 21: Balcony - 02/05/27

Chapter 22: Church Street - 02/12/27

Chapter 23: Xander Visiting - 02/19/27

Chapter 24: Dharreck Attack - 02/26/27

Chapter 25: Xander’s Secret (Xander’s POV) - 03/05/27

Chapter 26: Grave Digger - 03/12/27

Chapter 27: The Goddess of Death (Xander’s POV) - 03/19/27

Chapter 28: The Vellin Pack - 03/26/27

Chapter 29: House of Darkness - 4/02/27

Chapter 30: Lonely Reflections - 4/09/27

Chapter 31: Night Visit - 04/26/27

Chapter 32: Antartica - 04/23/27

Chapter 33: Xander’s Confession - 04/30/27

Chapter 34: Congo - 05/07/27

Chapter 35: New Beginning - 05/14/27

Chapter 36: Happiness? - 05/21/27

Chapter 37: Love in The Dark (Xander’s POV) - 05/28/27

Chapter 38: The Visitor - 06/04/27

Chapter 39: Complete Surrender - 06/11/27

Chapter 40: The Children (Xander’s POV) - 06/18/27

…

Chapter 61 - TBD

Epilogue - TBD

“You are a monster Xander, and probably the Devil too… but you are my monster.”

-THE GODDESS-

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Daylight - David Kushner

Guilty As Sin? - Taylor Swift

How Villains Are Made - Madalen Duke

Runaway - AURORA

Way Down We Go - KALEO

you should see me in a crown - Billie Eilish

"He would go on to haunt my every move, awake or asleep.”

-THE GODDESS-

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“…there are no angels in this house. Only demons.”

Within the decaying walls of a grand palace, a Goddess of Balance who has survived centuries of loneliness meets a Dark God who has forgotten the meaning of peace—until her. For more than a millennium, he has commanded the monsters that haunt the shadows and lurk in nightmares. Brutally efficient, precise and numb—always in complete control.

But now, the Son of the Night has learned one thing a Dark God should never know—what it feels like to be whole. He would damn the world to keep her safe and wait centuries for her. But while the Daughter of Zeus opens her heart to him and accepts his protection, she denies him the one thing he craves—her complete surrender.

Weighed down by her isolation, she skillfully navigates the lethal politics of supernatural beings, moving with quiet authority from her mansion to ancient halls and distant corners of the world, all the while denying herself what her heart truly wants. But he keeps showing up in her life—a dark, dangerous presence that follows her every step, watching the threats that lurk in every corner. Unyielding and worshipful, he gently seduces her and waits patiently for her to realize that in his shadows is the only place she is truly safe.

A slow-burn mythological fantasy about trauma, divine responsibility, and the terrifying devotion of a man who is never tamed.

Expect:

• Emotionally Mature Romance with Slow-Burn Tension

• Dark Fantasy with Morally Grey Characters

• A Fiercely Protective and Devoted MMC

• Powerful FMC who is strong and independent, yet soft

• Gothic Horror Elements

• No SA or Abuse with your Romance

  ---

  “Oh, this is not about a man anymore.” I shake my head slowly. ”You’d be wise to remember who you’re talking to. Do not threaten me.”

  -THE GODDESS-

1. The Wolf King and The Night Prince

by Lauren Palphreman

Many fans of ACOTAR cite this book as very similar to their favorite book series, but other than a few shared common tropes, this story is nothing like ACOTAR. Modern romantasy is an evolution of old-school PNR, and The Wolf King originated from Wattpad, a place that has long been known for traditional PNR stories dating back to its early days in the mid-2000s.

As someone who has read both series and spent years before that reading PNR, I can tell you that the Wolf King story is very much rooted in the old-school PNR DNA minus the toxic-leaning men that this genre was known for, which is one of the main reasons why I love this book series so much. It’s also feral, addictive, and a relatively easy read.

This book has a simple yet tight world building. It doesn’t spend too much time creating a large universe, the story pretty much takes place between two kingdoms, but everything makes sense and it’s well written. This is one of those books where the genius is in its simplicity. You don’t need ten different cities, and five different magical systems with fifty different characters to make a story compelling.

The men in this series mirror a lot of those Alpha men you might have loved in famous series such as Black Dagger Brotherhood, Lords of The Underworld, and The Midnight Breed, though as I had mentioned earlier, it excludes the toxic-leaning traits those MMCs tended to display, but you still get the possessive, hyper-dominant traits that they were known for.

I grew up reading a lot of PNR, so similar to The Wolf King, my book, Shadows of Etruria, has a heavy PNR influence as well.

2. Quicksilver and Brimstone

by Callie Hart

I am currently reading Brimstone and absolutely loving it. Kingfisher has officially toppled Xaden as my favorite book MMC. He is an older and significantly more mature version of the Fourth Wing hero.

I can’t even begin to describe him except that he makes my insides melt. This man is a little stoic, highly rational and strategic, a born leader, and deeply caring underneath his hard exterior. According to the book, he is also over seven feet tall, a celebrated warrior, a Lord and well over a thousand years old, and he was stuck in a Hell of sorts for a very, very long time. There is also a rather heart-wrenching backstory.

One of the things I love the most about this book is that though there is a slight enemies-to-lovers story in the beginning with lots of resistance and tension, there isn’t too much of the push-and-pull that drives readers like myself crazy in all the wrong ways, it’s a satisfactory gradual build up. Once they get together, Kingfisher is highly committed and protective.

This story leans epic fantasy and I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of the non-romance parts. Some say Book 2, Brimstone isn’t as good as the first, but I’m halfway through it and not disappointed at all. The plots are still as interesting as ever, and Kingfisher only gets sexier.

Of the three books on this list, Kingfisher is the most similar to the MMC in my book, Xander.

3. Alchemised

by Sen Lin Yu

This book kept me in a deeply melancholic state for almost a week after I was done reading it. I could not get through this book fast enough but felt anxious reading it the entire the time. Some readers call this book slow, but I found it to be highly addictive because I needed to know what happened next the entire time until I reached the last page of this book.

This story originated from a Harry Potter fanfiction that the author originally wrote on A03 called Manacled. Manacled could not be published because it had too many direct references to Harry Potter and The Handmaiden’s Tale, so it had to be completely rewritten.

This book is pretty dark and arguably rather depressing in many ways. Everything about the world and characters are deeply morally grey. It is not an easy read. I think the reason some call it slow, despite many also calling it a masterpiece including myself, is that it doesn’t spoon-feed you a lot of details behind the motivation of its characters, which I read as intentional. You are supposed to sit with some of the more nuanced themes, because just like us humans, people’s motivations aren’t always one-dimensional and that is something that this book emphasizes. However, that might not work for certain readers who want clear-cut explanations.

The MMC, Kaine is highly polarizing—toxic in so many ways, yet completely in love with the FMC and quite literally burns the world down for her. There are parts of this book that can be triggering to read, but unlike typical dark romance, it is never framed as exciting or enjoyable. It is what it is, and further demonstrates the difficult, complex choices that characters have to make in the middle of a civil war where everything is at stake. It explores how humans behave when pushed their limits, how we desperately hold on to love when there is no other hope left, and being forced to choose between your own survival versus being a good person.

Alchemised mirrors a lot of the darker, more complex elements in my upcoming serialized fiction, Shadows of Etruria.

Most Highly Anticipated Reads On My TBR

The Book of Azrael

by Amber V. Nicole

I am planning to listen to the Graphic Audiobook version of this. For those of you who don’t know, Graphic Audiobook is a company that produces audiobooks with a full cast, unique voice actors for each character, complete with sound effects. They call it — a movie in your mind. This is how I was introduced to Fourth Wing and it was amazing. I would highly recommend listening to Graphic Audiobook for any story that offers it.

I like the way this book looks on Book Tok. I usually get a pretty good idea of the vibes of a story from browsing reels on Book Tok. Of course, I am also looking forward to reading about a powerful FMC, who is apparently villainous, and a redeemed God-level MMC who went into isolation after a terrible experience.

This book sounds pretty modern, I heard honking cars and loud city noises in the background when I listened to a preview of the audiobook, so that will be interesting.

Anathema

by Keri Lake

This is a another one that gave me good vibes on Book Tok. I like a mature, confident MMC, with a dark side and Zevander was giving off this aura in spades.

It’s also a Dark Romantasy which is right up my alley, and seems to have a strong gothic theme with a forbidden love element.

From reading the summary, I like the idea of the FMC loosing her way in this evil, dangerous forest and coming across a vicious MMC, who sounds like he was supposed to murder her, but ends up becoming deeply obsessed with her.

If you like any of the books mentioned in this article, you will likely also enjoy my weekly serialized fiction—Shadows of Etruria, Book 1 in The Darkness series:

“I don’t need your permission Katherine… don’t question my love for you, and don’t you dare mock me for it…”

-THE DARK GOD, XANDER (Shadows of Etruria)-

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However, as she got older and left the safety of her childhood home, the wounds left by her upbringing at home started to affect the kind of women she gravitated to as friends and the type of women who gravitated towards her in return, which created some pretty bad experiences for her in regards to female relationships. Fortunately, Katherine’s popularity among men attracted the attention of the budding Olympian warrior-in-training who only had eyes for her. Men like him gave her a place of refuge when she did not really have anyone else.

Over the course of her adult life, she felt pretty lonely and isolated for multiple reasons. One, because of her historically complicated relationship with other women, and two, because being as powerful and as burdened as she is, it’s extremely difficult to find people who understand what you’re going through.

And though there’s always been men in her life who have wanted to help and to take care of her, she’s always been someone who’s very guarded and finds it hard to let others in. On top of that, it took some maturing on her part to get to a place where she felt more comfortable forming intimate relationships, whether in friendships or romantic relationships.

This is where Xander, the Dark God comes in. He comes to her at a time in her life when she’s more ready to actually let someone in. And despite his menacing nature, he actually proves to be very steady and dependable, and he treats her really well. But he has his own pain and his own past.

Despite the more evil nature of his role in the universe, I don’t see him as someone who necessarily enjoys what he does. It’s more of a job to him, something that someone has to do, and that someone is him. And because he is someone who is highly committed and responsible, he does it with brutal efficiency. But he’s essentially numb, until he meets her.

In many ways, this is a story about two powerful beings coming together to be something for each other that no one else has ever been able to provide before. Xander loves and takes care of her in a way no one else ever has, and in a way that she desperately craves, while she gives him acceptance, understanding and a soft place to land. She sees him fully, and unlike others who fear him, or desire him for what he can give them, Katherine sees the man behind the monster. It is because of her unique role in the universe that she can accept that he is a natural part of it, and because she is herself powerful, she does not fear him the way others might.

Looped into all of this, is the bigger overarching storyline involving their parents, and the other Gods with their own plans and schemes, trying to gain power and so on, and the threats that both of them face in their efforts to fulfill the responsibilities and roles they were born into, while trying to be together.
There is a lot world traveling. We go to Antarctica, Mexico, Germany, France, Malaysia, Greece and so on. A lot of the places featured in my book are either based on or inspired by real world places. There are also some fictional places such as the Goddess’ mansion and the Dark God’s town.

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There are Gothic elements to my book. There are also horror elements. I grew up watching a lot of Asian horror movies and some of my more recent favorite horror movies are The Conjuring series, Annabelle, Insidious etc. so do expect chapters that replicate that level of horror.

I also wanted to write a female lead who is undeniably powerful and independent, but who still needs someone to be there for her. Because as people, sometimes we just need other people. Even powerful Gods need someone they can depend on, someone to understand them and help them carry their burdens in life. I wanted her to be quietly powerful, not loud or angry and in-your-face.

Ultimately, this is the story of two people, who are amongst the most powerful in the world, but who have had tragically challenging lives, and finally they find in each other someone they can trust and lean on. And this is all set against an epic fantasy backdrop, though I will say that this book one starts off slower, because we are building the romance, learning about the characters, and setting things up for the future.

I don’t know if my intentions for this story come across 100% on the page, some things may not be entirely spelled out nor obvious, or up to interpretation and I’m okay with that. A little bit of mystery in the actual writing is always good, and there’s always more to build on with future books. Sometimes, I’m happy to even just let readers simply see things from their perspective. Your perspective may not always match mine precisely when you’re reading what I wrote, but that’s the beauty of it. I may have inadvertently written something with alternate meanings that I did not catch onto, but you did.

It is like when they talk about your subconscious understanding things your conscious mind does not. It could be one of those things where I wrote some things because it felt right to me, a part of the natural progression of the story and characters, however the deeper meaning of it just did not occur to me yet. But then someone else might spot something that helps me better understand the reason why I wrote I what I did, or help me see the patterns behind certain themes I might be repeating.

I already have the main plot for future books roughly planned out. Things could change, and there’s still future revisions for this first book, but I have a pretty clear idea of where we’re heading.

Once again, I leave you with a quote below…

“Obsessed. In love. So far in over my head that I’m on the verge of doing unforgivable things…”

-THE DARK GOD-

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In university, I majored in Economics, and initially, I minored in Computer Science and Political Science before swapping the CS minor to Business during my third year. Studying for both Economics and Computer Science was not easy and exceedingly time consuming. I just could not keep up with the course load. They used to say that if you want to do well in both, you either need to give up sleep or your social life, and I was not willing to do either—especially because I had no plans to have a career as a computer scientist.

I was always planning to either become an Economist or go into finance. Computer Science was just a side subject I thought might be useful to take on.

It took me a while to come to the realization that I might be more of a creative than a corporate job kind of person. Even though I am good at what I do, the level of passion just isn’t the same.

I’m in my 30s now and I’ve been reading romance books since I was maybe 10 years old. However, regardless of how much I have loved the books I’ve read, I’ve never been 100% satisfied with them. I always come up with alternate versions in my head. Oftentimes, I even dream up romance stories inspired by non-romance TV shows or movies that I watch.

I can’t say that I regret the career path I chose or feel like I wasted time. I’m still doing it, and it’s a good job. In fact, I think my professional experience is exactly why tracking narrative logic feels so natural to me.

When you’re working with numbers all day, you can’t really have “loopholes” in your numbers. You know how people complain about loopholes in plotlines? Well, when it comes to financial reporting, everything has to tie, and everything has to make sense.

So I do think that there are benefits to coming into fictional writing from a more technical background. I care deeply about my story making sense from every possible angle, but by some miracle, I’ve managed to let go of my perfectionism when it comes to my writing.

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I don’t know how, but from the moment I sat down to write, for the first time in my life, I stopped overthinking and became far less concerned about things being perfect. I have yet to really achieve this in other areas of my life, but every time I write, it just happens.

This tells me something important. Writing these stories taps into a deeper part of my psyche that has not been conditioned by the external demands and expectations of life. It’s more pure in a sense. I do feel a strong sense of catharsis every time I write. It’s very therapeutic as well. I can get stuck writing for hours on end, and even when I’m tired, I still love it.

Time management has been a challenge, but I’m working on it. I can’t wait to share my work with you.

Anyway, I’ll leave you again with a little quote below from one of the new chapters.

“All this waiting, constantly resisting me… It’ll be the death of me.”

-THE DARK GOD-

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One chapter will be released every Friday beginning on 10.2.26, and a new prologue chapter with some background lore will be dropped early on 9.30.26.

Some of you may have noticed that I did a little rebranding. I came up with a new title for my book and decided to make the prior title, The Darkness, the name of the overarching series instead. I may try out different names for this first book in the series, but for now, let’s see if this one sticks. I also removed the first draft publication from my profile to keep things clean, but I did not delete it so it is still out there.

For those of you who read my first draft, I added multiple new chapters (25 of them!) including MMC POV chapters. This will allow you to glimpse into the menacing mind of the Dark God, and read about him swoon over our Goddess. But besides that, as I was going over the second draft, I realized that there was so much of the world and the characters in my head that I just did not fully articulate in words. Upon re-reading, it just felt incomplete and did not mirror a lot of what I saw and felt internally—which is why I had to expand the story.

Then on top of that, as I was going through the edits, a lot of new ideas were forming in my mind, and the ultimate plan and outcome for this current book and future books became much clearer to me. You can interpret that however you want, but it affected the way I wrote the chapters. It also led to some serious revamping on a few to ensure that the different plots matched the updated plan. I made it a point as well, to tune certain chapters to where almost every sentence carries important meaning.

Anyway, the expanded story—containing the 25 new chapters and updates to all 26 pre-existing ones—includes deeper story immersion, new subplots, clearer character development etc. If you would like to stay up to date on the releases, you can become a free subscriber to get a notification sent straight to your inbox every time a new chapter is released.

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As I had mentioned in a previous post, the core story remains unchanged. But it will be like re-experiencing the same story from a whole new perspective, and discovering all these new things you never knew before.

In this first draft, you kind of got the idea of what Katherine and Xander are about, their relationship and where we’re gradually heading towards in future books, but I had only cracked open the door for you a little. Now, I’m letting you cross the threshold so you can get a better idea of how big the room actually is, the texture on the walls, and finally sit on that sofa you were admiring from the outside.

If you have not read the first draft yet, don’t worry about it. You can skip it and just read this upcoming second draft—unless you are someone who is interested in witnessing the narrative progression, which some might find intriguing.

I’m probably biased, but I swear, when I read my second draft, I get excited. I’ll never criticize my first draft because it set the foundation for the story, but I think that the 2nd draft is a massive level up.

Anyway, thanks for reading. I’m looking forward to sharing the updated story with you, and I’ll leave you with a little quote below from one of the new chapters.

“...there are no angels in this house. Only demons.”

-THE DARK GOD-

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