Daughter of Darkness

Daughter of Darkness Wielder of Shadows Allie Cole Allie Cole Publishing Copyright Daughter of Darkness Wielder of Shadows Copyright © 2023 by Allie Cole All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law or for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental. Cover Illustration by Jaqueline Kropmanns https://jaqueline-kropmanns.de/ ISBN 979-8-9881241-1-5 (print edition) ISBN 979-8-9881241-0-8 (ebook) https://alliecole.godaddysites.com/ Dedication To my twelve-year-old self, who dreamed of escaping into magical worlds. To my fifteen-year-old self, who drowned herself in books to stop thinking and feeling so much. To my present self, who proved she could do it. Playlist AVAION – Broken David Kushner – Daylight Ari Abdul – Hush The People’s Thieves – Now That We’re Alone Audiomachine - Elucidate Lana del Rey – Yes to Heaven Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse Hozier – Work Song Ari Abdul – Taste Just Pretend - Bad Omens Camila Cabello – Shameless CALAPM – Valiant (feat. Sybrid) Sultan + Shepard + Shallou – Raye Important note This book ends on a cliffhanger. The content can entail some triggering situations for the reader, such as graphic violence, sexually explicit scenes, and sexual assault mentions. So, please be advised and consider these warnings before reading. Prologue Listen to your intuition, her voice whispers in my mind. They know where you are. They’re coming for you. The words carry an undeniable ring of truth, erasing any trace of doubt. Alarm bells ring in my head, growing louder as they near. I send Ela away, with no time to explain or say goodbye. After spending the last decades doing everything in my power to ensure her safety, I must finally meet my fate. Without me, they can’t get to her. When I die, my suffering ends, and this secret dies with me. They’ll never know. As I lift my head, my gaze meets theirs. Their eyes still carry all the hate of this world, confirming I’ve run out of time. Chapter One Elanor As I’m walking the muddy streets of the village, the smell of muck mixed with urine and trash fills the air. Lovely. I’m not sure Grasswood can even be considered a village. It’s more like a gathering of homes connected by dirt paths, with a central road along which merchants gather. The tiny houses are made of wood and stones, giving the whole place a very earthy feel. I leave the main street after earning a few coins in exchange for wild herbs and mushrooms I’ve gathered from the forest. I’m hoping this will be enough to buy a piece of fresh meat. The butcher’s shop is the only one not on the main road, but nothing is ever too far here, and it’s only a few minutes’ walk. My small pack, now emptied of its content, is almost weightless on my back as I head there. Careful not to step in any puddles, I’m absently playing with the coins in the palm of my hand. I’m always a little on edge when I leave the safety of the forest, and the light clink grounds me. It’s not like anything ever really happens around here, but I carry a knife as a precaution. My modest clothing and determined look usually dissuade anyone from approaching, but the blade is here just in case, a reassuring presence. The smell of blood and bowels assaults me right when I walk through the door of the dimly-lit shop. I’m standing in a small room divided by a counter in the middle and a back door leading to the kitchen where they slaughter the animals and prepare the meat. “Good day, I would like to buy some meat.” I manage to say, disregarding the foul smell stuck in my throat. The tall, brown-haired man standing behind the counter turns around at the sound of my voice. Andy is rather athletic and wide-shouldered from the hours spent carrying carcasses and expertly carving meat with knives of all sizes. His pale skin contrasts nicely with his dark eyes and the bit of stubble on his face. Overall, he’s not displeasing to look at. His family has owned this shop forever, and he will take over at some point, just like his father and grandfather before him. That’s only if he manages to open his mouth and actually serve customers. I’m about to repeat my inquiry, since he’s standing there completely still and silent, when he finally greets me. “Hi.” His dark gaze never meets mine for more than a second, probably because that second alone reveals more than he wishes. I think he likes me. Everyone around here just pretends I don’t exist unless I need to buy or sell something. But not Andy. He’s different. He’s the only one who looks at me this way. He’s just shy or scared of me, which is for the best, really. The only romance I’ve ever experienced was that between my parents, and it was more its downfall than its peak. So, given the aftermath, I think I’m good. It would just hinder me. No thanks. But with Andy standing in front of me, I consider it for a second. I’d probably drag him into my dark world if he ever voiced his interest in me. Or maybe he’d be the one carrying me into the light… as if that was even possible. Good one, Ela. As much as I sometimes envy those who don’t have to do it all alone, those who have people around who care, I can’t be one of them. The dark memories are never far behind that pipe dream. I’ve gotten used to the solitude now, and I’ve found a strange peace and safety to it. I’ve created some stability, avoiding dangers as best as I can and keeping