Darkness Descends: A Skye Faden Novel Read online

  Dedicated to my Mom

  For always being my #1 fan and personal cheerleader. For letting me call you and/or show up at your door at 10:30 PM on so many nights – just so that I could talk myself through scenes and plots. For the numerous gallons of coffee that you have made for me as I wrote. For eagerly reading every new chapter – with me reading along over your shoulder asking for feedback on each part. For always giving me your honest opinion. For reading full length novels to me as a child. For instilling in me a passion for the written word. For naming me after the heroine in a romance novel and, in turn, fating me to eventually write my own. LOL ;) For everything you’ve ever done and ever will do for me, you have my undying love, appreciation, and friendship!

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to Ryan, my best friend and husband! You have never doubted me and always supported my efforts to make this a reality. I love you with all of my heart, sweets!

  Thank you to my beloved little sister, Joli! Your energetic spirit and enthusiasm about my writing spurred me on any time I had doubts. I still grin about your giddiness that one day you would be reading my book on the subway, showing it off to the all of the other commuters. Love you, sugar!

  Thank you to my girls, my BFFs since we were little kids, Lea and Khyla! Even though we are all on different paths in our lives, you are both always in my heart. I pinky-promise ;) Love you!

  Thank you to my babygirl, Rhonda! You are my Darkest Star and always will be! Keep going, sweetheart. No matter what life throws at you, you are strong enough to overcome it. Have faith in yourself. The following is hereby a published fact: you are an amazing person!

  Thank you to the faithful fangirls: Nita AltaMae, Sorena, Erin, Chelsea, Gayle, Molly, Jen, Jessie, Sanela, Danielle, Lisa, and every one of the hundreds of honey-bunnies that have devotedly followed my work online! Your feedback provided me with the confidence to pursue my lifelong dream. You made this happen for me and I cannot express to you the full extent of my gratitude. In short: you all rock my socks!

  Thank you to the thousands of roofers, mechanics, and construction workers that I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with over the years! Your endless supply of wit and humor inspired me to write the antics and interactions between the male characters in this book. Thanks for letting me be just one of the guys!

  Thank you to my cover artist, Nick Reid! You provided the patience of a saint while creating the gorgeous cover of this book. I truly appreciate all of your time and effort and look forward to working with you again down the road!

  Thank you to Michael Bauer of Akerbeltz Translations in Glasgow, Scotland! Michael, you were an absolute pleasure to work with and I look forward to dealing with you further in the future! For my readers, Michael was the one that reviewed the Scots Gaelic in this book to ensure accuracy. I highly recommend his services to anyone seeking help with Scots Gaelic. He also provided me with the IPA phonetic keys – those would be the proper ones, not the English-based ones that I made in an attempt to keep things simple for readers. As you can imagine, Michael was not crazy about those. LOL

  Scots & Irish Gaelic: Names & Terms

  a stóirín:

  IPA Pronunciation: [ə sdɔːrʲiːnʲ]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: uh STAW-reen

  Meaning: my little darling

  Ailean:

  IPA Pronunciation: [alan]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: AH-lan

  Meaning: “rock” or “noble”

  Aodh:

  IPA Pronunciation: [ɯːɣ]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: UHGH

  Meaning: fire

  Brandubh:

  IPA Pronunciation: [branduh]

  Approximate Pronunciation*:BRAN-doo

  Meaning:

  brathadairean:

  IPA Pronunciation: [brahədɛrʲən]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: BRA-huh-dur-un

  Meaning: betrayers

  Cathal:

  IPA Pronunciation: [kahəL]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: KA-hull

  Meaning: battle mighty

  Ciaran:

  IPA Pronunciation: [kʲiəran]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: KEEAR-un

  Meaning: dark one

  Donnach:

  IPA Pronunciation: [dɔNəx]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: DOH-nukh

  Meaning: brown warrior

  Drostan:

  IPA Pronunciation: [drosdan]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: DRAW-stan

  Meaning: (unknown – Pictish)

  Eògan:

  IPA Pronunciation: [jɔːgan]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: YAW-gun

  Meaning: well born, youth

  faol / faoil:

  IPA Pronunciation: [fɯːL]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: FUHL

  Meaning: wolf

  Faol Seunta:

  IPA Pronunciation: [fɯːL ʃiəNdə]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: FUHL SHEEN-duh

  Meaning: wolf protected by enchantments

  Faolan:

  IPA Pronunciation: [fɯːLan]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: FUHL-an

  Meaning: wolf

  fògaraich:

  IPA Pronunciation: [fɔːgərɪç]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: FAW-gur-ikh

  Meaning: banished ones

  Latharn:

  IPA Pronunciation: [La.əRN]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: LAH-urn

  Meaning: fox

  Lorcán:

  IPA Pronunciation: [Lorgɑːn]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: LORE-kawn

  Meaning: cruel or fierce

  Luag:

  IPA Pronunciation: [Luəg]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: LOO-ag

  Meaning: brightness, light

  Maon:

  IPA Pronunciation: [mɯːn]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: MUHN

  Meaning: hero

  Onchu:

  IPA Pronunciation: [ɔnɔxu]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: AWE-NOH-khoo

  Meaning: mighty dog

  Ruarachan:

  IPA Pronunciation: [Ruərəxan]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: ROOA-ruh-khun

  Meaning: little red one

  Sgitheanach:

  IPA Pronunciation: [sgʲi.ənɪç]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: SGEE-yuh-nih

  Meaning: Skye

  Sitheag:

  IPA Pronunciation: [ʃi.ag]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: SHEE-ag

  Meaning: wolf

  Sorcha:

  IPA Pronunciation: [sɔrɔxə]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: SOH-ruh-khuh

  Meaning: brightness, light

  Tàcharain Fhaol:

  IPA Pronunciation: [taːxəran ˈfɯːl]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: TAA-khur-an FUHL

  Meaning: wolf changelings

  Taran:

  IPA Pronunciation: [taran]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: TAH-ran

  Meaning: (unknown – Pictish King)

  Approximate Pronunciations are provided by author for reference only.

  Scots & Irish Gaelic: Words & Phrases

  a’ bhan-dia:

  IPA Pronunciation: [ə vãũNdʲiə]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: uh VOUN-jeea

  Meaning: the goddess

  a’ sabaid mar ghaisgeach:

  IPA Pronunciation: [ə sabɪdʲ mar ɣaʃgʲəx]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: uh SA-bich mur GHASH-gyukh

  Meaning: fights like a warrior

  ainmhidh:

  IPA Pronunciation: [ɛnɛvɪ]

  Approximat
e Pronunciation*: EH-NEH-vee

  Meaning: wild beast

  an-dràsta:

  IPA Pronunciation: [əNˈdraːsdə]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: uhn-DRAA-stuh

  Meaning: now

  ban-dia na gealaich

  IPA Pronunciation: [bãũNdʲiə nə gʲaLɪç]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: BOUN-jeea nuh GYAL-eeh

  Meaning: moon goddess

  bithibh air mhire-chatha:

  IPA Pronunciation: [bi.ɪv ɛrʲ mirʲəˈxa.ə]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: BEE-iv eth vee-the-KHA-huh

  Meaning: rage ye for battle

  cho bòidheach:

  IPA Pronunciation: [xɔ bɔːjəx]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: khoh BAW-yukh

  Meaning: so beautiful

  cinneadh còir:

  IPA Pronunciation: [kʲiNʲəɣ kɔːrʲ]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: KYI-nyugh KAWTH

  Meaning: honest kindred

  dearbh bhràithrean:

  IPA Pronunciation: [dʲɛrɛ vraːrʲən]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: JEH-RUV VRAA-thun

  Meaning: brothers

  do bhan-dia:

  IPA Pronunciation: [də vãũNdʲiə]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: duh VOUN-jeea

  Meaning: your goddess

  éiribh:

  IPA Pronunciation: [eːrʲɪv]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: EH-thiv

  Meaning: rise, ascend

  feumaidh sibh nasgadh ri chéile:

  IPA Pronunciation: [feːmɪ ʃiv Nasgəɣ rʲi çeːlə]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: FEH-mee shin NAS-gugh thee HEH-luh

  Meaning: you must join together

  gabh mo leisgeul:

  IPA Pronunciation: [go mə leʃgʲaL]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: GAW muh LYEH-shgyul

  Meaning: excuse me

  gràdh, dìlseachd, càirdeas:

  IPA Pronunciation: [graː dʲiːlʃəxg kaːRdʲəs]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: GRAA JEEL-shukhg KAAR-juss

  Meaning: love, loyalty, friendship

  iomlanaich do Thrianaid:

  IPA Pronunciation: [imiLanɪç də riənɪdʲ]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: EE-MEE-lan-ih duh RIA-nij

  Meaning: complete your Trinity

  m’ òigridh:

  IPA Pronunciation: [mɔːgʲrʲɪ]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: MAW-gthee

  Meaning: my children

  mo bhan-dia:

  IPA Pronunciation: [mə vãũNdʲiə]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: muh VOUN-jeea

  Meaning: my goddess

  nasgadh:

  IPA Pronunciation: [Nasgəɣ]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: NAS-gugh

  Meaning: binding or joining together

  rach a-steach:

  IPA Pronunciation: [Rax əˈʃdʲɛx]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: RAKH uh-SHCHAHKH

  Meaning: go /enter

  seadh:

  IPA Pronunciation: [ʃɤɣ]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: SHUGH

  Meaning: yes

  tagair do Thrianaid:

  IPA Pronunciation: [tagɪrʲ də riənɪdʲ]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: TA-gith duh RIA-nij

  Meaning: claim your Trinity

  taibhsearachd:

  IPA Pronunciation: [taivʃɛrəxg]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: TAIV-shur-ukhg

  Meaning: second sight

  treubh:

  IPA Pronunciation: [treːv]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: TREHV

  Meaning: tribe

  triath ghaisgeach:

  IPA Pronunciation: [triə ɣaʃgʲəx]

  Approximate Pronunciation*: TREEA GHASH-gyukh

  Meaning: warrior lord

  Approximate Pronunciations are provided by author for reference only.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE: As you read, you may notice subtle differences in the spelling of certain Gaelic words. I promise, these variations had nothing to do with my level of sleep deprivation while writing. For terms such as ‘fògarach’, an ‘i’ is needed for the plural, and so it becomes ‘fògaraich’, instead. The same is true of ‘faol’ and ‘faoil’. Terms like ‘Tàcharain Fhaol’ have more complex rules depending upon usage. Confused yet? It’s okay – that’s why I put these handy little guides in here. Trust the guides. ;)

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Intro: One Lost...

  1: Darkened Skye

  2: Hard to be Soft

  3: Fatally Wrong

  4: Headfirst

  5: Present Scars, Past Pain

  6: What’s in a Name?

  7: Cuidaté

  8: Suffocating Stares

  9: The Beast Within

  10: Caged

  11: Nobody’s Home

  12: The Touch of No Other

  13: Feel

  14: Return to Taciturn

  15: Varying Degrees

  16: Scent of Seduction

  17: Reddin the Fire

  18: Officially Fooked

  19: Gone Bye-byes

  20: Rapture

  21: Eternal Brotherly Torment

  22: Note to Self

  23: Trust

  24: “Do you see... ?”

  25: Talk of a Trinity

  26: Rise and Shine

  27: Skye vs. Ciaran

  28: Consent

  29: Meet the Clan

  30: A Rare Reunion

  31: The Trinity Binds...

  32: Fangirls

  33: The Pornographic Prince

  34: A Gift

  35: Enlisting

  36: Bedtime Story

  37: A Broken Jaw Between Brothers

  38: The Call

  39: Across the Sea

  40: Visions of Violence

  41: Rise!

  42: Resurfacing Resonance

  43: Father of the Forsaken

  44: Sensation of Separation

  45: Please...

  46: Passion of Grief

  47: From One Stolen...

  48: One Lost is Returned

  49: A Nobler Person...

  50: Queen takes King

  Epilogue

  Intro: One Lost...

  THREE YEARS AGO – PHILADELPHIA, PA

  The road was cold beneath her bare feet.

  Broken glass buried itself deeper with each step, but she could not feel a thing. She staggered along the dirty city streets, a lone survivor in the darkness. Her eyes stared wide and unblinkingly ahead as her mind fought for its sanity.

  It felt as if she was awakening from a psychotic nightmare – one that had taken nearly a decade to end.

  Her arms were crossed over her chest as her body trembled uncontrollably in shock.

  The blood that covered her from head to toe was drying now, offering her bare flesh a layer of protection from the cold night air.

  Whispered, desperate words tumbled from her lips.

  “No... not going back. Didn’t... no... Not going back... not going back,” she told herself as she shook her head frantically.

  Her own voice was strange to her ears, little more than background noise to her shattered mind.

  Wild hair hung down around her face like a curtain now. Its appearance was a far cry from the angelic ringlets favored by her captors.

  The Victorian doll-style dress that she had been forced to wear had not escaped the inferno with her.

  Flames had reduced it to nothing more than a corset and the scorched remnants of a layered underskirt.

  Its tattered fabric, once white, was now the grotesque color of blood mixed with ash.

  Flashes of what she had just done tormented her. They startled her so severely each time they came that she held her hands up defensively – shielding herself from the memory of the violence of her own actions.

  She could see their faces... God, all of their faces.

  H
ear their screams... smell their blood...

  1: Darkened Skye

  PRESENT DAY – NYC, NY

  It was going to be a long winter in New York City this year. The chill in the air and mix of sleet, rain, and snow falling tonight assured that much. To step outside the door into the frigid night, you would have guessed it was closer to February than the end of November. Wet leaves and litter were catching in the grate over the rundown motel’s front window. More gathered with each gust of wind.

  After shaking his head at the miserable weather, Franco returned to his seat behind the counter. A quick glance over at the clock prompted a disappointed groan. It was only a little after 2:00 am and his shift did not end until 7. He hated working nights, but with three kids at home and another on the way, he did not have a choice in the matter. His discomfort with the schedule was not reason enough to turn down a paycheck. Not when there were mouths to feed, diapers to buy, prescriptions to fill, and a nursery to decorate. Money was money and his family needed it. Besides, as his father had always said, ‘Work’s not supposed to be fun. If it was, you’d have to pay them for the time you spent there, instead of the other way around’.

  The only positive thing about working the graveyard shift in this neighborhood was that there were never any clients around to bother him. Unfortunately, that was also one of the biggest negatives about this job. Nobody was stupid enough to venture out after dark around here – not even the cops. People disappeared. People were violently murdered and left in dumpsters. No one ever saw or heard anything.

  At least, that was what you said when anyone asked.

  Bearing all of this in mind, it should come as no surprise that his hand instinctively went to an ever-ready shotgun when the front door swung open. The two-inch thick bulletproof glass that encased him offered very little comfort as a hooded figure slowly stepped into the lobby.

  Rain was rolling off the thick canvas of the stranger’s military style raincoat. They kept their head low, using their hood to shield their face from view. They were dressed in black from head to toe, which would have made it impossible to spot any cause for alarm... But water was not the only thing gathering on the white tiles at their feet.

  Franco’s breathing quickened when he focused on the blood dripping steadily from their hand.

  He pumped his shotgun purposefully before taking aim with it, hoping to convey that he would not go down without a fight. Even if this stranger was not looking at him, they were sure to recognize the sound of a 12 gauge getting ready for business. Trying his best to sound calm, he worked up the courage to speak.