Free The Darkness Within by Charisma Knight Page A

are you to give orders!” the woman in black said with a snarl. “Apparently you don’t know the power I possess.”
    She shuddered as the tall figure stilled, making her panic when she realized her feet wouldn’t move. As a matter of fact, her entire body ceased to move.
    “What have you done to me?” Althea asked with as much courage as one could summon in her situation. She whimpered when she noticed her strength swiftly draining from her. “Dammit!” she swore as she felt her energies being depleted.
    Quinton and Vukasin often warned her of the deadly force as it continued to grow stronger with each passing day.
    A chill dashed through her body, cutting her to the quick. If she didn’t fight, somehow, this demonic creature would manage to possess her. A bright blue shield erupted in front of her, hurling the specter against the wall.
    “I’ll be better prepared, next time,” the woman said. “If you want to know who I am, take a deep look inside yourself.” With that, she disappeared, leaving Althea to unravel a mystery.
    Althea leaned against the cold wall, trembling from the encounter. It pissed her off that another female almost beat her down in a world she created.
    With a huff, she grabbed a torch and continued her journey down the corridor. She came through a grand dining room that would undoubtedly seat three churches, she decided. On each side of the dining table were shining coats of armor. Eventually, her feet carried her to a large veranda, adorned with roses. As she strolled out, she could see nothing but land for miles around. Off in the distance were trees and cobblestone courtyards.
    Leaning on the stone wall, she closed her eyes as a warm breeze caressed her cheek. In the sky hung a large, silvery full moon, and to the right of it, was a smaller moon. Half of it was shadowed in the depth of the evening sky. Stars glittered like tiny diamonds against a black velvet background. She sighed. This place always comforted her.
    Suddenly, a nagging thought broke through the small bit of comfort she almost reveled in. Darkness demanded her soul in this place. Darkness wanted her stranded in this place. But why? The mysterious stranger had struck a large amount of fear in her, and she suspected she’d cross paths with her again.
    Why did that knowledge frighten her? If that wasn’t enough, not knowing the entity’s true origins scared her even more. She knew it would not rest until it laid Althea to rest.
    A beautiful white bird flew past her as she tried collecting her energies and making sense of the incident that had just occurred. “Come on, girl, get it together,” Althea whispered. “I refuse to let this thing, whatever it is, take me over.
    With that, she left the balcony. Once again, she continued walking down the corridor and immediately was joined by another presence.
    “Who’s there?” This presence was different. She quickly turned around, ready to defend herself.
    “Ah, I’m disappointed. Surely we have not been away so long that you do not remember me?”
    Althea smiled. “Vukasin!” She threw her arms around the large man. “Oh, I’m so happy to see you! Where the hell have you been?”
    “Come,” the wolf circled his arm around hers. “There is much you must know.”
     

Chapter Two
     
    Before she could blink, they were at the door of his bedchambers.
    “Am I dreaming?” she asked before he brushed sensual, thin lips against hers. “Or, am I daydreaming?” She snickered as his grip tightened around her plush body.
    “I assure you, beautiful, this is far from a dream,” he replied as he approached a double wooden door that had been left ajar. Quickly, the handsome devil strode into the room and placed her on a large four-post bed with sheer bloodred curtains. She giggled as the bed seemed to swallow her up, and she reveled in the feeling of the satin and silk brushing against her skin. She blushed as Vukasin lay beside her.
    “It has been too long,” she