Dark Fantasy Short Stories

Operative Jena Morane is the kind of Justice Keeper who can't resist the urge to poke her nose where it doesn't belong. Bored with her current assignment, she flies off to investigate strange readings from a neighboring star system. But something is lurking in deep space, and what she finds there will haunt her until the day she dies.

Her voice is her brand. It’s also kind of a public safety concern. Marinella’s streaming channel serves up immersive sound, chill vibes, and just enough siren magic to keep her audience blissed out—without triggering another spontaneous group swim. But with sponsorships vanishing and rent climbing, she’s running out of ways to keep things ethical, engaging, and technically legal. Enter WaveSound: a glossy audio-tech giant with prototype headphones, aggressive KPIs, and one marketing director who’s a little too enthusiastic about her “authentic resonance.” They want her ...

Even monsters have to deal with Mondays!Mythical creatures like vampires, werewolves, and gremlins aren't lurking in shadows, they're trying to survive just like everyone else. From a vampire craving the feel of sunlight to a gremlin who desperately wants to fix things but never can, from duelling with the devil to being a most unusual type of were-creature, these misfits are just trying to live their best normal lives. But fitting in isn't easy when your fangs show, your full moon calendar is packed, and your inner demons are quite literal. Full of humour, heart, and supernatural ...

Emma Hazelton is torn between her growing desire for the vampire and her fear of what he could do to her. Now she needs his help and must put her trust in him to take her sisters away from her uncle’s increasing cruelty. When he returns for her he refuses to take her away until she gives him her body and her soul. She must decide how much she wants to help her sisters, destroy her uncle, and give in to her feelings, so she can survive his request. Falling for the Vampire 3 is the third book in a five part series. Each installment is approximately 12,000 words (50 pages).

Ten Fantasy Stories by Ten Authors. Of all paranormal creatures, demons are the most dangerous. Intelligent and deceitful, they are masters of disguise and crafty manipulation. They stir evil desires, exploit moral weaknesses, disguise the boundaries between right and wrong, plant convictions in the victim's mind, and persuade humans that they want the thing the demon aims to bring about. Every culture in the world has demons, but their shape, nature and purpose varies so much that it would be impossible to give a single definition. In this anthology, ten authors share their vision of ...

Drawn from the myths and histories of the American Midwest, Piasa: Rite of Talons combines the legend of the Piasa dragon-bird with the Cahokia Mound City. A dark pact is made between the royal line of Ouatoga and the man-eating monster. What horrible price must be paid to ensure the prosperity of the Mound City? Who is the true enemy of the progress of mankind?

They call the Malar Dorah unbreakable. Five centuries it stood unconquered until foul trickery cracked its gates. Now, it is the final bastion of a retreating northern army, and the culmination of a long-raging war. The warlord Belerod stands at the Dorah's doorstep with a horde at his back, set on testing the meaning of unbreakable with his golems.

Once every 10,000 years, the walls between worlds grow thin. The stars align, and Hell is close. It is the time of the Sha'Daa. The hordes of Hell are about to ride out upon mankind; the forces of evil are trembling with eagerness at the doors of our dimension. Oh, wait a minute.... Actually, they’re not all eager. Some have become members of the Elks, or are involved with a fun crowd at the local high school (though, granted, they’re drinking the cheerleaders’ blood. Not enough to do any real harm).

Tales from the Eerie Canal weaves the sinister mystery of Edgar Allan Poe with the dark humor of Edward Gorey. No canal. No Lake Erie. Just a stream of the disturbing splashed with bits of the absurd.

As her power grows, a grandmother must choose between her safety and her family.In the arid landscapes of the Arizona Hopi Reservation, Nokomis Nicholas, a woman with a unique connection to the land, grapples with a difficult decision. Her granddaughter, Tansy, is in the care of her spiteful daughter-in-law, Yamka. As Komie's power over the land grows, she must decide whether to stay and protect Tansy or leave and search for a place where she truly belongs. When a wise confidante offers her guidance, Komie is torn between the memories of her ancestral lands in Maine and her current ...

Explore love, ambition, and hidden talentsBintou Sissoko faces a pivotal moment in her life as she grapples with love, betrayal, and the allure of the supernatural. A talented linguist working at Timbuctou's prestigious Sankore Institute, Bintou's passion for ancient manuscripts is matched only by her desire for a second chance at love. When her ex-boyfriend Ibrahim, now living in Ireland, extends an invitation to visit, Bintou finds herself torn between her longing for a fresh start and the uncertainties of uprooting her life. As she contemplates her future, Bintou is thrust into a ...

Ken Goldman, author of more than 650 published stories, brings you a chapbook containing two dark novellas and three of his best twisted tales.

At 10-feet, four inches tall, Gowanus was the runt of the litter. Working the mines of No’ad took strength and height, unless you had the smarts to be able to help the dwarves invent and build new mining tools. He didn’t have smarts and didn’t have height, and yet his curiosity got the better of him: Where had Sakima gone? In an attempt to find the rogue giant Sakima, Gowanus learns the secret to how the giants have spread so far, so fast and comes face-to-face with the worst betrayal of giant-kind.

A woman finds a head in her mother's garden. Things get weirder when the head talks to her....

Experience three exciting stories of fantasy and science fiction, each immensely different from the last.

Hidden beneath the waves, a secret power risesIn the depths of the pool at SUNY Rochester, Anna Taylor isn't just any swim coach. Beneath her clothing hides a secret; growing scales and an ability to manipulate water in ways she's just beginning to understand. As whispers of her newfound abilities reach the wrong ears, Anna is pulled into a turbulent world of intolerance, where even her estranged brother, Joel, stands on the side of the oppressors. Thrust from the sanctuary of the university, Anna's journey to seek refuge takes her from the tumultuous streets of Rochester to the possibility...

Welcome to six of the most amazing fantasy stories you'll ever hear. This volume includes five full-length fantasy stories plus an exclusive bonus short story.

Welcome to Necrolopolis, a fantasy world with a postal system as inefficient as our own, an undead pharaoh with an ego as big as his pyramid, a ghoul with an unhealthy interest in soup pots, not to mention a faction war between mummies and ashlings. A necromancer's job is never done, especially in a city of four million undead souls!

In a world much like our own, Tom lives a mundane, directionless life, with the only respite being his weekends. A serendipitous encounter with a charismatic stranger named Lila leads to a reckless decision at a tattoo parlor, where Tom unknowingly chooses a tattoo with mystical powers. What follows is an enthralling journey of self-discovery and transformation.

A horror story with a thrilling and suspenseful plot that will keep listeners on the edge of their seats. The concept of a haunted theme park that comes to life at night and demonic characters that devour guests is sure to be an intriguing and chilling listen. The idea of a family trying to find a way to escape the night adds an element of humanity and relatability to the story.