COPYRIGHT
This is work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright© Yumoyori W Wilson, 2017
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The publisher is not responsible for website (or their content) that are not own by the publisher.
This eBook/Paperback is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook/Paperback may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.
Cover Design by Arizona Type Designs
Editing by Rachael Krunz
Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GLOSSARY
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you for purchasing DARK WISH- Book One of The Starlight Gods Series.
Writing has always been a hobby of mine, though I never expected to make it into a reality.
This story is dear to my heart, having been sitting in the back of my mind for a year now. After some positive influences and encouragement, I’d decided to give writing a shot. I’m still learning and growing as an individual but I’m excited to start this journey, hoping to bring my fellow readers along for the ride.
Special thanks to Cece Rose (creator of A Demon’s Blade & Fractured Fate Series) for believing in my story and pushing me forward. No matter the time of day, she would answer all my questions and concerns. I’ll send you Pop-Tarts, Sweet Demon Queen.
I thank everyone else who has contributed to the publication of Dark Wish, including RHR Facebook group, multiple RH authors, my amazing best friends (Kari, Kiran, Lina, Lysha) and the Elsword gaming community (Bootyful Akari).
Special thanks to my amazing Mom and Dad, for blessing me with the gift to write and supporting me in all aspects. Hope I can make you proud.
Finally, I thank God for giving me the strength to achieve my goals. Without Him, I would be nothing.
GLOSSARY
REALMS
Separate dimension (planet) within the galaxy, created by the Starlight gods. Only ways of traveling between the realms is through portal access, transportation ships or magical ability of teleportation.
Realm ONE: Latelia – Starlight God: Deathpre (God of Death)
Realm TWO: Wintalyn – Starlight Goddess: Kurani (Goddess of Water)
Realm THREE: Feminara – Starlight God: Amaterasu (God of Fire)
Realm FOUR: Phentailia – Starlight God: Lucifer (God of Hell)
Realm FIVE: Minato – Starlight God: Risuki (God of War)
Realm SIX: Earthala – Starlight God: Jehovah (God of Rebirth/Judgement)
Realm SEVEN: Distala – Starlight God: Laviathan (God of Lightning)
Realm EIGHT: Heila – Starlight Goddess: Nightmare (Goddess of Destruction-Daughter of Death)
Realm NINE: Miolana – Starlight Goddess: Yuikimiru (Goddess of Life/Mother Nature)
Realm TEN: ArchAilennia – Starlight Goddess: Aphroditeee (Goddess of Prosperity/Beauty)
ROTATION: Month
SOLACE: First six months of the year (Spring to Summer)
LUNAR: Second six months of the year (Fall to Winter)
CYCLE: Year
Knightwood Academy Rank Placement (Highest – Lowest)
PINK: Highest rank achievement: Shifter possessing master skills in physical, mental and magic abilities; stronger than the average spell caster. The shifter withholds a longer threshold, allowing the shifter to completely shift and stay in such form for a longer duration without depletion of stamina. Extremely rare rank.
GOLD: Second highest rank achievement: Shifter able to use advance levels of magic, sharp physical abilities such as expert levels in swordsmanship, archery and general athletics (including fighting). Shifter can shift fully for short period of time; once stamina is depleted, the host and spirit are rendered powerless for long period of time.
SILVER: Shifter can use magic and many of their spirit abilities. Shifter can partially shift, able to change certain body parts into their spirit form (host shifting their hand into claws but unable to shift to full bear form).
ORANGE: Shifter is ranked as average, able to use a certain percentage of magic abilities and spell casting.
BLACK: Shifter ranked as below average. Only able to use physical and mental strengths. Weak to no magic abilities.
RED: Lowest Shifter rank. Shifter has a fraction to no magical capabilities or abilities are dormant in nature. Classified as too weak to be perceived as beneficial to the shifter world but enough to not be ranked an average human. If dormant spirit grows in nature, revealing such capabilities, rank is upgraded.
DARK WISH
is written in
Canadian English:
A mixture of British and American English.
I know how to spell, but that’s just how we roll and I have my preferences with certain words.
~Enjoy~
In the beginning…
Darkness ruled. Only the stars provided pinpricks of light throughout the galaxy. Overtime, the stars drifted together and collided, creating ten powerful beings – the Starlight gods.
The god’s purpose became to create life and light across the vast galaxy. Within the galaxy, they created ten separate realms, but began by creating life in only one realm.
Cycles passed and their first creations – humans – blossomed and grew.
The gods were pleased; however, they wanted more. They created spirits – angels, demons, fairies, animals and more – to bond with the human body and the shifter race was born. They placed the shifters throughout the other realms.
Some realms were home to only a specific species of shifters, while other realms held an assortment of species – the shifters learning to coexist with each other in harmony.
The gods created rules; a set for the human race to follow and a set for the shifter race. One rule was absolute…
“Thy shall not take upon the role of the gods. We bless you with thy protection, your purpose to defend not destroy. One shall be blessed with the number of spirits, we bestow and commend. No creation shall be granted ultimate power over the species. Defy this law and you shall know nothing but catastrophe and everlasting despair.”
The Starlight gods reside in the stars, having power and authority upon all beings. They can take any shape or form, whether human, shifter, animal or familiar. The shifter race looks to the Starlight gods for power, strength, stability and hope.
As long as the shifters believe, the Gods will always be there.
~In Stars We Trust~
PROLOGUE
Lunar Rotation- XI, Cycle 5018
I took a deep breath
, trying to calm my beating heart, thumping rapidly against my chest. Waiting for the signal, the anxiety and anticipation builds as the seconds tick by. This was my chance to finally obtain freedom. I glanced to my left, looking upward at my best friend – Lily. Lily was like family to me.
When I first arrived at the facility, it was difficult to adjust. All I could remember was my stuffed teddy bear in one hand and my new Owner’s hand in the other, as we walked towards the glass rotating doors. I had just woken up, the sky above me was pitch black, my surroundings covered in a dark mist. I could barely see my feet stepping into the mushy dirt as we walked. The only rays of light came from the structure before me. My Owner said the outside was dangerous, but we’re safe within the facility.
I trusted him. I didn’t understand why, but I had a feeling I’d known him for awhile. I simply couldn’t put the pieces together as to why. He explained I had fallen and hit my head while I had been playing, so I could be experiencing some memory loss. Such a predicament must have contributed to me not remembering him as my guardian. Regardless, I had no fear as we entered.
Standing in the middle of the wide entrance was a girl. Her bright orange hair and shiny amber eyes lit the room, making her the center of attention. She was skinny, wearing a simple red dress that complimented her pale white skin. She didn’t show any emotion; her eyes were blank and she scared me. I hid against my Owner’s leg, trying to hide myself from her. He chuckled at my apprehensiveness.
“Makoto, this is Lily. She lives here too. Say hello.” He introduced, his hand gesturing to the girl standing before us.
I peaked my head out to stare at her. My eyes grew wide as I watched the most serene smile form on her face, brightening her appearance even more. She raised her hand up towards me.
“Hello, my name is Lily Milton. Let’s be friends.” She gestured.
I took a quick glance up at my Owner, his striking red eyes pierced mine as he smiled.
“Go along.” He encouraged. At his command, I walked towards her, cuddling my teddy bear to my chest.
“Mako…” I whispered, placing my hand in hers.
She was my first friend here, and I could never ask for anyone else. Now we stood here, side by side, waiting for the rebellion to begin. Having her next to me at this very moment helped me stay in control. What we were about to do would change everything.
Lily noticed my stare, returning it with a smile. Her amber eyes reflected her unease but also showed a glimpse of her determination. Her warm hand grasped mine, squeezing lightly.
“We’re going to be just fine. Lark promised. They already scouted the tunnel twice. We’ll be safe soon enough. The adults will take care of it.” She explained. I nodded in response.
Lily was mature for ten-cycles and had participated in the planning of this mission. Being the only phoenix shifter, wielding the element of fire at her fingertips, she was an important asset in case trouble occurred. I simply had to trust her judgement.
But that didn’t mean I wasn’t capable of things either. I was currently the strongest in our category, stronger than even Lily. I was eight-cycles, carrying both a demon and angel spirit, which made me an extraordinary case.
The Starlight gods, our divine protectors, blessed us shifters with a spirit at birth, some stronger than others. If you were given two shifter spirits, you were beyond blessed. An individual carrying three spirits was extremely rare. There was yet to be anyone on record with more than three spirits.
Researchers concluded that an individual able to carry four spirits or more would either have been driven mad with power or have various mental issues.
Spirits took shelter within one’s mind and had their own personalities to match. They may not be privileged to take full control of their host, but they had enough jurisdiction to have control over those they shared their space with. A person with three or more spirits would have to conduct vigorous training and meditation to teach their spirits to coexist in harmony.
I was also learning alchemy and summoning magic thanks to Elaine, our Owner’s girlfriend. She was an extremely strong Mage from some far away land. Our Owner had told me I was too special to go to waste, and he wanted to make sure I learned many things. It would benefit him and make him happy, at least that’s what he told me.
A howl tore through the air, echoing against the dungeon walls. I nearly jumped at the hollow cry.
“This must be the signal.” I whisper, watching the shifters raise their weapons in the air, rushing forward. I almost tripped as Lily pulls me forward, briskly walking towards the left corridor, following the other shifters who ran ahead, weapons ready for confrontation.
It took ten minutes and nine flights of stairs to reach the top floor of the facility.
The structure consisted of ten floors. I only had the privilege to explore three of them; the experimental testing center on the seventh floor, the general sleeping quarters on the sixth and my room which was on the same floor as our Owner’s on the eighth floor. He had once explained that he wanted his living corridors, office and meeting room close to the main level to make his business flow better, though I had no idea what he did for a living.
I watched as the older shifters rushed through the door, sprinting towards the final checkout point. We dashed through the doorway, seconds away from the door that led to the entrance. My feet glued to the ground as I took a moment to stare at the blue metal door.
“Makoto? Let’s go, we don’t have time.” Lily stressed, tugging at my arm. I had every intention of escaping, but my body was frozen in place.
Lily turned around to look at me directly, her expression alternating between annoyed and confused. I didn’t blame her. I probably looked like a deer in headlights, staring at the door leading to my long-awaited freedom.
“I…Um…it’s just…” I heard my voice tremble with fear as I tried to figure out a way to explain the sudden gut wrenching feeling of trepidation. It couldn’t be so simple…so easy? Out of everyone, I knew the Owner best. I got to see his heartwarming side as well as his dark merciless side. There was no way he would sit back and watch all of us escape.
“Lily, I think…maybe this is a trap?” I whispered, reaching my other hand to hold hers.
“I just feel….my spirit’s too…something is not right. It’s too quiet.” I suggested, staring at the cement floor.
When I didn’t hear a reply, I looked back up to see Lily’s eyes glowing a bright orange, as she checked our surroundings. She frowned as her eyes returned to normal. She walked towards the door, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room.
“There is nothing to be afraid of. My phoenix and I don’t sense anything. How about I go in first? I’ll come back out and get you. Stay right here, understood?” She ordered.
I simply nodded in reply. I had a bad feeling about this, but if Lily said it was safe, I wouldn’t interfere any longer. As the Owner always said; “Do what you’re told and nothing bad will happen to you.”
Lily pulled the heavy metal door, quickly slipping through the little space before it slammed shut. The only view I had of what waited beyond the door was of the room’s center, which looked empty. I had once gotten the privilege to go with our Owner to the entrance of the facility to greet some guests a cycle ago. It looked the same, with a change of the carpet from its previous maroon colour to a creamy pink. I felt my fingers begin to shake as I attempted to remain still.
It had been five minutes and still no Lily. Something must be wrong. Lily wouldn’t abandon me.
I took a deep breath as I raced towards the door. I could feel my demon and angel spirits at the edge of my mind, waiting to take over if necessary. I struggled to pull the heavy door open, made enough space for my small frame to slip through, the door slammed behind me.
I felt my body jolt, as the sudden wave of sounds bounced off the walls. I quickly placed my hands over my ears as I dropped to my knees and cringed. Screams of all different variations echoed throughout the room,
clashing metal and the sound of bones breaking. My heightened hearing was a curse, the intensified sounds piercing my eardrums. I turned my head to see what I walked into, only to be shocked by the scene developing before me.
Blood was everywhere. From the top of the walls to the floors. I stared at the creamy pink carpet that was now soaked in blood and body parts. I could feel the bile in my throat, trying to escape. It took some effort to hold it in, using my hand to cover my mouth as I suppressed a gag.
Lily! Where is she?
My head darted back and forth, my eyes searching for my best friend. Within seconds, I caught the sight of her red hair behind a wolf shifter who was viciously ripping off one of the guard’s head.
As if she had sensed my thoughts, Lily’s head whipped around, her eyes – those amber orbs – widened in fear.
“Makoto! Get out of here!” She yelled.
I watched as she summoned a wave of fire, the rich flames encircled her arms before flowing out into a mass of guards coming from the side entrance on her right. Their agonizing screams echoed, bouncing off the walls, as they soon became ash.
I pushed myself up, standing, my hands clenching into fists. I wasn’t going to leave Lily in this madness. I was about to let my demon take over when a menacing laugh filled the air.
Everyone froze. I knew that laugh. Everyone knew that fear inducing sound. Clapping filled the now silent room. I heard the door behind me shut, the clapping much louder as it echoed around the enclosed room. I looked over my shoulder to see the Owner and Jeffrey.
The Owner was wearing a perfect white suit, a burgundy undershirt with a matching silk tie. He was five-eleven, with dark red eyes. His short red hair was styled in a slicked back undercut, his left gold earring on display. He had a commanding demeanor. His appearance, carried with it the weight of a ruler, like a King standing before his servants. His obsession with perfection and cleanliness was represented by his white wardrobe, adding red for a flash of colour. In my two cycles of being here, I’d yet to see him wear anything else. I was clueless as to what spirit he possessed, but it was powerful. His knowledge of magic surpassed even the eldest shifter, so much so, I questioned how old our Owner was. No one knew and we were all too afraid to ask. No matter, the power that flooded the room as he entered, was enough to make your skin prickle, inducing shivers to surge through you in fear.
Dark Wish Page 1
