Welcome to Castle Cove: A Design Your Destiny Novel

by Kory M. Shrum

But even as I recognize that I will never get out of the labyrinth alive, part of me wants this. I want to be devoured by this man, bit by bit, for all eternity.

  He smiles.

  “I will,” he promises as he parts my legs with his hand. “Bit by bit.”

  I surrender to him then. In body.

  And in soul.

  The End

  Create a new story

  A long, happy, human life

  I decide not to apply for the job in Castle Cove. Instead, I accept a job in a little seaside town north of Boston. It’s still pretty cold there when I arrive with the moving van in early March, but I like my new apartment and I like living so close to a 24-hour bakery. All hours of the day and night, I smell fresh, roasted coffee and sugar glaze.

  About two months pass before I meet Matthew.

  He’s a nurse at the local hospital. Very caring, considerate, and more than handsome with green and gold eyes.

  Two years after dating, we elope. Sometimes you just know when it will work out. I never felt that way with Greg. But Matthew is different.

  I would say my life is perfect…if not for the dreams.

  In these dreams, I’m always standing on a seaside cliff in the dead of night, watching an enormous moon hang over the restless ocean.

  A howl echoes, carried on a soft breeze from somewhere behind me. The air smells of salt water and the lush pine forest, a scent so strong, it’s as if I’m really there.

  In this dream, I always have the distinct impression that someone is approaching me. They’re ten or five steps behind me. But I can’t turn around. I can’t seem to bring myself to face whatever is coming from the darkness. Then a hand finally clasps onto my shoulder, and I wake sweating, and heart pounding. Sometimes I scream.

  I know it’s just a dream, as Matthew likes to remind me. But every now and then, if I close my eyes, I can hear those waves crashing against the rocks, and a howl racing through the trees, chasing me, determined not to let me get away.

  The End

  Create a new story

  Truth

  The stone door in front of us slides away, revealing a fire.

  “Where are we?” I ask. “I can’t just walk through that fire.”

  “I believe we are under my estate,” he says, surprised. “What did you ask for?”

  “The truth. I want to know why I’m here, in Castle Cove.”

  “You can cross the fire without being burned. Go on.”

  I pass over the fire as quickly as possible, hoping this isn’t some kind of elaborate way to dispose of my body.

  But the flames are cold, not hot. And I pass through just fine.

  Once past, the door slides closed behind us.

  “Keep walking,” he says, urging me forward. The air grows noticeably colder as we continue down the stone path until we reach a staircase. I follow Ethan down. Two floors? Four? Ten? I can’t tell. But we must be underground.

  When I reach the last step, I gasp.

  The walkway is beautiful cut stone leading to a sarcophagus in the center of the room. Ethan leans over it, cooing sweetly to whatever lay inside.

  “This is a holy place,” he tells me, as if I can’t see the carved monuments myself. I could be standing inside an ancient Grecian tomb right now. Battles are etched in white alabaster, standing forth from the wall as if springing to life.

  My steps echo off the stone walls.

  “Come on,” Ethan coaxes again. “This is what you wanted.”

  He motions me toward the sarcophagus.

  Just before I peer over the edge, it begins to groan. I step back with a shriek, convinced that this is a trick. He’s going to shove me inside and let me rot.

  Ethan is smiling. “It lifts the platform to the top. You’ll see. Should something happen to me or this house, this was created to seal itself shut, becoming water tight and impenetrable. It could fall to the bottom of the ocean, and not a single drop would get inside. She could lay safe at the bottom of the ocean, for all eternity, if that was her wish.”

  The platform stops rising. Upon it lays the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

  “My queen,” Ethan whispers to her. She’s so vibrant, so fresh and alive that she could be sleeping. “She has come as you’ve called.”

  He turns to me and I realize I’ve been staring.

  “You have questions?” Ethan asks.

  “Yes,” I say without hesitation. Why am I here? Why did you bring me here?

  I don’t dare ask any of these questions aloud, embarrassed by my own ignorance.

  “Kiss her,” Ethan whispers.

  I look up, confused. “What?”

  “Kiss her,” Ethan says again. “Lightly on the lips. And she will give you the answers you seek.”

  I wait for him to burst out laughing, telling me this is a joke. He doesn’t.

  I don’t want to imagine what will happen to me if I don’t kiss her. Is this like pledging fealty? And if I don’t?

  I lean close, eyes open until my lips are just above hers.

  I purse my lips and think please don’t kill me.

  Her lips are cold and hard. Like kissing a rock I just fished out of the ocean. But when our lips connect, I am transported.

  I see Vendetta alive. A rendition of Snow White. Rich, long dark locks and ruby red lips. I see her human family before they were taken by a cruel queen and slaughtered. I see what the queen’s soldiers did to her poor body, after forcing her onto her hands and knees. And what powers the witch—no, goddess—of that tree bestowed upon her so Vendetta could have her revenge.

  I came to understand that the castle ruins in the distance, is all that remains of the queen Vendetta defeated. And that the crone tree that keeps Castle Cove safe and imbues it with power, is still here, hidden deep in the Wayward Woods.

  And how even now in her dreams, she still serves her dark queen, the goddess of that ancient tree.

  I come to understand that the castle ruins in the distance are all that remains of the queen she defeated. And that Vendetta’s crone tree is still here, hidden deep in the Wayward Woods, west of the territory line.

  My coming exposed Henry and Richard’s plot against her dark prince. I will add to his strength. I will keep her prince strong and whole until the day comes when she needs him again.

  “Do you understand?” Ethan asks softly as I pull back. from the woman.

  “Yes,” I say, meeting his gaze. All fear has left me. I slip my arms around Ethan’s neck and look into those dark eyes. Twin flames ignite inside them, revealing the demon he is. “I’m here to keep you strong.”

  “Lucky me,” he murmurs, bending his lips to my neck.

  The End

  Create a new story

  Romance

  Choice 58

  Romance with a vampire fanboy

  Romance with a loyal lesbian werewolf

  Romance with a hot soul-eater

  Romance with a loyal lesbian werewolf

  I’m aware of the shift of time and space, but only for a moment before the new reality takes hold of me.

  Relax, you wanted this. You wanted this life. You asked the labyrinth for a happily ever after, and you’re going to get it.

  The first thing I notice is the sound of ocean, of light against the back of my eyes. And then I step from the labyrinth into my new life, my new story.

  I stand at the balcony of my new apartment, overlooking Castle Cove. I watch lights click on, one by one as the night descends. The real Castle Cove is just waking up, stirring from its daytime slumber.

  Warm hands slip around my waist, cocooning me in their embrace.

  “We’ll be late,” Kristine says. She kisses the spot where my cheek and ear meet. “Are you ready?”

  I catch sight of the moon, full and luminous over the ocean. “I’m ready.”

  It takes us just eight minutes to get from our apartment to Sunset Park. Kristine parks her Subaru between Dwayne’s cab and John’s black sedan. They’re i
n T-shirts and cutoffs in the parking lot, enjoying the last bit of heat from the day.

  I hesitate.

  Kristine squeezes my hand, searching my face with those golden eyes. “Don’t be nervous. You’ll do great.”

  I kiss her full on the mouth and listen to the rough rumble that sounds more animal than woman now.

  She breaks the kiss first, cupping my face in her hands. “Come on. You don’t want us to change in the car, do you?”

  An exciting prospect, but I let her draw me out of the car anyway.

  John grabs my shoulder and squeezes, but not too hard. “Ready for this?”

  “We’re gonna get butt naked!”

  “Dwayne,” Kristina groans. “Is that all you care about?”

  “It’s definitely an added perk,” he says, laughing. His eyes are dark brown like all of Kristine’s siblings. Only she bears the gold eyes of a pack leader—a constant reminder of her sacrifice. “Should we go up? Everybody’s at the trailhead.”

  She grabs my hand and pulls me forward. “No time like the present.”

  Our small group marches across Sunset Park toward the trails. “I’ll have to go ahead, but once it’s started, I’ll loop back for you.”

  I’m so nervous, all I can do is nod.

  “We’ll keep an eye on her,” John assures her. “She’ll be fine.”

  These reassurances don’t quell my pounding heart. When we arrive at the back of a crowd, she drops my hand and pushes toward the front. How many are here? A thousand? All two thousand? It’s a special night.

  As the crowd parts for Kristine, I catch a glimpse of the man bound and blindfolded on the rock at the trailhead. She rips off the blindfold as soon as she reaches Spencer.

  Kristine’s voice carries over the crowd, loud enough to reach all our ears. “You stand accused of killing Laurell Briggs, a cherished member of our pack. How do you plead?”

  “She killed my sister!” Spencer screams, mouth foaming with the words his spits at us.

  “How do you plead?” Kristine asks again. Her face stone cold.

  “She was a monster. You’re all monsters.”

  “Do you want to apologize to Laurell’s family for what you’ve done? Apologize to the family who lost their only child to your quest for revenge?”

  Spencer says nothing. A snarling growl breaks out somewhere near the front. Kristine silences this with one deadly glare.

  “Fine.” Kristine reaches down to her calf and pulls out the long bowie knife she keeps sheathed there.

  “Please—” Spencer begins. But then he seems sickened by his own fear. He straightens, pinching his lips shut.

  The knife disappears behind Spencer’s back. Snap.

  The bindings are cut loose, a heap of coiled rope falling to his feet.

  “If you can reach the West Territory Line before we catch you, you’re free,” Kristine says. “By our laws, you’ll no longer belong to us.”

  “The West Territory Line,” he repeats, eyes wide and fearful.

  “If you stick to the south and east of the territory, you may pass by unseen. Your car is parked in the Heights. Keys in the ignition. Reach it safely and you can pass from this town unharmed.”

  Kristine throws the bowie knife ten feet in the direction of the woods.

  “Take it. Use it on one of us, you die now.”

  Spencer looks at the knife, then back at the crowd. He scans the faces.

  “We will give you a head start,” Kristine says.

  He looks from her to the crowd. His face is stricken with anger and fear, eyes wide and jaw set.

  Then he sees me. And laughs.

  “We’ll start in 3…2…”

  Spencer takes off, snatching up the knife as he goes. He doesn’t look back as he disappears around the trailhead into the darkening woods.

  Once he is out of sight, Kristine says, “Laurell’s family will go next. Then the rest of us will follow.”

  Already, people are shedding their clothes, shuffling from foot to foot.

  They are excited by the chase. By the possibility of being the one to catch the prey by the throat and bring it down.

  After fifteen minutes, Laurell’s family are the first to go.

  Five wolves the color of whisky dart from the front of the trail into the deep forest. All around me, men and women begin shifting. Wolves of every color appear. Some as black as midnight. Others as white as cotton. Most fall in between—rich grays and reds and soft browns.

  Dwayne hits the dirt beside me. His white paws spread wide. He is the tallest wolf I’ve ever seen, his dark gray coat fading into a white underbelly. On my other side, John is almost as tall. His tawny fur a shade darker than his usual dirty blond hair. His eyes are still luminous green.

  His coloring isn’t very different from Kristine’s, though her body is a tad more slender and she has a thick stripe of red fur that runs from the back of her neck down to her tail.

  They’re waiting for me to change.

  But I’m so nervous. I try to relax. Breathe the way Kristine and I have practiced since I was apprenticed to the pack on the one-year anniversary of my arrival in Castle Cove.

  I feel a ripple slide along my spine. The muscles tighten, then stretch. My stomach compresses into corded muscle.

  I hit the dirt on four paws and the night comes alive. So much sound from the crickets in the brush along the trail, to the nighthawks in the trees.

  A wet tongue licks my muzzle, and I open my eyes to meet a golden gaze.

  It’s just us now. The four of us. Everyone else has taken off in search of vengeance.

  Let them.

  The rest of us are just here to play.

  The End

  Create a new story

  Romance with a vampire fan boy

  I’m aware of the shift of time and space, but only for a moment before the new reality takes hold of me.

  Relax, you wanted this. You wanted this life. You asked the labyrinth for a happily ever after and you’re going to get it.

  The first thing I feel is the hand closing on mine.

  And then I step from the labyrinth into my new life, my new story.

  Aiden pulls me through the club. His palm is so warm in mine. He leads me out into the night and across the street to a yellow Jeep.

  He opens the door for me and waits for me to climb in before shutting the door.

  He takes me up the dark Canyon Road toward Vendetta Heights.

  We continue up on the upper ridge to the large plain connecting the cliffs to the woods. A few cars sit shadowed in the field.

  He pulls off the road onto the gravel shoulder. The moon hangs high above the ocean, illuminating the interior of the car.

  “Vendetta Heights is a place where anyone comes for a little privacy,” he says, his cheeks tinged with red.

  “Is that why we’re here?” I ask with a coy grin.

  “Are you hungry?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.

  I lean across the console. “I can hear your heart racing. Are you afraid of me?”

  He reaches across the console and pulls me into his lap. My back presses against the cold window.

  “No,” he says, his breath hot on my cheek.

  I place a hand on either side of his face and kiss his mouth. It’s so warm.

  I suck on his bottom lip until I can feel his erection pressing into the side of my thigh lying against his lap.

  He smells so good. I reach up and grab a handful of his hair, kissing his throat again and again while I drown in his scent. A sharp sting behind my upper lip brings me back to myself and I pull away, covering my mouth with my hand.

  “It’s okay,” he says, pulling at my hand. “It’s okay.”

  I’m a vampire. Oh god, I’m a vampire.

  And if I needed proof to understand that somehow the labyrinth has changed me and my life’s trajectory, I slip my fangs right into the side of his neck. And the blood makes everything crystal clear.

  His arms wrap a
round me, holding me tight against him. His erection grows harder and harder as I suck him down.

  The thunderous pulse that begins against my lips echoes in my head, pounding in my temples until it links with my own savage heartbeat.

  I pull back. The blood keeps flowing.

  “Oh god,” I say, my fangs retracting. “You’re still bleeding.”

  “There’s anticoagulant in your saliva,” he says. “You have to close the holes with your blood. Bite your tongue.”

  I don’t hesitate. I bite my tongue, feel the flesh split open. I lick the side of his neck and pull back in time to see the holes close as if by magic. I keep licking until the skin is clean. All that’s left is the smallest hint of a bruise from where I sucked.

  “I’m sorry,” I say.

  “For what?” he laughs. He looks up at me with a lazy, satisfied smile. “That was so hot.”

  “That could’ve gone horribly wrong.”

  “I had faith in you,” he says, grinning up at me. He reaches up and runs a thumb across my chin. It comes away bloody.

  “Oh.” Embarrassment washes through me. “I probably look ridiculous.”

  “You don’t.”

  But he opens the console and pulls out wet wipes anyway. I let him tear open the packet and dab at my chin and cheeks. When he moves back my hair to inspect my neck for blood, he leans forward and kisses it.

  I don’t stop him. It feels just as delicious as drinking from him, satisfying another, perhaps hungrier, desire.

  “It’s an hour before sunrise,” he says. “I should take you back to your car.”

  “Or back to my place,” I say with a smile.

  Ten minutes later we pull up outside my apartment in Old Town. I barely remember getting up the stairs into the apartment—just my mouth desperately trying to devour his, my hands wrapped up in his hair, his strong arms pinning me against his warm body.