Darkness, Obliged

by Sam Sestak

Overview

Imagine this: you, living with your homicidal cousin, the "little kid", and your aunt, get chased out into a forest and knocked out just to wake up in a new world, with more than enough surprises. That's what happens to me, Xylina Ulrica, a not-so-average 17-year-old, whisked off to a new world, filled with surprises, creatures beyond my belief, and a secret to my life. You won't believe what I meet here, including a wolf who's smarter than she seems and a prince of an unknown land. I get dumped into a world at war filled with fights between dragons, vampires, and werewolves! I have to fight for my life and others and figure out who I really am. Cause, believe me, so far I'm lost. Come on! Join me and my newfound friends on the adventure of a lifetime, avoiding the darkness that is prepared to consume this world and learning what it truly means to be Darkness, Obliged. Visit my web site at www.darknessseries.com

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452075068
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	05/09/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	606 KB

Read an Excerpt

Darkness, Obliged

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By Sam Sestak

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Sam Sestak
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-7505-1

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Chapter One

Xylina, The Girl

Morning. Yes, that cursed time of day. Day. Evil day. I despise daytime. Night ... Night is my best friend (literally).

I leaned up growling at nothing slid out of bed. I glared at my window—other window. The one on the other side of my room. I had a nice and convenient window next to my bed that led out to my large back yard which stretched out into a thick forest. Thrilling. The other one just lead out to a road and some old ladies' houses. The rest of my room was covered in posters held up by thumbtacks (which don't enjoy staying in the wall) of all types of animals, especially wolves, and every wolf calendar from the year I came here hanging on the opposite wall. I stretched my arms and my elbows popped.

"Ow ..." I mumbled to myself. Another day, another pop. I cracked my neck, it popping so loud that I felt as if it shifted within my body.

"God damn popping!"

"Watch your language young lady!"

"I'm a senior Aunt Holly! I don't have to 'watch my language'!"

"I meant to be a good influence on your younger brother!" I growled.

"I am NOT related to that thing!" I yelled back. "I'm more related to your dead Chihuahua than to that sad excuse for a human!" then I heard crying. He's fifteen and he's crying. Dang, I'm grounded again.

"Xylina! You made him cry again!" my aunt yelled. And yes, she said Xylina. It's pronounced "z-lean-a". Yippee. It means something in some language, but I truthfully don't care what it means.

And lucky me I'm stuck with my stupid aunt, my cousin, and that stupid kid. I sometimes can't stand my aunt, and HATE that kid, but my cousin's ... okay ... sometimes ... although he's never around. Yesterday he got a bail out of jail from "some anonymous source." He didn't do anything severe really ... just killed our neighbors (they thought he just broke in) ... but he's done worse. Seriously. Way worse. Really. Don't ask. My aunt on the other hand is about forty-five/forty-six (I truthfully don't know), and has light faded pinkish hair that goes down to her shoulders. She looks older than she is, since she has all those wrinkles on her face. She really cares about all of us, way too much if I'd have to say anything, but is smart enough to stay out of my cousin's way. The stupid kid? Heh, you're getting no information out of me about him, 'cept that he's ... never mind. I don't care. Stupid little no good rotten child ...

"I don't," I opened my door, "CARE!" I screamed out my door and down the stairs. I slammed my door, knocking a few of my posters off of the wall. I leaned back resting on my hands until I felt a sharp pain in my left hand. I lifted my hand and saw a thumbtack stuck in it and blood draining down my hand. Perfect. Of course the poster behind me falls. Not the one to right of me or the one to left or the one ten miles away! No! Behind me. It would be behind me. I quickly pulled out the thumbtack and stuck my wound in my mouth. Groaning, I dragged myself to my bathroom next to my room, not once taking my hand from my mouth. I don't like blood. I don't like vampires. I despise mosquitoes. I love spiders (when they're not sucking my blood out). I'm not a big fan of bats. I'm more a fan of wolves. I mean, so cute! Seriously! Who could say no to that face! I washed off my hand and stared at the wound. Still bleeding. Huh ...

"XYLINA ULRICA!" my aunt yelled.

"What?!"

"GET DOWN HERE!"

"I'm in the bathroom!"

"Well get the hell out of there and down here!"

"Watch your language!" I yelled at her.

"You have NO authority to yell that at me!" Of course, I have no authority. I never do. Ever. Alpha Female just isn't for me. I growled, gripping the sink and digging my nails into the bottom of it. I slammed my hands on the sink and angrily growled my way out of the bathroom and back into my room. I slammed the door and walked over to my dresser. I opened my top drawer and pulled out one of my favorite wolf shirts. It just had a wolf howling at the full moon but the coolest part was that IT GLOWED IN THE DARK! Awesome, eh? I love it. If you don't, you suck. Burn. Now! Spontaneous combustion! Fire!!

Suddenly, extremely loud heavy metal music came blaring from down the hallway. Oh joy ... Dave's home ...

Ha! I know this song! I sang while pulling out a pair of black sweatpants. I wake up to a new song every day. I just happen to know this one. Maybe tomorrow he'll play a good song too. I mean if he's still home.

I walked out of my room grabbing my bag and slinging it over my shoulder then walked straight down the hall and passed Dave's, knocking on his door and yelling, "Good to know you're home Dave!" I started to walk away until I heard his door open and felt my arm being grabbed. I looked back to see Dave, my cousin if you didn't realize it yet, glaring down at me. Why? Dave was about 6'5-6'6, and his hair, naturally brown, had been spiked, the spikes dyed orange with the tips dyed red. He wore his cameo tank top with his tan cargo shorts and chains and his bike chain bracelet (which he stole off of some kid's bike) and his diamond dagger necklace (which he stole out of some museum somewhere ... twice). His lip, nose, and eyebrow were pierced. He also had a big black Chinese dragon tattoo that started at his neck, wrapped around it, and then down his back (I think I never saw it fully before, you know, for good reason). He also had an upside-down pentagram tattoo on his left arm with black lines coming off of it and something written in some language around it. Thousands of scars covered him everywhere, literally, especially his one big scar right below his left eye. He got that fighting a policeman, at age six.

"Morning?" I questioned his odd stare. He pulled me backwards and into his room shutting the door and standing in front of it. I stood in the middle of his all black room (except for pictures of his "Satan cult" everywhere) in the only light in his room from the window (he has no actual light in his room) and stared back, folding my arms and trying to look impatient. Although I wasn't. He was going to make me late again, then I'd get in-school suspension, they'd keep me after since this'll be my fourth or fifth time ... the guidance counselor will be all worried since they don't wanna kick me out and they don't want me to stay ... and Dave would be the one stuck picking me up and dragging me somewhere to try out my dirt bike riding. Or try and get me to do something I really don't want to name right now.

Oh yeah, he and his drunken friends take me home at three in the morning normally. Here's to no sleep! Luckily, I would have Night there. At least he understands.

Dave waited for the music to stop before speaking, "Z—"

"Xylina," I corrected. I don't like him calling me Z.

"Whatever, I have a question," he said.

"What?" I asked now actually impatient. The last time he asked me a question it was something I'd rather not repeat. But, just to clarify, for you crazy thinker people out there, I said no. Luckily, he didn't argue. He seemed to have a backup plan. He always does. That's why he's been home so often. Always him and his backup plans. Although they've always helped me out ...

"I ... well ..." Spit it out, man. "There's this girl ..." always a girl ... "She's my new girlfriend. Got it?" I nodded. "And ... well ..." He put his hand behind his head and stared down at the ground, "Well, she wanted me to finish her math homework, since I graduated ..."

"You did not graduate. Remember? You flunked out of high school," I pointed out.

"I know! But she doesn't! I want her to like me more, she's nice, ya know?"

"Nope."

"She asked me to do her math work but I couldn't get to it since ..."

"You we're too busy 'planning' right?" He nodded.

"And I was hoping you would do it for me."

"And what will I get out of it?" I asked.

"You?" he paused, "You won't get killed."

I thought about it for a second and nodded.

"Alright. I'll do it. Although you know that I suck at math right?"

"Yeah. But you got into Pre-Calculus while I was still in Algebra I."

"You were still in Algebra I when you were a senior, for both years you were a senior."

"So what, I'm stupid! I get that! I just rock at planning!"

"Then why didn't you 'plan' your way out of high school?" I said. He growled and glared at me.

"You're lucky I got a date. Or you'd be screwed bitch," he snarled. "Here." He walked over to his dresser and pulled out the homework, three pieces of paper, and threw them. They floated and landed in front of me then he pelted a pencil at me. I gasped and ducked. The pencil just missed my face and stuck into the wall. I yanked it out. It made a heck of a hole.

"Alright. Now, I'm gonna make Mom leave with the munchkin and then you can do the work. Got it?" I nodded. Yet again I wasn't alpha. Although I never am round here.

"Wait!" I yelled.

"What?"

"How exactly will you get your mom to leave?"

"Hmm ... let's see ... I just got bailed out of jail because I robbed-" (killed) "our neighbors and I've killed a bunch of people without getting caught. Even though she doesn't trust me she won't go against me." He pulled his switchblade out of his pocket and opened it, holding it limply in his hand, "She knows that I could kill her if I wanted, and even though I do, I won't. So I'm pretty sure I can make her leave." I nodded. That was more than true. He slammed the door then I heard him fly down the stairs. He yelled at them to leave and after the slam of a door, they were gone.

Since there was math homework in front of me, I decided to actually do it. I looked down at the first problem.

"'(x*3)/3*7.45+sin (2*4)*pie?' Pie? Why is pie written out? Isn't it spelled p-i? Or is it ... what? What is sin?" Yeah I was lost. Anyone, anyone out there know what sin is? Isn't that something bad you do that God doesn't like but my cousin would?

"Huh ... Je suis perdu ..." I turned on Dave's huge radio and it blared more loud music. I hummed along with it and tapped my foot (being the band geek I am!) until I felt my phone vibrate. I looked down at it and it was a text. Picking it up and begging that it wasn't my aunt I looked to see who it was. It was Dave.

"Z n kitchen want food? Making pankakes." He spelled pancakes wrong. "... Yes txt bak, no f u." That was kind ... for him. Just hope he doesn't burn the house down ... again.

I texted back, "Don't want panCakes! B careful! Don't burn house!" I sent it and about three seconds later I heard him slam the pan and yell my name. I ignored him and stared at the problem.

"I can't do this," I said. Then an idea hit me straight in the face. "Night!" I practically screamed. I grabbed my phone off of the bed knocking the papers back onto the ground and dialed his number (because his othermay ontway etlay imhay exttay. You know, mother won't let him text. It's pig Latin. Buy yourself a book about it. And enjoy yourself.)

Ring ...

"Pick up."

Ring ...

"Pick up ..."

Ring ...

"Pick up!"

Ring ...

"For Pete's sake Night, pick up! I know you're home!"

Ri—

"Pick—"

"Hello?"

"Night?" I said a bit too enthusiastically.

"Yeah?" he said a bit confused, "Z?"

"Yeah! Night I need your help!"

"With what?"

"I'm kinda ... stuck ..." The song ended. I heard a smash on the other line.

"Don't tell me you're kidnapped!" he hollered, practically breaking my eardrum. I held my ear and shifted my phone to my other ear.

"No, moron! And besides, the last time I got kidnapped it was by Dave!"

"Yeah, but you gave me a heart attack!" "You found me, didn't ya?"

"In a dark alley! You could have been raped!"

"Eww! Never! You know I can fight!"

"Not if you had too many on you!"

"You'd be there though if I was in too big of a fight! You're always there. And you always come with me and Dave places."

"Yeah I know," he said, "So what'd you need help with?"

"Oh right! That was the reason I called you ... heh ..."

"Heh, yeah ..." I could feel him roll his eyes.

"Well, Dave's got this new girlfriend who's in calculus or something and I've got like these impossible problems ..." I trailed off.

"So you want me to come over and do it for you, for his girlfriend?"

"Oui, s'il vous plait."

"Alright, I'll be right over." And with that he hung up.

"Fine! Don't say bye!" I yelled into my phone and pouted. Then I laughed at myself. I'm such a moron sometimes ... and I'm so happy that Night's not here yet or he'd tell me I'm a moron all the time. But it's not like I won't deny it. Then the smoke alarm blared. I jumped up and ran down the stairs to see Dave in our stupid small kitchen trying to fan down his "pankakes" that were now engulfed in flames.

"You idiot!" I screamed. I ran into the dining room and grabbed our "emergency" (necessary) fire extinguisher. I ran back into the kitchen and blew out the fire. Dave opened a few windows to let the smoke out but the smoke alarm didn't stop. He finally got so angry at it that he ran at the kitchen, leaped into the air, and grabbed the smoke alarm. He ran back to the front window and threw it out. It shattered in the road and he slammed the window shut. He sighed and slumped down onto the ground.

"I ... HATE those things! You don't know how many times those things ruined my plans!!"

"Like to light the principal's house on fire?" I said putting the fire extinguisher back.

"Especially that one!" he yelled. I chuckled. "You have nothing to laugh at Xylina! Did you finish that work yet?!"

"No, it's hard!" I yelled back.

"Then go do the work! Now!" He pointed at the stairs. I sighed and started walking towards the stairs. "Hey wait." I turned back and looked at him. "How long do you think that'll take?"

"Umm ... well, Night's coming over to help." I said, and Dave smirked, "And he's great at math so ..." I looked at the clock on the TV. 8:07. "I don't know, 8:30? It matters when he gets here." He still had his stupid smirk on his face.

"What?" I was afraid to ask.

"Heh, so Night's coming. That's nice."

"What's that supposed to mean?" If anything's nice to Dave it's ... eep to anyone else.

"Oh I'm just saying," Dave said looking off to the side still smirking. Then he looked back at me with a strict face. "If you two have fun, do it in your room!"

"Eww no! Never! That's horrible! We're just friends Dave!"

"I'm just saying!"

"Course you are!" I turned back around and walked up the stairs.

"I'll give you guys 'till 8:30! I'm taking my bike and goin' to pick up Sabrina! 8:30! Got it?"

"Yes!" I yelled down the stairs. I heard him slam the door and then I walked into his room and stared out the window into the street.

There goes Dave ... flooring it and blasting off down the road ... Sheesh ... so many parking tickets ... what a failure ... (Don't tell him I said that!)

GAH! Seriously! It's been like ... 8:10 ... like ... 7, 8, 9, 10 ... 3 minutes!! GAHH! Huh? Hey! Finally! I leapt down the stairs and flew to the door. Before he could even knock I threw the door open and screamed at him. "Night!"

"Hi ... Z ...?" I yanked him inside, slamming the door behind him.

"Thank god you came! You do realize you took," I looked at the clock—8:11— "Like ... four minutes to get here!"

"Z, relax, it normally takes me six minutes to get here. Calm down!" He grabbed my shoulders. I stared into his dark blue eyes and immediately relaxed. I don't really know why but he just calms me down. I took a deep breath in and then smiled at him. He wore his large blue tennis shoes and his dark blue jeans. He also had his big blue zip up sweater. The pockets were stuffed with ... something ... and his sleeves were pulled up to his elbows. He had snakebites in and smiled showing his extremely sharp canines (genetic) and exceptionally bright white teeth. He has dark blue hair and bangs curve across his forehead and hang just above his left eye. The rest of his hair goes at an angle down to his shoulders and is utterly straight. I love it. I wish my jet black hair was his color but my hair refuses to get dyed. Seriously, bleach wouldn't work. Even with Dave's help, which I regret asking for ...

"So ... you had some work you wanted me to do?"

I snapped out of my trance and nodded.

"C'mon upstairs! To Dave's room!" I grabbed his arm and ran up the stairs. One big thing that I loved about being around either of my two friends was that I was alpha. I was alpha female. Queen of the pack. Ruler. It was ... awesome. We ran up the stairs and into Dave's bedroom.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Darkness, Obliged by Sam Sestak Copyright © 2011 by Sam Sestak. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

1 Xylina, The Girl —....................1
2 Orion, The Prince —....................24
3 Deimos, The Horse —....................60
4 Misha, The Soldier —....................86
5 Night, Of The Blood —....................151
6 Snow, The Wolf —....................223
7 Drakon, The Dragon —....................244
8 Eira, The Primary —....................309
9 The Vistrin, Dragon Army —....................333
10 Icerin, The Arctic Leader —....................398
11 Oulixeus, The Leader —....................462
12 Xylina, The Werewolf —....................494
Epilogue Fireworks! —....................503