The Darkness in Me Read online

  Contents

  The Darkness in Me

  Dedication

  Warning

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  The Darkness in Me

  The Darkness Series Book One

  Written by Diane Nortje

  The book is a work of fiction. The use of names, characters, locations, events and businesses are the products of the author imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, locations or events are entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. This work or any portion of this work may not be reproduced, resold, or used in any manner without the written consent from the author, except for the use of brief examples used in book reviews.

  This work both in its entirety and in portions is the sole property of Diane Ashley Nortje.

  Copyright © November 1, 2019.

  Dedication

  To my husband, thank you for all the support and patience while writing this book. Thank you for running after our little one when I was nose deep in writing, I couldn’t have done it without your help and support.

  ~ ~ ~

  To my mom in law, thank you for your encouragement and support. Thank you for reading my story over and over until I felt it was right, your endless hours of editing and dedication to my book. You never let me give up. Thank you.

  ~ ~ ~

  To my sister in law, thank you for the many laughs on this journey, your encouragement and ideas, and your endless hours of dedication, editing and reading of my story, thank you.

  ~ ~ ~

  And to my mother, your love of reading and writing inspired me from young, showed me the joys of sitting nose deep in a story book, with a cup of tea in hand. You have inspired me now as an adult. I wish you were here to see it all happen.

  ~ ~ ~

  Warning

  ~ ~ ~

  The e-book contains scenes that are of adult nature. This may be offensive to sensitive readers. There are also trigger scenes which readers may find offensive. This e-book is intended for sale to adults only and is not intended to be read by anyone under the age of 18.

  Continue at your own risk….

  ~ ~ ~

  Chapter One

  “Everything you can imagine is real”- Pablo Picasso

  ~ Natalie~

  “Hi Mom.” I answered my cellphone as I was walking into my office building.

  “Natalie, turn on the TV, you have to see the news, quickly.” My mother sobbed on the other end of the call.

  “What’s wrong? What’s happened, is everything okay?” I said almost out of breath from the sudden run I attempted to do to get to my TV in my office.

  “No, everything is not okay, its Beth and Faith,” My mother sobbed on the other end.

  As I switched on the TV, the news channel was on and I watched in horror as the news unfolded.

  “You have to come home immediately.” My mother said.

  “I’ll be there tomorrow.” I stated in shock, and dropped the call, as I watched the news woman announce what happened.

  “The driver of the second vehicle is no-where to be seen, the police are baffled by this as no one could have survived the accident. There is now an on-going investigation as to the whereabouts of the driver. The four passengers within the vehicle have been rushed to hospital, but unfortunately died before arrival. If anyone has any information regarding-.”

  As I watched the news on TV unfold, the sound from the TV came to me from afar, I held my breath, because in the background behind the news anchor, I saw them, my friends’ families, huddled together and crying. That’s when I knew, my old high school friends had passed away in that accident. I hadn’t seen them or spoken to them in years, guilt racked my soul at the knowledge that I would never get to explain myself, why I didn’t speak to them again, why I ran, why I hid.

  I remembered running for my life, I remember the day like it was yesterday, yet it was six years ago almost to the day. It was a beautiful summers day, in the middle of summer, the wind was blowing just enough to cool down the day. My entire coven was invited to the largest manor for tea. It was not an uncommon practice amongst us to invite the entire coven for certain gatherings, but tea? A little out dated for my type of gathering, but once I heard that my parents and myself were invited to attend, the first thing my mind did was it screamed at me run away, don’t go, never enter the house. Why? I asked myself. But I already knew the answer to my question, they didn’t belong here. I was the only one that seemed to notice or get that feeling. But my parents insisted that I go, it would be rude to decline the invite. Like they would even notice that I didn’t pitch up to the event. I went, against my will. Every fiber in my body told me to run away, yet I didn’t, I stayed, because it was the right thing to do. The right thing for who though?

  The house was beautifully kept with large expanses of green lawns that ran in every direction. The house itself, was astounding, three floors of windows could be seen at the end of a long-paved driveway which was covered by large oak trees. Once the trees cleared, you could make out the rest of the house. It was beautiful, all white walls with the sun gleaming through the large windows which surrounded the house. With its large pointed roof and perfectly manicured lawns and flower beds, it looks like it was from the Victorian days, but like magic it suddenly appeared overnight like the people who lived in the house.

  The towns people, my coven, were under their spell. We never let new comers in so quick, it has always been that way, to ensure the covens safety. I’d never met any of the people who lived in the house, but since it turned up overnight, I just knew that trouble was on the way. Houses just don’t pop up overnight and if they did, don’t you think it would raise some suspicion? It didn’t, and the people in my coven were like a moth drawn to the flame, they went to this gathering, no questions asked, and no one seemed concerned about these newcomers popping up overnight. I was concerned but not as much as I should have been apparently.

  I got out my parents’ car, with my parents in tow. I had planned to meet my friends there, we all knew how tedious these events were and we only got by with each other’s company. The guys, Martin and George, twin brothers, who looked nothing a like except for their strawberry blonde hair, were the jokers in our little group. The girls, Beth, Faith and myself could have been sisters we looked so alike. All three of us had long deep brown almost black hair, the same button nose and we were all about the same height, our only difference was our eye colour. Beth and Faith had chocolate brown eyes and I had grey eyes, which would change depending on my mood apparently. But we all gelled together and that’s what counts. We had each other in this one-horse town, all determined to leave as soon as possible, together.

  As we approached the house, we were in awe with how beautiful a house could be, and to thin
k it was here all along and that neither I or my friends had never noticed it once, not once, and we have lived here my entire life. Odd? Yes, but I was drawn to it, I needed to get closer to it, with my mind screaming at me to turn and run as fast as my little legs could take me, but those little legs of mine had another agenda, and before I knew it I was linking arms with my friends and on our merry way to the front door which could fit a monster truck through it, that’s how big it was.

  The door stood wide open, welcoming whoever wanted access to the house. And I wanted access to this beautiful house, but the moment our feet touched the threshold, I felt it, I never bothered to ask if my friends had felt it too, I was long gone before that thought popped into my head. But I felt it, the undeniable fear that told my ass to leave immediately before trouble came. I was in shock, and I couldn’t get my ass to move itself out of there quick enough, it was like I was the deer that was stuck in the road with oncoming headlights. The fear that had gripped me was like nothing I have ever experienced in my life before. I just knew I would never be the same again after this moment, after the moment I saw his silhouette.

  I ran, and I kept running, even after my four friends came running after me, screaming at me to stop. My parents then came running after me, after the commotion that we were causing was drawing to much attention for their liking. I just kept going, not tuning back around in fear of what I might see, to the one place I knew I’d be safe, the witch in the woods.

  She was my one saving grace or one of my delusional visions, I’m not so sure, but whenever I told anyone about the witch in the woods, they all thought I was insane. No one else saw this witch and every time I went to the part to that woods where she stayed with another person there would be no trace of her. Only when I was alone would she show herself to me. She had never harmed me, and I never got the feeling she meant any harm towards me. I felt safe with her.

  The witch had saved me once when I was a young girl from a wolf attack. There were no real dangers in the woods where I lived, no wolves that’s for sure, but I had a knack for attracting the dangers of the world and I had to go and attract a wolf. I never understood why I just couldn’t attract a bunny or a mouse, no I had to attract the biggest and baddest wolf out there, I felt like little red riding hood out for a walk in the woods on my way to grandma’s, how naïve I was. The wolf itself was massive, with glowing yellow eyes and its abnormally massive body ready to pounce on me, its prey. But with one look from the witch, it ran away with its tail between its legs. I had forever been grateful that the witch found me that day, without her, I don’t know what I would have become, most likely supper.

  But on that fateful day, it’s as if the witch could sense my fear, because she was waiting for me that day, outside her little cottage. And it seemed she already knew what had happened, I didn’t even have to tell her about the house and what I felt on the threshold of the house, she knew. I would hate to know what would have happened if I went inside the house and he caught me, I knew deep down he was after me. I just hope I never know the answer to that question.

  The witch put a spell on me. She said she was hiding me, she said I had formed some sort of link to who lived in that house. I wasn’t ready for that sort of link just yet. I didn’t feel any different, just a bit freaked out about the fear I felt and after she put the spell, I still felt nothing, so end of problem, right? No, I’m still haunted by him. Every. Fucking. Day.

  “Natalie, Natalie, Earth to Natalie.” My secretary Ariana shouted, “Your last appointment is here to see you and Eric called, he wants you to call him back when you get a chance.”

  “Who? I didn’t know I had an appointment this afternoon.” I said surprised, hoping I had the rest of the day to myself and my thoughts after the news I just received.

  “Well the man is here, name is James Wright, so wake the hell up woman!” Ariana barked back at me.

  “Okay send him on through.” I grumbled, at least this is the last one of the day.

  “And don’t forget about phoning Eric back, he has called three times already this morning.” Ariana called out while walking out of my office.

  “I won’t but considering this is the first time I’m hearing that he has tried to get hold of me, I’ll put it on my to do list.” I replied sarcastically, hoping she would get the hint to maybe do her job.

  “Okay, great.” She beamed back at me. Obviously not getting my sarcasm about calling Eric back, not that I was in a huge rush to get back to him. He has been acting weird lately. Calling all the time, always wanting to come and see me. I just didn’t have it in me to break the guys heart, but I just was not interested in him in a romantic way. He had been my first friend when I ran away, and I kind of depended on that friendship. I’m sure I would send him running away, screaming for his life if he knew the real reason about my sudden up and moving. It’s just dreams, but in our world, dreams like that don’t happen unless it’s for a reason, I know he is coming, I’ll face the devil when it’s time, but for now, it’s been a sore subject for me, and I just don’t tell anyone about him. He is my dark and deadly little secret, and he will stay that way. I hope.

  After watching Ariana all but stomped off in my next appointments direction, wonderful way to greet the people who pay your salary I thought, but she was a great person and secretary to work with, when she was doing her job, but I can see it was one of those days, where she was slacking in doing her job department, so I’ll just pretend she didn’t just do that.

  I watched my last appointment approach, the strange looking man must have easily been about six foot three, with long dark hair and a straight pointed nose, wearing a long black duster coat. Just by looking at him, I could tell he could hold himself in a fight. He looked dangerous. I’m certain that I wouldn’t want to meet this man in a dark alley alone. So, what on earth does he want from me? I’m normally working for the little guy to take things back from guys like this. People say I’m borderline crazy for doing what I do, but hey it pays the bills and I’m good at it, really, really good at it.

  “James Wright, I’m Natalie Benson. Nice to meet you.” Not, I told myself, something just seemed off about this guy, I didn’t like it, always went with my gut feeling. It’s gotten me this far in life.

  “Natalie Benson, nice to finally meet you. I have heard many, many good things about you.” The man before me replied. His voice sending warning shivers down my back. This is not a good man. Always listen to your instincts.

  I don’t bother on offering him a seat. Whatever this man wants, he is going to have to get it some other way. Wrapping up this meeting as soon as possible will definitely be in my best interests.

  “I wouldn’t believe everything you hear, unless it’s written in stone, which then I would like to think is legitimate.” I say back to him, my eyes narrowing on him, watching his every move.

  “Some of the stuff, yes.”

  ‘’Excuse me?”

  ‘’Never mind, Miss Benson. I’m sure one day you will hear all about the stories people tell about you.” James stated.

  “Shall we get down to some business then?” I say to him, ignoring his last comment. Whatever the stories are, I’m sure they are just that. Stories. And I don’t do the whole fairytale nonsense. I know enough about nightmares to know that fairytales aren’t meant for everyone.

  “Of course, you must excuse me, I’m sure you are extremely busy and I’m just taking up your time. Miss Benson, I need you to acquire something that is very important to my kind. I need it done discretely as possible and I need it done within the week. See, time is of the essence in this matter, my kind have lived to long under oppression and I need this item as soon as possible.”

  “What is this item you need me to steal.” I inquire, now he has my attention.

  “A gem. The Gem of Danté.” He states, like this is the most normal thing in the world to ask for.

  “The Gem of Danté, if I remember correctly is the gem supposedly to gain access to the underworl
d, but specifically the demon world?” I reply to him, like I’m unsure if I’m correct. I know I’m right. I know exactly what this gem does. And I know it doesn’t belong with this man.

  “I’m surprised you know that, Miss Benson. A lot of people my own kind don’t even know about the gem, let alone what it is used for.”

  “I know a lot about a lot of things, especially things that can be taken with ease. But unfortunately, no one has seen that kind of gem in over a thousand years, including me, and that kind of artifact cannot be located with a simple locating spell either. Just some items, as you call it, aren’t meant to be found or used by just anyone.”

  “I know exactly where it is Miss Benson. I have just come to you to retrieve it for me.” James states again.

  “I see. And you plan on doing what with it? Going for a late-night stroll in the deepest darkest spaces of the underworld for a thrill.” I argued.

  “Something like that, Miss Benson.” James murmurs back to me.

  “Okay, Mr. Wright, where can I locate this gem? And more importantly, if you know where it is, why not get it yourself, you seem more than capable of doing so.” I enquire. He seems like a capable man, why come to me? Especially for something like that.

  “That’s what they will be expecting, He won’t be expecting you. And I’m not familiar with the land, I have never personally travelled there, and I don’t expect to do so any time soon, not my kind of scene, it’s a one-horse town about two hundred kilometers from here, in a once beautiful house that seemed to pop up overnight, like magic. Have you heard of such a house like that?”

  How the hell does he know where I’m from, no one knows where I’m from! And how does that house always seem to ruin my damn day!

  “I see, how am I supposed to know where this one-horse town is, and this so-called beautiful house is, if you don’t tell me the name of it?” I asked, acting like I have no clue in the world.

  “Oh, you do know it, very well actually, and you returning home won’t seem odd at all, but me turning up in that little town of yours, will seem a bit out of place and I don’t like to draw attention to myself.”