SILK
an anthology
Silk
an anthology
Boxset
Each title in this collection is copyrighted to their respective authors as noted. This collection is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, place and incidents are the product of the author’s imaginations, and any resemblances to actual events or locales or person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. These books contain material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the author/publisher.
Cover Design:
Formatting: Kassi Cooper of Kassi’s Kandids Formatting
The Edge of Darkness
Copyright © 2012 by Melissa Andrea
Falling
Copyright © 2013 by E.K. Blair
Let Love In
Copyright © 2013 by Melissa Collins
A Blue Tale
Copyright © 2013 by Sarah Dosher
Trusting You
Copyright © 2013 by LP Dover
Better
Copyright © 2014 by Carey Heywood
Love In Between
Copyright © 2013 by Sandi Lynn
“Clouds”
Music and Lyrics by Letters and Lights
I want to take this opportunity to thank, Eric Knudsen, of the band, Letters and Lights for graciously allowing me to use the lyrics to his song “Clouds” in Love In Between.
You can connect with Letters and Lights on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lettersandlights
https://twitter.com/letters_lights
Unexpected Forever
Copyright © 2013 by Heidi McLaughlin
Remebering Joy
Copyright © 2013 by Jenni Moen
Next to Forever
Copyright © 2014 by S. Moose
Mid-Life Love
Copyright © 2013 by Whitney G.
Contents
The Edge of Darkness
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Thirty-Three
Thirty-Four
Thirty-Five
Thrity-Six
Epilogue
FALLING
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
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
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Epilogue
Let Love In
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
A Blue Tale
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
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Epilogue
Trusting You
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
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
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Epilogue
Better
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 19
Epilogue
Love In Between
Prologue
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
My Unexpected Forever
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Remembering Joy
PART I
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
PART II
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
Next to Forever
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
Epilogue
Mid Life Love
December 28, 2012
Chapter 1
Chapter 1.5
Chapter 2
Chapter 2.5
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
January 19, 2013
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
April 14, 2013
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 25.5
August 15, 2013
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
The Edge of Darkness
Melissa Andrea
I loved to dance, but I don’t anymore.
I was in an accident I don’t remember… or maybe I don’t want to remember.
Either way, every day since, has been… an adjustment and I’m left with a constant reminder that nothing is forever.
Now, my life is a tangled web of darkness filled with deceit, hate, betrayal and lies. I don’t dwell on the past, I don’t regret and I don’t remember… I survive. But then I met Ryland Dare and he changed everything. He reminded me that life’s worth living and that remembering isn’t always a bad thing.
You don’t know true darkness until you've felt light…
On the outside looking in, some would say my siblings and I have had a pretty easy life. But beyond the fancy cars, the huge house and endless social events, is where the truth really lies. Power hungry father, defeated mother and fake friends? Yeah I have one of each. Then Araya Noelle comes along and shows me what I’ve been missing. She thinks I changed her life, but really, she saved mine.
At the edge of darkness, you must DARE to HOPE. DARE to LOVE. DARE to LIVE
Prologue
It happened so fast and not like people thought or said it did.
My heart raced as I stood off to the side of the stage waiting for my name to be called. I bit my lip, clinging to the black curtain and peeking out at the audience.
My life didn’t flash before my eyes.
It was a packed house, not an empty seat in the entire place. My eyes scanned the crowd until I was able to spot her.
There were no images of blissful times, no final memories to cherish before I died.
She was looking in my direction, but I knew she couldn’t see me within the shadows. It didn’t matter. Just seeing my mother calmed my racing heart and I was able to breathe again.
No, I wasn’t that lucky. I witnessed everything in slow, horrifying detail.
The lights were dim and the crowd was hushed as the music came to a measured end. I took a step back, pressing my heels together, rising and squatting gracefully.
I was jerked forward, my seat belt cutting painfully into my body before I was slammed back.
The melody finally drifted to an end and the dancer came running off stage. She smiled at me and whispered “Good luck,” before disappearing into the darkness.
Thick, jagged pieces of glass shattered into a million tiny crystals in front of me.
I heard the cool voice of the announcer as she introduced me to the crowd. I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, and scolded my nerves as I suppressed the urge to throw up.
Before I could block my face, their sharp edges cut into my skin.
I could do this; I knew I could. Dancing was something I’d done since I was eight months old and refused to walk any other way but on my toes.
Tires squealed and the world spun as we flipped and rolled.
I could feel my adrenaline pumping as confidence began to flow through my system. I took form, counted to three, and spun onto the stage.
Metal screeched across the road, melting and sparking against the pavement.
Positioning my arms above my head, I extended my leg and pointed my foot out. When the music lifted I spun around, lifting on my toes and kicking my leg into the air.
The smell of gasoline, burnt rubber, and blood mixed and stung my nose.
I wanted Julliard to be proud they chose me. I may have only been fifteen, but I was a damn good dancer.
I tried to focus on her face, but my vision blurred.
The tempo changed and I recognized the dramatic ending for what it was and my mom’s words lingered in the back of my mind—”Blow their minds, Araya. Dance like it’s the last time…” And that’s exactly what I did. I danced like it was the last time.
Our screams were the last thing I heard.
***
My head pounded with each whispered word that drifted through my never-ending black fog.
Everything felt heavy. My arms and legs felt weighed down. I couldn’t wiggle my fingers, much less move anything else. As bad as I wanted to, the simple task of opening my thin eyelids was something I couldn’t manage.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t contain the infection in time and it has spread…”
I didn’t recognize the low voice hidden in the shadows. It was deep and male as his words flowed from the black and swirled around my head.
Infection? Spread? Couldn’t contain? Where am I and how long have I been here?
“What does that mean exactly?”
I knew that voice. I could never forget the easy sweep of her cold tone. It was my Aunt Nina. I strained my ears to hear the one voice that would make everything feel okay—my mother’s.
“I’m afraid it’s not good news…”
The male voice got deeper; it seemed to dip lower at the end of each sentence. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but a tiny pull deep in my stomach told me my life would never be the same.
“She’ll never dance again.”
She wasn’t fazed. I wanted to focus on what that meant, but her words stole my attention.
“How long before she wakes up? The arrangements for my sister have already been made.”
My aunt’s voice was cold—it was always cold—but that wasn’t what sent an icy chill through my body. Arrangements? What arrangements? There was a loud buzzing in my ears and my chest began to hurt, and as I listened to the rest of their conversation, the knot in my stomach grew.
“She’s already showing signs of coming to. It’s just a matter of time now.”
I wanted to sit up and scream at them, tell them I was awake—that I was alive, but I couldn’t form the words, and the deep voice was still talking.