Dark Passages; Fiction, Poetry and AI Art Showcase

# Dark Crystalline 


dark crystalline an extrusion of light my pocket universe  # Excerpt from the Wisp ..  Thud. The volume that had rested next to it toppled face-down to the floor. “What’s that?” Amy looked down. “Just another book.” “It’s something more,” Bara insisted. She picked it up and wiped away at the dust. There were five amber pieces on its leather-bound cover, golden-orange ovals about the size of a sand dollar. They encircled a central Celtic cross. Technically amber wasn’t a gem, rather petrified tree sap, but the sheen and cut of this amber were as fine as any diamond. Her fingers traced the circle but stopped before completing the full arc. It was beautiful, almost perfect, except for a missing sixth piece of amber. She held it out for Amy. “Wow! Let me see.” Bara obliged and passed it over. Amy traced the amber the same way Bara had done. She gave it one more look and handed it back. She picked up the Magician’s Nephew, returned it to the shelf, and headed back to the study carrel. With the found book clasped tightly to her chest, Bara followed. They arrived back at the carrel. Amy grabbed a coffee and croissant. She sat down and began to eat and drink. She noted Bara’s tight grip on the book. “Well, open it up then.” Bara ran her hand along the spine and the pages of the closed book and then cracked it open. The pages were yellowed with age. There was no writing on the first page, just a drawing of the front cover without the missing stone, a perfect circle of six. “What’s it called?” Amy asked. “It doesn’t have a title.” Bara turned another jaundiced page. She shivered a full body shiver and held up the book so Amy could see what was drawn on the second page—a five-pointed star within a circle. Amy choked on a mouthful of coffee. “No way! Let’s put it back where we found it? This reminds me a little too much of the start of a horror movie.” Bara gave her a blank look. “The walls are bleeding and the house is screaming I know what you did last summer,” Amy mocked nervously. Bara shook her head. “The circle and the star are a protection against evil.” Amy wasn’t convinced. “It’s a bit much for me—dreams and black magic books. Leave it on a shelf and some other unlucky sap can find it.” Bara ignored the suggestion and flipped another stiff page. She read out loud. Dear Clâvigen, You have found this book and were destined to do so. The responsibility is now yours. You must slay and cage the evil. Beware. She will come in the guise of beauty and kindness. Be not a fool. There is no goodness in her heart. The demon is a trickster. Let her not trick you. The gift of the ages she offers is a living coffin. Put her in hers before she puts you in yours. May you meet with more success than I, Nelson Sedgewick *The entire novel is available from Amazon and Kindle 
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