The Art of Darkness: Table of Contents
Danger and romance abound as Amber Hollings, a young Ph.D. candidate, finds herself caught between the human world and that of vampires.
(Artwork by The Chronicler)
Our story:
Twenty-eight year old Ph.D. candidate Amber Hollings has worked tirelessly for years on her research into vampires. Now, she has been given the opportunity of a lifetime. An interview with one of the most powerful coven leaders in the world. What happens next will not only change the course of her career, but alter her very life in ways she never imagined.
It’s a story that was never meant to be. What began as a simple short story just would not stop nagging at me to tell more. All these chapters later, the story has blossomed into what it is today.
So, as the need has arisen, I have created a table of contents here to help navigate to each part. I can't make any promises, but I will try and keep this updated as new chapters are added.
The night has finally arrived. After years of tireless research into the very secretive world of vampires, Ph.D. candidate Amber Hollings has secured something she never thought she would get. An interview with one of the vampiric world’s most powerful coven leaders. But he is far from what she expected.
Companion pieces for this chapter from Morvinus' POV
Post graduation, Amber is ready for a much needed break. But before she gets a chance, a deadly attack will leaves her broken, pushing her into the arms of someone she never expected.
Companion pieces for this chapter from Morvinus' POV
On the run, the bond between Amber and Morvinus deepens as new details of Amber's past come to light. And in a fit of desperation, they both take a monumental risk.
Companion piece for this chapter from Morvinus' POV
Amber awakes to find herself hidden away in a place she never thought possible. It’s there a kind stranger offers a new window into the vampiric world.
As the frustrations around their relationship grow, an unexpected turn of events will test Amber’s resolve, leading her to confront some difficult truths.
When their enemy shows up on the front door, tragedy strikes, pushing Morvinus and Amber to flee their refuge, once again pitting them against a hard decision.
Forced to find yet another place to hide, Amber consumes herself with finding out more about the mysterious Dr. Bachmann, trying to keep her mind off of Morvinus' nightly compulsions. What they find only adds to the cracks in Amber's world.
Another revelation has Amber scrambling for answers as she and Morvinus drop by an old friend. Soon, with more information at hand, the decision is made to try and overcome the biggest obstacle facing their relationship. But it's not without risk.
With fresh questions on her mind, Amber convinces Morvinus to return with her to the university to test a theory, only deepening the rabbit hole further, leaving them both vulnerable to attack.
Bound, blindfolded, and kidnapped, Amber and Morvinus are thrown into the trenches of their next battle, this time with a familiar face beside them, finally offering Amber the answers she so desperately craves.
Amber and Morvinus enter a grueling schedule preparing for their upcoming demonstration before the Curiae. Exhausted and worn, they are running out of energy and patience, leaving them vulnerable to their own temptation.
Anxious to check on her father, Amber and Morvinus head to the hospital for an emotional reunion, and a fresh scuffle ensues.
Upon their return to Lord Cawston's estate, Amber and Morvinus learn of the dire consequences of their actions, putting their cause and their very lives in jeopardy. Overwhelmed with the stress, a hasty and life-altering decision is made, changing their relationship forever.
Companion piece for this chapter from Morvinus' POV
Still reeling from last night’s intimate and intense rendezvous, Amber and Morvinus prepare for the task they’ve been working toward. But it brings with it new challenges neither were expecting.
A dire situation puts Amber’s very life on the line, and Morvinus will do anything to keep her alive, even stepping into some unfamiliar territory. But, if Amber pulls through, the consequences may be more than either can handle.
An unexpected visit from an old friend throws the door wide open on the connection between vampires and humans, unlocking a major mystery in Amber’s research. But it comes with new challenges, and an ever present danger.
Amber takes a major step onto unfamiliar ground, forced to cave to her newly developing tendencies. And with the pressure on, the time for the formal demonstration is at hand. Will it go as planned?
Reeling from her careless mistake, Amber is terrified she has put their entire future at risk. But, new hope emerges when there is unexpected support for their cause, and Amber and Morvinus finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, a danger they thought had all but diminished, waits in the shadows.
Waking up to new horrors, Amber finds herself ensnared by a powerful and terrifying foe. One who intends on destroying not only herself, physically and mentally, but crushing everything and everyone she holds dear.
Faced with her ultimate nightmare, the torturous affair drags out, wearing Amber’s resolve. An internal battle with the potential to cause more deep rooted damage than even the harshest villain can inflict. Will she survive the test? More importantly, if she does, what will remain?
Amber awakens to find herself not only still alive but rescued, finally reuniting with Morvinus. But, there’s one final twist she didn’t see coming.
Morvinus and Amber begin the arduous process of putting thier lives back together. As Amber struggles with the mental anguish left behind, a visit from an old friend brings new hope to thier situation. And Morvinus poses an important question to Amber.
A return to the place it all began brings a flood of memories and new hope to Amber and Morvinus. For the first time, they now have the freedom to think about the future, and deepening their relationship.
And it's here, we leave them be to bask in one another.
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