New York's underworld quivers at the mention of his name. Evil courses through his veins like blood and his conscience has lain dormant for over a decade while he has slashed and burned his way to the top of the food chain.
Vain.
The Dark Man, born of torment into an existence of death. In the underworld of killers he reigns supreme. And yet he is chosen for a task of supreme benevolence. Why would he be selected to save a young boy, the Avun-Riah, and then protect him against a horde of enemies, both mortal and demonic?
Because he is the only one with any hope of success.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have risen from the pits of Hell and, along with a fanatical army of cultists, are ranged against Vain. If the boy is slain then Sordarrah will be raised to destroy the Earth, a feat even Lucifer never managed.
Evil is being used to fight evil in a battle for the outcome of existence. Armageddon sits upon the horizon and all that stands in its way is a man whose path has always been dark.
The Dark Path Extract
Vain entered the warehouse lot, swiftly becoming one with the shadows. Finding every alcove and hiding place, floating smoothly and without haste from one to the next, he finally reached the warehouse and slid along the outside wall to the back of the building. Once there he paused and listened. Satisfied nothing felt amiss, he vanished through an open window and into the darkened building.
Light flickered from a small office towards the front of the warehouse. Vain slowly made his way along the inside wall and paused outside the doorway. Inside he could hear quiet breathing and a low hum. Noiselessly he drew a dark bladed knife and dropped to the ground, inching his way into the doorway.
From his position on the floor, Vain watched a lone man dressed in a suit sitting cross-legged before what appeared to be an altar. However, this altar contained neither crucifixes nor holy water. Splayed across a black marble bench top, Vain noticed the remnants of what might have once been a dog. Not much remained to identify the beast, except for a single bloodied paw hanging by a sinew towards the centre of the mound. Amidst the mangled flesh, a smoldering pile of coals discharged a noxious odor into the air. The man inhaled the smoke from the burning flesh and rocked back and forth, murmuring softly.
Vain sank into a crouch, and crept up behind the man. Nearing the altar, the assassin's mind began to swim from the fumes, and he realized the smoke must have been a narcotic. He glanced at the walls of the office, suddenly dripping with blood and gore, small mouths opening and closing in silent screams of anguish.
Copyright (c) 2009 Luke Romyn The Dark Path
Praise for Luke Romyn's writing
"A highly imaginative and hugely complex story" Lynk
"Splendid and very satisfying" Authortrek
"A definite 2 thumbs up! More if I had them!" Author Marna Loftis.
http://www.lukeromyn.host56.com
http://www.thedarkpathnovel.com
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Reviewed by Sassy Brit @ Alternative-Read.com
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Hi Sassy,
ReplyDeleteOoo, this story sounds very dark. I think I've seen the cover before where the character's eyes are pitch black (am I seeing correctly?) I'm not sure though. Vain... sounds familiar... Grr, I hate having memory blanks.
I'll have something reboot my memory if I need too.
I'll see you around! =)
-- Linda