Novels by Dayle Duncan

It was quiet and beautiful underneath the soft lights, gentle music playing as the wind howled outside, and the rain slowed to a mere drizzle. The Chef had preserved the surprise Margaret had promised. Few of the staff had been given extra days leave because the weather had been so bad.“Cheer up. It’s your favorite.” Margaret smiled. “I gave Chef specific instructions. Eat up.”“Thank you.” Hayley feigned a smile. “You know how much I love sautéed brain, especially clever brain. I don’t know how Chef managed to keep Mark’s brain fresh.”Margaret chuckled. “I have not lived this long to not learn some secrets along the way.”“Do you think that Sarah will find her way out of the cave?”“Are you worried that she will find us?” Margaret said, taking a sip of the thick red content

Joel and Sarah began to throw bowls of fire at the approaching beast, every bowl that hit its icy body, landed on the floor shattering into pieces.“It’s not working.” Sarah cried.“In the heart!” Hayley yelled as she joined them. “You’re wasting the fire.”“How the hell are we going to do that!?” Joel’s body tensed with every growing step, closer and closer. “I can’t just walk up to him and push one of these things in his heart.”“I have an idea,” Hayley said. “But, you have to do it, Joel. You have to trust me.”“Hayley,” Sarah wiped the tears from her eyes. “Are you going to be okay with this? It’s Harry, Carl…our father.”“No, Sarah.” Hayley grabbed Sarah’s hands in her own. “He is not human anymore. Margaret lied to m

“I tried to find you,” Carl said, weaving his fingers through Sarah’s hair. “Your hair. Your eyes are every bit as beautiful as I remember. I hope our daughter looks like you, my love.”“Don’t touch her!” Joel warned, feeling helpless watching this rotten half-man, ice creature caress Sarah’s face. He was nauseated.“Carl,” Margaret said. Her voice was sweet and gentle. “Isn’t she beautiful?”“Olivia, my Olivia.” Carl lowered his hand, a pained expression swept over this usually happy face. “You turned me away, just like that.” He clicked his fingers. Sarah felt a tremor through her body as she made eye contact. The legends were true, within this icy creature lived a man with a heart of madness. Her body trembling, she slowly began to back away.“What are you doing?&

Sarah's body slowly became limp, sweating, her breathing labored as she moaned in pain."Stay with me, Sarah." He licked his dry chapped lips. "You're hyperventilating. Slow deep breaths."Feeling weak Joel struggled against her limp body. The icicle burned his hand but he was determined to not let it go. The tunnel grew wider and bigger, small bowls of fire burned within the ledges of the rocky wall. Joel almost dropped Sarah as he fell to the ground.Eyes barely open, she said. "Where are we?""I don’t know but it looks ancient." Joel's eyes darted around following meticulous carvings along the wall. "I've never seen anything like it."The bowls of fire lit up a descending passageway to smooth pillars creating an archway.“I can stand, Joel,” Sarah said breathing slowly as he began to lift her. “I am feeling better now.”Leaning against him, Sarah felt at ease welcoming the

The cave had a pungent smell of rotten water, a gentle sound of dripping echoed faintly. Hands entwined Joel and Sarah carefully crept forward down the dark narrow tunnel as Harry instructed.“I’m scared, Joel,” Sarah said. “My entire life has been a lie and I don’t know what I am. They said-”“Who cares what they said, Sarah.”Sarah said quietly. “I - I wanted to eat more! Even after I knew, I knew it was Mark.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I couldn’t control myself. I am a monster.”“No! You are not a monster; you are the kindest person I have ever known. What they did to you was unspeakable. When we get out of here, I will make sure the world knows what they are.”Joel sighed. “I love you, Sarah, and I always will.”“Let’s not do this now.” She said, with a pained expression.Joel nodded. “Ok

"Here they are!" Boomed a loud voice followed by hurried footsteps. Sarah and Joel gasped as they woke and stared into the face of Harry. His workers were not far behind him."I knew I'd find you here." He laughed. Bending down, leaning forward, hands resting on his thighs he said, "Why, you leaving so soon?"“Come along now.” Harry beckoned with his hand, “Before the weather gets worse. You don’t expect me to come to get you now, do you?”Joel and Sarah came from under the ledge and Harry offered them jackets. “You shouldn’t have left the barn. Running around in this weather is not good for you. Don’t know what you were thinking.”“Please just let us go, Harry,” Sarah begged. “You don’t need to do this.”“I can’t do that, I’m sorry. You’re a decent group of people and Margaret wants you. She really likes you, hasn’t been this excited i