Dark Fantasy Short Stories

Getting lucky is a good thing, isn't it? Mona figured she was onto a good thing after winning five hundred dollars and an all expense paid trip to Ireland, just in time for St. Patrick's Day. She figured she was onto a good thing when she found the leprechaun, underneath a four leaf clover. Only finding a leprechaun might not be quite as lucky as folks will tell you. You know you've got a good story when you see the line, “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You stole my scratch ticket. Prepare to die.”

Dark Ride is a collection of short fiction by one of the brightest writers in the genres of horror and dark fantasy. These stories range from the horrific to the surreal, and prove Michael Laimo to be a compelling stylist and relentless storyteller. None have been collected previously, and some are original to this volume.

Drawn from the myths and histories of the American Midwest, Piasa: Rite of Talons combines the legend of the Piasa dragon-bird with the Cahokia Mound City. A dark pact is made between the royal line of Ouatoga and the man-eating monster. What horrible price must be paid to ensure the prosperity of the Mound City? Who is the true enemy of the progress of mankind?

Submitted for your approval - Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow, a collection of speculative fiction inspired by the original Twilight Zone series. In the spirit of that iconic, timeless show, these mysterious and gripping narratives explore parallel worlds, faraway planets, dystopian societies, and unsettling reality.

Looks can be deceiving. Believe me, I know. I was captivated when I first gazed into Luc's eyes. He was breathtaking and formidable, and his darkness stirred something deep within me. But beneath the angelic mask lay the devil, and I had stepped into his inferno. Thanks to Luc, my life has become a relentless torment. Just when I’ve lost all hope, he comes to my rescue. I’m broken, and he’s slowly picking up the pieces as his haunting mistakes confront him. Now, I find myself torn between two conflicting truths. I can’t decide if he’s the hero of my story or the monster. This is a...

When an American man discovers that he's the last descendant of the De la Poer family, he travels to England to take over their crumbling estate. Accompanied only by his cat, the man follows the incessant sound of rats to a dark place beneath the estate, unearthing horrible, dark, gruesome secrets about his ancestors and the type of activities they partook in. Taken by madness, the man falls into a dark pit of despair and commits unthinkable crimes. This jarring story from a renowned writer of horror fiction utilizes fear-inducing themes to entice its audience.

I've tracked down ten authors who have, at some point, participated in the act of cannibalism. I've collected one short story from each writer and combined them here for your amusement and observation. Isaac Cone presents “Margaritaville”, Jimmy Buffet’s hit song reinterpreted as a southern gothic. Sandeyu Yamamoto writes “Antiquing” about a family with a rare type of OCD where they haunt the object they most obsessed over.

When the Luck of the Irish Runs Out... This St. Patrick's Day, the city of Chicago will be painted green, but in the Celtic Spirits pub, a sinister presence is brewing. Black Annis, the malevolent spirit from ancient Celtic lore, has found an unlikely entry point into our world, and she's got her sights set on chaos. As the revelry reaches its peak, the bartender finds himself ensnared in her evil grasp, forced to aid in her dark plan to open a portal to her twisted realm. Will anyone survive the night, or will the luck of the Irish be consumed by an ancient evil?

In the province of Santé, an old woman with connections to the gods runs afoul of the connection and plans to assassinate her grand daughter to appease them. The plan itself goes awry when another announces that he too has connections to the gods, and his are the true connections. Will the grand daughter survive? Will the old witch survive? And who is this newcomer?

An idyllic summer bike ride takes a turn into darkness. Ryan is excited about the first day of school, he is even more excited about seeing his best friend and his crush, Jen. Sometimes the road less traveled shouldn't be taken. "This is the first of the "Night Portals" series, which will consist of twelve short stories that are this author's equivalent of "The Twilight Zone" or "Black Mirror", telling darker tales about humanity and exploring "what if this happened" scenarios." Amazon Reviewer Chris Fried Night Portals is a metaphysical series that explores the hidden secrets of life ...

He traded his scythe for a clipboard. What could possibly go wrong? Mort Finley is done with death. After centuries on soul collection duty, he's hanging up the cloak and launching a new career—as a life coach. The kind with business cards, throw pillows, and an ever-wilting office fern. His clients? Burned-out, washed-up, or just plain stuck. But Mort sees their potential... and for the first time, maybe even his own. Of course, transitioning from Reaper to self-help guru isn’t without hiccups—like flickering lights, mysteriously appearing skull décor, and the occasional existential...

Richard has just buried his beloved wife. He is a man desperate for answers and has a hardened heart for vengeance. He knows deep down that his enemies have taken his wife from him and will stop at nothing to destroy the ones who did. Against the advice of his allies, he follows a lead to fulfil his vengeance. Yet this path will only bring death.

Experience three exciting stories of fantasy and science fiction, each immensely different from the last.

Introducing The Stubborn Suitor, the hot and sexy new series by Alexa Wilder! Cami Hendricks has a lot on her plate. She's a single mom, works full-time, and her ex is a nightmare. Plus, every time she sees her mother, Cami has to tolerate her jabs about her weight. As if all that wasn't enough, the first guy Cami thinks she might really like seems to be playing games with her. His hot and cold attitude is not what she needs, especially with her ex playing hardball for full custody of her daughter. Drew Sloane is torn - he can't get Cami out of his mind. Ever since he met her at a party, ...

In a world where her magic means death, she doesn’t know how to live.Mizna’s existence is worthless. She has no life skills, her magic will kill her before her thirtieth birthday, and the recent death of her first love has left her hopeless and empty. So when a dangerous encounter threatens her father’s life, she plunges recklessly into a violent conflict she can’t possibly win. Acting as a sacrificial lamb gives her life the sort of value she thought impossible, so she clings to it desperately. But she’s not alone in this bloody fight, and she can’t save everyone. Will she ...

This was the book that launched a genre. Modern fantasy collections trace their lineage back to Lord Dunsany, and this was his first work that today's listeners would recognise in tone and settings.

Set in the mist-laden realm of Elderglen, The Hollow Vale: Short Stories: The Seer of Velden tells the story of a younger Caelwyn and Velden Nan, a figure of mystery and reverence known for her silence and her connection to the Wyrd. Through half-spoken truths and glimpses of forgotten threads, her journey as a seer explores the weight of prophecy and memory in a land shaped by both history and myth.

Dark and Light Tales of Ripton Town is a collection of three short stories by John Decarteret, set in a strange town where nothing, and no one, is ever quite what it seems.

Blackwater is a collection of two tales of horror and dark fantasy. In "Mercury Rain", a soldier fighting a new enemy learns the importance of holding on to his memories. "Blackwater", the title story of the collection, is an homage to Stephen King's short story, "Graveyard Shift", and it tells the tale of Paul Hawkins, a mine worker who disturbs something terrifying in the Blackwater Hills of Durham, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1976.

From urban hotel rooms with interdimensional portals to far-future robotic societies, to far-flung galaxies, to the near future, to the present day with a twist. Eric Fomley's first full collection brings a variety of dark futures for your consumption and enjoyment. Flash Futures contains three very short stories and 21 sci-fi flash fictions guaranteed to take you to the future in 10 minutes or less.