Who is ready to dive into a world of magic and myths?

Dead Heart Longing is now available on multiple platforms. It’s a perfect read for fantasy, romance, and general fiction fans. The story is a blend of multiple genres. It takes you on a mythical journey among the mountains of the Himalayas, the ruins of an ancient Tibetan castle, and the depths of another realm ruled by the mighty Naga. With a hint of mystery, a romantic tale unfolds within these pages, mesmerizing the readers. So, what are you waiting for? Get your copy today and enjoy.

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About the Book:

Enter a reality where the living and the dead coexist.

Gesar, who was once a mighty king, now roams an ancient Tibetan castle as a ghost. His heart, as cold as the snow-covered mountain tops and consumed with bitterness, melts when he meets Nur. She is a woman like a warm summer breeze drawn to history and untold pasts. And their love will defy time and stretch beyond the human’s lifespan.

Yet, the shadows of forgotten conflicts threaten to extinguish the spark of their fragile relationship. As their fates collide, Gesar’s long-dead heart stirs with an unfamiliar warmth, and Nur faces an impossible choice. Should she save the cursed soul she’s grown to love or condemn him to eternal solitude?

Excerpt

A Lost Soul

The castle stood on the highest hill in a valley surrounded by the mighty Himalayas. From its towers, in all four directions, you could see tiny houses and huts stretched as far as your eyes could roam uninterrupted by nature. Though calling it a castle would probably be wrong, it was more of a ruin of one. Yet, its vastness would leave you in awe.

On the outside, vines crawled on every wall. Shrubs and wildflowers overran the grounds. Trees of silver fir and blue pine scattered across the uneven landscape. Broken windows shuddered with each gust of wind. And the inside was bare of any furniture or sign that humans ever lived there. Cobwebs hung from walls, and dust coated the cabinets. Shadows lurked in the corners and monsters seemed to peek from each dark nook.

Locals avoided it, fearful of the ghosts and goblins that haunted the empty structure—a shell of its past glory. As magnificent as the sun in the sky on a cloudless day, once upon a time, the grandeur of its halls was unparalleled. Now, a husk of its former self, it was still standing. That alone was something of a marvel.

Back in the day, tourists frequented the place, but then it was deemed unstable and unsafe for viewing. She was a brave girl who dared to darken its corridors, for no one else bothered with the falling skeleton of an ancient castle. At least, not in the past decade or so.

“Look, you must come and see it for yourself,” she was talking into the phone. “This place needs saving. It’s a national treasure. Seriously, it might be the oldest standing building in the Himalayas. Imagine the benefits if we succeeded in getting it declared as such.”

Her excitement grew with each word she uttered and her green eyes shone. Whether that too was a result of her eagerness or because of the afternoon sun, he couldn’t tell. Everything about her was illuminated and to his eyes, she seemed like a phantom. Maybe he conjured her up with sheer will. No, he wasn’t that imaginative. He quickly discarded the idea because she was real. More so than him.

It wasn’t the first time an outsider came to the valley and fell in love with its history. Unfortunately, all previous efforts to get the place status of a historical site failed. It would take too many resources to restore the castle and make it safe enough for human viewing. It was practically falling apart, which made it dangerous, especially if you considered its location—at the edge of a steep hill with at least a hundred feet fall on three sides. And only one travelable dirt road leading in or out of its giant front gates.

“Don’t you trust my judgment?” she said to whoever was on the other end. She waited for their response before continuing, “Times are different now. I’m sure it’s possible. In this day and age, what isn’t? We can even turn it into one of the hottest tourist destinations.”

Whatever the other person said satisfied her. “Okay, that’s settled then. I’ll see you next week.”

…

And the story continues with twists and turns much like the winding mountain roads.

Man Who Wasn’t There by Fizza Younis

We stared at each other, locked in a battle of wills, both waiting for the other to surrender. I feared if I blinked, I’d be the one to vanish — not him. This was the third time I saw him on the stairs.

“Who are you?” I said, hoping the man would say something that would ease my anxiety and calm my pounding heart. No such luck, though. He stood silently, at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at me. “Why are you here?” I tried again. Only silence met my words.

The doorbell broke the spell, startling me. He vanished, and I was once again alone in the house. I took two stairs at a time as I rushed to open the door. A stranger stood at my doorsteps. “Hi, how may I help you?” I said, politely.

“Are you Miss Annie?” the stranger gave me a penetrating look. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. Standing a foot taller than me, he had his hands in his front pockets. He took a deep breath as if preparing himself for something bad.

“I am.” I said nothing more, waiting for him to state his purpose.

“I am Danish. My grandfather used to live in this house. It might sound absurd, but he asked me to check up on you. Do you need help? Are you in trouble?” he said, his eyes studied me from head to toe as if trying to figure out something that wasn’t there.

“Excuse me?” I didn’t understand what he was talking about. At that moment, something clicked, and a picture appeared in my mind. I looked at his face, studying each line. The high cheekbones, hazel eyes, wavy brown hair, and the nervous smile — it all reminded me of the man on the stairs. “Your grandfather, you said?”

“Sorry, if this makes no sense. He is deceased. I just…” He struggled with words. “It’s just… that… I have been having these dreams.” He took another deep breath. “He has been appearing in my dreams a lot lately and every time he says, ‘Annie needs help.’ And I see this house. I don’t know what I was thinking. I decided to drop by on a whim.” He shrugged and smiled sheepishly.

If I hadn’t had my personal encounter with his grandfather’s ghost, I would’ve called the authorities then. But I had been wondering about the middle-aged man who kept appearing in front of me. “Do you want to come in?” I also did something on a whim and invited a stranger into my house.

He relaxed, and this time his smile was genuine. “You don’t think I’m crazy?”

“Let’s just say, I have had my share of craziness.” I smiled at him, struck by the warmth in his eyes. My heart melted a little.

And that’s how our story began. A ghost brought us together, and we spent many happy years in love, living as blissful of a life as anyone could dream of.

© 2020 Fizza Younis. All Rights Reserved.

P.S. I wrote this flash fiction specifically for the Aim to Engage Challenge at Wattpad. The prompt was;

“Yesterday upon the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there…”

P.S. If you enjoy short fiction then don’t forget to check out my published work. My books are available at amazon and are free with kindle unlimited. I hope you enjoy my stories. Thank you!