The Heirloom Cage

Inspired by the greats of Classic Literature, romance and horror through the spans of time, Monet R. Delouve ventures into a modernization of gothic horror. Threading a romance of passion, revenge, and desire with elements of physical, psychological, and paranormal horror together to create a captivating story of lust, torment, and reverence.

Calliya Penrose, the youngest daughter of a dynasty built on secrets and lies, has spent her life in a cage. Suffocated by the weight of Old English wealth and a mother whose love is like a dagger, Calliya learned from a young age that beauty is the only worthwhile currency. She has spent years refining hers to perfection to become a diamond of the highest value. But, even the most perfect diamonds have flaws. For Calliya, that flaw is the desire to hold the dagger, not be its bleeding victim.

But, diamonds don't just cut.

As the phantoms of Penrose Estate begin to stir, Calliya discovers a connection to its sordid past that speaks to her deepest and darkest fears. Amidst the rising rot of her heritage, she meets Lucian Hallow, whose devotion is as absolute as it is misguided. He offers her his heart to heal her, but Calliya only sees a tool to free her from the shackles of her heritage. To escape, Calliya will thoroughly break the only person who has truly loved her and her imperfections.

In this modernization of gothic terror, Calliya will learn that the cost of freedom can only be paid for by the heart. As the ghosts of the past demand their due, she must decide if she wants to be the masterpiece or become the monster in her efforts to survive the Penrose legacy.

In the end, Calliya Penrose will prove that a diamond is most dangerous when it shatters, cutting until there is nothing left to bleed.