Blood and Bargains

Callypso "Callie" Lillis, a teenage siren, kills her abusive stepfather in self-defense, her hands stained with blood and her future in jeopardy. Fearing the justice system won't protect her, she turns to a mysterious business card and calls upon the Bargainer, a supernatural fixer who trades in favors. In exchange for his help cleaning up the crime, she begins a dangerous relationship of debt, binding her fate to his with a single spoken bargain. This moment marks the start of a lifelong entanglement, where every favor comes with a price, and the cost of survival is her freedom.

Siren's Power Unleashed

Callie's siren heritage grants her the power to glamour mortals, compelling them to obey her will. She uses this ability as a private investigator, extracting confessions from the guilty and righting wrongs in a world where supernaturals and humans coexist uneasily. Yet, her power is double-edged: it isolates her, tempts her darker instincts, and makes her a target for those who would exploit or fear her. The siren's hunger for power, vengeance, and justice becomes both her shield and her prison, shaping her relationships and her sense of self.

The Bargainer's Bracelet

Each favor Callie receives from the Bargainer is marked by a black bead on a magical bracelet she cannot remove. Over the years, her wrist becomes encircled by hundreds of beads—each an IOU, each a promise that one day, the Bargainer will collect. The bracelet is a constant reminder of her dependence, her vulnerability, and the growing power the Bargainer holds over her. It is both a lifeline and a shackle, symbolizing the inescapable nature of bargains made in desperation.

Debts and Dares

Years later, the Bargainer—Desmond Flynn—returns to collect on Callie's debts. He demands payment not in money, but in truths and dares, each one stripping away her defenses and forcing her to confront her past, her desires, and her feelings for him. Their interactions are a dance of power, seduction, and vulnerability, as Callie is drawn deeper into his world and the mysteries that surround him. The games they play are never innocent; each dare is a test, each truth a revelation.

A Dangerous Friendship

As a teenager, Callie finds solace in the Bargainer's company, buying his presence night after night to stave off her loneliness and nightmares. Their friendship is fraught with tension—Des is both protector and tempter, refusing to cross certain lines but unable to stay away. For Callie, the Bargainer becomes her anchor, her confidant, and the object of a growing, forbidden love. Their bond is forged in trauma and secrecy, but it is also the source of her greatest hope.

The King of Night

Desmond Flynn is more than a supernatural fixer; he is the King of Night, ruler of a vast and dangerous fae kingdom in the Otherworld. His power is immense, his reputation fearsome, and his secrets many. Yet, beneath the surface, he is haunted by loneliness, guilt, and a longing for connection. His relationship with Callie is complicated by his responsibilities, his nature, and the ancient laws of his world. The revelation of his true identity raises the stakes of their relationship and the dangers they face.

Seven Years Apart

After a night of vulnerability and a kiss that changes everything, Des leaves Callie, unable to reconcile his feelings for her with her youth and trauma. Seven years pass with no contact, each of them suffering in their own way—Callie, abandoned and heartbroken; Des, bound by a magical wish and unable to return. Their separation is a crucible, forging their identities and their love in absence and pain. When Des finally returns, the wounds of the past threaten to reopen even as hope flickers anew.

The Return and the Reckoning

Des's return is not just about collecting favors; he needs Callie's help to solve a series of disappearances in the Otherworld. Female warriors are vanishing, only to return in enchanted sleep, pregnant with mysterious children. The investigation draws Callie into the heart of fae politics, ancient rivalries, and a darkness that threatens both worlds. As they work together, old feelings resurface, and the line between duty and desire blurs.

Truths, Dares, and Temptations

The repayment of Callie's debts becomes a journey of self-discovery and mutual confession. Through a series of intimate dares and painful truths, Callie and Des confront their fears, their guilt, and the depth of their feelings for each other. Their relationship is tested by jealousy, pride, and the ever-present threat of the supernatural world. Each challenge brings them closer, but also exposes the fragility of trust and the cost of vulnerability.

The Otherworld's Dark Mystery

The heart of the mystery lies in the Otherworld, where Des's kingdom is plagued by a sinister force known as the Thief of Souls. Women are being taken, their bodies returned in glass coffins, their minds lost to a magical sleep. The children they bear are strange, prophetic, and dangerous. Callie's investigation uncovers a web of secrets, betrayals, and ancient magic, as well as the true identity of the enemy: Karnon, the mad King of Fauna.

Sleeping Warriors, Waking Nightmares

Callie's encounters with the sleeping women and the haunted nursemaids reveal the horror of Karnon's crimes. The fae warriors are not dead, but trapped in a living nightmare, their bodies used as vessels for the mad king's twisted experiments. The children born from this magic are both a warning and a weapon. Callie's empathy for the victims drives her to risk everything, even as she fears becoming one herself.

The Mad King's Prison

Callie is kidnapped by Karnon and imprisoned in his kingdom, subjected to his cruel magic and his obsession with breaking her. She endures torture, humiliation, and the threat of violation, her only solace the friendship of a fellow prisoner, Aetherial. Karnon's attempts to transform Callie into a beast like himself fail—until, in a final act of violence, he forces wings, claws, and scales upon her, remaking her body and testing her spirit.

Wings of Vengeance

Des, driven by love and rage, tracks Callie to Karnon's lair. In a cataclysmic confrontation, he unleashes the full fury of the King of Night, destroying Karnon and his castle in a storm of shadows and blood. Callie, battered and changed, is rescued but left to grapple with her new form and the trauma of her ordeal. The victory is bittersweet; the enemy is dead, but the scars remain.

Soulmates and Sacrifice

In the aftermath, Des reveals the secret that kept them apart: a magical wish Callie made as a teenager, binding them as soulmates but cursing them to years of separation and longing. Their love, forged in suffering and sacrifice, is finally acknowledged and accepted. The revelation brings healing, but also the realization that their happiness is hard-won and fragile.

The Price of Power

Callie must come to terms with her new body and the power it represents. With Des's support, she learns to see herself not as a victim, but as a survivor and a force to be reckoned with. Together, they vow to protect each other and their kingdom from whatever darkness remains. The cost of power is high, but so is the reward: love, belonging, and the promise of a future together.

Breaking the Curse

The curse that bound Callie and Des is finally broken—not by magic, but by truth, forgiveness, and the courage to love without reservation. The sleeping women remain a mystery, but the first battle is won. Callie and Des, united as mates and equals, face the future with hope, ready to confront whatever challenges the night may bring.

Love in the Darkness

In the end, Callie and Des find solace in each other's arms, their love a beacon in the darkness. They have faced monsters, both within and without, and emerged stronger for it. Their story is one of survival, redemption, and the transformative power of love—a love that endures until darkness dies.

Characters

Callypso "Callie" Lillis

Callie is a complex heroine shaped by trauma, resilience, and a fierce desire for agency. Abused as a child, she kills her stepfather and bargains for her freedom, setting her on a path of debt and self-reliance. Her siren powers make her both powerful and isolated, as she struggles with the temptation to abuse her gifts and the fear of becoming a monster. Callie's journey is one of reclaiming her voice, her body, and her sense of self-worth. Her relationship with Des is both a source of strength and vulnerability, forcing her to confront her deepest fears and desires. Over the course of the story, she transforms from a victim into a warrior, embracing her power and her right to love and be loved.

Desmond Flynn / The Bargainer

Des is the enigmatic fae king who rules the Night Kingdom and moonlights as the Bargainer, a supernatural fixer who trades in secrets and favors. He is both ruthless and compassionate, wielding immense power but burdened by guilt and loneliness. His love for Callie is the central conflict of his life, driving him to protect her at all costs but also to keep his distance for fear of hurting her. Des's psychological complexity lies in his struggle to reconcile his nature as a fae king with his longing for intimacy and redemption. His journey is one of learning to trust, to forgive, and to accept love as both a gift and a responsibility.

Karnon, King of Fauna

Karnon is the primary villain, a fae king driven mad by power, obsession, and a twisted sense of entitlement. He kidnaps and experiments on female warriors, seeking to create a new breed of fae through violence and magic. His dual nature—alternating between childlike madness and calculated cruelty—makes him unpredictable and terrifying. Karnon's actions are a dark mirror to the themes of consent, autonomy, and the abuse of power that run throughout the novel.

Temperance "Temper" Darling

Temper is Callie's business partner and closest confidante, a powerful witch with a sharp tongue and a fierce loyalty. She provides comic relief, practical support, and a grounding influence, challenging Callie to be honest with herself and to fight for what she wants. Temper's own struggles with destiny and identity parallel Callie's, making her an essential foil and ally.

Eli

Eli is a werewolf bounty hunter and Callie's former boyfriend, representing the possibility of a "normal" life and the dangers of possessive love. His inability to accept Callie's secrets and his tendency to dominate ultimately drive them apart, but his loyalty and remorse add depth to his character. Eli's arc explores themes of forgiveness, boundaries, and the limits of love.

Aetherial

Aetherial is a fae guard from the Day Kingdom who becomes Callie's friend and confidante in Karnon's prison. Her resilience, humor, and tragic fate highlight the cost of resistance and the importance of solidarity among victims. Aetherial's story is a testament to the enduring power of hope and the bonds forged in adversity.

The Sleeping Warriors

The enchanted women in glass coffins are both literal and metaphorical representations of trauma, silenced voices, and the struggle to reclaim autonomy. Their presence haunts the narrative, driving Callie's quest for justice and underscoring the stakes of the conflict.

The Thief of Souls

Initially a mysterious force behind the disappearances, the Thief of Souls is revealed to be Karnon, whose actions are motivated by a desire for power, control, and immortality. He represents the ultimate violation of consent and the dangers of unchecked authority.

The Children

The children born from the sleeping warriors are both victims and harbingers, their unnatural abilities and eerie behavior a warning of the consequences of abuse and the legacy of trauma. They challenge the boundaries between innocence and corruption, hope and horror.

The Politia

The supernatural police force represents the flawed systems that fail to protect the vulnerable and often perpetuate cycles of violence. Their pursuit of Des and Callie adds external pressure and highlights the need for personal agency and collective action.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Flashbacks

The narrative alternates between Callie's teenage years and her adult life, using flashbacks to gradually unveil the origins of her relationship with Des, the nature of her debts, and the roots of her trauma. This structure allows for a deep exploration of character development, the long-term effects of abuse, and the slow, painful process of healing.

Magical Debt and the Bracelet

The bracelet of beads is a constant, tangible reminder of Callie's indebtedness to Des and the inescapable consequences of bargains made in desperation. It serves as both a plot engine—driving the repayment and the progression of their relationship—and a symbol of the psychological chains that bind victims to their abusers, or to their saviors.

Truth or Dare as Repayment

Des's use of truths and dares to collect on Callie's debts transforms repayment into a process of mutual vulnerability, confession, and seduction. The game structure allows for the gradual unveiling of secrets, the testing of boundaries, and the deepening of trust, while also highlighting the risks and rewards of emotional exposure.

The Sleeping Warriors and Glass Coffins

The enchanted women in glass coffins are both a literal mystery and a powerful metaphor for the ways in which trauma can render victims voiceless, powerless, and trapped. Their presence drives the plot, motivates Callie's actions, and serves as a constant reminder of what is at stake.

Transformation and Body Horror

Callie's forced transformation—growing wings, claws, and scales—externalizes her internal battles with identity, agency, and self-acceptance. The body horror elements underscore the violence of violation and the difficulty of reclaiming one's body and sense of self after trauma.

Soulmate Bond and Magical Wish

The revelation that Callie and Des are soulmates, bound by a magical wish, reframes their entire relationship and the years of suffering they endured. The soulmate bond is both a source of hope and a reminder of the dangers of desire, agency, and the unintended consequences of magic.

The Mad King as Antagonist

Karnon's dual nature—alternating between madness and cruelty—serves as a foil to Des and a personification of the dangers of unchecked authority, obsession, and the dehumanization of others. His actions drive the central conflict and force Callie and Des to confront their own darkness.

Analysis

At its core, the novel is a story of survival—of a woman who refuses to be defined by her victimhood, and a man who must learn to balance his power with vulnerability. The use of magical debt, body horror, and dual timelines allows for a nuanced exploration of consent, agency, and the long-term effects of abuse. The relationship between Callie and Des is both a source of tension and redemption, challenging traditional notions of romance by foregrounding the importance of trust, communication, and mutual healing. The novel's central mystery—the disappearance and enchantment of fae warriors—serves as a metaphor for the silencing of victims and the struggle to reclaim one's voice and autonomy. Ultimately, Rhapsodic is a testament to the resilience of the human (and inhuman) spirit, the transformative power of love, and the necessity of confronting darkness—both within and without—in order to find light. The lessons are clear: healing is possible, but it requires courage, honesty, and the willingness to fight for oneself and for others.

Last updated: April 28, 2025