Grave Angel: Story of a Murderer

 

No one knew. Not the police or his own family.

His niece was the only one that knew. He saw the look of sad recognition in her eyes, just a flicker of intense light amidst all the terror in those last moments.

His hands, so gentle earlier were now choking the life out of her. Well he couldn’t have let her live, not after---!

No, of course not.

“Please I won’t tell Mommy. I swear I won’t!”

“I know you won’t.”

That’s when she knew. That’s when he saw the look: ‘the-wisdom-of-the- ages-look’ in her 12 year-old eyes.

The thing was he really hadn’t meant to harm her. It just kind of happened.

Shit happens as they say. Only this was deep shit. This was lethal injection shit.

It had to have been fate, it couldn’t have been anything else. He hadn’t expected to see her in town.

“Hi Ivy. out shopping?”

She was she told him, but he wasn’t listening. He was too intent on her presence: smelling her clean soapy scent and listening to her sweet little voice beguiling him, pleasing him, exciting him.

That’s when he offered to drive her home.

“We’ll stop at my house first though there’s something I have to do.”

Oh boy was that the truth.

She followed him inside. He was on her as soon as he closed the door.

It was then that everything seemed to slow up. It was as though they were moving in slow motion.

“Just relax Ivy.”

It all moved faster then—terribly fast until it was over.

She scrambled away from him heading for the door. She reached it too.

“I can’t let you leave. Not now.”

How stupid was stupid? Of course he couldn’t let her leave.

“Ivy. Oh Ivy I’m so sorry…please forgive me.”

She died quickly. Even he was surprised.

She didn’t even look dead that was the remarkable thing; she looked as though she was sleeping when he wrapped her in the blanket, a blanket he would dispose of after he dumped her body.

They found her the next day.

He comforted his sister and brother-in-law.

The funeral was difficult but not for him because he was remembering all of it, every detail.

He had been that way for years but now at the age of 35 he had finally done something about it. Oh yes, this was just the beginning.

He tried not to look excited at the funeral what with his sister’s tears.

And then later, she was telling him about a marker to honor Ivy but he thought that was a lot of nonsense and so maudlin too. The dead are gone and that’s all.

She’d have to get over it. People adjust to things even tragedies.

Time just went on as he knew it would. The next few days passed and he slept really well, but then he didn’t. It must have been Thursday night when it all changed.

He had been troubled that entire day so that when he turned in he was jumpy. He had fallen asleep but maybe an hour later he heard something.

Someone was calling his name.

He sat up convinced he had been dreaming. He even laughed out loud. But that’s when he saw something move.

What?!

Someone was in his room!

He reached for the light but he couldn’t find it.

“Arthur.”

That was it. No doubt about it. He heard his name again!

He opened his mouth not to speak but to scream only nothing came out.

He flew out of his bed. He was stomping down the stairs when he crashed into something. Not something, someone.

He tried to turn around. But it hit him.

Now he was pleading for himself.

“Who are you? Go away! Leave me alone!”

But it didn’t. In fact it moved again.

By this time it was getting light and he could see he was alone on the stairs.

He was relieved only as he headed up again; he saw it standing at the top of the stairs, watching him!

Before he could cry out it moved again.

He felt it lift him up. He touched it then, and felt its cold, hard essence; its invincibility, no soft tissues in this creature. There was nothing to be strangled here.

Those were his last thoughts before he died.

He was gone then. He he didn’t feel the intense cold nor the journey, nor snow or the earth under his body when the Angel put him down.

Nor did he feel the icy tears of the Grave Angel weeping over the grave of the child he had murdered: his niece who had now been avenged.

786  words

© Copyright 2011 Carole Gill

Portrait of Horror: The Mask of Death!

My story this week is inspired by this photo from Mario Bava’s film Black Sunday.

~*~

She said she was an actress when he picked her up in a Juarez bar.

She was attractive too with her dark, smouldering looks, a look that was especially popular in 1960's Hollywood.

“I can give you a job as an actress if you want it.”

“Hey kid, would you like to be in pictures?”

Yeah, same kind of line—only the asker was a real Hollywood director.

She auditioned for him that very night, right in his room, all night actually and in the morning too.

The thought occurred to him that if she wasn’t really enjoying herself she was one, damned good actress.

He was a director alright, Sammy something. He had kind of a big name once.  But then the war came and he got sidetracked: booze and more booze.

But then he sobered up and listened to an actor friend of his, one of two friends who hadn’t dumped him.

“Horror is where it’s at. Low budget—doesn’t matter. Give the fans dark, scary stuff and you’ll be rolling in dough!”

He tried it. He wanted to call his little picture company Shoe String Productions but some cigar chomping investor queered it.

“There’s no dignity in that. Call it Imperial Productions and I’ll back you!”

He did.

Imperial was just getting started when Miss Juarez returned to Hollywood with him.

He knew she had potential. There was something about her. Well there usually is with women like that. There’s a palpable hunger, a passion for life. In her case it revolved primarily around sex but he didn’t know that then.

Sure enough they fixed her up in no time. She cleaned up well as the expression goes.

He actually loved her by that time. He was fifty but he was acting like a smitten teenager sending her roses all the time. Nothing  was too much for his babe.

See he decided to marry her too despite the warnings he was getting.  

She had a reputation. Actually it was pretty well-established when he met her. He saw the winks and dirty grins he was getting.

If it was like that then it only got worse.

Finally he listend to his friend.

So the poor schmuck hired a private dick to have her followed.

“I want to know everything, all that she does, you know.”

“Sure thing.”

The detective followed her for a week.

He filmed her in cars, elevators, alleys and hotel rooms.

It’s amazing what you can snap from a room across the way.

Sammy got presented with a package of porn only it’s real live action shots and the star was his intended.

Yup, she was a big tramp.

Sammy didn’t take it so well. He was rushed to Cedars of Lebanon with chest pains.

She visited him and buttered him up real good. The poor bastard forgave her instantly.

“Honey, I want to marry you—but you have to promise me…”

She promised him. “Whatever you say, Sammy.”

The wedding went ahead.

His phone started to ring shortly after with all sorts of anonymous tip-offs. If she was a tramp before, she got worse.

The gleam wore off. The cheap piece was making him the butt of a lot of jokes and it hurt like hell.

They fought like mad, really nasty, vicious stuff. But it’s the last fight they have that does it. She insults him so badly he decides to get back at her.

They’re shooting the last scene of the film, Mask of Death when it happend. It’s the scene where the mask with the spikes is supposed to go onto the star's face.

She was emoting, really well, but then she got hysterical. You see, she suddenly realized that the spikes were not going to fucking retract!

How did she know this?

She saw his face.

But it isn’t until he waved goodbye that she lost it.

They filmed it. The mask, the blood, her death throws. the convulsions—hell, yeah.

They not only filmed it, the film was sold on the black market. Early snuff.

Sammy didn’t see any of the money, at least that’s what people said. But the thing was Sammy did take off. He just friggin’ vanished!

There were  loads of sightings of him. But after awhile no one bothered to look for him.

And as for the film? They say you can still get a hold of it if you know where to look!

~*~

750 words

© Copyright 2011 Carole Gill

I Was Awarded The Versatile Blogger Award!

I was delighted to learn yesterday that I had been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by author, T.  K. Millen who calls herself 'the unknown author.'

She isn't unknown, she's on her way to making it big because she's a talented and dedicated writer!

She has published stories in Satan's Toybox: Demonic Dolls Anthology, published by Angelic Press plus she is a regular contributor to Vamplit Blog with her cool flash fiction stories.

T. K., thanks again for this award!

Well now, here are the rules for passing this award on:

They are, thank and recognize the presenter of the award, reveal seven facts about yourself and, then, pass the award on up to fifteen other bloggers whom you would like to recognize.

Okay! Here are the seven facts people might not know about me:

1. I attended the same acting school as Al Pacino (sadly not at the same time)!

2. I have lived in the United Kingdom half of my life! I've been married twice over here but not at the same time!

3. I auditioned for an off Broadway show!

4. I shook hands with the great and late, Joe Frazier!

5. Saw Robert Kennedy in person.

6. I worked in the Empire State Building but not on a high floor and

7. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would continue to work 24/7 writing my sequel and weekly flash fiction!

Whew! Now then--!

Here are my choices for the Versatile Blogger Award:

Horror author and vampire maven, Loreli Belli, author of:

Vampire Ascending and Spell of the Unicorn
Loreli and I share a fondness for vampires, ah that's writing and reading about vampires!

Next up is the monumentally talented and kind, Nomar Knight, horror author and writer of superb, dark poetry.
The darkly erotic Burning Love is his novella. Nomar, this award is for you!

And lastly I would like to present this award to Julie Jansen. Julie recently hosted the Halloween themed, Coffin Blog Hop mayhem and it was great!

Julie is a science fiction and horror writer.

She is an Associate Editor for Dark Moon Digest, and an associate member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Her stories have appeared in One Buck Horror, Nature, State of Imagination, and Fear and Trembling Magazine

Okay guys, now you go pass on the award up to fifteen people and make their day!

xxx

Spawn of the Great Man Cats: Legend of the Demon Vampires

Sue Midlock artwork

He was a wise man, the village story teller and chronicler—the archivist of tales. Tales he would recount orally for that was the way of his people.

Sometimes there were visitors, they were generally lost and frightened. Frightened by the fierce appearance of these his tribal brethren.

Mainly the interlopers were hunters who were lost.

He always helped them. Occasionally they carried within their numbers a wounded comrade; mauled by the demon vampires that still dwelled deep within the surrounding jungle.

There was only so much folk magic that would work. He could tell when they were going to die or even become a vampire themselves.

His people would release such a demon to go back to their kind. It kept their attacks few and far between. In fact there hadn’t been many attacks on the village in years. All hoped that it would not change.

Very little else happened but then some strangers had wondered in, people in funny clothes with peculiar ways.

The elder had heard of them before. Europeans.

They were neither wounded nor lost.

They made themselves understood gesturing and drawing lines in the sand.

Thankfully there was one among them who spoke a familiar dialect enabling some communication to take place. 

The chief elder was not surprised when asked about the demon vampires.

They gestured for him to speak so he nodded and began to spin his tale.

He spoke slowly and paused repeatedly so that their interpreter could cope with his story.

“At the beginning of time there were the great man cats that roamed throughout the world. These beautiful beasts were more like panthers than men. On occasion they would turn into handsome men, thereby ensuring human women would mate with them. The offspring of such union were the worlds’ first vampires.

They lived in packs, and fed upon most living things, draining both animals and humans of their blood.

They could be heard hissing at night—baying like wolves at the moon and roaring too when they mated with others of their kind.

Long after their forbears died out—their children survived.

Euta, a small female lived in a pack but the others bullied her, stealing the rodents she fed on from her and driving her out from the enclosure.

Euta often wept for herself but her cries were low for she did not wish the others to hear.

Sometimes children were taken from the villages as food and Euta tried to set them free. She always preferred to feed on small animals.

A man saw her once. He watched her remove a child from the enclosure when the others were asleep.

She carried the babe back down the hillside.

The man came forward then, for although he realized she would not harm the babe he wished to make his presence known.

When she saw him she cried out.

"Don’t worry I won’t hurt you." he cried. 

They could understand one another or so the legend says.

She watched him return the child to its rightful place.

She wanted to make friends with the man but he had a woman. And because she was jealous, she wished to tear apart the woman so she might have the man all to herself.

It is the only violent thought she had ever had.

But she didn’t instead she went back to her pack.

Eventually she was thrown out and fled down to the village but was attacked with bows and arrows.

The man saw her and saved her. And because he tended her wounds his woman left.

He left soon after with her following him, hiding in the shadows—not caring what kind of existence she would have for she would not wish to be far from the man.

The legend says that she died shortly after and the man did mourn her as a friend if nothing else…”

The elder stopped spinning his tale because one of them, a distinguished looking man looked disappointed.

The translator spoke with him and nodding he asked the elder:

“The gentleman wants to know about the other demon vampires, the ones that tear apart flesh and consume blood. It is those and only those that he is interested in."

The wise man shrugged. “The world has always had evil monsters in it. But very well if that is what he wishes to hear I shall tell him.”

The translator told the man what the elder had said.

“Thank you," Bram Stoker replied. “I would be most grateful, most grateful indeed."

©Copyright 2011 Carole Gill

800 words

Last Judgement: All Pacts Lead to Hell!

It is I your servant Eco once again with an accounting of the final judgement of a certain man that I myself witnessed--an individual who dishonestly made a pact with Satan.

By the way, if there are any apologists for this man then I can only say this: I heard his confession from the man’s own lips.

Gilles de Rais was his name, former aide to Joan of Arc and a notorious child murderer. His castle and its grounds were filled with the mutilated remains of children savagely killed.

Children had in fact been vanishing for years but nothing was done.

You see at this time in France a noble could rather do as he wished as long as peasants were the only ones being victimized.

De Rais used his servants and cousin to snatch the objects of his sexual depravity whenever he liked. Still on occasion he grew bored.

At such times he'd over spend. He was very extravagant and regularly found himself in need of money. Like so many at the time he believed alchemy was the answer to money worries.

He was told of a famous sorcerer who could turn water into gold. That is what drove him to contact the renowned Francois Prelati.

Prelati was more than willing when he saw de Rais’ opulent lifestyle.

“Of course it is possible,” He said. “However in order to do this my lord—a demon must be summoned from hell and in order for that to happen I will have to write my spells in a book using the blood of children!”

The corpses of children were never far and the request was cheerfully granted. Prelati was given more than enough children’s blood with which to write the book of spells for the summoning. He was also given other assorted grisly items for sacrifice.

Prelati was pleased. "Now for the final requirement--the pact. You must hold a parchment wherein you have stated your pledge to give Satan your soul!"

De Rais agreed and the ceremony went on.

What Prelati never realized was de Rais had stipulated he would do anything, but he would not give up his soul!

The cheek! I mean really!

I find that rather distasteful though I am of demonic origins myself. But one has to recognize truth when one comes upon it.

Eventually, de Rais was arrested for something else entirely--the child murders were discovered accidentally. The result however was a trial.

Satan and I saw him during his trial. We were passing ourselves off as Papal Emissaries which was rather fun.

The court was incensed by de Rais’ contempt. He was hostile and condescending.

When the court adjourned for a two day break, Satan and I visited him.

During those two days both Satan and I spoke to him. A great deal can be accomplished under such circumstances!

When court resumed he returned contrite and pled for his entry back into the church. He confessed and said his one desire was to face his death bravely.

Any nobility he had lost he was intent on recouping.

He did of course foolishly believe the clerics who said he was forgiven and would enter heaven!

You see they may believe that to be the case but in the last analysis it is up to the old man there and we all know God isn’t a push over.

If you think God forgives all manner of sin then take another scan through the Old Testament.

I know where of I speak. I am the son of a fallen angel and let me tell you right now, there are those who immediately regretted siding with Lucifer and sought forgiveness. Their answer was eternal damnation, not forgiveness!

When the end came, I saw de Rais go bravely to his death. He wished to set an example to the others who were condemned with him: his cousin and some servants. Prelati managed to get off with his life but that was only temporary.

As for de Rais, Satan and I were there to greet him when he reached hell.

"It is you!" he cried when his eyes beheld Satan.

"Yes," Satan answered. "And now you are mine for it is only right!"

If he looked horrified then he looked worse as the legion of demons began to descend on him--pinching and tormenting him.

"I have been damned!” he cried.

“For all time!” Satan replied. “You see in a way I am God’s heavy. I punish those who are not worthy of heaven. But also--!” he added, "I don’t like to be made a fool of! Pact indeed, how dare you presume to hold back your soul from me?!”

I winced to see the terrible pain and suffering that began to be inflicted upon this man.

“Yes,” Satan cried. “A pact is a pact. There is no going back, no codicils here! Hell is not a court of law, there is no bargaining. Your sins are the currency that earns you damnation!”


‘Such is the word of Satan—Lord to all who are damned by deed whether or not they think they shall be.’

-Eco—your servant in Hell.


900 words


©Copyright 2011 Carole Gill

Eco is featured in 'Unholy Testament - The Beginnings,

99 cents at: 
http://www.amazon.com/Unholy-Testament-Beginnings-Blackstone-ebook/dp/B00A1ZIFMO/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

77pence at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unholy-Testament-Beginnings-Blackstone-ebook/dp/B00A1ZIFMO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359155622&sr=8-1

Eco is also featured in Unholy Testament - Full Circle
to be released in Feb.

THE WINNERS AND SOME POST HALLOWEEN TREATS!

Just wanted to thank all of you who participated in my contest.

You're most kind!

Now then! What's Halloween without some more TREATS?!

Okay, here we go--!

Treat Number One:

There are five winners to the paperback version of my book.
They are:

Nora B. Peevy
Michael O'Coinn
Heather Powers
Jennifer S
Julie Jensen


Treat Number 2:

THERE ARE LOADS OF EBOOK WINNERS! 
and they are:

1. J. C. Martin
2. Raingirl
3. Annemichaud
4. Jason Darrick
5. Michelle Muto
6. Eriktiger
7. Craig Smith
8. Steven Sylva-aRT *
9. Jason McKinney
10. Jeanette J
11. SacredmOOn
12. April Denton
13. Red Tash
14. Deborah Walker
15. Rob Smales
16. K. Carey

 *Steven Sylva-aRT * please get in touch and I'll send you your ebook!

I'm at gramercypark@hotmail.com

thanks!

Again, congratulations to my winners! Hope you enjoy reading

The House on Blackstone Moor!

Remember, there is a sequel to follow, entitled:

Unholy Testament.

Wow! Was this fun.  

Again, many sincere thanks for hopping by!

Take care, all!