It is the middle of August and that means it's time for the third in a
series of Creepy Samples Offerings. This excerpt is taken from the
story entitled "Jessica," which is found in my first book, "Tales of
Dark Romance and Horror.
We pick up where Jasmine, after leaving
her friend's collectible's shop, arrives home with a creepy doll named
Jessica. As Jasmine walked along the dreary streets of Sea Haven, she'd
had the distinct feeling that someone or something had followed her
along the way. Now that she's at home, that feeling has not dissipated.
"Outside, the stalker stands idly by the gate. Barely noticeable to the
naked eye, the being pauses – held back by fear. It is not a fear of
being seen by passers-by in their swift vehicles; more likely than not,
they would have to be aware of this visitor’s presence to see it – to
see him! Oh no, it’s the human – the woman that lives in this house –
who now has the body of his beloved in her possession; she’s the one to
be concerned about.
"I know she’s aware of my presence, he
thinks to himself. She walks between the realms; she has power. Still, I
must go in there. I must be re-united before it’s too late. I have to
be brave. I’ll wait until she sleeps – they all sleep. Then I will see
my beloved.
***
"Jasmine returns to her living room, puts
the soup, sandwich, and a cup of herbal tea on top of the coffee table,
then moves over to the fireplace where a grate, already stacked with
paper, kindling and logs, awaits the flick of her lighter. Still
convinced that an unknown presence lurks nearby, she watches as the fire
begins to take on a life of its own, then steps outside the front door
and stands on the small deck silently – not looking for anything in
particular, just feeling – sensing. For just the briefest moment she
sees a dark distortion by the gate - perceives might be a better word.
Nevertheless, even though it appears to have temporarily moved away, she
is aware that it remains nearby. She’s aware that it has an intention –
an intention that will somehow involve her.
"'Show yourself,' she says in a conversational tone, 'show yourself to me so that I can know what you want.'
'There is nothing else to be seen or heard except for the fog horn
blowing in the distance and the waves as they continue to crash upon the
nearby shore. After standing in silence for a few more moments with
nothing manifesting, the intuitive woman returns to the shelter of her
small but comfortable home.
"Once more inside the living room,
she lights her wall candles and a stick of incense, chooses a CD to
play, and then turns off the lights. “This ought to make you feel right
at home Jessica,” she says quietly while casting a glance at the
figurine, 'I bet you can handle this just fine; and maybe – just maybe,
we’ll get to the bottom of what’s happening here.'
"As she
settles onto the sofa with her snack, the sound of music fills the air.
It is slow and melancholy; yet, dark and beautiful – funeral doom,
encompassing the small abode in an almost otherworldly atmosphere.
Within a few minutes of finishing her meal, she reclines against the
back of the sofa with feet on the coffee table. The slow but hypnotic
beat of the music mixing with the flickering light and fragrance of
incense brings her to the brink of trance – only to the brink however,
for she knows that it is necessary to stay alert – at least until she
confronts that which remains nearby.
"After a moderate amount of
time transpires, there is a slight movement of the door, but it is
enough to garner her attention. Gazing toward the entrance way she sees a
short but translucently dark figure looking back at her. Sensing the
being’s caution – its fear of her, Jasmine is able to release any
apprehension she may have had. Without moving, she watches as the
unearthly visitor inches forward and away from the door."
Well,
there you have it; the second Creepy Sample's Offering for the month of
August! Stick around, because the next offering is just over two weeks
away. Until then, keep it creepy!
Photo Source: Gothic Pictures Gallery.
Artist: Unknown
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Creepy Samples Offering - August 1 Edition
Once again, it's time for another Spooky Samples Offering. This time, the excerpt comes from a story entitled, "The Collective Evil," which is the second of my "Raven" series.
In this tale we once again glimpse into the Land of the Dead, where an unspeakable evil wreaks havoc with the inhabitants thereof.
Let's join a band of Fae horsemen as they plan their defenses against the evil that threatens their existence:
One of the
other riders, a woman, approaches and stops at his side. She removes
the hood that has been restricting her hair, and giving her head a
shake, frees her long curly locks. Her hair is so intensely red that
its color can be discerned even on a night as gloomy as this. “During
all of the time that I have lived in the land of Mircea, I’ve never
heard a sound as horrific as that.”
“Neither
have I Alexandreina. And I cannot believe that this is not some
hideous manifestation that has come to us by way of the humans.”
“Perhaps,
but we cannot forget that the human world likely contains as much
diversity of thought and action as does our own. Earlier tonight, you
spoke with the human witch that took residence here after her
departure from the Earth plane. What are her plans?”
“She intends
to consult with her familiar, the one named Sebastian. I must admit
that he displays magnificent powers of perception. I would…”
“Then I must
attempt to contact her clairvoyantly, she interrupts, “I doubt that
whatever is afoot here can be defeated by bow, arrow and sword alone.
I suggest that we hold up here for awhile and that you and the others
allow me the solitude needed to make contact.”
“I will make
it so Alexandreina.”
Their
conversation concluded, she leaves his side and rides off in search
for a place of solitude. As the sound of her horse’s hoofs retreats
toward a nearby rock formation, something new becomes audible. It is
the sound of a traumatized people –screaming – fleeing from some
unspeakable horror that lurks somewhere in the darkness.
There you have it. I hope you enjoyed this week's sample and will come
back here again around August 15 for the next Spooky Samples Offering. Until then, keep it creepy!
Photo source: Gothic Pictures Gallery.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Creepy Samples Offerings
Welcome to the first of many Creepy Samples Offerings. Around the first and fifteenth of
each month, you will be presented with an interesting segment from each
of my stories for your entertainment.
Today's presentation comes from the first tale appearing in the book entitled Tales of Dark Romance and Horror. The name of the story is Raven. Enjoy!
It was nearing sunset when I reached the cemetery. Upon entering, a crow called to me. Ah yes, the crow, I think to myself, messenger of death, and harbinger of magick. “What is it that you are trying to tell me?” I asked quietly.
Often the cawing of a crow is not directed at a human being; after all, crows have their own social systems and communicate with one another often. Still, there are other times when one must listen – respect the wisdom and await the manifestation of the crow’s message. At that moment I felt that this must be one of those times. An omen had been delivered to me. This wasn’t the first time that such a thing occurred in my life.
The crow cawed again. Looking up, I could see her sitting high in a tree branch. She was looking down at me. Realizing that my arrival home would be delayed somewhat; I sat under the old oak tree that stood next to the church. Then, I waited for something to happen.
With the setting of the sun came the twilight; which in turn, deepened as if in some mad rush to bring about total darkness. I looked toward the east and noted the rise of the waxing moon.
Then, upon gazing back to the opposite end of the cemetery from which I sat, I saw a woman walking past the further-most grave markers – a beautiful woman! It was hard to see her well in the deepening darkness, but I could discern that she had dark hair – long flowing black hair, and I could see that she was wearing a full black dress, which perfectly accentuated the curves of her body.
How did she come in here without me seeing her? I asked myself. Did she come in through the woods instead of through one of the entrances? Why would she walk through the woods with it getting so dark?
Suddenly, she paused and looked in my direction. Her gaze was electrifying! Suddenly, I was overcome with a need to meet this woman – this woman whose face I could not see, but whose spirit and essence I felt like I had known for ages. My rational mind struggled to keep up with this sudden turn of events: Why am I so affected by simply seeing a woman in the cemetery? Besides, who is she? I’ve never seen her before, so why should I get so bent out of shape simply because she looks my way?
The answers were not forthcoming; I responded to her gaze with a simple wave – a wave that somehow did not seem to be an appropriate response to the electrifying jolt that she had just sent me. Then, turning toward the nearby woods, she continued her slow walk and then…she disappeared from my sight, just as quickly as she first appeared to me.
Above Photo: Author unknown.
Source: Gothic Pictures Gallery
Today's presentation comes from the first tale appearing in the book entitled Tales of Dark Romance and Horror. The name of the story is Raven. Enjoy!
It was nearing sunset when I reached the cemetery. Upon entering, a crow called to me. Ah yes, the crow, I think to myself, messenger of death, and harbinger of magick. “What is it that you are trying to tell me?” I asked quietly.
Often the cawing of a crow is not directed at a human being; after all, crows have their own social systems and communicate with one another often. Still, there are other times when one must listen – respect the wisdom and await the manifestation of the crow’s message. At that moment I felt that this must be one of those times. An omen had been delivered to me. This wasn’t the first time that such a thing occurred in my life.
The crow cawed again. Looking up, I could see her sitting high in a tree branch. She was looking down at me. Realizing that my arrival home would be delayed somewhat; I sat under the old oak tree that stood next to the church. Then, I waited for something to happen.
With the setting of the sun came the twilight; which in turn, deepened as if in some mad rush to bring about total darkness. I looked toward the east and noted the rise of the waxing moon.
Then, upon gazing back to the opposite end of the cemetery from which I sat, I saw a woman walking past the further-most grave markers – a beautiful woman! It was hard to see her well in the deepening darkness, but I could discern that she had dark hair – long flowing black hair, and I could see that she was wearing a full black dress, which perfectly accentuated the curves of her body.
How did she come in here without me seeing her? I asked myself. Did she come in through the woods instead of through one of the entrances? Why would she walk through the woods with it getting so dark?
Suddenly, she paused and looked in my direction. Her gaze was electrifying! Suddenly, I was overcome with a need to meet this woman – this woman whose face I could not see, but whose spirit and essence I felt like I had known for ages. My rational mind struggled to keep up with this sudden turn of events: Why am I so affected by simply seeing a woman in the cemetery? Besides, who is she? I’ve never seen her before, so why should I get so bent out of shape simply because she looks my way?
The answers were not forthcoming; I responded to her gaze with a simple wave – a wave that somehow did not seem to be an appropriate response to the electrifying jolt that she had just sent me. Then, turning toward the nearby woods, she continued her slow walk and then…she disappeared from my sight, just as quickly as she first appeared to me.
Above Photo: Author unknown.
Source: Gothic Pictures Gallery
Friday, June 30, 2017
The Darkness Beyond the Misty Veil: More Tales of the Macabre
This second book by A.D. Vick continues his tradition of presenting short fiction in the Gothic and Southern Gothic styles. The pages within this publication present a compelling mix of seduction, romance, horror, and the supernatural.
Here you will read about an old man's encounter with the Angel of Death, a mean-spirited child caught off guard by the Christmas demon, ghoulish creatures in subterranean places, seductive vampires, and ghosts whose tragic stories coincide with the lives of those living in the present.
The Darkness Beyond the Misty Veil: More Tales of the Macabre is available in both paperback and ebook format at the Lulu Bookstore,
It is also available in both paperback and ebook format at Amazon
, Barnes & Noble, and other similar venues.
Here you will read about an old man's encounter with the Angel of Death, a mean-spirited child caught off guard by the Christmas demon, ghoulish creatures in subterranean places, seductive vampires, and ghosts whose tragic stories coincide with the lives of those living in the present.
The Darkness Beyond the Misty Veil: More Tales of the Macabre is available in both paperback and ebook format at the Lulu Bookstore,
It is also available in both paperback and ebook format at Amazon
, Barnes & Noble, and other similar venues.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Tales of Dark Romance and Horror:
Tales of Dark Romance and Horror is a collection of short stories and novelettes that share very human themes; romantic love, forbidden desire, seduction, and the struggle against one's personal demons. Then again, there are demons here of a different sort as well. These inhabit realms that exist outside the human experience, beyond that which is seen by the naked eye. Indeed, they inhabit the dwelling places of the dead and manifest as alluring spirits as well as loathsome, destructive entities. There are also monsters and dark beings that walk among us in the modern world we inhabit. These are the stuff of folklore and legend. They can be darkly seductive and yet, oh so deadly. We speak here of monsters that lurk by the forest in the murkiest swamp lands, and we speak of the undead, blood-thirsty vampires that walk among us during the dark hours of the night. All this and more is contained within the fables presented on the pages of this book.
Tales of Dark Romance and Horror is available in paperback and ebook form at the Lulu bookstore.
It is also available at Amazon Dot Com where it can be found in Kindle format, Barnes & Noble,
and other similar vendors.
Just click on the banner below to obtain a copy of my book--and thank you!
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