Eric Butler's Blog, page 28

The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - The Early Years: The Awakening Part 13

This story takes place 5 years before the first Ephraim Godwin Chronicle Serial. It will be longer than a simple stand alone story so I will be releasing parts of the tale every Wednesday. Part 11 contains Chapters 25 & 26.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Thaddeus Hall struggled to carry the buckets through his manor without spilling a drop. The red liquid sloshed about, threatening to spray over the edge. Soon all will be revealed...or so the skull promised.

The Baron sighed, content that when all was said and done he would rule over more than these simple lands. Kings and Queens would bend their knees to bask in his glory. The world will tremble under my gaze. A smile danced across his lips at the thought, but slipped away when he thought of Selina.

First, I need to deal with the vixen. He nodded to himself as he moved down the hall to the final room. Placing the buckets down carefully, he stretched his aching muscles. They seemed more tired every day. The skull promised such things would stop once he completed the task but doubts crept around the back of his head.

Hall sighed in irritation. Has the skull done anything to make me doubt before? The thought bounced around his head until all uncertainty was gone. His fingers pressed against the locking mechanism. The door swung open as he grabbed the buckets. Now was not the time for doubt...not this close to the end.

***

"Watch out," Ephraim cried out, his hands grabbing at his brother's coat through the bars. He pulled Henry to the side as the bowl in Selina's hands slammed into his shoulder, cracking in the middle. A startled yelp slipped from Henry as Ephraim pushed him away from Selina as she moved to strike him again with the pieces. The torch slipped to the floor, landing with a spray of sparks as Henry fell.

With a wordless snarl, Selina slashed down cutting the back of Ephraim's hand as he pulled them away. Henry pushed up to his hands and knees. Selina spun towards him and kicked out with her left foot connecting with the side of his head. Henry slumped down with a gasp.

Ephraim sprang forward grabbing Selina's arm and pulled her roughly into the bars. The fragments of pottery slipped from her fingers, shattering on the stone floor. He reached around and gripped her free arm, twisting her to face away from him before lifting her and pulling back once again. Her head struck the bar with a clang, and she went limp in his arms.

Ephraim kept a hold of her, locking his hands to tightly pin her arms to her side. He refused to have any more surprises, and decided to wait to make sure this wasn't another ruse. This madness ends now.

"You know nothing of madness," a deep voice spoke from the shadows. Ephraim strained to search the room but the light from the dying torch failed to offer illumination more than a foot from his cell.

"Who's there?" he asked, pulling Selina closer. A low moan slipped from her as the bars pressed into her back.

"Does it matter?" the voice asked as a shadow rose and moved toward the light. "What hope do you have trapped in a cage?"

The voice tugged at Ephraim's memory, but he struggled to place it. The form stopped moving, still hidden in the shadows. It seemed to be studying Ephraim, who grew nervous under its watchful stare.

"I have hope with every breath I draw," he said, his head held high. He would not be intimidated by some nameless shadow.

A deep booming laugh came from the shape, "I forget how headstrong you English can be. Here let me help you understand your situation."

The shape moved closer to the torch, the light illuminating the voice's owner. A gasp slipped from Ephraim as he stared at the giant from his dream. He studied the horns, as the man bent to retrieve the torch. They were unlike any he had ever seen before, somehow both smooth and rough and a color of brown Ephraim expected only existed in the oldest and deepest parts of the forest. As the torch light shined on the antlers, runes, familiar yet still foreign, began to glow and sparkle in the torch light.

"With Lady Farkus and that bumbling fool, Thaddeus Hall, I will soon remove all hope from your disgusting kind," the giant said, a satisfied smile on his lips. He tossed the torch through the bars, and snatched Selina from Ephraim's grasp.

The giant took a deep breath, holding it a moment as satisfaction flooded his face before he exhaled slowly. He nodded slightly, offering a wink as a loud whoosh sounded behind Ephraim. The giant stepped back into the shadows and for a moment, Ephraim thought to observe his escape as the flames grew higher behind him. Instead, the room was empty save him and his unconscious brother.

Ephraim turned to inspect what the torch had lit, stunned to see Tanner's smoldering body standing. The flames grew hotter as the corpse stumbled towards Ephraim, who tumbled to the side.

"Henry," he called out, raising his voice as he repeated his brother's name.

He avoided the wandering torch as he moved to snatch up the blanket crumpled in the far corner. It was rough, worn through in spots, and covered with something that Ephraim was grateful he couldn't identify in his race to put out the fire.

He threw the blanket over the stumbling corpse, before knocking it to the ground to pat out the fire. As the room plunged into darkness, Ephraim wondered exactly what the horned giant meant to do with Selina and the Baron. More importantly, is there time to stop him?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The Baron stood in the room with the Skull. An ache settled into his neck and shoulders as he placed the buckets down. Time was slipping away, and Hall worried he would not complete his task before the change. The skull promised him all would be revealed this night.

Yet it sits, quiet. Hall stalked around the pedestal studying the lifeless bone. Had it all been an illusion? Did that Gypsy witch cast a spell on me with the help of that treacherous Risewell?

"No," the skull whispered, a dull pink glow surrounding it a moment before disappearing.

Hall stopped, after a moment's hesitation he reached out and lifted the skull. He studied it, waiting for it to speak again. Am I hearing voices...have I gone mad? Anger built in his chest, suddenly aware how insane it all was. Shaking his head he slung the skull against the wall, pleased to witness the bone shatter into pieces. What was that?

Hall tumbled forward, falling to the floor before scrambling to a red stone the size of a man's eye. Bone fragments cut into his palms and knees, but they were not felt in his hurry to pick the gem up. There was warmth radiating from the stone, but he sensed it was fading.

The stone flashed twice, its color matching the deep red of the blood he carried up in the buckets. Hall studied the stone, turning it around, searching for anything to make sense of the situation. Again the gem flashed, but this time Hall realized the warmth was almost completely gone. He glanced at the buckets. The skull had requested the fluid, but had provided no further instruction other than to drain it from the traitor.

Hall shuffled on his knees to the buckets, blood soaking his pants as more bone sliced through the material. He pulled the stone close to his face, frozen with indecision. Should I wait for confirmation? If he had waited in that bloody war on the Continent, he might still be over there. A hero instead of exiled to the bloody countryside.

Another pulse, but only one and Hall decided he could not wait any longer. The gem slipped from his hand, splashing into the blood filled bucket. Time slowed to a crawl. A quiet settled throughout the room, and Hall bit his bottom lip. Was that the correct choice?

The bucket began to shake, red frothy bubbles broke through the surface as the blood began to boil and steam. Hall stared in fascination as the bucket drained of the blood, leaving only the stone at the bottom. The gem pulsed with a deep red color. He reached in, his eagerness overriding his sense of caution. A hiss filled the room as he snatched back his hand with a howl.

"Damn you," he growled at the stone before stuffing his fingers into his mouth. He relaxed as the action soothed his burnt finger tips until the copper taste of Risewell's blood filled his mouth. His eyes glazed over as his heart began to beat faster.

The empty bucket shook once more as the gem began to vibrate and hum. Its nonstop red light pulsing broke through the Baron's trance, and he grabbed the bucket's handle with his free hand before turning it over the second bucket. The gem slipped below the surface with a hiss. He watched again as the blood boiled before disappearing to the bottom.

He leaned forward, staring at the gem as it lay dormant at the bottom of the bucket. The color so dark, he couldn't tell if it was red or black. Wisps of steam rose from the surface as the room filled with the scent of fresh blood. Hall's eye twitched as he inhaled deeply; savoring the smell and wishing he had saved some of the bucket's contents for himself.

The bucket shook once more, and as Hall leaned closer, the stone sprang out, striking against his chest. Smoke rose as the stone burned though the layers of clothing the Baron wore until finding his skin. An inhumane cry filled his ears as his flesh melted around the gem. His eyes rolled back as he went rigid, his body rising until only his toes touched the floor.

We can finally begin. Tears ran down the Baron's cheeks as the skull's voice caressed the inside of his mind. They were now whole.

© 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

Thankful to Double dip in 2020

Thanksgiving is a special time of year. Not only is it a time to spend with family, sacrifice turkeys, and personal pie-eating contests, it represents the birth of my greatest achievement. Well a few days earlier, but close enough. As I reflect on my little hell-raiser turning 18, I can't help feel both extremely proud and completely heartbroken.

I'll apologize now for wandering into the too personal and real section of my brain...

Part of the reason I think this is hard on birthday #18 is because we've watched his birthdays lose that magical quality that he always embraced in his earlier years. He was a big fan of his birthday, not because it was a celebration on him but because he used it as a way to celebrate his friends and family. He loved sharing the day with people. To witness that slip away...

My son has been diagnosed with Crohn's, Colitis, POTS, and hyper-mobility. We've been to several experts within Cooks' Children and the Mayo Clinic and while they all agree he suffers from all these physical ailments, no one has been able to offer a viable treatment plan. Since around the age of 11, we've faced an uphill battle that each year seems to have increased in difficulty. And with each year, this physical battle has taken a toll on him mentally and emotionally. - I'd be lying if I didn't say on his mom and me as well.

And so I find myself at this amazing time in my child's life. A moment that should be filled with joy and happiness, shared with family and friends as we race towards the next exciting chapter of his -and collectively ours- adventure, but instead we knew would be anything but. Our expectation could be nothing but another day of pain, exhaustion, anger, and disillusion. Made glaringly so since his treatment day fell on the day after his birthday. - which means there's a good chance he has nothing left in his system helping.

For my son it's all that and a day of exasperation as he has just enough energy to get up but not near enough to put up with his parents trying their hardest to balance this "every day" with his special day. And yet I'm proud of the boy as he got up on his birthday, slapped on a smile for as long as he could muster, and participated in the little bit his mother and I put together.

When he sees people outside of the house, he doesn't want them to worry or to think of him as the "sick" guy and all his energy goes to putting on a show. - for them as well as to trick himself so he doesn't accidentally let others see his true struggle - Unfortunately this year, he hasn't had the energy to pull that off very often and it's not something he does at the house. - we get it real and uncensored as it should be.

2020 has done a lot to try and crush my spirit but little did it know I've had years of accumulated scar tissue to build up my tolerance to such attempts. Instead I'm looking towards 2021, hoping for some real answers and a step in the positive direction as my baby boy dives into that next chapter.

That said, I don't have the energy or the desire to slap together a funny or entertaining story right now so instead, I want to share what I wrote last year on his birthday. It's a good story about the thing I'm most proud of in my life, my son Hunter...

From 2019 -

Today is a special day. It's the anniversary of one of the greatest things to happen to me, the birth of my son. I better throw in my wedding day in case the wife is reading this…and I was at the 49er vs. Cowboy game when T.O. took the star...so a top-three event at worst.

Any way you slice it, November 18th is one of those life-changing events. This is the 17th such celebration and I wonder where the time went. It seems like yesterday that I watched my pregnant wife walk up a steep flight of stairs at the movie theater, so we could see a movie before the little bugger showed up. And as she stared daggers at me as our friend asked why she didn't use the elevator, I thought this is nice, and immediately tried to use popcorn as a distraction.

*Author's note — when we went to see Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets days before the baby's scheduled inducing, we used the elevator.

We eventually had to schedule the day the baby was coming out as the little bugger was dug in and didn't want to leave. It was turning into a Pacific Heights situation, and we wanted to get ahead of it before he released the roaches or tore up the floors. So November 18th, we were prepared to send in a swat team and evict the boy.

Now he had other ideas. He had everything he needed and wasn't ready to leave. So after hours of labor and nothing happening, the Doctor decided we needed to pivot to a c-section. And we were rushed into an operating room. Now if you know anything about this type of stuff you may be aware that once they give you the meds to dull everything, they can't turn around and give you anything else...like the medicine you might normally get in a scheduled c-section...or none of what I just typed is true, and we just fell for it. Maybe they wanted to introduce us to parenthood; here you need to experience this all at the same time - worried, scared, excited, no control, and feel everything while being completely numb to it all.

I spent the whole time in delivery trying not to see anything and wishing for the old days when the guys just sat in the waiting room, and now I was standing in an operating room with a sheet the only thing stopping me from seeing the insides of my wife. So I did the only thing I could, I focused on her face and tried to be what she needed; no more funny guy, I needed to focus on being strong, soothing, comforting, and most importantly I needed to make sure not to puke on her head, pass out, or run screaming from the room. I'd be lying to say it wasn't one of the scariest moments because although my wife was numb from the initial shot; she could still feel what they were doing. If I was a better writer or if I braved a peek behind the curtain, I might be able to provide a wittier description but I didn't need to see anything but my wife's face and her tears to know how it was affecting her. While I thought the hours of non-productive labor took forever, that few minutes of surgery seemed an eon. By the time they had my son out and the wife sealed up, I felt like I had run a hundred marathons, and I had just been standing there.

They pushed me out of the room, wheeled the wife away, and I shocked my mother-in-law by hugging her and letting all the pent-up fear and excitement out. *Author's note — But not too long, I followed the guy code of immediately forcing all emotion and feelings back down after the allotted time allowed.

They came and got me, so I could walk into the "baby" room with Hunter. They announced his name and weight as we entered: Hunter, 9 lbs 11 oz. The other dad's in the room stared at me in horror. They all had little dainty girls, not giant monster babies. The fathers moved, so they were between my giant baby and their little princess, resigned to the fact they may have to sacrifice themselves to protect their young in case Hunter became hungry. Of course, I thought he was the most beautiful baby boy ever. *Author's note — looking back at pictures, I have to wonder if they released some sort of hallucinatory gas into the room since he sorta looked like an overstuffed sausage.

Funny, there must be another one of those gas leaks because he’s 17 -now 18- and he’s still the most beautiful boy…a little bigger, way too smart with a quick wit and quicker mouth. Fathers aren’t as quick to slip between him and their princesses since he’s no longer monster-sized.

They say the Lord will only give you what you can handle. I assume at any moment we will find out our son can fly or pick up a truck because he has to be one of the strongest people I know. The Lord sure knew what I could handle, and he delivered on November 18th, 2002. He gave me the greatest gift I would ever receive, my son.

The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - The Early Years: The Awakening Part 12

This story takes place 5 years before the first Ephraim Godwin Chronicle Serial. It will be longer than a simple stand alone story so I will be releasing parts of the tale every Wednesday. Part 11 contains Chapters 23 & 24.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The Vicar stood off to the side of the road. It would be night soon and still no sign of his brother or Mr. Tanner. His mind was a foggy mess, and the more he pressed the worse it became. Ms. Morris thought some rest would help, but he struggled to find enough peace to sleep while his brother was missing.

Lord Hall or Lady Farkus? He weighed each choice, neither seemed promising. Although when he thought of Lady Farkus a thread appeared, floating in front of him...a thread he suspected needed to be pulled. He reached out, swiping through the nothingness in front of him. What is wrong with me?

Henry stomped to the barn, saddled his horse and began the ride to Lady Farkus's estate. This time he was resolute to discover his brother's fate no matter the cost.

***

Ephraim stood in a circle of bodies, the ground slick with bloody mud and excrement. His saber in his right hand, and his service revolver in the other, Ephraim waited for the horde to descend. He was the last of the men Colonel Hall sent out. On a fool's errand. Ephraim spat at the thought. The death of every one of these men was simply to feed that man's vanity and greed. The ground shook with the thundering hoofs of the advancing army. Hoots and battle cries, carried over the wind meant to dispirit Ephraim had the opposite effect. He would not die this day.

Ephraim's eyes squinted in thought. Why am I so sure? The question hovered in his mind as he tried to come to terms with the absoluteness of this feeling. Today was not his day to meet his maker. And yet how could it not be? The enemy forces crested the hill, but it failed to fuel the doubt he expected to experience. Once again his resolve firmed.

Stepping over the bodies of his men, Ephraim began to walk forward. He would meet these men head on, not cowering in the corpses of his brothers. His pride would allow nothing else. The horsemen pulled up, circling their mounts, but staying out of range of his revolver.

"Why does he not cower?" one rider called out as Ephraim continued to stalk towards him. His mind so focused, he didn't register his understanding of his enemy's words. "Who is this man?"

"Major Ephraim Godwin at your service," he called out in their native tongue while slashing his sword back and forth. "Make peace with your creator."

As the last word left his mouth, Ephraim moved to a trot and as he advanced, raised his revolver and fired. His first three bullets struck true, and three men fell from their horses. As the last body hit the cold ground with a thud, the remaining soldiers spun to retreat. A rider-less horse wandered to a stop, bending over to eat the only clean crop of grass Ephraim had seen on the battle field.

"Hello there," he said in a calm even voice. "Are you friendly?"

When he was close enough to touch the horse, he froze and extended his hand near the beast's face. A moment later a cold nose nuzzled his palm.

"Hey there," he said with a smile, "I need your help." As he spoke, he slipped closer to the horse, and climbed into her saddle. The horse resisted him a moment, but Ephraim got her moving with a firm hand.

He angled the horse towards the retreating men and advanced to a quick trot. If he could capture or kill some of the enemy's forces, he would...if only for his men. As he rode, Ephraim let out a battle cry and pushed the horse to go faster. He fired two more shots, gaining ground on the retreating force.

"That a girl," he shouted as he leaned forward, his saber pointed straight ahead as if to guide the mount.

With each step, the ground began to explode. Dirt, debris, and body parts rained down on Ephraim as his horse began to rise in the air. The explosions were deafening, and Ephraim dropped his revolver and saber as he clapped his hands over his ears. He drove his knees into his mount's side, hoping to slow her but instead they continued to hurtle forward, rising the whole time.

Ephraim studied the ground, shocked as the battlefield shrank. The men soon disappeared as he continued to rise. His mount cried out in terror, its screams drowned out by the constant explosions below. His mind ached as he forced it to process what his eyes said was happening.

"Good God," he screamed as the mount exploded under him. He hung in the sky for a moment, suspended like a puppet before moving to the stage. The cold wind whipped around him, and the sun melted before reforming into a ball of ice. A sharp snap sounded above, and Ephraim fell.

A wordless howl slipped out as he twirled and tumbled through the sky, barreling toward the bloody ground below. And yet as he fell, time seemed to slow just a moment, but enough for him to make out two shapes. A giant horned man and an enormous dog locked in a battle Ephraim somehow understood to be eternal. As they spun around, inflicting harm to each other, Ephraim noticed the surrounding ground took damage as well.

Deep gashes tore into the earth; red ooze bubbled to the surface, and ran over the ground turning the battlefield into a lake of blood. Ephraim threw up his arms to block his vision as the ground rushed toward him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

"I apologize for the late hour," Henry said, his face turned slightly from the light. He couldn't explain why but something told him to avoid eye contact with Lady Farkus.

"Why Vicar," she replied with a sort laugh, "It is never too late for a visit from a man of God."

Henry flinched from the thinly veiled accusation but stayed quiet. She stepped back and motioned him to enter before spinning and gliding down the hall. He hesitated a moment, suddenly unsure of the situation. Remember Ephraim. He nodded at the thought and hurried to catch up.

"I'm wondering if you've seen my brother?" he called out, seemingly unable to catch up as she appeared to pull further away.

"Yes," she called over her shoulder, "you were there when we met."

Henry sighed in exasperation. He never enjoyed their conversations when Selina was like this. His cheeks flushed with heat when he realized his mind was wandering. The woman could play him like a fiddle, and both of them knew it.

"Lady Farkus," he replied, placing emphasis on her title, "As you well know, I am looking for him now."

She stopped moving and spun to face him. He pulled up; aware they were alone in the hall...quite possibly the house.

"Henry," she said, her voice honey, "are you cross with me? You only call me Lady Farkus when we are around people or you are angry and I see no one here."

She slid closer, reaching her hand out but stopping just before touching his chest. He shuddered, cursing himself for coming here alone. He would have been wise to bring Ms. Morris at the very least, but he hadn't wanted to endanger her.

"Dear Henry, I can feel your heart racing from here."

He snatched her arm at the wrist, stepping closer to force it to her side, "Enough with your games, woman. I must find Ephraim; if you truly have no idea his location I will need to go to Lord Hall's...something you are well aware I am loathe to do."

Forgetting himself Henry stared in Selina's eyes, his hand still clasped around her wrist. For a moment they stood frozen, an unseen tension holding them rigid. Selina licked her lips with the tip of her tongue, breaking the spell. Henry stumbled back, releasing her wrist.

"Forgive my forwardness," he gasped, struggling to catch his breath.

"Foolish man," Selina responded with a throaty chuckle. She slipped back into his space and rested her hand on his chest. "Must you always control your feelings around me?"

Henry closed his eyes and nodded sharply. Her touch was fire, and he suspected she knew just how close he was to surrendering.

"My brother?"

Selina stepped back, removed her hand, and sighed, "Yes... I know where your brother is but you must trust me."

"Trust...you?" Henry said confusion on his face.

She nodded, spun and hurried away forcing Henry to once again follow her lead. They traveled to the back of the house and then down flights of stairs. While Selina seemed comfortable with the shadows, Henry found he wished for the spacing between lanterns to be less.

"Where are you leading me?" he called out as they stepped upon the third flight of stairs heading down. "As a man of God, I have to admit I never thought I'd travel so far underground."

Selina's laughter cheered him enough to follow her, but he still wondered just where they might end up. At the bottom, she reached up and grabbed a torch, holding it to the lantern flame until it caught. Selina held it out for Henry to take. He paused, glancing around to see if there was more he might be missing but found nothing but a large room.

"The choice is yours," she said as her lips rose in a grin. "You can trust me and find your brother, or we can stand here an eternity waiting for you to make up your mind."

Henry's eyes narrowed, feeling manipulated but unsure where it was leading to, "Fine...please lead the way." He grabbed the offered torch and continued to follow behind her. They left the room, passing through a wide arch into a tunnel that weaved to-and-fro until spilling them back into a larger room.

A wall of bars split the room in half and Selina motioned Henry forward. He slid next to her and held the torch out. A gasp slipped from his lips as the light illuminated his brother asleep on the floor, twitching and groaning. To the right of him, Tanner lay so still Henry wondered if he still took breath. A glance at Selina confirmed his suspicions.

"Trust you?" he snapped turning to face her. "Tanner is dead and God knows what my brother is going through...did you poison him?"

With every word his voice gained volume until Selina flinched as if each one was a physical blow. She staggered back, her arm thrown up for protection as he stalked forward. He slapped her hand down, gripping her bicep to pull her closer. "What is going on?"

Selina's lips parted, the fear in her eyes shining bright in the torch light. Henry glared at her, waiting for any explanation when a shout from his brother came from the cell. He released her and moved to the bars.

"Henry, how ever did you find me?"

"Ephraim, what is going on?"

"I'm not sure but time is running out."

© 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

2020 Burnout

Well, Friday the 13th came and went without a hitch so maybe 2020 is trying to get out of its own way. I spent the last few weeks hammering out short stories to submit to anthologies, working to complete the Ephraim Godwin Chronicle's Early Year serial The Awakening (which you can read on the site or can wait for it to be released early next year on Kindle and paperback), and the edit/layouts for the First Ephraim Godwin Chronicle are slowly coming together. Below are the three anthologies to feature one of my stories. Hopefully, I'll have some more to share with you in the coming weeks...

Long Live the King

Hunger Pangs

Mister-Man

Oh, did I mention I'm also working on my 3rd stand-alone extreme horror novel to join The Shadow Within and The Pope Lick Massacre? Hopefully, it will be available early in 2021. Of course, you guys will be the first to know when I have more information to share on all these projects.

The reason I'm telling you all this is I'm kinda burned out...one of the anthologies I submitted to had a due date of Nov. 15th...I decided to write something for it on the 11th. So on top of all the things I was already trying to complete I threw on an additional 4000-8000 words (ended up with 5800) to write and edit on a very small window. This meant late nights and little sleep as I still haven't been able to find life's pause button.

So I'm going to leave you with some YouTube videos of a band I discovered by accident while letting it just play in the background while I wrote.

The band is First to Eleven. They have their own songs, 2 EP releases, but they do covers of popular songs in their style of pop-punk. I haven't watched them all since they've been doing it for years, but the ones I have watched are amazing. They do a great job of making the song theirs, while still respecting the original work. I'm a sucker for good cover songs - probably why I like ska so much.

So here are four of their covers...

30 Seconds to Mars - "The Kill"

https://youtu.be/TIT-0TlTkpM

NSYNC - "Bye Bye Bye"

https://youtu.be/kBzT4tuhNjQ

The Killers - "Mr. Brightside"

https://youtu.be/xjq4oiF4E0I

KISS - "I Was Made For Lovin' You"

https://youtu.be/nOVmD0pn85s

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Don't forget you can find me on Facebook - Eric Butler Author.

The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - The Early Years: The Awakening Part 11

This story takes place 5 years before the first Ephraim Godwin Chronicle Serial. It will be longer than a simple stand alone story so I will be releasing parts of the tale every Wednesday. Part 11 contains Chapters 21 & 22.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Lady Selina Farkus sat on the edge of her bed. It would be night soon; a day and a half...then freedom. A sad smile flittered to her lips at the thought. Freedom was something she thought she would never truly have. Then the gods intervened, demanding my first sacrifice, but promising me retribution.

Her fingers slipped to her stomach, feeling the long scar through her dress. Lady Farkus's eyes glazed over as she thought back to that day when fate stepped in to show her the destiny planned for her.

***

Deep in the forest, away from the eyes of her people and from the Baron's men, Selina sat on a patch of soft earth in a small clearing. Her back rested against a thick oak, and while the sun warmed her skin and dried her tears, she slipped into a peaceful slumber.

"Wake up child," a deep voice said, each syllable a rumble.

Selina woke with a gasp. A giant stood in the clearing, as broad as he was tall, he held himself with a grace Selina had never seen before. His face was wider than a normal man's, stretching his features and giving him an exotic appearance around his mouth and eyes. Long dark hair hung to his waist, unkempt and wild like the man himself she suspected. But the most extraordinary thing about the giant in front of her was the beautiful horns growing from his head.

The set of antlers sprang from his hair and stretched out towards the heavens. The man stepped closer and offered a smile as bright and warm as the sun had been earlier. He reached out and after a moment's hesitation, Selina grabbed his hand. The giant led her to the center of the clearing and turned to face her.

"Are you ready my child to fulfill your destiny?"

Selina nodded, aware his offer was better than what she planned to do this day. If he came too much later, my fate would have been sealed.

"The words child," the giant rumbled.

"I am ready," Selina whispered, "for my destiny."

The giant reached out and cupped the side of her head. He offered her another smile and slipped his hand to her shoulder. With his free hand, he pressed his palm against her stomach.

"There is a price, a price you must give up freely...but I sense this will be no problem," the giant said as his touch radiated with heat. Selina's knees grew weak, and she fought to stay standing.

"Any price... I must know," she begged as her body grew weaker by the second. "The cards spoke to me, with each flip they told me of a great destiny, but I did not believe...help me believe."

The giant threw back his head and roared in laughter, "My child, having the Baron's spawn is no destiny. Compared to the power I am prepared to offer you, the Baron's gift is but a curse. So you have a choice, my child, accept his curse and stay a slave or reject his curse and become all-powerful.

"How did you know?" Selina asked with a voice so meek it seemed she truly wanted no answer...

The suspected outcome, confirmed earlier, was never in doubt for her. The Baron simply appeared and forced his way into her wagon every night for a week. Her face burned hot as she remembered how her people ignored her cries for help. How they pretended to not know what the Baron was doing every night, and left her to suffer through the day in terrified suspense.

Those visits lasted for seven nights, then stopped. Selina's stomach tightened as she thought of those nights after his visits, the constant dread of waiting for him to arrive. Yet he did not return, although fourteen days later his man did. And he came bearing gifts for her and her people. Selina refused, but her people accepted him and the Baron's gifts without hesitation. Her stomach turned at the thought.

A week later the man, Mr. Risewell returned, an old gypsy woman in tow. Selina recognized the woman, as did the whole clan, for she was the most powerful seer for many leagues in any direction. They entered Selina's wagon, and there in the shadows the woman performed a number of tests; pausing only long enough to whisper in Mr. Risewell's ear.

When she completed her examination, she offered a nod and cupped Selina's chin, forcing her eyes to rise before saying a single heart-wrenching word, "Felicitari."

Selina fought the urge to scream as the word hung heavy upon her. She pushed past the two and burst from the wagon, sprinting towards the lush green forest. She glanced back as she approached the edge, noting all watched her but none followed...

Selina blinked, her eyes refocused on the giant as her memories faded. She stepped back, spreading her arms wide in surrender. She would do anything to end this nightmare...had planned to do something quite permanent but if the giant could offer more, well she would not hesitate.

Her eyes widened as a shocked breath slipped past her lips. The giant rammed his horns through her stomach, the pain overwhelmed her senses and Selina slumped to the ground as a pool of her blood spread around her.

"Sleep child," the giant said, his voice fading away as he spoke, "When you awake, we will begin to return the land to the wild and exact revenge on those that have wronged you."

***

The memories faded, brought Selina back to her room, her hand still resting on the scar. Twenty-five years she had waited for her revenge, and she finally stood on the precipice. Did I make the right choice? In the end, will the cost have been too high?

These doubts started the day she ran across the Vicar and his brother, two intriguing men. Two intriguing distractions at the very least; But she had come too far, sacrificed everything for her revenge...nothing and no one could get in the way of that.

Selina glanced at the mirror in the room and gasped as the giant stood behind her. He stooped low, wrapped his thick arms around her, his lips tickling her ear as he whispered, "So close my child, so close to the wild taking over this land, and your vengeance being completed."

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Risewell stood in the kitchen, the sack from Lady Farkus clutched tightly in his left hand. He inspected its contents on the walk back and surprisingly found more of the same brownish powder she had provided before. Don't know why I expected something different? But honestly, he had thought the final dose would be something new.

Although, once he thought about the situation, the same was fine. Better than fine. He would serve it once again in the Baron's favorite dessert, the only way to ensure it is consumed. Once it was over, Risewell wondered how long he'd have to wait for the final act of the Baron.

Lady Farkus shared nothing of her plan, except when absolutely unavoidable. Risewell wondered if the two realized how alike they were to each other. Probably not, but those type of people rarely do. If he was being honest, it was exciting to be rid of one of them soon. Then he could focus on the good Lady.

He poured the sack's contents into the Lord's pudding. The sack he laid to the side as he finished up, but it would soon join the others in the fireplace. Not a wise idea to leave gypsy magic lying about. Laughter bubbled to his lips at the thought. A sharp pain in the middle of his back stole his breath. His laughter died, coming out a wet gasp instead.

The pain doubled as something twisted around his spine. The Baron's face slid next to Risewell's from behind. He wore the smile of a madman, and Risewell's bladder released. The pain increased as the Baron pressed his cheek against Risewall's.

"Do you think me a fool?" he hissed, spittle splashing against Risewell's face. "DO YOU!"

Risewell shook, terror building in his chest until it dwarfed the agony shooting through his limbs. The pain in his back dulled and red bubbles popped as the butler battled for breath. The Baron's tongue slipped out, running up Risewell's cheek.

"You are cahoots with the witch, and by the end of the night you will both be dead."

Risewell's eyes struggled to stay open as the Baron let the man fall to the kitchen floor. Squatting down, the Baron held up a large knife he brought back from the war.

"Before you leave I have one more service for you to complete," he said as he slid the blade into his servant's soft belly.

© 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

Grab your popcorn and a coke, it's time to get Freaky...

November seems to be flying by as we're already into week 2 and Thanksgiving is breathing down our necks. Not to mention my son, Hunter, is turning 18 this month I swear we just brought him home from the hospital, what happened?! And then Christmas gatherings, online and in-person shopping, and Christmas day are right around the corner.

I'm busy trying to edit Ephraim Godwin into the first book of a series, write a new short for an anthology - in 4 days, and started my 3rd stand-alone Extreme Horror novel. The next two months are going to be bananas, but I'm up to the challenge...maybe.

So today's post is short and sweet. This Friday a new movie from Blumhouse - who gave us the great horror comedy Happy Death Day - comes out in theaters. Freaky is Freaky Friday but instead of a parent and a kid switching, it's a teenager and a serial killer.

Oh, and the serial killer is played by Vince Vaughn...

Do you need to know more? If so check out the preview, otherwise I'll meet you at the popcorn counter Friday the 13th.

https://youtu.be/EqPnIcDW9g0

To get ready for Freaky, go ahead and binge on some Vince...

The first one is Brawl in Cell Block 99 on Prime

https://youtu.be/5hfAExhHTMM

Next up is one of my favorite movies he did in the 90s, Clay Pigeons. The cast is fantastic, simply overflowing with talent...you can find it on Starz and Directv streaming

https://youtu.be/9-lW9reMPVA

Of course, you should watch Dodgeball monthly, if not weekly...you can stream on the Cinemax app or Directv streaming...

https://youtu.be/W-XbDZUnUmw

Grab a copy of The Shadow Within for the Kindle, Kindle App, or in Paperback.

Click ,Here

Grab a copy of The Pope Lick Massacre for the Kindle, Kindle App, or in Paperback.

Click ,Here

The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - The Early Years: The Awakening Part 10

This story takes place 5 years before the first Ephraim Godwin Chronicle Serial. It will be longer than a simple stand alone story so I will be releasing parts of the tale every Wednesday. Part 10 contains Chapters 19 & 20.

In case you missed last week's chapters - click here CHAPTER NINETEEN

Joseph Risewell stood in a field. He preferred to be in a wide-open space when dealing with Lady Farkus, although he questioned if it really mattered. After witnessing her work on the Baron, he found himself questioning...well, everything. More than once he found himself at the Vicar's house but his fear of Lady Farkus's retribution stayed his tongue.

"Mr. Risewell, so good of you to meet with me," her voice called out from the trees at the edge of the field. He turned and offered a slight bow, his face expressionless. He learned early on to betray no emotion to this woman. Anything she perceives as weakness can be twisted into a weapon.

The Lady stepped from the forest and strode towards the Baron's manservant. She had an easy way to her movement as if gliding no matter what surface she walked upon. With each step, her body moved in such a way to attract the eyes exactly where she wanted them, controlling not only the person's attention but clouding their perception as well.

Risewell knew better than to let his eyes linger, an early lesson the Lady taught with rigor. His chin tucked down to his chest, helped move his eyes to the ground. Better to look down then suggest equality. Something the Lady didn't believe existed. Perhaps it had once, but now Risewell was well aware of his place. She slowed, stopping a few feet away.

Her burning gaze, like flames, caressed his skin. His cheeks darkened as he squirmed under her scrutiny. She expects me to kneel. Risewell remained standing. Even I have my limits. A slight smile danced upon his lips, as he fought to contain his emotions.

Moving closer, Lady Farkus's finger slid under Risewell's chin, and she tipped his head back enough for their eyes to meet. He flinched but kept his eyes up. A scream built in his chest, and he fought to not release it. Her finger now tapped against her lips as she studied the man. Sweat built up on his hairline, but his eyes stared straight ahead, focused on nothing.

"Report," Lady Farkus finally said as she leaned forward a bit, slipping uncomfortably close.

Risewell cleared his throat, suddenly afraid he would not be able to find his voice. After a moment he spoke, "All goes according to plan. The Baron is one or two treatments away from having the mental state you predicted. He is malleable to the skull, and to the instructions it provides."

Lady Farkus barked out a laugh, stomping her foot in excitement. Risewell continued to fight the urge to show a reaction although her display was unexpected. She slid closer, her body inches from his, and reached out to place her palm on the side of his face. Heat surged through the touch, and Risewell body began to shake from the contact.

"You must hurry home, my dear Mr. Risewell, and deliver the final treatment," she said, bell-like laughter following her statement as she held up a sack. "You will find all you need here. When the deed is complete, light two candles in the highest most western window; until then my dear man, remember our bargain." As he gripped the sack, she spun around and stalked back to the woods.

His eyes lingered a moment as his hand laid over where hers just rested.

"Mr. Risewell?" her questioning tone made the man start in surprise. His eyes quickly darted to the bag he held, one more day, and his master would be no more. His stomach rolled as he began to walk back to the only life he'd ever known, the sound of Lady Farkus's laughter chasing after him.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Ephraim opened his eyes. His head pounded, and he was grateful for the darkness surrounding him. He resisted sitting up, fearful of its effect on his headache. Instead, he rolled to his side, attempting to limit how much the uncomfortable cold stone came in contact with him. A weak light flickered across the way. Was he in a room or a cell?

From the odor, dampness, and soft pattering of feet Ephraim decided a cell most likely. Taking a deep breath, he rolled to his stomach and began to crawl towards the light. With each movement, the pounding intensified until his vision blurred with shooting bursts of color. His muscles screamed out in protest and Ephraim struggled to continue.

Practically blinded by the pain, Ephraim paused to take in deep gulps of air. A gurgle sounded in the darkness. Ephraim blinked through the pain and blurred vision, straining to hear the noise again. It came a moment later, and he burst towards the light. A gasp of pain slipped past his lips as he bumped into a table bolted to the floor. His hands gripped the edge, and after another moment of concentration, Ephraim pulled himself up.

He looked down at a thin, pale candle with a weak flame waving back and forth. Ephraim reached out, unsure if the candle actually existed or was a simple trick of his mind. His fingers wrapped around the delicate wax, winching when hot wax dribbled over his skin. The discomfort providing him with needed focus.

The gurgle sounded once again. Now that he stood closer, Ephraim was sure of what he heard. It wouldn't be the first time, his ears picked up the struggled breaths of a man missing his tongue. He shuffled towards the sound, careful to not trip over the individual. His left foot struck soft flesh, turning the bubbling gurgle into a harsh gasp of breath. A low moan followed, filling the cell and Ephraim's ears with despair. Crouching, he waived the candle around illuminating the torn and battered body of Mr. Tanner. A hiss of surprise escaped from Ephraim as he took in the damage done to the man assigned to assist him.

Tanner's hand flexed, moving around like a blinded animal searching for comfort.

Ephraim's free hand grasped it, so dismayed by the harm done to this man, his own pain forgotten. He leaned closer, allowing the weak light to illuminate the empty sockets, the jagged rips upon the man's exposed skin, and the gaping maw where Ephraim spied the bloody stump wiggling around.

The stench of death grew stronger and Ephraim began the Lord's prayer. At first, the words merely whispered, but with each one, his volume increased. There was no noticeable recognition from Mr. Tanner but as he finished, the man's grip tightened. A moment later, it relaxed for the last time and Ephraim swore to repay this soldier's suffering a hundredfold if it was the last thing he did.

© 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

Another Halloween in the books...

I ran across this picture from 1985 - I would have been 10. I found a book on special effects/movie makeup at the library. My dad, who hates horror movies, thought it would be fun to torture me and then send me to a costume contest on Fort Rucker in Alabama. I don't remember what we tagged the costume as...hit-and-run victim, zombie, burn victim, oozing mummy? But I did win first place for Scariest.

I wish I had the book or at least the name because it was filled with some pretty cool ideas. This was some type of gelatin mix that was colored and then applied hot to my face...let me tell you, I do remember it hurting like hell to get it off. But my pores have never been clearer...

Halloween was as successful as could be hoped for in the year 2020. We had a few trick-or-treaters, nice weather, & family and friends stop by for Halloween cookies and Husky kisses. On our street, three houses decorated for Halloween, and we were all in a row to make it easy for those kids/families hunting for candy treats. I set up a table at the end of the drive for the families nervous about Covid, but honestly, it seemed like if they were out...it wasn't bothering them.

I was happy to see all the effort the kids(and parents) put into their costumes and to see how happy it made people seeing us hand out candy. One lady thanked us over and over again as she was so excited to do something normal with her daughter, if only for a few hours on Halloween. At 9 pm I packed up, as did my neighbor, and sat down to dive into Trick 'r Treat Collector's Edition. Within ten minutes, the doorbell rang and I had to scramble to find the leftover candy - thank goodness I left some as I sampled from the bag all night to make sure it was safe. I was greeted by an 8-year-old in a killer Batman costume and his dad - also in a Batman mask and T-shirt.

And while most of the night was spent gabbing with the neighbors, friends, and family; we did have a random neighbor from down the way show up and interrupt a conversation to start a "who is the best Sherlock Holmes actor and you better say Jeremy Brett" discussion. She left after pocketing a bunch of candy, and what she hoped was a Jeremy Brett fan club in the works. Of course, I can name at least 3 actors I like better as Holmes. It was one of the most normal nights I've had since all this started.

Get it on Amazon - Kindle or Paperback: Here

Just hit 15 reviews on Amazon - slowly gaining ground on my first novel, The Shadow Within which has 20. If you've read either and don't know what to get me for Christmas, a review would be an awesome present!

#15 left by Horror writer, Lee Franklin so she knows her stuff:

You can find Lee's work on Amazon as well...she's been in several anthologies as well as her own works...find her Author page here

Just in case anyone is interested here are my 2 pumpkins.

and the wife did Baby Groot

What to do this Halloween...

Many places are discouraging Trick 'r Treating, and instead suggesting watching some movies on Halloween. I plan on doing both...well at least handing out candy to those brave enough to set out, and scavenge through this apocalyptic 2020. I might also do some reading...

If you're looking for something scary to read check out my first two novels: Available on Paperback and Kindle

The Shadow Within The Pope Lick Massacre

You can find more movie suggestions here , here , and here from previous posts. Now here are the final group before Halloween:

Horns: On Netflix
https://youtu.be/B3AZx-cNM78People Under the Stairs: Stream on Fubo and Directv
https://youtu.be/CEyQIcuGwDwJeepers Creepers: Stream on any HBO app or Directv
https://youtu.be/akFUWf5xe6kFrom Beyond: Stream on Shudder or rent on Amazon
https://youtu.be/d3D9O9vrDjwGhost Ship: Stream on Fubo or Directv
https://youtu.be/a7xNXTpQA5QHouse: Stream on Prime or Tubi
https://youtu.be/tWcZTEo3jmwWarlock: Have to purchase on Amazon or Vudu but the price is close to rental cost...
https://youtu.be/jrXieml4Mb4

Bonus suggestions: Of course you need to watch the Friday the 13th movies, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and Texas Chainsaw Massacres...but also check out the following

Trick 'r Treat: Stream on Fubo or Directv...or buy it on Amazon (only $6.99 right now) This is my favorite Halloween movie...perfect in so many ways...https://youtu.be/jZO17XOgMN8The Terrifier: Stream on TUBI: very graphic but the guy playing Art the Clown is amazing - pair this with All Hallows' Eve(an earlier suggestion) and you will have a good time...
https://youtu.be/DotHFemS-kgThe Cabin in the Woods: Stream on Prime and Hulu - This movie is fun and shines a light on most horror movie genres in a good way. https://youtu.be/NsIilFNNmkYEvil Dead 2: Hulu - Classic movie mayhem - Perfect blend of comedy, gore, and suspensehttps://youtu.be/s7WNgzilRBwHave a safe and Happy Halloween and see you back here Monday morning for more ramblings.

The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - The Early Years: The Awakening Part 9

This story takes place 5 years before the first Ephraim Godwin Chronicle Serial. It will be longer than a simple stand alone story so I will be releasing parts of the tale every Wednesday. Part 5 contains Chapters 17 & 18.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Baron Hall woke with a start. What was that? He held very still, straining to pick up the sound again. His room was dark, the windows covered with thick black quilts. For the past week, he found it impossible to sleep with any light slipping past the openings. Hall once wondered if it wouldn't be better to go and relocate his chambers to one of the rooms in the lower levels. However, a quick inspection told him they were not acceptable to a man of his status.

A clang sounded outside his room. Hall sat up, waiting to see if it sounded again. After a few moments, he slipped from the bed and shuffled to the door. Pressing his ear to the wood, he waited. These past few months his hearing and sight had grown sharper and while he now viewed them as gifts, initially they were curses.

Hall shuddered at the memory of those first few days, and the overload of his senses. Every whispered word became a shout, and the light of day burned away his vision. After a week, on the edge of madness, the skull spoke to him. With its guidance, Hall was able to take these cursed gifts and use them to his benefit. Yet here he was, straining to hear something. He shook his head in irritation and opened the door. Why should I be the one hiding? Let the one making the noise cower in fear. Emboldened by his thoughts, he stepped into the hallway. Several lights burned low, casting the walkway in shadows. With his newfound vision, it was clear as day and would be like this for a few more nights.

Clang...clang...clang.

The Baron stalked down the hall, passing up the stairs and continuing to the end. He flung open the door and strode in, with each step his boldness grew.

Clang...clang...clang.

It was louder in this room, almost as if a bell was marking the hour. Hall stood in the middle of the room. It was empty, cleared out months ago when he realized what the room held.

Clang...clang...clang.

Hall scowled. Yes, it was coming from below. It was not a message to cower from but a beckoning to answer. He stepped to the inner wall and slid his hand across the stone. His fingers came across the unevenness he sought and pressed down. A rumble moved through the floor to the wall and after a moment, a section slid aside.

Baron Hall hovered by the opening. His chest swelled with pride at being chosen, but a tiny voice whispered in the back of his head. A tiny voice warning him that he was in danger, that he was a fool. Shaking his head, he let out a huff of anger and growled, "Nonsense... I am the Lord of this estate."

The tiny voice flitted away, leaving him in silence before the noise sounded again.

I must hurry...the skull awaits.

***

Ms. Hatty Morris stood in the doorway, a look of worry etched on her face. She entered the house sometime before and while no one answered her calls, the house was not empty. After making her way to the kitchen, she found the Vicar sitting at the kitchen table. His elbows resting on his thighs, his chin resting on his fists, and a blank stare on his face. As far as she could tell, he wasn't staring at anything in particular and for a moment she wondered if he was conversing with their Lord and Savior.

However, now that some time had passed, she wouldn't be sure the man was even alive if not for the slight rise and fall of his chest and the occasional blink. Hatty stepped over to the man and placed her hand on his shoulder. For a moment he offered no recognition of her touch, but then his head snapped back and his eyes locked onto hers.

"Ms. Morris," he said, a slight slur giving his words a snakelike sound.

"Are you feeling all right?" she asked, moving her hand to his forehead. He was clammy, but she didn't think him feverish.

"Huh?" he asked after a pause.

"Are you unwell, sir?"

He blinked at her a few times before his jaw slacked open. A spot of drool formed at the corner of his lips and Hatty sighed. May the Lord forgive me this...as well as the Vicar. Her arm shot up and swung down in an arc. A loud smack sounded as her palm struck the Vicar on his left cheek.

His hand sprang to his face and a wounded look passed over his gaze, "Good Lord woman..."

Hatty studied the Vicar as he trailed off. Would she need to land another blow? His eyes were now sharp and focused. She noticed mostly on her hands as if waiting for her to strike again. Guess not. A chuckle slipped out as she moved to the kettle.

"A thousand pardons, Vicar," she said as she heated the water, "That seemed the quickest way to help. How about a cup of tea?"

"Yes...that sounds nice. By chance have you seen my brother today?"

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ephraim opened his eyes. Sunlight filtered through a flimsy curtain and warmed his face. He took a deep breath, causing a coughing fit that forced him to roll over on his side. As each cough racked his body, he struggled for breath. Spots appeared before him, flashing and popping like tiny fireworks.

"Ah, you're awake," a woman said from the shadows.

Ephraim wrestled with the sheets twisting around his body as his coughing worsened. He wanted to sit up, to be free of the sheets around him, but with each cough be found himself more tangled and light-headed.

"Shh," the woman said gliding around the bed before kneeling by him. His eyes widened as they locked onto Lady Farkus's face. She reached out and gently moved his hair back from his forehead. A sad smile danced across her lips as she stood.

Ephraim clawed at his throat, his coughing cutting off all air. She helped him sit up and produced a glass. She tipped it, forcing the cool liquid to slide past his lips. He gulped quickly, trying to keep up with her pouring and soon his coughing subsided. Lady Farkus helped him lay back and leaned close, her lips brushing against his ear.

"I promise this will be all over soon, my dear."

Ephraim struggled to speak but her face slowly faded as his world went black once again.

***

Baron Hall stood at the bottom of the steps, sudden fear preventing him from entering the room. The skull sat on the pedestal at the center. It pulsed in three quick bursts of color, each color sounding like the gong of a clock bell. Hall shook with every clash, as it grew louder with each one.

"Enter."

Hall moved to step forward but hesitated.

"Enter." The voice this time was soothing and the color of the skull slipped into a light blue hue.

Hall took three steps and stopped a few feet from the skull. Its dark sockets suddenly flaring to life with an orange glow. The light from the skull illuminated the room, and Hall wondered just how it made its way down here. Could it have always been in this room, hidden below the estate?

"I am here," Hall said to fill the quiet, uncomfortable with the realization of his summoning. He struggled with the sudden urge to kneel, his teeth grinding in frustration.

"No need for that," the skull said. Hall relaxed as the urge disappeared. The skull flashed a deep blue before returning to the pale blue. "We are so close to the end...just a few more things and you will rule this land."

Hall enjoyed hearing that, his fear washed away as he imagined his destiny coming true...he would soon be master to all. All it required was a little blood to be spilled...nothing he found terribly difficult to do.

© 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved