Illustration by Alyssa Audette

The honey bee
Searched for hours
Flitting among
Pretty flowers

Finding the ones
With the nectar
A big boy bee
Name of Hector

Finally found
The sweet sweet rose
Hiding among
Hedges and rows

Red as a fire
Soft as goose fluff
With pretty leaves
And all that stuff

The bee whispered
His love so sweet
Romanced the rose
With tiny feet

Their love was true
Their life divine
A rose and bee
Their lives entwined

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The elves were preparing the food for the dance

And bushels of goodies were piled on the ants

Bright lights were hung high in the boughs of the trees

Swaying so gently in the sweet summer breeze

Music was heard drifting up from the circle

Played by a short funny elf that’s named Yerkle

The girls wore pink ribbons woven through their hair

And hung pretty garlands, some here and some there

Sprites flitted round and sprinkled glitter so bright

You’d have thought that the stars came down for the night

Dryads poked their heads out of trees for the fest

With all of the noise they would never get rest

Some fairies came calling with nectar so sweet

It warmed you right up from your head to your feet

They brought pretty flowers to put everywhere

And wove spider silk through the strands of their hair

A water nymph poked her head out of the lake

To see what was making the lily pads shake

She saw all the flowers and music and things

She called to her sister, who dances and sings

Some brownies joined in and brought nuts for a snack

And gifts of owl feathers they kept in a sack

They all laughed and danced till the sun peeked its head

Then headed back home and got snug in their beds

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The crook took my book

I didn’t have time to look

I was learning how to cook

When he took it off the hook

I was making cherry pie you see

It was my favorite recipe

I had made such a mess of me

When the crook took the book from the hook

I chased him down a one-way street

My feet were slow, his feet were fleet

I thought that he might have me beat

Then the book fell from the crooks crook

He fled the busy sidewalk then

I bet we won’t see him again

I went back home, feeling a hundred and ten

And put my cook book back on the hook

Can you smell that cherry pie?

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Quick as a flash

he beat every record

panting like mad

and stiff as a board

A whirlwind of passion

the lass was quite woozy

she didn’t mind though

cuz she was a cheap floozy

But the young sailor thought

since was less than a minute

his price should be cheaper

cuz he barely was in it

The demon just smiled

as shey took out her blade

that’s quite alright luv

I’ll just take it in trade!

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A Stranger is Waiting

By

Melissa Kesead

The lightning flashed and she saw him, a figure standing boldly near the tree line that surrounded her property.  The darkness covered him once again and she chalked it up to her imagination playing tricks on her.  “Too many horror movies, Cyn,” she whispered to herself.

Just then the phone rang and she screamed in spite of herself, whirling around to face the sound, and then realizing it was just the telephone as it rang again.

“Hello?”

“Hey.  Are you okay?” David’s voice betrayed his concern.

“Oh.  Yeah.  I’m fine, just a little jittery because of the storm.  Are you still coming over?”  Cynthia moved toward the fireplace, grabbed the poker and started pushing the logs around, watching the glowing sparks as they flew up the chimney.

“Yeah, I’m still coming.  In fact, I’m on my way as we speak.  I just wanted to let you know I was going to stop before it rained and pick up a movie and wondered if you had any requests.”

Cynthia listened and now that he mentioned it, she could hear the thunder through the telephone as well as outside. The storm must be coming down from the north.  “No specific requests, just nothing too scary tonight.  I think I’ve had enough of those for awhile.”

“I thought those were your favorites,” he joked.  “The slashier the better, you always said.”

“Yeah, well, I think my imagination is playing tricks on me in this storm and I don’t need anything else to fuel it.”

“What kind of tricks, Cyn?  Are you sure you’ll be all right until I get there?”  David was really concerned now.  Cynthia was all alone and there weren’t any neighbors for a few miles.  If something were going on, she could be in real trouble.

“Nothing.  Really.  I’m just seeing things.  Pick up something you want to see and then get here to keep me company.  I’m just lonely.”  As she said those words, her confidence came back and she was positive now that it had just been a trick of the light and that was it.

David thought for a moment about foregoing the movie and hightailing it over to her house, but he didn’t want to be overprotective and pushy.  “Okay.  I’ll hurry, though.  I should be there in about a half hour if not sooner.  I can’t wait.”

Cynthia sighed in anticipation.  “Neither can I.”

************************************************************************

The figure moved swiftly through the darkness, reaching the house before the next bolt of lightning could betray him.  He slipped silently along the back of the house and stopped by the stairway that led to the rear deck.  He could see her through the picture window as she poked at the wood, the light from the fire creating a soft, glowing aura around her.

“She looks like an angel,” he thought.  “This is just like I imagined it would be.”  He had seen her picture on the dust jacket of one of the books she had written, The Heights of Horror.   After that, he had read them all, even the short stories and poetry she had published while still in college.  He taped her interviews and watched them over and over, memorizing her face, her speech, and her mannerisms.  He knew everything about her, including her habit of staying home alone.

************************************************************************

Cynthia Roberts loved what she did for a living.  She wrote horror novels; and she was good at it.  She had dabbled with po

Winter

When winter comes

The snow falls

Covering the trees

Like silken shawls

The lakes freeze

So smooth and clear

And icicles hang

Like frozen tears

Everyone inside

Huddles together

To keep warm and snug

In this chilling weather

It’s time for snowball fights

And building snowmen

Sledding down hills

Ice-skating with a friend

To sip hot chocolate

In front of a fire

While outside snowdrifts

Get higher and higher

And then the day comes

When warmth reappears

And winter’s washed away

Till the same time next year

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Angels of Death

Genevieve looked around her.  She could hear a whisper, like the sound of silk against bare skin.  She couldn’t see anything but could swear someone was watching her.  Shrugging it off, she went back to her book.

She had walked to the little park near her apartment to get some peace and quiet.  Her roommate, Tiffany, had invited her boyfriend over without asking and they were making out in front of the TV.  That’s the last thing Genevieve wanted to see.  It had been so long since anyone had touched her besides herself.  She was miserable.

It was hard making new friends when you’re as shy as she was.  She never went out.  Some people have told her she was pretty, but she didn’t see that.  Her long brown hair lay across delicate shoulders that had never felt the weight of a barbell.  Her lips were full and pink, but often pursed in an expression of distaste regarding something she was reading or observing.  Her small nose was pixie-ish and usually stuck in a mystery or horror novel along with her darkly lashed green eyes.  She liked comfortable clothes that were slightly baggy, which was easily accomplished on her small frame.  And she was very picky, which didn’t help matters in the romance department, hence the reason she was sitting at the park alone on a Saturday night at 10:00.

The benches at this park weren’t particularly comfortable and she shifted her weight, crossing her right leg over her left and facing the opposite direction toward the pond.  The moons reflection could barely be seen in the water due to the clouds that were rolling in, creating a slight fog.  Genevieve heard that whisper again and stared hard into the trees, sure there was someone out there watching her.  She didn’t see anything, though, and wondered if it was just the trees swaying in the slight breeze.

Without warning, the lamps on the far side of the park went out and she gasped in fright.  As if they were ghosts, four figures materialized out of the foggy darkness, walking slowly toward her with smiles on their faces.  Instead of feeling fear, a strange lethargy overcame her and she smiled back, a sense of anticipation tingling in her extremities.  Upon closer examination, Genevieve could see that there were two men and two women and they were all dressed in black.  They continued to move closer and as they did she studied them.

The man on the left had short, auburn hair that fell across his eyes, which Genevieve thought was sexy.  He wore a leather motorcycle jacket with lots of zippers and tight jeans that disappeared into leather motorcycle boots.  The woman next to him was blonde and her hair hung straight down to the small of her back.  It swished as she walked, creating a golden curtain behind her.  She was also in leather but hers took the form of a sheath that hugged her every curve.  Genevieve didn’t know how she walked in stiletto boots in this grass, but she seemed to glide effortlessly over it.  The man in the middle was dark, with olive skin and black hair that hung to his shoulders.  He wore a long sleeved dress shirt, slightly unbuttoned, and dress pants that had a soft sheen in the slight moonlight.  The woman next to him was a brunette and her hair was short and curly.  Her dress brushed her ankles and surrounded her neck like a collar.

They reached her and she automatically went to them, finding them all desirable.  Funny, her pickiness didn’t concern her at all.  Genevieve had always harbored a secret lust for a woman’s touch and when the blonde reached out and stroked her cheek, she closed her eyes and focused on her silken caress.  Gently she lay upon the grass and felt them kneel around her.  Her clothes fell like whispers, exposing her for their viewing pleasure.  She didn’t feel embarrassed, though, and when she looked up at their smiling faces and saw that their incisors had lengthened, she felt a flush of heat in her nether regions.  Her nipples stood erect an

Gleeful giggles echo

through drifts of snow

that children form in hollows

to escape the winds that blow

Mounds turn into castles

to defend against the war

and snowmen into wizards

rotten to the core

Children become Eskimoes

and build their igloo hoome

the backyard becomes tundra

to defend, to hunt, to roam

Your house becomes a refuge

as day turns into night

to live throughout the winter

growing up just right

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From Plantation Princess to Pleasure Phantom

by Stasha

I grew up in the lap of luxury on a posh plantation in Franksburg, South Carolina.  I had my own servant, or nanny, that helped me do everything…well, almost everything.

My parents had my life all planned out for me, from the schools I should go to down to who I should marry.  My brother Geoffrey didn’t mind my parents manipulations as long as he got what he wanted, but I did.  I wanted to make my own decisions, lead my own life and relieve myself from all this falseness and hypocrisy.

I planned for my escape, always knowing it would happen but not exactly sure when.  On my 16^th birthday I took the chance and never looked back.  My parents searched, but not hard.  It seemed to me they gave up way too easily, but it was a relief to me.  I moved on, made a life for myself in Williamsburg, West Virginia and met William.

He was unlike any other man I had ever met.   It was my 21^st birthday and I was out at Flamingo’s with some friends to celebrate.  He called to me from across the bar and I was lost.  One dance with him sealed my fate; my love…and my soul…were his.  Never in a million years would I have guessed he was a vampire.  I didn’t care when I found out either.  It seemed as if our souls had always been searching for each other and now that we were together nothing, not even death, was going to keep us apart.

The transformation was fascinating and frightening at the same time.  After William had drained me and I had drunk of his blood, my body started dying and evolving at the same time.  I voided anything natural from my system, which was disturbing, but then my new senses took over and I felt truly alive for the first time, which was odd because I was dead…or undead.  I was eager for my new life to begin and eager to explore the sensual banquet awaiting my new lover and me.

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From Banker to Bloodsucker by Bryce

Banking was in my blood.  My father had been a banker and his father before that.  I was good at it too, moving up from personal banker to district manager in just eight years.  I was successful, handsome and lonely.  I worked so much I never had the chance to socialize or actually date.  My friends had given up on including me in their happy hours during the week and on weekends I usually was too pooped to party.  It was pathetic.  I finally got fed up with it one night and went to a club by myself.  I was hoping to relax a little and possible meet a pretty girl.  Boy, did I.

She walked into the room like an angel with porcelain skin and hair like fire.  All of the men and some of the women were drawn to her, staring at her as if her beauty drew their gazes like magic.  I thought it was odd, then, that she moved toward me when she could have her pick of anyone.  I mean, I was decent looking but I saw better-looking men all around me.  As she walked up to me I straightened my tie and tried not to look too eager.  She reached for my hand and asked me to dance.  I wasn’t normally a dancer but I wasn’t about to turn her down.  On the dance floor we swayed to the music, her body pressed so tightly to mine I could feel every curve and every crevice.  She took charge, running her hands down my neck and over my chest, around my back and over my buttocks.  I felt like a piece of meat and decided I liked it.  “Use me” my body cried and she nipped my neck, making me moan with pleasure.

Looking into my eyes she whispered, “Take me home.”  I could think of no better idea and so, clasping her hand in mine we walked out the door.  As we exited the building I saw someone following us and she assured me it was her roommate, William and his date.  I drove and we ended up at a large upstairs flat on Bienville Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  William stepped out of the sedan first and helped his pale beauty out of the car.  She was pretty with golden wavy hair and light skin, but her beauty dimmed in comparison to Stasha.  She glowed with an inner light that made her vibrant, exotic and sensuous.  Little did I know that was part of her vampire charms and it made her irresistible to humans, men especially.  As they walked from the car to the door a strange wind blew over them and I heard a strange noise, almost like a hiss.  William and Stasha hurried us to the door and shut it quickly, a slightly panicked look crossing both their faces.

Upstairs the flat was furnished sparsely but expensively with leather mixed in with antique cherry furniture.  I am no expert but it looked like a few of the pieces were authentic 18^th century.  Sipping their drinks they all took each other in and I wondered if this was going to turn into some kind of freaky foursome.  Glancing at William and Stasha whispering in the hallway I wondered what they were talking about and what was in store for Natalie and I.  I soon found out as our partners took our hands and led us down the hallway.  Stasha and I took the first door and William and Natalie took the next.  Upon entering the room the first thing I noticed was the huge smoked glass mirror next to the bed.  “I knew she was kinky,” I thought to myself, smirking.  Little did I know that William and Natalie were on the other side of that glass, preparing to echo our very movements.

Stasha undressed, her green dress pooling on the floor at her feet.  My mouth started salivating as I took in her silken skin, shapely curves and beautiful breasts.  She undressed me slowly, pushing me further and further back on the bed until I was where she wanted me to be.  Straddling me she took my hands in hers and moved upon me, her gyrations slow at first but becoming more and more frantic.  I heard a cry of “Wall” coming from her but also from William and as I watched, startled, the glass wall rose and there were William and Natalie, caught in the same act as we.  Looking from William to Stasha I noticed a change in her features, but before I could discern what was happening she lowered her head and I felt her fangs pierce my neck.  From the corner of my eye I could see the same thing happening to Natalie and wondered what I had gotten myself into.  As I drifted off I was surprised how peaceful things were and so was surprised when I felt something shoved in my mouth.  My body automatically took over when it tasted the blood dribbling onto my tongue and I sucked with all my remaining strength.  With each pull I felt stronger and soon my entire body was alive like never before.  I looked up at Stasha, my blood dripping off her breasts, and smiled.  “Welcome to the party darling,” she crooned, “You’re officially one of us.  A vampire.”

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From Banker to Bloodsucker by Bryce

Banking was in my blood.  My father had been a banker and his father before that.  I was good at it too, moving up from personal banker to district manager in just eight years.  I was successful, handsome and lonely.  I worked so much I never had the chance to socialize or actually date.  My friends had given up on including me in their happy hours during the week and on weekends I usually was too pooped to party.  It was pathetic.  I finally got fed up with it one night and went to a club by myself.  I was hoping to relax a little and possible meet a pretty girl.  Boy, did I.

She walked into the room like an angel with porcelain skin and hair like fire.  All of the men and some of the women were drawn to her, staring at her as if her beauty drew their gazes like magic.  I thought it was odd, then, that she moved toward me when she could have her pick of anyone.  I mean, I was decent looking but I saw better-looking men all around me.  As she walked up to me I straightened my tie and tried not to look too eager.  She reached for my hand and asked me to dance.  I wasn’t normally a dancer but I wasn’t about to turn her down.  On the dance floor we swayed to the music, her body pressed so tightly to mine I could feel every curve and every crevice.  She took charge, running her hands down my neck and over my chest, around my back and over my buttocks.  I felt like a piece of meat and decided I liked it.  “Use me” my body cried and she nipped my neck, making me moan with pleasure.

Looking into my eyes she whispered, “Take me home.”  I could think of no better idea and so, clasping her hand in mine we walked out the door.  As we exited the building I saw someone following us and she assured me it was her roommate, William and his date.  I drove and we ended up at a large upstairs flat on Bienville Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  William stepped out of the sedan first and helped his pale beauty out of the car.  She was pretty with golden wavy hair and light skin, but her beauty dimmed in comparison to Stasha.  She glowed with an inner light that made her vibrant, exotic and sensuous.  Little did I know that was part of her vampire charms and it made her irresistible to humans, men especially.  As they walked from the car to the door a strange wind blew over them and I heard a strange noise, almost like a hiss.  William and Stasha hurried us to the door and shut it quickly, a slightly panicked look crossing both their faces.

Upstairs the flat was furnished sparsely but expensively with leather mixed in with antique cherry furniture.  I am no expert but it looked like a few of the pieces were authentic 18^th century.  Sipping their drinks they all took each other in and I wondered if this was going to turn into some kind of freaky foursome.  Glancing at William and Stasha whispering in the hallway I wondered what they were talking about and what was in store for Natalie and I.  I soon found out as our partners took our hands and led us down the hallway.  Stasha and I took the first door and William and Natalie took the next.  Upon entering the room the first thing I noticed was the huge smoked glass mirror next to the bed.  “I knew she was kinky,” I thought to myself, smirking.  Little did I know that William and Natalie were on the other side of that glass, preparing to echo our very movements.

Stasha undressed, her green dress pooling on the floor at her feet.  My mouth started salivating as I took in her silken skin, shapely curves and beautiful breasts.  She undressed me slowly, pushing me further and further back on the bed until I was where she wanted me to be.  Straddling me she took my hands in hers and moved upon me, her gyrations slow at first but becoming more and more frantic.  I heard a cry of “Wall” coming from her but also from William and as I watched, startled, the glass wall rose and there were William and Natalie, caught in the same

How to Find a Niche For Your Blog

By Mike Seddon

It is important to realize that your choice of a niche can have a significant influence on the success or failure of your new blog.

Deciding on a theme can be a daunting task. What exactly are you going to write about? Your niche needs to be a popular topic that many people are interested in.

If you are going to blog about yourself, then you better have a very interesting life, or you will have difficulty keeping your readers coming back for more. You should choose a topic that will make it comparatively easy to grow your readership and build a strong following.

Since many bloggers write about their favorite subjects, it’s not a bad idea to start brainstorming by writing down a list of your hobbies, interests, and any areas of professional expertise. Now try to determine a niche you can target within one of those areas.

Should you blog about automobiles in general, or the latest sports cars? If you choose too narrow a theme then you may struggle to come up with regular, fresh content. And if you choose a topic that’s too general your readers may be confused by a jumble of seemingly unrelated posts.

You might consider niches within the following general topic areas which have proven to be popular for blogging:

*

Automobiles
*

Computers & Information Technology
*

Digital Cameras
*

Gadgets
*

Music
*

News
*

Photography
*

Politics
*

Shopping

If you plan to use Pay-Per-Click advertising to get traffic to your blog, then remember also that the hottest topics might have the highest pay-per-click fees.

You can sometimes get great niche ideas by browsing at Blog directories and sites like Google Blog Search: http://blogsearch.google.com

Since it is so time-consuming trying to come up with the ‘perfect’ niche idea, many bloggers and webmasters have turned to specialized niche discovery tools. I particularly recommend Online Gold Finder and NicheTopics.

With Online Gold Finder you can uncover profitable, undiscovered online markets with just a couple of clicks. Read more about Online Gold Finder at: http://www.moneyforblogging.com/goldfinder.htm

NicheTopics is quite handy in a different way. You get to use some great research that’s already been completed by an expert. It is a ready-to-use report on 109 unique, untapped niches. Read more about NicheTopics: http://www.moneyforblogging.com/nichetopics.htm

The tools above are not free but consider for a moment. If you are planning – or would even like – to make some money from your blog, then it will be worthwhile to start off with a well-researched niche.

If a particular tool uncovers a good niche that pays an additional $5 a day, it will pay for itself inside the first month!

Don’t forget, it will be very difficult to change the theme and niche of your blog later. So invest some time wisely during your planning stage.

You will be off to a strong start in building a successful blog.

About the Author

Mike Seddon is a writer, entrepreneur, and webmaster. He is the author of the e-book, ‘How to Build a Money Making Blog’, available from http://www.MoneyForBlogging.com

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How to Find a Niche For Your Blog

By Mike Seddon

It is important to realize that your choice of a niche can have a significant influence on the success or failure of your new blog.

Deciding on a theme can be a daunting task. What exactly are you going to write about? Your niche needs to be a popular topic that many people are interested in.

If you are going to blog about yourself, then you better have a very interesting life, or you will have difficulty keeping your readers coming back for more. You should choose a topic that will make it comparatively easy to grow your readership and build a strong following.

Since many bloggers write about their favorite subjects, it’s not a bad idea to start brainstorming by writing down a list of your hobbies, interests, and any areas of professional expertise. Now try to determine a niche you can target within one of those areas.

Should you blog about automobiles in general, or the latest sports cars? If you choose too narrow a theme then you may struggle to come up with regular, fresh content. And if you choose a topic that’s too general your readers may be confused by a jumble of seemingly unrelated posts.

You might consider niches within the following general topic areas which have proven to be popular for blogging:

*

Automobiles
*

Computers & Information Technology
*

Digital Cameras
*

Gadgets
*

Music
*

News
*

Photography
*

Politics
*

Shopping

If you plan to use Pay-Per-Click advertising to get traffic to your blog, then remember also that the hottest topics might have the highest pay-per-click fees.

You can sometimes get great niche ideas by browsing at Blog directories and sites like Google Blog Search: http://blogsearch.google.com

Since it is so time-consuming trying to come up with the ‘perfect’ niche idea, many bloggers and webmasters have turned to specialized niche discovery tools. I particularly recommend Online Gold Finder and NicheTopics.

With Online Gold Finder you can uncover profitable, undiscovered online markets with just a couple of clicks. Read more about Online Gold Finder at: http://www.moneyforblogging.com/goldfinder.htm

NicheTopics is quite handy in a different way. You get to use some great research that’s already been completed by an expert. It is a ready-to-use report on 109 unique, untapped niches. Read more about NicheTopics: http://www.moneyforblogging.com/nichetopics.htm

The tools above are not free but consider for a moment. If you are planning – or would even like – to make some money from your blog, then it will be worthwhile to start off with a well-researched niche.

If a particular tool uncovers a good niche that pays an additional $5 a day, it will pay for itself inside the first month!

Don’t forget, it will be very difficult to change the theme and niche of your blog later. So invest some time wisely during your planning stage.

You will be off to a strong start in building a successful blog.

About the Author

Mike Seddon is a writer, entrepreneur, and webmaster. He is the author of the e-book, ‘How to Build a Money Making Blog’, available from http://www.MoneyForBlogging.com

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FROM SERIAL KILLER TO SERVANT by Christopher

I grew up with the best of everything:  the best cars, the best clothes, and the best schools.  Dad was a stockbroker on Wall Street and had quite a reputation for sniffing out profit and making people money.  Mom had her own upscale boutique and sold to the wives of my father’s clients, among others.  They were members of the elite crowd: popular, social, and attractive.

I was brought up at the country club while my parents had martinis with the Vandemere’s and dinner with the Spencer’s.  Nights were spent watching them play bridge with their friends, munching daintily on cocktail peanuts and chocolate covered macadamia nuts.

God how I hated my life: there was so much pretending and pompousness.  I put up a good front; no one could tell how miserable I was.  Day after day I waited, looking forward to the moment when it would all be over and I could stop all the bullshit.

That moment came when I was eighteen.  At the onset of my eighteenth birthday a terrible dream of my father tormented me.  He would commend me on all my accomplishments, finances and wealth.  He would loom larger than life, towering over me and insist that I had grown up to be just like him and would always be like him.  It infuriated me but also scared me.  That was the last thing I wanted out of life.  I never wanted to be like my parents…and so I decided to kill them.

All in all, it was easy.  Managing to score a few knockout pills from one of the stoners at school was the most difficult part.  I slipped them in their evening cocktail and waited for the drowsiness to set in.  Dad was a little tough to carry but Mom was a piece of cake.  I laid them on the bed and used pieces of sheet to tie them down.  Easy Peasy. Then I took a shower, put on some casual clothes and went to pick up my date.

I didn’t know it at the time but a trend was starting with the women I saw.  This one had auburn hair that barely touched her shoulder, just like my mother’s, and she had that pale, slightly freckled skin that only redheads seem to get.  Beautiful and somewhat exotic, pure yet sexy; a great combination.  After picking her up I told her I had left something at home and wanted to run in and grab it; she never knew what I was up to.  I lit a few candles in the bedroom and then turned on the gas stove, making sure the burner was out.  My parents were still passed out on the bed, oblivious of the fact that their lives were almost over.  My, my, wouldn’t they be surprised.  I smiled as I left the house, knowing that soon I would be rid of their uptight, loathsome and petty selves.  Humming a tune we drove to dinner; the perfect murder, the perfect plan, was about to be executed.

********************

After my parents death I was rich, single and alone.  It was marvelous.  I was happy and thought by eliminating my parents it would also eliminate that horrible nightmare I was having about my father.  I was wrong…so wrong.  Oh, I had experienced some relief, a few months worth, but it came back with a vengeance.  It plagued me night after night, mocking me, driving me to the point of insanity.  I was afraid to go to sleep.  I didn’t eat.  I locked myself in my condo and huddled in the shower, hoping that something, anything, would make these visions cease.  Then it came to me.  They went away when I killed my parents, at least for a little while.  Why wouldn’t that work again?

I decided that murder was my only hope.  If I could find someone who resembled my parents, I could rid myself of these nightmares and be free to live my life in peace.  I started to look.  It wasn’t that difficult to find someone with the same coloring as my mother with auburn tresses, pale creamy skin, nice figure.  I decided to focus on her image instead of my fathers.  It would be more difficult to lure men into danger, but he felt he could handle the women.  He was an attractive man and a charming smile and the right clothes and attitude could easily sway women.

Vanessa was the first one.  She was young, still in college but home on break.  Her parents were away for the weekend and she invited him over.  Poor girl didn’t know what hit her.  One minute they were standing in her foyer talking, the next minute he was choking the life out of her against the living room couch, her legs beating feebly against the leather cushions.  He wasn’t sure where the thought of stuffing them with jewelry came from but it seemed like the right thing to do.  They were all tainted with the stink of high society and material greed.  It might as well flow out of their most precious orifice like the river of wealth they so covet.

The Dream vanished and he thought he might have found the key to his salvation.  It lasted a month, one beautiful nightmare free month.  He felt whole and free for that time and the taste was intoxicating.  When it reared its ugly head again, Christopher cried in pain and anguish, beating his fists against his headboard in frustration and anger.  Would this ever end?

He had two weeks of peace with Caroline and then he moved to Memphis.  There he had 21 days of blissful silence until he was visited by the visions again.  Megan took them away for nine weeks and then Jennifer helped him for 15 days more.  He moved to Chicago and relived the nightmare until he met Rachel and had sunshine and happiness for 28 days.  Monica took his pain for nine and Erica took it for 96.  Then he moved to Michigan and met Stasha in Muskegon.

He had just quenched the beast’s thirst with Ann but it came back with a vengeance and so he was lingering in The Knight Club when he saw her.  Auburn hair caressed her back sensuously and her skin shown like alabaster.  She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and she matched his preferences exquisitely.  He felt something stronger than mere lust when he looked at her and when she turned to look at him his breath caught in his throat.  She left him wanting her as she walked out the door and it wasn’t until two nights later that she sought him out and made him the proposal that would change his life.

She offered to rid him of the dream and give him long lasting life and health in return for his assistance as their daywatcher.  He was a little taken aback when she mentioned vampires, but it didn’t take long for that to sink in and become his reality.  Now he lived to serve and, with one battle under his belt, he was prepared to fight to the death for his savior, his redeemer, his Stasha.

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FROM SERIAL KILLER TO SERVANT by Christopher

I grew up with the best of everything:  the best cars, the best clothes, and the best schools.  Dad was a stockbroker on Wall Street and had quite a reputation for sniffing out profit and making people money.  Mom had her own upscale boutique and sold to the wives of my father’s clients, among others.  They were members of the elite crowd: popular, social, and attractive.

I was brought up at the country club while my parents had martinis with the Vandemere’s and dinner with the Spencer’s.  Nights were spent watching them play bridge with their friends, munching daintily on cocktail peanuts and chocolate covered macadamia nuts.

God how I hated my life: there was so much pretending and pompousness.  I put up a good front; no one could tell how miserable I was.  Day after day I waited, looking forward to the moment when it would all be over and I could stop all the bullshit.

That moment came when I was eighteen.  At the onset of my eighteenth birthday a terrible dream of my father tormented me.  He would commend me on all my accomplishments, finances and wealth.  He would loom larger than life, towering over me and insist that I had grown up to be just like him and would always be like him.  It infuriated me but also scared me.  That was the last thing I wanted out of life.  I never wanted to be like my parents…and so I decided to kill them.

All in all, it was easy.  Managing to score a few knockout pills from one of the stoners at school was the most difficult part.  I slipped them in their evening cocktail and waited for the drowsiness to set in.  Dad was a little tough to carry but Mom was a piece of cake.  I laid them on the bed and used pieces of sheet to tie them down.  Easy Peasy. Then I took a shower, put on some casual clothes and went to pick up my date.

I didn’t know it at the time but a trend was starting with the women I saw.  This one had auburn hair that barely touched her shoulder, just like my mother’s, and she had that pale, slightly freckled skin that only redheads seem to get.  Beautiful and somewhat exotic, pure yet sexy; a great combination.  After picking her up I told her I had left something at home and wanted to run in and grab it; she never knew what I was up to.  I lit a few candles in the bedroom and then turned on the gas stove, making sure the burner was out.  My parents were still passed out on the bed, oblivious of the fact that their lives were almost over.  My, my, wouldn’t they be surprised.  I smiled as I left the house, knowing that soon I would be rid of their uptight, loathsome and petty selves.  Humming a tune we drove to dinner; the perfect murder, the perfect plan, was about to be executed.

********************

After my parents death I was rich, single and alone.  It was marvelous.  I was happy and thought by eliminating my parents it would also eliminate that horrible nightmare I was having about my father.  I was wrong…so wrong.  Oh, I had experienced some relief, a few months worth, but it came back with a vengeance.  It plagued me night after night, mocking me, driving me to the point of insanity.  I was afraid to go to sleep.  I didn’t eat.  I locked myself in my condo and huddled in the shower, hoping that something, anything, would make these visions cease.  Then it came to me.  They went away when I killed my parents, at least for a little while.  Why wouldn’t that work again?

I decided that murder was my only hope.  If I could find someone who resembled my parents, I could rid myself of these nightmares and be free to live my life in peace.  I started to look.  It wasn’t that difficult to find someone with the same coloring as my mother with auburn tresses, pale creamy skin, nice figure.  I decided to focus on her image instead of my fathers.  It would be more difficult to lure men into danger, but he felt he could handle the women.  He was an attr

From Michelangelo to Monster by Michael

Once I created beauty with my pigments and brush.  Once I dreamed in color and created worlds full of poppies and hyacinths, sparkling blue waterfalls…and love.  Once I was human.

Darkness entered my life on rather abruptly one evening.  I was at a The Knight Club celebrating my art show at a local gallery when I sensed someone watching me.  Looking up I saw the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.  Her auburn hair hung down her back like a crimson sheet and her skin was as smooth and flawless as porcelain.  I could feel her presence like it was something tangible, filling my senses like a rare perfume.  All it took was one look from her and I was lost.  Approaching me from across the room she walked slowly, sensuously, and I awaited her eagerly.  My companions were entranced as well but she only had eyes for me.  I rose, almost against my will, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.  Never did it cross my mind that she was anything other than human.

Taking my hand she let me to William and Renee.  Together we walked silent streets, oblivious to everything but our seductive companions.  As we reached our destination I briefly thought this wasn’t right…this wasn’t me…but that thought swiftly disappeared as her soft lips touched mine.

She led me to the bedroom, to my death, and I went enthusiastically, excitedly.  Across the bed a smoked glass wall divided the room and I could see the shadows of William and Renee moving on the other side of it.  Stasha laid me on the bed and William mirrored her movements.  It was like an elaborate dance but instead of being in the audience, I was an active participant.  Renee and I were pawns in an involuntary game of seduction, our moans and sighs creating the background music for this unique performance.

Glancing at Stasha balanced above me, I couldn’t help but admire the way her hair fell over pearlescent breasts adorned with rose colored nipples: so beautiful.  She looked down at me and smiled and there was something odd about her teeth.  Before I could put my finger on it she cried “Wall!” and the smoked glass dividing the room rose, giving me an unobstructed view of William and his partner.  William smiled at me this time and I could plainly see his incisors protruding from his jaw.  I wanted to fight:  I wanted to flee, but I was powerless.  It almost seemed in slow motion as Stasha and William’s heads descended, fangs bared, toward our necks.  Turning my head toward Renee I watched as Williams teeth pierced her neck just as Stasha’s pierced mine.  She arched her back in pleasure and pain, moaning loudly, then looked at me dreamily for a moment before closing her eyes and I knew she was dead.  Pleasure ebbed through me for a few more moments and then I closed my eyes as well.  “Fucking vampires” floated through my mind as I drifted off.  “Who would have thought?”

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From Michelangelo to Monster by Michael

Once I created beauty with my pigments and brush.  Once I dreamed in color and created worlds full of poppies and hyacinths, sparkling blue waterfalls…and love.  Once I was human.

Darkness entered my life on rather abruptly one evening.  I was at a The Knight Club celebrating my art show at a local gallery when I sensed someone watching me.  Looking up I saw the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.  Her auburn hair hung down her back like a crimson sheet and her skin was as smooth and flawless as porcelain.  I could feel her presence like it was something tangible, filling my senses like a rare perfume.  All it took was one look from her and I was lost.  Approaching me from across the room she walked slowly, sensuously, and I awaited her eagerly.  My companions were entranced as well but she only had eyes for me.  I rose, almost against my will, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.  Never did it cross my mind that she was anything other than human.

Taking my hand she let me to William and Renee.  Together we walked silent streets, oblivious to everything but our seductive companions.  As we reached our destination I briefly thought this wasn’t right…this wasn’t me…but that thought swiftly disappeared as her soft lips touched mine.

She led me to the bedroom, to my death, and I went enthusiastically, excitedly.  Across the bed a smoked glass wall divided the room and I could see the shadows of William and Renee moving on the other side of it.  Stasha laid me on the bed and William mirrored her movements.  It was like an elaborate dance but instead of being in the audience, I was an active participant.  Renee and I were pawns in an involuntary game of seduction, our moans and sighs creating the background music for this unique performance.

Glancing at Stasha balanced above me, I couldn’t help but admire the way her hair fell over pearlescent breasts adorned with rose colored nipples: so beautiful.  She looked down at me and smiled and there was something odd about her teeth.  Before I could put my finger on it she cried “Wall!” and the smoked glass dividing the room rose, giving me an unobstructed view of William and his partner.  William smiled at me this time and I could plainly see his incisors protruding from his jaw.  I wanted to fight:  I wanted to flee, but I was powerless.  It almost seemed in slow motion as Stasha and William’s heads descended, fangs bared, toward our necks.  Turning my head toward Renee I watched as Williams teeth pierced her neck just as Stasha’s pierced mine.  She arched her back in pleasure and pain, moaning loudly, then looked at me dreamily for a moment before closing her eyes and I knew she was dead.  Pleasure ebbed through me for a few more moments and then I closed my eyes as well.  “Fucking vampires” floated through my mind as I drifted off.  “Who would have thought?”

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My Time as a Mafia Vampire

As told by Willie “The Shadow” Bennington

The year was 1957 and I had just arrived in New York from Miami and had been a vampire for almost 47 years.  I chose New York because it was a city on the brink of change…and it was also a city where a vampire could make a lot of money doing dirty jobs for the mob.

I took on the role of hit man and all around heavy for mob boss Carlo Gambino, right after he took his place as mob boss.  Two unknown hit men had just murdered Albert Anastasia and Carlo was on his way to the top.   His crime enterprise was the largest operation in the area, so there were plenty of opportunities for me to “take care of” the competition; and if they were missing a little more blood than usual, no one noticed.  There was so much death and mayhem that the coroners barely had time to look at the corpses, let alone examine them.

I earned my nickname on my second hit.  I had to take out a two-bit crook called Vegas Vinnie who had tried to mooch in on one of Gambino’s bookies, and that was never smart.  Vinnie and a buddy were coming home from the bar around 11:00, maneuvering the darkness of the alley on unsteady feet so I was unnoticed until after he had passed me.  Slipping out quietly I snuck up behind him and slit his throat silently, easing back into the shadows as his friend looked around frantically, just catching a glimpse of my smile as I disappeared into the darkness.

The next day it was all over town, how Vinnie was killed by a shadow that appeared out of nowhere, and disappeared just as quickly.  Since they knew it was me, I was dubbed “The Shadow” by the rest of the gang and even the boss adopted it, making me officially one of them.  I was even trusted to help with the expansion of the family into the drug trafficking rackets, along with the Lucchese family.    Together they cornered the market, so to speak, and it brought out plenty of lowlife scum for me to feed on.

It didn’t take me long to tire of this type so life though; so much pettiness, greed and senseless killing.  At least I, personally, only hurt people to survive.  There was too much drama, and I was ready for some adventure.  So in 1965 I traveled to a little place called Vietnam and decided to do some killing that made more sense.

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My Time as a Mafia Vampire

As told by Willie “The Shadow” Bennington

The year was 1957 and I had just arrived in New York from Miami and had been a vampire for almost 47 years.  I chose New York because it was a city on the brink of change…and it was also a city where a vampire could make a lot of money doing dirty jobs for the mob.

I took on the role of hit man and all around heavy for mob boss Carlo Gambino, right after he took his place as mob boss.  Two unknown hit men had just murdered Albert Anastasia and Carlo was on his way to the top.   His crime enterprise was the largest operation in the area, so there were plenty of opportunities for me to “take care of” the competition; and if they were missing a little more blood than usual, no one noticed.  There was so much death and mayhem that the coroners barely had time to look at the corpses, let alone examine them.

I earned my nickname on my second hit.  I had to take out a two-bit crook called Vegas Vinnie who had tried to mooch in on one of Gambino’s bookies, and that was never smart.  Vinnie and a buddy were coming home from the bar around 11:00, maneuvering the darkness of the alley on unsteady feet so I was unnoticed until after he had passed me.  Slipping out quietly I snuck up behind him and slit his throat silently, easing back into the shadows as his friend looked around frantically, just catching a glimpse of my smile as I disappeared into the darkness.

The next day it was all over town, how Vinnie was killed by a shadow that appeared out of nowhere, and disappeared just as quickly.  Since they knew it was me, I was dubbed “The Shadow” by the rest of the gang and even the boss adopted it, making me officially one of them.  I was even trusted to help with the expansion of the family into the drug trafficking rackets, along with the Lucchese family.    Together they cornered the market, so to speak, and it brought out plenty of lowlife scum for me to feed on.

It didn’t take me long to tire of this type so life though; so much pettiness, greed and senseless killing.  At least I, personally, only hurt people to survive.  There was too much drama, and I was ready for some adventure.  So in 1965 I traveled to a little place called Vietnam and decided to do some killing that made more sense.

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Prologue

She walks in beauty like the night-

Lord Byron

William Bennington smiled as Stasha approached him, his eyes sparkling with delight at the sight of his companion, his lover.  “The night suits you so well,” he growled as he pulled her close, feeling every curve of her body mould to his.

“I know,” she said haughtily and tore herself from him, her crimson silk dress swishing around her ankles as she walked swiftly away, not bothering to see if he was following.

“So you want to play, do you?” his disembodied voice whispered, never in the same place for more than a moment.  “Well then, let’s do.”  William’s laughter grew louder, she felt his breath on her neck and then he was gone.

Stasha walked on, past the closed greasy spoons and pawnshops, alone except for the occasional tourist who, if lucky, caught a fleeting glimpse of an extraordinarily beautiful woman with flowing auburn tresses and ivory skin.  Otherwise, the night belonged to her.

She soon arrived at their destination, a club called The Conquest.  The pink neon lights gave her skin a strange glow as she passed through the black double doors.  The music’s rhythm coursed through her body and her lips curled into a smile of anticipation as to what the evening could bring.

Walking into the main bar she felt eyes upon her, among them William’s.  She glided toward him, a seductive smile on her face, but at the last moment caught the eye of a beautiful man in black and so turned away in one swift movement.

William watched her go, his awareness heightening, knowing that The Game had begun.  Before him stood a young girl, perhaps twenty-four, her blonde hair a match to his own.  His hazel eyes stared fixedly on her and he cocked his head slightly toward her, pretending to be intently interested in what she was saying.  He smiled at her and she returned it, her painted pink lips parting just far enough for him to see the tip of her tongue.  He could feel her heart quicken and relished the thump, thump of its rhythm.  “Your move,” he whispered, his eyes turning to Stasha.

She swayed on the dance floor, her arms clasped tightly around the neck of the man in black, her body pressed against his.  She shut her eyes and gasped, hand pressed against his jugular vein, feeling the life-giving blood pumping faster and faster.

“Take me home,” she whispered, looking into the large brown eyes of the stranger.

“Certainly,” he replied, a hint of excitement in his voice.

William saw them leave and persuaded the girl to come to his apartment for a cocktail.  They left immediately, William intent on reaching the flat at the same time Stasha did.

She arrived home moments before he and as he walked through the door heard her call from the dining room.  “Won’t you join us?”

William led the girl through the candlelit hallway until they stood next to Stasha and her handsome companion.

“What shall we drink to,” the man said, his eyes roaming over Stasha.

She turned toward William and raised her glass.  “Pleasure, what else.”

After they had finished their token drink, they walked slowly down the hallway, each holding the hand of their companion, leading them to the spacious room they shared.  They entered by different doorways, the large room having been divided by a wall of mirrored glass.  It ran down the middle, splitting the empress-size bed in half and creating two separate areas.

William and Stasha moved as one, their bodies in harmony, and their thoughts flowing fluidly from one to the other.  They undressed themselves and then their companions, clothes falling like whispers.  As they lay their victims down, each playing the dominant role, they could feel the hunger building, yearning to be set free.  Stasha straddled the stranger, moving fluidly upon him, her back arched and her hands clasped in his.  William thrust inside the girl; each thrust a mirror image to Stasha’s.  As each felt the hunger reaching a crescendo, a cry of “Wall” could be hard from both sides.  As the mirrored glass rose, their inhuman eyes met and they descended upon their startled victims with fangs bared and drank greedily upon the blood, both still coupling with the strangers, still lost in the act, until life departed like a fleeing thief.

Stasha turned toward William, blood gleaming crimson on her milky white breasts, and they crawled toward each other, lust reflected in their eyes, eager to quench the fire of passion that still burned within.

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt from my novel A Stranger Feast.  You can find it at http://www.createspace.com/3378327 or through my Amazon store at http://astore.amazon.com/melikese-20

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Prologue

She walks in beauty like the night-

Lord Byron

William Bennington smiled as Stasha approached him, his eyes sparkling with delight at the sight of his companion, his lover.  “The night suits you so well,” he growled as he pulled her close, feeling every curve of her body mould to his.

“I know,” she said haughtily and tore herself from him, her crimson silk dress swishing around her ankles as she walked swiftly away, not bothering to see if he was following.

“So you want to play, do you?” his disembodied voice whispered, never in the same place for more than a moment.  “Well then, let’s do.”  William’s laughter grew louder, she felt his breath on her neck and then he was gone.

Stasha walked on, past the closed greasy spoons and pawnshops, alone except for the occasional tourist who, if lucky, caught a fleeting glimpse of an extraordinarily beautiful woman with flowing auburn tresses and ivory skin.  Otherwise, the night belonged to her.

She soon arrived at their destination, a club called The Conquest.  The pink neon lights gave her skin a strange glow as she passed through the black double doors.  The music’s rhythm coursed through her body and her lips curled into a smile of anticipation as to what the evening could bring.

Walking into the main bar she felt eyes upon her, among them William’s.  She glided toward him, a seductive smile on her face, but at the last moment caught the eye of a beautiful man in black and so turned away in one swift movement.

William watched her go, his awareness heightening, knowing that The Game had begun.  Before him stood a young girl, perhaps twenty-four, her blonde hair a match to his own.  His hazel eyes stared fixedly on her and he cocked his head slightly toward her, pretending to be intently interested in what she was saying.  He smiled at her and she returned it, her painted pink lips parting just far enough for him to see the tip of her tongue.  He could feel her heart quicken and relished the thump, thump of its rhythm.  “Your move,” he whispered, his eyes turning to Stasha.

She swayed on the dance floor, her arms clasped tightly around the neck of the man in black, her body pressed against his.  She shut her eyes and gasped, hand pressed against his jugular vein, feeling the life-giving blood pumping faster and faster.

“Take me home,” she whispered, looking into the large brown eyes of the stranger.

“Certainly,” he replied, a hint of excitement in his voice.

William saw them leave and persuaded the girl to come to his apartment for a cocktail.  They left immediately, William intent on reaching the flat at the same time Stasha did.

She arrived home moments before he and as he walked through the door heard her call from the dining room.  “Won’t you join us?”

William led the girl through the candlelit hallway until they stood next to Stasha and her handsome companion.

“What shall we drink to,” the man said, his eyes roaming over Stasha.

She turned toward William and raised her glass.  “Pleasure, what else.”

After they had finished their token drink, they walked slowly down the hallway, each holding the hand of their companion, leading them to the spacious room they shared.  They entered by different doorways, the large room having been divided by a wall of mirrored glass.  It ran down the middle, splitting the empress-size bed in half and creating two separate areas.

William and Stasha moved as one, their bodies in harmony, and their thoughts flowing fluidly from one to the other.  They undressed themselves and then their companions, clothes falling like whispers.  As they lay their victims down, each playing the dominant role, they could feel the hunger buil