Cora Frost: The Fasting Spider

By Matthew Smith

A short stand alone story with Cora Frost and her possible future. Cora Frost meets a boy who is said to commune with spirits in the form of spiders. After an accident young Jacob Fancher is left in an eternal state of fasting. Blind, he still amazingly weaves brilliant embroidered works. On death's door Jacob Fancher wishes to bestow a gift to Cora. A gift given by the spiders that possess him.

Also included is an excerpt from Cora Frost, The first adventure in the series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew Smith
• Release date: Dec 5, 2012

Book preview

Cora Frost:

The Fasting Spider

By Matthew Leland Smith

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2012 by Matthew Leland Smith

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this story or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

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1886, London

Jacob Fancher lay reclining in his bed. His once emerald eyes were now concealed by a granite like stain. Sightlessly and mechanically, the young teen embroidered an intricate rose design on an ivory shaded cloth. Gray thread weaved in and out of the blanched sheet. The needle dangled like a spider carefully gliding down with each downward stroke.

Possessed nearly to the point of automation, he seemed to mutter incoherently. All the while there was no sign of consciousness over his face. This metronome like motion continued until a small knock on the door. Like being snapped awake Jacob tossed in his bed. During the furor of confusion, the needle plunged deep into the boy's finger. Pulling it out, he flung the work and the bloodied tool beside him. Three small blots of crimson dripped from his finger to a spot just adjacent to a gray rose.

Jacob, a voice on the other side of the door echoed. It's aunt Laura. You have a visitor.

Come in, Jacob said. His voice sounded graveled and parched.

The ebony haired visitor crept in as the door creaked open. The visitor walked towards him, almost in the fashion of a funeral precession. She reached for the young boy's face. When her hand finally touched the boy, he swatted it away like a lion pawing down its prey.

Jacob!

No it's fine Mrs. Fancher, the visitor responded recalling her hand.

Are you her? Jacob gulped in trying to rehydrate his throat. Are you Cora Frost? Are you the woman who runs that shop?

Cora Frost was the