Summoning Doll

By A. L. Wilson

It has been thirteen years since Dr. Lorenz Meissner was forcefully parted from his beloved parents. The sight of the two of them being carted off by German soldiers still haunts him. His lover, the Vampire Cyrus, finally convinces Lorenz to go in search of the couple, but the journey will require complicated travel arrangements.

In order to obtain passage on a supernatural-creature-friendly cruise liner bound for the United States, Cyrus and Lorenz agree to investigate a string of curious occurrences besieging witches. According to a coven leader, someone or something has been threatening witches, demanding the return of an unknown object.

Cyrus and Lorenz begin their investigation by visiting the homes of the accosted witches and warlocks only to find the individuals have vanished. Eventually, they come to the scene of a gruesome murder of an elderly witch named, Ma’dam Collette. This propels the couple into a case much more complicated than they previously anticipated.

Curses, dark magics, and ancient rituals surround a mysterious porcelain doll. With a dangerous group of cultists nipping at their heels, Cyrus and Lorenz fight to understand the nature of what they are dealing. Can our heroes decipher the clues and unlock the secrets of the doll before the cultists can complete their sinister plans? Or will a chance meeting with a genteel vampire named Le Von Funar, tear the couple apart before they have even begun?

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. L. Wilson
• Release date: Apr 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311473240

A. L. Wilson

As a young child A. L. held three aspirations which she vocally proclaimed to anyone that listened. She was either going to be an author, an actress or a psychologist.It was only after her brother was diagnosed with Autism and Pervasive Development Disorder that her aspirations shifted from theater and prose to exclusively studying psychology.However, she never truly left her flare for the dramatic behind. At the tender age of eight she was taking a starring role in Tom Sawyer; the following year it was Alice in Wonder Land. Then eventually her Senior year of High School she wrote and starred in the school's Senior play.The Case of the Murder that Wasn't, had her bouncing around stage as a savvy detective with a bumbling side-kick, attempting to solve the murder of a rich aristocrat. The off-color humor had audiences in stitches for three days and nights- to the delight of her and her family. However, despite the success of her writing and acting, the young A. L. graduated High School with honors and then immediately went on to start college in search of her (three) subsequent degrees in Psychology.It wasn't until years later that things would come full-circle as Indie Publishing has become more and more popular and the itch to write more overwhelming. Momentarily hanging up her hat as a Child and Family Counselor, A. L. has once again plunged her hands back into writing; spinning wild tales for her own enjoyment and hopefully the enjoyment of her audiences.

Book preview

Summoning Doll

The Haunted Case Files 2

A. L. Wilson

Summoning Doll © 2015 A.L. Wilson

Published at Smashwords

Cover art © 2015 A.L. Wilson

All original artwork by Heather N Martin

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are entirely the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidence.

Edited by Deborah St. Arbor

Just Feel

Vater! Mutter! Nein! Lorenz cried out from a feverish dream. He babbled in German, sweat dripping from his brow.

Cyrus frowned as he dragged Lorenz up, arms winding around his sweaty figure. "Lorenz…Lorenz wake up! It’s just a dream. Come on, we’re in the middle of the desert. You can’t do this here! You’re too dehydrated. This is dangerous! You’re a doctor! You know this!"

Lorenz flailed and kicked his feet as he fought the metaphorical demons in his nightmares. It was always the same. Lorenz called out for his mother and father when he was detoxing.

He startled awake, flinching before pushing at Cyrus’ bare chest, while turning his face away. Get off! Get away! I’m fine!

Cyrus gently brushed one hand across Lorenz’s face, getting blond locks out of his eyes and sopping up the droplets of sweat. You’re not fine! You need to drink… Cyrus opened his mouth, fangs unfolding from the roof.

Lorenz’s blue eyes swung back to look up at the vampire and he squirmed. Nein! Nein! I will not! It is wrong! Stop touching me! Nein! This ist wrong!

Cyrus’ eyes went wide and his arms slack, allowing Lorenz to wriggle free. Stop…touching you? What are you talking about?

Lorenz scrambled on his hands and knees towards the opening of the tent. Nein! I do not feel that way! I would never!...Go away! I don’t need you!

Cyrus was befuddled, hand outstretched as he watched Lorenz disappear into the cool night air. It wasn’t uncommon for Lorenz to hallucinate when he tried to go cold turkey from alcohol. However, the empty vodka bottle that tumbled out from underneath his bedroll indicated to Cyrus that withdrawals were not the problem.

So then what was Lorenz going on about?

When Cyrus heard a splash coming from outside, he bolted out of the tent and ran down to the water’s edge. By the time he arrived behind Lorenz, the other man was staring down at his reflection, holding a scalpel in one hand. Cyrus didn’t know what Lorenz was planning to do with the blade, or even where he’d gotten it, considering Lorenz was dressed only in loose fitting bed clothes, but he wasn’t about to stand there and wait to find out.

Cyrus dropped to one knee, an arm wrapping around Lorenz’s waist, so the opposite hand could dart forward and wrestle the blade out of Lorenz’s clenched digits.

What are you doing!? Stop it! I’m not…let go! Lorenz protested.

Cyrus grunted, tugging the blade free and tossing it into the sand. Will you just calm down?! He didn’t mean to, but a growl erupted from his chest, causing Lorenz to freeze and then go limp in his arms. Blue eyes were staring up at him, slightly wide, and Lorenz’s pale body was trembling.

Cyrus sighed out heavily, feeling terrible for having growled. Guilty eyes stared down at Lorenz as Cyrus lifted a dark hand and ghosted it against his cheek, gently brushing back and forth; touching the damp flesh tenderly. Please, stop Lorenz. I can’t take this anymore. You’re breaking my heart.

Ich…I…vhat? Lorenz’s German accent became thick and verbose in his confusion. It was hard enough to make out what he was saying during his garbled manic outbursts, but now it was worse. It often became thicker and more difficult to understand when he was upset or excited.

Cyrus closed his eyes, slowly shaking his head back and forth. When he opened them again, the look was soft, though slightly desperate. I care about you, and I do not want to see you hurt or suffering. I don’t know how you feel about me, but we have to figure something out. I won’t stand by and watch you slowly kill yourself with guilt. It’s been two damned years, Lorenz. And don’t you look at me and tell me that I don’t understand what you’re going through. I’m a fucking vampire. I know what it’s like to be a monster but simultaneously a man. If you don’t come to terms with who you are…you’re going to kill yourself and I think if you did that…a part of me would die with you. For reasons not even Cyrus could put into words, he tenderly brushed his thumb along Lorenz’s bottom lip.

A shiver jolted through Lorenz’s body and he choked out. I cannot come to terms with mein wants.

Cyrus furled his brows together tightly, eying Lorenz and the undeniable shiver. With your… Slowly dark eyebrows climbed up his forehead and realization hurtled through him. All the pushing and shoving between the two of them emotionally, and the way that neither would leave the other despite overwhelming difficulties suddenly made sense. They were so close and yet so oddly far away. Neither had wanted to admit what was between them, perhaps out of fear of rejection or maybe it was the fear of what it could mean if there was no rejection. There were so many obstacles standing in the way if either of them gave in to desire.

Cyrus slipped his hand up the back of Lorenz’s neck and tangled nimble fingers into sweat soaked blond locks. He tightened his grip, jerking backwards in a commanding way. Before Lorenz had time or thought to break free, Cyrus leaned forward and crushed their lips together, snaking his tongue out and using it to push apart Lorenz’s lips.

Lorenz was so shocked that a half gasp was enough to give Cyrus full access to that waiting warm mouth. Lorenz found himself kissed deeply, while jerked against the vampire’s tight body. His legs were parted and he was seated firmly so their hips could grind perfectly together. A hand slid down his back, nails raking against the spine before cupping under his rear and squeezing almost to the point of pain. Inside his mouth an expert tongue swirled, and he tasted copper where Cyrus had pricked his tongue against a fang and let a few droplets of vampire blood mingle between them.

Lorenz tugged back, crying out in a moaning whine. Nein! Ist wrong! You must stop. We can’t…

Both Cyrus’ hands moved to grip Lorenz by the hips, grinding him back and forth so that thick heated arousals were bumping one another through thin bits of sweaty cloth. I can do anything I damned well please. I’m a vampire. Cyrus growled out low and sensual, while leaning up to run his thick tongue from Lorenz’s chin all the way down the center of his throat.

Lorenz kicked his feet like a child throwing a tantrum, making sand flick in every direction behind Cyrus. Mein Gott!

Cyrus growled, catching Lorenz by both cheeks and tugging him to stare directly into his red ringed eyes. "You are not a man of God. You are a man of science. Tell me…what science is there that declares this as wrong?! Cyrus thrust himself upwards, bouncing their throbbing erections together. The act elicited a cry from the throat of Lorenz, and Cyrus smiled. See? You want me. This is why you keep trying to rid yourself of your need for my blood. You didn’t want to admit it."

Lorenz whined again, hands coming to rest on dark-skinned shoulders. His bottom lip was trembling and there were tears in his eyes. I am so confused…I can’t think… A hiccup convulsed Loren’s chest.

Cyrus leaned over, reaching down to neatly pluck a dainty pink desert rose from a nearby plant. He held it up to Lorenz who took it with a quivering hand. Don’t think…just feel. Feel me. Cyrus purred into Lorenz’s ear.

The Old Woman, The Gentleman, And The Doll

Nine years later…

A shot rang out over his head causing Lorenz to drop to his knees. He had entered the establishment through the front while his lover circled around to the back. Something had felt wrong about the small store. Everything was dark, and though the door was unlocked, no one had answered when he called out. Now he was being shot at while hiding behind the counter.

Another shot flew over his head, smashing into a clay pot filled with some kind of incense. It showered down upon him, causing him to sneeze. Scrambling back, he managed to pull out a specially crafted hand-held crossbow. The room was pitch and he wasn’t sure who or what he might be firing at, but the spike of fear in his chest when Cyrus did not appear, had him shooting in desperation none the less.

A groaning sound nearby made Lorenz start, gasping in shock as he swung his blue eyes towards his left; he was not alone in his hiding place. On the floor was a crumpled figure and though the incense stung his nose, he was now aware of a second scent…blood. Crawling closer he groped towards the crumpled figure. His wrist was caught by cool slender fingers and as his eyes adjusted, he could make out a thin and frail looking woman. She lie in a pool of blood, her silvery hair splayed out around her.

Ssshhh… She whispered to him in the darkness before reaching a trembling liver-spotted hand into the folds of her robes. She produced a box about twelve inches high and handed it towards him. Take it. Take it. You must flee this place. Do not…let them… She coughed, blood dribbling down from her lips.

Lorenz winced, receiving the strange package that was shoved weakly towards him. I am sorry. We were too late.

The woman smiled, a bloody hand reaching up to touch his face. She left a smear of crimson against his creamy flesh. "You arrived…exactly when…you were meant to. Now go, go now out into the alley and run. Your lover…will