Blood and Darkness

By Robert Smoothy

Seven strangers trapped inside a vampires building. Two killer maids. A secret werewolf society. A mans haunting nightmare after a devastating flood. Written confessions of a stud killer, a naughty telling of an old fairy tale. A girl who can wish anything she wants with consequences. Red headed woman named Laura. Demon who turn up in Susan Stark’s life and the ghost town of Ravenscross where visitors never depart. Thirteen short stories of horror.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Smoothy
• Release date: Apr 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463324363

Robert Smoothy

I am Australian from Toowoomba Qld. I enjoy books and movies and sometimes write comments online. I indulge in the pleasure of travel, mostly my own country. I of my own free will choose to live the bachelors life of freedom. My general knowledge is average, however for me rewrites are endless. I never went to University or College. Went to Grade 10. For people like me with low IQ's Rewrites are endless. I am no College or University Egghead.

Book preview

BLOOD AND DARKNESS

My general knowledge is not the best. I am not an egghead with a high IQ. Rewrites are endless-for me anyway. Smashwords, rules: unknown rejected authors have an opportunity to be noticed easing the rejection burden. I am grateful Smashwords, lets people update their work and upload again, that is handy to many of us including me. I welcome Editors and manuscript assessments within reason.

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CONTENTS:

SUSAN’S ENCOUNTERS.

SEVEN INVITATIONS.

THE TWO BLACKOUTS.

THE DARK WOLVES.

LAURA AND ANGELICA.

THE TWO MAIDS.

AFTER THE FLOOD.

THE SMOKER.

KAKADU SPIRIT.

WISHING GIRL.

THE STUD KILLER.

RAPUNZEL.

RAVENSCROSS.

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SUSANS ENCOUNTERS

1: BLOOD DRINKER

1

The blood of Judy Hagen, a pleasant indulgence for the creature in pursuit of Susan Stark, capable to transform that attractive middle-aged woman into a vampire of great beauty.

A warm spring evening, Judy staggers onto the high-rise terrace, her lover sprawled out in the bedroom dead on the queen size bed. Holding a bottle of wine, gazes at the other high-rise buildings in the city of Brisbane, the lights and busy city activity below a tiny blur.

Here’s…to you…B…Bris…bane.’

She takes a swig; a cold breeze hits her in the face that felt like ice on her flesh.

She stumbled backwards, grabs a chair to hold herself upright able to hold the bottle. Judy cussed able to slowly stand upright despite her dizziness. She turns away from the view, not able to see into the apartment: a giant shadow stands before her in the lights. A tall, being in black, she assumes is her fiancée Augustus lorry.

‘Gustus. How did you…get so…tall?’

She chuckled and staggered, unaware this was not her partner.

‘Augustus?’

The creature Saul appears; thick white smoke circling the tall being covering the Terrace. Through the smoke reveal two red blazing eyes, she cannot see the face, just eyes and fangs. Saul snarled; Judy screams at the stranger with his cape held out. Saul walks over to the girl, covers her in his cape and drains her to the last drop.

2

Typing away on her laptop, top story of the two-bedroom house office, Susan Stark almost mid-fifties, could pass for thirty or twenty-eight, author of two bestsellers: Night Cult, a novel about a private detective hunting for a killer werewolf.

Her second novel: Jennifer’s Torment shot Susan to the bestseller lists. Night Cult made good money. Susan stopped renting, bought a house but kept working. Jennifer’s Torment made Susan a millionaire and after working various departments, same supermarket for longer than thirty years she gave up the day job; now an author.

Night cult was made into a movie to Susan’s satisfaction. Jennifer’s Torment might follow. Jennifer’s Torment is about a girl aged nineteen, burdened by Satanists. The novel dealt with witchcraft and Devil worshipping with sexual orgies, mostly lesbians.

Lots of male readers enjoyed Jennifer’s torment. Susan wondered how many males did not care about plot and wanted to just read about lesbian sex, her sister mentioned that. Susan agreed.

Susan never married is bi-sexual, sometimes she would sleep with married couples or just one person. She shared a bed with various lovers going both ways since her late teenage years no relationships or commitments for Susan which suited most people, mostly men.

Magazines and local Brisbane newspapers scattered over her desk with page one headlines:

SUSAN STARK. BISEXUAL WOMANISER AND MAN EATER.

53-YEAR-OLD BEAUTY PROVES AGE IS LIMITLESS.

SUSAN STARK. AUTHOR AND SWINGER

LIFE BEGINS AT FIFTY FOR SUSAN STARK

Susan an avid book and movie fan; on her bookshelf books by favourite authors: Anne Rice. Elmore Leonard and most important Stephen King. She had all the Ian Fleming James Bond books. A big Bond fan, loving male leads and the Bond Girls. Night Cult in paperback and Jennifer’s Torment in Hardcover also on the shelf.

Her next novel due for release in forthcoming months: Flower Demon will be in stores and hopefully other people’s shelves. Susan sometimes read old articles about herself, friendly or not and smiles with a closed mouth; not much of a grinner being the strong Silent type.

Susan often told she looked like Kate Beckinsale, one of Susan's favourite actors. Susan saw a slight resemblance, so did her sister and mother.

Susan types away looking outside top floor window, out into her suburban neighbourhood of old and new houses in good condition. She jumps when her swivel chair is pulled back and younger sister by two years: Katy Stark sits on her older sister’s lap, Planting a kiss on her cheek. ‘Morning sis.’

Susan grinned. ‘Jesus, Katy. I told you not to do that.’

‘Come on sis. You loved it when we were kids.’

Katy stood up in North Queensland Cowboys football Jersey with the surname Thurston on the back and autograph of Katy’s favourite player. The sisters up in Townsville some years back met the players and got autographs. Katy is a Cowboys supporter first and Brisbane Broncos second, Susan, vice versa.

Katy Stark who had short brunette hair since seventeen. Katy was one of these women who looked better with short hair instead of long hair, that she preferred to long hair anytime. In early fifties the sisters blessed with youth that made them look thirty.

Anyone who says Fifty is the new thirty, well Susan and Katy are both perfect examples, though the sisters do like to visit the beauty parlour, when they feel like it.

Katy Stark married twice. First, she was twenty; marriage lasted six months, separated, both too young and not in love like they thought. Second marriage Katy and her lover early thirties and together for a year.

The couple used to fight; he wanted to live on the western side of the country while Katy stayed on the east side for her family. The guy’s family moved west for business reasons, and he put work ahead of love for his wife.

Susan had never married or even come close, she had been bi-sexual since high school where she only got to grade ten and entered the workplace with no goals at the time.

The sisters used to argue Susan, one lover after another: one-night stands. Katy believed in commitment until her failed second marriage. Katy like Susan happily avoids relationships and does one-night stands.

Susan never in a committed relationship, just casual ones. The Stark sisters liked freedom and variety. Susan went both ways; Katy: men only.

The mother never criticised their daughters, respecting their privacy but told them to be careful, like any parent would. Susan’s father passed away than she entered the workplace to help with income, debts to be paid after the funeral. Susan who flunked every subject in school, including English did not mind leaving to enter the workplace.

Katy took a picture magazine from last year off the bookcase with Susan on the cover in a bikini, sat down in a spare chair and flipped through the magazine. Inside Susan showed her breasts. The magazine writes about Susan being an ambassador for male perverts. She said she enjoyed variety of lover’s male and female.

She let guys hit onto her; the response would be a friendly yes or no. She had a legion of male fans. How many read my books? She wondered. On occasion she made love to female fans, most women, the opposite of Susan: commitment, Susan no responsibilities, I am not selfish, she had said in interviews, I choose freedom and variety.

Susan stopped typing, stayed seated. Katy put the magazine aside; she laughed and snorted. Before Susan could ask, Katy kissed and told, leaning on the desk.

Not the first time, sis.’ Katy said sis a lot. ‘The guy had these glow in the dark condoms. When he got a boner, it looked like a lightsabre from Star Wars. Just think if I had two men, they can both wear the glow rubbers get a boner and have a lightsabre duel.

Susan laughed silently, not a big laugher. Katy snorted and made lightsabre sounds, best she could.

‘How did you go last night with that couple sis? You were all in bed when I got home from Bowling last night. I heard a car leaving this morning.’

‘The guy’s wife is bi-sexual. I was able to score with her as well as him.’

‘You oblige the common male fantasy sis. I accept men like you better than me.’

‘I do not know. They were lovely but not gorgeous like Melanie Williams and her husband Ian.’

‘True. Ian is a handsome man sis.’

Melanie a publisher here in Brisbane rejected Susan, before she accepted Night Cult, the money from the book and film allowed Susan to buy a home. Jennifer’s Torment, Susan left working. Susan used to manuscript rejections did not know how to act when acceptances and lots of money came her way.

She would have kept writing until she was a hundred if required.

Katy had lived in several apartments in the past, two ex-husbands and female mates. Susan a loner lived in three apartments before getting a house. Katy was invited to live with Susan. Katy lived with Susan, their mother lived north on the sunshine coast, a place she enjoyed.

Success came late for Susan, but few people would realize that: Susan maintained her youth. Katy, her mother and even grandmother were beautiful for a long time.

‘It is my fantasy to have a threesome with Ian and Melanie. I will never ask for it. They are committed parents.’

‘I think Ian might enjoy it sis.’

‘Only in my dreams.’

Susan stopped to think, Katy asked what Susan is doing after she went silent, looking at the screen: typos to fix.

‘Are you thinking sis?’

‘Yes.’

‘I will think too. What are we thinking about sis?’

Katy snorted.

‘I am thinking about what I need to edit with my manuscript and wondering about how to Kill you.

Katy chuckled and snorted.

The vampire Saul wrote to Susan.

Fan mail on a table and packages in the lounge sent to publishers then here unless Susan picked it up herself. Most fan mail friendly. Religious fanatics saying Susan will burn in hell. Many offers for sex, Susan had accepted some mostly from men, few women.

Katy helped herself to some Turkish delights from a male admirer until Susan slapped her hand. Katy put the item down.

‘This is interesting.’ Susan said.

She read a letter from Saul, the vampire she assumed a weird fan.

My darling Susan. I can enlarge your desires. I can give you Ian and Melanie Williams for sexual satisfaction.

Whatever, Susan thought.

Who is Saul? Some mad fan who knows too much about me.

Katy had chocolate on her lips and fingers after Susan read the message.

‘What?’

‘Hope you get pimples glutton.’

Susan forgot about Saul for now.

Early afternoon Susan and Melanie Williams relax in a sauna. A beauty parlour, no men allowed, just women, how Melanie likes it. Susan sits naked in the sauna, her attractive mate wrapped in a towel.

Susan admires Melanie discreetly, she loves being naked in front of Melanie, she wished for Melanie’s Husband Ian or both, Susan refuses to ruin a relationship or marriage and create soap opera disaster.

Melanie informed Susan: next book will be in stores middle of next year. Flower Demon.

Melanie is Susan’s best friend. The Stark sisters helped Melanie and Ian. Babysitting the couple’s two daughters during busy routines. Two daughters, Susan owed Melanie who was delighted to publish Night Cult. Melanie rejected Jennifer’s Torment. Susan rewrote the novel with changes and after Night Cult, it is accepted.

Susan made good money, paid off Ian and Melanie’s house, contributions for their children’s school, though both children went to public schools, parents not bothered with private schools due to cost mostly.

Melanie and Ian refused to accept the generosity. Susan demanded they accept building up to great persistence. Susan refused to have them pay her back because Susan owed Melanie and Ian who read Night Cult and told his wife this should be published. He enjoyed Jennifer’s Torment. Susan loved both these people as family.

She wished the married couple could be her lovers.

‘You hear about Judy Hagan and Augustus Lorry?’ Melanie asked.

Susan could focus on talking to her half naked friend. She masturbated this morning. She is focused on Melanie. Susan wondered if she would learn the secret to why she has hormones like a young person in her middle age.

Katy and other Stark females wondered why youth at an old age. They get tired, exhausted and have illnesses, so do youngsters. They wondered but stopped caring.

‘I know. Not a drop of blood on the scene.’

‘I knew someone who was friends with Judy. Never met Judy, but I spoke to her friend who is shocked about the death. Judy partied and drank a lot but never hurt anyone. This friend of mine asked me if I had lunch with Kate Beckinsale. Ian notices a resemblance between you and Kate. I do too.’

‘I love Kate Beckinsale. I am happy to be mistaken for my favourite actor. You watch Game of Thrones?’

‘Yes. Ian likes it more than I do.’

‘Katy thought my name is like Sansa Stark: same initials and surname. A rare occasion when Katy has a brain.’

Susan is having lustful thought of her and Melanie making love to Ian, keeps herself under control. She took her mind out of the gutter; not polite to have lustful thoughts and think about these parents who lost a child. Melanie Williams is good at minding her own business.

She often asked Susan and even Katy will they get married or rather asked Katy will she get married again. The sisters comment they are single for life, she asks no more. Eliminating lustful thoughts Susan found her mind wandering to Saul again.

3

Late evening, he drops the annoying girlfriend of at her house. They argue in the car. Chelsea and Andrew had their occasional spats.

‘Goddammit Andrew, why do you make a big deal out of nothing when I talk to other guys?’

‘I saw you with him, laughing and smiling when he put his arm around you.’

‘He has a partner. Jesus you are jealous. I never saw this side in you.’

‘I am not Jealous. I- ‘

A shadow zoomed by the passenger’s side of the vehicle, no sound of footsteps. It appears in front of the vehicle. The lights capture a tall figure in black clothes and cape, with a bald green head. The ears long and pointy. Red eyes blaze.

Chelsea screams. Andrew steps out to confront the hideous stranger. He falls under the spell of Saul the vampire into a trance.

Saul has sharp fingernails that make a vertical slice across Andrew’s neck.

Screaming, Chelsea slides over to the driver’s side. The driver’s door is ripped off and tossed into the street. Saul does not care who hears, he will be gone soon. Chelsea is grabbed by one hand round her neck, bringing her out of the vehicle then held above ground. She is strangled then drained.

4

Susan naked on her bed thinking about Melanie and Ian, she has a picture of them by her bed is hearing the voice of a pleasant stranger calling her to join. I will make them yours. Susan enjoys the charming unknown voice.

Saul stands outside the house. He can see up to Susan’s room; not inside. He can take her anytime, there is no rush. Saul disappears back to the empty house he occupies, where his young evil smirking accomplice is outside about to let the monster in.

‘You will have Susan my friend. I know her well.’

5

Apart from writing, Susan did work on her suntan, real or fake. She sunbathed in a bikini in the backyard, not caring who caught her. When she dressed and got back inside, Katy was in her bowling gear on the recliner. She had been reading about two recent murders. She handed the paper to Susan who sits on the sofa.

‘Shit hey.’ Katy said. ‘Two bodies drained of blood, no traces.

‘The news is always goddamn terrible Katy.’

Susan went through the paper and looked at Katy.

‘I wish you wouldn’t put numbers in the crosswords and letters in the sudokus.’

‘That is nothing sis. One of my old lovers thought he had a condom and it turned out he bought a packet of balloons by mistake. What an idiot.’

Katy snorted.

‘What do condoms and balloons have to do with crosswords and sudokus?’

‘Nothing sis, thinking aloud. Anyhow sis. How can you remove all evidence of blood; the killer had a straw stuck into the person’s body and drank, then he got a vacuum cleaner, found an outlet, and cleaned the leftovers. Would suction get all the blood?’

Katy laughed and snorted.

‘That would not work, makes a great plot for some weird fiction. Might research it.’

‘Serious? How?’

‘I kill you and see if I can remove all evidence.’

‘You, kidder.

‘What is interesting, the bodies had two puncture marks on various parts of the body close together. A vampire killing.’

Next day Susan and Katy met another demon. A human being but monster.

This evening Saul killed an aerobics instructor after her class left. He appeared in smoke in the gymnasium dressing room and attacked before she could scream.

The middle-aged man helping Saul is called Ramsey sits on the floor meditating in the circle of a Satanic pentagram drawn in blue chalk.

Saul offered great riches to Ramsey if the man would bring him Susan Stark.

Saul claimed another two victims: a couple walking down a side street to their motel. The vampire struck before they could scream or fight.

Before, Susan and Katy left Brisbane city late afternoon, wanting to avoid school students who accepted an entire train a lot of the time, she met Harold Nesbit on the platform, where commuters stepped on and off trains.

‘Don’t look now but it’s Harold.’

Harold grinned as he approached Susan.

‘Get fucked Harold.’ Susan said.

The sisters when it came to bad language: take it or leave it.

Katy thought Harold was clean cut and handsome, the smirk implied; please bash me up, not that people who smirked wanted to be beaten up, they without thought asked for it.

‘Come on Susan. You know you lust for me.’

‘Fuck off Harold. I would not care if you died.’

‘Wow.’ Katy said.

Insults flew off Harold. He had no emotion.

‘I am into terrorism and support workplace bullying. I want women to be hit. I think the poor people should be assassinated. I admired or still admire terrorist organisations.’

Katy felt traumatised, wondering if her heart is going to stop beating. There are no people near them, but Harold did not seem to care if someone heard or not. He told the sisters that he is wealthy, and money saves people from trouble according to Harold.

‘Harold. Are you serious?’ Katy asked.

‘Dead serious. You?’

‘Fuck off.’

The train pulled up, Susan and Katy boarded, when they looked outside, he was gone. Susan told Katy She met Harold outside her publisher’s office: Vikers. She thought Harold was a fan. He said what was on his mind. Wish we could organise a Ku-Klux-Klan an entertaining terrorist organisation the world will be a better place.

Susan wondered if it is a joke, then he mentioned baby deaths and child cancer, he wanted it to happen more often. Susan was about to walk away, she is about to tell Harold he needs help, or be arrested, but the man vanished as though he was not there. Susan gave up.

‘He has vanished again Katy.’

‘Made a dash for it, sis. He must be a fast mover. The things he said I tell you sis. Harold Nesbit will come undone, and money will not save the guy. He better piss-off fast.’

6

Susan stares looking outside her bedroom window of a warm evening naked not caring who saw her, even Saul, but if it is Harold Nesbitt then she will hide. Susan loved her body, her fifty-plus year-old figure like the body of a supermodel. She worked on her body of course with tummy exercise; fucking and masturbating, also good exercise.

Susan and Katy had often been told they are like the women from Sex and the City: middle aged and beautiful. Katy liked the show, Susan liked a few episodes, attracted to Samantha played by Kim Cattrall.

Susan did not believe in vampires but went shopping, nevertheless.

Katy walks into the kitchen after seeing a man off, who said a quick hello and goodbye to Susan. He was Katy’s one-night stand.

‘Damn! I forgot his name sis. Men are sex freaks lousy with commitment. Most women hate that but not us.’

Susan had some objects on the bench: wooden stakes. A mallet. A crucifix and some garlic cloves.

‘Fucking hell.’ Katy said. ‘What’s with the garlic.’

Katy covered her mouth.

‘Garlic doesn’t stink that bad Katy.’

‘You think. Smells like a gorilla farted.’

‘Jesus Katy.’

Susan told Katy, somehow there is a vampire at work. Her female instincts and whatever facts she could produce while Katy stood at the counter observing the stake. Susan faced Katy standing leaning on the bench.

‘Saul sent me telepathic messages and offered eternal youth. Also, all victims were drained of blood.’

‘Vampires?’

Katy did not believe Susan and felt a chuckle coming on and stopped. Susan spoke serious, but like her younger sister, she cannot believe. None of them have phenomenal beliefs, both sisters since childhood both atheists believe everything