Mistress of the Crows

By Leslie Garber

Mistress of the Crows

Leslie Garber

A young woman is on the trail of a terrible secret and encounters the love of her life.

The size of this book corresponds to 100 paperback pages.

"No," whispered the grey-haired woman with the light blue eyes. Her mouth was half open. She was terrified.

From the horizon she saw the dark swarm of birds approaching. Like dark thoughts they floated in the sky.

They were crows.

I called her, she realized it and this realization struck her like a blow. She felt the despair rising inside her. It was a dark, cloudy day. Dorothy Carson shivered. An icy wind came from the coast and blew over the grey-looking country. A croaking sound cut the silence like a knife. The old lady swirled around looking at the front of the spacious, stately country house she lived in. Half a dozen crows had taken a seat on the roof without Dorothy noticing. And a few more have now been added. It was spooky.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alfredbooks
• Release date: Jul 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9783745205275

Book preview

Mistress of the Crows

Leslie Garber

A young woman is on the trail of a terrible secret and encounters the love of her life.

The size of this book corresponds to 100 paperback pages.

No, whispered the grey-haired woman with the light blue eyes. Her mouth was half open. She was terrified.

From the horizon she saw the dark swarm of birds approaching. Like dark thoughts they floated in the sky.

They were crows.

I called her, she realized it and this realization struck her like a blow. She felt the despair rising inside her. It was a dark, cloudy day. Dorothy Carson shivered. An icy wind came from the coast and blew over the grey-looking country. A croaking sound cut the silence like a knife. The old lady swirled around looking at the front of the spacious, stately country house she lived in. Half a dozen crows had taken a seat on the roof without Dorothy noticing. And a few more have now been added. It was spooky.

Copyright

A CassiopeiaPress Book: CASSIOPEIAPRESS, UKSAK E-Books and BEKKERpublishing are Imprints by Alfred Bekker

© by Author /COVER TONY MASERO

© of this issue 2015 by AlfredBekker/CassiopeiaPress, Lengerich/Westphalia

www.AlfredBekker.de

[e-mail]

1

No, whispered the grey-haired woman with the light blue eyes. Her mouth was half open. She was terrified.

From the horizon she saw the dark swarm of birds approaching. Like dark thoughts they floated in the sky.

They were crows.

I called her, she realized it and this realization struck her like a blow. She felt the despair rising inside her. It was a dark, cloudy day. Dorothy Carson shivered. An icy wind came from the coast and blew over the grey-looking country. A croaking sound cut the silence like a knife. The old lady swirled around looking at the front of the spacious, stately country house she lived in. Half a dozen crows had taken a seat on the roof without Dorothy noticing. And a few more have now been added. It was spooky.

Away, you little beasts! Dorothy shouted in a hoarse, powerless voice. Meanwhile, the flock of birds from the horizon was approaching.

Unbelievable, she thought. It is my thoughts that summon these beings. My dark thoughts and a mysterious power that seems to dwell within them...

But then why didn't they disappear again if she wished? Why didn't she have the power to drive those birds away again?

She heard the cawing and that sound went through her throat. For a moment Dorothy Carson was stunned, then she went for the main portal of the country house. She was scared. Nameless fear that tied her throat and threatened to drive her half mad... Fear of those dark creatures that she herself had summoned but over which she was still not completely mistress. The birds came closer. Dorothy Carson ran now. It was a big swarm. The cloudy sky began to darken. Some of the birds flew very low. And the horrifying cawing was now ubiquitous. That sound made Dorothy shiver. Inside her everything was cramping together. She heard herself murmuring incomprehensible words.

I can't control my power, Dorothy's head was boiling hot. She tried to concentrate, but she couldn't. She was filled with nothing but naked fear.

Then she tripped, only a few meters away from the staircase of the portal. Dorothy sobbed. It was pointless to stand against the overpowering dark forces that she herself had summoned. These powers were too strong. She couldn't control them, however hard she tried. She gasped. The fear sweat stood cold on her forehead as she turned around and saw the swarm of crows coming towards her. They were flying very low. And the animal cries of their hoarse birdcalls sounded like sinister death threats. Dorothy screamed with all her might and then closed her eyes. She turned around again, had her head in her hands and lay there like a curved embryo. Then she felt a touch on her shoulder and a shiver made her tremble.

A dark man's voice reached her ear as if from a distance.

Mrs Carson! Mrs Carson, come on!

She hesitated for a moment before she dared to open her eyes, then looked into a familiar, if visibly frightened face. It was Charles the butler's. Charles was much older than she was, but his grip was powerful and determined. The butler pulled Dorothy Carson up and got her back on her feet. She trembled and whimpered softly as the swarm of crows flew screaming over them both. Together they went up the portal. Charles opened the door and then, a moment later, they were finally safe. Dorothy grasped slowly.

It's so terrible, Charles, she sobbed. So terrible... The birds...

What about them? asked the butler.

Oh, Charles, it was I who called her! They were attracted to my thoughts, but there's nothing I can do about it! I can call them and sometimes it happens even without my intention, but I can't control them!

Mrs Carson..., the butler tried to calm the mistress of the country house, but he didn't get the chance to say anything.

I beseech you, Charles, go away from here too!

But, Mrs Carson, I would never leave you here alone, the butler explained in a firm voice.

These beasts - haven't you heard what happened to Lowell's calf? A whole swarm threw itself on the animal...

It is not conclusive that these were the crows, Charles explained objectively.

But Dorothy didn't have ears for it.

They proceeded according to plan, picking the animal's eyes first. Then it was helpless and they could kill it, even though it was so much bigger and stronger... I'm responsible, Charles! Me, nobody else! The power of my thoughts is to turn these harmless birds into beasts...

Stop it, Mrs Carson!, the butler demanded desperately.

The sounds of flapping wings penetrated even through the door at both their ears. Dorothy Carson had to swallow involuntarily. I have to fight it, she said to herself. And she pressed her fingertips against her temples, behind which it suddenly pulsated painfully. I have to do it!, hammered it in her. I have to... Otherwise the uncanny power dormant in her would continue to bring death and ruin...

2

Sally Rogers