Tell Me I'm Beautiful: The Carmilla Sheridan Adventures, #3

By Lee Cushing

Jasmine needed help, the only kind of help that Carmilla Sheridan could provide.

 

Her boyfriend had gone missing, the latest in a long line of disappearances, all young men. Agreeing to take the case, Carmilla follows the trail to a  woman, Isabella, cursed with the immortality of a vampire.

 

Will Carmilla uncover the fate of Jasmine's boyfriend or will he become the latest body drained corpse at the city morgue?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Cushing
• Release date: Oct 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223863649

Lee Cushing

Lee Cushing is a paranormal thriller author and a lifelong fan of the occult. Having become obsessed with supernatural folklore and the world of horror from an early age, Lee has spent years studying tales of the occult and immersing himself in stories of otherworldly phenomenon. He’s also the owner of a number of vampire and horror-related groups in Facebook, where fellow fans of the supernatural come together to celebrate and discuss all things paranormal.  His debut novel, Voodoo Mambo, blends high-stakes action and shadowy agencies with a dark underworld of demonic creatures and their insidious plots to attack humanity. Lee draws his inspiration from classic horror movies – including Hammer and Universal – as well as beloved TV shows including Doctor Who, Supernatural, The Avengers, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. 

Book preview

The Stricken Lover

The dimly lit coffee shop buzzed with the soft murmurs of conversations and the clinking of cups on saucers. Nestled into a corner booth, a lone woman sat, her hands tightly wrapped around a cup of untouched coffee. From a distance, she seemed unremarkable, just another soul seeking solace in a warm drink. But up close, her eyes told a different story — a story punctuated by sleepless nights, tear stains, and the weight of a heavy heart.

Carmilla had seen many clients throughout her intriguing career, but this woman stood out. An air of urgency and desperation about her was almost palpable. Every so often, she'd glance at the entrance as if expecting someone, only to be disappointed each time. Her fingers drummed on the table in an inconsistent rhythm, an obvious sign of nervousness.

She was in her late twenties, but the worry lines that crisscrossed her forehead seemed to add years to her face. Dressed in a simple white blouse and black skirt, she tried to present herself with a semblance of normalcy. Yet, her raven-black hair's disarray and her hands' slight tremor betrayed her.

A folded newspaper lay beside her, a headline screaming about another disappearance. Carmilla didn't need to read the details. She knew they'd align with the narrative of others she'd investigated. Still, this was more than just another case. The distressed woman's involvement was evident. The missing person's photo in the paper bore a striking resemblance to her — the same piercing blue eyes and dimpled chin.

Jasmine was searching for answers as she introduced herself with a voice that quivered more than she'd liked. Her boyfriend, the latest in a string of disappearances, had vanished without a trace. What made his case different? He had called her just hours before he disappeared, sounding frantic, mentioning a woman with an almost hypnotic allure, one he couldn't resist. Before he could say more, the call cut off abruptly.

Their last conversation replayed in Jasmine's mind, a haunting lullaby she couldn't shake off. She recounted the words, her voice barely above a whisper, He said she was mesmerizing, that he felt drawn to her, like a moth to a flame. He sounded scared, Carmilla, truly terrified.

While the city had seen its fair share of mysteries, this had an otherworldly feel. Those who vanished left no trace, no hint of struggle. It's as if they willingly walked away from their lives, captivated by something — or someone. And now, Jasmine's boyfriend was one of them.

Carmilla leaned in, her instincts kicking into high gear. She sensed Jasmine was holding back, perhaps a detail too outlandish to believe, even in their world where the supernatural wasn't just fiction. Jasmine, she urged gently, Every detail matters. Tell me everything.

Taking a shaky breath, Jasmine pulled out an ornate silver comb from her bag, He sent me this. The day he disappeared, it arrived at my doorstep. It's...cold, always cold, and sometimes...I hear whispers.

The room seemed to grow colder. The comb, seemingly benign, held a power that Carmilla recognized. The journey ahead was difficult, filled with dark twists and turns. But as she looked into Jasmine's pleading eyes, she knew she was ready to confront the shadows again.

Insight into the boyfriend's disappearance

The city had always been alive with mystery and magic, but now it was shrouded in an ominous silence. The streets that once echoed with laughter and music seemed quieter, the nights darker, and the shadows deeper. Against this backdrop, Mark, Jasmine's boyfriend, had vanished.

Mark was different from the type to stray. A man of routine, he found comfort in the predictable. He'd jog in the park every morning, waving to the regulars. Every evening, he'd call Jasmine at precisely 8 p.m., recounting the day's events and planning their future.

But that fateful day was different. The 8 p.m. call never came. Instead, an eerie silence filled the hours, stretching them into what felt like an eternal night for Jasmine. When she finally decided to investigate, she found his apartment untouched, as if he had just stepped out and would return any moment. His shoes were neatly placed by the door, his favorite mug filled with cold coffee on the table. The only thing amiss was a solitary red rose, its petals strewn across his bed, a symbol whose significance was unknown.

The police were baffled—no signs of forced entry, no evidence of a struggle, and no witnesses. Mark's credit card activity showed a last-minute purchase at a quaint antique shop that neither Jasmine nor their friends had heard of—the store specialized in rare, vintage items, each with a story of its own. The storekeeper, an older man with piercing green eyes, remembered Mark. He recalled a woman with captivating beauty entering shortly after Mark. Their eyes met as if the world around them ceased to exist. The two spoke in hushed tones, their conversation masked by the chimes of the old grandfather clock. Mark left with the mysterious woman, leaving behind more questions than answers.

A series of similar disappearances around the city began to paint a chilling narrative. Young men, all in the prime of their lives, disappear without a trace after being seen with the same woman. Her description was always the same: raven black hair, piercing blue eyes, and an almost supernatural allure.

Old legends began to resurface, whispers of a cursed woman who wandered the streets at night, searching for souls to quench her eternal thirst. But this was the modern age. Such tales were relegated to children's bedtime stories and old folklore. Or were they?

Determined to uncover the truth, Jasmine began her investigation. She revisited the antique shop, searching for clues. Hidden amidst dusty books and old trinkets, she found a diary from the 1800s. The entries, written in an elegant script, chronicled the life of a young woman named Isabella. Isabella was cursed with eternal youth and beauty, but at a grave cost. She was transformed into a creature of the night, her reflection lost, her soul forever tormented.

Isabella's last entry was poignant. She wrote of her desire to find true love, someone who would see beyond her curse and tell her she was beautiful even if she couldn't see it herself. The date of the last entry coincided with the first of the recent disappearances.

As the days turned into nights, Jasmine grew more desperate. The diary was her only lead, her only connection to Mark. But every page she turned only deepened the mystery, intertwining love, obsession, and a curse that spanned centuries.

Jasmine knew she was racing against time. With every sunset, the threat loomed larger. To save Mark, she would have to confront the shadows of the past and face the very creature that held him captive. The quest was dangerous, but love's flame burned bright, guiding her into the heart of darkness.

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Set the tone of mystery and urgency.

Whispers traveled faster than the wind in the city's narrow alleyways, where shadows danced, and secrets were the only currency. Somewhere in the distance, a clock tower chimed, its notes echoing through the misty air, leaving an imprint of foreboding. Every second counted, every heartbeat resonated with an urgency that could not be ignored.

The once vibrant marketplace stood eerily silent. Stalls that bustled with life during the day became ghostly specters under the moon's pale glow. Here, the night concealed more than it revealed. A veil of enigma wrapped around every corner, every turn.

A raven perched on a windowsill, its eyes scanning the streets below as if it were a guardian of the city's hidden tales. It cawed once, a solitary, haunting sound that seemed to carry the weight of ages. Then, in a flurry of black feathers, it took to the sky, its path illuminated by the occasional flicker of a street lamp.

There was a rustling from behind a closed door. Jasmine, the woman whose desperation had become a legend, emerged. She wore a cloak that trailed behind her, its dark fabric blending seamlessly with the night. Her eyes, sharp and determined, darted around, ensuring no prying eyes witnessed her move.

Quick, silent steps took her to the heart of the marketplace. She paused, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. The information she had received was limited, but every clue, every hint mattered. Time was of the essence, and the urgency of her quest gave her an energy she never knew she possessed.

Suddenly, a faint, eerie melody pierced the silence from an old gramophone in a nearby apartment. The haunting tune accentuated the mystery that hung in the air, adding layers of tension to an already palpable atmosphere. It played in sync with Jasmine's racing heart, a soundtrack to the unfolding drama.

Pulling a folded parchment from her pocket, Jasmine reviewed the hastily scribbled notes. Words that hinted at locations, symbols that seemed arcane, and names that whispered of power and danger. She knew that unraveling the puzzle would lead her closer to the truth. But with every step she took, the threat of discovery loomed larger.

From the depths of the alley, a cat emerged, its green eyes glowing with an unnatural light. It moved with purpose, its gaze fixed on Jasmine. An old superstition flashed through her mind: cats as keepers of secrets, messengers from realms unknown. Was it a guide or a warning? The line between friend and foe had never been blurrier.

A sense of urgency pushed her forward. Every moment was crucial, every discovery vital. With all its mysteries and shadows, the city beckoned her deeper into its embrace. The riddle she sought to solve was more than just a personal quest; it was a race against time, where stakes were high and the price of failure unimaginable.

Behind a curtain of mist, the silhouette of a grand mansion materialized. It was said that the walls of this place held answers to questions few dared to ask. The ornate gates, though majestic, appeared unwelcoming, guarding the secrets within. But Jasmine was undeterred. The weight of her mission propelled her forward.

The entrance loomed ahead. Jasmine took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. The air was thick with anticipation. The city's mysteries, the urgency of her quest, and the shadows of the unknown converged at this moment. With a final glance at the parchment, she stepped forth, ready to unveil the truths hidden in the city's enigmatic embrace.

CHAPTER 1

Echoes in the Dark

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Initial vampiric clues

The first rays of dawn painted the city in shades of gold and crimson, starkly contrasting the chilling discoveries that would soon unfold. Already a seasoned investigator, Camilla Sheridan was no stranger to bizarre cases, but this one promised to