Good afternoon and a pleasant All Hallows Eve to you. This post is going to serve multiple purposes. So, buckle up, and let's get started!
http://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com
“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”
These words were spoken by a young, angular scarecrow of a man.
Virgil DeMille stood six feet tall and weighed perhaps 140 pounds. The shaggy,
dark-brown hair topping his oblong head resembled a bad Beatle wig, but it was
his own. To complete his look, he wore an unfortunate suit that looked as if he
had stolen it from a funeral home. He had a narrow Roman nose, obviously capped
teeth, a sharp chin, and his prominent Adam’s apple bobbed in his skinny neck
as he swallowed hard and glared at his companion.
Notes:
I shifted from sharing Ketil and Yitzy's Adventure in the Xura Dream House this week to share this piece from the second book in the Tales from the Dreamlands series, which I am currently working on. The rest of the segment and links to purchase Ketil and Yitzy's Adventure follow.
A harsh wind blew the charnel fog hanging over the shores of
Xura towards the corrupt structure upon whose porch Virgil stood, regarding the
young woman in his company with displeasure. She was an insecure damsel wearing
too much makeup, a white minidress accessorized with a black belt, black
tights, and black ballet flats. Atop her head perched a wig fashioned in the style of either Marilyn Monroe
or Madonna. She had a round face with plump cheeks that she despised, and the
moss-green eyes that she wished were jade were filled with doubt about herself,
her companion, and her situation.
“I’m not planning anything, Virgil,” the uncertain
girl-woman protested. “I’ve just had some time to think about things, and I don’t
think what we’re doing is right. Larry doesn’t deserve this. He’s a good
person.”
“But he doesn’t excite you, Pepper. That’s why you dreamed
about me. You admitted to me that you don’t love Larry.”
“I don’t, and I feel terrible about it. But I don’t love you
either. It was just one stupid dream. I never should have acted on it.”
“Pepper, Baby, please! Don’t let that Catholic guilt of
yours kill your chance at happiness,” Virgil begged melodramatically as Pepper
rolled her eyes. “You agreed to come here with me to the Dreamlands so we could
decide what we should do without interference. Just you and me, free to follow
our hearts wherever they may lead.”
“Yes, and they’ve led us to a decaying house on an island that
smells like death,” Pepper noted.
“And you dig that!” Virgil persisted. “You’re a freaky
chick, Pep. You’re into vampires and haunted houses and all that goth shit. Don’t
pass up this opportunity. I think we’re alone now, and we have a chance to
explore this wicked house and act out our wildest fantasies. Come on, my hot
victim, let’s go inside and your Prince of Darkness will make your flesh quiver
with arousal!”
As the pair peered into the front window of the intimidating
structure, the door opened suddenly. A figure in a black hooded robe holding a
lantern stood before the startled couple.
😲😲😲
This chapter from my WIP, The Key of Eidolon, was written
using the “Masquerade” prompt from the 2020 October Spooky Writing Prompts
challenge.
The setting for the piece was inspired by the 15 October 2020 Tale Weaver prompt.
The nature of the relationship between Pepper Baaij and Virgil DeMille was inspired by Photo Challenge #337 from Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie.
https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2020/10/20/photo-challenge-337/
The title of the first segment was inspired by the Friday Music prompt from Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie.
https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2020/10/30/week-91-i-think-were-alone-now/
Xura is the creation of H.P. Lovecraft. It is initially
mentioned in his story “The White Ship,” first published in The United Amateur
(Volume 19) #2, November 1919.
The Key of Eidolon is the second book in the Tales from the
Dreamlands series. You can pick up the first book, Ketil and Yitzy’s Adventure
in the Xura Dream House from Amazon or LBRY.
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the Book
Buy the Kindle version of Ketil and Yitzy's Adventure in the Xura Dream House for $3.99 https://amzn.to/2ZHmryK
Buy the PDF version from LBRY for 75 LBC
(approximately $2.25)
https://lbry.tv/@naughtynetherworldpress:d/ketil-and-yitzy-xura-dream-house-adventure:7
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link. You can earn LBC for viewing content on LBRY as well as from selling your
content.
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I'm wondering what awaits them in the house.
ReplyDeleteMore to come, although I will probably go back to the published novel next week. Thanks for the visit!
DeleteIs it wrong of me to think that Virgil is a manipulative arsewipe who should be avoided like the plague?
ReplyDeleteNot at all! Virgil is actually a composite character created from several odious men that I've had the displeasure of knowing over the years. He is the poster child for the old adage "don't piss off a writer or you will end up in their novel."
DeleteNice start of the next story.
ReplyDeleteThis creepy guy is way too earnest and persistent to let her actually decide anything for herself!
ReplyDeleteAll very ominous and I'm already not a Virgil fan! Great snippet...
ReplyDeleteNice guy -- not... although I'll withhold judgement until I've seen more. Nice girl -- yes, though insecure (which you showed us beautifully, by the way).
ReplyDeleteVirgil doesn't sound like a sympathetic character.
ReplyDelete