The Key of Eidolon: Lost in this Masquerade: I Think We're Alone Now

 
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

And now, the first ten sentences of our story.


“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.

https://thewritershandbook.tumblr.com/post/630699213481705472/this-years-october-spooky-writing-challenge-is

The setting for the piece was inspired by the 15 October 2020 Tale Weaver prompt.

https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2020/10/15/tale-weaver-fairy-tale-297-the-witches-garden-15th-october/

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 House of Lost Dreams appears in the Land of Lost Dreams scenario in the 1996 H.P. Lovecraft’s Dreamlands supplement for the Call of Cthulhu RPG published by Chaosium.

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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https://lbry.tv/@naughtynetherworldpress:d/ketil-and-yitzy-xura-dream-house-adventure:7

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The Icky, Sticky, Nit-Picky Legalese If You Please (Or Don't Please)



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9 comments:

  1. I'm wondering what awaits them in the house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More to come, although I will probably go back to the published novel next week. Thanks for the visit!

      Delete
  2. Is it wrong of me to think that Virgil is a manipulative arsewipe who should be avoided like the plague?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not 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."

      Delete
  3. This creepy guy is way too earnest and persistent to let her actually decide anything for herself!

    ReplyDelete
  4. All very ominous and I'm already not a Virgil fan! Great snippet...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice 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).

    ReplyDelete
  6. Virgil doesn't sound like a sympathetic character.

    ReplyDelete

I try to get comments published as quickly as possible. I have ADHD and anxiety and sometimes I need to work myself up to be able to respond to comments. I don't always reply to comments on my blog, but I do try to visit as many people as possible when I participate in blog hops. I share your work on the monthly Roost Recommendations posts at ornerybookemporium.blogspot.com so others can discover your work. I do read and appreciate your comments.
Sorry, the Captcha is back and this time it's staying. I was inundated with spam comments when I turned it off. I wish butt rash on all the spammers out there.

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