Excerpts from 'Blessings of Death' 6. 'Of Death and Plagues'

This next excerpt is from the last story of my second book 'Blessings of Death'. It is titled 'Of Death and Plagues'.

'In 1347 the black plague had reached it's peak. Across Europe thousands perished as this vile disease, festered in pestilence, showered the landscape with death. No one rich or poor, nor learned or simple, nor strong or weak were spare from it's putrid touch. In the inner cities, so many had been wiped out that there wasn't enough room to bury them all. Mass graves had become common as well as the unfortunate souls who had to collect the corpses. One such man was Phillipe Deitre and this is his story...
A man of sorrow he was. Calloused and bitter. For there once was a time in his life when he had known better days, but not now. The ravenous plague had stolen from him his one true love and had left him in a state of continuous indifference. Originally a farm hand by trade, he now found himself carting numerous bodies left in the plagues wake. Ironically, it was a job he volunteered for. Each day was the same to him, as did not care if he continued living or joined the dead. To each neighboring village he would walk carrying his death stained cart behind him...'

Excerpts from 'Blessings of Death' 5. 'The Call of E'ferries'

This next excerpt is from the fifth short story from my book 'Blessings of Death'. It is titled 'The Call of E'ferries'.

'The judgement had been made. A once bright and shining cherub had been cast out of the Celestial kingdom and forcefully driven into the pit. Having been found full of iniquity and pride, redemption would never again be an option to him. As his angelic brethren observed his defaming, the cherub hid his emotions well. Slowly, he was marched outside the gates of Heaven and as the cherub saw the gates close and lock his indifference turned to melancholy.
A single tear dropped from his untarnished face and instantly he let his true feelings of rage be known. "Banishment is not extinction! Banished though I am, I still exist! Though I cannot share my pain with you, Oh high one, I'm sure your cherished creation of mankind will be an easy task indeed. Let this be known! At every chance, at every instance, at every available moment shall I grace them. This I do promise unto thee. Mark my words!....'

Excerpts from 'Blessings of Death' 4 'The Knight of the Dragon'

The following excerpt is from the third story from 'Blessings of Death', and my personal favorite, 'Knight of the Dragon'.

'The gathering of the black mass. It was a foul sight. Half naked shrouded bodies covered the countryside. The element of ritual was clear. The reason was not. The twisted patterns of flesh remained constant. Howls of lust and madness filled the night sky. All that was obscene appealed to them. They were the children of darkness and soon the reason for this terrible ceremony would be known. Grunting and groaning, there was not a soul present not participating in the perverted festivities. And with good reason. Their worst would bring evils best- the son of perdition.
They usually met like this. This was their sacrament, their unholy sabbath. But tonight bore different tidings. Much more important ones.
After what seemed like hours of animalistic ravishing, the crowd of naked bodies focused their attention on a tall man in white robes. "I, high priest of the Order of the Dragon, hereby commence the coming of he, the beast of all prophecies. Let it be done."
Through the crowd a pregnant woman was escorted. She was beautiful and fair, yet heavily draped in black robes. She was unclothed and placed on the altar that stood in the middle of all the mass. A few minutes passed and she started going into labor. As she did, the high priest read aloud from a large red book. "Let he who comprehends know the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man. And his number is 666." As his voice grew louder in reading, the woman's pains began to grow immensely. Her screams filled the silence and were followed by howls of madness from the crowd, for they knew his coming was near....'

Excerpts from 'Blessings of Death' 3. 'The Tale of the Torturer'

This next excerpt is from the third story from 'Blessings of Death'.
It's titled 'The Tale of the Torturer'.

'I have served Queen Bactria well. Perhaps too well. In the dungeons of winter castle, I took delight in her cause. The cause of evil. For giving pain to people seemed to please her and for this she employed me. For this was a trade that was not unknown to me. I can still hear the screams from the pain I caused, caused by her request.
My Queen was a beauty in every way imaginable. However, she possessed a heart of ice. Her family ancestry may have contributed to this. For it was made up of brutes, conjurers, and lust mongers. Perhaps the only lust my Queen indulged in was that of bloodlust. Whatever enemy made her path, be it land owner or nobleman, in did not matter. Their pain was her delight and my laborious endeavor...'

Excerpts from 'Blessings of Death' 2 'Vampyro'

The next excerpt is from the second short story of my book 'Blessings of Death'.
It's titled 'Vampyro'.

'The dying soldier lay in agony. Blood pouring from his wounded abdomen. The battle had been well fought by both sanctions, and although our man had done more than good in the heat of battle, one of the Turks was quick to fire a crossbow. As the serfs of the Turks carried away the rest of the dying, they ignored the plight of this mortally wounded man.
Soon he was alone. He knew the cold touch of death would be upon him in moments. "Do you wish to live?" A strange voice came from behind the shadows. The soldier was bewildered. Was this real? "Yes or no!" The soldier, gargling on his own blood, made a sound that fairly resembled 'yes'. "By all means then, do so!" A pale white hand reached from the darkness and pulled the arrow from his quivering body. At once the soldier screamed and passed out into a sleep like trance.
Inside his mind he could envision horrid eyes staring from a midnight background. He could hear child-like voices chanting a word in a repeating rhythm. 'Manifesto! Manifesto!' and a demonic howl. A cry of hate. Many times he would awake to feel severe pains in his body. It seemed as if he was dead, but of course he wasn't. He was beyond. He was far beyond....'

Excerpts from 'Blessings of Death' 1 'The Old Sinner'

This month I will be sharing excerpts from my second book 'Blessings of Death'. I do hope you all enjoy them.
This first excerpt is from the first story 'The Old Sinner'.
'I met him years ago. Notorious and wicked and yet unknown to most of the world. When I met him his body was frail and his soul was faded with age. He hardly resembled the part of a monster. In the serene confines of the Hadley boarding house I made his acquaintance. An acquaintance I would be able to forget no matter my efforts. As he was regarded by the few who knew him as wholly evil, the name of Monteque Forrell has stayed with me these long years.
I was a young ambitious boy. Naive and impressionable. And as it had many times before, my journalistic ambitions had brought me to Hadleys. For, especially in those days, the memories and experiences of those who had lived out the majority of their lives commanded my interests. Be it a scholar, an adventurer, dignitary, and the lot. Unfortunately, the majority of people who I happened upon in Hadley were honestly quite normal and had lived quite simply. All that would change the day Forrell became a resident....'