Darius' Journal: Into Darkness

The year was 1883. I had been tracker her, the mother of monsters, across continents. I never thought I'd become a monster hunter. My entire life was spent on a farm, except those four years of the war. My name is Darius LaCorde, and I only want to one more chance.

I've been looking for that chance since she died. My only love, Anna. I held her in my arms as she slipped away. If only I hadn't killed her uncle, if I had just waited. But I was angry, and now there is a mortal sin on my soul. I've traveled the world trying to find an answer to one question: Can I bring her back.

I thought I was close in Haiti. I watched as a man raised the dead to do the bidding of others. He was far more than a man. He called himself the Baron. But he wouldn't help me. In return for my favors he granted me the gift of sight. 'Gift', that word is so deceptive. With my new found ability I can see her. She walks around me. But she is broken. The experiments of her uncle have fractured her spirit. I am in purgatory without her and yet she is in purgatory without me.

The Baron sent me here looking for 'the one he could not collect'. He told me her name was Lilith. Somehow she had escaped his grasp and all of death. With her head I was promised the resurrection of Anna.

I had stalked her half was across Europe. Legends sprang up in her footsteps. According to the people I met she was a foul 7 headed beast with the body of a woman. I know people's tendencies to embellish but I am also no stranger to monsters.

They stories were often confused with tales of a similar beast out in Romania. A creature they called Dracula. I almost went that way before I learned that monster was male. Lilith was far more secretive about her movements. I lost her several times. But in the summer of 1883 I found her in a little village just outside of Italy.

I had been staying in a hotel room when the stories started springing up. Young men and women being lured off and never seen again. This was the first time I was able to bear witness to her appetite. I sent a telegram to Matthew, Anna's father and my benefactor, for more money. I was so close to finding her.

That evening as the sun set I prepared for my hunt. In my small suitcase I had three pistils. Two of them were given to me in Haiti and I knew would have no effect on Lilith. The third I pulled off a Union General in the Civil War, a Colt model 1860. I wasn't sure it would even be of use. But I slide it into my holster anyway. My long coat concealed my gun belt from prying eyes. I pulled my hat down low and headed out into the night. I would be my own bait this evening.

I followed the stories out into the woods. I was not the best tracker. But I couldn't give up, not this close. I underestimated the darkness and soon found myself lost. There was the sound of snapping twigs around me. I  sat my back to a tree and drew my pistol.

The moon streaked light through the branches overhead. I could hear something sniffing the air just out of view. A large beast stepped into the light. It's grey fur framed two perfectly yellow eyes. I leveled my pistol at the beast. Suddenly the words my mother used to say to me as a child filled my head.

"The great wolf hunts in packs.

If you see one don't worry.

You'll see the rest

After it attacks."

I shifted my gaze to my left. Another wolf stood inches from me. Before I could turn to fire it was on me. The pain only lasted a moment as they tore into me. I cursed my stupidity. In the before I faded into darkness I could see Anna looking down at me from above the wolves. Her tears floated away into the night.

I opened my eyes to find myself sitting by a campfire. The taste of my own blood lingered heavily in my mouth. Everything hurt. I tried to turn my head and found the pain took my breath away. She was sitting there tending the fire. She wore a shear night dress that barely covered her thin pale body. Her long red hair was pulled to one side.

"Keep moving like that and you'll die sooner than later", she said, never looking at me.

I tried to form words.

"Wh-wh-why", was all I managed to say.

"It's not common to find someone looking for me. I felt I at least owed you an audience before I let my children finish eating."

There was so much more I wanted to say. But my primary focus was on staying conscious.  Lilith began talking again. It was at this point I realized it wasn't me she was talking to. I followed her stare across the campfire. Anna was sitting on a log. She gestured toward me and back to Lilith. The sound of my own blood pumping deafened me to their words.

I blacked out. When I opened my eyes again Lilith had me in her arms. She was stroking my face with her hand.

"If I let you die now she'll be stuck in the between world for eternity. But if you are to stay you must choose. Do you want to stay?"

I didn't think. Anna was too important to me. I couldn't abandon her now. I nodded my head as best I could. Lilith smiled. She pressed her mouth to mine. I feel back into the void. But I could still feel her. her tongue probed into my mouth, into my soul. The taste of my blood was now mixed with the taste of her's.

I woke by the fire, alone. The sun was just setting. My wounds were completely healed.  Then I noticed the lack of sensation. I couldn't feel the grass beneath my bare feet. Only a pressure let me know they were even there. The darkened woods seemed illuminated by hidden torches. I easily found my way back to place of my devouring. I reclaimed my pistol and headed back to the small room I was renting.

I feared how I would appear to others so I took extra care not to be seen. Once inside I found the mirror. I was covered in dirt and blood. But what unnerved me most about my reflection was my eyes. They didn't look like mine. The entire reflection felt like I was looking at another person, mocking me by matching my movements. I pulled the sheet from the bed and covered the mirror.

Anna was in the corner of the dark room. She was playing with a flower she found. She was always picking up dead things. I walked over to her, but she didn't notice me. I had failed my first hunt. And in the process damned myself for eternity. I sat quietly in the dark. Hunger came at me in waves. But I could not let myself become the monster.

The sun rose and with it the house I was in came to life. There was a knock at the door, but i didn't dare answer. An envelope slipped under it. Inside was the answer to my wire. Matthew had made good on his promises and the room was paid till the end of the week. All I wanted to do now was get home. I made my way to the window and opened the curtain.

The light his my like a hammer. I felt my body wither on my bones. I looked down at hands that could belong to a corpse. I shambled over to the mirror and tore away the sheet. I stared into the eyes of a frail old man. His white hair was almost translucent. Those eyes still mocked me, even as they sunk back into his skull. I got dressed as best I could, everything took so long. I was exhausted by the time I left the house. I set my course for home. But that's another story.

Swamp Magic

Aloysius Delacroix sat in a dark room. The only light came from the sun outside. His forgotten plantation home had been without power for at least a decade. But he didn't mind. When everyone complained about the heat of the Louisiana Bayou, Aloysius didn't mind. He always felt cold these days. Sometimes he'd find himself wrapped in one of her knitted blankets. Her name was Mary. She was a warm soul who never turned anyone away. Not like they got many visitors. Aloysius enjoyed the solitude though. So living in the 'Haunted House' wasn't a burden to him. 

He once lived in the world. He fought in a war, fell in love with a woman, and watched as his life broke in front of him. In his later years he retreated back to his home. For so long it was just him and his sister. She was comfortable out in the world. She'd go to church and return with stories. He missed her now that she was gone. More so, it was almost a constant reminder that his time would soon come to cross over. 

Staring out the window he heard the familiar sound of a boat. But this time it was different. The engine stopped. Aloysius slowly got up from his chair to get a better view. He couldn't see the boat because of the levee. But what he could see was the tall grass bending as someone made their way to the house. This happened from time to time. A salesman or whatnot would come looking for the Delacroix fortune or to swindle him out of something.

Aloysius knew how to handle trespassers. He opened the closet by the door and pulled out an old double barreled shotgun. It hadn't been loaded in years. But nobody had to know that. The knock came at the door and Aloysius came to attention. Aloysius readied his gun and was about to open the door when he spotted something out of the corner of his eye. 

Glancing back toward the drawing room, he saw the apparition of Mary standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips. She was giving him that look she always gave him when she didn't approve of his behavior. Seeing Mary didn't surprise Aloysius. His family was touched, as they say. A second knock echoed through the house.

"Alright, alright, hold on. I'm Coming", he yelled through the door.

He looked at Mary through squinted eyes and laid the gun against the door jam.  Aloysius opened the door to find a young girl standing on his porch.

"I ain't buying no cookies", he said.

The girl looked confused at first. Then, she shook her head and held out her hand.

"Um, no mister. My friend found this on your property. I think it belongs to you", she said.

Aloysius opened the screen door and took the small object from her hand. It was small key. Looking at it closely he recognized it. It was the key to Mary's jewelry box. He hadn't been in Mary's room in a few years. But he had a suspicion as to how the key got out.

"Alright, thank you. You have a good day", he said as he turned back toward the door.

Mary was now standing in the way. Still staring him down. Aloysius looked at her for a moment.

"I think she wants you to invite me in", said the girl from behind him.

Aloysius turned back to look at her, his forehead wrinkled in surprise.

"Who", he asked.

"The lady standing there trying to set you on fire with her eyes."

This made Aloysius laugh.

"Yea, she does do that."

"I'm Kelly, I live up the river."

In mock defeat Aloysius held out his hand.

"I'm Aloysius", he said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Aloysius", she replied shaking his hand. 

 "Did I say 'Mr. Aloysius'? No, just Aloysius."

"Yes, sir."

He looked crossly at her for that.

"Aloysius", she added.

"I guess we best sit down or she's not going to leave us be", he said.

Kelly and Aloysius sat down on two rickety old rocking chairs on the porch.

"So what is it you think she wants from us", he asked Kelly.

"I don't know. She's the first ghost to follow me home."

"So you've seen others?" 

"Yea, I don't talk about it much. I used to get teased for it."

"Yea, people do that. They don't like different"

"How long have you been... different?" 

"Oh, both me and my sister have been this way our entire lives. My mother used to say the family was gifted." 

"Some gift, huh?"

Aloysius smiled at her.

"It's not all bad."

He reached over and pulled a dead flower from a small vase sitting on the table between them. Kelly watched as the petals began plump and turn red. He reached out and handed her a perfect rose.

"How'd you do that?"

"Swamp magic."

"Can I do that?"

 "I don't know, don't see why not."

"Maybe you could teach me?"

"I have a feeling I don't have a choice in the matter", he said looking back at the window behind them.

In the window Mary stood with a big smile on her face. Kelly looked at her and smiled back. Mary reached up and dragged her finger along the dirty glass and looked at it with exaggerated disgust.

"And in return I could tidy the place up a bit?"

"Looks like we ain't got a choice in that either", he said slumping back into his chair. 

 

 

 

Water Nymphs |NSFW|

There were nights when the Moon would change her course. She grew tired of the mainland and would wander off into distant lands. Her mother, the Sun,  didn't mind as long as she could see her. The Moon often regarded the oceans as boring. Water that seemed to stretch on for eternity and nothing else. However, she decided to take herself out to sea one night.

She could see her reflection in the waters below. She watched herself soar over the small waves till she spotted a small island. Curious she ventured close. The waves broke on the tiny shore revealing the nude form of a woman asleep in the water. At first the Moon feared she'd been hurt. But as the Moon ventured closer she could see the woman was not all human.

The lower half of her body seemed to be scaled and flipped lazily in the water. The Moon had never seen such a creature. Something shiny in the water caught her eye. She watched as a second woman swam up on to the sore. Her back to the Moon. The new woman pulled herself on top of the sleeping woman. She rested her head on the sleeping woman's chest.

The Moon's curiosity got the better of her. And she slipped from the sky and poured into the ocean. The water felt cold against her skin. Slowly she moved herself toward the shore. It was as easy as moving through the sky.

When she got close enough to the women she could see they were holding onto each other. their long tails stretched into the water and wrapped around each other. The Moon stepped onto the shore. The sand squished between her toes.

The woman on top opened her eyes and saw her. At once she sprang from her mate, teeth bared. The Moon floated up and away, just out of reach. She looked down at this fierce woman. Her tail now gone and replaced with human legs. She stood ready to attack. Then a hand wrapped around her bare chest. The other woman had awakened.

she stood behind her lover, holding her close and peering over her shoulder at the Moon. She spoke words that the Moon didn't recognize into the ear of the fierce woman. Slowly the aggression faded from her eyes. She stepped from behind her lover and reached a hand out to the Moon.

The Moon looked down on the two women. They were almost completely identical. Long tan legs stretched up to soft hips. The muscles in their stomachs seemed to be in a constant state of flex. Both had wild dark hair that framed their olive skinned faces.

The Moon looked down at the one holding out her hand. The Moon's glow illuminated the woman's dark eyes. She was reluctant at first. The Moon knew she could not be physically harmed by anything in this wold, not anymore. But she didn't want to upset the balance of their world. The Moon looked to the other woman who was now standing with her hands on her lover's hips and head on her shoulder. She smiled at the Moon.

The Moon reached down and took the woman's out stretched hand, her feet still dangling in the sky. The two women looked at her with wonder. The Moon stepped down to the ground. The curious one extended her finger and touched the Moon's shiny dress. The glowing fabric parted around her finger like flowing water. The Moon smiled. Encouraged the woman placed her hand on the Moon's chest. The fabric ran down her arm and disappeared as the woman made contact with the Moon's bare skin.

The Moon turned her attention to the woman behind the curious one. She looked at the Moon through her hair, but her mouth was making shallow kisses along the neck of her love. The Moon drew her attention back to the one in front of her. She could see her face was flushed. Every now and again she closed her eyes. The Moon stepped close to her. As their bodies met the glowing fabric poured across all three of them.

Then the Moon found the source of the woman's pleasure. With her hands on her hips and her body pressed firmly to the woman she could feel the hand of her lover. It rubbed in circles between their pelvises. The Moon began to move her hips in time with the rhythm of her hand. The woman put her head on the Moon's shoulder and kissed her neck. The other smiled in between nibbles and bites.

The Moon reached out and brushed the tangle of hair away from her face. Then she reached over and kissed the woman. With this the woman pulled away and took the Moon's hand. Her lover feeling her absence looked back to see her pulling the Moon toward the water. She took the Moon's other hand and began doing the same. The Moon didn't resist them. She followed them into the ocean, beneath the waves.

The Moon's light illuminated the dark water. She stared at the two women. They let go of her and began to his and pull at one another, weightlessly in the ocean. The Moon watched as the fierce woman began to change. between her legs extended a shaft. The other woman looked at the Moon smiling as her lover pushed herself into her. They reached for her.

The Moon floated into the two women their hands and mouths began searching her body. Fingers found and filled hollow spaces. The Moon had also begun her exploration. The woman who was now inside the other still had spaces to fill herself. The Moon slid her own fingers inside the woman.

They pulled at her till she was between them. Her legs wrapped around the hips of the curious woman while her lover slowly pumped in and out of her. The Moon closed her eyes and felt the two running their mouths over her body and using their hands to make her glow. Then she felt something between her legs.

The Moon looked down to see the coy smile of the curious woman staring up at her. She nodded her permission to the woman. Carefully rocking her hips, the Moon slid herself down the full length of the girl. Floating in the ocean they moved as one organism. Each sliding into the next.

The Moon's glow brightened as they moved. Then she heard the woman behind her let out a soft cry. The woman bit down on her. The Moon looked into the eyes of the girl inside here and watched as she began to orgasm. The water beneath her became warm. But the Moon did not stop rocking her hips. Then the girl exploded again, this time into the Moon. The warm sensation of being filled pushed the Moon to her own climax.

After the light had dimmed they floated together wrapped in each others arms. The Moon needed to return to her place in the sky before her mother noticed she was gone. She freed herself from the grip of the two women. They looked sad at her departure. The Moon kissed each on their cheek. They had regrown their tails.

The Moon pulled herself back up into the sky and began moving across the vast ocean. Below her she could see the two racing along the water, jumping up and waving to her. She smiled down at them. Maybe the ocean isn't as boring as she thought.

Anubis Part 2

The night was long. Each of the three men took shifts watching the sands for the Gorgon. But there was no sign of her. Anubis woke with the rising sun. For the first time he had a chance to see his his two soldiers in the light. Both were extremely pale now, almost white. And neither man had a single hair on them. The imaged unsettled Anubis but this was a means to an end.

They began their march south, still vigilant of the monster they unleashed into the world. In a days time they neared a small camp. In the darkness they could see campfires illuminating the night. Several tents were scattered about the desert. The three men made their way down the sand dunes towards the camp. They were hungry and thirsty. Their water had run dry that day and there was little to hunt.

When they reached the camp They were greeted with suspicion. Women and children hid inside tents as big men set out to discern their intentions. Anubis had never seen men like these. They were paler then the dark skinned Egyptians he was accustomed to.  They were also covered in hair. Long beards and hair adorned them and what wasn't grown naturally was cut from animals to make fur vests and leggings.

Anubis pleaded their case, the long travel, the need for water, but left out the Gorgon. These men might look favorably on them for releasing such a monster. Soon trust was exchanged. The tribesmen provided Anubis and his men with water and food for the night. Anubis explained he was heading south, looking for a village. The tribesmen knew of now villages to the south, but they were on a pilgrimage of their own.

As the evening grew later the men slowly faded into sleep. The sounds of screams awoke Anubis. He sprang to his feet and drew his sword. Tents where being thrashed around him. Women and children ran into the night. Anubis stood with his back to his men's who had arrows drawn. Then they saw it, a beast. The biggest wolf  Anubis ever laid eyes on. It stood waist high as it walked out of the destroyed tent. Anubis fixed his eyes and raised his sword.

One of the men screamed and let loose his arrow. But not at the wolf. Anubis' attention turned toward his men. There in the darkness was the Gorgon. She pulled herself up to her full height, towering over the men. She dropped a child to the ground, lifeless. Before she could pounce on the trio the wolf was on her. From the darkness came more beasts. Anubis watched as the Gorgon was ripped limb from limb by the animals.

When the night fell silent and the Gorgon's screams and gurgles ended the beasts surrounded the child. One of the wolves let out a howl. It was answered by another, then another. Anubis stood awestruck as the wolves slowly stood up on their hind legs. With what seemed like an illusion the wolves were gone, replaced by men. A woman came out of the dark and collected the child. Others consoled her as she held onto it and cried.

Anubis knew then; he had found the shapeshifters.

Watches

The brass pocket watch hung from a chain. It dangled from the man's pocket open, exposing itself to the world. The three hands reached out into different directions, but were still. Nothing moved. It was like time had stopped. Carefully the man reached down and pulled the motionless clock to back into his hand and closed it. The watch once had a very important job. Once it marked every second of every day. But now, it sits as a reminder of a very specific time.

She sat down across the table from him. He smiled, and drank tea. They talked about empty things. The conversation wasn't important. She liked him; he could tell. Eventually she had to leave. He asked if her could walk her home. Standing on her front step he was nervous. He didn't want to be nervous. He wanted to be strong and confident for her. He stuck his hand in his pocket. Gripping the watch he felt reassured. He leaned in. She didn't stop him.

Soon they were in her apartment. Their hearts raced as their hands pulled apart clothes. He held her close when the frenzy ended. They slept the night.

In the morning the watch lay open. Carefully it gazed up at her face as she studied it. Slowly the sound of a waking man filled the room. She looked at him, cradling the watch in her hands. The time and date were set to the first time they met, outside a little coffee shop. She stared at him, almost puzzled.

"It's the last time I ever felt sadness", he said. 

Hollow Fruit

In the Hollow Land stretched a mighty forest so thick it was mostly void of life. Giant trees blotted out the sun leaving very little to eat on the ground. Many tribes made their homes on the forest edge. But deep inside there grew a tree that was different. This tree was the Dreaming Tree.

The Dreaming Tree would often spend it's day creating stories and building worlds. But those worlds only existed inside the tree. It knew there was a world outside it's trunk but it couldn't break through. But this was the way of trees. So it was not sad.

One night a blinding light filled the sky. The Dreaming Tree could not see the light. But it could feel it with its petals. The Great Tree stretched its branches as best it could. The light felt so amazing, almost like rain. It pulled all the light in it could. Then, it began to dream again.

In this dream the tree was a butterfly sleeping in a great cocoon. It stretched out its arms and could see to branches covered in bark. Slowly the bark began to fall away reveling human flesh on frail arms. Looking down as its body floated inside the cocoon roots gave way to legs and toes. The tree ran it's hand up to where it could see. It could feel flesh, a nose, a mouth; then pain, and an eye.

There was light outside the cocoon. everything was illuminated. The was tree moved toward the edge of the cocoon and pressed it's slender fingers into the wall. It was hard and solid, but it gave way eventually breaking free. The outside was blinding bright. Then the Dreaming Tree woke up.

It found itself laying on the ground looking into the sky. Waves of color and light were fading across the night.The tree sat up. But it was no longer a tree. The new man looked toward the place where it had stood since the dawn of time. A mighty husk of a tree stood in its place, inside completely hollowed out. The man pulled himself to his feet and promptly fell back to the ground. This was a strange night indeed.

After much effort and practice the man had managed to make his way in the hollow tree. This was an exciting time, but also very scary. The tears came at first of joy, then of fear. How could he survive a place where nothing but trees can live. His new stomach began to rumble. He knew his life wouldn't be long if he couldn't find food. Then he heard something high above his head, in the darkness of the hollowed tree. An apple fell to the ground at his side. Without hesitation he devoured it.

The tree provided for him as it always had. He wasn't a tree who was dreaming anymore, but a man that grew like the fruit of a tree. When he was thirsty the tree would rain water on him. The mud and leaves covered his naked form.

The man constructed a throne out of branches and mud. A ring of bark became his crown. And here he sat in the The Great Tree, the Hollow King  of the Hollow Forest.

Wheels

I've driven down this road so many times. I feel like it's etched into my brain. Each curve leads into blind turns. But that not's the dangerous part. The trees hug so close to the shoulders that there is little room for error. But I'm good at it. Ever since they put in saner methods of getting down the mountain, no one uses this road anymore. It's like it belongs to me.

It was a Sunday I think, it always feels like a Sunday. I was speeding through the turns late that night. My headlights dipping in and out of the trees. Something inside me made me slow down. I came around the curve and saw her there. She must have been about fourteen. So strange to find her anyone out at this time of night, especially on this road. I slowed to a stop.

"Hey, you need a ride", I asked.

I could see she was hesitant at first. But given the circumstances I was the best shot she had. I was seventeen at the time. She was cute and I admit I was showing off. I zipped in and out of the turns, cutting them harder than usual. She squealed at the force. I was getting cocky. I was never good with girls. She was a bit younger than me. But not by much.

I wanted to talk to her, but I wanted to impress her more. We were making good time, up the mountain. I was already thinking about asking her to park with me for a bit when we got to the top, before bringing her home.

"Slow down up here", she said.

It was one of the last few turns. I let off the gas.

"Right up here is where it happened", she said.

I started scanning the darkness, not sure what she was talking about.

"This is where I got hit", she said.

Immediately I started to chuckle. that story has been around forever. Then, I looked over at her. Her dead eyes stared back at me. Her body was twisted and mangled in the seat. Her mouth was gaped open hanging to one side. Then I remembered.

"I know, I hit you."

The tree was in front of me so fast I couldn't stop. The impact was hard.

It was a Sunday I think, it always feels like a Sunday. I was speeding through the turns late that night. My headlights dipping in and out of the trees. Something inside me made me slow down. I came around the curve and saw her there. She must have been about fourteen. So strange to find her anyone out at this time of night, especially on this road. I slowed to a stop.

 

"Hey, you need a ride", I asked.