me through a long hallway to the grand staircase of
the old mansion. I could see from the top of the stairs that the great room
below was lit with hundreds of glowing candles, and there were at least a dozen
figures standing around.
A raised platform was the centerpiece of the room, with one
hooded figure standing on it. Behind him, there was a large, sturdy looking
frame made of thick, dark wood. At each corner of the frame, there was a heavy
chain with a black leather cuff attached.
Oh my god , I thought to myself, as I realized their
purpose. They were for me . I was going to be tied to that solid frame.
My heart was pounding in my chest so loudly that I was sure
Eve could hear it. Maybe even the people in the grand room at the foot of the
stairs.
I gulped, trying to fight the fear that was washing over me.
But it was no use, I could feel the terror creeping through me, making my head
spin.
"I can't do this."
"You don't have a choice." Eve hissed at me. I
didn't even realize that I'd spoken the words out loud. "Do you even
realize how tremendously lucky you are? There are people who would kill to be
brought into the coven like this. After tonight, you'll be one of them. You're
standing at the brink of more wealth and success than you could even imagine."
Her voice was low, but surprisingly full of bitterness.
And it suddenly dawned on me. Eve was jealous .
Beautiful, confident, strong Eve wanted what I was about to receive. But she
would never have it. For whatever reason, Nicholas had never invited her to the
inner circle. She could be present, she could assist, but she'd never be a part
of it, not really.
And here I was, about to have it all.
This realization gave me a new resolve. I could do this. I would do this. I squared my shoulders, stood up straight.
And then it was time. The figure on the middle of the
platform motioned to the top of the stairs, to me, and all of the hooded
figures surrounding him turned their gazes to me.
My heart was pounding again, but I was ready.
"Go." Eve hissed.
I started my descent, taking each step carefully, making
sure not to trip over my long blood red robe as it trailed along the stairs. I
could feel each and every pair of eyes in the room fixed on me as I forced
myself to continue.
When I reached the bottom of the grand staircase, I made my
way to the platform. Robed figures shifted aside, making a path through the
crowd for me.
The hooded figure on the platform held a hand out, and
helped me step up. He kept my hand in his once I was standing next to him.
"My brothers and sisters," He began, his deep
voice filling the grand parlor. "I present to you, our fair maiden.
Tonight, we offer her, body and soul, to the Ancient One. Her purity will be
exchanged for our continued wealth, success, power."
I looked at the black robed figures from under the hood of
my heavy cloak. Their faces were obscured by their own dark hoods, but I could
tell that all of their gazes were fixed on the platform, fixed on me.
"We will violate this virgin, taking nine orgasms from
her for the Ancient One. And in return, we will be blessed with ninety days of
the Ancient One’s glorious gifts." The leader continued, his hand
tightening around my wrist.
The fear began to creep over me again. A voice in my head
was screaming that this was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
But I ignored it. I was doing this. There was absolutely no
turning back.
"Brothers. Sisters. Let us begin." He said.
"Ancient One, we do this in your name."
"In your name!" The hooded figures replied, their
collective voices strong, bouncing off of the stone walls. The flames of the
candles flickered, casting golden shadows.
The leader moved, stood in front of me. His hands went to
the ties at my neck and unfastened them. With a flourish, he pulled the robe
from me. I gasped as the robe fell to the floor and the chill of the room
washed over my naked body.
I fought the instinct to cover myself, forcing my hands to
remain at my
Ahmet Zappa
Victoria Hamilton
Dawn Pendleton
Pat Tracy
Dean Koontz
Tom Piccirilli
Mark G Brewer
Heather Blake
Iris Murdoch
Jeanne Birdsall