The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Outtake
K.R. Morrison

Lilith glanced at the cup.

“You’ve not had your wine, Judas. Please try it. It’s a special mixture I have made especially for myself and my more…special…guests.”

A half-smile again, and she held the cup out to him.

Judas took it and looked at the contents. In the shadows cast by the fire, it was difficult to see what its true color was, but sparks of bright crimson danced in its depths when he swirled the cup.

Interesting.

He sniffed at it, and quickly turned his head away. His eyes watered. Such an odd smell! Sweet, but somehow…rancid? Rather like decaying flowers.

He pushed the cup back at Lilith. “No thanks. Um…let me think about what you’ve proposed, and I can get back to you tomorrow.” He was halfway to his feet when Lilith’s voice stopped him dead.

“Judas.”

Her tone of voice riveted him. It sounded almost menacing, causing fear to rise rapidly from his gut; he realized that he was too afraid to even look at her. Concentrating his gaze on the wall sconce and the fire’s warm familiarity, he managed to answer.

“Yes?” He tried to sound casual, but his voice was feeble, shaking.

“I can’t let you leave here without your answer. Please, let’s have a drink together, and you can give me your answer afterward.”

He shook his head, made as if to continue towards the outer door—

—and found himself seated on the cushions again!

He stared wildly around himself in alarm. How did that happen?

He made as if to rise again, but found he couldn’t move. He quailed as Lilith leaned over him. Her garments parted, and there was no longer any mystery as to what was beneath that long, black hair.

“You do want to stay with me, don’t you? I’m sure we can find much in common to…talk about.”  Her voice was smooth, low, promising.

Judas whimpered, much like Adon had done earlier. Never had he felt so overpowered—and by a mere female.

Lilith purred in his ear, holding the cup towards him again. She turned his face toward her, brushed his lips with hers.

Her eyes took over his senses once again. One look, and he fell into the abyss, not caring whether or not he would ever emerge.

The cup was cold in his fingers. He raised the edge to his lips.

“Yes. Drink. It will relax you so that you can think clearly.”

The wine entered his mouth. It was as horrid as the smell, but he no longer cared. The taste was salty and coppery, as if he had just put several coins into his mouth.

Then the screaming started. It filled his ears and his brain, blocking out everything—the room, the events of the day, even Lilith herself. He had a mental image of a young man lying on the cushions, a look of terror frozen on his face. Blood ran down his neck from two deep puncture wounds and soaked the pillows. Lilith knelt above the boy, her beautiful face smeared crimson, razor-sharp teeth exposed as she leered at her victim.

Judas screeched in terror. He threw down the cup and scrambled backwards towards the door.

Panting in fear, he turned, jumped up, and was almost through the doorway when he was assaulted by a huge swarm of black gnats. They came out of nowhere, stinging, biting, burrowing into his flesh and flying into his ears and eyes. He swatted at them, screaming and swearing. Breathing became impossible, as they swarmed up his nose and into his mouth.

Judas fell, could feel himself falling, into a dark nothingness. Again the screaming, as of tortured souls. He didn’t know if the howls came from outside himself or from his own throat. The only thing he was aware of was the screams.  Then a hideous laugh, deep and growling, just as he lost consciousness.

Fiction © Copyright K.R. Morrison
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from Author K.R. Morrison:

Be Not Afraid (Pride’s Downfall Vol 1)

Lydia’s faith in God is strong – at least on paper. But what happens when that faith is tested? Turned into a vampire by the worst – Vlad Drakul – she feels that God has abandoned her. But the opposite is true. God rescues her from a fate worse than death, and brings her into the plan He has for global redemption. With the help He sends, she feels like nothing can stop her. But when Vlad torments her again, and then her family, the temptation to run and hide is almost too strong to resist. Her answer to God’s call is the deciding factor in the battle that pits the angelic powers of God against the demonic powers of Hell.

Available on Amazon!