The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Sanctuary
by Stacey Turner

The cawing of the gulls was raucous. Petra wrinkled her nose in disgust. The birds were dirty, noisy, and repulsive. Much like the people she’d met so far in this upstart country. She realized the nation had been around for well over two centuries and had been called a Superpower. She snorted. What was a mere two centuries? Nothing but a blink of the eye in an eternal lifetime. And it showed. The people had no sense of history, little culture, and less class. She sighed. How she missed the drawing rooms of London in Queen Victoria’s time. Those were a fabulous couple of decades.

Yet, here she stood. She picked her way carefully over the filthy beach, shooting the flock one last scathing glance. A single bird keeled over, and she smiled. Looks really could kill if you knew what you were doing. Her gaze roved farther over the beach and she wrinkled her nose. Hopefully, she’d not have to wait long for her contact to arrive. She’d have to learn to live on this graceless continent. Petra had grown tired of running. Marcelle had proven relentless in his pursuit. No matter how many bodies she jumped, or continents she crossed, inevitably he divined her location. The chase wearied her. She used her bodies up faster as the anxiety grew in her soul.

But salvation lay here in America, or so she’d been told. A town, founded by an ancient vampire, which sheltered supernatural beings. A place hidden from the view of humans, where those of paranormal origin could claim sanctuary—Pine Haven, North Carolina. A man strolled down the beach, a large dog, no—she squinted—a wolf at his side. She walked in his direction, drinking in his features as she drew close. He was beyond handsome, but she wouldn’t, couldn’t, let such details distract her. Her continued survival depended on guarding her secrets well. And as she’d learned from experience—devils often hid behind an angel’s face.

Fiction © Copyright Stacey Turner
Image courtesy of Nina D’Arcangela

More from author Stacey Turner:

Morbid Metamorphosis: Terrifying Tales of Transformation

Metamorphosis occurs every day as caterpillars become sweet fluttering butterflies, tadpoles become gorgeous frog princes and chameleons become one with the beauty of nature – but you won’t find any of that here.

The transformations you’re about to witness are unnatural, sometimes gruesome and deeply psychological. They will make you question reality and take your mind places it was never meant to go.

Terrifying Tales of Transformation from Greg Chapman * Roy C. Booth & R. Thomas Riley * Terri DelCampo * Dave Gammon * Nancy Kilpatrick * Rod Marsden * Jo-Anne Russell * M.J. Preston * Stacey Turner * Tina Piney * Suzanne Robb * Franklin E. Wales * Donna Marie West * Suzie Lockhart * Cameron Trost * Daniel I. Russell * Simon Dewar * Amanda J. Spedding * Ken MacGregor * Erin Shaw * Gregory L. Norris * Nickolas Furr

Available on Amazon!