The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

The Blood Moon 
by Kathleen McCluskey 

Gabriella and Andrei were awaiting the arrival of the sacred blood moon. They knew that the coming of the celestial orb meant that their coven would have the ultimate power. With the rising of the blood moon the ancient Varcolac would be called forth. Their presence would herald the beginning of the end for all those that opposed their views. The prophecy would become a reality.

The duo were ready to break the seals on the hallowed artifacts. As the first seal was broken a loud trumpet sound vibrated their chests. The loud reverberating sound from the darkened clouds was audible when each seal was broken. They continued until the priestess stopped them. She raised her hands as the group had finally come to the sixth seal. The robed lead cleric read from an ancient book, “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake, the sun became as black as sackcloth and the moon became as blood.” The priestess looked up to the sky, she saw that the moon was completely engulfed by a crimson aura. She slammed the book shut and nodded at the pair. The elder tossed her head back and began to chant; swaying back and forth as the seal was broken. She suddenly stopped and screamed a high pitched wail as she collapsed. Gabriella and Andrei could only look at each other as a large gash in the artifact began to glow. They turned down the hoods on their cloaks and were frozen in place. They could see hands with large, blood stained talons reaching out. Then more hands and more hands until they pulled open the crack in the relic. There were soft groans coming from within, until it exploded open and the Varcolac stepped out. A cacophony of screams filled the air. The coven all went to a knee and lowered their heads as they paid homage to their venerable leaders. The leader of the Varcolac stood and stretched; his blood red eyes scanned the crowd. He hissed loudly and focused on Gabriella. He leapt onto her as he sank his razor sharp fangs into her face. She tried to scream but was dead on the ground before she even realized what was happening. The leader put his head back and howled at the blood moon. All the Varcolac stopped and all howled with their chieftain. The rest of the coven was horrified and tried to run away from the sacred, ceremonial grounds. The Varcolac were unlike any other that they had ever encountered. The entire coven lay dead in a matter of minutes.

The ringleader then began to speak in ancient Aramaic, “We have been banished to the bowels of the earth for too long, my comrades. It is time that this planet learns of our existence once again. It is time to bring about hell on earth. The seals have been broken and we are finally fulfilling the prophecy. The world will once again tremble at the very mention of the Varcolac. Allow us, my beauties, to feast and feast well.”

Mankind would learn of the terrible Varcolac and their ways. There would be nowhere to hide. These were not normal vampiric beings; these were the purebloods. The planet thought that the end of the world would happen with a bang; instead it would go out with a river of blood and a whimper.

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Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Rie Sheridan Rose. 

More from Kathleen McCluskey:

The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror

Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.

Available on Amazon!