Read Online The Mammoth Book of Dracula by Stephen Jones - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephen Jones
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the Gargoyle Club last night. What a small world ...”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t remember,” I lied, my teeth clenching as I tried to close the door on his fingers.
It was then that he brushed past me and sat down. I was so surprised by his brusque manner, that words escaped me.
“Well, if I can’t find my associate, perhaps you’d honour me with a conversation? I have a least an hour before I reach my destination. Assuming of course you don’t mind?” He smiled again. My skin crawled.
I wanted to tell him to get out and let me be. The note that I had received the previous evening had left me drained. Somehow, I no longer felt in control of my own actions.
“I’ve not encountered someone with such beauty as yours in a long time,” he purred. “And you have a touch of the True Power, although I doubt you know that...”
“Really sir,” I said firmly, “I must ask you to leave at once.”
Then he scowled. “Don’t play the proper little miss with me. What’s that expression everyone’s using? ‘You can do anything you like so long as you don’t do it in the streets and frighten the horses.’ I don’t see any horses here, madam. After all, most women who frequent the Gargoyle Club are after one thing and one thing only.” He licked his lips in anticipation.
At that moment, there was another knock at the compartment door. I could hear a tiny voice squeaking from the other side. “Are you there Aleister? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
“Ah, my companion, what perfect timing. Let her in my dear, let her in,” he demanded.
Without hesitation I opened the carriage door. Crowley had a certain presence, I’d acknowledge that. A tipsy, red-headed trollop stared back at me. Then she brushed past and collapsed into the lap of her lover.
“Come my dear,” he said while struggling with the woman’s clothing. “Why don’t you join us? I have delights to show you beyond your imagination ...”
The woman laughed, a shrill screech that threatened to overpower the din of the steam engine. The situation was quickly getting out of control. I sighed, realizing there was no other way. “If that’s what you really desire ...” I said simply.
This disgusting man was beginning to become a nuisance—a potentially dangerous one at that. I leaned down and grasped his shoulders, pulling him closer to my red lips. Then my instincts took over. As my fangs pierced his flesh, the hot blood spurted down my throat, sending the first rich waves deep into my soul. All I could hear was the clacking of the wheels on the tracks. The sound roared in my ears, drowning out his gasps.
I could sense strange thoughts swirling within my mind. He was fighting me, but not in a physical sense. As he lapsed into unconsciousness, I turned towards his cowering companion. It was over very quickly. I drained her dry.
My dear, sweet father, would you be proud of me now? See what your gift has wrought? I glanced out of the carriage window; we were nearly there. I would be very glad when this journey came to an end.
~ * ~
Before the train came to a complete stop, I stepped off onto the platform. No one followed. The deserted station was mute witness to the train’s arrival and departure. It was a characterless structure, a concrete edifice that even the pigeons would avoid.
“Angelica,” a voice called softly from the night’s gloom. The darkness seemed to part as a figure strode purposely towards me. I recognized his scent instantly—it was my father.
I took a deep breath and tasted the cool night air. He stood watching me. His crimson eyes betrayed nothing.
“What are you doing here?” I managed to say, hoping he would not smell the fresh blood on my breath.
As always, he seemed to take control of the situation. “I thought I would meet you after your long journey,” he said simply. “I have a car waiting for us.” My
“No, I’m afraid I don’t remember,” I lied, my teeth clenching as I tried to close the door on his fingers.
It was then that he brushed past me and sat down. I was so surprised by his brusque manner, that words escaped me.
“Well, if I can’t find my associate, perhaps you’d honour me with a conversation? I have a least an hour before I reach my destination. Assuming of course you don’t mind?” He smiled again. My skin crawled.
I wanted to tell him to get out and let me be. The note that I had received the previous evening had left me drained. Somehow, I no longer felt in control of my own actions.
“I’ve not encountered someone with such beauty as yours in a long time,” he purred. “And you have a touch of the True Power, although I doubt you know that...”
“Really sir,” I said firmly, “I must ask you to leave at once.”
Then he scowled. “Don’t play the proper little miss with me. What’s that expression everyone’s using? ‘You can do anything you like so long as you don’t do it in the streets and frighten the horses.’ I don’t see any horses here, madam. After all, most women who frequent the Gargoyle Club are after one thing and one thing only.” He licked his lips in anticipation.
At that moment, there was another knock at the compartment door. I could hear a tiny voice squeaking from the other side. “Are you there Aleister? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
“Ah, my companion, what perfect timing. Let her in my dear, let her in,” he demanded.
Without hesitation I opened the carriage door. Crowley had a certain presence, I’d acknowledge that. A tipsy, red-headed trollop stared back at me. Then she brushed past and collapsed into the lap of her lover.
“Come my dear,” he said while struggling with the woman’s clothing. “Why don’t you join us? I have delights to show you beyond your imagination ...”
The woman laughed, a shrill screech that threatened to overpower the din of the steam engine. The situation was quickly getting out of control. I sighed, realizing there was no other way. “If that’s what you really desire ...” I said simply.
This disgusting man was beginning to become a nuisance—a potentially dangerous one at that. I leaned down and grasped his shoulders, pulling him closer to my red lips. Then my instincts took over. As my fangs pierced his flesh, the hot blood spurted down my throat, sending the first rich waves deep into my soul. All I could hear was the clacking of the wheels on the tracks. The sound roared in my ears, drowning out his gasps.
I could sense strange thoughts swirling within my mind. He was fighting me, but not in a physical sense. As he lapsed into unconsciousness, I turned towards his cowering companion. It was over very quickly. I drained her dry.
My dear, sweet father, would you be proud of me now? See what your gift has wrought? I glanced out of the carriage window; we were nearly there. I would be very glad when this journey came to an end.
~ * ~
Before the train came to a complete stop, I stepped off onto the platform. No one followed. The deserted station was mute witness to the train’s arrival and departure. It was a characterless structure, a concrete edifice that even the pigeons would avoid.
“Angelica,” a voice called softly from the night’s gloom. The darkness seemed to part as a figure strode purposely towards me. I recognized his scent instantly—it was my father.
I took a deep breath and tasted the cool night air. He stood watching me. His crimson eyes betrayed nothing.
“What are you doing here?” I managed to say, hoping he would not smell the fresh blood on my breath.
As always, he seemed to take control of the situation. “I thought I would meet you after your long journey,” he said simply. “I have a car waiting for us.” My
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