Free Read, 'MEMOIR'

Ever wonder about Dracula's love life? I did and was inspired to write this story which then inspired me to write The Fourth Bride (of Dracula). 

Memoir

The journal beckoned him. Like the irresistible temptation of a lover’s touch, it coaxed him, teased him, lighting his passion with the promise of untold delights. He wondered if he dare read it. Why he had ever begun opening drawers, he had no idea it was impolite to the say the least but he had been too curious to resist.

“I give up.”

He was already under its spell and because he was, he dared to touch it. What a singularly beautiful thing it was. “I’ll have you.” Smiling, he ran his hand along the rich blood-red leather cover. There was no name on it, just the word in gold leaf “Memoir”.

Now, making certain that his chamber door was secure, he at last sat down. He was not rushing; it was a moment to savor. He closed his eyes and let the excitement rush over him. He found he felt thrilled in a sexual way for he hoped he would discover something which had not been intended for anyone to read but the diarist.

There was exhilaration for him sitting there, holding an object that might hold titillating secrets. Voyeur! At last he began to read.

I come from another time and place. From East of here where magic is the norm and superstition the custom. My father was a successful merchant well-known in our Province, my mother was long dead by the time he arranged a marriage for me. All was in order and I was sent for.

I was terribly afraid of life but more afraid of love. Still I was hopeful. But when I saw who my own father had chosen for me, I wept. You see he was old enough to be my father and then some and he was coarse in his ways despite being nobility. Yet this was the man I was betrothed to!

I refused. “What?He is acquainted with the Emperor! He calls him friend!How dare you refuse?”

Needless to say, the wedding took place at the appointed time, held in our city’s greatest Cathedral, there amongst the flowers and crypts we were declared husband and wife. At last it was over and the kiss I did dread was given me. 

“Not too long now, my petal.” A threat and a promise all rolled into one. His coach bore us to his home—my new home, a veritable castle of gleaming sandstone set upon lush landscaped acres, a mansion richly furnished. The servants greeted me quietly, some with pity in their eyes. “Come, bride! For we shall sup before–!”

Oh yes, before! The meaning was not lost on me. He guided me into the great hall. “Our wedding feast.” I looked to see a table brimming with dish upon dish of roasts and stews, of delicacies and rich desserts, each more opulently displayed than the other. 

He urged me to eat and drink but mainly to drink. All the while he was leering at me and saying the rudest things; his breath hot, his words offensive in the extreme. The later it got, the more frightened I felt. At last it could be put off no longer. The great clocks chimed for the dreaded hour was at hand. I was to go with my new husband to our bed chamber. “Come my dear.” How tightly he held my arm, leading me up the stairs, not saying a word only smiling in his horrible way. Several maids hurried from the room. They had unpacked my trunks. “Goodnight!” His words rang with impatience. Now for the first time I thought how like a pig he looked, fat and sweating. Why hadn’t I noticed it before? He really was a beast. “Now, it is finally time my dear!”

He lunged at me, his thick fingers pulling at my clothes, tearing the delicate fabric from my frame till at last I stood naked before him, paralyzed like a bird in the gaze of a snake. I was not surprised to find he had no regard for my virginity nor did he have any respect for my person. 

He forced himself most cruelly upon me. I must have passed out for when I woke he was dressing as I pretended to sleep, but he knew I was awake. “I know you are up, just remember. What I have done is nothing compared to what I shall do, you are my wife. And as wives are chattel and nothing more, you are just another object that I own to be used for my pleasure and entertainment!” 

I shuddered at the slam of the door and just lay there, feeling sad and tainted and broken. I wept for myself and for the hopelessness of my present situation fearing I would have to die by my own hand as I could not bear to remain with this monster. And so I fled. I ran as far as I could and when my legs would carry me no more I collapsed on the ground. The sweet moistness of the forest called to me.

“A grave is not the worst thing; it can be your sanctuary, little one, a peaceful haven from all of your pain.” I smiled for the thought was comforting. “I shall sleep now for I cannot keep awake and if I slip beyond sleep I shall not mind.” 

But I did not sleep long for I was soon awakened by the thunder of horses and the shouts of soldiers. My husband had found me. “You she devil! Do you think I will permit you to disgrace me or my fine name?” I begged for mercy, but there was none and I was taken to be slaughtered, for slaughter it was. While his men held me, he did run me through with a sword. “Die you scheming bitch, you whore!” I obliged, passing from life into death in one agonizing pain-filled moment—but I did not sleep long in that dark, lonely place for I was soon awakened by a voice commanding me to open my eyes:

“Awake thee and walk once more upon the earth, for one so young shall not be left to rot!” It was then that I beheld his face, this handsome being. The face of one I would always love—the face I would adore forever-! And so–!

The young man gasped and stopped reading for he had heard a noise and turned. There standing behind him was the most exquisite creature he had ever seen. “You have been reading my journal,” she said.

But she didn’t say it in anger and he smiled, for she was smiling too. “I hope you don’t mind me coming here. I wanted to see you before my sisters, for they are truly like sisters.”

The young man smiled sheepishly but his smile soon faded when he beheld the beauty’s own smile growing ever wider. “Your teeth!”

She shook her head. “Do not fear handsome young man, as my teeth sink into your soft flesh for I will show you worlds you cannot imagine—dreams you dare not dream, pleasure beyond any pleasure you have ever known or thought of.”

He gave himself up to her and just as her teeth began to sink into his flesh, the door did open and Dracula’s two other brides came in, floating like mist. How they smiled and giggled—for they were eager to taste his blood. Then as they all converged upon Jonathan Harker they suddenly stopped when they felt their Master’s eyes upon them.

He, Dracula was standing in the doorway! “Forgive us, please. Do not be angry,” they begged. Harker watched as Dracula admonished them. Yet even as he did, Harker saw a fearful light in the Count’s eyes, a light that bespoke sensual love and sexual pleasure beyond comprehension. And Harker knew so much in that instant for he had glimpsed another world—the world of endless night where sin and corruption live but death does not. “Come,” Dracula said. “Come and share that which can be your fate.”

But Harker did hesitate whereupon the brides turned toward him, their eyes blazing and their mouths ready to taste that which flowed through his veins—that which they coveted. But it was alright, for Harker knew and accepted his fate and at last lay back to await their touch and their teeth and the sweet pain that would soon disappear.

from 'Memoir'

copyright 2011 MEMOIR

one of the stories in:

AMAZON 

“CAROLE GILL’S TALENT IS A WONDER TO EXPERIENCE!”

Joshua Skye/DARK MEDIA

War surplus from the Eastern Front supplies a quaint little shop of horrors!

Orphaned child vampires

Haunted cemeteries where the dead dance,

What would Death say if he could speak?

A story of the war: evil comes to a village near you.

What if the world became Dead World?

Valhalla rejects are nasty, worst vampires ever!

Three tales of the Ripper

What are the blood-drenched secrets of The Crimson Club?

A crazed soldier and his famous father!

Zombies in therapy. Hey, why not?

Poetic justice meted out by grave angels and fate

Jonathan Harker has a night to remember!

PLUS STORIES THAT INSPIRED NOVELS AND A SERIES!

Paris for Justine!

Write what you know they say! Well, I was inspired to write Justine: Into the Blood when I was in Paris!

and by the way, Justine is a seamstress at the palace in the beginning. 

Take The Versailles Palace in France...add to it:

The Paris Catacombs

Mix in Georgian London and brothels with rakes, but also with:

VAMPIRES!

Blend with that my love and study of history and you have Justine: Into the Blood! 

You all know how much I love history! By the way, even though my work in progress will surprise you, it's got history in it, too. But it is integral to the story. 

I believe all my work is, but perhaps the next one in the pipeline is even more so. 

As for Justine, though the story begins in Paris, it ends in England and finally on a ship bound for another place, as it is another time that this vampire is existing in. If they are immortal, their stories need to be expansive and Justine's is.

The best inspiration for a novel is whatever magic you feel and yes, it is a magical moment when suddenly you feel something special. You see it too, in your mind's eye. It's like a road with signs on it, where to go next--where to set your tale, even!

Your characters begin to step forward. They're waiting ahead for you. They might even introduce themselves to you.

"Yes, that's' right. This way."

The road becomes your setting. Countries and cities, their depiction in the past or present or future! You're the director! It's what you want. You decide.

I find history inspires me because it's a story that has already been written. I just have to wait for someone to tell me the tale! And you know what, they do!

AMAZON

A vampire prince and a beautiful Parisienne meet in the 18th century City of Light.

Born in pre-Revolutionary France and orphaned as a child, Justine Bodeau is taken in by a family friend who employs her as a seamstress. Eventually, she winds up to work in the court of Queen Marie Antoinette. A strong-willed survivor, defeat does not occur to her. When she fights off an attack by an aristocrat and kills him, she is given refuge but is soon betrayed and winds up on the streets of Paris, where she is attacked and killed by rogue vampires. But the Vampire Prince of Paris 

"Top of its genre!"

"Revenge, betrayal, passion, bloodshed, lust and love are just a few of the elements of this dark and spellbinding book."

"This vampire romance is rich in history, deep in blood sex and exotic locations and is very highly recommended."

"Vampires have their own allure and none more so than the female.

“An amazing historical vampire romance that must surely rank at the top of its genre.”

Where I Was When I Wrote About Vampires and Demons!

I'm busy working on my new book. But I want to blog more. I think readers like to know about the writing process.

As I just put up a tweet about book 2 Unholy Testament - The Beginnings, in The Blackstone Vampires Series, I happened to think of where I was when I wrote one of the chapters. My darling husband made it possible because when we went away with the doggies in our caravan, I had my laptop and whatever else was needed!

I'll start here even though it's book two. I'll give you two for one today. Book 1 of course came first.
That was The House on Blackstone Moor. I remember starting that after an exhausting outing on Haworth Moor which we did after seeing the Bronte Parsonage. I've blogged about it.

https://carolegillauthor.blogspot.co.uk/p/know-what-it-is-ive-seen-it-many-times.html

Let me just say briefly about the inspiration: there is an old ruin there, some say it was the inspiration for Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. That gave me an idea, but the main inspiration was the moor itself. It's dramatic and bleak, even on a nice day.

I pictured a house and began to fill it with inhabitants. I imagined the land haunted and the storyline followed!

This post is about Book 2, Unholy Testament - The Beginnings and where I was. Well, we were in Scotland with very good friends. It was summer and the midges were out. They're nasty little things like mosquitoes. They're not always out or troublesome, we were just lucky! But it turned out great. We drove along the northern coast and thrilled at the wild beauty of the place.

I really had to use my imagination in order to write about a mad demon confessing his sins because it was so beautiful there. But I did!

Another world opens up when you need it to. It's the world of your fiction, the fiction you are working on. Your characters dwell there and you watch them. They live and breathe, too. And if you have to wait for them to 'come alive,' you will. They do, I promise you.

Sometimes it takes awhile and it can be annoying, but then it happens. Just keep up with it. They'll let you know how and when. Your characters like and respect you, even if you are wary of them and their motives!

Remember, imagination is everything in writing. Inspiration is the spark that sets the whole thing off. Standing by a loch in Scotland can inspire me to see something in my mind: a ship sailing on open seas, staffed by vampires, overseen by a demon. See? That's how it works!

Each novel is sold singly $2.99 and all 4 are $4.99 at Amazon

AMAZON 

NEW POST COMING!!

LAST DAY AT 99 CENTS! VAMPIRES, HAREMS AND FREAKSHOWS!

This is not your average vampire romance! It's got all the ingredients but it has more to make it what it is. It's got a sultan with an amazing secret as well as vampires in high-class London brothels.
There's history, sex and lust. Oh, and feeding too because these are vampires!

Come along with Justine, follow her into the blood and beyond! She's a heroine you'll care about, I promise you!

This is best selling at Amazon and today's the last day it is priced at 99 cents!
A vampire prince and a beautiful Parisienne meet in the 18th century City of Light.

Born in pre-Revolutionary France and orphaned as a child, Justine Bodeau is taken in by a family friend who employs her as a seamstress. Eventually, she winds up to work in the court of Queen Marie Antoinette. A strong-willed survivor, defeat does not occur to her. When she fights off an attack by an aristocrat and kills him, she is given refuge but is soon betrayed and winds up on the streets of Paris, where she is attacked and killed by rogue vampires. But for whatever reason, love will not let her die.

Justine goes from wishing to be destroyed to wanting to survive, when she feels passion for the one who brought her back, Gascoyne — the one they call the Vampire Prince of Paris.
Justine - Into The Blood is a powerful story of betrayal, passion and revenge in 18th century France and England.
#vampires #darkpnr #horror

AMAZON 

JUSTINE: INTO THE BLOOD DARKEST PNR! 99 CENTS!

Justine, having been attacked by rogue vampires in Paris, was brought to her creator's coven. Gascoyne, The Vampire Prince of Paris would not let her die. She passed into the blood and became his lover. 

There is, however, one of his vampires who has already jealously attacked Justine. Now, Justine is determined to destroy her. She is aware of the change within her. Gone is any semblance of what she was in life. For now Justine exists for blood and pleasure. Hence the name of this, my new series, Blood and Passion. 

Here is an excerpt from my most romantic novel:

"This pleased me, this way to control another and a vampire at that! Something I had never felt before coursed through me. I thought of Gascoyne and smiled. He was handsome enough; it wouldn’t be unpleasant to have sex with him. As I lay there I imagined how I would feel as I recalled the shape of his lips and his eyes. They were large and black. His skin was the color of cream—all vampires are pale, but his was tinged with something else, just a hint of tawniness. It could have been from a recent feed, I wasn’t certain.

If I had power over him I’d first have to defeat that bitch of a vampire, Carmen. I recalled all too vividly the feel of her slap, the sting of it but at least she feared me now.

I was lying in my tomb when I heard something. Someone was moving about the crypt. I heard it plainly; footsteps and the rustling of fabric. I was on my feet in a moment. I didn’t see her at first. Then I saw movement in the shadows. She must have felt my eyes upon her because she turned quickly.

I grinned when Carmen gasped and fled into another chamber. There were many I knew, though I hadn’t seen the whole of our dwelling place, I knew it to be vast—full of tunnels and passageways. Gascoyne said it had been that way from ancient times.

We both could move fast, but I outran her and was upon her in a moment. I said nothing; I only sank my teeth into the back of her neck. She fell, paralyzed. I let her lie there staring wildly, her eyes pleading. She even begged. I said nothing. Not a word passed between us. In fact there was no sound; just the noise of me sucking her dry.

I fed viciously and voraciously. Her blood tasted of wine. I was able to tell what her last feed was like. I saw images of her living life—a life spent in poverty and want. I saw her death too yet I felt nothing. And when Gascoyne raised her I felt jealous.

When she was drained, I tore her head off. It wasn’t easy, but I managed. I flung it against the wall where it rolled a few times until at last it came to a stop. Her eyes were half open; just starting to glaze over.

I knew the others were up, I had heard them—even when I continued my savagery. Clearly Gascoyne was not among them or he would have stopped me or tried to.

“Justine!”

So he was there now. I turned and smiled madly at him. “What do you want?”

He looked horrorstruck. The coven looked frightened. He wasn’t. He was angry if anything and shook me. “How dare you!”

I only laughed. “Bitch!” he cried. He pushed me so hard I fell over backwards. Still I laughed loud and raucous cackles for I was extremely pleased with myself. “I’d do it again.”

That did it. He moved so quickly even I was surprised. His slap was fierce. “Is that the best you can do?” I asked.

He reached over to pull me up but only succeeded in tearing my gown from me. I saw his eyes sweep across my naked breasts. Then taking some of Carmen’s blood from my chin, I smeared it on both my breasts.

We eyed one another there in the company of the coven. There wasn’t a sound. I sat there waiting for him, smiling at him. He was upon me in a moment but there was nothing sexual about it. He was too angry.

The coven had moved closer so as not to miss anything. I was stretched out when he tore at my hair, bending my head backward, he sank his teeth into my neck. But then he stopped himself. Instead of biting he was kissing me and fondling me at the same time.

I stretched out waiting for more. He began to lick the blood off my breasts then-- Carmen’s blood. I laughed while he did.

In front of the coven, he took me every way that he could. When I thought he would stop, he whispered what he wished me to do to him. As I obeyed and took him into my mouth I was happy for this gave me ultimate power over him. I’d be able to get whatever I wished of him.

Now, because I was giving him pleasure, his coven moved away—so that I began to suck and feed at the same time; just little bites, not enough to hurt him, just enough to feed.

“I will love you forever,” he panted.

I made no answer; I only stared at him, certain that he would..."

"Top of its genre!"

"Revenge, betrayal, passion, bloodshed, lust and love are just a few of the elements of this dark and spellbinding book."

"Justine, realizes she as a vampire could actually love and in fact is in love with Gascoyne. I think that was the turning point in the story."

"This vampire romance is rich in history, deep in blood sex and exotic locations and is very highly recommended."

"Vampires have their own allure and none more so than the female."

AMAZON 

99 cents on offer 

May 8 - 14

A Teaser From Work-in-Progress!

IN THE PIPELINE, BUT NOT NEXT! :)

“Suffice it to say the corpse was all fucked up. There was no part of the bloody mess, previously known as Cassandra Nichols, that would indicate if it was male or female. I nodded. “True," I said. But I did follow protocol.”

The cops looked at one another. One of them made a note. The others put their hands on their guns. It was okay though because they already had me in restraints.

“We’re going to take you to….

A nice ride in a shiny and surprisingly clean vomit-free police ambulance. My only complaint was the restraints could have been looser, but I didn’t blame them. I wouldn’t have trusted me, either.

They checked me in, there was paper work, an admitting procedure. A needle in my arm, I figured they wanted me unconscious. Safe as houses that way..."

                                  

***

Yes, I am working on this and I'm enjoying it. It's a different but so am I. 

Until next time!

THE WALKING DEAD TV SERIES: HORROR AT ITS BEST!

WOW! This series got me hooked from the first episode I saw! It's got it all, scares, zombies, fine acting and it's well-written. I am a horror fan and horror author. And I've been searching for good, solid well-made horror all my life! Most films disappoint I found. Although, I nearly always find something that I like in a film.

But THIS! This is one hell of a series and I say that because it's a lot more than flesh-eating zombies stomping around. It's much more. It presents itself realistically, as in WHAT IF?

The people who don't, for one reason or another, succumb to a horrific death by zombies cannibalizing them, develop and change in order to survive. And it's how they change that I find fascinating. The writers present those changes in a realistic way. Not everyone can become stronger without becoming vicious, nearly as bad as the monstrous zombies.

Rick has to be the best. He is the Adam of this horrific apocalyptic world. He sometimes weakens but never loses his humanity. He just carries on, supporting his 'clan' and they are a clan in the best sense. Each, their own person, warriors that know all too well how tenuous their survival is.

They yearn for normalcy, but accept it's not available and might never be. That hopelessness is the true horror of the tale. But then again, the horror is about people turning on one another, it's about cruelty, madness, sadism, to the point where some of the human survivors Rick's clan come into contact with, almost make the zombies look like the good guys! How's that for a layered, character-driven plot!!

Fighting to stay alive, protecting yourself, family and friends, losing tragically those you love, is at the core of it all. And then it seems no matter how much they fight, those zombies keep coming at them. And if they manage somehow to defeat them, the monstrous humans try to kill them.

I asked myself why? Why can't all the survivors just band together and fight a common enemy!
They can't. Not in this series. They can't because this series is different. It recognizes evil in its human form and how in the most dire circumstances, people's best and worst qualities surface.

I hope the series serves as a benchmark in horror. I hope it raises the standards of horror writing, acting and directing! I think it might if for no other reason than its success proves what people want. Please given them what they want! 

Horror Push Your Buttons?!

HOUSE OF HORRORS 99 CENTS PROMOTION THRU MAY 8!

Cute little guy, isn't he? He's got a truckload of amigos just like him in my horror story collection which is on promotion at 99 cents until May 8th!

It's packed with stories that appeared in various horror anthologies and sci-fi ones. There are four sci-fi shorts.

But for you horror fans, you'll find stories of vampires, zombies, murderous midgets, demon clowns, evil dolls, haunted cemeteries, a real shop of horrors, taxidermy gone haywire, serial killers (3 Jack the Ripper stories), satanist dollmakers, child vampires, infamous mass murderers, haunted theaters, dancing dead, toys that kill, necromancy, necromantics, stories that inspired novels...and more!

MORE?!

You bet!

AMAZON BEST SELLER 2015 HORROR ANTHOLOGIES 

"I live for stories like these!"

Carole Gill’s talent is a wonder to experience. She has the uncanny ability to craft horrors imbued in fairy tale finesse.”

.

“House of Horrors is a fine addition to my Kindle, and I’m sure I’ll be going to read this again and again…”

“A veritable blood feast for vampire fans everywhere!”

“If you are a fan of horror, you won't want to miss this one!! High marks to Ms. Gill.”

“There are so many different monsters in this book the no matter what your biggest fear is or your favorite one to read about you are gonna find it without fail.”

“I grew up with horror legends such as King, Koontz, Poe, Shelley, Stoker and I added Gill to that list.” 

AMAZON