A Taste of Blood and Roses Read online

  A Taste of Blood and Roses

  By David Niall Wilson

  First Digital Edition published by Crossroad Press & Macabre Ink Digital

  Copyright 2010 David Niall Wilson & Macabre Ink Digital

  License Notes:

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to your vendor of choice and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Author's Introduction

  I've been writing since the mid 1980s, and during all those years, vampires have remained close to my heart. There were periods when it seemed as if you couldn't have an anthology unless the theme was erotic vampire stories. There were other times when all you heard was, "no vampires." I can say that I survived both – even selling a vampire story t two editors who said they didn't think they'd ever buy another one. Both of those are contained in this collection.

  I'm not going to bore you with a dissertation on vampires as characters, or why I think the undead remain … well … undead in fiction as well. I will give you a short introduction to each story, and then leave you to the words. As Mary says in the first story … I have walked this road, and my words should suffice.

  A Candle in the Sun (originally titled The Fifth Gospel) was written on a US Navy ship. Someone – I don't remember who – said, "What if Jesus was a vampire." I said that wouldn't work, but what if someone near him was? The rest, pretty much, is history. I turned it in to my writer's group and Richard Rowand, then editor of STARSHORE magazine, asked to buy the story immediately. My first pro sale that wasn't porn to a men's magazine. This story has been reprinted several times. One of those times was by Karl Edward Wagner in Year's Best Horror XIX – he was the first of the editors who said they thought they were done with vampires. He was also – over the years – a good friend. He is missed.

  Flash Fiction is a brand new, unpublished story. It was inspired by something that vampire author Karen E. Taylor wrote in her online journal. It's a humorous story – humor is something I like even more than vampires. You'll have to let me know how they mix.

  Bloodstained Glass was written for a now defunct magazine. I honestly don't even remember the name of it. It's a little old fashioned. I like the imagery of it, so I've included it here as a change of pace.

  Miracles in the Night is a hold-over from my days writing for White Wolf Publishing. It wasn't written for the company, but for a fanzine called "Norfolk by Night" that was published locally. I wrote it as a favor, and yet, it stuck with me. The robed homeless man actually lived in Norfolk at the time.

  Smiling Eyes and Haunted Face is one of the aforementioned erotic vampire stories. It first appeared in the anthology "Love Bites," edited by Nancy Kilpatrick. I wrote this one a long time ago – I hope it holds up.

  To Dream of Scheherazade is the second of the stories sold to an editor who said no vampires. It was first published in the Terminal Frights anthology by editor / publisher Ken Abner. Ken also bought the novel that I adapted from A Candle in the Sun – "This is My Blood," also available through Crossroad Press for Kindle and soon to be an unabridged audio book.

  The Subtle Ties That Bind was published in "Love in Vein II," edited by Poppy Z. Brite. I actually submitted it to the first volume, and it was accepted, but there wasn't space. When the second book was announced, I sent it back in and reminded her she liked it, and it's been one of my best-earning stories ever. I still get royalty payments. The version here in this collection is the original – shorter than the version that was published. I found the file and thought it was a good way to make this collection complete. If you are squeamish, this story might not be for you. It's pretty explicit.

  A Taste of Blood and Roses – which inspired the title of the collection – is not a vampire story. I am not going to tell you what kind of story it is, or where it was originally published, because one of the problems I had with that original publication was that the title of the book and the theme of the book spoiled about half of the stories. I hope you'll enjoy it.

  The Death-Sweet Scent of Lilies was published in a book of all stories involving Vlad Tepes. This is my homage to Dracula – my thoughts on just how that historic figure might have turned into a man who dined in the center of hundreds of human beings staked out in the sun, and how he might have become the lord of darkness we all know him as.

  Against His Bitter Judgment was written as much for myself as anyone else. It's a sequel to A Candle in the Sun, a look in on Judas Iscariot after centuries of…well, you'll know when you read the first story. It was published on line at the old Chiaroscuro web site. I think it adds something to the story. Maybe someday I'll add more.

  The final story in this book, The Sound of Drums, is also not exactly a vampire story. There are ghouls – or – sort of ghouls. There's a cargo cult. There's US Navy stuff from my days serving my country. This story was written for my buddy Brian Cartwright when he first started Cargo Cult Press…it was printed as a book and given only to the people who bought lifetime subscriptions. It's a very, very rare book worth a lot of money…but the words still need to get read, and so I present it here. Some of you will recognize names in the story … Brian and I both appreciate you guys…Cargo Cult Press put out some of the most gorgeous books ever. I own a complete set from the Cartwright years…and as payment, will receive one of every book ever published under that line. Best deal I ever made.

  And now…let there be vampires.

  --David Niall Wilson

  A Candle in the Sun

  Lucifer watched with deep interest, and some concern, the arrival of The Christ upon the Earth. Well aware that he could not prevent it, and unwilling to forgothe amusement, in any case, he set about sowing the seeds of jealousy, fear, and distrust that would later lead to the crucifixion. Once satisfied, he waited for the child to grow. A small mountain of dead children grew on Christ's birthday, sacrificed by those who feared the birth of a king.

  Men are often given to strange excesses in the solving, or prevention, of problems. I saw it as a shame; Lucifer saw the destruction not at all. His eyes were turned Heavenward in search of a glimpse of the anger he knew his actions would spark. I walked the Earth in his shadow, watching. In the Christ, he saw another part of his enemy, another work to corrupt. I saw beauty, a piece of something forever lost to me. Lucifer saw none of that; his hate had become too great. I saw him as he was, and I loved him. The Christ was very beautiful.

  * * *

  {From the Book of the Gospel, According to Judas Iscariot}

  Judas 1:1

  1 And it came to pass that Jesus went alone into the desert to be tempted of the devil. 2 He remained there forty days and forty nights, fasting, and on the fortieth night, he hungered. 3 The tempter came before him then, asking, "If you are truly the son of God, turn these stones to loaves of bread" 4 Jesus answered him, "It is written: 'man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

  5 Then the tempter led him to the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are truly the son of God, cast yourself down, for it is written:

  'He will command his angels

  concerning you,

  And they will lift you up in their

  hands,So that you will not strike your foot against stone.'"

  7 Jesus answered, "It is also written, 'do not put the Lord your God to the test."

  8 The devil took him to a very high mountain and
showed him all of the kingdoms of the world in their splendor. 9 "Bow down and worship me," he said, "and I will give them all to you."

  10 Jesus replied, "Away from me, Satan, for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."

  11 The devil laughed and gestured, raising from the sands a temptress. 12 "See here the things craved by man," he said, waving his arm to include the cities below. 13 "You are Son of man, does she not please you?"

  14 And Jesus, seeing that she was fallen from Heaven, and sorely used, beckoned to the temptress, saying, "For all who would follow me, there burns a light in my father's house."

  15 And the temptress fell to her knees, forsaking the devil and his darkness. 16 In an awful rage, Lucifer laid upon her a curse, bringing a great thirst which could be sated only by the lifeblood of man, and saying, "Feast you upon the fruits of his labor, for I say unto you, you shall be his undoing."16 Then the devil left them, and angels came and attended Jesus. 17 Fleeing into the desert, the temptress wept.

  * * *

  I hid for many days among the burning sands, and the thirst grew, grasping at my thoughts and twisting them beyond my control. I heard echoing laughter in the pits below, but had no concentration to spare it. As the sun dipped a final time, on the eighth day, I came to the fringes of the city of Galilee. At that time, the horror of what had befallen me was not clear in my mind. I slipped through the shadows of the city as a silent mist, searching for that which could end the thirst, hungering for freedom to follow him who had promised me hope.

  * * *

  Isabella, late in returning to her home from that of her sister, Jessamine, stopped at the sound of footsteps in the night. No direction lay in the sound. It seemed to echo from every shadow. When her steps ceased, the others ceased as well. Her heart sped nervously, and she called out to the night. "Who is there?" Straining to hear an answer, she heard the whispering rustle of silk, nothing more. More loudly, she called out again, "Please, who is it? May I pass in peace?"

  A figure melted from what had seemed only mist, moving slowly and silently forward. It was a woman. Isabella's shoulders loosened somewhat. As the woman approached, Isabella caught sight of her eyes, tormented, anguished eyes, lost. Catching her breath, she reached out, wanting somehow to help.

  "Who are you, lady, and what is wrong?" She asked, stepping forward. "May I help? I..."

  The eyes were horrible in their pain. She felt drawn to them by more than compassion, unable to pull her gaze from their depths. Far, far too late, she forced her eyes down, down to where trembling lips parted, lips of deepest, darkest red, framing teeth that gleamed and sparkled with captured moonlight.

  She struggled against the control of the eyes, against her fear. Her lips formed words, screams, any sound to negate the horror. They left her only a whisper, caught in the night breeze and borne away. The teeth were long, curved and sharp, inhuman. They drew nearer now with shocking speed. The morning dew misted on the chill, pale skin of Isabella's motionless form. She lay, awaiting the morning sun, broken and lifeless. There were twin punctures in the softness of her throat, and a ghastly contortion of absolute fear masked the innocent beauty of her face. There was no blood, but the shadows had lifted.

  * * *

  Judas 10:20

  20 As he spoke, a ruler came to him and knelt before him, saying "My daughter has died. 21 Come and lay your hand upon her, and she shall live." 22 Jesus rose and followed him as did his disciples.

  23 As he walked, a woman who had bled for twelve years reached out to touch his cloak. 24 She said to herself, "If only I touch his cloak, then I shall be healed."

  25 Turning, Jesus saw her and said, "Take heart, daughter, for your faith has healed you." 26 And the woman was whole from that moment on.

  27 When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the musicians and the noisy crowd, he moved them aside. 28 Seeing that no color remained to the girl's cheeks, and seeing also the marks upon her throat, he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead, but only sleeping." 29 They laughed at him. 30After they had been put outside, Jesus closed the door behind himself, barring it from within.

  * * *

  After touching the girl's throat, which was still and without pulse, Jesus felt a tug at his heart. A shadow passed the window, and he raised his eyes, now wet with tears, to meet those that faced him. Weeping also, the temptress only watched to see if he would smite her, removing the hunger, ending the pain.

  "Why?" He asked simply, brushing the soft strands of the girl's hair with tender fingers.

  "You heard the curse, Lord," she responded, unable to hide the bitterness in her words. "Lucifer saw in my heart that I would die for you. He took steps to insure that I could not. Each night the hunger grows. I am too weak to fight it. I seek only to follow you."

  Feeling the sincerity in her words, Jesus heaved a sigh of deepest resignation, feeling suddenly the great weight thrust upon his shoulders.

  "She may walk again," he said, simply, and the girl's eyes fluttered and opened. She did not smile; her expression was one of need--of desperation.

  "Her lifeblood is now a part of me," the temptress spoke, each word catching at her heart. "She will hunger as I. You know this is true, why do you raise her to such torment?"

  "I am the way, the truth, and the light," he said, slowly turning to the door. "Even in her torment, she is forgiven. For every such horror unleashed upon my father's children, I shall exact threefold payment on the day of reckoning."

  "And I," she breathed, fearing the answer to come, "am I forgiven, then?"

  Staring deeply within her eyes, Jesus communed with her heart. Since the days when she had walked freely upon the roads of Heaven, she had felt nothing like it. His purity surrounded her, probed her, and then was gone.

  "I shall call you Mary," he spoke. "Go with open heart, for we shall meet again." He turned then, leaving the room with the girl at his side, returning to the disciples and those who waited. Mary, for she gladly accepted the name, departed the window and melted through the crowd, going again into the desert to be alone. Only Judas, who had seen her at the window and noted her odd, exceptional beauty, noted her passing, and he was too much in awe at the miracle of the dead girl walking to dwell upon it.

  * * *

  Judas 10:31

  31 A woman was seen to pass the window frame and to speak. 32 Taking the girl by the hand, Jesus led her outside, and she lived, though no spark remained to her eyes--except that of hunger--and her pallor was that of death. 33 All stood in awe, and the news spread rapidly throughout the land. 34 Ignoring her father and those about her, the girl walked into the desert and was seen no more.

  * * *

  Judas 13:9

  9 When Jesus heard of the beheading of John the Baptist, he withdrew to a solitary place by boat. 10 Hearing this, a great crowd gathered and awaited his arrival, traveling there on foot. 11 Seeing them, Jesus had compassion on them and healed their sick.

  12 As darkness began to fall, the disciples came to him saying, "This is a remote place, and the hour is already late.Send the crowds away so that they can go the villages and buy something to eat."

  13 Jesus replied, "There is no need for them to go away. We will give them something to eat." 14 "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish," they replied.

  15 "Bring them to me," he said. Jesus directed the people to sit in the grass, and breaking the loaves, raised his eyes to the heavens and gave thanks. 16 Then he gave them to his disciples, who gave them to the people. They all ate, and were satisfied, and the disciples collected twelve basketfuls of pieces that were left over. 17 Those that were fed numbered about five thousand men, besides women and children.[ ]18 Immediately after, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 19 After the people had departed, one woman remained, Mary of Magdalene, and they spoke at length.

  * * *

  As the crowds dispersed, Mary moved slowly forward, watching
first from afar for any sign that she was not wanted. She had remained as long in the desert as her will could stand. Again the hunger was upon her. She stood, wavering, and watched as the son of Man bid farewell to his people. Her heart calmed somewhat, being close to him, but the aching need did not diminish. Slowly, he turned, seeing her as if from far away, and he came to stand by her side, watching as the last of the crowds disappeared into the distance.

  "They have beheaded John," he said slowly, ignoring the plea in her eyes, "Truly these are evil times. Your master has sown well."

  "What is death," she asked, eyes wide, "to one who serves you? It is the victory in the greatest of battles. I wish death would come to me in such service...I hunger again."

  With a great sadness in his eyes, he put his hands upon her shoulders. "You suffer because of me, as did John, and I feel your pain. The time is not yet upon us when I can offer you peace. You must follow, remaining close to my side, for I say unto you, the Son of Man is not like other men. You may feed upon me, for I shall not die."

  Feeling the depth of the emotion in his words, and seeing the tears as they began streaming from his eyes, Mary turned and fled. He did not know, could not know, what might befall him if he offered her salvation. As one of the fallen, she knew only too well the fire of his father's wrath. She ran through the desert and into the villages, running until she could no longer concentrate her will upon flight--until the hunger overwhelmed her. Creeping through the shadows, she tried to rest, but inside her mind, Lucifer laughed, saying, "Mary, time to feed. The hunger will return you to me. It is greater than you, or he can conceive. It is my hunger, and I will feast."

  * * *

  Jesus climbed the mountain, sore of heart. She drew him, even then, and the weight of John's loss was heavy on his human heart. Stones cut his fingers and feet as he climbed, and the wind chilled him, but he ignored it all. He ascended to the uppermost ledge that he could reach and knelt upon the cold, dusty stone.