• About

Karen Payton Holt

~ author of 'Fire & Ice' vampire series – an epic ride into darkness.

Karen Payton Holt

Tag Archives: Writers carnival team challenge.

A Precious Gift.

21 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Karen Payton Holt in Horror, Short Stories

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Horror, Writers carnival team challenge.

Another Writers Carnival challenge. This week; You’re proud parents of a newborn who grows at an accelerated rate, in fact, overnight she has aged three months. You know no one has swapped the child. So what happens next? Where do you go and what’s going on? Use no more than 1,500 words.

<><><><> ADULT CONTENT <><><><>

I opened my eyes and stared at the bedroom ceiling. The pearl grey light suggested it was the early hours of the morning. The mewling sound drifting through the house, originating from the crib down the hall, demanded my attention and pulled at my gut. I loved her, this baby, even though she was my death warrant.

Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I took a moment to absorb the ‘normal’ feelings. The soft pile of the carpet beneath my feet, and the breeze from the window cooling my skin. I left Aiden sleeping and went to the nursery. Even though I expected it, I inhaled sharply at her appearance.

Her rounded, soft limbs carried the rosy-tinted healthy flush of a three month old baby, even though my body still ached from the birthing of this child a mere twenty four hours ago. Leaning over the crib, a flood of warmth surprised me. Her smile, the kind that shone in eyes which captured every shade of blue in the spectrum, defied description. A cooing breath completed the spell, like an arrow piercing my heart. I love this child.

It felt weird, when I knew would never see her grow to adulthood. That had been the deal. A human lifespan of health, happiness and shining good fortune, and He gets a child.

Instinctively, I had known the time was coming, and that He would demand the bargain be sealed. The shadow of his presence had been thicker these last few weeks. Aiden suffered three accidents. Near misses, really, of the ‘you could have been killed’ variety. I knew they were warnings shots across the bow. Reminders that He could take away my ‘happiness’ in one stroke.

“I’ve given you a queen. Can’t I keep the rest? Still live?” I stared into Lilith’s eyes, and seeing the blue hue turn to flint took my breath away. The answer was no. Reaching into the crib, I picked up the child. Her soft body fit into mine. My stomach cramped and my breasts ached as the primal bond of mother and child swept through my body. Sitting in the armchair, I settled Lilith into my lap and held her to my breast.

The cramps in my belly became stronger with each hard pull of her suckling mouth. Her tiny fingers moved over my soft skin in a clutching action, all part of Mother Nature’s design to make a baby’s needs undeniable. Looking down at the determined jaw moving in rhythmic demanding strokes, the feeling of having my life drained from me was real, I knew. It was not just milk Lilith took from me.

As her eyes drifted closed, I stared out of the window over the pink dawn streaking across the sky. How many of these would I get to see? I didn’t know if Aiden truly understood that I would be leaving him to be a lone parent. I only ever told him what I needed to. He had a lot to get his head around in the last three weeks. Telling him his wife carried a child which could not be his had shocked him. He adjusted very quickly. He knew his life of plenty had a darker underbelly. The unwritten pact between us to not ask questions came to an end, and now he knew everything.

The house and grounds had been my prison for three weeks. My skin still hurt from the accelerated growth of the baby, where the lower layers of the derma tore, leaving blood-red stretch marks. I smiled. My stomach looked as though the Devil’s claws had dragged over my flesh. In a way, they had.

I awoke on the morning of Lilith’s conception, feeling violated. The vivid dream of being stalked and forced to succumb to His attentions became reality. I buried the shame that I could not label it ‘rape’. I enjoyed it, His attentions. The bruised feeling between my thighs mocked me, and I suspected evidence stained the sheets deliberately, just in case I was in doubt.

I never had any doubt. Twenty years passed too quickly, in the end. The sixteen year old girl He liberated from a prison cell certainly made the most of those years. My ‘john’s’ blood still stained my soul, and maybe that’s why accepting death felt right. The guy earned a lifetime in Hell when he beat Jess to death. He should’ve been my trick, not hers, but shit, I did too much coke that afternoon and dragging my ass out of bed felt like crawling out from under a bear’s carcass. And that’s what the guy looked like too, after I buried a knife in his back. A bear carcass, crushing the bloody pulp that had been Jess. It should have been me. I would’ve gutted him with switch blade I kept under the pillow.

But, when I was gone, Lilith would still have Aiden. That thought chilled my flesh. I pushed away the sudden scene of seduction He put in my head. They were not related by blood, after all.

In a blinding moment of clarity, I realized I’d been used. Tricked. The trappings of a bountiful life had always been overshadowed by the price I would have to pay. That feeling of waiting for the debt collector to come banging on the door haunted me. I found a strong, healthy mate with whom I could never have children — another part of the bargain — I built an affluent lifestyle, and my career as a lawyer rose quickly to glittering heights. All His doing, I knew.

Aiden turned out to be my match in every way. He enjoyed limitless power as a CEO of a bank. He sat on the board of many companies, including a heavy hitting pharmaceutical research facility. Everything he touched turned to gold. Were Aiden’s gifts a coincidence? I didn’t think so. And now, having given birth to His daughter, my death would leave Lilith with a father and formidable protector who would be molded to her will.

I laughed. Yes. I’d been used. I was nothing more than a pack mule. He must have found me pathetic and amusing.

I looked down into Lilith’s drowsy features. She was fully fed and relaxed, her soft rosebud lips still pursed, but no longer latched on. Cradling her in my arms it took more effort than I expected rising to my feet. The newborn of yesterday morning was15lbs heavier and much more solid. Settling her in the crib, I padded through the dark house in bare feet.

Will I get to choose how to die? The gossamer fine net drapes billowed as a breeze wafted through the house. My skin prickled at the sudden chill. I fancied I heard the word ‘No’ drifting on the air.

“No.” I smiled, tasting the bile churning in my stomach. “Of course not.”

Flash Fiction: The King Is Dead.

12 Saturday Jul 2014

Posted by Karen Payton Holt in Flash Fiction

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

flash fiction, Writers carnival team challenge.

This week’s Writer’s Carnival team challenge was to write a short story that begins with the following sentence: My life will never be the same…

    <><><><><><><><>
My
life will never be the same again, once I reveal myself. I clung to the final moments of anonymity. The sunlight pouring in through the imposing window slanted across the flagstone floor, banishing darkness to the farthest corners of the castle’s cavernous great hall.

I had become accustomed to staying in shadows, sacrificing my happiness on the altar of revenge.

I’m no longer in hiding. For twenty four hours a day, the linen binding around my chest which flattened my breasts helped in creating a safe identity. The tunic I wore molded my shape to that of a youth. I bided my time and wielded my knife. Borrigan berries gave me a euphoric feeling of fearlessness, and four knights died at my hand. Drinking mead and ale until they could barely stand made them easy pickings, and they never considered that the enemy could be inside the castle.

Taking another step forward, I could see past the stone pillar. He sat at the banquet table alone. Although his face was streaked with dirt, pools of blood sat in the creases of his throat. The smell of battle hung in the air. Blood. The stench of melting fat and charred skin was a familiar one, as the bonfires raging in the courtyard burned the vanquished to prevent disease.

Red wine stained the aged wooden tabletop like dried blood. My vision blurred as I remembered my father’s fatal wound pumping blood between my fingers, despair seeping through my soul.

“I failed you, Arienne. Stay safe, Thomas…”

Thomas had helped me, fitted me out in squire’s attire and showed me how a ‘man’ walks. But not anymore. I wore a gown for the first time in six months, the bodice pushed my breasts up into the ripe swell of a maiden. Although, I could not disguise fingernails broken and stained with dirt, nor the callouses on my palm where the hilt of my dagger had spent so many hours in my hand.

I set a smile upon my artfully painted face, the dash of olive-colored henna on my lids accenting my green gaze. Pinching my cheeks to redden them, I stepped forward into the light.

The knight’s head snapped around. The goblet in his hand toppled over, the dregs of ale flooding the table. The scowl etched on his face deepened as he surged to his feet. I fell back a step as he strode forward, his fingers digging in as he gripped my shoulders and pulled me into his body. I yelped as the muscular band of his arm around my body crushed my lungs and his mouth covered mine. His tongue dipped in between my lips, seeking mine, his kiss hard and insistent.

My knees shook as a light headed feeling weakened my body. I grabbed his leather tunic, my knuckles white as I held on tight. His own breathing sounded harsh as he settled his hands on my shoulders and, holding me away, studied my face.

“I thought you were dead. When the King’s equerry brought news, he said the ladies in waiting and you…”

“Merek, they raped and slaughtered every female.”

The muscle in his jaw twitched. “They paid for their treachery. I’m sorry I could not save your father. So how…?” Taking my hand, looking down, he turned it over and studied the bruises and straight edged cuts in my calloused skin, and understanding dawned. “You pretended to be a squire?”

I smiled. “I looked too young to be a knight.”

As if noticing it for the first time, he ran his fingertips ran through my short, rough cut hair. He smiled. “This will never do My Lady.” Suddenly dropping to one knee and pressing his forehead to the back of my fingers, he said, “The King is dead. I swear allegiance to my new Queen.”

For the first time in six months, I took a breath that did not hurt. I had thought my life would never be the same again, and I was right.”

‘Fire and Ice’ vampire series of five novels.

  • The weird science of loneliness explains why lockdown sucked | WIRED UK
  • Death of Connor – Getting It Right.
  • Definition of ‘Unbelievable’.
  • Uplift Vibe
  • New Year Goal

Recent Comments

Darlene on My indi-author spotlight…
Jacob on A Change of Pace
ellenbest24 on Repaying The Compliment.
Karen Payton Holt on Repaying The Compliment.
ellenbest24 on Repaying The Compliment.

Social Media

  • Author Page Facebook

Writing

  • Writers Carnival

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014

Categories

  • Blog: Non Fiction
  • Fire and Ice series
  • Flash Fiction
  • Horror
  • Humor
  • Poetry
  • Science Fiction
  • Short Stories
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com
Follow Karen Payton Holt on WordPress.com

Recent Posts

  • The weird science of loneliness explains why lockdown sucked | WIRED UK
  • Death of Connor – Getting It Right.
  • Definition of ‘Unbelievable’.
  • Uplift Vibe
  • New Year Goal

Recent Comments

Darlene on My indi-author spotlight…
Jacob on A Change of Pace
ellenbest24 on Repaying The Compliment.
Karen Payton Holt on Repaying The Compliment.
ellenbest24 on Repaying The Compliment.

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014

Categories

  • Blog: Non Fiction
  • Fire and Ice series
  • Flash Fiction
  • Horror
  • Humor
  • Poetry
  • Science Fiction
  • Short Stories
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.