Dark Desire

by ShadowM

  ┼

  It was about to be the one year anniversary of her signing the contract with the publishing house, and she had achieved her dream, now she could call herself a writer. Since it was a not just a job, but a vocation, that she now dedicated herself to full time. Being able to dedicate herself every day to her passion was priceless. There was no worry about making ends meet till the end of the month or having to take other full time jobs instead of writing. Now she was marvelously free.

  “Okay! The computer tables are situated, notebook, coffee, and informational books… wearing glasses,” she said, watching the enormous desk and laughed knowing that it would soon be disorganized as she was unable to keep everything in order for more than three days.

  Just as Mira was about to sit down she gave a little jump when she heard the shrill sound of the doorbell. She ran towards the door and timidly opened it feeling as if her black glasses were sliding off her nose. On the other side of the door she found a blond woman with large blue eyes holding a large tray in her hands.

  “Hello, neighbor!” The woman shouted with a huge smile. “Welcome!”

  “Hello,” Mira said, forced to step back when the woman walked forward trying to invade her apartment. Mira moved aside allowing her to enter.

  “My name is Hanna and I live on the first floor. Here, a welcome home gift, they are cupcakes.”

  “I’m Mira! It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thanks, but you didn’t have to bother.”

  “It wasn’t a bother. The truth is I always wanted to see the penthouse apartment, and I finally have a neighbor that’s my own age.”

  “You’re… the only young woman here?”

  “Well, the only one younger than thirty-five years old,” she laughed.

  Mira invited her to sit while she fixed a coffee and served the small white and pink cupcakes.

  “The penthouse must have cost you an arm and a leg,” Her neighbor commented while taking a sip of coffee and looking around the apartment. “If the first floor apartments are pricey then the penthouse apartment must cost a fortune.

  “Well...” Mira didn’t know how much the penthouse had cost and she didn’t want to know.

  “My father told me to come here hoping you would talk, I have to admit I’m a daddy’s girl,” The woman said showing that she was incapable of holding a secret. “But I also work, don’t think that he completely supports me financially.”

  “That’s… interesting,” Mira responded, uncomfortably.

  Hanna kept talking as if they had known each other for all of their lives. Something that was contrary to Mira’s character. She had always been a very reserved person unable to just open up and share with someone else. However, Hanna was a breath of fresh air.

  Finally, the conversation was entertaining, Hanna was sincere, gracious, and talked bluntly. Mira took advantage of the situation to inquire about the rest of the neighbors. She found out that there were four wealthy families from different countries, living there besides them.

  In front of Hanna’s apartment lived the elderly Ms. Smith who was an old maid and spent the entire day complaining. There were three empty floors. Tom lived on the second floor to the right and never left his apartment because he suffered panic attacks and a pair of millionaire brothers occupied two apartments on the third floor, but refused to speak to each other due to woman troubles.

  “And my neighbor?” Mira asked, after she calculated that Hanna hadn’t mentioned who lived in the other penthouse apartment.

  “Oh, Kwon lives there, but he only comes a few weeks during the month. Mira saw that Hanna was uncomfortable mentioning the man.

  “Is he nice?” Mira probed in the hope of knowing what to expect when she finished moving into her apartment.

  “If you mean does he looks nice, then yes.” Hanna smiled mischievously while finishing her coffee. “He is the hottest looking guy that you will ever meet. I admit that Asian guys don’t interest me. He is Korean,” she added, “But, he is a spectacular example, but I wouldn’t recommend getting to know him.”

  “Ah, I see. I’ll stay away from him then,” she responded, arching an eyebrow, as she didn’t really want to know in what way getting to know him would be a bad idea. Although, living next door to him she would find out more than she wanted.

  “That’s wise, dear. I can’t tell you much more as my relationship with him is limited to hi and bye, when he’s around here.”

  Half an hour later, she said goodbye to Hanna without having satisfied all her curiosity. That phrase could mean a lot of things…although she supposed if he was as attractive as Hanna said it meant Hanna had her own priorities.

  2. A Disaster Begins

  As she flitted around the apartment putting aside questions about her mysterious neighbor, the phone rang. On the other end of the phone a talkative editor greeted her and asked how she felt in her new home. After the informal greeting, she asked after Mira’s next project which had yet to begin.

  “I have a few suggestions for your new project, dear,” said Amanda, excitedly. “We’ve spent several weeks doing a market survey, and you better forget about plain erotic, it’s time for hardcore.”

  “Hardcore?” she asked, in doubt.

  “Hardcore sex! Bindings, whips, submission…all those things.”

  “I have no idea about any of those things, Amanda,” Mira admitted, feeling ashamed without any reason.

  “I know you can do it, you have an incredible talent in creating memorable couples. Give me a story, with an inexperienced virgin and a hunky bastard, capable of making the readers want him in their bed.

  “That sounds very…explicit.”

  “Yes, and it will sell. I promise you. The majority of the publishing houses are preparing an impressive assortment of books for next year. All of the publishing houses are planning on hardcore sex. We can’t stay behind! You have half a year to work on it. Give me some material soon so we can see how to make the most out of it.”

  After a quick goodbye she hung up the phone, Amanda was a like whirlwind that demolished even at a distance.

  Mira lay on the couch with a small moan of despair. Amanda had not made it easy for her. Mira was a virgin, which would let her use her own experience when writing about the female protagonist, but for the male protagonist and the scenes, that would be difficult. Mira knew many things about the topic after all she had read a lot and yes the BDSM world seemed exciting especially with someone of her character. But she had always panicked at getting naked in front of others and she didn’t like showing off her body although, in the BDSM world that didn’t seem very important.

  Mira knew perfectly well that she was a submissive and getting naked in front of others still bothered her. Just thinking about it put her off the entire idea. Mira didn’t think she was beautiful or ugly. She was simply common, just like any other girl. Of course, some men had liked her and tried to start a relationship with her, but she simply couldn’t see herself in a relationship.

  Perverse Demons

  By Maialen Alonso

  1. Pleasing Gluttony

  The dawn was cloudy and warned of thunderstorms. From the second floor window, a girl looked outside spellbound while eating breakfast, observing the surrounding mountains with dreamy eyes, imagining things that were impossible for someone in her social position.

  “For god’s sake, girl.” She heard when the door opened. “If your mother comes here and she sees you eating, she’ll be furious.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” She answered without looking, as she knew who it was. “She never comes here. You know that, Helen.”

  She laughed while the maid began making the bed. She wasn’t worried. If her mother entered her room and saw her eating, as always she was would start yelling at her for eating, but, why not? Dulce enjoyed eating. She played with her short brown hair while yawning.

  She gave Helen a hug from behind, Helen was the closest thing to a family that she had. Being a rich girl was not as peop
le thought, relationships were minimal, and she had always had stronger ties with the employees than with her parents, the main reason was the time she spent with them, they had practically raised her.

  She took a shower and dressed in a casual and comfortable manner just as she always did. Dressing in a large sweatshirt and jeans. On leaving her room, she met the accusatory gaze of her mother, a perfect woman that at forty-years-old was still able to become the object of desire of any man. Dulce saw the slight tic in her right eye, and knew she was in bad mood.

  “Were you pigging out?” Her mother crossed her arms and lifted her chin. “You’re going to turn into a cow. You are the shame of the family...

  And so began the Sunday lectures. Next, she would tell her that no man would want to marry her, and of course, she wouldn’t marry someone rich. And that everyone would laugh at the family… for the simple fact of not weighing 110 pounds instead of 132 pounds. Which Dulce thought was a perfect weight. Having a mother who used to be a model didn’t help at all, she was obsessed with anything that affected her appearance, and to know that her daughter didn’t care about such things angered her.

  That day she was tenser and nerve wracking than usual, and with a smart move, she managed to slip away and go down to the first floor running to enter the kitchen and warn Mary.

  “Girl, do not do that.” Laughed the stocky dark-skinned woman. “Have you already had breakfast?

  “No.”

  She grabbed a couple of freshly made pastries and went through the gate of the service road to the garden. Turned and continued moving to the rear of the mansion, near a cemetery that held the remains of their ancestors. It was a beautiful and gloomy place; a few years ago, she had found a statue that amazed her, because it seemed so real like it was looking at her.

  It was of a young man, a few years older than she was. He had his hair combed backwards and many times, she had imagined what hair color it would have been. His gaze was stony and his smile was full of mystery and mischief.

  She spent more time there than any other place and usually told that perfect image of an angel her sorrow and feelings. She had no real friends as she didn’t fit in with any of the social circles that she had access to, girls her own age, that were daughters of important people. They tended to laugh at her because she didn’t care about brand names, money, or fame.

  Dulce was convinced that high society was completely rotten and she wanted no part of it, but as the daughter of millionaires and the famous, she had obligations. Most of which she managed to avoid.

  She sat at the foot of the statue that always made her feel better. She ate the two pastries while she told the statue all about today’s fight with her mother. After three hours, it started raining and to her misfortune, she had to return home.

  “Is father here?” She asked on entering the dining room. Her mother already seated at the table.

  “Do you see him?” Her mother placed her fork on the plate and sighed. “He had to go to work today.”

  She wasn’t sure but, Dulce noticed that her mother was more bad tempered than usual, so she decided to stay silent and eat the vegetables that were surely ordered just for her. She rose to leave when she finished, saying goodbye in the most polite way, so as not to anger her further. While going to her room she decided she would take a short nap.

  “Girl, wake up.”

  “Helen?” She rubbed her tired eyes and looked at Helen. “What’s wrong?”

  Helen seemed nervous and anxious. This was new behavior. After eighteen years together Dulce had never seen her act in such a manner. She was the most calm and even-tempered person on the planet. Those standing near her were filled with a sense of peace that would calm the most anxious person.

  “Quick, get up.” Her voice trembled. “We have to hurry…”

  She got up and saw the seventy-year-old woman toss any clothing she found throughout the room in a black bag. Dulce asked her questions but the woman only whispered gibberish and told her to hurry and get ready.

  “Wait.” She asked, while handing her the bag and leaving the room.

  Night was falling, and Dulce’s fear was increasing by the moment. To see Helen acting like this wasn’t normal, it alerted her that something bad was happening. Before she could think more on subject, Helen returned grabbed her wrist, and pulled her from the room.

  “Don’t speak, not one word.” She whispered near her ear. “It’s very important that you do what I say, little one.”

  Dulce nodded her head in shock while Helen dragged her down the stairs. It surprised Dulce that the house was dark.

  They heard voices when they reached the first floor. She turned her head and saw that the French doors of the main living room were semi opened letting the voices out, and she could see the room brightly lit from far way. There seemed to bit many people talking in such a way that it was heard to make out what they were saying.

  Helen stopped running and walked slowly, taking care with the wooden floor. Dulce saw how she reached for the doorknob, her hand trembling … turned it towards the right and a small “click” sounded that silenced the soft and incomprehensible voices that were four meters away from them.

  “My God...” The old woman whispered.

  “What do you think you are doing, old woman?” A hood covered the figure, but Dulce could tell it was her mother’s voice.

  The doors were now completely open and she could see many figures inside the room.

  “What’s happening, mother?” She was starting to get nervous. Seeing everyone dressed similarly was very sinister.

  Her mother didn’t respond, but lifted her head enough that the light illuminated her face; she had a macabre smile on her face. She lifted a hand and several people rushed towards them. Everything happened fast, she felt the floor as she hit it, and heard loud screams reverberate on the walls, Helen’s screams.

  “Mother, what?” Sound refused to come out of her mouth as she watched them knife to death the woman who raised her less than a meter away.

  “Useless, old woman.” She approached her slowly. “Pick her up, it is necessary to begin the ritual as soon as possible, we will not have many other opportunities like today.

  Her body trembled as tears fell from her eyes. Dulce let herself be dragged towards the stairs the led to the basement. It had always been locked and she had never been able to enter it. They dragged her inside and she felt her body be hit and scratched by some badly placed nails.

  “What’s happening?” She shouted as she was thrown against the hard stone floor.

  It was dark, but after a few minutes, all the torches on the walls were lit. One by one, they let Dulce see what was held inside that forbidden place. There were strange symbols and stone statues everywhere. While in the middle of the room was an altar, the crowning touch was a statue, the same statue that she told everything. Her mind worked quickly and came up with one conclusion. They were some kind of sick satanic cult.

  “Are you sure about this?” She heard her father ask. “There is no going back. It’s been generations since this ritual has been performed.

  “Silence!” She pushed him aside and pushed the hood off her face. “You’ve spent days whining that we are going broke. Beleth is the only one who can help us.”

  “Mother?”

  “You’re just as stupid as your father.” Her mother whispered while looking at her. “The only good thing is that you are such a bloody glutton. I hope that doesn’t bother him. Let’s begin!”

  Three of the people dragged her to the strange altar and she saw then what they were going to do. They were going to sacrifice her.

  “Please.” She yelled when they tied her hands. “Why are you doing this?”

  “It has become clear that we are not going to marry you off with someone.” She stood over her without any emotion showing on her face. “At least you are useful for this, to save your family.”

  “Family?” They weren’t family. A family didn’t do these kinds of
things.

  Before she knew it, the people had arranged themselves in a circle surrounding her and had begun a strange chanting that she couldn’t comprehend. They held each other’s hands and swayed from side to side as if they were crazy.

  Her mother stood near her head, and continued to look at her while smiling; she reached inside the black cape that she wore.

  “God, no! Please.” Dulce screamed when she saw the knife that she held.

  “Listen to our call Beleth.” Her mother chanted. “Listen to us, we offer you a life, pure and clean, in exchange for our desires.”

  She continued, but Dulce couldn’t hear more, didn’t want to hear more. They were going to kill her because they were going broke. Was money that important to them? Did they really believe they could call forth a demon?

  It started to get cold, and her body trembled both from fear and the cold and then she saw the knife fall and stab her in the chest. She swallowed a scream in shock over what was happening. She couldn’t believe this was real.

  Yum, yum… the voice was heard on a sudden breeze.

  “Beleth?” If she had not seen her mother’s lips move when she called out she would have never imagined that frightened voice to be hers. “My lord...”

  She continued to say something, but Dulce was much too occupied in finding out what did not hurt, like realizing that the knife sticking horribly out of her chest didn’t seem to hurt.

  “So much time wasted waiting for a call,” A sweet voice came towards her, but she couldn’t see who it belonged to.

  “We are sorry…” The phrase was repeated by different voices.

  “Forgive our ego...” It was her mother. “We didn’t want to bother you.”

  “Lies,” The voice changed suddenly. “You only call me when you need something… it’s been like that for centuries. Truthfully, I thought about not coming, but this time there is something that interests me.