L is for Lamia (A-Z of Horror Book 12) Read online

  “Stay calm,” Patrick told her, wishing he had reasons to give her why. The truth was that he wasn’t calm either. The woman outside was not human, of that he was sure. She was some sort of creature, come to hurt his family.

  To take one of his children.

  Or kill them both.

  Patrick took his son into the living room and placed him down on the sofa, propped his head up on a pillow and tried to get him to wake up. “Jake,” he said over and over. “Jake, please open your eyes.”

  Hannah was trying her mobile phone constantly but was getting no joy. She announced that she was going to send an email to her friends to get help, but started sobbing when she was unable to do so. “I can’t get a connection,” she said. “Dad, what’s happening?”

  “I don’t know what’s happening,” he said. “I wish I did. We need to stick together while we figure things out.”

  “He was holding a snake?” Alison said. “I was watching. What kind of a woman gives a little boy a snake to play with?”

  Patrick put his head in his hands and swept back his hair. “I don’t think she’s a woman.”

  “What do you mean?”

  There was a knock at the door.

  Silence in the room as they all looked around at each other.

  More knocking-banging-thudding. It was like there was a bear on the other side of the door trying to get in.

  “She’s going to get in,” Alison said.

  Patrick swallowed and forced himself to get up. His leg now felt like it was made out of wood and he was unable to bend his knee at all. When he looked down, he saw that his trouser leg was stretched tight; he was swelling up.

  There was nothing to do about it right now, though.

  The knocking at the door continued.

  Patrick dragged himself into the hallway and over to the front door.

  “Please, leave us alone,” he shouted at the closed door, wondering if the creature on the other side would hear him.

  “Give me a child and I will leave you alone.”

  “I’m not giving you one of my kids. Just leave us alone.”

  “Give me a child or lose both. You will also die.”

  Patrick felt weak and slumped against the wall. “My leg?”

  “Yessss. The poison will kill you.”

  “I need help. Please…”

  “Give me a child and I will go away.”

  “No. Never!”

  “You will change your mind.”

  “Patrick! Come quick, it’s Jake.”

  Patrick went as quickly as he could, stumbling into the living room where he saw his son still lying on the sofa. Jake was seizing, his face purple, his lips blue.

  Alison looked at Patrick in horror. “He needs help.”

  Patrick tried to stay upright as the room spun. He was feeling faint, his strength ebbing away with every second.

  “Give him to me or lose everything.”

  They all turned to see the dark-haired woman standing at the back of the living room. In the light, her eyes shone like sapphires and her wide mouth was full of glinting fangs. Her long black hair was alive, each strand a tiny, hissing snake.

  Peter gritted his teeth and did the incredible. He threw himself at the monster and reached for her throat.

  The woman barely had to move as she swatted him away like a fly. Patrick went hurtling into a side table, which broke beneath him and left him lying in a pile of glass shards. He tried to get up, but his entire lower body had gone numb.

  “You are dyinggg,” the woman howled at him, her voice like crunching leaves. “Your ssson is dyinggg. Give me a child and you may live. Give me a child and you will still have another. Refuse me and I will devour you all.”

  “Help!” Alison screamed. “Somebody help us!”

  The monster tilted its head, opened its mouth. A dozen yellow snakes oozed from her throat and raced across the carpet towards Alison. They set upon her ankles and slithered up her body, making it all the way to her screaming mouth. She began to choke when they forced their way into her throat.

  The monster hissed at Patrick. “I will kill them all! You are the father of this household. Take what I am offering or perish.”

  “Take my brother!” Hannah begged. “Take him.”

  Still slumped in the corner of the room, Patrick managed to shoot his daughter a furious look. “Hannah. He’s your brother.”

  “So what? He’s dying anyway. If you don’t let him go then we’ll all die. I don’t want to die, dad.”

  Patrick swallowed, almost did as she asked.

  Desperate.

  “Please, dad. Just let her take Jake. The rest of us will be okay. You’ll still have me. We’ll just pretend like he never existed.”

  Suddenly Patrick’s guts churned with anger. As he looked at his frightened daughter, he saw her calculating selfishness. She was thinking only of herself.

  Then Patrick looked at his son. Jake was still seizing, the life creeping out of his young, innocent body.

  “You can have my daughter,” Patrick shouted, feeling part of his soul ebb away with his words. “Save my son and she’s yours.”

  The monster’s fanged jaws turned upwards in a gross smile. “Yesssss.”

  Hannah’s eyes went wide. “Dad, no. I need to tell you something. Please…”

  Hannah screamed as the monster threw out its arms and unleashed a torrent of snakes from its twisted fingertips. The reptiles flew through the air and wrapped themselves around Hannah’s body like lassoes. Her pleading was cut short when a python wrapped itself around her face.

  Patrick felt his leg come back to life, the numbness flowing away like water out of a beaker. He leapt up and crossed the room, grabbing Jake and shaking him.

  Alison fell to the floor, gagging and choking as the snakes left her mouth and slithered beneath the sofa.

  Jake opened his eyes and saw his father leaning over him. “Dad?”

  “Yes, it’s me. You’re okay now. Me and mum are here. It was all just a bad dream.”

  “Where’s Hannah?” he asked sleepily. “We have to look after her and the baby. I went outside to tell the nasty woman to leave us alone because my sister is having a baby.”

  Patrick recoiled slightly. “A baby?”

  Jake nodded. “She told me. She’s going to have a baby with her boyfriend. It’s in her tummy.”

  “Oh, God, no.”

  Patrick spun around, shouting out for his daughter.

  But she was gone, along with the dark-haired woman and her snakes.

  The only people left in the living room were Patrick, Alison, and their son. They no longer had a daughter.

  Or an unborn grandchild.

  END.

  About The Author

  Iain Rob Wright is one of the UK's most successful horror and suspense writers, with novels including the critically acclaimed, THE FINAL WINTER; the disturbing bestseller, ASBO; and the wicked screamfest, THE HOUSEMATES.

  His work is currently being adapted for graphic novels, audio books, and foreign audiences. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and a massive animal lover.

  Check out Iain's official website or add him on Facebook where he would love to meet you.

  www.iainrobwright.com

  FEAR ON EVERY PAGE

  More Books by Iain Rob Wright

  THE FINAL WINTER: UK US

  Apocalyptic horror novel where it never stops snowing and something ancient stalks the earth.

  ASBO: UK US

  Innocent family man is targeted by a gang of sadistic youths.

  ANIMAL KINGDOM: UK US

  Animals turn on mankind and try to make humanity extinct.

  SEA SICK: UK US

  A deadly virus is unleashed on board a luxury cruise liner.

  SAM: UK US

  A young boy seems to be possessed. But is he?

  RAVAGE: UK US

  Apocalyptic horror that culminates in a fight for survival at a hilltop amusemen
t park. Say goodbye to the world.

  SAVAGE: UK US

  Apocalyptic sequel to Ravage where the stakes are even higher at an abandoned pier. Sometimes being alone is better.

  THE HOUSEMATES: UK US

  Reality TV turns deadly. 12 competitors but only 1 winner.

  SOFT TARGET: UK US

  Nonstop Thriller where the future of the United Kingdom is at stake.

  HOLES IN THE GROUND: UK US

  Collaboration with J A Konrath. Some things should stay buried. And guarded forever.

  THE PICTURE FRAME: UK US

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  At the world’s biggest amusement park, based on the moon, something has gone very very wrong.

  HOT ZONE: UK US

  Sequel to Soft Target. This time the terrorists are using mankind’s deadliest diseases.

  Enjoyed this book? You might also enjoy the work of these great authors…

  Iain Rob Wright (www.iainrobwright.com)

  Bestselling author of Horror and Suspense. Active member of the Horror Writer’s Association.

  Matt Shaw (www.mattshawpublications.co.uk)

  Horror’s Darkest Imagination. EXTREME CONTENT.

  Craig Saunders (www.craigsaunders.blogspot.co.uk)

  UK’s premier writer of Horror, Fantasy, and Fun.

  Michael Bray (www.michaelbrayauthor.com)

  Bestselling author of Whisper, a #1 hit!

  Ian Woodhead (www.ianwoodhead.moonfruit.com)

  A master of nightmares.

  Graeme Reynolds (www.graemereynolds.com)

  Dark tales from a twisted mind.

  Stuart Keane (www.stuartkeane.com)

  Author of compelling horror stories and member of the Horror Writer’s Association.

  Tim Miller (www.timmiller.org)

  Extreme Horror Author.

  Jacob Rayne (www.jacobrayne.worpress.com)

  Writer of gritty and disturbing horror fiction

  Copyright

  * * *AN SG HORROR RELEASE* * *

  Part of the SALGAD PUBLISHING GROUP

  Redditch

  UK, Worcestershire

  www.SALGADPUBLISHING.com

  K is for Klutz copyright 2015 by Iain Rob Wright

  www.IAINROBWRIGHT.com

  Cover Art Copyright 2015 Iain Rob Wright

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the consent of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

  Table of Contents

  BOOK SUMMARY

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  About The Author

  More Books by Iain Rob Wright

  Enjoyed this book? You might also enjoy the work of these great authors…

  Copyright

  Table of Contents