literary SUCCUBUS published online SUCCUBUS read free reading site material on a read free website including complete text stories in genres including SF and fantasy; fiction published online also includes horror, strangeness, weirdness and the bizarre. The site also features three complete novels online plus sample chapters of other novels.
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(1) "So what's the price?" said Jeff, still not even half-believing any of this. "Price?" said Frederick Utter, with puzzled dignity. "Yeah," said Jeff. "You want -- what? My immortal soul?" "The gift," said Frederick, "is also for the giver." Melvin giggled unpleasantly and tugged at Jeff's elbow, urging him away. So, both liquored up, they left the premises of Utter, Spek and Glottis -- morticians, grief counselors, buriers of the dead -- and were soon careening through the night in Melvin's Caddy. By the time Jeff Tulp and Melvin Doot reached the place amongst the trees, it was three in the morning. A clouded sky. Fall thunder. The ground hummed as they walked across it. Hints of bruised purple and malevolent red contaminated the beams from their flashlights. The ground where the body was buried was loose, easy to dig in. The body was bones, twisted ligaments, rags of clothing, an unclean smell. "Read this," said Melvin, thrusting a piece of paper into Jeff's hands. The flashlight focused. Jeff read, hoarsely. Liberated into action, the words curled briefly into visible shape. Hooked glyphs fell, barbed and purple, through the sweating air. |
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