Jeves and Winchester, Bang and Rumble

'Why are we lying on the floor Jeves?'
'I believe we are playing hide and seek with your brother Jake'
The young master looked relieved 'oh. ok. We didn't kill him then did we.'
A statement rather than a question.
'Did we?'
'Not as I recall young sir.'
'Jeves?'
'Yes young sir?'
'Can we get up now? I am hurting.'
'Not yet sir'
'Alright. Why?'
'Because I say so, young sir'
'If you say so'
'I do'
There was a loud bang from outside, then a fading rumble.
'Now we can get up young sir'
'Thank you'
The young master got up. 'So, what do we do now Jeves?'
'How about a game of hide and seek?' asked Jeves
'With Jake, and mom and dad?' replied the boy excitedly
'If sir wants'
'I do'
'i'll hide and young sir can come and find me'
'I want to hide' said the boy gruffly, pouted lip trembling on the edge of tears'
'Fine then young sir'

Jeves shot him in the head.

 /
' That was rather rude Jeves.' said the headless corpse.' A bit dissapointing too'
'yes young sir' replied Jeves woodenly.
' You going to shoot yourself now Jeves' It wasn't a question.
Jeves brought his forefinger around, put it in his mouth.
and fired, taking the top of his head clean off.
'Did it hurt?' asked the young master.
Fuck you, replied Jeves.

Confessions of a Vampire. Abdesh

'Sire, they are insisting on an audience with you'
'Show them in then'
At the other end of the hall the new Oak doors were opened by the guards. Four men; by their appearance Turks strode in. Three with their helmets on, and the fourth holding his helmet under his arm.
'We have come for our sultans nephew! Release him at once!'
The Prince leaned forward slowly. 'I will tell you what I told your messenger. I do not have your sultans nephew. In fact, I even showed him my dungeons at his insistence'
'I don't care for your dungeons. Just the return of your prisoner' replied the man indignantly.
Arthur scratched his chin. There was a sudden subtle tension in the air as a dozen bowstrings around a hidden gallery in the hall were tightened.
'What he means to say Sire, is that he..'
'I know what he is saying Andrani. What I am saying is that I do not have him. I did not take him, and that this little man is beginning to irritate me'
The man next to the messenger spoke up ' Forgive, my Prince, we are only concerned for our own Princes welfare. My master tends to overstate his intentions quite readily. An unfortunate feature, I fear, of our highest classes'
The other man began to protest, only to be cut off mid word by a warning look from the speaker. The man, clearly taking offence turned around and stomped out of the hall, followed by the other two guards.
'Obviously one who knows best Sire' remarked his council knowingly.
Arthur didn't reply. Instead he sat back in the throne. both arms on the armrests.
The tension in the air evaporated.
'I must apologise Prince Dracula. It is as I have said. My master can be a bit of a hothead and is currently taking it upon himself to cool down. I can represent our interests in this matter before you if it pleases.'
'What is the day of your birth?'
'Sorry..I..'
'I like to know something of a man before I enter into negotiations with him.'
'Well....It would be....The second week in....' The man's face tightened in concentration fore a moment, then relaxed into a smile ' Ah. I see. Very clever of you Prince Dracula. So I am indeed rumbled.
Dracula nodded at the man's honesty. He knew that only the Royal classes of Turkish nobility would have the education to give their day of birth in the Christian calendar. The fact that this man had realised this and given over so readily told him that he was not what he seemed and that they could talk earnestly.
'Just out of curiosity then.'
'October' replied the man
'And my name is Abdesh. Prince Abdesh'


'Come in. sit'
They had retired to a medium sized antechamber located through a door behind the throne. The Turk, despite the breach in protocol that he was used to, seemed to adapt quickly. Dracula offered the man a cup of wine, which he politely refused, stating that he didn't drink,wine. Dracula kept his opinion of this to himself, instead asking him why he came in search of his own son. The man replied that the reasons were few, but significant. Dracula sipped at the wine while listening, watching his guest for any involentary movements. And not being dissapointed.
'Well' he began when the other man had finished ' Generally people who go missing are found safe and well after a short search. Of course, there are exeptions. But we will certainly redirect some of our resources into finding him, if...
'If?' asked the Turk with a raised brow.
'..we can agree on one very, very important matter'
'I am listening'

TO BE CONTINUED.

Hydeville. prologue

On the eleventh of August 2003, in a small English village, Marie Jane Celeste awoke in her bedroom, sat up, walked out into the hall, downstairs, out the open front door and vanished.

Later that same day, at around four pm, Alison Frey looked out of the window of her kitchen into the high walled garden, expecting to see her five year old twins playing happily, and screamed.

In the local Morgue Dr Sam Whyte prepared himself for another working day. The security footage records him washing his hands, whisteling an unidentifiable tune, pulling on his gown on, leaving the room.
Then nothing.

More souls vanished that day, to total a dozen. Some were noticed, some were not. Some were missed, and some were not. In all though the biggest noise that was made was a MISSING poster. posted throughout an area and a desperate Facebook campain by the twins mother. None were successful.

As sad as these were, none of them made a government take notice as, a full week later an entire American town vanished. Just vanished.
That town was called Hydeville.

Pagan Ties. An Extract

'Just room sir?'
'Just room. I am hoping to dine with a friend on a regular basis'
'A close friend in the village sir?'
'Is it company policy to question a clients preferences?'
' No sir, sorry sir. It's just...the girl blushed
The man smiled. Ah, Of course.
 'Well, it might be some time before I find who I am looking for, so, for tonight at least I'll eat here. The menu looks appetising'
'I-made-the-pie' she blurted out
'AREL!'
A large woman, the owner he assumed, or at least the owners wife, stood in the far doorway wiping her hands on a towel
'Chef needs help in the kitchen...she inclined her head behind her...I'll book in Mr..?'
'Gallwood. Tall Gallwood'
'Mr Gallwood' she turned to him, manovering her bulk behind the minimal desk '
'And how long will you be staying with us sir?'
'About a month'
She wrote this information in a large book. Either they didn't know how to use a computer, or hadnt heard of them out here in the sticks.
'Machines don't work properly out here.' she said by way of explaining. Tall thought she had faced this question before, or, had read his mind.
The woman finished, then opened a locked drawer below the counter. It's lock squealed, setting his teeth on edge, having the same effect on him seconds later as she locked it
'Here is your key Mr Gallwood. Room 112 at the top of the landing, left at the end then all the way along. Would you like your bags carried up for you sir?'
Tall, who had an idea who would be carrying those bags, declined the kind offer.
'If you need anything, just let me know' she smiled
'I will. Thanks' he turned to go when something occured to him.
'You don't happen to know where Annie Wytch lives, do you?'
'Sorry. I dont. Someone in the village might know though. I live in the Town'
He gave the thumbs up 'Thanks anyway'
'You are welcome'

Tall pulled his case up the short flight of stairs, glad of the landings between them. It was when he got to the top he groaned. The upper floors was like the Tardis, bigger on the inside than on the outside. The rooms must stretch right back into the woodland. Strange. It seemed to be more Pub than a bed and breakfast on the outside, then, when you get into the building itself it goes on for miles and miles. Must be additions through the years he thought, Looks that way.

The room itself was what he expected. Simple and functional, as well as comfortable and clean. He threw his case up on the bed; a tradition of his, then, checking the padlock on the case zips he left the room and went back downstairs, room key in pocket. He noticed Arel was back on front desk and gave her the thumbs up gesture he had used earlier. Arel blushed again.

'Looking forward to that pie Arel'

Her face darkened so much he was afraid she would bleed from her eyes.
She mumbled something almost inaudable as he made his way through the open door.

'AREL!'

Christ! What was wrong with that woman?

 Tall quickened his pace, eager to get away. If it was his own money he was spending for the room he would have checked out of that room within a day, quietly, so as not to get the girl in trouble. But because he wasn't, and his employer was insistent to the point of paying extra on top of his expenses he was keeping to his original booking. Though it wasn't just the job he was staying for, not really. He was looking forward to seeing Annie again. He knew she had left her work and had put her flat up for sale not long after her grandmother had passed away, the few times he had visited the old place there had been nobody home, and it was still on the market. So he had accepted his employers offer to come here and get to know her again, with the bill being footed by someone else. It was perfect.
It was meant to be

Now, the only problem was finding out where she actually lived. 
 

 

Jeves and Winchester, On the Stairs.

..The young man circled the car one more time, then ran at Jeves.

Jeves never moved. He didnt need to, the young master slipped in past him and ran upstairs, still cawing and flapping his arms about. On the first landing he turned left.

Stiff backed and poker faced Jeves made his slow careful way into the hallway. He paused a minit, looked left, then right and carried on, mounting each step as if he was following a coffin.

There came a smash from upstairs, followed by a high pitched giggle.
The wake Jeves was in stopped momentarily, then resumed at a slightly brisker pace, bringing Jeves into the main upstairs room a bit faster than he would have normally liked, but, there you go. As he had expected. glass everywhere except in the large window frame that dominated the room. The young Master was standing before the carnage, seemingly placid. Jeves glanced around the room, making a quick inventory, and, yes. As he had expected. They were now missing one hardbacked chair.
It had been an antique.

'I believe we shall go fox hunting today Jeves' said young master offhandedly.
'I am sorry to inform young sir that it is currently illegal to hunt said canines'
Young master spun around
'Has that Cameron fellow not sorted that out yet Jeves. I am appaled'
'Indeed not sir. I believe the Scottish people have blocked that particular bit of legislation from going through'
'Damn those Scots! and damn Cameron for being so fluffy!'

Fluffy?

'Then we will just have to hunt something else, Do we still have those vulgar dogs mummy is so fond of?''
'We have one sir. Osborne.'
'Then we shall shoot Ozzy'

No! thought Jeves Not Ozzy 
Ozzy had been his faithful companion for many decades, The animal was on his way out, and he did not want the hound to go as ungainly as this young master wanted. He would have to think fast.

'I believe Ozzy has wandered off somewhere young master. Might I suggest...perhaps..Jake?'

Watching the grin that slowly developed on the young masters face was like witnessing hell opening up.

'YES! brilliant! lets wait for him on the stairs Jeves!'
 The young master ran past him, out into the hall way and hit the deck behind the stair rail. Jeves followed at a more stately pace.

There, they waited.

Jeves and Winchester, Three Shots

The first shot took the top of his head off in a spray that covered the top of the car.
He stood there, eyes wide, front of his trousers darkening.
He farted, uttered a single word, then his knees suddenly buckled, spilling him into his own puddle of urine and blood.

The second and third shots rang out, one smashing the glass of a car window as it passed through the front, then embedding itself into his wife's stomach, the pain searing until the other ended all thought.

In the silence that followed the fading echo a raven called
'CAW'
To be answered from inside the large stone house;
'Caw! Caw,caw,CAWW!'

'Indeed sir'
The young man ignored the butler, continuing to make bird noises while flapping his arms about wildly. Jeves waited paitently, as always, for his young master to regain some sense of normality. He sighed.

This could take a while.

Shortstuff

The Shadow

I am shadow, to his light

He is day, I am night

I hold his grudges

I know his urges

I am the deepest, darkest secrets of the human soul,

Yet I breathe,

And crave the light.

A very short story

A while ago I was set the challenge of writing a story that made

sense in fifty words or less. This is the result of that exercise

I'm not lying

Billy was near to tears, but still Donald didn't believe him.

'Look, we'll get upstairs; I'll go in and check. OK?'

Billy nodded.

Outside the room, Billy watched as his brother knocked.

Suddenly the door opened, inhaled Donald and slammed shut.

After a while Billy went downstairs.