Spooky Short Story

Once again my publishers, Cranthorpe Millner, ran their annual spooky short story competion. All stories must be less than 500 words. The competition closes on November 10th and the results are to be announced on November 16th. Here is my entry for this year's competition.

A Lovely Night For Vampires

‘Let’s go for a walk. It’s a lovely night for vampires.’ Serena laughed as she made the suggestion, but Simon was a little hesitant, he wasn’t sure. He had known her in sixth form, he would have liked to have asked her out, but they moved in different circles. His, staid, academic, focussed on good exam results and going to university. Hers, eccentric, free spirited, wild at times, with an edge of gothic mystery.

It was four years since they had left school, and it was quite by chance that he had gone to the Halloween party, but he had recognised her, immediately. No longer a girl, but grown up, a woman. She had certainly dressed for the party, laced up high boots, black flowing lacy, layered skirt, tight black bodice with silver clasps and buckles. Her skin pale but flawless, her hair long, black with a hint of copper red. Serena’s youthful innocence had transformed into a darker, alluring sensuality. Simon could not believe his luck when she made a beeline across the floor, with open arms, welcoming him with a hug and a kiss on his cheek. We were never this friendly, he thought, taking in her beguiling scent of earthy wood, musk and leather.

She put her arm through his and leant into him as she steered towards the open doors at the end of the room. ‘Praise be, some-one I know. The spirits have sent you to save me from this suffocating boredom. Let’s go for a walk. It’s a lovely night for vampires.’

The full moon shone on the field, to their left the ruined chapel, to the right a woodland copse. Twisted trees, rumoured to have been built on the site where witches had been burned. Serena turned to her right.

Simon was struggling with a turmoil of emotions. Was this happening, had Serena mistaken him for somebody else?

‘Look,’ she whispered, pointing to a cauldron of bats flying across the moon, ‘It’s time.’

Serena caught the puzzled look on Simon’s face. ‘My poor darling, you don’t understand do you? It’s been such a long time, but we shall be together again.’

‘But...’, Simon began, knowing they had never been together. Serena stopped him, putting her finger to his lips.

‘Not this life, my darling, a long time ago.’

‘I knew it was you,’ Serena continued. ‘At school. It wasn’t allowed, the fates forbade it. But I knew you would come to me this night’.

Simon was struck by the phrase, ‘this night’ rather than ‘tonight’. His brain was whirring. Was she drunk? Drugs? A little mad? He didn’t know but that frisson of fear was matched by a tingle of excitement and intimacy that he could not explain. It felt so natural to be with her. He could not resist as she led him into the copse.

‘It’s time my darling’, she whispered and leant in to kiss his neck.

Simon felt the sharp pricks as her teeth sank into his flesh.