What If? #4 Halloween Edition: What If?, #4

Stories

Burdens of Immortality by Erika M Szabo

She didn’t want to live for centuries. All she wanted was one happy life.

The Guest of Honor by E.V. Emmons

A tale of two families: One family’s halcyon life is tragically disrupted, while another plans the perfect Halloween party. Evil is a point of view.

Bitten by R.A. Doc Correa

In the days of the Roman Empire, a French peasant and thief learns the true horror of what it means to be bitten.

The Doll That Had It All by Lorraine Carey

A woman finds a spell to restore her youth but awakens a dark force. She must pay the price for meddling with magic. What is she willing to sacrifice?

Demon Child by Erika M Szabo

Lucas couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong. His sister’s once gentle and curious nature had been replaced with outbursts of rage and violence.

Area Code 666 by James Harper

Steve Hyatt’s job, chauffeuring mentally challenged clients to voting booths to swing elections, gets complicated when he receives phone calls from somewhere that should not exist.

Haunting Memories by Erika M Szabo

Spraining his ankle on a stormy night when an oddly familiar stranger helps him home, John’s mind is flooded with long-forgotten memories.

He Watches by David W. Thompson

An ancient creature and an ancient love meet newlyweds John and Evelyn Barrow. Can their love survive Halloween’s heartbreak and a promised destiny?

The Last Resort by Shebat Legion

A grieving woman meets a mysterious stranger and learns a valuable lesson.

An Elder Race by Karen Over

In the mists and moonlight of Halloween, be careful who you mess with. That kid you called a liar just might be telling the truth.

Organs for Sale by Erika M Szabo

After discovering that the Witch’s One Stop Shop is selling organs, a group of kids are struck with fear. In response, Jack decides to become a vegetarian.

Fallen Angel by Martha Perez

Isabella is a fallen angel, paying for her mistakes in hell under the watchful eye of Satan enduring constant torment from creatures and critters. Will she survive?

The Pumpkin’s Curse by Martha Perez

A spine-chilling, suspenseful thriller. Scarlett and Mom have nowhere to hide from the pumpkin’s curse; they’re desperate to stay alive.

Master Brahm’s Studio by Shebat Legion

A master seeks to teach his students valuable lessons, but in the end, who will be the master?

Broomsticks and Chocolate

Trick-or-treating, a Halloween tradition, works because its unspoken rules are rigorously observed. If those rules are violated, who’s better to defend Halloween traditions than real witches?

Late Delivery by Erika M Szabo

It’s All Hollow’s Eve, but an inconsiderate last-minute pizza order must be delivered, and Memy Yagen’s legend becomes a chilling reality.

Headless by Karen Over

When it's Halloween along Foxfire Creek, you'd best not roll your eyes about the local haunt. Especially when you're messing with one of Miz Flora's girls.

Fall Market by Victoria Adams

Elenore lives a life in the shadows, hiding from a haunting past. Then one sunny fall day she is seen.

Burdens of Immortality

After enduring three exhausting weeks of arduous travel through the rugged countryside, they finally made their way back to the magnificent palace. Aya eagerly anticipated the comfort of her luxurious quarters and the flock of servants who would cater to her every need and whim. At just eighteen years old, she emitted delicate beauty that had stolen the pharaoh’s heart when he took her as his third wife only a year ago. Her flawless skin glowed in the sun, framed by luscious dark locks and deep, alluring eyes.

Although she had initially resisted the arranged marriage, it was a great honor and elevation in status for her family. Yet deep down, her heart still belonged to Tanamet, her first and only love. He was a low-status merchant, and they both knew their forbidden relationship could never be more than stolen moments of happiness during her time living in her father’s house while Tanamet delivered his delectable baked goods.

On her wedding day as Aya said her final goodbyes to Tanamet, her heart ached with the realization that she may never see him again. But he promised to find a way for them to be together, and she clung to that tiny shred of hope as she was whisked away to the wedding ceremony.

Despite the grandeur surrounding her, Aya couldn’t stop dreaming about Tanamet. She complacently followed orders and endured the middle-aged pharaoh’s clammy hands groping at her and his wet kisses on her body. The marriage bed was only visited once a month, much to her relief, and when she became pregnant, the pharaoh showered her with gifts. With the birth of her son, Aya’s status rose even higher, inciting bitter jealousy and hate among the other wives who could only bear daughters. Fearing for her son’s safety and his role as her ticket to higher status, Aya surrounded him with loyal servants from her father’s court. The palace was filled with intrigue and tension, with sharp daggers hidden in the eyes of two wives who held higher status than Aya’s own. And though the pharaoh doted on his son with joy in his eyes, he showed no interest in his daughters, who seemed to fade into obscurity after their births.

Aya strolled through the palace, her steps gliding effortlessly as three handmaidens followed closely behind. The grandeur of the long corridors never ceased to amaze her, with its breathtaking wall paintings and magnificent statues of the Gods. Her heart swelled with a sense of longing and nostalgia as she walked, each footfall echoing off the marble floors.

As they reached the ornately carved door to her quarters, Aya’s pace quickened, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. The servants bowed and opened the massive door for her, revealing a lavish room filled with luxurious furnishings.

With a joyful smile on her face, Aya rushed inside and scooped up the chubby baby boy from the nanny’s arms. She held him close, examining every inch of his healthy body. Is he well? she asked the old woman who had nursed her as a child.

He is thriving and content, the woman replied with a warm smile, bowing her head respectfully.

Aya showered the child with kisses before gently handing him back to the nanny’s care. My skin feels rough and dry, she noted, turning to her handmaidens. I think a milk and honey bath would wash away the grime of the awful travel.

The young women nodded in agreement and quickly scurried away to prepare the relaxing bath. Aya motioned to her favorite maid to assist with undressing her. Ugh, she sighed wearily. I feel soiled.

You will feel clean and refreshed after your bath, the maid promised, handing her a cup filled with cool lemonade.   

The piercing screams and chaotic yells jolted Aya awake from her peaceful after-bath nap. She stumbled out of bed, her heart racing as she spotted Tanamet leaning against the wall with a dark, sinister look in his eyes.

How did you... she stammered, fear coursing through her body. What did you do? she screamed, horrified by the sight of her loyal servants lying lifeless on the carpet, their once vibrant clothes now drenched in blood. Where’s my son? she demanded, panic rising in her voice.

With a firm grip on her arm, he dragged her toward the adjoining room where the old nanny stood trembling, cradling Aya’s baby in her arms.

Tanamet threw Aya to the ground and shouted, You belong to me!

She cowered before him, lowering her head and whispering through quivering lips, Why did you kill my servants? What happened to you?

I died, he laughed. And now I’ll live forever.

You’re not the Tanamet I fell in love with, Aya whimpered.

No! Tanamet laughed again. I was weak. Now I’m strong, and I do as I wish.

Kill me, but spare my son. He’s just an innocent child. Aya begged with tears in her eyes.

He took a step back and observed her with a calculating gaze. Your son will be Pharaoh! But that old man can’t touch you anymore. You’re coming with me. The air hung heavy with tension as Aya resigned herself to her fate, knowing she had no choice but to follow Tanamet’s command.

Where? Aya whimpered and shrunk back, but her coal eyes flashed with murderous rage hidden by her thick eyelashes. This is not the kind and lowly merchant I parted from a year ago. He’s a murderer!

We’ll be together forever! Tanamet shouted, grabbing her waist; he pulled her close.

Aya’s body tensed as she watched the transformation come over Tanamet. His once gentle features contorted into a menacing snarl, his eyes glowing a deep, fiery amber color. As he opened his mouth to reveal sharp fangs glinting in the light of the oil lamps, Aya’s blood ran cold. She recoiled in horror as Tanamet bit into his own arm and forcefully dripped a few drops of his blood into her mouth. The metallic taste flooded her senses, making her retch and gag, but before she could react, Tanamet sank his razor-sharp teeth into her neck with a ferocity that sent shivers down her spine.

For what felt like an eternity, Aya had been subsisting on a strict diet of only fresh blood. The thick, coppery taste heralded the beginning of her eternal existence as she remembered the fateful evening when Tanamet sunk his teeth into her neck and fed her his potent blood. But the feeling of immortality coursed through her veins, a constant reminder of that transformative moment when her fate was forever sealed.

Tanamet, consumed by his newfound power as a creature of the night, becoming a powerful immortal, had changed him in ways Aya could never have imagined - transforming him into a cruel and heartless monster who saw Aya as nothing more than an object to be owned. But she was no longer the timid victim she used to be when she was controlled by her family and her despised husband. Embracing her strength and abilities, she couldn’t tolerate Tanamet’s mistreatment. And so, one fateful day, she took action as he slumbered in their darkened dwelling. She paralyzed him by piercing his heart with a wooden stick with such ferocity that the sharp stick went through his body, pinning him to the bed. Gathering bundles of hay, she set fire to her oppressor’s body and watched with great satisfaction as he burned to ashes before her very eyes. It was a final act of retribution, freeing herself from his grasp and taking back control of her life.

Her heart ached with longing to see her son again, and she was determined to find a way. Using the secret passages that one of the servants had shown her while she was still human, she managed to sneak into the palace under the cover of night. The narrow and interconnected passages were like a giant cobweb, with hidden doors concealed behind statues and tapestries. It was as if the palace itself was conspiring to keep her mission a secret. With stealth and agility, she navigated through the maze-like corridors, able to enter any room undetected. The adrenaline raced through her veins as she inched closer to her ultimate goal - to see her beloved son. She watched the peacefully sleeping baby but quickly retreated when the hunger for warm blood overwhelmed her.

In the eerie depths of the palace, where shadows danced and whispered secrets, she encountered creatures of the night. They prowled the dimly lit passageways, their glowing eyes reflecting the moonlight. In the daylight hours, they disappeared into hidden rooms and crevices, waiting for the cover of darkness to roam once again. One fateful night, Aya came face to face with Bahia, her beloved handmaiden who had vanished without a trace not long after their arrival at the palace. The others had searched tirelessly for answers about her disappearance, but all that could be found were wild speculations and hushed gossip. Now Aya understood why - for she, too, had become privy to the dark secrets lurking within the walls of the palace.

Bahia’s voice held a bitter edge as she spoke. I’ve been turned against my will, just like you, my lady, she said. Her words were laced with resentment and regret. But unlike so many others who succumbed to their primal urges to drain and kill their victims, I swore to never harm a human, no matter how tempting their life force may seem.  

Aya leaned in, her curiosity piqued. How do you do that? she asked. Sometimes I can stop, and the human lives, but most of the time, my hunger is so great, and they struggle so much that I can’t stop until I drain them.

Bahia’s eyes flickered with ancient wisdom as she whispered her answer. An old immortal taught me that all of us have the ability to mesmerize humans, she revealed. We hold the power over their minds and can use it wisely.

Aya’s eyes widened in understanding as she processed Bahia’s words. She could feel the weight of her own desire coursing through her veins, a savage hunger for fresh blood that she struggled to control. But Bahia’s words offered a glimmer of hope - if only she could learn to leave behind only dazed, living humans, perhaps she could ease the guilt and shame that consumed her. Show me how to stop, she urged desperation creeping into her voice. What do I have to do?

Bahia’s gaze was unwavering as she replied, You need to look deeply into their eyes - it will force them to become docile, making it easier for you to feed without harming them. And when you’re finished, look into their eyes again and project your thoughts to make them forget what happened.

Aya couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease at the idea of manipulating someone’s memories, but she knew it was necessary if she wanted to continue feeding without causing harm. Taking a deep breath, she nodded and prepared herself for the challenge ahead. I’ll try, Aya exhaled.

Bahia tightly gripped Aya’s hand as they slipped into a secret passageway leading to a courtier’s room. The air was thick with the scent of opulence and decadence. Bahia leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper, I never feed on the servants. If they were to wake up feeling weak from blood loss, it could lead to severe punishment or even death. No, I only seek out the rich and lazy freeloaders of the palace who can afford to spend a day in bed recovering.

Aya chuckled, understanding now why the pharaoh’s advisor, Tunk, often looked so pale and frequently called for the palace doctors.

Bahia’s lips curled into a mischievous smile as she motioned for Aya to remain quiet. They tiptoed closer to the sleeping man, his snores echoing off the lavish furnishings of his chamber.

Gone were the days of ravaging their bodies for sustenance. Aya had honed a more refined and graceful approach. With each delicate sip from the largest artery, warm, pulsing blood coated her tongue with a rich, metallic flavor that sent shivers of pleasure through her body.

Despite the inevitable challenges and struggles that came with their immortal existence, they found solace in each other’s company - two kindred spirits forever bound together in an unbreakable bond, united in their thirst for blood and eternal life. Together, they roamed the land, drinking in its beauty and indulging in the dark desires of their vampiric nature. And as they gazed upon the mortals around them with envy and pity, they roamed freely. They reveled in their immortality, forever cursed and blessed by their insatiable desire for human blood.

Every night, Aya would silently slip into her son’s quarters, her footsteps echoing softly against the smooth stone floors. She watched with pride and awe as he grew into a wise and benevolent pharaoh, his youthful energy giving way to a calm and confident demeanor. His people adored him, their love for him radiating throughout the kingdom. Yet, as time marched on and her son succumbed to old age, Aya’s heart broke into pieces, the weight of her grief almost too much to bear. The once vibrant and energetic young man was now frail, his bright eyes tired and clouded with age. As she watched him slowly fade away, Aya couldn’t help but mourn for the loss of her beloved son, the great ruler who had brought prosperity to Egypt during his reign.

Bahia bonded with a servant who had been turned before her, their shared experiences forging an unbreakable bond. However, unable to bear the role of a third wheel in their relationship, Aya made the difficult decision to leave her homeland behind. Wandering through foreign lands, she encountered creatures of the night at every turn, each one leaving an