T.L. Stone's Blog

Hmmm…not the bad asses I thought they were. This guy’s actually doing the jig #Dancing #Memes #funny #animalkingdom #wildlife #cute

 CHAPTER 1

Somewhere along the coastline the sound of the striking of a match could be heard. The orange flame flickered in the darkness, a tiny bit of warmth diminished by the coolness of the tide. It lingered there, burning bright between the fingers of a being that some might have described as a demon. On a throne he sat, a giant of a man, his teeth tightly clenched. The black, patent leather body suit clinging to his skin, the shine illuminating the bulging muscles that seemed almost a deformity. He eased himself off of his throne and took a few steps toward the water.

“I need more souls!” he shouted, pounding his chest, his fist almost indistinguishable from the material against his flesh. “I need to reap. There needs to be death.” Vamos glanced around at the pitiful selection of souls that lined the shore, the blue of his eyes resting on a petite man standing alongside him. His pale appearance was in stark contrast to his own. “What am I to make of this?” Vamos asked.

“Master, the selection is satisfactory, I assure you.”

Vamos’s eyes gleamed in the darkness. "Satisfactory?” he snarled. “Does this look satisfactory to you?” He stretched a hand out toward the shore, the man’s eyes following the finger as it moved along each grouping of souls.

“My count is 10, 337,” said the man.

“Meager!” shouted Vamos. “Unacceptable in the realm of Vamos.” He took a step back and cracked the whip in his hand, the sound of the leather sending a wave of fear among those who were waiting. “Are you ready for your judgment?” he shouted as he cracked the whip again, the tail of it winding around the neck of a tall, thin man. He turned around and walked back toward his throne, dragging the man along the sand behind him. “Keith Evans, do you know why you’re here?” he asked as he sat down. He retracted the whip in one quick jerk, his victim crying out in pain.

Keith looked up at him in confusion. “I … I was on my way to work when I saw a car in the intersection. I tried to swerve, but I couldn’t avoid it. That’s the last thing I remember.”

Vamos made a face. “Actually, you were on your way to the house of your mistress and you were well under the influence.” He peered down at the man who had a look of shame on his face. “No need to lie to me. It won’t improve your lot, and it definitely won’t get you to the pearly gates. Indeed, Mr. Evans, I have other plans for you,” he said, his lips twisting into a devilish grin. He stood up from his throne, his enormous shadow seemed to swallow up the man. “Keith Evans,” he began, “your sins have been weighed, your judgment has been cast and your punishment awaits you. You who cared nothing for humanity, using the backs of the weak as stepping stones will now have to contend with your fate. My judgment is sound and it is final.” Keith watched as Vamos stretched out a hand in front of him and pulled it slowly to one side as if he were turning the page of a book. He gasped as the sea disappeared in front of him, a thick cloud of black smoke rising in its place. They were alone now, in a massive tomb-like cave with walls that looked as if they were hastily formed with tar. He glanced around him, turning frantically to catch a glimpse of his tormentor; but there was nothing he could see beyond the blackened walls.

“Is anyone there?” he called, standing as still as he could and listening for any signs of life. But all was silent except the sound of a striking of a match.

He watched in horror as Vamos came back into view and stepped down from his throne, casting the match onto the floor beside him. The fire rose up quickly, hitting the ceiling; and beside it the ground opened up.

“I’ve prepared it just for you,” said Vamos. “Don’t keep them waiting.”

“Them?” said Keith, his legs threatening to give out.

“Have a look,” said Vamos.

Keith leaned over and peered into the pit, as black and silent as the grave. “There’s no fire inside,” he said, surprised.

Vamos laughed. “Is that what you were expecting? I just do that for effect. I know you humans are big believers in that ridiculous notion of the fires of hell, so I light the match for your benefit.” He looked at Keith who appeared to be relieved. “No,” he said. “No fire. There are far worse things than that.”

“What was that?” Keith asked, alarmed by the sound that seemed to suddenly rise from the pit. It started as a low murmur and had quickly grown into a piercing, shrieking noise.

“Oh that,” said Vamos. “That would be your ride. And they’re right on time.”

Keith slowly leaned over to take another look as a dozen blackish-gray hands reached up to grab him. He screamed in horror as cold, bony fingers wrapped themselves around his ankle, ripping at his clothing. Two sets of hands reached up and grabbed his thighs, pulling him to the ground. Vamos watched, elated, as Keith scratched at the floor in a desperate attempt to grasp anything that might anchor him.

“Wait!” he shouted. “I’ll do anything. I’ll give you anything. Just help me.”

“Did you help anyone while you were alive, Mr. Evans?” Vamos replied. “There were people you stole from, elderly whose homes went into foreclosure because of your scams. You were a doctor who performed unnecessary operations to keep your pockets lined. You repeatedly gave the wrong diagnosis so that you could collect.” Vamos shook his head. “People died, Mr. Evans. Where was their help?”

“I have a lot of money!” he cried.

“Money can’t buy everything,” replied Vamos.

“Diamonds?”

Vamos ran a hand over his goatee, his eyes shimmering in the light of the flames. He cracked his whip and the tail of it fell in front of Keith who quickly grabbed onto it as Vamos pulled him from the pit. The hands searched for their target.

“Go back from which you came,” Vamos ordered. Keith watched, relieved, as they slipped obediently back into the pit which sealed itself over them. Vamos peered down at him. “What are you prepared to offer me?” he asked.

“I can give you whatever you want.”

“I offer only three days passage. You must tie up any loose ends and say your goodbyes by the end of those three days.”

Keith glanced up at him. “And what will happen to me after that?”

“You’ll be right back where you started. You cannot cheat death.”

Keith glanced around the cave. “And what if I don’t come back?” he asked, hesitantly.

Vamos laughed. His whole body seemed to shake. “Don’t you worry. I’ll find you.” He glanced over at the raging fire and gently blew out a breath as if blowing away a speck of dust. Keith watched in amazement as the fire quenched and behind it the wall opened up. He peered out at the street where he lived. He could see his house just off in the distance. Vamos watched him as he started to walk toward home. “Remember,” he said. “You have three days. When your time is up, I’ll come to collect what’s mine.”

Keith glanced back at him and nodded in agreement as the wall closed up again behind him.  

0��9

Came across this pic on a blog. Soooooo gorgeous!  My next pet. I wonder who will be in charge. I think I’ll have to give him my seat on the couch and the bigger steak.

Too bad most of us don’t learn from our last mistake and have to make the same one a few times before we change direction. This is especially true where dating and money management are concerned……Thoughts?

Though I’m a new, self-published author who is just getting the hang of social media, I stay positive and keep looking ahead by ENVISIONING MY FUTURE.

Since my dream is to one day have my books turned into Hollywood block busters, I’ve made posters (the size of movie posters) of my book covers and put them up on my livingroom wall.

When I walk by them, I think about my lofty, but atainable goal and keep moving forward with my writing, even on the bad days when I feel like no one knows where to get a hold of my books

This is an idea other authors can try!!

Came across this pic the other day. Hilarious! The sentiment of many, I’m sure.

#Trump  #DonaldTrump

Lovers of FANTASY, ROMANCE and EROTICA, I’m a new author and have written a few books I’m sure you’ll enjoy. This is one of my featured novels. 

I’m T.L. Stone and you can find me on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.

On my new blog from time to time I will be featuring free excerpts from my novels!