1500 word short by C L Raven
His fragile heart thrashes against my hand. His breathing quickens, sweat erupting over his body as I’m straddling him. I feel his every pulse, his every desire trembling beneath me, his sweet taste as I kiss his lips. He strains against the shackles keeping him a prisoner of my bed.
“Please,” he begs.
I smile and kiss his heart. It hammers on his rib cage, desperate to be released. The tip of my blade traces a heart over it, leaving a trail of crimson kisses in its wake. Fear caresses his desire until the two become entwined, stroking each other’s senses until they reach a climax he cannot bear.
He hisses in pain so I silence him with a kiss as I coax the blade through the wound. He pushes against me and bites my lip, almost screaming. I pull away, feeling my blood wash over my tongue, tasting it at the back of my throat. I carve out my artwork and put it beside him on the bed. I watch his heart beating through his ribs. This is the moment I fall in love with him.
I push the gag into his mouth.
“It’ll only hurt for a second,” I stroke his face and kiss him again, the blood from my lips staining his.
Taking my bone cutters, I cut through his ribs and finally, hold his heart in my hand. Its power pulsates through my skin. I reach into my black calf length boot and pull out the love spoon he gave me this morning. I slot it under the heart then use my blade to sever the heart’s mortal coil. It fights for a few seconds before surrendering to its fate. As I watch the life fade from it, I feel closer to him than I’ve ever felt to anyone.
His naked chest is decorated with scarlet splatters, like he’s covered in rose petals, though this image will never feature on Valentine’s cards. Blood slips through my fingers and drips onto his stomach like confetti from the wedding of the damned.
I climb off him and remove a box from my bag. I ease the heart into it and nestle it amongst the ice. It’s more unique than pink champagne. Though I can’t imagine my gift will ever grace the supermarket shelves. It’s not consumer friendly. I shower then spend an hour cleaning up. I remove his gag and shackles then take his heart shaped flesh downstairs and place it in the middle of the dining table. I sprinkle heart shaped sequins over the table then return to the bedroom. Deep down, I’m a hopeless romantic.
“Like I promised, gone before your girlfriend comes round for your romantic meal. Happy Valentine’s Day.” I give him a gentle kiss then slip out the door.
And like he promised, his heart belongs to me.
I watch him browsing the Valentine’s cards, wondering whether they sell one saying ‘roses are red, violets are blue, I’m shagging someone else, whilst saying I love you.’ It would make Valentine’s more interesting. Who wants cute teddy bears and empty sentiments? I sneak up behind him and pinch his backside. He whirls around, his eyes widening.
“D! What are you doing here?”
“Stalking you,” I kiss him.
“Samantha’s outside.”
“How romantic, sitting in the car while you buy her commercialised emotions and wilting flowers. Or are the flowers symbolic of your love? Once in bloom but like everything else, now dying?”
“So cynical,” he kisses me, one hand caressing my arse, the other playing with one of my plaited bunches. “I promised I’d take her out for a romantic meal tonight.”
“Wow. You’re so original. Let me guess – you’re buying her heart shaped chocolates and red roses from the petrol station.”
“It’s what she wants.”
“What I want isn’t on any menu.”
He grins and pretends to rip out his heart. “You already have my heart.”
I smile and imitate pocketing it. “I’ll keep it on ice.”
I watch him walk away, already craving his taste. I’m ravenous. One meal won’t satisfy me tonight. I prowl the card section, feigning interest in the Hallmark declarations. Somehow, a cute bunny with a heart balloon doesn’t quite convey the meaning I yearn for.
I hear a chuckle beside me. “Every year, it’s always men rushing in grabbing cards and flowers.”
I smile at the gorgeous, dark haired guy holding a card with turtles on it. “Turtles. The true gods of romance.”
He laughs. “It’s for my sister. She loves turtles.”
“You give your sister a Valentine’s Card? Cupid screwed that shot up.”
He laughed harder. “I’m buying it for my brother in law. I don’t believe in all this commercialised crap.”
“It’s a Hallmark hijack. Soon they’ll start making up days to give cards for. Flower Day, to celebrate the giving of the most unoriginal gift in the world.”
“So you’re not buying a card for your boyfriend?”
“I’m loitering with intent.”
“That’s the best kind of loitering.” He offers his hand. “Valentine.”
I laugh. “Is the day named after you?”
“Yep. Everyone celebrates my birthday. By giving presents to everyone else.”
“Your parents were either hopelessly romantic or incredibly cruel. Let me guess – you’re sister’s called Christmas and your brother is Pancake.”
“Worse than that – his full name is Easter Bunny Davenport.”
He’s hot, has a beautiful smile and a great sense of humour. My heart beats faster at the passionate promises his body’s offering. “I don’t usually do this, but there’s something about you that’s very…alluring,” I write my number on his hand. “Maybe tonight we can laugh at men rushing out to buy Valentine’s cards so their relationship isn’t ruined because of one day. After I’ve taken care of one problem.” I smile seductively. “If you’re really good, I might teach you the real meaning of everlasting love.”
His exhausted body trembles beneath mine, his salty sweat teasing my tongue. His moans and gasps thrill me as I use my body as a weapon, inflicting unbearable pleasure on him. He holds me close, skin on skin, the fruity scent of my fragrance entwining with the tangy lime of his shower gel. His kisses are hungry, his tongue flickering over my upper lip.
“You’re one sexy goddess,” he murmurs, his tongue gliding up the sensitive skin between my breasts.
I nibble his lower lip, smiling as he succumbs to the ecstasy my body promises him. Our hearts beat together as the passion gently fades. His fingers trace the tattoo in the centre of my back – two hearts entwined around a dagger and sealed with a black kiss.
“Did Samantha enjoy her Valentine’s cliché?” I ask, sweeping my hair back, my plaits tickling my bare shoulders.
“She loved it so let me out for a drink with the boys.”
I glance at the clock. Not yet midnight. “I’m not one of the boys,” I smile teasingly, tracing my fingers around his heart. It responds eagerly, pounding my name, desperate to belong to me. “Where’s my present?”
“You hate Valentine’s.”
“You promised me your heart.”
“Would you like it gift wrapped?”
“No, just beating.”
I plunge the dagger into his chest. He gasps and writhes, though this time, not with pleasure. But even this excites me. I can inflict pleasure and pain so sweet and so cruel as he lies helpless, a slave to our desires. Betrayal darkens his eyes. He can’t understand how I can make him come alive then lead him into death while the sweat cools on our bodies.
I carve the heart shaped wound while he implores me to stop. Moments ago he’d begged me for more. I tear the flesh away, laughing as my prize thrashes like a caged beast. His dying breath tantalises my ears, the sweetest whisper from a lover’s lips. I stroke the love spoon, this one carved with a key, a small heart in the key’s eye, before freeing his heart from the black hole in his chest. I kiss him before laying the heart gently aside. I dress in a black satin robe and take the heart downstairs.
The table is set for a romantic meal for one. The flickering flame bathes my skin in a fiery glow. The heart is slippery, exquisite. I can taste his life, his love with each delicious bite. Already I feel myself becoming regenerated. I’m more alive in this moment than I have been my entire life. A ruby teardrop snakes down my lips, warm and metallic, the aftertaste lingering on my tongue, awakening beautiful, forbidden memories.
I study the picture opposite me. The woman’s long plaits brush her shoulders. Blood trickles from the corner of her mouth, streaking her chin. I wipe my blood away and slowly it disappears from the picture. I smile at her. St Dwynwen. She devoted herself to protecting lovers. Now my lovers protect me. In their deaths they bring me to life.
Everyone loves a heart on Valentine’s Day.
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Our blog address is http://clraven.wordpress.com also http://twitter.com/clraven, Facebook, http://facebook.com/clraven also on Linked In and Google Plus as C L Raven
19 comments:
Wow...that is...hmmm beyond words. The description is incredible but I don't think I could enjoy reading something as horrific as that for very long. In my younger years, I liked reading things like American Psycho and Silence of the Lambs/Hannibal...but eep...the bone cutting...the heart spooning... I think I shall pass on more. But it is great writing for the audience to which this is intended.
Michael - These two can certainly write. They have had a some great success, getting published with Dark Moon Digest. This story is very graphic, though. Good thing we have that advisory sticker up. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you read our next couple stories.
Draven
Beautiful descriptions. The words have a way of making the gruesome act into a most erotic love scene. It is very Gothic, but with the popularity of material like "Dexter" I can see this style becoming much more mainstream.
Vanyel- Thank you for stopping in and reading. Every Halloween needs a little goth.
I love a good horror story, especially when the woman is the crazed lunatic. lol
Oh, wow. That just creeped the hell out of me! Like Michael, I admire the writing very much, but I don't think I could read for long! Still, I couldn't stop!
lol glad you all liked it. We promise, most of our work isn't that graphic, though being Goths, our work is on the dark side. Though usually with a bit of humour thrown in. Thanks Draven for choosing our story. We're so pleased to see it up here.
Wow! Gruesome, romantic and amazingly well written. I loved it.
Thanks...
Completely gruesome, completely creepy and most horrific. That said; I couldn't stop reading. Would hate to see it on the screen. A little more dramatic than "keying" the prize driving machine of some cheating louse.
This was a very good, albeit disturbing story. I was raised on horror, and even I cringed a little at the end. Well done!
Wow. Incredibly vivid and wonderful mix of internal narrative and dialog. Great word choices and I don't think I'll be able to shake this image for hours. If this weren't fiction you guys would be really frightening. As it is you're just really scary. Nice work! :-)
~Kate
thank you all so much for taking the time to read this and comment. We're so glad you liked it, even if it did creep you out. Sorry about that :) Your comments have really made us smile. It's nice getting feedback - lets us know we're not all alone in our batcave. We promise if we get another chance to be showcased by Draven, the next one won't be as graphic. Though it might still be creepy :)
I love the style of your writing - all or nothing - no greyscale. Delightful,yet disturbingly descriptive writing with a slash of humour tossed in for good measure. I too couldn't stop reading but for me, the end came too soon. I was yearning for more.
Strangely beautiful! I think you've captured the degree of rage a woman scorned is capable of...
Loved it! I've had daydreams about some of my ex-boyfriends, very similar to this story. It's a good thing I write :)
superb !!!!!gripping,exceptional writing,last line made me smile. You both should be extremely proud of this outstanding piece of writing and yes it is very descriptive but isnt that what a great horror story should be like !get you gripped,cringing and hooked and intrigued from the very first section! amazing talent you girls have there ! well done and keep going !
Thank you so much everyone. Your comments mean so much to us. If we blush any more, planes will crash and we can't handle that sort of guilt :D
If all of these people don't make you understand how good you are, I don't know what will. Keep writing.
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