I'm going to admit right up front that I cheated a bit on this one. My story is 1150 words, 150 words over the 1000 word limit. Sorry. But Josie's story demanded the extra words and it's not like it's 500 or anything. So maybe if you like the story- you can forgive me. Once again, I followed the theme of the Vamplit Blog, this is "grotesque love" month and this week was "grotesque love in a brothel". Once again, I'm having trouble with the grotesque part. *shrugs shoulders* Head over to Vamplit's Blog to read the other entries. It's a good time and they're free.
A Whore Named Josie
It is a universal fact that everyone wants love. From the toughest outlaw to the lonesome law provider- all are in want of love. The worst demeanor stems from love or the lack thereof. Josie was no different from any other person on the planet- she wanted love, craved it with a burning desire matched only by her unwavering hunger for revenge.
Josie was a whore, oh we could call it a painted lady or something pretty, but we all know that a whore is a whore regardless of euphemism. Sadly, the fact that she had no legs put most men off. She could have felt sorry for herself, but she’d realized long ago that got her nowhere. So she plied her trade with an enthusiasm and cheerfulness not often encountered in The Golden Spur. She was so sweet that the other girls took pity on her more often than not, and shared what they had with her.
The night that Josie got exactly what she wanted on both counts started off the same as most nights at the saloon/brothel usually did. The cowboys and thieves, gamblers and farmers all started rolling in about seven, and by nine o’clock things were in full swing. Josie’s one saving grace was that she had a beautiful voice and so Vince, the owner, often let her sit by the piano player and attempt to entertain the customers. Josie loved to sing because she could lose herself in the music and forget her dreary circumstances. This night, she looked particularly lovely, from the waist up of course, and she was enjoying herself immensely. Her joy shone on her face.
A newcomer had been standing by the bar for the last hour or so, watching her sing while slinging down whiskey, and she was feeling incredibly hopeful. Finally, as she took a break, he walked over to the stage.
“How’ do Ma’am?” He asked.
Josie smiled her megawatt smile and tilted her head to the side in a manner that might have been called flirtatious. “I do alright. How ‘bout you?”
“Just fine. I do just fine. You got a name?”
“Josie,” she answered.
“Just Josie?” he asked.
“Just Josie. Indians took my whole family and my legs too.” She indicated her lower half where it was plain that her legs ended just past her hips.
It didn’t seem to daunt her would be suitor. “Would you like to have a drink with me?” he asked.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Josie replied. He scooped her up from the stage and retrieved his bottle of whiskey before proceeding up the stairs. Josie indicated her room on the right side of the hall and he entered the room and sat her carefully on the bed.
No man had ever treated Josie so sweetly and she was already half in love with him before he said another word. The fact that he then made love to her so gently and delicately, in ways Josie had never experienced with the rough men of this small town, sealed the deal. Afterwards, they lay sated in each other’s arms and talked for hours. Josie knew that he would leave her, men never stayed once their lust was slaked, but she would hold this memory to her heart forever and it would be enough.
It was then that he asked her the familiar question. “How did you lose your legs, my sweet?”
“I don’t remember much. I was only four at the time. But I’m told it was an Indian raid. They killed my Ma and Pa and all our hands. Then they cut my legs off and left me there to die. I guess I got lucky, because the next thing that happened was me waking up in a doctor’s office with no legs, but still alive.”
“Have you ever heard of vampires, my love?” he asked next, his head turned away.
“You mean blood suckers? Them things that live off the blood of humans and sneak around in the night? Them what’s cursed by God?”
“Yes, them.”
“I’ve done more than heard of them. I’ve seen them. They might say it was Indians, but I was there.” Josie pushed herself up so that she was sitting against the pillows.
“So was I.” The stranger who’d won her heart turned around, his fangs catching the light, his eyes twin pools of sorrow. “It was a rogue group that killed your parents and maimed you. I got there too late for your parents, but I saved your life and deposited you with the doctor.”
“Why? Why didn’t they drain me like they did my folks? Why didn’t you?”
“Vampires don’t drain small children. Their souls are so clean and unblemished that the blood curdles in our mouths. And there are natural laws against turning children, even should you find one with a blackened soul. So they cut off your legs in hopes that you’d exsanguinate.” He shuddered. “I got there too late, but I couldn’t let you lie there and die. I did the best thing I could for you. And I’ve checked up on you ever since, to be sure you were okay.”
“Were you part of their group?”
“Hell no!” He looked truly anguished and her heart went out to him. “I was hunting them. I will feel forever guilty for not getting there in time. But as I’ve watched you grow, I’ve come to love you. I waited until you were old enough, hoping you might feel something for me once we met. I can turn you now, tonight, and you can be whole again. Once a vampire, your legs will regenerate and we will have eternity for me to make it up to you.”
He looked at her, his eyes shining with love and Josie felt the pull of her heart strings. The love she’d only dreamed about had been hers all along. She opened her arms to him. He rushed to her and engulfed her in his arms. She could feel her heart breaking, as she pulled the stake from beneath her pillow and thrust it into his unsuspecting chest.
“Really?” she said, looking deep into his eyes. “You son of a bitch! How dare you save me so that I could lead this crappy ass existence for the last sixteen years of my life! You should have let me die! I didn’t ask for this shit, you noble fucking bastard. No one would ask for this!”
His body shriveled and turned to dust. Josie pushed the dust onto the floor and brushed at the front of her bodice. “Come be a disgusting bloodsucker Josie, it’ll be great.” She sighed. “Stupid fucking vampires.”
Just then a knock on her door sounded and Sally entered her room. “Came to fetch you back downstairs to sing. Where’s the fella?”
Josie indicated the pile of dust on the floor.
“Oh hell. Another one?”
Picture is from www.gothicarts.com
13 comments:
Liked it. Made me laugh. This is the first thing I've yours I've read other than your blog. It won't be the last, I'm sure.
What a great twist! I can understand why this is one of your favorites. I LOVED IT!!
I can see why this is one of your favorites. Awesome story this one!
you devil! i was not expecting that twist. you're right the story deserved the extra.
well, well Mrs. Stacey, you wrote one hell of a flash piece this week!
brilliant!
This is one superb flash, Stacey! As the others do, I love the twist at the end!
What an imagination my Editor has!
Great story!
Blaze
Tabitha here. You have done it again Stacey, what a great twist! Man, you are good!
LOL Nice. Liked the ending. Guess vampires must come around a lot, huh?
Also really liked the ending. "Oh hell. Another one?"- Great line.
I also really like Josie's voice in her dialogue. Very true. And I was pleasantly surprised also by the change from the seemingly-waiting-on-love Josie to the irked Josie of the end.
Paul D. Dail
www.pauldail.com- A horror writer's not necessarily horrific blog
Most commonly the answer to a flash you can’t edit any further is to split it into parts and post it as a serial. In addition to serials being welcome by #fridayflash, you can post each episode into the #tuesdayserial group as well.
This is a leisurely story and I can appreciate the urge to cut, but also your restraint from chopping it down further. The blunt revelation of her legs was winning, as was the humble introductory dialogue.
Amy~ Thank you! Glad you stopped by and that you enjoyed it!
Wendy~ Thank you! It is my favorite.
Jason~ Thank you! I'm happy you liked it!
Carole~ thank you! That's high praise indeed!
Blaze~ Thank you! That imagination gets me into all kinds of trouble!
Tab~ Thank you lady! Glad you stole Jason's spot in order to comment!
Storytreasury~ Josie just draws them like flies! Lol.
Paul~ Thank you. I tried to stay true to her character.
John~ Thank you. Duly noted. And hmm...was that praise I detected? Thanks again. =]
♥Stacey
LOVED IT! I love how you can always manage to add a sense of heart, even to the scariest stories!
I think a sequel to this one is in order.
Great job Stacey!
Aw, Josie's great! Such strength of character.
I loved this! One thing I always enjoy about your stories is that y our dialogue sounds authentic. When I read it, I can easily imagine the people doing the speaking, and it always sounds completely natural. Well done!
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