FIYAH - Issue Seven by Literary Magazine FIYAH

Author:Literary Magazine, FIYAH [Literary Magazine, FIYAH]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: black fantasy, black sci-fi, black speculative fiction, Lisa Allen-Agostini, Eboni J. Dunbar, Osahon Ize-Iyamu, Uche Ogbuji, Latonya Pennington, Sheree Renee Thomas, Tade Thompson, LaShawn M. Wanak
Publisher: FIYAH Literary Magazine
Published: 2018-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

She repeated the words a second time and glanced up at the group. She could see a few horrified expressions but mostly they were enraptured. She quickly switched songs:

Once the old man in the dark

Once the night was cold

Once you had your soul

Now you have lost control

Seeking what was lost but

At what cost

You must take

You must take

You must take

Where is your hope now

This life you lead

Is not a life

It's a balance on the knife

It's a chance

It’s a choice

It’s your song

This is your voice.

At what cost?

At what cost?

She played for a few minutes, letting her voice rest but feeling her spell falling among the group. Eyes had glazed over and people were truly entranced. If she stopped playing she would hear a pin drop. She switched songs, picking up the tempo and letting the music take her to its wild and dangerous place. It was time to call the creatures from their hiding places.

Come

Dark ones, come

Here I sing this song to you

Here is such a gift

Come

Dark ones, come

See the blood

Watch it thrum

Through their veins,

In your name

Come and feast

I sing this song to you

The door opened with a heavy creak. She continued to play and sing but she got her first glimpse of Henry Bennett. He was utterly pale. His dark eyes seemed even darker with the magic drawing him into the room. He staggered forward, as though something were trying to stop him. She continued to play until he stood beside the piano. She stopped playing, standing up and putting the piano bench between herself and Henry, but did not stop singing:

Here you are

I can save you

Now you are

Here with me

So much you given

To live again

Take your taste

Feast my friend

She turned her head, allowing him to see her exposed neck. He licked his lips and surged forward.

Anna Maria pushed the piano bench into Henry’s knees, grateful she had forgone her corset though cursing her skirts. Henry landed with a loud bang on the piano keys and Anna Maria pulled the stake she kept at her bosom out of her dress. Henry stood up, turning his monstrous face on her. His long fangs hung out and he hissed at her, lunging again.

She backed up, ducking to just miss his taloned hands and forcing herself to jump over the guests on the sofa. She pulled her skirt up for better ease of movement and whatever remained of the human man inside of Henry Bennett stopped, entranced by her ankles. Or perhaps by the five stake-carrying garter she wore on her upper thigh.

She kicked him then, under his jaw, sending him back into one of the gentleman who fell over like a rag doll. He stood and snarled, leaping for her.

Anna Maria let his momentum plunge her stake into his heart. He flailed wildly. Anna Maria pushed him backward so that he wasn't on top of her. Henry fell to his knees, still shaking.

She watched, as he died the second time, the last of this false life leaving him. She crossed herself and then pulled out her stake.

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