Dead Roses for a Blue Lady Read Online Free PDF

His mistrust of Multoon was now greater than ever, but he was simply too exhausted to sit up half the night, waiting for the Irishman to drink himself into a stupor before going to bed.
    Within moments of lying down, he fell into a deep sleep. His dreams were troubled, and he found himself back inside the Black Shrine, kneeling before the image of the Dark Mother.
    As he looked upon her, Ghilardi realized that she still wore her garland of skulls and skirt of hands, her eyes and tongue were still intact in her head, and the Demon Knife was once again in her hand.
    Erich Ghilardi. . .
    The voice that spoke in his ear was as clear and pure as the peal of a crystal bell, yet it filled him with a dread that had no equal to any he had known before.
    Behold the Mother of Vampires: She Who Cannot Be Turned Aside; She Who Is Terror; Queen Of Night and Slayer Of Demons. Behold her in her fierce glory and be afraid, and through your fear made brave.
    As his dream-self stared up at the restored idol, the figure lowered its up-raised foot and turned so that its ruby-red gaze was fixed directly on him. Ghilardi felt the dread in his heart blossom and become a terror as pure and primal as a mother's love. As the Divine Monster descended the dais and moved towards him, he saw that the skulls she wore about her neck were no longer made of ivory, but those of dead men, and the severed hands fashioned of jade that encircled her waist had metamorphosed into the genuine article. Even though he knew he dreamed, Ghilardi closed his eyes and turned his head away.
    Look upon me, Erich Ghilardi, and fear me as you have feared no other thing; for only then can you open your third eye and look into the Real World without losing what you humans call sanity. Open yourself to the Real World, my son, for Kali-Yuga is at hand, and the avatar's arrival is not far away.
    Although he knew what would greet his gaze would be horrible beyond all mortal ken, Ghilardi could not keep himself from opening his eyes. With the inevitability of nightmare, he turned his face to that of the Holy Monster and screamed as hard as a woman giving birth.

    Ghilardi awoke with a start so violent it was as if he was jolted by electricity. After the horrid vividness of his nightmare it was almost a relief to find himself staring up the barrel of Gupta's pistol. Despite the gravity of his situation, he found himself wondering whether he had actually cried out in his sleep or not.
    "Sorry to awaken you, sahib," Gupta said, his smile displaying no sign of regret. "But Sergeant Multoon says you are to die now."
    "Sergeant Multoon — ?"
    As if summoned by incantation, the Irishman stepped out of the darkness, holding aloft a camp lantern like a perverse Diogenes. "Master-Sergeant, if ye please! Me an' Gupta go back to regiment days.
    We was cashiered for attemptin' t'loot some raja's summer palace. We been workin'
    together ever since. Ain't that right, Gupta?"
    "Yes, Master-Sergeant."
    "And now that we got what we come for, 'tis time to close shop. With th' haul from th'

    Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer ( http://www.novapdf.com ) shrine we got enough to live like bloody princes for th' rest of our days. Gupta here already drugged th' men, so's we're saved the trouble of payin' 'em—or havin' 'em bear tales of what went on durin' th' expedition. If they ain't knackered already, they'll be so by sun-up. Then everything will be tidied up nice an' proper. Once yer took care of, of course.
    "Of course," Ghilardi said, echoing his assassin. He was astounded how calm he felt.
    Although he realized his situation was indeed a dire one, there was no panic crowding his brain.
    "Just so's ye know, sorr," Multoon said, with a crooked grin. "There is no hard feelings on me part. 'Tis business only." He paused, a frown creasing his brow, and lifted the lantern higher. "Here now—what's that hissin' sound?"
    Gupta's eyes bulged like hard-boiled eggs as he