Lilith's Puppet- Demons And Witchcraft Read online

  Lilith’s Puppet

  Demons and Witchcraft

  Richard Le Tourneau

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Lilith’s Puppet

  From The Shadows Book 1

  Second Edition November 2018

  Read More from Richard Le Tourneau

  www.riksmadness.com

  Copyright © 2018

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  1. The Shadow

  2. The Old Oak

  3. The Slab

  4. Howard and Phillip Lowell

  5. Henry Pearson

  6. Thalia Staffle

  7. Rachel Mantle

  8. Stuck in The Mud

  9. Mind, Body and Soul

  10. Uncle Victor

  11. Bloody Sheets

  12. Oliver Anderson

  13. Ada’s Nan

  14. Dark Days Ahead

  15. Lilith

  16. The Demon and Julia

  17. Christine

  18. Phillip and Ada

  19. Rachel Viner

  20. The Bride To Be

  21. 37 Oaken Avenue

  22. She Awakens

  23. Sweet and Tender

  24. Family First

  25. The Witch and The Demon

  26. Love and Death

  27. Tongue Tied

  28. Howard and Phillip

  29. Lurking in the Night

  30. Lambs To The Slaughter

  31. A Feast For Two Demons

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  Read More Horror

  You just have to trust your own madness.

  Clive Barker

  Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places.

  H. P. Lovecraft

  Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.

  Stephen King

  Wildcats shall meet with hyenas, goat-demons shall call to each other; there too Lilith shall repose, and find a place to rest.

  Isaiah 34:14

  For my crazy fans, thank you for your support. Enjoy the madness. This second edition contains a few tweaks here and there, but nothing that drastically changes the story. I hope you enjoy reading Lilith’s Puppet.

  The Shadow

  The logs popped and crackled as they burned beneath the cauldron breaking the silence as the thick gloopy liquid boiled away. Two hooded old women were hunched over the cauldron mesmerized by their concoction. One hobbled over to a bookcase, her long skeletal finger and filthy nail ran along the spines until she unearthed the one she sought.

  “Here it is sister,” Rowena cackled then flicked through the pages and tapped her nail on a page. “Two children’s nails, four birthing sacks and a rat’s tongue. That’s what we’re missing.” she hobbled back to the cauldron and stirred the grotesque boiling mess.

  Juliet walked over to the cobweb-covered shelves; she greeted a spider running along it with her finger, it ran along her thick knuckle towards a fly entangled in a web. The objects on the shelves were neatly laid out and labelled, both organic and inorganic items that were beyond description and comprehension. She pulled a jar down, twisted off the rusty top and handed over two children’s fingernails. She ran her fingers across the pot, caressing it before putting it back then ogled over the numerous other items. Her eye caught a small box of rat’s tongues. She gave the box a shake.

  “Not many left,” Juliet grumbled handing a rotten rat’s tongue over then returned to searching for the last ingredient, birthing sacks. Quite the delicacy amongst Witches but also an ingredient used in summoning a demon of malicious and contemptible ill intent. She twisted open the jar filled with a yellow liquid in which the afterbirths were stored, she reached in and took two, she handed them over and dove back inside for the other two.

  “They smell delightful,” Rowena crooned as she lowered her head inhaling the pungent odour resonating from them. “Shame we can’t eat them.”

  “We need them for the ritual now put that in,” Juliet scolded returning to the cauldron. “Father would be so proud of us.”

  “Silence,” Rowena hissed, “we must complete the ritual.”

  The pair opened their gowns and held their black moon necklace’s, dropping their robes to the floor with the other hand they kicked them across the floor and kissed their necklaces, the symbol of a demon, their Goddess.

  “I want to be her vessel,” Juliet announced.

  “As you wish,” Rowena mumbled.

  Juliet closed her eyes, “for I am the daughter of fortitude and ravished hourly from my youth. None that are earthly have ever embraced me. My garments are from the beginning, and my dwelling is in myself. I have been deflowered, yet am a virgin, my company is a harmony of many lavish and beautiful symbols, and my lips are sweeter than the sweetest and ripest of fruits. Cast aside your women and lay by my side. Our children shall be that of beauty and death, darkness and light and able to walk amongst man. Take me now, take this vessel and ravish my mortal soul until a shell remains.” She started to sway.

  Rowena stirred the brew. “Dark is she, her wings black and lips red. She is Lilith, she who commands the hordes of hell. She is the irresistible fulfiller of all lustful desires. First of all, the women was she Lilith, not Eve. Mother of all women with the freedom to speak and carry out her desires. Come forth Lilith and take this vessel.”

  The Old Oak

  Saturday, August 1st, 1810 8:45 AM

  Phillip leant over Howard’s bed with a grin. He raised his hand clutching the washcloth; it dripped cold water onto Howard’s sheets, Phillip held his breath desperately trying to contain his laughter. He shoved the sopping wet cloth into Howard’s face; water covered Howard’s face, dark hair and clothes, he gasped as the icy water sent shivers through his entire body.

  Phillip rubbed the cloth over his face, Howard clutched the fabric but only caused more water flood out soaking him further. Phillip ran out of the bedroom as Howard sat up throwing the cloth across the room. Howard wiped the water from his face then pulled the soaking wet top away from his body. He cleared the water from his hazel eyes with both hands flicking the liquid across his room.

  “I will kill you,” Howard shouted, a giggle came from the hall followed by several thumps as Phillip ran down the stairs. A few minutes later Howard was dried and changed into his grey trousers and white shirt; he opened his curtains he shielded his eyes from the early morning sun and stared out into the street.

  It was quiet so far with only Rachel and Henry playing with a ball. He tapped on the glass; they looked up, he gave a wave and a flash of his tongue followed by a smile as they returned the favour. A faint waft of bacon ascended the stairs and filled his senses, he salivated and rushed down the stairs and took his seat at the table opposite his brother. Phillip grinned and turned away staring into the garden.

  “Tuck in boys,” their mother, Margo said as she placed two platters of food onto the table then returned to the kitchen and came back with a third and their father Richard following close behind eating a sausage. Howard and Phillip filled their plates with bacon, sausages, toast, beans and potatoes left over from last night’s meal. Richard raced upstairs; he never had breakfast as he viewed it as a sign of weakness to eat in th
e morning. For others, they deemed it gluttony to allow any food to pass one’s lips in the morning as they also believed it to be a meal for the poorer classes to indulge in. But for children, it was very acceptable for them to eat in the morning as well as the poorer classes.

  Richard never considered himself nor his family to be part of the middle class, but with his tailor shop taking off he didn’t feel he had time for a well-rounded breakfast. Though the occasional grab of food occurred some mornings, he was more inclined to enjoy a hearty lunch at the local pub. He fumbled around upstairs then ran downstairs and rushed out of the door as everyone continued eating, Phillip seized his opportunity and skewered the last sausage with his fork before Howard’s reached it.

  “Hey, that was mine,” Howard snapped kicking Phillip’s shin.

  Phillip poked his tongue out, “didn’t see your name on it.”

  “Hey, come on, you two. Why do you both act like this? And what was all that noise I heard earlier?” Margo asked narrowing her eyes at them. Phillip lowered his head and cut up his sausage.

  “He put a washcloth on my face soaked in water,” Howard declared, Phillip grinned.

  “Oh no, Phillip you mustn’t do that, you’re ten not five,” she said barely raising her voice. “Howard, you must’ve provoked him.”

  “No, mother I didn’t,” Howard snapped, “I was asleep.”

  “Phillip, apologise to your brother!” she bellowed.

  Phillip finished chewing, swallowed, he suppressed his laughter with a pinch of his thigh. “I’m sorry, Howard,” Phillip mumbled.

  “Good boy, Phillip. So, what are you two doing today?”

  “We will see our friends, I saw them outside,” Howard replied.

  “Aren’t you two working at the Mc Pearson’s place today?”

  “No, Mr Mc Pearson bumped into me yesterday and said he was going away,” Howard said then gave Phillip another kick.

  “Ok, I don’t want you losing work, he’s a good customer. Make sure you find others to fill in the empty slots,” she scolded.

  Still with a mouthful of food Phillip blurted out, “he’s the best mother,” a dozen beans fell from his gaping mouth back to the plate. “He gives the best tips.”

  She leaned across and ruffled his hair, “that’s good, but please don’t talk with your mouth full.”

  Phillip smiled. “Sorry mother.”

  “Are you going to be seeing Henry today?” she asked picking up the empty plates stacking them onto the platters, Howard nodded. “Great, can you tell him to let his father know we will be there next weekend?”

  “I will mother, come on Phillip let’s go.”

  “Did you see Thalia outside?” Phillip asked as he jumped off his seat.

  “No, only Henry and Rachel.”

  “Oh… ok.”

  “I’m sure she will be along soon, just hurry and put your shoes on,” Howard ordered as he picked up his shoes. Phillip wasting no time attempted to put his shoes on without undoing the laces but couldn’t get his heel in. He wiggled his heel then his toes but still nothing. His slender greasy fingers slipped over the laces. Howard huffed and folded his arms by the door. Phillip wiped his hands on his trousers and untied his shoes then slipped his feet in and laced the first. Howard opened the door with an impatient sigh while Phillip started on his second shoe.

  “Hey wait for me!” Phillip shouted.

  “Wait a minute you two,” Margo called out coming around the corner into the hall. “Keep away from the river,” she ordered with a stern tone.

  “We know mother; we won’t go near it, we promise,” Howard smiled.

  She took a step forward and kneeled as Phillip walked towards the door. “Don’t go too far into the woods either; you know the limits.” She narrowed her eyes.

  “We promise mother,” Howard uttered, Phillip pushed his way past and went outside.

  “I mean it, Howard; it’s not safe in those woods. You and your friends are twelve, not eighteen; please be careful. You need to set a good example for your brother.”

  “We won’t go past the limits,” Howard sighed then rushed out the door. Phillip was conversing with Rachel as Henry kicked the ball against the side of a shed.

  “Hi, Henry.”

  “Hi, Howard. Would you like to play?” Henry tossed the ball in the air, caught it then kicked it against the shed again. It rolled back across the freshly cut grass and stopped a few paces away.

  “Yeah, sure. My mum said could you tell your father we will be there next week,” Howard said as Henry kicked the ball over.

  “Yeah sure, I’ll let him know.” Henry nodded as Phillip and Rachel made their way over.

  “Put the ball away Henry we’re going into the forest,” Rachel demanded picking up the ball. “Thalia should be along soon so let’s get moving.”

  “We’re not supposed to go into the woods; we can’t go past the fence,” Howard informed as they set off, Rachel laughed and rolled her eyes.

  “So, mummy tells you what to do, and you do it. We went in just before you came out.”

  “We didn’t go further than the fence. We heard something and then we-” Henry started, but Rachel cut in.

  “No, you think you heard something, not we. You panicked and ran,” she scoffed, Henry’s cheeks flushed. Phillip patted him on the back.

  “Leave him alone Rachel,” Phillip blurted.

  “He’s too scared to go back in unless we hold his hands. You scared Henry?” She mocked and opened her mouth to speak but stopped as Thalia ran across the road to join them. “Thalia, at last.”

  “My mum was giving me some speech about the river… again,” Thalia rolled her eyes.

  “Yeah, we had the same thing,” Phillip called out, “even talked about the woods too.”

  “That’s where we’re going,” Rachel nodded down the road and set off again with the others following in toe close behind.

  “Hi Thalia,” Phillip mumbled glancing at her with the corner of his eye.

  “Hi Phillip, you excited about going further into the woods?”

  “A bit,” he frowned, “how about you?”

  “I’m a little scared; I don’t think we should go,” she muttered as quietly as she could to avoid Rachel’s wrath. Phillip nodded and slowed his pace.

  “I’m scared too. I heard a few stories about what’s in there.”

  “My dad’s a constable; I sometimes hear him talking to mother at night about what he’s seen. Sometimes he cries.”

  “W-What did he say?”

  “Figures, people running through the woods. The cackling of old hags and said he'd seen dead children. Slaughtered like animals in a butcher’s shop window. Their innards pulled out, faces twisted in horrifying screams.”

  Phillip’s face dropped, he turned pale. “I want to go home,” he called out, Rachel turned around and charged at him, Phillip backed away.

  “You listen we’re all going into the woods, and we will come back out. There’s nothing in there. Her dad sees all sorts; my father says he’s a little crazy because of what he’s seen.”

  “Hey, that’s my father you’re talking about.”

  “Yeah, and it was my dad that said it. Go home if you want, but you’ll all miss out on what I saw,” Rachel barked then stomped her foot.

  “What you saw?” Howard asked, “What did you see in there?”

  “A field… then a tree. It has a swing on it.”

  “We will go see… a tree?” Thalia laughed, “a tree and a swing.”

  “It’s better than nothing. Look are you coming or not?” Rachel snapped.

  “Yeah ok, it’s not like we don’t have swings around here,” Thalia replied.

  “Let’s get this out the way,” Henry said raising his voice, “I don’t see what all the fuss is about… but Rachel wants us to see so it must be more than a swing there.”

  “Nope, it’s just a swing on a tree... few flowers here and there,” Rachel said. “Thought it would be a nice plac
e to go sometimes.”

  “Stop being stupid, let’s go,” Henry ordered then started off along the path. Thalia rubbed Phillip’s back and held his hand as they made their way down Willow Drive then up towards Bay Road where the forest started. The roads were growing busier with people leaving for work and other children playing, but it did nothing to distract Rachel from her goal.

  They soon arrived at the forest and glared into its near-infinite expanse of trees, Rachel beckoned and led the way. A series of wooden posts with wire strewn across served as the only barrier stopping anyone from passing through, a faded sign dangled on a wire warning not to go beyond this limit. The wooden sign was cracked and weather-worn with mould covering most of it.

  “We really shouldn’t,” Henry called out taking a step back, Rachel climbed through the wire barrier and stood arms folded on the other side tapping a finger against her arm. Phillip was next through; he knew if he didn’t go through he surely would have another close encounter with Rachel. Howard followed with Thalia close behind; her long, copper, curly hair snagged on some rusty wire. She winced as her head lay sideways, she pulled harder and came free losing several long strands of hair, they wafted in the gentle breeze. Henry looked at the group, Rachel was still tapping her arm. She motioned her eyes towards the floor next to her then back to him. Henry sighed and made a quick dash through the fence.