Family Tradition

Family Tradition

A Short Story by Pamela Turner

Genre: Dark Fiction Suspense

Release: November 16, 2012

Editor: Katie Hines

Line Editor: Theresa Cole

Cover Designer: Delilah K. Stephans

Words:  8257

Pages:  50

ISBN:  978-1-77127-199-8

Price: $2.50

Back Cover:

Artist Rick Stanton needs a commission. He faces eviction from his apartment and his latest project is on hiatus. Worse, his muse refuses to cooperate. A recent letter may contain the inspiration he needs. Inside is the photograph of a mysterious woman, her face hidden by an umbrella. But there’s no identification, no way for him to contact her. A month later, another envelope arrives, this time with a phone number. Realizing this may be his last chance, Rick calls her. The woman introduces herself as Elizabeth and tells him she wants him to paint her portrait.

Rick agrees, only to learn there are conditions. Elizabeth is a recluse who lives with her two servants in a Victorian manor. She never allows her face to be seen. Not only must he stay at Elizabeth’s residence while painting her, he can’t leave, nor can he ever tell anyone about the portrait.

Sensing something isn’t right, Rick is even more disturbed by the sinister undercurrent beneath the household’s genteel façade. It’s somehow connected to the family portraits hanging in Elizabeth’s living room. Could they be haunted? And why doesn’t Elizabeth’s housekeeper want Rick to finish the painting?

Excerpt:

The housekeeper waited for me in the corridor. “The mistress requests your presence.” She pressed her hand against a panel and a heretofore-unseen door swung outward to reveal a narrow, dark stairwell. I’d no idea if this hidden room was a common feature of Victorian houses, but given Elizabeth’s mysterious photograph, a secret room seemed to fit.

“Through here, sir, and up those steps. The mistress is in the room at the top.”

Hand pressed against the door, I looked up the narrow stairwell. Once the door closed, I’d be in total darkness. I swallowed, apprehension tracing the back of my neck with icy fingers. Not that I was claustrophobic, but the thought of being surrounded by such gloom unnerved me. I turned to the housekeeper. “Don’t suppose you have a light?”

“You’ll be fine.”

What then? I wanted to ask, but the door had already started to swing shut. I made a grab for it. Too late.

I fumbled for an opening, some notch for my fingers to grasp—a knob, latch, anything. Nothing. Not even a light switch.      

Inside the passage, the musty odor of old wood and stale air assailed my nostrils. Tattered cobwebs brushed against the top of my head. Had this stairwell ever been aired out? Probably not. I guided my hand along the wall as I edged my toe forward until I touched a riser. I stepped up and repeated the process, counting twenty steps until my hands pressed against what felt like wood. I pushed and whatever was in front of me scraped open.

“Welcome, Rick.”

I recognized Elizabeth’s voice, but her head and face were concealed by a hooded cape.

She stepped past me to close the door. I looked back and bile rose in my throat. Grotesque demons, carved in the wood, glared and leered at me in various stages of agony and bestial ecstasy. What the hell had I gotten myself into?

 REVIEWS

...beautifully written, by turns haunting and sinister. A short, but riveting read. Amazon reader review

Family Tradition was a page turner I couldn't put down. It's a very well written, dark, short story with a solid 10 on the creepy scale. Amazon reader review

If you are a horror or gothic tale fan, then you must read this riveting short story by Pamela Turner. Amazon reader review

About the Author:

Pamela Turner divides her time writing horror, paranormal, and urban fantasy and being her cat’s human scratching post.

After writing poetry and short stories, she worked as a freelance magazine writer for two local publications. After two years of interviewing people, she decided to return to writing fiction. In 2004, she won second place in The Writers Place Short/Teleplay screenplay competition for “Cemetery”. She followed this in 2011 with the paranormal/urban fantasy Death Sword, published by Lyrical Press.
She’s a member of the RWA, Sisters in Crime, EPIC, and is also a supporting member of the HWA.
Originally from Wisconsin, Pam moved to Kentucky where the bugs are bigger and allergies aren’t an option but the law. She lives with her family and aforementioned feline. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, photography, playing chess (although she’s lousy at the game), physics, aviation, the Tarot, and cemeteries.

Author's Other Works:

Death Sword (Lyrical Press)

“It’s in Your Blood” – Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires (Scimitar Press)

“Family Heirloom” – Scared: Ten Tales of Horror (Scimitar Press)

EMAIL WEBSITE BLOG

Customer Reviews:

Family Tradition was a page turner I couldn't put down. I sat in my chair, started it and didn't get up until I was done. It's a very well written, dark, short story with a solid 10 on the creepy scale.rnrnElizabeth is a mysterious recluse who hires down on his luck and broke artist Rick Stanton to paint her portrait. With eviction notices and bills piling up he agrees to her somewhat unusual conditions. He must paint her at her mansion, at night, in the dark without seeing her face. He can't leave and isn't allowed a cell phone.rnrnThere are some jobs you shouldn't take no matter how bad you need the money....

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