Vices and Virtues
An Anthology of the Seven Deadly Sins
and Seven Dark Virtues
Genres: Horror, Supernatural,
Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Suspense/Thriller
Because sometimes, the virtuous are as frightening as the sinful…
Sins will weave you into their
webs. They become the Vice you’re unable to shake.
There are the values, taught
from birth, which ride a razor’s edge. They turn into
Dark Virtues, a twisted
mockery of their true meaning.
Pride, envy, lust, gluttony,
anger, greed and sloth all have their place in the
tapestry of life. They are
the Vices who lost sight of the Virtues:
charity, temperance, forgiveness,
humility, kindness, chastity and diligence.
Enter the worlds where the tales
of the most sinful of Vices and the darkest of
Virtues will entice and intrigue you…
…for even among the most devout
there is a dark side.
SINS OF THE FLESH (Gluttony)
BY STACEY BROADBENT
It was a balmy Spring evening when I first discovered
a taste for human flesh. It was a happy accident
really. After having my heart broken one too many times,
I'd abstained from any
type of physical relationship with a man for years,
so when one fell in my lap,
it came as quite the surprise.
EXCERPT SINS OF THE FLESH:
Throwing
caution to the wind, I slipped my feet into a pair of runners and walked down
the road, telling myself it was to clear my mind. But really, I was on the prowl
for fresh meat. Someone vulnerable—easy prey. I had to be smart about it; it
was broad daylight after all.
Every
person who walked past became a possible target. In my mind’s eye, I pictured a
computer log for each one, listing their attributes. Having limited knowledge
on the ins and outs of cannibalism, I had no idea what the perfect body type
was for consumption. Would it matter if they were male or female? Was it better
if they were lean and muscular, or was a layer of padding more flavourful? How
was I to choose?
Turns
out, I didn’t need to think about it at all. On my walk back home, I was
knocked off my feet by a man out for a jog. He’d been too busy flicking through
the playlist on his phone to see me, and by the time we’d both looked up, it was
too late. We collided, my forehead into his chin and mouth. My hands
automatically went up, pressing against his chest and sending us both bouncing
off each other, landing on our behinds. Apologising profusely, he offered me
his hand and pulled me to my feet. The impact had left a red egg on my head and
skinned my palms raw. He, however, came across a little worse for wear,
sporting a newly chipped tooth, and fat, bleeding lip. As soon as I got a whiff
of the blood on his breath, I knew, he was the one.
I
pointed to my house across the street, inviting him in to clean up while he
called the emergency dentist. It was the least I could do.
Ushering
him into the bathroom, I had him perch on the edge of the bath while I rummaged
through the cabinet for the first aid kit. I needed to knock him out somehow.
There was no way I could do this without it… unless…
About Stacey Broadbent:
Stacey lives in Ashburton, New
Zealand, with her husband and three children. An avid reader and self-confessed
book-a-holic, she has always had a love of the written word, so it was only a
matter of time before she took pen to paper and began on her writing journey.
Stacey is a multi-genre author, with books from light-hearted comedies to
zombie thrillers. She is also part of the writing duo 'The Ink Slinging
Sisters' with friend S.K. Lessner. You can often find her lurking on social
media so don't be afraid to reach out and have a chat.
Zealand, with her husband and three children. An avid reader and self-confessed
book-a-holic, she has always had a love of the written word, so it was only a
matter of time before she took pen to paper and began on her writing journey.
Stacey is a multi-genre author, with books from light-hearted comedies to
zombie thrillers. She is also part of the writing duo 'The Ink Slinging
Sisters' with friend S.K. Lessner. You can often find her lurking on social
media so don't be afraid to reach out and have a chat.
Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/BStayc
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cULu_f
A MILLION CLAY WOLVES (Greed)
BY AMBER K. BRYANT
Living in a squalid encampment in
the shadows of a towering city, a young woman able to endow objects with magical powers struggles with her brother's growing determination to use her
gift for his own selfish means.
the shadows of a towering city, a young woman able to endow objects with magical powers struggles with her brother's growing determination to use her
gift for his own selfish means.
EXCERPT A MILLION CLAY WOLVES :
“Do
you remember Jamey? Has a tattoo of a whale on his right arm, wears a red and
white striped tank top—Sound familiar?”
Mora nodded. “He juggled knives and guns.”
“That’s
right. Jamey is my boyfriend and we’re very happy, only… He has this crazy idea
that he should give up the troop, join the army instead. He thinks it would
provide a better life for us, but he’s wrong. This is the only life I want and
I don’t want it to change. I need you to change his mind.”
“What?” She took a step away from Dare. “I… I can’t do that!”
“You
don’t realize it, but you can. I saw it in you. The ability to endow magic. You
just needed a jumpstart, and yesterday…” she pointed to the feather, “I gave it
to you.”
Mora stared at the feather, still crumpled in her hand.
“Tell
the feather that Jamey’s place is with me. In the troop. Tell the feather it
needs to change Jamey’s mind. Go on.”
Mora
lifted the feather halfway to her face, then paused. This would never work.
Clearly circus life had taken its toll on Dare’s mental health. Or perhaps
unstable people were attracted to the quirky life the troop seemed to lead. It
was silly to give in to Dare’s demands. Then again, if she didn’t do it,
perhaps Dare would become so angry, she’d bust out of her purple corset and
become a rage-fueled She-Hulk. Perhaps the simplest way out of this situation
was to tell the feather to become a mind-changer and then get the hell out of
there.
“Fine,
whatever.” She brought the feather to her lips and blew words into it. “Change
Jamey’s mind. Make him stay. Oh!” She jumped as a tingling sensation moved
through her body, from the soles of her feet up her legs and spine, then out to
the tips of her fingers and into the feather. “What… what just happened.”
Dare’s
face went back to its friendly older sister mode. “Exactly what I thought
would. Thank you, Mora.” She took the feather back from Mora and pinned it into
her dark, shimmering hair. “Wiser people than me would tell you to be careful
with this gift of yours. Magic can be used for good or for evil. It doesn’t
care which, most of the time.”
Confused,
Mora toyed with a stray thread from the hem of her t-shirt. “But you’re… not
telling me to be careful?”
Dare
grasped Mora’s chin and tilted it so their eyes met. “We don’t find out what
we’re capable of through advice.” She gave Mora’s face a tiny squeeze and then
let her go. “Trial and error, darlin’."
About Amber K Bryant:
Amber K. Bryant is an
award-winning author and a librarian living deep within Sasquatch territory in
Washington State. She has co-authored a short story with R. L. Stine, won a
Watty for her novella UNSEEN, and won three contests judged by Margaret Atwood.
When not glued to her keyboard, Amber can be found spending time with her
husband and son, hiking, gardening, and searching in vain for the illusive
Sasquatch.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amberkbryant
CONFESSIONS OF AN HONEST MAN (Chastity)
BY CYRIL BUNT
When I was thirteen I took my
oath, I never broke it. But apparently, I broke many others.
oath, I never broke it. But apparently, I broke many others.
About Cyril Blunt:
My name is Cyril and I'm 32. I've
loved writing since I was very young and so I try to create believe lies, one
day I hope to be good enough to make a living from writing.
loved writing since I was very young and so I try to create believe lies, one
day I hope to be good enough to make a living from writing.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cyril_bunt
DO NO HARM (Charity)
BY J.M. BUTLER
What if someone offered you
exactly what you needed?
exactly what you needed?
Ethics and vampirism hardly go together,
and Aestan has concluded he is trapped between two bad situations. A chance
meeting with his neighbor Summer changes everything as she offers the solution
to his problems. He can have her blood. She's more than happy to give it if it
keeps him from robbing blood banks or killing people. Though at first he is
relieved, he soon realizes that even what is freely given may yet have
consequences he does not desire.
and Aestan has concluded he is trapped between two bad situations. A chance
meeting with his neighbor Summer changes everything as she offers the solution
to his problems. He can have her blood. She's more than happy to give it if it
keeps him from robbing blood banks or killing people. Though at first he is
relieved, he soon realizes that even what is freely given may yet have
consequences he does not desire.
