Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Blood-curdling... -- Part 6


In a fit of pique, Haggis began to trample on and stomp her snakes, luring them close with promises of publishers, agents, and editors.

Those who followed Haggis blindly believed her and were promptly stomped into the dirt floor of Haggis's castle. Haggis waited in vain for the elation of her stomping fits to overcome her, make her feel better, perhaps validate her existence but, alas, it did not. Rather than an adrenaline rush, all she got for her efforts was a dark cloud of depression -- for there were others in the land whom Haggis yearned to stomp but who were far too intelligent to venture into her lair.

Her anger was great, her resentment a foul black cancer consuming her from within. She was forced to content herself with a dominion of slick, slithering snakes on whom she could not rely. She had woven a spell to compel Dedman's return to her side, but he was of little solace to the tortured witch. He was good for certain unspeakable rituals, but little else.

Haggis did not eat, did not bathe, did not leave the castle other than on the nights of the full moon. She became wary of lying down to sleep for fear that the treacherous snakes would bite her unto death or choke the life from her as she slept, and she would perforce go for weeks without rest. As time passed, Haggis's never pretty visage began to show the deleterious effects of her dark environs.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is why I do not try to be published. Well, that and the fact I have never finished a story, but that is not as important as not becoming a witch surrounded by ploting snakes.

Serena said...

Fuckin' snakes.:)

You can go ahead and write, though. FINISH CHARLIE! You're safe -- all the snakes are dead.

Serena said...

Thanks, Steve. My word, you're rooting for Haggis? Dang, we had a hard time not killing her off in the first paragraph. LOL!

Y'all pardon me, there's a full moon coming and I will be slightly insane for a few days.:)

Anonymous said...

I trapped myself in Charlie right now. I think this is the curse of the episode writing style. I have written myself into a spot and I do not know where to go from it yet. I know it has been 3 weeks with no update, but 18 pages is a personal record for me with a short story.

Serena said...

Writing oneself into a corner happens sometimes. You just have to find an exit, even when it means going back and restructuring the corner. You can do it.

Rex Zeitgeist said...

Dang, Haggis needs a trip to the day spa.....A hot bubble bath and a massage would do the girl ownders!

Serena said...

I don't think bubble baths would help this girl much, Rex. She's too far gone -- and still headed down.

Anonymous said...

I am not sure I can. The episode aspect of it is part of the challenge. If I go back it is like seeing Bobby in the shower. (If you do not get that, seek help). =P

Everything in the story has happened so I cannot pretend it did not. It just went in a direction I had not been prepared for.
Stupid stories. I should go back to my original Charlie tale I wrote in college.

Serena said...

I might not mind seeing Bobby in the shower, but I didn't get it. Where do I get help?

Just because certain story events happened doesn't mean you can't make them rehappen. You can always turn it around to match the direction in which it went. If you like the original Charlie, revise that one and make it do what you want it to do.