Sunday Story - Pick a Cup by David Haynes

For this week's Sunday Story we return once again to the very first short fiction contest and the second place winner. The author of 'Pick a Cup' was David Haynes, one of my favourite indie horror authors, make sure to cjeck out his books linked after the story:

PICK A CUP by David Haynes

http://macabrecollection.blogspot.co.uk/

“Take a glass, monsieur Kellar and drink with me. One is laced with poison and one with my blood. One will bring you straight to me and the other will bring you riches and fame beyond your wildest dreams.”

Kellar looked down at the goblets. Each one was filled to the rim with deep scarlet liquid and each one the same as the other.

The demon placed a crooked black nail upon the rim of each glass, “Choose carefully monsieur for your odds are no better than even.”

“You may choose my fate, sir,” Kellar placed his hands upon the glasses, “but you too must choose carefully,” with the dextrous touch of a master he switched the goblets, first one way, them the other, and back again. Two cups became four with the speed of his hand and they danced a dismal quadrille. When all was still, not a drop had been spilled.

“Ha! My eyes are faster than yours, monsieur," the demon cried. "I know which glass to select for I placed them here myself. Your head will look good on my pyre!”

“Then my fate is with you,” Kellar stepped back and bowed. “I shall drink long of my wine and wait for darkness to fall forever upon my miserable life.”

They linked arms as lovers about to be wed and tipped back the poisonous draft.

“It is a good vintage, is it not, monsieur?” his forked tongue flicked greedily at the side of his glass.

Kellar raised his hands to his throat and gasped for breath, “You have bested me, sir!”

“I always get my man!” the demon threw his head back and laughed.

A moment passed in silence as they waited for Kellar’s demise.

Then Kellar, from the depths of despair, rose from his knees and roared in glorious laughter, “There must be a mistake for I feel quite well!”

“Impossible!” the demon rubbed his blood red eyes. “There must be something wrong with my eyes.”

“Your eyes are fast, but not as swift as my blade,” Kellar turned over his arm, revealing a bloody wound on his wrist. He flicked a finger and a stiletto slid from beneath his starched white cuff. “Misdirection, sir, is my game,” he walked towards the demon and laid his hand upon the hot flesh of his cheek, “you now belong to me, for my blood is within you demon. It binds you to my will and counteracts your vile poison!”

“No! It cannot be. I never lose! I will not be bested by a mortal man!”

“It is not so bad. There is still fun to be had but we may have to come up with a name. Come we have a glorious show to prepare and all the ladies adore a magician,” he winked at his new assistant who licked his demon lips with a flick of his blackened tongue.

Books by David Haynes on Amazon: