The Paid Companion
Chapter One
The ghastly, corpse-pale face appeared suddenly, materializing
out of the depths of the fathomless darkness
like some demonic guardian set to protect forbidden secrets.
The lantern light spilled a hellish glare across the stark, staring
face.
The man in the small boat screamed at the sight of the monster,
but there was no one to hear him.
His shriek of horror echoed endlessly off the ancient stone
walls that enclosed him in a corridor of endless night. His shocked
start of surprise affected his balance. He staggered, causing the
small boat in which he traveled to bob dangerously on the current
of the black waters.
His heart pounded. He was abruptly drenched in a chilling
sweat. He stopped breathing.
Reflexively he gripped the long pole he had been using to propel
the little craft up the sluggish stream, and fought to steady
himself.
Mercifully the end of the pole dug solidly into the riverbed,
holding the boat steady as the last reverberations of his dreadful
cry died away.
The eerie silence descended once more. He managed to
breathe again. He stared at the slightly-larger-than-human ... read full excerpt from: The Paid Companion ebook
