Lucifer's Daughter. V. J. Banis

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      BORGO PRESS BOOKS BY VICTOR J. BANIS

      The Astral: Till the Day I Die

      Avalon: An Historical Novel

      The C.A.M.P. Cookbook

      The C.A.M.P. Guide to Astrology

      Charms, Spells, and Curses for the Millions

      Color Him Gay: That Man from C.A.M.P.

      The Curse of Bloodstone: A Gothic Novel of Terror

      Darkwater: A Gothic Novel of Horror

      The Daughters of Nightsong: An Historical Novel (Nightsong Saga #2)

      The Devil’s Dance: A Novel of Terror

      Drag Thing; or, The Strange Tale of Jackle and Hyde

      The Earth and All It Holds: An Historical Novel

      A Family Affair: A Novel of Horror

      Fatal Flowers: A Novel of Horror

      Fire on the Moon: A Novel of Terror

      The Gay Dogs: That Man from C.A.M.P.

      The Gay Haunt

      The Glass House: A Novel of Terror

      The Glass Painting: A Gothic Tale of Horror

      Goodbye, My Lover

      The Greek Boy

      The Green Rolling Hills: Writings from West Virginia (editor)

      Green Willows: A Novel of Horror

      Kenny’s Back

      Life & Other Passing Moments: A Collection of Short Writings

      The Lion’s Gate: A Novel of Terror

      Love’s Pawn: A Novel of Romance

      Lucifer’s Daughter: A Novel of Horror

      Moon Garden: A Novel of Terror

      Nightsong: An Historical Novel (Nightsong Saga #1)

      The Pot Thickens: Recipes from Writers and Editors (editor)

      San Antone: An Historical Novel

      The Scent of Heather: A Novel of Terror

      The Second House: A Novel of Terror

      The Second Tijuana Bible Reader (editor)

      The Sins of Nightsong: An Historical Novel (Nightsong Saga #3)

      Spine Intact, Some Creases: Remembrances of a Paperback Writer

      Stranger at the Door: A Novel of Suspense

      Sweet Tormented Love: A Novel of Romance

      The Sword and the Rose: An Historical Novel

      This Splendid Earth: An Historical Novel

      The Tijuana Bible Reader (editor)

      Twisted Flames

      The WATERCRESS File: That Man from C.A.M.P.

      A Westward Love: An Historical Romance

      White Jade: A Novel of Terror

      The Why Not

      The Wine of the Heart: A Novel of Romance

      The Wolves of Craywood: A Novel of Terror

      COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

      Copyright © 1974, 2012 by Victor J. Banis

      Originally published as The Lucifer Cult under the pen name, Lynn Benedict

      Published by Wildside Press LLC

      www.wildsidebooks.com

      DEDICATION

      I am deeply indebted to my friend, Heather, for all the help she has given me in getting these early works of mine reissued.

      And I am grateful as well to Rob Reginald, for all his assistance and support.

      CHAPTER ONE

      In the world there is evil.

      For some, the reality of evil is hard to believe in. But this was not so for Julia Carson. Although a quiet, unassuming girl of twenty, Julia had always felt pursued by evil. It seemed to follow her wherever she went. And she sensed it now. Evil was shadowing her again. She could feel it.

      A damp sea breeze brushed against the nape of her neck. Julia glanced fearfully back over her shoulder, as though fearing the presence that stood there—was always standing there—just behind her.

      This is no time for bad thoughts, a bright little voice reminded her. You’re on vacation, Julia. Have fun. Don’t start moping. Snap out of it. This is your vacation.

      Then came the other voice, the one that made her shiver, the one she knew had a sharp, cutting edge, the one she thought of as being synonymous with evil. It wasn’t a voice, actually, just a dark, brooding kind of tremor that said words sometimes, and often said nothing. Usually it just stayed there inside her head trying to pull her back into its dreary recesses. She tried to ignore it; she never could.

      Stop it, Julie. Don’t let yourself be dragged down.

      Does everyone have these voices inside them? Julia wondered, glancing at the girl on her left. Does Elizabeth? She looked to her right. Does Margaret? Does Allyson?

      Neither of Julia’s voices answered her. She heard nothing now, just Allyson’s laughter and the jangle of loud, blaring music that came from the multicolored arcades lining the pier. The shouts, the cries of children, the mumbling voices of people having fun—she was in the dead center of all of it, yet she was not there at all. True, she was walking along an amusement pier in the seaside resort town of Paradise Bay, but she didn’t feel part of it. She didn’t belong here. Everything seemed so unnatural, so out of place. Dissonant chords hit uncomfortably against her ears as the pinging of a shooting gallery melted into the sounds of a merry-go-round’s shrieking calliope.

      The four of them stood watching the gaudy carousel spinning on its axis. Its mirrored panels flashed and danced as it whirled and spun. Its prancing stallions grinned their wide, toothy grins. The music blasted out at them as they stepped under the domed roof.

      Julia held back. The deafening roar of the music, the swirling, blurring lights and shapes...she felt a pounding inside her. Her stomach gave a little tug. There was something frightening about the grotesque, painted animals, the squealing riders.

      It’s just a carousel.

      But the other voice—the evil one—gave an ominous laugh. Julia wanted to put her hands over her ears to shut out the sound of the fiendish laugh.

      “Come on, kids,” Margaret called gaily. “I haven’t tried for a brass ring in years.”

      Margaret and Allyson giggled and went toward the ticket booth.

      “Come on, Julia,” Elizabeth said, tugging at Julia’s arm.

      Julia resisted. “No, you go ahead, Liz. Those things make me dizzy. I’ll only wind up sick to my stomach.”

      Elizabeth shrugged. “Suit yourself,” she said and ran to catch up with the others.

      Julia watched the three of them huddled together, giggling, gossiping. They never once looked in her direction. They waited until the carousel stopped spinning, then rushed for the flashy wooden horses that suited their personalities. Even when the merry-go-round started up and they went past her several times, none of them thought to wave or call to her. They were too busy having fun to think about her.

      What am I doing here, anyway? Julia asked herself glumly. She tried hard not to watch the twirling platform. She was going to get sick if she didn’t stop staring at it. But she was waiting. She was waiting for one of them—any one of them—to call out to her...to wave...anything...just some sign to