Free Summer Shorts-Four Short Stories by Jan Miller

we discussed."
     
    ******
     
    At the hotel in Austin, Edon informed Craig that she
and Phoenix had an adjoining room to his. She also told him that
the clothes she had purchased for him were in his room. Over
dinner, Phoenix assured Craig that he had personally worked several
times with the band that would be backing Craig…they knew the
material as well as the Black Ravens knew it. There would be no
problems. Phoenix himself had ordered the stage gear that Craig
would be using.
    Craig sat down his glass of wine and said
"You two have taken care of everything. I can't thank you enough
for this opportunity. I don't know how I can ever repay you." Edon
smiled at Phoenix, they both turned to Craig and she said
"Actually, there is something you can do. We will need you to come
to our room." Craig paused for a moment of brief contemplation,
finished his wine and said "Let's go."
    The shades were drawn in Phoenix's room and
the lights were all off. There were lit candles strategically
placed around the room and a large black circle painted on the
center of the floor. On the dresser lay a white silken linen and on
top of that, what appeared to be a large dagger with a black handle
and switch taken off of a tree.
    Craig looked around at the candles and the
strange artifacts. He seemed confused and asked "What's this all
about? Is this some kinky shit you two are into?" Edon sternly
replied "We will need you to go into the bathroom and remove your
clothes. We will bring you out when we are ready for you." Still
puzzled be obedient, Craig went into the bathroom and closed and
locked the door. Yes; they had done amazing things for him. He was
here for a great rock show where he was to perform in 24 hours.
Clothes, guitar, gear, transportation, accommodations: all at
Phoenix's expense.
    A brief time before meeting them, Craig was a
'nobody' going nowhere…now this. But did it warrant him taking part
in some bizarre, God-only-knows-what, sex depravity? Then again, he
thought; he was with his personal idol and most definitely the most
seductive, intriguing woman he had ever met. They were alone in a
strange place where not a single person knew his name. "Oh, what
the Hell?" he muttered and then he undressed.
    There was a knock at the bathroom door;
cautiously Craig opened it to find Botis wearing a black hooded
robe. Botis led him to the circle on the floor that was now
surrounded by the burning candles. Botis ordered "Kneel" and Craig
complied. From another room, Phoenix emerged also wearing a black
robe; although his robe was more ornate with gold and red
embroidery depicting beasts and cryptic glyphs. Last, Edon emerged
in white silken robe that was lavishly embroidered in black, gold
and red characters and beasts. She carried a goblet that she handed
to Craig and ordered "Drink…all of it." Craig placed the goblet to
his lips. It smelled like blood and dog turds, but he
complied…drinking the cup dry. He coughed and gagged, but held it
down. His stomach burned and the room began to spin.
    "Potent shit!" he complained, to which Botis
promptly demanded "Silence" Phoenix was reciting some incantation
mumbo-jumbo that he only caught a bit of "…be willing to suffer and
be purified in order to learn." With that, he took the switch and
began lashing Craig on the back. Craig winced but felt no pain.
When Phoenix had finished the lashing, he removed his robe exposing
his own nudity, and then handed the bloody switch to Craig. Edon
began her own incantation, concluding
    "…thou must ever give as thou receive, but
triple…lash him 120 times!"
    Phoenix knelt beside Craig, and Botis helped
Craig to his feet. "Hit him" Botis ordered. Craig administered the
lashing until the switch broke after nearly a hundred strikes. Edon
continued her incantation, and finished by repeating five times "A
new magus has been consecrated" while Botis led Craig around the
circumference of the circle.
    Phoenix rose, turned to Craig and
declared
    "Now you are