Short Stories
The Dullahan’s Reckoning
Hotel Macabre Vol.1: Tales of Horror
Crystal Lake Publishing 12/13/2024
Step into the halls of Hotel Macabre, where horror meets innovation.
Where horror knows no bounds…
And every turn reveals a new nightmare.
Hotel Macabre Vol.1 is not your typical horror anthology. It’s an immersive experience that breaks the boundaries of conventional storytelling. This one-of-a-kind collection gathers the chilling voices of horror’s most imaginative minds, presenting a rich blend of flash fiction, short stories, poetry, a suspenseful play, a novella, and even an illustrated comic book section, guaranteeing a diverse feast for horror fans like never before.
Whether you crave the suspense of flash horror, the depth of a full-bodied short story, or the haunting rhythm of dark poetry, Hotel Macabre Vol.1 has it all. And for those looking for something truly unique, this anthology includes a link to an exclusive dramatic reading, bringing the terror to life in a way you’ve never heard before. Each story and poem opens a door to new terrors, while the comic and play sections add a visual and theatrical thrill, making this anthology a must-read for fans of horror anthologies and short horror stories alike.
Dare to enter Hotel Macabre and discover a groundbreaking anthology that will redefine your expectations of horror.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Excerpt
Humphrey cursed when his driver stopped. He could think of no reason to halt in the night. Fear sweat dotted his forehead, his bad heart beating an irregular rhythm in his chest.
He banged on the window.
“Why are we halting? This hour is not safe.” His voice quavered despite his efforts. Once it commanded the attention of men. Now it sounded as weak as the old man he had become.
The horses let out frightened whinnies. Humphrey clutched the pistol he held in his lap. The driver had a similar gun at his hip. Highwaymen roamed these lanes, prepared to rob the unwary, but Humphrey feared it was no bandit they faced.
He’d been warned this might happen. Still, he’d had no choice but to ride. If he did not, he might be dead by morning. Only his physician could help him.
“My lord, I had to stop. The road is blocked. It is…not human.”
He had prepared for this. Humphrey Randolph could not be felled by ordinary means—or supernatural ones.
He jerked on the curtains and reeled back. No man could ever be prepared for the Dullahan.
It was at least eight feet tall, a dark figure of screams and nightmares. Humphrey had suspected that he would run into her on this road. It had always been his destiny. He had ways to thwart even such a creature as this.
The Dullahan pulled on the reins and her black mount reared into the air. Blood trickled from her neck, matched by the ichor on the staring head under her arm. Nothing could be concealed from her vision, not even on the darkest night. The wagon she hauled was decorated with skull candles, the wheel spokes human thigh bones.
“You will not take me this night, devil.” Though he spoke in a low tone, she turned and stared directly at him. Her face burned with a red-hot glow and he longed to let the curtain fall but dared not. The Dullahan raised an arm, her blood-red stare fixed on his form. He fought not to shrink from her gaze.
“You will come with me,” she said, her voice a thousand screams in the night. Her penetrating gaze left no doubt she saw Humphrey. “Release your hold on your mortal life. It is time.”
“Not on your life.” A thin stream of phlegm came out of his mouth as he gasped out the words.
“Sir? What is your order?”