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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
