Sacre bleu! They live, they breath! Such opulence and rich embroidery. Such decadent finery. Ms Antoinette’s puppet gallery will seduce you with its splendour and charm you with grandeur. But what of the peasants? Qu’ils mangent de la brioche! What strange life exists behind those cold glass eyes? Venture closer and you will find that there is warmth beneath that porcelain façade and cold passion within that alabaster shell. Their fine elegance is beauty to behold. Take in hand a Champagne Coup and allow yourself to ponder the comely shape of this exquisite marionette, for they are one. Indulge yourself in the unworldly decadence of these fascinating creatures and let the celebrations begin! Your head will wonder at the madness and your pulse will race as La finta schiava plays mischief with your own heart strings. The wonder of this magical Fantoccini will stay with you to the end of days. Look closer, if you dare. Within those hollow shells beat hollow hearts. If they fall, they bleed. Theirs’ is a world of flagrant fantasy and, if you believe, then you too will see. But such lavish eccentricity can last only so long. Prepare your heart for the shattering denouement. Hark to the woeful cries uttered from mouths that never move. When light fades and the guillotine is raised above that exquisite neck trepidation will take to your heart and tears of tragedy will fill your eyes. …and you will witness a moment in time that has no place in our world of reason.
My name is Gary Power and I am an author of several short stories that have been published in respected anthologies such as When Graveyards Yawn (Crowswing Books), Spinetinglers (Spinetinglers publishing) and The Black Book of Horror (Mortbury Press). Also on the web with ‘Penny Shorts.’ I have been a member of the British Fantasy Society since 2006 and am lucky enough to have made friends and gained much experience and advice from several top authors and publishers. I recently attended World Fantasycon 2013 in Brighton and participated in a signing for the Tenth Black Book of Horror alongside Stephen Volk and Paul Finch.
I am registered as an Amazon author and have a website.