The Crimson Pact

The Crimson Pact vowed to destroy the demons of the Rusted Vale - but something went wrong. The demons had their own secret plan and escaped, invading dozens of worlds across the multiverse. Read 26 stories set in those many different worlds about the men and women who refused to let the demons win.

We set them free, now we have to take them down. The Crimson Pact Volume 3 features fifteen action packed and frightening short stories, including, "That Which We Fear" by New York Times bestselling author Larry Correia, and Steven Diamond, which features Diego Santos, a bad ass marine who knows the exact time of his death, and Jarvis "Lazarus" Tombs, a federal agent who investigates the paranormal, and has the strange habit of coming come back from the dead. "The Ronin's Mark" by Donald Darling is a story from an arch demon's point of view and provides a fascinating study of what happens when a demon becomes too close to the world he is trying to destroy. "Whispers in the Code" by Patrick M. Tracy uncovers the sinister truth about the secrets found inside the internet, and those trying to stop the end of days. "Stumble and Fall" by Isaac Bell tells a tale of his famous character, John Olshoe, who recalls a time when he failed to be the hero. "Singe, Smolder, Torch, Whither" by Eric M. Bosarge is a creepy tale Stephen King could have written if he decided to write a story with a more literary style. "The Jar of Needs" by Patrick M. Tracy is about a depraved customer who will do anything for the sullen barrista he's fallen in lust with. "Monsters on the Trail" by Patrick S. Tomlinson shows us what happens when investigators find out a demon may be involved with a political campaign. "David in Disguise" by Kelly Swails takes us to a 1960's Chicago protest march where a young woman, who wants to be a journalist, finds out she may have to join the family business after all . . . and hunt demons. "Fallout from My Former Life" by Valerie Dircks proves that a young woman can never escape her past, especially at her high school prom. "The Recruit" by Craig Nybo profiles the boxing champion, Micky Atlas, in what may be his last fight . . . on Earth. EA Younker gives us a steampunk apocalypse story, "Fight" where the rebels steal an airship and take the battle to the demon-possessed bots who have destroyed their world. "The Third Eye" by Chanté McCoy tells the tragic story of a failed Greek Orthodox priest in the early 1900's, who is unable to convince his countrymen that the demons are indeed coming. "A Contract Between Thieves" by Stephanie M. Lorée is one of the most entertaining stories in the anthology and is set in a "Italian Renaissance steampunk meets traditional sword & sorcery world" and features a rogue named Feni, and her lover, Raf, and their travails after Feni accepts the absolutely wrong job-that feels so right. "Shen Llamo's Daughters," takes us on a trip to Tibet in a time when the old customs of the mountain people, typified by pragmatic Yumi, battle with the new religion of Buddhism, and demonic spirits roam a haunted valley in the Himalayas. "The Scarlet Cloak" by Karen Bovenmyer, which book-ends this collection and will not soon be forgotten, is about a young woman who takes revenge on her enemies by using an artifact of terrible power that may consume her in the end, or perhaps it will set her true self free.

By a bullet or a blade, the Pact will have justice. A gunslinger rides down a dark road in an alternate history Old West . . . A lone woman tries to save a distant planet from a diabolical invasion . . . A rogue demon seeks vengeance on his former queen . . . Read the supernatural Western, "Darkness of the Sun," a novella by Patrick M. Tracy, and sixteen other action packed and terrifying stories that run the gamut of urban fantasy, horror, science fiction and fantasy, with stories by Michaele Jordan, Usman T. Malik Brett Peterson, Sarah Hans, Daniel Myers, Kelly Swails, Sarah Kanning, Valerie Dircks, John Perkins, Elizabeth Shack, Leigh Dragoon, Donald Darling, Steven Diamond, and Suzzanne Myers. Make your mark in blood and join the Crimson Pact!

The Pact is back and demons are as devious as ever in The Crimson Pact Volume 2. Read 28 original stories (over 500 pages in print ), including many sequels to stories in volume one. Suzzanne Myers's powerful flash fiction piece, "Withered Tree" continues with the exceptional short story, "Seven Dogs." Chant McCoy's "Inside Monastic Walls" is followed by the literally gut-wrenching follow-up short story, "Body and Soul." Urban fantasy mayhem is off the charts with rising star Patrick Tomlinson's "Monsters in the Closet" and D. Robert Hamm's "Karma." Steampunk your thing? EA Younker's steampunk apocalypse tale "Stand," Sarah Hans' sequel about professor Campion, "A More Ideal Vessel," and Elaine Blose's steampunk Western "Wayward Brother" will whet your appetite. The dark fantasy and adventure continues in "Dark Archive," Sarah Kanning writes how Danielle from "Hidden Collection" must deal with the lingering effects of being possessed by a demon. Volume two mixes sequels from Gloria Weber, Justin Swapp, and Isaac Bell with new stories from Lester Smith, K.E. McGee, Adam Israel, Valerie Dircks, T.S. Rhodes, Elizabeth Shack, Daniel Alonso, and Nayad Monroe. New York Times Bestselling author and Campbell award nominee Larry Correia presents an exclusive short story, "Son of Fire, Son of Thunder" co-authored by Steven Diamond, about an FBI paranormal investigator and a bad ass marine who knows the exact moment of his own death. Travel to the alternate history Earth of the "Red Bandanna Boys" by Patrick M. Tracy and find out how ruthless you have to be to survive the slums of St. Nikolayev. Follow "The Trail of Blood" by Alex Haig, a horrifying Western about a bounty hunter who wants vengeance, not money. Hunt for Nazis in a disturbing 1950's America in "Hunters Incorporated" by Kelly Swails. Patrol the steaming jungles of Vietnam with a squad of soldiers in Lon Prater's "Last Rites in the Big Green Empty." Then enter the mind of a godlike demon in Donald J. Bingle's ambitions tale, "Dark Garden," or visit the creepy shadow world created by Richard Lee Byers in "Light and Dark." Watch your back, the demons are coming.

If you enjoy Jim Butcher's Dresden Files; Terry Brooks' Running with Demons (Word and the Void) and Armageddon's Children (Genesis of Shannara Trilogy); Demon Moon in The Guardian Series by, Meljean Brook, Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International, or Patricia Briggs When Demons Walk you will love the Crimson Pact series. In this book you will find the highly-acclaimed origin story of the Crimson Pact mythology, "The Failed Crusade," and the epic finale to the entire series, "Sealed with Fire," powerful novellas by Patrick M. Tracy. Read a story from New York Times' bestselling author Larry Correia and Hugo Award-nominated Steven Diamond. Enjoy short fiction from: Bram Stoker Award-nominated Lawrence C. Connolly; Writers of the Future Award Winners Bradley P. Beaulieu and Brad R. Torgersen; I-CON Innovative Game Design Award Winner George Strayton; and fiction from the Hugo and Campbell Award-nominated Dan Wells, author of the highly regarded I Am Not A Serial Killer and co-host of the Writing Excuses Podcast. Original stories also by fan favorites Donald J. Bingle, Kelly Swails, Usman T. Malik, Craig Nybo, Justin Swapp, Danielle DeLisle, Michaele Jordan, Zachary Hill, Chante McCoy, Stephanie Loree, Donald Darling, Brett Peterson, and Karen Bovenmyer. Praise for The Crimson Pact Series "Almost 30 years later The Crimson Pact supplants Clive Barker's Books of Blood series as the modern compendium of fantasy horror short stories. Though The Crimson Pact lacks the consistent voice the Books of Blood offer, there is something to be said for the variety of styles. Like the viewers of the classic Twilight Zone and Outer Limits television series, each reader is bound to have their own favorites. Whether you buy these for yourself or someone else, any horror, suspense, or dark fiction fan should enjoy the collection." Lance Roth at Blog Critics.org about Volumes 1-4 "The demons are not your typical straight-from-Hell, pitchfork-tailed monstrosities, or (perhaps) even in any realistic sense of the term 'native' to Earth. No, the demons you will encounter in The Crimson Pact are rather more like H. P. Lovecraft's Great Old Ones-unknowable creatures from beyond the Void, waiting only their opportunity to invade helpless earths and rule them with devastation and despair." Author Michael Collings on Hell Notes.com about Volumes 1-4, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED "I applaud those who brainstormed this, and I can hardly wait to read the Crimson Pact, Volume 2. If you haven't partaken of this little jewel, I encourage you to do so, but beware, what lies beneath a mortal's skin could be something marvelously demonic." MK Horror.com "If you like demons and dark fantasy, if you love the constant struggle of good against evil (or at least human vs. something clawed and taloned), an endless eternal war between humanity and hellborn, then this is definitely the anthology for you." Pippa Jay of Fantasy Book Review.co.uk "If you like Dark Fantasy, you'll love this book." Author Daniel Coleman, about The Crimson Pact Volume 1

"Dangers untold isn't your normal horror anthology; not a vampire, zombie or werewolf to be found. Filled with unusual monsters and unexpected terror, Dangers untold is a series of seventeen short stories from horror industry professionals who have a different take on what makes good horror"--Page 4 of cover.

Killer Shark? Check. Godzilla? Check. Robots? Check. Bigfoot? Check. Elvis? Check. What more could you want in your poetry? Rhymes? "...some fine examples of speculative poetry that manage to cut a razor's edge between funny and poignant without alienating a reader." - Aaron Polson, SkullSaladReviews "There is good poetry out there. Poetry that does not have its head inserted rectally, yet still possessing the intellect and heart to provide continued interest. Case in point: Matt Betts." - Anton Cancre, HorrorNewsNet