The Figurines: Revisited

Posted on September 6, 2022 by SheilaReneeParker

A few years ago I wrote an article about a doll collection titled, The Figurines. Now this collection consisted of two pilgrim dolls, a boy and a girl that once belonged to a family member that had passed away decades ago. Why I wrote about the figurines was to share with you their haunting little tale of how they both were placed, side-by-side and facing out, yet for no plausible explanation, my mother and I would find the figurines turned completely around with their backs to us.

This happened more times than I could remember. My mother and I tried to rationalize the bizarre phenomenon, but were never able to come up with any answers. The only thing she and I could honestly attribute it to was our family member with whom the figurines had originally belonged to. Perhaps it was our loved one’s way of simply saying hello because we never felt a sense of malevolence with any episode of the figurines’ paranormal activity.

When I wrote about them, I included an online image that I discovered to help illustrate my experience. Since then, my mother and I have discussed the dolls and she has actually found the original figurines that she had kept away in a box in storage for safe keeping. And guess what?? She handed them down to me! Not long before the holidays began, I received my mother’s package containing the pilgrim boy and girl figurines. The following image is what they really look like. I’m very excited about sharing this with all of you!

After removing the figurines from the package, I conducted a proper cleansing by using sage and all has been well! Haven’t experienced anything otherworldly since the figurines’ arrival and I have been, and will continue to be, extremely pleased to have them proudly displayed in my home for everyone to see!

Figurines

“Our Night at the Myrtles Plantation”

Posted on July 6, 2019 by SheilaReneeParker

Our night at the Myrtles Plantation

(***A true paranormal encounter experienced by paranormal investigators, Lori and Brian Davies of NWA Ghost Connection.***)

John Winters Room

3 p.m. check in, we arrived at 2 p.m. anxious to get there and excited about crossing off a bucket list item. Brian bought me a night at the Myrtles for my 50th birthday gift. He knew it was on a list of things I wanted to do since I was nineteen. We purchased some things in the gift shop and checked in. We were taken to the house to see our room and my gift kicks in as the door opens. At the top of the stairs I was greeted by a woman who appeared to be in mourning. She was in a black dress with a veil coming down over her face. I was taken a back by her but proceeded up the large staircase that led into the house to our room. The young lady who showed us to our room politely stated all the rules of the house and then opened our door and handed Brian the keys. Our night began.

We walked in and acquainted ourselves with the room, all the while this woman standing in our doorway. I asked Brian if he had seen or sensed anything. He said how weird it was, the water started dripping in the tub and he tried to turn the water off, but it was tightly off (weird). We had a quick, odd moment and he left to go get our luggage for the night. I sat in the chair in the corner watching her and when alone I asked her what her name was and she replied, “Sara M Bradford”, and then walked in a little girl who stood along side her in a pretty, little blue dress and blondish-brown hair. I assumed had some relation to her, but the child wouldn’t speak to me.

I heard a commotion in the hall and stuck my head out when I encountered another employee of the Myrtles and I asked her if I could ask her a question, she replied sure and came into the room. I then asked her if she had heard of this Sara or knew of her or was my being a medium allowing everyone to come through. She took two steps back and asked me, Sara? I replied, yes, she is standing right there pointing towards the door, she said her name was Sara M Bradford. The lady looked at me and smiled and said you are the first one who has called her that. I responded, called her what, Sara? She said no, calling her by her maiden name, Bradford. The employee then said her name was Sara Matilda Bradford Woodruff and her father built the Myrtles.

After some light conversation she invited me to do a private tour, with me being a physical medium she wanted me to walk the home and tell them what I could see and hear along with feel. I agreed because I was curious about her story and why she was so sad. As the night went on I ended up hurting my knee and had a difficult time walking, so of course I couldn’t walk the house and I wonder to this very day if that was the plan the whole time. During the night in our room the curtain continuously moved on just one side, the chandelier rotated back and forth and then my fan got knocked over against the wall which created a level of uneasiness. At this time I pulled out our infrared camera and began to take pictures and, what do you know, there she was in all her glory. My husband ran downstairs to talk to the tour guide and showed her the photo and, what do you know, she identified her as Sara.

They were so excited to see this photo and sad I could not do my private walk and as they were all looking at this photo I took I was settling in to sleep because I was in pain from my knee. Brian came back up and we took several videos of the excitement in our room and then decided to sleep so I could rest before the long drive home. Well, the night was crazy as around 2 a.m. I saw a man at the foot of our bed dressed in confederate attire and just starring at me. I was unnerved and asked him what he wanted, which was when I began to taste blood and have stomach issues and he pointed at the wall and disappeared, well…..that was interesting, and the footsteps and humming I heard all night made it difficult to sleep.

As day break rose, I was seriously done at this point and Brian woke up and I needed to leave, with all the energies in that home, lack of sleep, hurt knee, I think I had seen enough of the house for this trip. I have since promised to go back to walk the house for the woman and send them a copy of my photo so they can share my night with Sara. All I could gather from her was how sad she was for all her loss of children, father, and husband. She just did not get to live how she wanted. The humming was from the room we stayed in which was the old nursery, go figure… all in all, it was a sleepless night, but I do recommend the stay just for the interaction with the spirit world. The John Winters room was definitely a hit on my night.

Lori Davies – Founder NWA Ghost Connection

(Photograph courtesy of Lori Davies, Founder of NWA Ghost Connection.)

“The Change”

Posted on June 26, 2019 by SheilaReneeParker

“POW!”

The loud sound of gunfire exploded just feet away from my head causing my eyes to pop wide open. Panic stricken, I immediately jumped to my feet.

“Ma’am, are you ok?” The rifle toting man frantically asked.

“Huh? What?!” I spat the words out as my heart raced with fear. “What the hell’s goin’ on?”

“You were being attacked.” He continued while oddly looking my body over as if he was checking for something.

I shrugged him off with a harsh, scowled expression. “Get off me!”

“Hey, I was only tryin’ to help!” He abruptly growled back.

“Huh?” The confusion was still running rampant through my brain, but then a brief second of clarity began to occur. The night was pitch black, so black that even the moonlight couldn’t be seen through the thick cover of trees. I honestly couldn’t even see me waving my own hand in front of my eyes.

Then suddenly, my estranged hero started snapping his fingers in a rude attempt to get my attention. “Hey!” He exclaimed.

“What?” I shouted back.

“Look around you!” He yelled while shining his flashlight throughout the woods like a deranged lunatic.

“What the hell are you…….” My voice trailed off with a weakened tone as I started to see what he was referring to.

In my stunned state I had become paralyzed with fear. For what I had seen before me, in the flashed glimpses of his light, was the vanishing of ravenous creatures scurrying away. Their bellowed groans diminished into the air along with the foul stench that wreaked of rotting flesh from their bones.

I freaked, “What are those??!!”

“Calm down.” The hunter said.

“How can you tell me to calm down?” The tears welled my eyes and rushed down my cheeks like a busted dam had given way.

“Take a breath. Are you all right?” He added.

“I dunno, I guess so.” I began to feel my body, checking to make sure that everything was still intact. However, I did feel some soreness, maybe bruising in my lower back on the right side, but I wasn’t about to tell him about it. There was absolutely no way I was going to let some creeper lift up my shirt, even if it was to help me. His rough, unkempt appearance made me feel uncomfortable enough as it was. So, I casually lowered the bottom of my shirt and pretended that everything was ok.

“What’s a girl like you doing out here?” He asked, twitching around towards every little sound amongst the trees. His trigger happy self was armed and ready to fire again.

With a shameful tone I answered, “I’m homeless.”

“Homeless?” His annoying questions continued as he finally took notice of my make-shift campsite not far behind me.

“Yeah, had it out with my folks. Haven’t seen them in months. I guess with all the sleepless nights I’ve been having, that I finally passed out hard enough and didn’t even realize I was being attacked. Or maybe it was the drunk induced coma…. who knows? Or better yet…. who cares?” I spewed the words out with pure sarcasm. The harsh taste of last night’s whiskey still lingered on my lips.

“Ya know, you’re pretty nosy for an old man.” I snapped.

“Whatever, I gotcha. None of my business.” He backed off with his hands waving in the air.

Then, it was my turn to quiz him like he did me. “What’s your story? Why ya out here in the middle of the night carrying around a gun? Who goes huntin’ this late?”

“I’m a hunter.” He boastfully replied.

“Well, duh… I can see that.” I scoffed.

“Uh huh…..” He paused, looking around, guarded as if waiting for those vile creatures to return. “Those damned things. Whatever the hell they are. I hunt them.”

“Zombies?” The word blurted from my lips before I had a chance to even rationally think about what I was about to say. Suddenly, I felt a wave of embarrassment sweep over me because I knew that mentioning anything so bizarre was completely and totally insane.

“Yeah, somethin’ like that.” He quickly answered, still looking around, paranoid with every twitching sound. His trigger happy finger on his gun continued to be ready and waiting upon command.

“Wait! No way!! Zombies don’t exist.” I joked, but then was quickly reminded of the sharp pain in my back as it throbbed like that of a nagging toothache. And then, a disturbing thought popped into my head. One so horrifying that I wouldn’t dare speak about it to the hunter. The nightmarish possibility that what if when I was being attacked, I was actually bitten by one of those gruesome things? It was at that moment that I discovered the intensity of the wound on my back. As discreet as I was trying to be, the hunter took notice of my sudden behavior.

“Somethin’ wrong?” He glared.

“Nah, I’m good. Just an itch.” Quickly I brushed it off.

“Uh huh… don’t be such a lady and let me take a look then.” The old man stepped towards me, shining his flashlight at my waistline.

“I sure as hell ain’t no lady, and I swear if you take one step closer, I’m gonna take you out at the knee. Trust me, old man, I know how to take care of myself.” Moving three to four steps back, I stiffened up, ready for my defense.

“Ok, whatever. I don’t give a damn anyway.” He said as he backed away. And as he stepped back, a stick snapped under his foot. Somehow he lost his balance and fell to the ground. When he did, he caught himself, but while landing he scraped his hand, exposing the raw flesh just beneath the skin’s surface.

“Son of a…..” He mumbled.

Then, all of a sudden, I caught the sweet scent of something. It was something I had never smelled before, something sweet like nectar. I raised my head, sniffing the air around me trying to catch wind of it again. But the higher my nose got, the more faint the desirable smell became. Confused, I began to look around for its origin. My mood was changing and the feeling of emptiness started to take over in my stomach. Hunger was beginning to consume me at an exceedingly rapid pace. My stomach growled with a pain that was so intense that it needed immediate satisfaction. It was growling extremely uncontrollably and the need of fulfillment was urgent. My senses were sharpening, my vision and hearing, and my movements twitched. Something was happening, something terrifying!

“Hey, you all right?” The fallen hunter asked. He looked up at me with a puzzled look on his face, well aware of my odd behavior.

“Yeah, I feel just fine.” A malicious grin slowly formed across my face. As I spoke those words, I began to feel a nefarious sense engulf me. It permeated from the spot on my back and grew stronger as it coursed through my veins. Was it happening? Did those creatures pierce my skin with their razor-like teeth? I felt as if I was changing into one of them. The sense of being predator was exhilarating and the sudden urge to hunt was dire. I needed to feed.

And that was when it hit me. I looked down at the injured man on the ground. His scraped hand was bleeding….. ahhhh…. the sweet smell of nectar!

Our eyes locked and we both knew of the imminent danger that he was in. Obviously, his mounted years of being an experienced hunter paid off because he knew with whom he was dealing. The fierce change had been rapid for me. I had just been born into this ravenous world where rage devoured my soul and hunger had taken over. My nostrils flared and my heart raced, pulsating with every beat. I was ready to pounce him and tear him flesh from bone.

“Now, Miss…. ya ain’t gotta do this….” The rough man pleaded. He tried scurrying back while reaching for the long handled blade that was tucked away in his boot, but wasn’t quick enough for my unbridled advance.

In an instant, I was straddling on top of him, pinning his arms down with my legs. He struggled as hard as he could, even spat in my face and called me some “not so kind”names, but he still couldn’t break free. I suppose that with this new change of mine, came an insurmountable strength that I would have to get use to. Whatever it was, I liked it!

“Now, now, now…. I thought you were big, bad and tough.” I playfully teased, leaning in just inches from his face, so close that our breath intertwined. Anger filled his eyes as he gritted his teeth. Tension thickened between us as the heavy moment in time felt like an eternity. I was waiting for the right moment, almost like toying with my prey. It felt so good, almost orgasmic. Then, without warning, the bastard head butted me, busting my nose. The blood automatically started to flow down into my mouth.

“Mmmmm……” I licked it from my top lip. Tasting my own nectar caused the rage to intensify as it surged throughout my entire body. I reared back and bellowed out a wicked howl, then glared into the frightened eyes of my weakened victim. Terror covered him like a fear filled blanket. His lips trembled and his eyes welled while he cried out, “NOOOO!!!!”

I quickly lunged into him with razor-sharp teeth, piercing the warm, soft flesh of his neck like a hot knife cutting into butter. His blood flowed so sweetly into my mouth like the finest glass of merlot. From there, I began to nibble, then taking full bites to satisfy my insatiable hunger. I could feel his dying body convulse between my legs as I devoured him down to the last fiber of his being.

Finally, the hunter had become the hunted…..

CSParkerJewelry on Etsy! https://www.etsy.com/shop/CSParkerJewelry (Handmade Jewelry. Natural Stones. Glass Beads.)

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

~ Sheila Renee Parker on YouTube: Sheila Renee Parker

“The Magnetism of Angelique Cottin”

Posted on June 13, 2019 by SheilaReneeParker

It was an evening in January 1846 when a young peasant girl from Normandy discovered that her life was about to change forever. Fourteen year old, Angelique Cottin, among other girls were weaving away silk gloves on what was a rather large oak frame. When, all of a sudden, the heavy wooden frame started to move on its own. The young ladies attempted to keep the frame stationary, but were unable to do so. In a complete state of terror they called out to their neighbor for help, but he refused. Out of his disbelief he told the girls to go back to doing their job. As afraid as they were, the girls obeyed and continued with their work. The wooden frame remained still as each girl, one by one, approached it until Angelique was near. And then, immediately the frame started to shake again. Even though the other girls were frightened, Angelique was not, but she was however, intrigued.

Upon hearing the news of Angelique’s bizarre incident, her parents grew worried that their daughter could possibly be possessed by the devil. They sought help from the church, but the priest denied the Cottin’s request for exorcism. Why? Because his curiosity had the best of him, he wanted to witness the unusual phenomena for himself. Once he saw Angelique’s odd ability happen right in front of his very eyes, that was enough to make him believe that the Cottin’s daughter was, in fact, not possessed at all. Instead the priest urged them to take Angelique to be examined by a medical physician.

As time was leading up to her meeting with the doctor, Angelique’s ability heightened more and more with each passing day. The young lady would attempt to sit in a chair, but then the chair instantly was “forced” away. It was also said that with a simple touch, Angelique was able to float a heavy table in the air. The mere act of sleeping became difficult for her, too. While laying down, her bed would start to uncontrollably rock making it impossible for her to get a good night’s rest.

Other times as she approached small items, they would dart away from her without any plausible explanation, and this poor girl wouldn’t have to touch any of them. Often, if people were near her they would get shocked without even touching Angelique.

After visiting with a few doctors who were baffled by Angelique’s condition, one doctor took the Cottin family to Paris where they met with scientists who were eager to meet with Angelique. Once they conducted a battery of tests, the scientists concluded that Angelique’s ability was indeed the real thing. In 1846 renowned physicist Francois Arago documented that Angelique’s ability was due to electromagnetism, which he wrote about in his publication in The Journal des débats.

If any of you have an ability like this, we would love to hear about it! Don’t be afraid…. share your experience!

CSParkerJewelry on Etsy! https://www.etsy.com/shop/CSParkerJewelry (Handmade Jewelry. Natural Stones. Glass Beads.)

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

~ Sheila Renee Parker on YouTube: Sheila Renee Parker

“The Haunted Swamp”

Posted on September 1, 2018 by SheilaReneeParker

Ahhhh…. The Haunted Swamp. Nefarious place or a peaceful location? I guess that’s up to the individual and their experience.

Recently, my husband and I checked out a place called Bear Creek Swamp located in Prattville, Alabama. It was nearly a three hour drive that we took early in the morning to attend our son’s football game that was scheduled to occur later that night. The reason why we left so early was because my husband and I had already researched the city of Prattville, which was founded by industrialist and architect, Daniel Pratt in 1839. We love historical places so we took the opportunity to look around!

Upon our research, we looked for areas known for paranormal activity. That’s when my husband stumbled across some online articles about Bear Creek Swamp, also referred to as “The Haunted Swamp”. What he shared with me were some pretty interesting things. We read about ghostly sightings of Confederate soldiers, Creek Indians, early settlers, and even an apparition of a woman desperately in search of her lost child that will lash out at anyone who repeats three times, “We have your baby!”

People have even made reports of seeing floating orbs and phantom car lights that chased them down the road, that’s if their vehicles didn’t stall without plausible explanation. Yep, some say that their cars have actually “died” and wouldn’t start back up while encountering the freakishly paranormal activity of The Haunted Swamp.

Also, sightings of none other…. the big, hairy beast himself, Bigfoot! His echoing howls have been heard by various people claiming the validity of this creature. Oh, and we dare not leave out the elusive, legendary Chupacabra whose sightings have been reported as well.

And as if all that wasn’t enough to make one want to become a nail biter, there’s the Creepy Doll Graveyard where 21 porcelain dolls were found on top of bamboo stakes back in November, 2014. Who or what was behind this macabre creation? Who knows? The origin of such a morbid finding has never been discovered, or revealed.

Now, in finding Bear Creek Swamp, it seemed like it took my husband and me forever before we finally found it. Of course, we used our GPS and it sent us to a bridge that crossed over Bear Creek on Alabama State Route 14. We knew that wasn’t the exact location mentioned in the articles. Keep in mind, we weren’t able to find any road signs about Bear Creek Swamp, but did that stop us from our search? No way! We were determined to see what all the hype was about with The Haunted Swamp!

We traveled down a couple of paved roads that were near the bridge, but quickly knew that we were still in the wrong spots. My husband and I were just about to give up when we passed a dirt, gravelly looking road. He said, “Hmmm…. wonder if that was the road?” Getting tired of driving around I asked him, “Wanna go back to see?” He was like, “No, uh huh… let’s just keep going.” But when he said that, I could tell that he really did want to go back to see if that old road was the correct one. “What would you do if you were me?” I asked him. “Go back.” He said without any hesitation.

That’s when I found the nearest place to turn our car around. I’m glad we did because once we turned down the old road, we were in awe of our surroundings! We weren’t even a mile away from Alabama State Route 14 when we noticed the swamp that was on both sides of the road. It was lush and green with a beautiful serenity about it! It was a road that appeared not traveled much and had very few residences on it. The entire time we were on the road, not once did we encounter another vehicle. It was absolutely quiet there. The only sound we heard was from a small, man-made drainage culvert. Trees were all over the place, moss was abound and I couldn’t resist taking some of the beautiful moss home. (The next day I put the moss into a crystal bowl and added some tiny, white wire lights to create a stunning coffee table centerpiece. One word…. “Gorgeous!”).

While going down the road we did stop and get out of our car a couple of times. Did we experience anything ghostly or otherworldly? Did we see our beloved Bigfoot and/or Chupacabra? Nope! Didn’t see anything, hear anything, nor smell anything of the sort. (Smell? Why would I say that?? Because Bigfoot has always been known to have a foul odor about him. Poor guy…. you’d think that with all the water around there that he would take a bath every once in a while. 😉 )

Everything that we researched basically had supernatural activity at night. We didn’t stay there until nightfall because the main reason why we were in Prattville was to attend our son’s football game, which was far more important to us. So, that’s why we visited Bear Creek Swamp during the day.

What we did experience at The Haunted Swamp was tranquility and beauty. It was like stepping back into another time as we made our way down the unpaved road. No sounds of the hustle and bustle of a nearby city, no streetlights and buildings. Only vibrant green scenery and tall trees surrounded us. The occasional breeze that blew off the water was cool to our skin, taking away the humid, August day’s heat.

I was raised as a country girl, so I found myself extremely comfortable there. It made me reminisce the times when I was growing up on the old road that I did with my best friend. Together, she and I were always finding our way down hidden trails that passersby often forgot about.

My husband found himself reminiscing as well. He loved the place, too. We will happily go back at the next given chance!

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

~ Sheila Renee Parker on YouTube: Sheila Renee Parker

My artwork titled, “The Haunted Swamp”.

(“The Haunted Swamp” ~ Digital artwork by Sheila Renee Parker. Prints available at Fine Art America!)

(The coffee table centerpiece that I created using the moss from “The Haunted Swamp”.)

“My Phantom Traveler”

Posted on August 10, 2018 by SheilaReneeParker

“Darling, Darkness, lover of mine, with my bite I’ll drink your wine. Pierce thy flesh beneath the skin and allow the flow of your sweet crimson.” ~ Sheila Renee Parker

People call it, “Land beyond the hills.”, but not me. I call it home. Sona, Romania is where my family has lived for generations. Some as traders, some as farmers, and then there’s my father. He’s a dignitary who answers to the King. As far as my mother goes, I never got to meet her. She died during childbirth. The day I was born was the last day she took breath. My father still speaks of her often, fondly with tears in his eyes. Even though it’s been nineteen years, I know that his heart continues to beat only for her.

The evening was filled with a dusk colored sky as the sun slowly vanished behind the trees. In my carriage, I was on route to pick up my father from the castle where he was discussing politics with the King. I’ve always found the meetings to be rather boring, so every time he attended was when I’d have our driver take me out for a ride.

The air was damp from the late afternoon rain and the carriage’s wooden wheels jolted with every mud puddle they splashed. The atmosphere was soggy, and yet, there was still a certain calmness that I felt to be quite serene.

As we trailed through the woods, nearing the village, just up the distance was a figure walking ahead to the side of the road. With my parasol I knocked on the ceiling of the carriage to tell the driver to stop. My curiosity was oddly drawn to this peculiar character wearing a dirty brown, hooded robe that dragged the earth with each step that he took. It was stained with mud from the feet up. However filthy as he was, there was something undeniably alluring about this strange man.

I called out to him as the horses were coming to a stop. “Need a ride?”

He didn’t respond and for some odd reason that bothered me.

“You, peasant!” I forcefully spoke, demanding his response.

Obviously, I had struck a nerve because he came to a halt. His pose stiffened as he raised his head, turning his face in my direction. Through the long, fallen hair in his eyes, and just past the edge of his hood, he looked at me with a savage glare in his eyes.

“What do you want?” He growled.

“I….. I…..” I stammered to speak for he caught me off guard with his harshness.

“Ah… now you can’t speak.” He grinned heinously.

“Ma’am?” The driver interrupted. “We must be going. You’re father…”

I hushed the driver to stop and pleaded for another moment.

“Mustn’t keep your father waiting.” Toyed the hooded one.

I froze, couldn’t understand what I was doing. Normally I would have never stopped for a complete stranger, especially one so unkempt and impudent, but there was something about him that made me extremely inquisitive and I had to find out why.

“Get in!” I demanded. “We’re heading in that direction and you appear to need a ride.”

“Well, my feet are worn and I have grown tired.” He mumbled.

Without saying another word I opened the carriage door and motioned for him to come inside. He hesitated, then gathered his composure. While taking the seat across from me I warned him to keep his distance. His gaze began at my feet and his eyes eerily went all the way up my body to meet mine. He slightly shook his head as he grinned, “Can’t make any promises.”

“I’m warning you!” I urged.

“Relax.” The hooded vagrant said. There was an uneasy calm that immediately overcame me as he continued to speak. “Now, tell your driver to drive.”

Quietly, I obeyed his command and knocked on the ceiling of the carriage to do so. Suddenly, it was as if this bizarre character was in charge of me and I was no longer in control. What just happened? One minute I felt strong and then the next, I felt completely powerless.

“What’s your name?” He asked while making sure to keep his eyes locked onto mine. It was making me feel uncomfortable and regretting picking him up.

“Your name?” He asked again. His eyes darkened as they bore deeper into my soul.

“Angelika.” My lips whispered cautiously. I slowly pressed my back firmly against my seat, an attempt to get far enough away from him as I possibly could. He immediately took notice of my move and snickered. His eyes continued to stare into mine as if he were trying to figure me out, read me like an unwritten script.

And then….. “Ahhh….. “ a malefic grin stretched across his face. “Like an angel.”

“Pardon me?” I quickly responded.

This nasty, foul person leaned towards me and callously continued. “Ha! Your name. It means ‘like an angel’. Ironic, don’t you think?”

“What do you mean?” I snarled, advancing his lean with the same inconsiderate attitude he was giving me.

His harsh breath filled my nostrils and I could literally feel every word that he spoke on my face. “You. Me. Together in this moment. An angel and I.” He laughed. “It amuses me.”

“I’m far from being an angel.” I protested abruptly.

“Ha! Of course you are.” He added while leaning back into his seat.

Suddenly, the moment grew quiet and still with a sense of wickedness that I couldn’t overcome.

“Should you tell your driver to stop and let me off?” He quietly mouthed while watching the trees as we passed them by.

“No.” Was all I could reply. It was as if however vile this rugged character was, I didn’t want him to leave. His presence was captivating and I wanted him near. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. His hair was long and dark with a certain wave about it. The straggly whiskers on his face concealed an age that I couldn’t quite collect, but that didn’t stop my inquisitiveness about him.

“Why are you looking at me?” He asked while staring out the window.

“What? I’m not.” I was too embarrassed to be honest with my response, so I sheepishly looked down at my dress, pretending to brush off road dust that obviously wasn’t there.

“Your eyes, I can feel them on me.” He smiled, slowly turning his head in my direction.

“No.” I quickly interjected, but before I could speak any further, he was across the carriage leaning his brute body into mine. Through his robe I could feel his chest muscles press against my bosom.

“You like that, don’t you?” He smiled gloriously like a victor claiming his prize.

With all my will I wanted to deny his advance, but was well aware that I physically wouldn’t be able to. He towered over me, conquering my every rejection.

“You can’t resist me.” The words whispered from his icy lips as they lingered down my neck. His breath became cold like death and yet, I still wanted him more.

I shivered from his touch. “Please!” I begged.

“Please, what? Stop?” He looked into my eyes with an enraptured darkness that continued to lure me in.

“Or would you like for me to…..?” His kissing persisted as his hands began to explore my body. He unlaced my bodice, exposing the skin beneath my dress. I had become utterly vulnerable to him as he proclaimed my innocence. He penetrated me, taking what I could no longer take back, and I loved it, every sensual moment of it! He made me feel things I had never felt before. A defeated fear that had completely disappeared. He replaced it with a voracious need that made me desire more. My legs wrapped around his waist, inviting him even deeper into me. Without hesitation he quickly obliged, causing me to moan uncontrollably.

The driver apparently heard us because he called out. “Ma’am, is everything all right?”

“Faster!” I screamed in ecstasy.

“Keep going!” My bearded flame demanded the driver.

We could feel our carriage gathering speed which only intensified the atmosphere. Our mood became more fierce, more sensual and totally adulterated. His carnal spell had me undoubtedly under his control and we were making love like two wild beasts. It was erotic in every sense of the word.

His kisses became harder and more fervent. I could feel the sharpness of his teeth as he nibbled my neck. There was pain, slightly, but with an invitation that tingled with anticipation. I gladly exposed my neck even more, welcoming him to take me.

With his deep voice he softly spoke. “Darling, Darkness, lover of mine, with my bite I’ll drink your wine. Pierce thy flesh beneath the skin and allow the flow of your sweet crimson.”

And it was in that exact, beautiful moment that I could feel my old life end and a new one begin. Confidence, elegance and even arrogance brought on with strength, wisdom and power was immediately bestowed upon me. Was I still under his spell or were my eyes finally opened to a reality unveiled? What had this stranger done to me?

I looked deep into his eyes for answers. “Who are you?” I begged to know.

With a charming smile he replied. “To some a monster, to many a prince, but to you, my love…. “ He quietly paused. “I am Vlad.”

I gasped in disbelief. And just like that he was gone, vanished from the presence before me. His hooded robe, his smell, his very essence were all gone within an instant. I sat there in that vacant moment, clutching my disheveled dress, questioning the mere validity of my sanity. Was it all simply a dream? I quivered at the thought.

We drove a ways down the road. The streets were becoming brighter as the light from the lanterns illuminated the impending night. We were entering the village where my father was. When we arrived at the castle, the carriage came to a stop and I found myself not being able to move. I sat there with my head against the seat, asking myself, “Did I really spend the evening with a man named Vlad?” And if so, how did he vanish into thin air?

Then I thought, “Vlad the Impaler?! Prince of Darkness?!” But that was impossible because he died almost a century ago and the legend of him being a vampire was merely just that…. a legend. Right?!

The driver opening the carriage door suddenly broke my confused concentration. “Ma’am?”

“Huh? Ah, yes.” I quietly said while taking his hand as he lead me outside.

“Where’s the gentleman that we picked up?” He asked, looking throughout the carriage.

I couldn’t answer him. All I could do was shake my head while stumbling for the words.

Then, the immediate shock on the driver’s face as he looked at me. His eyes trembled with fear. “Your neck!”

“What do you mean?” I asked him while reaching for my neck with my left hand. It was wet and warm. Puzzled, I looked down at my fingertips. They were covered with blood, my blood. I could feel the bite mark where my dark lover had bitten me. I smiled because that was the confirmation that I needed for it wasn’t just a dream, it was definitely a reality. A beguiling one shared intimately with my phantom traveler.

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

“Spooky Random Fact: #16”

Posted on August 9, 2018 by SheilaReneeParker

“Spooky Random Fact: #16”

Do you have a fear of ghosts, anything ghoulish that goes bump in the night and causes fright?

Well, if you do, then don’t worry because millions of others do, too. It’s a very common fear known as “phasmophobia”. The word “phasmos” derives from the Greek language referring to “phantom” or “supernatural being”. It’s also known as “spectrophobia”. “Spectrum” is Latin referring to a specter, or an image of a thing, or an apparition.

Symptoms of phasmobia can typically be found in most disorders that lead to anxiety. A sufferer can go through feelings of dread, rapid heartbeat, panic attacks, also nausea and severe vomiting. It’s even been reported that a person suffering from phasmosphobia can develop OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) in order to conduct rituals to negate any kind of ghostly presence.

Is there treatment for such a phobia? Read more at Phasmophobia: A Ghostly Fear

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

“Spooks, Spirits & Speakers”

Posted on July 28, 2018 by SheilaReneeParker

Alright, as promised I am here to tell you all about the awesome First Annual Mountain State Supernatural Convention that was presented by Society of the Supernatural! It took place on Saturday, June 16th at the Wheeling Island Hotel Casino in Wheeling, West Virginia. The night before was a Meet & Greet at the haunted Bellaire House located in Bellaire, Ohio (where my husband and I slept for the two nights that we were there). Did we have ghostly encounters? Yes! Were we scared? I’ll get to that a little bit later…..

It was nearly a fifteen hour road trip leaving from our home on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. We left late Thursday, the night before and drove all through the night headed northbound. Along the way, just a couple hours south of our destination, we detoured to Point Pleasant, West Virginia. We were really excited about this stop. Why? Because it’s the location of where the Mothman was seen at the time of the Silver Bridge collapse that happened on December 15, 1967, killing 46 people. Now for those of you who aren’t familiar with who the Mothman is, he’s a man-like creature with red glowing eyes who has wings. There was even a film made about it titled, The Mothman Prophecies starring actor, Richard Gere. (It’s a great film if you haven’t seen it, so be sure to check it out!) Before we got to the Mothman Museum and site of the statue, we drove across the new Silver Bridge. It was so surreal just being there!

After we left Point Pleasant, we continued on route to The Bellaire House in Bellaire, Ohio. When we arrived, we were immediately drawn to the location. As we walked to the door, we were greeted by paranormal investigator, Dave Spinks who introduced us to the owner of Leprechaun Productions, David Weatherly and singer/songwriter, Sean Austin. Then we were encouraged to walk around The Bellaire House to take a gander for ourselves. The house is definitely a historical one dating back more than a century with its beautiful hardwood floors and high ceilings. The stairs creaked with sounds of yesteryear as we ascended the old staircase leading to our room. My husband and I stayed in a bedroom known as “Emily’s Room” that’s to the left at the top of the stairs. Emily is supposedly a little ghost girl who resides there. She didn’t die in the house, but it’s said that she had drowned in the nearby Ohio River many years ago.

My husband and I tried communicating with Emily’s spirit and did get a little interaction with a small light-up ball. It wasn’t extremely noticeable, but the vibrational energy surrounding the ball when we were talking with Emily was obvious. There was slight movement that barely rocked back and forth. And my husband and I were the only ones in the room while this was happening, so we knew for sure it wasn’t either one of us who moved the ball. Emily’s presence was light and non-confrontational. We really think she liked having us there.

Later that evening, everyone gathered for a fun Meet & Greet. By this time more people had arrived. It was really great getting to meet so many new people! Kristin Lee, owner of The Bellaire House was such a gracious hostess. She greeted everyone with her warm, charismatic smile! Paranormal researcher, John Zaffis was also there. He joined in with the paranormal investigating that took place that night.

Several people gathered in the basement, some had investigative equipment while others simply used their intuitive gifts. Sean Austin was using a handheld device and when he looked at me through it, he could see that the top of my head was being touched. My response? “Yeah, I know….. It’s a presence that I picked up from the corner behind the hot water heater.” My husband was like, “What?! Because I felt like I was being touched, too!” It was in the same area of the basement that my husband felt something very lightly touch the top of his head as well. He kept looking up for any kind of reasoning, but couldn’t find anything. That’s when a paranormal investigator named, Mike proceeded to tell me about the paranormal activity in the basement. With his ghost box, Mike helped me speak with the entity that I had encountered in the corner. It was a presence I felt very strongly and could see going back and forth behind the hot water heater. The entity seemed curious, but with great caution. We asked its name and then heard on the ghost box, “James”. Mike continued to tell me that there is a spirit, possibly of a former slave, that stays in the basement. (The location has history of being a part of The Underground Railroad.) We asked a few more questions and also told James that we were there with a great deal of respect and that we appreciated him talking with us, as briefly as he did. We didn’t feel any kind of malevolence, just curiosity from our side and his. My husband and I were new to James and he was simply trying to get a glimpse of who we were. We owe thanks to our new friend, Mike for helping us to communicate with the inquisitive spirit.

As the night went on, several of us went to the attic where we encountered more spirits. Got lots of flashlight interaction when questions were being asked and even heard some EVPs with the use of investigative equipment. That Friday night was definitely quite the experience!

The next day, all the guests who stayed at The Bellaire House woke up early to a delicious home cooked breakfast. The energy was still full of excitement from the night before. Then, we were all off to be a part of the First Annual Mountain State Supernatural Convention presented by Society of the Supernatural in Wheeling, West Virginia at the Wheeling Island Hotel Casino. I felt honored to have been a VIP there with signed copies of my novel, The Spirit Within! I also had several of my latest creations, “Witch Upon A Star” beautifully displayed on my table! My husband was proudly by my side and together we enjoyed every moment of the convention, meeting even more people! It was truly fascinating being able to hear the wonderful speakers at the event as well! The speakers included: John Zaffis, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, David Weatherly, Dave Spinks, Kristin Lee, Ross Allison, Sean Austin, Stan Gordon, and Eric Altman! The turnout at the event was beyond amazing!

When we left the casino, my husband and I returned back to The Bellaire House. We were the first ones to arrive. After we finished eating the food that we picked up from take-out, I went into the kitchen to wash my hands. And right before entering the kitchen door that was located on the right, just straight ahead was the area where the basement door was located. It was at that exact moment, before I entered into the kitchen, that I got this overwhelming dark feeling. It was nasty and wicked. I could (with my mind’s eye) see this horrible, shadowy presence just lurking and looking at me. It was hunched over in a deceptive way. Immediately I called upon my spirit guide, Mary and the angels for the quick protection of white light. I continued to go into the kitchen to wash my hands (yes, I did… my hands were greasy from the pizza! And for anyone who knows me, I can’t stand anything to be on my hands. LOL) Anyway, I rushed out of the kitchen, walked back into the dining room and blurted out to my husband about what I had just encountered. He believed me and remained by my side, making me feel assured that everything was ok. Whatever it was that I had seen didn’t try to hurt me, it didn’t even move from its spot. All it did was lurk in that same area as if trying to eaves drop on me and my husband having our dinner and then, just like that, it was gone! A few minutes later, more guests started returning back to The Bellaire House. Kristin Lee’s personal friend, Carrie asked us if we had any paranormal experiences while we were alone. When I started telling her what I saw, she immediately blurted out that she had encountered the same exact thing before! That gave me even way more goosebumps and it also validated what I had seen. I asked if it could have been the spirit of James that I had spoken with the night before and I was told no because there are several spirits in the basement and the dark presence was one of the darker ones.The whole experience was intense to say the least!

The night was drawing near and everyone gathered together for one last paranormal investigation. (And let’s just say that I didn’t go near that basement door anymore after what I had seen about an hour before.) Several of us went back up in the attic again. Just like the previous night, we witnessed lots of flashlight activity when we asked our questions and also got lots of responses on the ghost box. We spoke with three spirits who said their names were Lucille, Henry and John. They seemed to have been kind spirits with absolutely no harmful intent. I actually think they really enjoyed us being there because of all the interactions we received from them.

It was getting late and everyone decided to wrap things up for the night. Again, we graciously thanked the spirits for speaking with us and closed the session up with a prayer of love and gratitude. After we all had gone to our rooms, my husband and I were laying in our bed (which was on the second floor directly underneath the attic). As we were talking about all the excitement, we heard a brief dragging sound in the attic like furniture was being moved! That was physically impossible because we were the last ones to leave the attic! No one was up there!!

So, is The Bellaire House haunted? I don’t care what anyone else says, all my husband and I can do is speak from our own personal experiences and YES! The Bellaire House is haunted!! There is a mixture of energy there. Not all the spirits are bad. There are beautiful spirits at the location that just aren’t ready to move on (for whatever reason), but there are also dark presences there that I definitely wouldn’t want to piss off!

Are we going back? You better believe it!!! Next year when the Society of the Supernatural hosts another supernatural convention, my husband and I will definitely be there without a doubt, and ready to stay at The Bellaire House again!!

The entire weekend was phenomenal!!!

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

The new Silver Bridge in Point Pleasant, WV. (The location of where the Mothman was seen at the time of the Silver Bridge collapse that happened on December 15, 1967, killing 46 people.)

Statue of The Mothman in Point Pleasant, WV.

Statue of The Mothman in Point Pleasant, WV.

Me with the statue of The Mothman in Point Pleasant, WV.