A dark, ancient family secret... For almost two millennia, the Ramine family have kept to their oath - even if the cost is misery, deception or murder. When a Ramine child comes of age, they learn that their life is predestined into servitude and that their only escape will be death. What are they hiding? What are they feeding? And could something ever cause the family to break its sacred oath..? Experience John Ramine's tragic, harrowing life. He is a trapped man, forced by an ancient pledge to act in ways that tear at his soul. How far is he willing to go? How much can he endure? This standalone story was taken from God Of War prior to that novel's release. The popularity of this quick-read horror story led to the creation of the author's Short Horror Tales series. As a bonus, this release also features the first two chapters from God Of War. Be sure to check out the terrifying full-length novel. Here are some reviews from this author's horror releases: "...extremely well written and very dark. The author did a great job of creating a palpable sense of doom that surrounds the main character from the beginning, and then creating more tension and horror as the story went on..." (Into The Hole) "...well-written, descriptive and enthralling page-turner, that's not for the faint-hearted... The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat..." (God Of War) "...will make even the bravest reader quake in their shoes; it is a book best read during the day as reading it at night is likely to give nightmares," (God Of War) "...thoroughly spooky, enticing and well written from start to finish." "...great... I could feel the fear..." (Glancing Blow - Short Horror Tales #1) "Great short story..." (Ignition Source - Short Horror Tales #4) Be sure to check out the chilling novel God Of War: Roman ambition created a lethal horror almost 2000 years ago. Since then it has been waiting - starving, hating and utterly insane... Julie Harrison is a smart, dedicated British university student. Together with her over-protective brother Michael and his jealous girlfriend, she joins a caving trip into Maar's Maw in the Pennines. However, adventure turns to terror when the team become trapped deep underground - in the lair of an ancient behemoth. Amid the chaos and panic, Julie finds the courage to lead the survivors. She knows they must work together, to try to evade the beast that now stalks them and to discover a way of escape. Their journey reveals evidence of ancient conflicts and slaughter, and clues to how their hunter was created. As days pass, they become exhausted, sick and hungry. They suffer the harrowing loss of friends to the monstrosity's ravenous attacks. Hope ebbs away... How far will friendship take the survivors? What extremes will their darker sides take them to? Can anyone escape this subterranean hell and the relentless wrath of the God Of War?