The Strange Therapy of Dr. Luther Knight (standard:horror, 5485 words)
Author: TJC	Added: Feb 20 2005	Views/Reads: 3830/2570	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A young couple with marital woes undergoes a special theapy session with a mysterious and reclusive doctor. What happens is far more than they ever imagined.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

“Cheryl went out on a limb for us setting this up, Cora,” I told my
wife. “Could you at least give it a chance?” 

“Stop whining.”  Cora ate a big bite of salmon as a shark would eat a
helpless fish. 

After taking off my brown sport coat, I opened bottles of white and red
wine.  I paid no attention to what kind they were as I was lost in my 
own thoughts of self pity.  Before sitting down I tugged up on my green 
cotton polo, producing some excess material above my brown dockers  to 
hide the paunch around my middle.  I picked at some prime rib, hardly 
touching it. 

Cora had been the star of one the clubs in the valley,  a 20-year-old
exotic dancer known as Latina Blaze.  For the past four years she was 
Mrs. Sam Damon.  I had met her by becoming one of her regular fans, 
spending a fortune on lap dances and trying desperately to get her to 
go out with me.  Finally, after I was promoted to Vice President of 
Sales for my company, she agreed to “see where this leads.”  To me she 
was a trophy, an example of the type of woman I could never impress 
when I was a nerdy high school kid and later a seemingly invisible 
college academic.  Friends warned me that she was only interested in my 
money.  I didn't listen.  Deep down I knew she didn't love me, but I 
didn't care.  She was with me, sharing my bed, and that was enough.  It 
surprised me when she agreed to marry me six months later without a 
moment's hesitation.   At age thirty I was successful, owned a home in 
Malibu and husband to an incredible beauty.  My only complaint being my 
inability to make her happy.  She quickly became bored.  Soon she was 
dancing again.  My gut told me she was running around with other men.  
But so intense was my adolescent obsession with her that I would do 
anything to hold on to her.  Much of my self esteem was dependant upon 
possessing her.  Hopefully Doctor Knight would somehow provide an 
avenue for success. 

“Aaaaaah, the Damons,” said a strong voice as the door opened.  “Cora
and Sam.  Welcome to my humble abode.”  In the doorway stood a tall 
man, easily six feet-four in what looked to be an expensive dark blue 
suit with red accessories.  His dark brown eyes were striking and 
stared with strength out of a roguishly handsome, tanned face under 
perfectly groomed black hair.  He was eating an apple. 

“I'm Luther Knight,” he announced as he shut the door.  He came and
stood behind the chair at the head of the table and took a bite of his 
apple.  “I trust you found enough to eat?” 

I started to get to my feet to shake out host's hand but he waved me
off. 

“Please stay seated, Sam,” he told me.  “I'm not a believer in
handshakes.   Cheryl gave me the run down on you two of course.”  He 
stared at me and then at Cora, whose almond-shaped dark eyes were now 
bright with interest. 

He looked to be in tremendous shape and not a day over forty-five.  Yet
he had been publishing books since the early sixties.  A sense of not 
measuring up to other men was something I always battled, but this was 
another level.  I sucked in my belly a little, but there was nothing I 
could do about my thinning brown hair and glasses.   Suddenly he gazed 
at me questioningly. 

“Something wrong, Sam?” 

“I have to confess,” I hesitated, “You look a great deal younger than I
expected.” 

A bright, infectious smile.  “My vegetarian diet.”  He took another bite
of the apple. 

Knight walked over to Cora and cupped her chin.  Never had I seen my
wife so enamored.  She gushed at him as he spoke in a calm, confident, 
yet clinical tone. 

“Socorro Melendez Damon,” he said.  “You are so full of life and energy.
 Sensuality oozes out of every pore of your body whether you intend it 
or not.  It is the nature of animal magnetism, which you possess in 
abundance.”  He stroked her face with the back of his hand.  Envy 
flowed through my veins as I watched her tilt her head to his hand. 

“An exquisite beauty but restless,” Knight said as he continued.  “Your
life with Sam bores you.  He's given you a comfortable existence, but 
it is bereft of the passion and thrilling adventure that you crave in 
your bones.  You like the danger of being the butterfly fluttering as 
close as possible to the burning flame.”  Knight removed his hand and 
smiled again.  “That about it Cora?”  The laugh again. 

Cora, mouth agape in shock, stared at her plate for answers that didn't
exist. “Ay Dios mio, Usted ve en me alma!”  If Cora was extremely angry 
or frightened she spoke in Spanish, a language which I did not speak or 
understand.   Luther Knight did, however, because he answered in kind. 

“Por supresto mi senora.”   Knight held the half-eaten apple in front of
my wife's face after he spoke.  Cora looked up at him with the eyes of 
a guilty schoolgirl who'd been discovered in a promiscuous position.  
She took a bite. 

“What is going on?” I was completely confused. 

Knight smiled and began walking around the table to me.  “Your wife said
I looked into her soul, and I told her I do indeed.  Never learned 
Spanish Sam?” 

“No,” I replied.  “I have always wanted to.” 

“Intentions do not yield the rewards that actions do, Sam.”  Knight was
behind my chair and placed his hands on my shoulders.  His grip was 
strong. 

“Samuel Everett Damon,” Knight began.  “Professional, successful, a
corporate climber of enormous potential.  Yet,” Knight paused and 
tapped his right shoulder, “you have always battled self doubt, never 
really considered yourself worthy of your peers, and have a horrible 
track record with women.  The fact that you have lassoed this fine 
exciting filly has provided you a sense of masculinity you have never 
known.  Inside your head though, is a frightened little man who tells 
you that she'll never stay with you and it terrifies you.  Losing her 
would be the ultimate confirmation of your worthlessness.  You are so 
dominated by this fear that it has made you impotent, literally and 
figuratively.” 

Cora laughed out loud at Knight's last statement as I sat there
humiliated.  It wasn't worth this.  Nothing was.  My erectile problems 
were definitely due to my worry of not being good enough for my wife.  
Obviously Cheryl told him.   However,  no amount of clinical analysis 
made it any less embarrassing. 

“It's okay, Sam,” Knight said cheerfully.  “I can help you, both of you,
I promise.” 

From behind me Knight held out the apple.  “Take a bite, Sam.”  I
hesitated.  It wasn't something I relished, eating off someone else's 
food and saliva. 

“Take a bite, or the deal is off.”  Knight's voice was serious. 

“Take the bite,” said an anxious Cora. 

As if having no will of my own, and figuring it wasn't going to kill me,
I took a small bite.  The fruit seemed overly sweet but it was good. 

“Don't worry, Sam,” Knight said as he walked over to his chair and took
a seat, “This isn't like the apple in Snow White.”  He flipped the 
apple onto an empty plate, smiling with humorous confidence and 
flashing perfect white teeth. 

I turned my attention to dinner.  The prime rib was red and juicy.  It
tasted as good as any meat I had ever eaten.  So I set my wounded pride 
aside and tried to enjoy the meal and the rest of the evening.  Cora 
actually smiled at me, not the contemptuous grin she usually displayed, 
but a warm,  friendly beam.  The candlelight danced in her eyes and 
just like that the unhappiness was wiped away from my mind.  She was 
the woman of my dreams and a bright smile from her was all it took to 
fill my heart. 

Dr. Knight entertained us for over an hour with detailed stories from
exotic spots all over the globe.   He was funny, engaging and gracious. 
 The all-knowing analyst that had looked inside my wife and I was gone, 
having given way to a hospitable host. He spoke with the poise gained 
by worldly experience.  Knight was type of man most men wanted to be 
like and the type most women just wanted.  He'd been everywhere, done 
everything, faced dangers and fears, yet had come through unscathed.  
Writing books was merely his way to help people and finance his 
travels. 

“Well, I have another engagement,” Knight said as he stood up.  “Your
things have already been taken up to your room.”  By whom I wondered.  
I also couldn't believe he was leaving.  We hadn't really even 
discussed our problems. 

“Dr. Knight, I had assumed we were to have a therapy session tonight,” I
said. 

“You're a worry wart, Sam.”  Knight slid his chair in and gripped the
back.  “The session began when we shared the apple.” 

I didn't know what to say.  That was what he called a session? He was
obviously better in print than in person.  Nothing we had done would 
help Cora and I come together as man and wife.  Before I could voice my 
concerns, he spoke again. 

“Besides, I have an assignment for you two.  Homework of sorts.”  Knight
smiled at Cora and then back at me, letting his words sink in, a 
practice psychologists love to exercise.  “I want you to make love 
tonight.  You have a beautiful suite at the top of the  stairs.  Give 
yourselves to each other tonight and we'll discuss it tomorrow.” 

I looked over at Cora, my stomach in knots.  She was beaming though, and
at me.  She kissed the air in my direction.  Shudders of desire went 
through my body, though my little voice kept whispering about my past 
failures. 

“Sam, don't give that impotence another thought,” Knight said.  He was a
mind reader.   “The apple was loaded with viagra.”  The cocky laugh 
again filled the room with Cora's school girl giggle.  I just smiled.  
What else could I do? 

Knight opened the door to leave but turned and said, “I mean it you two.
 Make love tonight.  I will know if you don't.”   He slipped out of the 
door and was instantly gone.  It almost seemed like he vanished.  The 
man could move quickly. 

“He's a strange man,” I said.  Cora was still smiling at me.  It was
unnerving. 

“I think we should follow the doctor's orders, Sam.”  Cora's eyes were
glowing and she looked as beautiful as I'd ever seen her.  I held out 
my hand and escorted her up the stairs to the room.  She wrapped 
herself around my arm as we walked, and made me feel like I was the 
only man in the world. 

Once inside the spacious bedroom, trimmed in red velvet and dominated by
an oak carved king-sized bed, Cora became the aggressive lover she had 
been in the early days of our relationship.  Her oral attentions drove 
me insane and I had no trouble becoming like granite.  Along with my 
desire, my confidence grew as my wife climbed on top of me, grinding 
her feminine form back and forth.  I caressed her soft, firm breasts as 
she looked down at me with a nasty smile of desire.  Finally she threw 
her head back and let the throes of passion take over.  Arching her 
back toward my feet, she reached back and grasped my legs and I pushed 
up into her soft tunnel.  Never had I wanted her more or felt more 
virile than in the bedroom in Dr. Knight's mansion. 

Cora and I went all night, using positions I didn't even know existed
and with a stamina I  never thought I was capable of.  Nothing else 
mattered but the physical pleasure we were in.  At one point during the 
night, while I was behind her thrusting wildly, a blood curdling scream 
rose out of the bowels of the great house, quickly followed by another. 
  I stopped,  waiting for another, but none came.  Without saying a 
word I kept up my mad love making, not giving the screams another 
thought.  Cora either didn't hear them or ignored them.  It was nearly 
dawn when we fell into the exhausted slumber of spent lovers. 

It was late afternoon when I finally woke.  Cora was already up and
dressed, wearing her form fitting bright yellow dress, cut low in the 
front, sitting at the table filing her nails. She looked up and saw me 
staring.  She was so beautiful. 

“Better get dressed, Sam,”  she said evenly.  “Though Dr. Knight isn't
here.”  Her disappointment was obvious. 

“I'll take a shower and then we'll go down.”  I got up, walked over to
her and touched her face gently.  She tilted away claiming she'd 
already put on her make-up. 

Later, dressed in brown slacks and a maroon long sleeve shirt,  I
escorted my wife down the long stair case. Once again the dining room 
table lavishly furnished with culinary delights.  There was a 
handwritten note that we were to eat and then wait in the adjacent 
library.  Both of us were famished and we wasted no time eating.  I had 
roasted chicken while Cora ate some lamb.    She spoke little during 
the meal and I wondered what had happened to the loving, desirable 
creature I had been with all night. 

Knight's library was exquisitely hand crafted and each wall was covered
with books to the ceiling.  There were rolling ladders on each side.  
It was a wonderland for anyone who loved books.  Tables and chairs with 
reading lamps were set around the center of the room.   Leather bound 
first editions were everywhere.  I found an original Moby Dick or The 
White Whale.    It felt brand new in my hands. 

“Where is he?” Cora complained.  The library held no charm for her. 

“I'm sure he will be here shortly,” I said.  To which my wife sighed and
pulled out her compact to once again check her face. 

“Could you be any more obvious?  You make me sick sometimes.”  I was
surprised at my own boldness.  Normally I just shrugged off and ignored 
her behavior. 

“Sam are you feeling jealous?” Cora laughed.  “Last night you had no
complaints.” Then adding, “For once neither did I.” 

“You kids fighting?” Knight had arrived.  He wore a black cotton tee
shirt and gray pleated slacks.  His face a wide, cheerful smile.  “I 
had hoped last night might have helped you both.” 

“Did our exuberance disturb you doctor?” Cora gushed. 

“It's Luther,” he said.  “No, not one bit.”  Knight gently stroked my
wife's cheek with the back of his hand. 

I sat in one of the reading chairs, annoyed.  It was as if I wasn't even
in the  room.  Staring down at the chair, I noticed the arms were 
carved into grotesque snakes.  Not exactly attractive but it was 
comfortable.  Tiring of the scene between Knight and Cora, I asked 
about the screams we'd heard during the night. 

“Ah,” Knight said walking to the center between Cora and I.  “My guest
down stairs ran into a mouse.” 

“A mouse? A scream like that?”  I could feel myself getting angry. 
Something wasn't right. 

“I think it's time we did some real therapy,” Knight said with a
perturbed inflection to his voice.  “Do you like my chair, Sam? Is it 
comfortable?” 

I wasn't sure if he was trying to tell me to get out of his chair or
asking me a straight question.  “Yes, it is very comfortable,” I 
replied. 

“It's a very special chair, Sam, as those geeks on The Antiques Roadshow
would say.”  He walked over to me and patted my shoulder, then ran his 
finger along the chair.  “Very special indeed,” he whispered before 
walking back to Cora. 

My arms and legs were suddenly in a tight grip.  I couldn't move.  To my
horror the arms and legs of the chair had become live serpents and they 
were constricting my limbs,  making it impossible to move.  They were a 
deep brown, almost black, with red eyes like pen-lights.  I screamed 
and tried to struggle free. 

“Don't fight them, Sam,” Knight said calmly.  “They will not hurt you if
you just sit quietly, I promise.”   He put his arm around Cora, who was 
staring at the snakes with a mixture of fear and amazement.  She looked 
up at Knight and licked her lips, smiling a wicked grin. 

“What is it you want?” I tried to keep as calm as I could, staring down
at the creatures from hell wrapped around me. 

“Right now I want your wife,” Knight replied staring into Cora's eyes. 
She seemed to be under his complete control.  He leaned in and kissed 
her and I could see both of their mouths open.  Rage over took me. 

“Fuck you,” I yelled.  “I am going to kill you!”  My arms began to fight
again but this time I felt pain.  The scales of the serpents were sharp 
and were cutting through my shirt and into my skin. 

“Sam, those snakes will cut you to pieces unless you stop.  You will
just have to face the fact that, for now, you are helpless.  But I do 
admire your tenacity.” 

I sat there seething with anger and loathing.  What amazed me, even in
this strange,  surreal predicament, was that I had the nerve to 
threaten Knight.  I felt strong and alive for the first time in my 
life.    There wasn't even the fear one would expect.  It was 
blistering hatred.  Somehow I was a new man but in a terrible 
situation. 

Knight stared at me with a cold, hard face as he ripped open his tee
shirt revealing a tan, hairless and chiseled chest.  He twisted Cora's 
hair into a knot with his left hand and I could hear a gasp escape her 
lips.  From the index finger on his right hand there grew a long finger 
nail, a blade, that went to about six inches.  He placed it under my 
wife's chin which drew an apprehensive whimper that sounded more 
sensual than fearful.  Still staring at me, he brought the blade to his 
chest, just under his left nipple and made a small incision into his 
flesh.  He forced my wife's face to the wound.  Immediately she began 
sucking the opening while Knight's face broke into a fulfilled smile.   
He yanked back on Cora's hair, eliciting another soft moan, and kissed 
her bloody mouth.  Without another word he dragged her from the room by 
her hair, though she did not seem to be resisting. 

I sat helplessly fastened to the chair by the serpents. Staring down at
the hideous creatures it struck me that they didn't look alive.  There 
was no hissing and they were no longer slithering into a tighter hold 
as long as I stayed still.  My mind tried to remember those snake shows 
on the cable, searching for any titbit of information which would help 
me escape.  As if reading my mind, the snakes around my legs tightened. 
 It was then that I heard Cora's voice.  Screams.  I struggled but 
again the scales cut into me.  Then I realized they weren't screams.  
She was moaning.  It was a passionate screaming moan of a woman in the 
throes of lustful pleasure. 

“Leave my wife alone you bastard,” I yelled.   The sexual grunts and
moans grew louder and filled my ears.  I was unable to shut them out, 
so I just yelled and screamed at the top my lungs.  Demanding that I be 
let go, to leave Cora alone, threats to kill him, and just plain 
warrior yells of fury that did nothing to drown out the hurtful sounds 
torturing me. 

When they were through, my wife walked back into the library.  Her dress
was slightly torn in the front, her hair unkempt, and an obvious look 
of smoldering satisfaction on her face.  Behind her was Knight.  He was 
again an impeccable version of the well-dressed man.  Not a hair out of 
place, a red button down shirt replaced the black T-shirt he'd ripped 
off, and his features were clearly that of the arrogant victor. 

“Tell him, Cora,” he said to my wife.  He placed his hand on her
shoulder.  “Tell him.” 

“I have willingly given myself to Luther,” she said adoringly. 

“Cora, you can't mean it,” I said.  But I knew better. 

“I want to be his forever, Sam.  It's for the best.” 

“You're a bitch!” I yelled, surprised at my own vitriol, having never
called any woman that word.  “I can't believe I was so stupid for so 
long.”  Then looking at Knight- “This is fine therapy you ass hole.  
You think I am just going to let this happen?”  I had no idea what to 
do and I was still quite helpless, but my inner rage boiled. 

Knight laughed and was instantly joined in his cackle by Cora.  They
sneered at me.  I knew I must have looked like a complete joke sitting 
there in the chair that had become a reptilian prison.  Before I could 
say anything in response,  I saw Knight's face turn into a pale, eery 
green.   Two fangs protruded from the front of his now thin lips.  He 
grinned and eased Cora's head to the side before pressing his mouth 
into her neck.  I screamed in terror, not believing my eyes, fighting 
for some reasonable explanation for the grotesque events of the 
evening.   She groaned softly as the demon sucked her neck, blood 
running down the curve of her breasts and into her dress.  Finally he 
eased her to the floor and gazed up at me, his mouth a sardonic grin of 
evil.  The creature stood up and walked toward me. 

“Probably thought vampires didn't exist, eh Sam?”  The voice was still
clear and calm.  The features slowly returned to normal.  “You will 
eventually see I helped you tonight.”  He walked behind me.  I tried to 
twist my head but could not see him until he came around the front of 
the chair.  Cora lay in a heap against one of the book-laden walls. 

“I should have brought my cross,” I said.    I couldn't believe my own
ears.  I was making a joke?  Was I serious?  My head ached, I felt like 
I was going to pass out. 

“Your sense of humor is intact, Sam,”  Knight said.  “That's a good
sign.  No, I am afraid crosses, garlic, and all of that stuff is 
Hollywood nonsense.  Sunlight and fire are the only ways to kill a 
vampire.  I tell you that in case you ever run into another.” Once 
again the booming laugh. 

“Do you expect me to say nothing about you killing Cora?” 

“She's not dead,” Knight said cheerfully.  “In fact she will be getting
up soon to enjoy her first feeding.  Besides, Sam, who will believe 
you?  Vampires? Come on, our greatest strength is that people don't 
believe.  I should think you'll stay quiet.” 

I stared at Cora.  Her body was breathing, her face hidden, and her arms
and legs were soaked in sweat. 

“The girl last night?”  The screams now made sense. 

“She is dead,” Knight smiled.  “I had to feed I'm afraid.”  Knight
stared at me and smiled.  “Sam, you will come to feel better about all 
of this.   Cora would have taken you to the proverbial cleaners.  You 
didn't get a pre-nup.  Very dumb, my friend.” Knight was grinning like 
a champion. 

“This way you can say she ran off, and some day when I become bored, I
will dispose of her.  Yes, this is a good deal for you.” 

I suddenly remembered about the infant in the woman's arms the previous
day.  “Did you kill the baby too?” 

“The baby is alive,” he said evenly. 

Knight was quickly beside me and tracing his arm down the chair.  In a
second the chair was just plain wood again.  With my left hand balled 
into a fist I tried to punch him but he caught it in his hand and put 
me into agony.  It felt as if he was crushing my hand. 

“Don't be a fool, Sam.”  He shoved me back into the chair.  “I released
you from your binds because you may need to move while I'm gone.”  He 
winked at me and  in an instant he was gone. 

Cora was coming around.  Slowly she rose to her knees. 

“Cora, are you okay? Cora?”  I was desperate. My wife looked up at me. 
Her face was still beautiful but her mouth gleamed with ultra white 
teeth, two of which were fangs.  Her dark eyes were that of a predator 
sizing up prey. 

“Fight it,  Cora!” 

Cora lunged at me, screaming like a banshee, but I sprang out of the
chair and moved about the room with her, the tentative dance of stalker 
and victim.   When she lunged again,  I threw a punch and caught her 
face sending her to the floor.  I made a move toward the door but she 
was too fast, catching my leg, causing me to trip and hit the floor 
hard. Instantly she pounced on me.  Her strength was incredible.  I 
fought to keep her mouth from my neck but I was losing  the battle.  
Then she was suddenly off of me.   Knight had thrown her across the 
room without so much as touching her. 

“You will feed when I say,” Knight scolded.  He walked into the center
of the room as I got to my knees, eventually I just sat on the floor.  
I wanted no part of the chairs. 

“Feel that boldness inside you, Sam?”  Knight smiled and held the
sleeping,  naked male infant in his arms.  “You have some of me inside 
you.  That's why your usual insipid weakness is gone.  You have tried 
to fight, but of course you have no chance.” 

“Don't hurt the baby,” I told him.  His words about my personality were
true though.  I could feel it inside.  “Let me have the child.  I will 
keep your secret.”  Cora was now at Knight's feet, staring at the baby. 


“I know you'll keep the secret, Sam,” a mocking laugh.  “When you leave
here your new confidence will make you wildly successful both in 
business and with women. That's a promise.” 

“Fuck your promises,” I yelled.  “Give me the baby, you miserable fuck.”


“It's a gift, Sam, this inner strength you possess.  I gave it to you
when you bit the apple.”  Knight's eyes bore into me.  “You know it's 
true.  Oh yes, I can see it in your eyes, Sam.” 

“The baby!” I pleaded once more.  Cora was kneeling up at the child who
was now crying quietly, but Knight, without breaking eye contact with 
me, shoved her down. 

“Cora and I are going to be traveling a long way from here.  You will
stay alive and thrive if you use what I gave you for your own 
advancement.  If you choose another path,” Knight's eyes went to the 
baby, “then you will die.” 

Knight stood there with a posture of superiority, a malicious smile
glowing on his face.  Holding the infant under the tiny back with one 
hand, he lowered the child to Cora. 

“No don't,” I pleaded.  My shout echoed in the room but it was too late.


Cora plunged her fangs into the child's chest.  The baby cried out for
an instant before silence.  The sounds of my former wife slurping blood 
from the child's dying body were all I could hear.  She pulled the 
child from Knight as if he were a piece of chicken.  I fought the urge 
to throw up all over myself as the creature who was once my wife ate 
her ghoulish meal.  Finally she rose, still holding the body.  The two 
monsters eyed each other ravenously. 

“Was that good my dear?” Knight asked. 

“Yes, oh yes...” she gushed.  Then she turned to me. “Sam, it feels so
good.”  The blood was dripping from her face. 

“We're leaving now,” Knight said.  He and Cora, who was holding the dead
baby by the legs, walked to the door of the library.  “By tomorrow 
you'll wonder why you didn't thank me.” 

“Fuck off,” I said dejectedly.  “I will find you and kill you. I swear
it.  I will use your precious gift to fight you.” 

“Foolish mortal,” Knight replied.  The two of them seemed to vanish into
thin air as I stared at the door.  Only their laughter remained, 
filling the room for several minutes before fading away. 

Hatred and revenge filled my now braver heart.  I would never rest. 
Never.  For once in my life, I knew exactly what I was going to do. 

TC 


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