My
latest novella – Dark Avenging Angel
– is published this week and is, as its title suggests, concerned with revenge. In this case, revenge of
the most demonic kind. We’ve all heard the old adage, “Be careful what you wish
for…” Jane learns the truth of this in graphic ways. Revenge comes in many forms, and to celebrate my new release, I want to share the story of:
Avenging
angels, ghosts and demons abound in the traditions and folklore of people all
over the world. One such character is the Phi Tai Hong. This restless and
vengeful spirit can be found in some abundance in Thailand and is the ghost of
someone who has died violently and unexpectedly. The Phi Tai Hong may have been
murdered, or killed in a road accident. They may also be suicides. Even babies,
who have died shortly after birth, have been known to return as Phi Tai Hong.
People whose proper funerary rites have not been observed can also return in
this frightening form.
In
Thai tradition, a Phi Tai Hong is notoriously difficult to exorcise if one
takes possession of your home. The exorcism itself can be complex, requiring a
number of ceremonies. Today, many Thais will wear protective amulets to ward
off spirits such as these – although ghosts and spirits of all kinds abound in
Thai culture and traditions.
Some
people still believe that undertakers should sew up the mouths of anyone dying
suddenly. By doing this, it is believed, the spirit of the deceased is prevented
from escaping the body and retuning to haunt the living.
It
is also said that Phi Tai Hong frequently linger at the place of their death,
awaiting the arrival of another person who they can kill, so they can be
reborn.
Some
of the most feared of these ghosts are the Phi Tai Hong Tong Klom. They are the
spirits of women who died together with their unborn babies - still in their
wombs. As a result, there is not one but two angry spirits to deal with.
One
of the most famous of the Phi Tai Hong Tong Klom is Mae Nak, whose – allegedly
true - story has been told and retold over the past two centuries and has been made
into an opera and a number of films. There are variations on this legend, but
the basic version states that, during the reign of King Mongkut, who ruled from
1851-1868 when Thailand was called Siam, a beautiful young woman called Nak was
married to the husband she adored – Mak.
Much
to the loving couple’s joy, Nak became pregnant, but at that time, Siam was
having problems with its Burmese neighbours and Mak was called away to fight
for his country. He was badly injured and it was many months before he could
return home. In all that time, he had no news of his pregnant wife. Unknown to
him, his wife and unborn baby died, but when Mak returned home, there was his
young wife, as beautiful as ever and proudly holding his new baby.
Neighbours
knew what had happened to Nak. They tried to warn her husband, but he wouldn’t
believe them. Those that accused Nak of being a ghost all died - mysteriously.
Then,
one day, as she was preparing a meal, Nak dropped a lime. It fell through the
floorboards and Mak saw her arm grow unnaturally longer and longer as she reached
down to retrieve it. Then he realized that what his neighbours had said was
true. He was living with two ghosts.
That
night, her husband excused himself from their bedroom on the pretext of needing
to urinate. He went downstairs and fled the house. Nak realized he had run away
and set off to pursue him. Her husband saw her and hid behind a Blumea tree,
whose sticky leaves are feared by Thai ghosts. He then escaped to the temple
where she could not enter, as it was holy ground.
In
her grief, Nak’s ghost terrorized the people of her village – Phra Khanong – as
she blamed them for causing her husband to flee. An exorcism followed, which
seemed to work for a time, until some fishermen found the earthenware jug in
which the exorcist had trapped her spirit and thrown it into the canal. Not knowing
its provenance, and thinking it might contain some strong liquor, they uncorked
it and, as a result, set her free to
resume her vengeance.
The
services of the venerable monk – Somdet Phra Phutthachan To Phrommarangsi (see
picture above) – were sought and he successfully laid her spirit to rest. He
removed a piece of bone from her skull which tradition says he then had
fashioned into a brooch which he wore for the rest of his life. Into this piece
of bone, he confined her spirit. Following the monk’s death, the brooch came
into the possession of the Thai royal family.
While
her actions were frightening to those who suffered and their families, Mae
Nak’s story has inspired a cult following and a shrine to her exists in the
Suan Luang district of Bangkok to this day. Her undying devotion to her husband
seems to have overpowered the murders she committed as a Phi Tai Hong Tong Klom
in the minds of those who follow her.
Now,
to give you a taste of Dark Avenging Angel, here’s the blurb:
Don’t hurt Jane.
You may live to regret it.
Bullied
by her abusive father, Jane always felt different. Then the lonely child found
a friend in a mysterious dark lady who offers her protection—a lady she calls
her “angel”. But that protection carries a terrible price, one to be paid with
the souls of those Jane chooses to suffer a hideous and eternal fate.
When
Jane refuses to name another victim, the angel reveals her most terrifying
side. Payment must be made in full—one way or the other.
And
here’s a brief extract:
Something
had woken me from a deep sleep troubled by my recurring nightmare in which I
was in a wood, being chased by some unimaginable horror. I never saw its face,
assuming it even had one. But I knew if I didn’t find sanctuary, it would kill
me. I had just made it into the strange little house that always appeared in
the clearing, when my eyes opened and I gasped at the white, smiling face
looking down at me.
That
night, my angel seemed different somehow.
Oh,
she looked the same. Same black cloak, but this time it shimmered and I wanted
to touch it. I was sure it would feel soft as velvet under my fingers.
She
put her finger to her lips and stroked my hair. Her touch was like a gentle
breeze in summertime. My eyes wanted to close, but I forced them to stay open.
I
knew I mustn’t speak out loud, but I could still whisper. “I wish I knew your
name. Who are you? Please will you tell me?”
She
continued to smile. Her lips moved, but the answering voice I heard was again
in my head.
Do not be afraid,
child. It is not yet time, but soon you will have the power to avenge yourself
on those who have done you harm. Look for me in the shadows and I will be
there, taking account.
I
understood nothing of what she said. But, from somewhere, a calm I had never
felt before emerged and wrapped itself around me.
I
blinked in the darkness as she faded from sight.
Then
I closed my eyes and slept. I never had that nightmare again after that night.
But what if I’d known what was ahead for me?
Some
things are better off left in the dark.
As always a great post. As always a great book Cat. AL the best to you tomorrow. This would be top of TBR pile BUT I just started the Pendle Curse by.... gracious that wonderful horror writer Catherine Cavendish
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shey. I really appreciate your support xx :)
ReplyDeleteA demon by any other name.... Sounds great, Catherine.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Keith!
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