Man at War – Excerpt No. 142

30 January 2026

Part of her role here was to help the vampiric staff learn the latest lingo. The primary goal of The Grand was to hide among the sheep and was a challenge when everyone sounded as though they were embalmed prior to the reign of Queen Victoria.

Cecil smirked and passed on the menu. It generally varied little, but that would change once the guests rolled in.

“Coming right up,” Cecil said.

a cinematic photo of a Pre-victorian era corpse embalmed and laid to rest in an ornate coffin with a crystal glass top, showcasing the deceased in a state of serene repose, with soft, muted lighting, and a shallow depth of field, emphasizing the coffin's intricate carvings and the crystal's clarity, in a style reminiscent of 19th-century photography, with earthy tones and subtle textures, and a sense of melancholic nostalgia, the corpse's face is pale and gaunt, with sunken eyes and a faint, enigmatic smile, while the coffin's interior is lined with luxurious velvet, in a rich, dark color, and the crystal top reflects the faint glow of candelabras in the background, creating an atmosphere of mournful reverence.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.