Below, you’ll find an excerpt from “Sea-Green Gown With Gold Buttons,” a tale of the King in Yellow from WEIRD WORSHIP: TALES OF TWO STRANGE DEITIES & THEIR FOLLOWERS, a story collection by Mark McLaughlin and Michael Sheehan, Jr.

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WEIRD WORSHIP presents 14 tales and a poem about two strange deities who are part of the Cthulhu Mythos — the insect-god Ghattambah, and the King in Yellow. Ghattambah was created by writer Mark McLaughlin, who also writes stories about the creature with his collaborator Michael Sheehan, Jr. The King in Yellow first appeared in the Robert W. Chambers book of the same name in 1895. The royal terror has been a source of inspiration for many writers who embrace the Cthulhu Mythos.

In “Sea-Green Gown With Gold Buttons,” a performer named Ambrose adds mystic aspects of the cult of the King in Yellow to his night club act….

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It is said that reading “The King In Yellow” will drive a person insane. It had indeed driven Ambrose mad, quite mad – but first and foremost, he was an artist. He had learned many mystic secrets while reading the book. It was his *prerogative* to share those secrets, as well as his insanity, with others.

The crowd was in awe as the golden gateway appeared and opened up on the stage. They were amazed at the beauty and complexity of what appeared to be an extraordinary hologram effect. No one minded when the glowing mists of the Lake of Hali swirled through the gateway. Ambrose’s chant had called forth the glorious mist with all its potential for magic and power, but of course the party people didn’t have a clue.

Ambrose was dismayed when the deejay suddenly put on high-energy music. She must have taken the fog as a cue for a dance number. But no matter: Ambrose knew what needed to be done next. As the crowd began to dance, he turned and entered the gateway, which closed and disappeared behind him.

He ran joyously through the garden, which was still filled with mist. It was night in the dreamworld, but the glow from that mist, combined with the light from the torches and the twin moons, made the landscape almost as bright as day. He continued running past the slender trees, until he reached the very edge of the Lake of Hali….

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“Part 1: The Way Of The Swarm” in WEIRD WORSHIP features tales about the insect-god Ghattambah. “Part 2: The Gateway To Carcosa” features tales of “The King In Yellow.”