User:DoctorWho42/Morthylla

"Morthylla" is a short story by American author Clark Ashton Smith as part of his Zothique cycle, and first published in the May 1953 issue of Weird Tales.

Publication history
According to Emperor of Dreams: A Clark Ashton Smith Bibliography (1978) by Donald Sidney-Fryer, "Morthylla" was first published in the May 1953 issue of Weird Tales. It was included in the books Tales of Science and Sorcery (1964) and Zothique (1970).

Plot
In Umbri, the poet Famurza hosts several festivals and orgies. However, his protege Valzain grows weary of these celebrations. Famurza recommends a nearby necropolis that is told to be haunted by a lamia, Morthylla, as it fits Valzain's mood. Valzain goes and visits the mausoleum and meets someone who he thinks is Morthylla. This becomes a regular occurrence, but Morthylla refuses Valzain's advances. Instead, Morthylla nips at Valzain's neck. While visiting the twin city of Umbri, Psiom, Valzain notices someone who looks exactly like Morthylla. The merchant tells him that she is Beldith and how to visit her. Valzain visits Beldith and realises Beldith was pretending to be Morthylla. Beldith pleads to love her as she is, but Valzain refuses. Later, Valzain cuts his throat.