I sat alone on the beach, skipping stones into the inky black water. The sun had long since gone, leaving the stars alone to try to light the night. A cold breeze blew, forcing me to shiver for warmth.

If anyone was here, they would've advised I go insid…

You can hear it in the still of the night if you're quiet and calm. Wait until the crickets and owls are silent. Wait until the wind dies and the willow leaves are motionless. Wait until the clouds obscure the moonlight and leave the world under a veil of…

She'd never seen Elora that upset before. Never worn one of the necklaces? She wasn't really much of a jewelry person. Elora knew that. This one was special.

She waited a few minutes before pulling out her phone.

"El, please, don't be like this. You can…

Aidra played gently with the necklace she was wearing. A beautiful, raspberry-colored gem made up most of the pendant, held in place by ornately woven strands of silver, a small ring connecting it to a thin silver chain. The boy who'd given it to her said…

"What a pain." She pulled the scythe back out. Not a drop of blood on it, and not a mark left on his body. Not by her scythe, anyway.

Eris walked off. She'd become numb to death by now. Being there and collecting the soul was just part of the job.

A cou…

Eris stepped out of the dank cavern and into the cool night air. A gentle breeze blew past, carrying the sounds of the nearby city with it. She smiled, looking down upon the city, with all its bright lights and busy people.

Oh, if only she ever came here…

The wind played in her hair and whistled through the grass. The cool water lapped gently at her feet, a welcome reprieve after walking all the way here. The sun shone down on her, wrapping all in its warm embrace.

Faintly in the distance, she could hear …

"After what?"

"After I kill you."

........................

The tower is coming along nicely. It's defensible with thick walls and even though I can't see them, I take great comfort in knowing that they are there. I imagine it's tall enough that if I climbed the stairs to the top that I could see for miles in ever…

I let the cat nuzzle at my fingertips and then rub its cheek down the length of my fingers. It had been far too long since I had a cat. When I moved out of my parents house, I hadn't had the time or money to take care of one and cats aren't even much of a…

I roused from my sleep enough to hear the low tones of conversation from the front of my car. It was stuffy under the blanket and I hadn't slept well besides. Worming my way slightly toward a more upward state, I adjusted the my pillow against the window …

Somber mind,

Endless nights,

When will end,

I’m losing sight -

Breaking away,

From the chains,

Never thought I could,

But here I am.

Emotionless,

Distraught,

Hopeless...

Does it get better,

Or does it get worse?

Stuck in this house,

Stuck in this bed..…

I unlocked my deadbolt and pushed the oak door open. I walked through the kitchen, grabbing a soda, and moved beyond it, massaging my temple. Then I stood stock still. The motorbike was there, parked on my dining room table. That, of all the things th…

The room erupted into chaos. On his back with Newkirk's weight atop him and a terrible wet feeling spreading across his chest, Beckton steadied the Browning Automatic Rifle as best he could with one arm and promptly emptied the entire magazine of Magic Mi…

I'll never know how you could build this gate:

This time and place and structure to explore

A valley that exists behind my pate

Uncanny in new ways I can't ignore.

.

I gaze at the horizon--distant, pale

I wonder at the 'hemoths on the coast

I tread wi…

Agent Osterley took a kneeling position with a clear view on the enemy combatant she assumed as Yorck - who certainly looked the part, firing off pyromatic spells with vigour.

With care, she reached into the front pocket of her apron and withdrew a large…

I reach. I fumble. My fingers renew their acquaintance with that smooth black stone of yesteryear. I remember the knit cap, with Donald Duck on it, and gasp in wonder. How have you been, old friend, old chronicle, old heart? The rhetorical echoes send…

As I tromp through the woods in Lincoln, I can smell the deep green and hear the crackle of burnt red pine needles. I can barely make out the path anymore. It's been decades since my last visit. I remember the taste of the frigid bottle of grape soda I al…

I'm dancing with you, hands together, your hand on my waist, slowly turning in the room that is in a misty dream in my mind. Finally, we're dancing together. I bury my face in your shoulder and neck and kiss you, cherishing this vision. I hear violins and…

My Roller Coaster Buddy,

The man who’d “bomb” my hair,

A man of integrity, kind and fair.

Who loved to tease,

Who was silly and always had fun,

Everyone has a favorite memory of “Brother Murphy”.

To everyone he would meet,

He’d give them a …

Silvertown ripped the empty magazine out of the Thompson, let it fall and retrieved a spare from the garter on her right leg to make the weapon ready again.

Newkirk rolled to his feet with surprising nimbleness and the two spellcasters exchanged fire on…

Newkirk frowned as another sliver of the future was revealed to him. At this point divination was merely granting him glimpses into weaknesses he was already aware of, he was gravely tempted to give up. There was, however, still a possibility of useful in…

Newkirk cast a critical glance over Yorck. She had changed a great deal in the years since they had parted ways. Dark blonde hair, which had once been tied back in a messy ponytail, was now gathered in a low braid on one side. A hood partly covered her fa…

Meditation didn't come naturally to him. Far too often, unwanted sensations and thoughts invaded his sense of peace, solidly anchoring him in the world that he was trying to escape for just a few brief moments. Something as simple as a mosquito buzzing ag…

Beckton breathed out consciously as they approached the end of the bombe racks and risked a look back at Newkirk, who was twirling his wand restlessly. It described complex arcs of revolution and counter-revolution as it span, but gave no hint of the magi…