"Excuse me, little boy." Tommy jumped at the sound. He thought he was alone in the backyard. He turned around, seeing a large, heavy set old man behind him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," the old man said, smiling.

Tommy looked over his shou…

Cerian was silent while the coach spun silently towards the dock structures. She was pale and expressionless, and watched me carefully as I wiped off the knife.

"So this is who you are, now."

I sensed the many layers to this not-quite-statement, and hes…

The coach receded into the night. Heartbeat slowing from its frantic pace, I suddenly felt the weariness of the day settle onto my shoulders at last. I had been granted a reprieve at Master Lorenz's knock, and no more.

It's a silly dream, I told myself…

We were stopped at the huge dockyards where wooden crates lay waiting to leave on outbound airships. Three men, wearing the royal hawk on their jackets. One respectfully bowed as Cerian lowered the window.

"We're sorry to trouble you, ma'am, but there ha…

"Illy, at the airship docks there is a clipper by the name of Silver Skies. Captain Jerem is taking a package to some friends of mine in the Raventops, and leaves very soon."

I nodded, frowning. The only friend she had out there would have to be the de…

"It's only a scratch." She says, and she stumbles. We both know that's not true, since we both are aware of what a head wound can do.

She inspects him, and I know she's trying to find any claw marks or bites that punctured skin. If the mutants came into …

"It's only a scratch." Mia waved it off although she knew she had gotten hit hard with the metal bars as they had swung into place over the doors. But she had more important matters to deal with at the moment than herself.

She stumbed towards the figure …

I take quick stock of the doors, making sure the bolts and bars are in place. It seems secure enough although the mutants are actually howling on the other side now. I'm not sure if that's from pain or disappointment.

I look around the room and notice pe…

"On my count, slam the doors shut. We will need every bit of strength we have to seal the doors."

"This is crazy." Bel whispered, her eyes locked on the pack of mutants.

"Trust me." Mia glanced at Bel who nodded back.

"Albert, Scott, Richard. I need he…

Faster than I could react, she pulled something from her apron and pushed it into my hands.

"Please, stay safe. I couldn't... if you..."

This wasn't what I had expected. Still trying to catch up to the present, I looked down at the object she had given …

The head butler coughed meaningfully. My sister glanced up, and rose without a sound.

"I will thank our guest for his company, and we will attend to your situation shortly. In the meantime, Charles, would you put together some provisions for these two? S…

The sky is amazing. So many stars. A view you will never see living your whole life in a city. I must be a hundred kilometres or more from the nearest town of any size. The night of the new moon, too, means a view that too few people in this world ever ge…

They're getting closer. I hear them in the alleys and in the shadows that are getting longer. They're bolder in the city. Not as scared of the light although it blazes on their sensitive skin. I didn't even have to worry about them back home, there weren…

Lust and infatuation

Hidden songs

Hugs hold too long

Dripping honey voices

Electric smiles

3 AM texts

Who cares what's next?

Silence

Secrets

Senses

Sullen

Complexities

Personalities

History

Warnings

Belated answers

Doubts like cancer

Sleepless nig…

Burn me down to nothing-

Singed beneath the atmosphere,

Stars frozen under blackness.

& from bare, shattered body, I'll believe:

"This isn't all of it."

I noticed a minute hesitation from Grace. Curious, I made eye contact.

There it was again - a blink, a crack in the normally flawless armour of the Janse-Lomberg household service. And again, as she looked away quickly. Too quickly.

"Cerian," I said, sl…

It wasn't long before I recognised the gentle tread of my sister making her way down the hall. I smiled at that, even as she opened the door and rushed into an embrace.

"Oh, it's good to see you, Illy."

"You too. Cerian, this is Ryle. We met at Four Pea…

Standing behind the door was a young woman. I knew her name, she used to be a maid at the Lightreach manor, I saw her around a lot more than I expected, she was - ah!

"Good evening, Grace. I would like to see my sister, if it is at all convenient."

She …

I dropped a handful of silver for a reasonably nondescript pheasant from a market stall. With our collars up and eyes averted, we blended in easily with the twilight crowd. I was a hunter going home tired and hungry, and we were given barely a glance.

Cu…

Ryle inclined his head, eyes flicking left.

Kill them, he was saying. I'll take the left.

I had no choice. We drew our revolvers and split up.

They entered the chapel from the great wooden doors. We waited until they were fully inside, the better t…

Ryle, who acting as spotter tonight, muttered something about the rising wind. He seemed utterly unconcerned about the situation. I nudged the crosshairs left.

The Minister lit his cigar and leaned on the balcony. Through the telescopic sight, I could al…

It was not a technically challenging shot to make, not in comparison to some others. A stationary firing position, to a stationary target. Wind conditions were calm, and I had calculated yardage well in advance. That the target was nearly third of a mile …

Story is marked as mature

I watch the paramedics work. They’re trying so hard. I can’t see who they’re working on, but they’re determined.

I try to recall what happened. Everything flashes by in a blur. The party. Taking the keys from Tom. Driving him home.

We started arguing. I…

Anyone who has moved house before will know the way it goes.

You walk through the old house, flooded with nostalgia, reliving the memories you shared there. All the stories you shared. The romances, the fights... the ice cream.

And as you pass once more…