Category: Story

Catchall for all stories

Rune Breaker: Chapter 3 – A Paradise in the Future

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This entry is part 3 of 12 in the series A Girl and Her Monster (Rune Breaker, #1)

“She loves flying.” said a voice to whom Taylin had never been able to put a face to. She was dreaming. Dreaming a dream she’d had many times before. It was always the same; a garden, blue skies, glass between the two, as clear as air.

The earthy smell of the place was so real, so familiar, as was the voice. It never spoke to her, but to someone else she couldn’t see.

“And smart too. She can already read and write, and she’s coming right along with sums.”

Fine brickwork made up the walkways between rows of carefully arranged growing plants. Some of those bore fruit; oranges and gathering melons that were so sticky sweet. She picked one and tore into it, not minding the green juice that ran down her chin.

“She isn’t just special in the way I intended. She’s become my very clever girl.”

Then the voice was lost in a roar. The wind over an aerial troop ship at cruising speed. Chains bound her arms and there was stone pressing against her chest and stomach.

“Do your duty, Captain.” said a new voice. A cruel voice, one that hated her as much as the other … Continue reading

Rune Breaker: Chapter 2 – The Clever Girl

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This entry is part 2 of 12 in the series A Girl and Her Monster (Rune Breaker, #1)

Ru’s words tore into Taylin’s stomach in ways that the hounds would never have accomplished. She stumbled back from him until her back found the wall. “No!” The statement echoed off the domed roof, reporting again and again. “That isn’t right. I don’t want this.”

From where he’d come to kneel, Ru lifted his head. His face was without emotion, his eyes, not quite the right shape for a human and a barely luminous amber besides, observed her. In the link, she could feel his measured curiosity overtaking all else.

“You made the bargain, Ms. Taylin.” He informed her.

Taylin’s back slid along the wall until she found herself in a crouch. Years of conditioning and berating made it difficult to sit fully. She quickly noticed just how much of a hold the masters still had on her and forced herself to sit. To Ru, she said, “I didn’t know what you were talking about. I didn’t know the Rune Breaker was a person.”

Ru laughed and the coldness in the sound came through in the link as well. With little apparent effort, he stood up smoothly from kneeling. “I’m not, Ms. Taylin. The man died so long ago that … Continue reading

Rune Breaker: Chapter 1 – The Bargain is Struck

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This entry is part 1 of 12 in the series A Girl and Her Monster (Rune Breaker, #1)

Loose stones skittered under her feet, the sound amplified by the closeness of the cave. Though it was pitch black, she had no trouble seeing. Her kind wouldn’t; they had been bred to march through day and night if necessary with no need of fires or torches.

That wasn’t all they had been created for and part of that breeding suddenly informed her that this was no cave she had found herself in. It was a mine. Or at least some sort of hand-made tunnel. An adolescence spent hewing iron ore from the earth was the preferred method of strengthening her kind for military training.

In the darkness behind her, there were other noises. Claws on stone, growling, and snarling breaths of canine effort. The guard hounds of the masters were no more mere dogs than she was a mere human. They did not bark, or yap, or whine and they were cunning and viscous in a way most thought only demi-humans were capable of.

A frontrunner of the pack took the bend in the tunnel at speed by running up the wall, then leapt toward her. She was only warned by the sound, whirling and meeting paws half the … Continue reading

Descendants L.A. #3 – Debut pt.3

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This entry is part 3 of 13 in the series Descendants: LA Volume 1

This wasn’t exactly unfolding as Josh had planned.

Following Felix’s exit and Icthiani’s query, an awkward silence had fallen over the room. Caught red handed speaking poorly of his sister behind her back, he, Ray and Lydia were all trying very hard not to meet the gaze of her green-on-red eyes. The worst part by far, from their perspective, was the fact that Icthiani seemed to be enjoying it.

When no one answered her, she started the conversation on her own. “So it seems everyone n the household has… I’m searching to the word… vendetta? Grievance? Loshuia, you know the tongue better than I do. Please tell me the right one.”

Josh locked gazes with her finally. “Grievances works. But most people would say they ‘have issues’ or ‘a bone to pick’.”

She made a face at the last one, but put that aside for the moment. “Yes. Everyone has issues with me…. except the one I’m said to abuse the worst. Please explain.”

With the initial shock over, Lydia was the first to react. “I guess I’ll just come right out and say it, Ani: You’re mean. As far as I know, we’ve never been anything but nice to … Continue reading

The Spider’s Seven #5 – The Plan

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This entry is part 5 of 13 in the series The Spider's Seven Vol 1

Anansi took his time heaping his plate from the buffet. He wanted to sample everything, the good and the bad and find out what was best to him. In his reckoning, it was the loss of this skill that was the great failing of far too many people. Choosing blindly was bad, but making informed decisions without having all the options on the table was worse; it led to people thinking they were more right than they actually were.

The Spider wouldn’t even declare a favorite food until he’d had every food. Though he did have a current favorite and lamented that chicken nuggets weren’t a breakfast food.

He wasn’t blind to the effect his procrastination was having on the others though. The sly smile curling his lip made that clear.

Finally, Wendell cleared his throat.

“Yes?” Asked Anansi, meticulously buttering a biscuit.

“The reason you felt the need to look us up on the internet, approach us with this job and put my life in mortal danger?” Wendell said sternly. Susan made a not very ladylike sound at the last one, which made him glower even more.

“Anticipation is a spice only surpassed by hunger.” Anansi informed him, at … Continue reading

Liedecker Institute #16 – January Heatwave Part 4

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This entry is part 4 of 13 in the series Liedecker Institute Volume 2: Student Life

Alvin folded his arms and scowled at the two boys. “So I’ve been hearing something about Kaine and Akagi forming some kind of powered posse to find Miss Blumberg here.”

Any other time, Phineas would snicker at the term ‘powered posse’, but now was not the time, even he knew better than to laugh at the stern security chief. “Well see, what had happened was…”

“Save it. I know enough.” Alvin cut him off. “It I had a say in it, your asses would be mine; I’m talking a couple dozen laps with no powers allowed, then one, two hundred push-ups same deal, followed by you choice of KP or scrubbing down the common rooms in the dorms. In fact, I’m going to strongly suggest all three to Ms. Brant once this is all over.

“Do you have any idea how dangerous what you did is?”

“We were using the buddy system. And Ed’s good luck.” Phineas knew that wasn’t the thing to say even as he was saying it.

Alvin only glared harder. “Once you graduate, I really don’t care if you kill yourself. But right now, while you’re at this school, you’re my responsibility and every time you … Continue reading

Liedecker Institute #15 – January Heatwave Part 3

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This entry is part 3 of 13 in the series Liedecker Institute Volume 2: Student Life

Alvin checked his service weapon; an air pistol that delivered either taser or sonic ‘screamer’ rounds, both definitively proven to be the best when it came to less-lethal engagements with descendants. It was there for the very simple fact that anyone going after powered kids would probably use powered hirelings to do so.

He unsnapped the band securing it in his shoulder holster, but did not draw it. If the noise really was the youth in question, he needed to look as non-threatening as possible.

Treading softly, he approached. The dumpster. “Hello?” No answer. “My name is T. Alvin Warren. I’m the head of security at the Liedecker Institute. I’m here to help.” Still no answer. But he did see a wisp of smoke come from just around the corner of the garbage receptacle. That was never a good sign.

“Listen; I know you’re scared. I’ve heard all about the men after you. I know they’re fakes. If you come out, we can get you somewhere safe and get to the bottom of this.”

A soft sound, possibly a whimper, possibly a scoff, it was hard to tell. “N-no, sir.”

Alvin raised an eyebrow. That was a new one. A … Continue reading

Issue #51 – Amore Detestabilis

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This entry is part 3 of 14 in the series The Descendants Vol 5: How the World Changes

They were the true first superheroes, chosen by a higher power to protect the world as they reincarnated into each new generation. And then something went wrong. Now, still gifted with their powers, but twisted from their original greatness, they’re answering the call of a new higher power: Morganna.

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Issue #49 – George

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This entry is part 1 of 14 in the series The Descendants Vol 5: How the World Changes

For years, a mysterious figure named George has watched over the Descendants, lending the occasional aide and respite with little being known about him. Now, George has come to visit the Descendants and he’s bringing with him the answer to one of the longest held secrets of The Descendants!

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