The Old Manor House
# Chapter 1: The Old Manor House The late morning sun slanted between the trees and through the wide windows of the musty study to land at Johnathan Pennyfare's feet. It was a glorious mid summer day out, but he was trapped in the crowded...
Fire Branded Leather: A Drink Order for Molotov
# Chapter 10: A Drink Order for Molotov The next morning came clear and warm. And Anne was by his side. Will yawned. The alarm clock blared, but he reached out calmly for it. A smile touched his lips as he ran a finger down Anne's side. She...
Jameswell
# Chapter 13: Jameswell I managed to chase West out of my apartment a few minutes later, but only after I'd closed the door did I realize that I'd never gotten a straight answer about the alcohol while at his party. Rebecca was up and dressed...
New Best Friend
# Chapter 6: New Best Friend Coming off from the adrenaline high, I almost fell asleep during the hiring process. "Tommy? You still there, bud?" My head snapped up as I opened my eyes, the leopard's face about an inch from mine. "Gah! Don't...
She was no Jasmine
# Chapter 8: She was no Jasmine I was nearly dead on my feet when we made it to English's home an hour later. The lion was used to the walk, I wasn't. "Welcome back, Mate." He smiled at me as I carried Rebecca up the steps to the front door....
The Long Walk
Chapter 12: The Long WalkOctober 1, 198615:19 HoursSouth London, England I sat in the outfitting room of the Kennel for long minutes after Handler Proust had left. Forty-Seven passed by without so much as a word to me. We'd known each other since...
Bent Knee and a Bruised Head
# Chapter 10: Bent Knee and a Bruised Head I was broken off as the rabbit walked back towards our table. In one had she hefted a massive plate piled high with every type of food I could imagine, in the other she held a couple of mugs and a pot of...
Fire Branded Leather: Fire-breather
# Chapter 5: Fire-breather There was a smile on Will's lips when he woke the next morning. Even with a day of work ahead of him it never faltered. The walk home last night had been an embarrassment, but it had been worth it. Even now he laid...
An Odd Proposal
# Chapter 2: An Odd Proposal The rest of the day passed uneventfully enough. It wasn't until that evening that Johnathan saw Manson again. Sitting alone in the echoing dining room of the manor house, it still struck Johnathan as odd to sit at...
A Wolf for a Father and a Lion for an Uncle
# Chapter 5: A Wolf for a Father and a Lion for an Uncle I was at V-town General only moments later. Well, I say moments, but it could have taken hours for all I knew, my mind was going in so many...
Fire Branded Leather (Complete)
# Chapter 1: Just a Hint The restaurant was right on the edge of the beach, a popular place. The warm waves lapped not five paces from the patio. Perfect white sand as far as the eye could see, the V-town coastline was beautiful. A dozen...
A Storm
# Chapter 15: A Storm I wasn't sure what I expected when we crossed the threshold into the station. A wave of crushing blue perhaps? At least some form of recognition, I suppose. But there was nothing. This time we had to wait through a line up,...