Annabel Lee
The day, bright, cool, clear, was not what many would call "proper" for a funeral. It was an anomaly in this rainy spring, being the third in a string of dry days with little cloud cover. The mourners could not help but comment on how beautifully the...
It Takes a Skunk, Part 2
I stepped out of my car and approached the house slowly. A few uniforms were keeping the crowd at bay, and I didn't want to look either like a reporter or a...
The Stallion's Tale, Part 3
**_Eight Months Ago_** _BARRETT: Holy fucking hell, Gabe, I thought you knew._ The words on the Internet chat screen were left unattended as Gabriel fell back in his chair, fighting off emotions and thoughts that clawed and screamed for attention....
The Soaring Gryphon
"Hyromaq, would you please play for me?" "Of course I would, my little princess. Would you like something special?" "Would you play the windsong again?" She could hear the smile in his voice. "With pleasure." The strings came alive before her,...
Disclosure
When Oaknail had said "garage," he wasn't kidding. Just off the extended carport and its modest collection of vehicles, a small building stood, looking equally modest. From the outside, it appeared to be a large two-car garage that might be found in...
TTYS -- Cheering Squad
With a resounding cheer, Jack and Kovu bounded into the staging area quite literally shaking their pompoms. The two males were dressed in identical cheerleader outfits, made up of poodle skirts and shirts with deep V-necks, as well as thin,...
Natural Habitat Interviews 1: Lightfoot
Good evening; I'm James Lipton, and I'm privileged to bring to you five of the most interesting persons it's ever been my pleasure to interview. To begin with, I need to explain that what you're about to read concerns the discovery of a home, a house,...
Future Tense
**_Sunday Evening_** I took the carefully-boxed pie out of the van last, even though I didn't have that much else to bring in. Boyce had given me a short list of things he and Brady had wanted as a stop-gap till their next trip to the grocery. They...
Preparations
Barton's internal alarm clock was frequently more reliable than the one by his bed. This particular morning, he wasn't too worried about getting up with the proverbial chickens; Malik would open the salon at nine, the rest of the crew would shuffle...
On the Run
There were various aspects of her brother's life, Rosie mused, that she could take exception to. Being a skinflint wasn't one of them. After the Company visited, things had to be shifted around quite fast in order for the shipment to get through. Not...
The Second Door
Zachary Parker took in a huge breath, letting it out slowly at first, and then the rest with a wry chuckle. "What am I doing that for?" "To calm yourself, I would expect." The young Akita looked at the great crimson dragon sitting next to him....
Precipitate
"In 500 meters," chirped the allegedly female voice, "your destination will be on the right." I could only hope so. It felt as if the clouds had blotted out the sun entirely, and the increased rain had done the rest. I wasn't sure that I'd be able to...