"Only those willing to walk through the dark night will be able to see the beauty of the moon and the brilliance of the stars." -Socrates Villegas There are things that go bump in the night. Vampires, bloodsucking beings of the dark. Werewolves, bestial beings of the moonlight. They have lived alongside humans throughout history. Well known during...
A curtain concealing a length of wall ripples, and a hand pulls it aside. It is dark there, and as the woman slips through the curtain shadows seem to move around her, concealing her yet revealing confusing glimpses. Each step she takes seems to change her. Were those wings sprouting from her back, and a tail curling behind her? Did the dim light flicker acr...
The Maliri Shandrass-class battleship jumped into the Epsilon Aquarii system in a flash of blue particles, the Tachyon field quickly dispersing as it came out of hyper-warp. The light from the blue star in the centre of the system made the battleship's golden hull gleam majestically, as the Galaena Serine powered up its huge Trankaran engines, and plotted a...
Previously on The Ravens... Vanessa Vander (Fire Angel), Isha Hoang (Nightingale) and Cassie Sawyer enjoy their time at the clothing-optional Mermaid Beach when a fleet of warships from the neighboring nation of Baltusia is discovered heading to the shores of Xenobia. Matriarch Delilah, leader of Xenobia, is alerted to the incoming invasion and summons the...
"We have been sssuppresssing all newsss of the losss of our forcesss in the Regulusss sssyssstem, jussst asss you ordered, your Imperial Majesssty," Grand Prelate Melkadian said, glancing up at the vast draconic behemoth with no small amount of apprehension. "The Imperial Information Bureau hasss kept all talk of the battle from newsss feedsss, and any queri...
Three Square Meals Ch. 126 John strode out of the airlock and crossed the clearing separating the Invictus and the Progenitor shuttle. The twins were waiting for him by the sinister black vessel, their beautiful blue faces wearing identical expressions of concern. Irillith jogged over to meet him halfway. "How's Dana doing?" "I hope she's okay," Tashana...
Mornings in the Vaem Tower were peaceful for some and not for others. It depended on one's status in the great hierarchy of the Matriarchal system that has been in place for millennia. The first to wake were the Treated slaves, leaving their sleeping stations and getting to work in cleaning and preparing the tower for another efficient day. The special col...
To the eyes only of His Excellency, the Sovereign Guardian of the Free Peoples of Nyaska and the Nyaskan Mountain Range, Duke Horatio II, I'm writing simply to apologize for the delay in my return. My allotted time away from my duties has expired by at least a week, I think, and I'm aware that my services are no doubt sorely missed, as I am still your only...
Spies, treachery and counter-espionage "Why would she note getting a Venereal Disease?" Deanne kept turning the question over in her head. The Matriarch had asked it when they were reviewing the information -- or lack of it -- that they'd gotten from Morena's ranch. And the question kept bugging her. Why would the premier Rancher of all the Districts,...
I thought this story too long to read in one go so I broke it down into two chapters. I would like to thank southPacific for his editing this chapter, a truly great job as always. ***** I had just finished touring the house, saving what I thought to be the best till last. The view across the bay was staggering, and I did wonder how I was ever going to get...