This is episode number six in Pixie's story. "Go Eagles!" Pixie said in the best cheerleader voice she could use in the house. She shook her pom-pom over her head and laughed as a flock of little elves and princesses copied her. All her neighbor's kids and grand kids were invited to Pixie's Big Halloween Party. Outside, an early winter storm sent snowflake...
The three young men talking over their beers were merchants, foreigners from far away. You could obviously tell it by their looks, their clothes, and their accents -- but also, by the excitement in their voices. "Yeah, I mean, I've heard the stories, right, but you know the stories you hear in port towns..." "All made up—" "Yeah, yeah. So I was hoping tha...
Raia's world was one of abject suffering. The past several days had brought her to new levels of understanding concerning the meaning of the word; every manner in which she could have imagined herself being brutalized (along with a few she couldn't) had been made a harrowing reality in that short span of time. But she had managed to escape, and if she hadn't...
{Due to the increasing use of the jaguar language and Thomas's burgeoning proficiency in it, important translations will be listed in brackets} "Good morning, conejito..." Thomas was woken from his peaceful sleep by a soft paw stroking his cheek, and his eyes opened to see a loving feline face looking up at him. Soft fur rubbed against him as the jaguar shi...
CHAPTER 1: TAKING CONTROL Dr. Jensen's eyes were focused on the paper on his desk. He was grading homework assignments from a business class that he taught at a prominent University. A subtle sweet aroma interrupted his thoughts. He glanced up to see a female student standing in front of his desk. He had not even heard her come in. He recognized her from hi...
I was bereft. Meg, my wife of 24 years, had died of cancer. At age 45, I found myself a widower. For weeks after the funeral I would come home from work and rattle around inside the big empty house and cry and feel sorry for myself. The kids would call once or twice a week, but they were grown and moved away and had their own lives. Their occasional calls st...
1. The Prospect I was almost late for my appointment but I paused -- actually, hesitated would be a more accurate word, I suppose - to recheck the address. I was sitting in my mom's car, parked in a tidy, tree-lined office park, looking up at the squat, mirrored box of a building in front of me. It was numbered 9951, just like the email had said, but I deci...
Chapter Fourteen — Sunday School When she'd gone to Mass as a teenager on the old Headmaster's orders, Janice had been struck by the appearance of the Father leading the service. He was tall and rough looking, with large, craggy features and recessed but gleaming dark eyes. He had also noted the presence of the gorgeous, sensuous young brunette sitting in t...
I was not made as others. This is the rule that has shaped my life. To know myself was to know my difference; the thoughts dawned together. Then I grew, and learned more each day how much and how far I differed from my kind. Perhaps it is mercy that we are so unlike. For those companions of my youth, so bright and full of promise then, so tired and broken...
CHAPTER 4: OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE The guys were too tired when they got home to have any more fun with Megan after they got her home from her cum-fest day. And Megan was too tired to think about eating any real food, even though she would have been allowed. Megan slept on the living room couch while the guys slept on the beds upstairs. She was still weari...