Outside, the light pollution and smog was too thick for the stars to shine. For as long as Jules could remember, he had never seen the sun, the moon, or the stars. They still left the window open, letting the artificial light coming in and the noise from the street. They lit a few scented candles to drive off the ozone smelling, burnt flavor of the air and...
When Javier stretched and opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a pair of bare feet. They belonged to Kat, who'd apparently rolled his direction overnight. Jacob only had one bedroom, and the visitors had insisted on sharing the living room floor. Esther was still sitting in the same chair. Not asleep, but meditating. He hoped she'd gotten some sleep...
PART ONE: A DEAL WITH A DEVIL Luke stood in front of a nice office building. He looked at his handwritten note. This was definitely the right address. At first he thought he must have taken a wrong turn or something, but no, this was definitely it. What kind of a blood bank has an uptown place like this? When he got tested two weeks ago, he had been to a cl...
Do you ever wonder how and why things happen the way that they do? Well I used to, but I've learned over the years that regardless of how much we try to plan our lives; fate always has a way of stepping in and throwing a wrench into the works and dictating otherwise. At least, that's how it was for me. My name is Tom McNeal. I'm 46 years old, stand 6'3" tal...
Note: This is a work of Fiction! Although the areas this story takes place in are real; all of the landscapes depicted, the people described, and everything else this story uses to make it enjoyable reading for you are NOT REAL. As you read this story try to remember: This as a Novel 122. (Tuesday, December 17) Final Wedding Preparations Julia held Sharon...
CHAPTER ONE: SUNDAY. An unexpected meeting in the cemetery. Tim Bloomfield put a sketchbook, soft pencils, stanley knife, eraser and pens into a plastic carrier bag, walked carefully down the stairs from his flat, let himself out of his front door tucked between a pizza restaurant and an estate agent, and crossed the road under a hot June sun to the entra...
Javier felt utterly out of place, in black clothes that didn't feel formal enough. Jacob had led the ceremony in his own living room, even singing a short Buddhist prayer. Javier went up to burn incense when it was his turn, staring dully at Mr. Tanaka's body. They'd found a black kimono to dress him in. Such a pointless death, for a man who might still have...
Author's Notes: 'A Shepherd's Crook' is a new tale in the Chronicles of Ben Shepherd. The chronological order of the stories is: The Shepherd of Ashburn Court -- Parts 1 - 5A Shepherd in France -- Parts 1 & 2A Shepherd Afield -- Parts 1 - 5The Shepherd's Crook -- Part 1 Minimal effort is made in this tale to explain the backstory, so please read the...
"Love, exciting and new . . ." As Jaime and Mike Fisher stepped off the plane into the jet way in Ft. Lauderdale, they were enveloped by Florida's sweltering heat and sticky humidity. Only three hours earlier they had boarded a small commuter jet in Moline, Illinois. Before the plane could depart, it had to be deiced by spraying the leading edges of the win...
Author's note: Part six. To understand where the characters come from, it is recommended to read the first five parts. Please remember to vote at the end. *** Chapter 20 All Things Must Change Ashley was watching Joe's face. His expression of concern when he left the classroom hadn't changed any, but the blood drained, making him appear as white as a s...