New Update!

Today A Tail to Remember has revealed the start of the date.  Will Tucker and Kallie be met by bliss or disaster?

Next week, a new chapter to Spark of Vengeance.

This Week’s Update

For myself today is yet another writing session.  I hope to have formatting completed for the print version of Frozen Reflection completed in the next few days so it can be sent off to be printed. I will probably also post updated versions for the ebook version. Nothing major, just fixing minor errors. You can still get your own copies of the ebook at these locations: Smashwords, Lulu, DrivethruFiction,  Amazon for the Kindle, and  Barnes and Noble for the Nook.

Today’s Update

A new chapter to Spark of Vengeance has been added. Where we last left off, Havort had been poisoned by the ash from the village fire.  Jesali raced off in hopes of finding help despite the fact that everyone had turned against the Keepers.  Find out if she will succeed or will Havort meet his untimely demise!

Next week will be another chapter of A Tail to Remember. Tucker and Kallie will going on their first date.  Will they they be met with fortune or disaster?

Shadows of the Mind

So far we have received many excellent short stories for our horror anthology. We would love to receive more.  Submissions are still open! Please visit our Submissions page for more details. Deadline is August 1st or until submissions is closed.

Out of Sync

If you haven’t noticed we’ve been having difficulty syncing with Facebook.  We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that you be patient as we try to figure out how to fix the problem (one of our website aps is no longer supporting Facebook updates yet never alerted us to this).

Today is a new chapter for A Tail to Remember. This chapter has broken the record for the longest chapter for this story with a total of four pages! I hope you enjoy it. Next week with be a new one for Spark of Vengeance.

DID Update!

The third novella for Doris’s dark Fantasy series, Descent into Darkness has been published today! Be sure to visit her page for more details!

Synopsis

Two years have passed since the blood mage Ba’tvian Delthanurk had killed his former mentor and taken his student, the elven lady Nerisse se li Astorae, for his own. With the Mancers still on the hunt for them, the lovers travel into the northern wilderness during the dead of winter. There Ba’tvian continues to formulate plans for the future, while Nerisse struggles to overcome an ability that has now a hindrance. Yet as they seek solutions to their problems, another issue arises: a barbarian fleeing his people in the arctic Ice Fields will cross their path. He will bring with him his own set of dark skills – something that may be of interest to an ambitious blood mage…

And now a taste of what’s in store:

Sample Chapter

BA’TVIAN Delthanurk stared into the eyes of the man as his knife cut symbols into his chest.  He saw the grief, pain, mindless fear in the glassy depths.  In a few short hours, this northern trapper had been stripped of reason, of hate, and filled with loss, with suffering.

He was, he reflected, getting better at it.

Around him, his Shadowed Ones slithered in an accompaniment dance.  Light from the lanterns, fireplace, and brazier gilded their outlines, illuminating the corpses that littered the room.  They lay waiting for his creatures who had not yet begun to feed.  They would stave off their own hunger until he finished.

With the last rune drawn in living flesh, he drew back to check his handiwork.  The placement was precise, the lines clearly defined.  He was ready for the next step.

Up to this point, he had taken his time with his victim.  Now he quickened the pace.  Chanting the words to capture the life force as it was released, he cut into the body just below the ribcage.  He thrust a hand inside, shoving his arm up into the chest cavity as the man screamed, and closed his fingers around the sacrifice’s beating heart.  A deft twist, a hard yank tore it free of its moorings.

He felt it, the beginning of death, the ending of life.  It filled him, coursing through him like a drug, euphoric, erotic, exciting.

He brought the heart out, the body twitching, the vital organ still pounding in his palm.  Life force, blood-born magic – power – was gathered in as he raised it above his head, chanting.  Crimson liquid dripped down his arm.

He ended the chant with a triumphant phrase in a long forbidden tongue.  The heart flared with a red glow before turning black.  The ritual ended, he deposited the heart in a leather bag for later, motioning his shadows to take their reward.  While they swarmed over the dead, he looked for a wash basin, found one in the corner of the room.  He did what he could to clean himself up.

Ba’tvian didn’t bother with gore lying around.  He stepped around it, searched the larder, then the simple chests against the wall.  He took food and clothing; what the trapper family had possessed was warmer than what he wore.  With that in mind, he took the time to change out of his bloodied garb for the cleaner, heavier garments.

One of the chests had clothing of better quality than the rest.  Fur-lining, more ornamentation, a finer weaver in the fabric.  Trade goods, probably.  He had no desire to trade, but knew the value of having such items in the region they were in.  They could be a key into a settlement, if need be.

Coming upon a woman’s embroidered cloak, he glowered at it.  It was a beautiful article, colorful embroidery on brown velveteen with rabbit fur for lining and trim.  Nerisse would want it.  She wouldn’t ask for it, wouldn’t expect him to give it.  Yet she would want, would hope.  Then she would be disappointed when he didn’t give it her.

It was one of her more obnoxious traits.

The elven chit had her uses, however.  She had been his first taste of sex, served to slake that thirst when the need arose.  She was pretty, a little shy, an outward innocent.  People trusted her.  As bait, a lure, she did well.  Her Empathy, her ties to the earth found them game and shelter in the wilderness.  Her herb lore meant that their food was flavorful, their wounds or ailments treated.

In the two years since his old master’s death, Nerisse had proven her devotion, her convenience.  As his tool, it wasn’t enough.  He wanted more from her.

She was trying, however.  He could not say that she wasn’t.  Still, she failed frequently.  It galled him to find that flaw, that weakness, in a tool of his choosing.  He didn’t bother to hide that from her.  It spurred her on, made her try harder to succeed, to please him.

He had to admit that her growing desperation to be what he wanted was something he enjoyed.

Perhaps…perhaps it was time to give her more incentive, however illusory it might be.  He had been very careful not to make a commitment, though he demanded one from her.  He slept with her, used his attentions as reward or punishment.  There had been no gifts.  Calculating, he considered the cloak.  It might serve the purpose.  He stuffed it into a satchel along with the other trade items he’d selected.  Another bag held more ordinary, practical clothing as well as the food.  Having pilfered what he wanted, he deposited his loot in the snow a ways outside the cabin, then went back inside.

The shadows had finished their meal.  They turned their pale white eyes to him as he scanned the interior.  There was only one thing left to do.

“It will burn.”

Yes, lord. 

The sibilant voices sounded sated, pleased.  Those nearest the lanterns turned them over.  Glass shattered, oil spread.  Ba’tvian scattered the clothing he hadn’t taken about the floor, soaked blankets with oil stored in one of the chests if they weren’t already drenched in blood.  Once done, he led the way out into the cold.

He paused by the satchels, looked back.  A bare moment’s concentration, a wisp of freshly harvested magic, and the interior lit up like the sun.  When the glare faded, flames were consuming everything left inside.

Should a Mancer find his way here, there wouldn’t be much left to tell him what had transpired or who had done it.  One day, he thought, he wouldn’t need to be so careful. He had plans.

He hefted his loot and left.

Like it so far?  Get the unabridged version, including bonus content such as a map, glossary of people, places, and terms, and new chapters never befor seen, no on sale at Smashwords and Amazon (Kindle) for $2.99.

And While We’re At It…

Chapters 5 & 6 of Descent Into Darkness: His Command are now up for those of you interested in the rough draft.  Enjoy!

CHAPTER 20

 

Bianca cursed her luck as she squeezed her eyes shut waiting for the pain of the arrow head to pierce her flesh, but it never came.  Instead it sailed over her head.  She looked back stunned to discover that it wasn’t a tree root that tripped her after all.  It was a very familiar scabbard.

“Stay down!”  Alphonse shouted from above, leaping down from the tree he was hiding in.  He turned back in the direction that the assassin was firing from, sword held in one hand as the other drew a dagger behind his back.  “Show yourself!”

His reply was only chuckling.

“Are you a coward or something?  Or just too ugly to bear showing your face?”  He smirked, adding, “I’ll bet just one glimpse is enough to make babies weep.”

Another arrow soared towards the tree Alphonse was formerly in hitting the trunk.

“Gotcha,” the blonde grinned, tossing the dagger in the direction the arrow came from.  It spun several times, before a loud scream interrupted the silence.

Bianca’s eyes widened, “How-”

“Shh!”

A flash of light came to life as a mist oozed out from the shadows, swirling around the trees, turning them black upon contact.

Before Bianca could blink she found herself yanked to her feet as Alphonse grabbed her arm, forcing her to run from the deadly threat.  She braced herself for more arrows, but they never came.

Once they had cleared enough ground, Alphonse eased his grip, but would not let go.  They walked in silence until they came to a nearly dried up stream.  He led Bianca through a shallow part then glanced back.  “It doesn’t look like he has followed us.  We should be safe for now.”

“You can let go of me.  I am able to walk on my own.”

He snorted.  “So, you can run off and get yourself nearly killed again?  I think not.”

Bianca glared at him.  “Why should you care?  I make your life a living hell.  You would probably celebrate if I died.”

“There you go again.  You’re so full of yourself.”

“I am not!”  She broke free of his grip, throwing her hands up in the air.  “You act like I’m a huge burden.  If I’m such a bother then just let me die.”

Alphonse growled.  “You make it sound like that would fix everything.  It won’t.  Can’t you get it through your thick skull for once?”

“I’m Snow White.  I’m everyone’s hope, blah, blah, blah.  Do you want to tattoo it to my forehead?  Would that make you feel any better?”

He shoved his hands through his hair, fighting to keep his building frustration under control.  “You just don’t get it!”

“What?  What is it I’m too stupid to understand?”

“Just forget it.”

Bianca fought the urge to scream.  “It’s not like I asked for this.”

Alphonse whirled on her.  “I didn’t either!”

“You can leave anytime you want.  I’m not going to stop you.”

“No, I can’t.”

“Wait, I forgot.  I’m the big important mission that you have to complete.”

He kicked a rock into the stream.  “Yes, I’m supposed to protect you.  It’s a tiny part of my pathetic lack of existence that I was assigned just so I could at least pretend I had a life.”

Bianca lowered her head.  “I can’t say I’m sorry enough.  If I could change things I would, but I can’t.”

“No, you still don’t get it!”

“Then tell me!”

Alphonse shook his head, his hair disarrayed from his frustration.  “This is getting us nowhere.  Look, you’re just going to have to face the fact that whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me.  So, no more running away.”

“Okay, deal,” she agreed, deep down her heart hurt even worse.  She was just a duty to him.  Nothing more.  She had to let go of foolish dreams.  “Let’s go find Sprig.  The sooner we find my flower the better off we both will be.”

Alphonse nodded then noticed that her arm was still bleeding.  He pulled out a handkerchief, wrapping it tightly around the injury.  “That should do until we can bandage it more properly.”

Bianca felt herself flush.  She quickly turned away hoping he didn’t notice.  “Thank you, for saving my life both times.”

“It’s my job.”

She felt melancholy as she nodded.  With a sigh she trailed after him to continue their journey.

If you want more, click on any of the following links to purchase a copy of the ebook today!  Smashwords, Lulu, DrivethruFiction,  Amazon for the Kindle, and  Barnes and Noble for the Nook. Hope you enjoyed another peek at Frozen Reflections!

CHAPTER 7

Bianca walked alongside the large man.  Could he be one of the dwarves?  He seemed too tall, but if there was a curse, perhaps that could have changed things?  His clothing was kind of rustic and woodsy looking.  In fact he sort of resembled a tree now that she thought of it.  “Do you have a name?”

“Oak.”

“It’s nice to meet you.  So, do you know why I have been brought here?  I mean what was the curse supposed to do?”

Oak shrugged his massive shoulders.  “I don’t know much; only that today was the day that you were to return.”

“Snow White.”

“Yes, you.”

Bianca decided it was mote at this point to argue with him over who she was.  Certain things which had occurred that day were making her question her own identity the more she thought of them.  “So, did Snow White, I mean I die from eating a poisoned apple?”

Oak froze, starring at her with a horrific expression.  “That was what caused the curse.”

“You mean no prince?” She blurted out before thinking.  She normally didn’t care about guys but if she had to be the fairytale princess a prince should be part of the deal!

“You really don’t remember, do you?”

“Tell me!  What happened?”

Oak shook his head.  “It’ll be easier to show you.  We’ll be there shortly.”

Bianca folded her arms over her chest.  She hated the cryptic details that Oak was sharing in pieces.  She just wanted to hear what happened so she could figure out what was going on with her own life.  Apples, mirrors, old women trying to sell her stuff, and being transported to some strange place where at least one person thinks she’s a fairytale princess.  It was enough to drive one mad.  Rather than unleash her fury on Oak, she stayed silent as they continued their journey.

“Here we are,” Oak said gesturing to what resembled ancient ruins.  Stone and marble littered the scorched earth.  Tall pillars were shattered; deep cuts scarred the ornate structures.  A marble statue was laid broken in the dirt.

Bianca walked toward the head of the statue for a better look.  As she peered down at the face she nearly fell over in shock.  The statue looked just like her!  “This can’t be possible.”

“But it is,” a different masculine voice said from one of the broken columns.

Bianca gasped in surprise.  She hadn’t expected anyone else except Oak to be there.  “Who are you?”

The man chuckled, shaking back his golden blonde bangs as he studied her with amused hazel eyes.  His ponytail fluttered behind him with the movement.  “Alphonse.”

“Just Alphonse?”

“For now,” he grinned coyly.  “So, you’ve returned at last.”

Bianca narrowed her eyes.  “I am not the Princess Snow White!”

“Really?  You saw her face, didn’t you?  It’s rather uncanny, the resemblance.”

“It’s just a coincidence.”

Alphonse pushed off from the column he was leaning against, eyeing Bianca with interest.  “Oh, but you aren’t from around here.  Brought against your will, and just longing to return home.”

“Right.”

He laughed again, gesturing to Oak.  “I suppose it’s now or never.  Right?”

Oak nodded.  “She didn’t believe me.”

“Get comfy, princess because now it’s time for a little story regarding your destiny.”

Bianca rolled her eyes.  “You don’t need to be so melodramatic.”

Alphonse smirked as he dug his hands in the pockets of his dark green cloak.  “You really don’t remember anything… this might be fun.”

“If you are just going to tell a bunch of lies, then I’ll find my own way.”  She turned to leave but was stopped as Alphonse grabbed her wrist.  “Let go of me.”

“No, you need to hear this.  Now sit.”

Bianca sighed but feeling as though she had no other choice, perched herself on one of the columns.

“Today, is your sixteenth birthday, correct?”

“Yes.  How did you-”

“That’s one part of the curse.”  Alphonse explained.  “It’s said on this day the Princess shall return and bring peace back to our land.”

“I don’t know anything about saving any worlds.  It’s got to be a coincidence.  You’ve got the wrong girl.  If that’s all you have to say then I’m out of here.”  Bianca stood up ready to leave once again when Alphonse blocked her.  “Get out of my way.”

“Your birthday is today.  You look just like the princess.  You’re here.  Has anything else happened that you can’t explain?  Maybe something to do with apples and mirrors?”

She bit her lip.  “That is what keeps dissolving my arguments against being the fairytale princess.”

Alphonse snickered, prompting Bianca to roll her eyes at him.  “You may not remember, but it seems that the past is trying to force you to whether you like it or not.”

Bianca sat back down in a huff.  “So, the story goes that Snow White’s stepmother was jealous of her beauty, sent a woodsman out into the woods to kill her.  He couldn’t do it and left assuming that the wildlife would take care of the girl for him.  She stumbles upon the cottage of the seven dwarves who take her in.  Later the stepmother disguises herself as an old woman, attempting to kill her with laces for her bodice and a poisoned comb all of which failed.  Last was a poisoned apple which worked until a prince came along.  As he carried her off in the glass coffin, it was dropped, the apple dislodged from her throat, she woke up, and they all lived happily ever after.”

Alphonse stared at her incredulously.  “Whoever provided you with your information was an imbecile.  That is not by far how the story goes.”

“How do you know?”  Bianca challenged, growing tired of the smug man.

“Let’s worry about you first.”  He grabbed her wrist.  “We need to take you someplace else now.”

“Great, more show and tell.”

“Don’t be difficult,” he scolded.

Despite her wanting to protest she went along with Alphonse and Oak.  She doubted that they would take no for an answer anyway.  At least they weren’t setting any warning bells off in her head unlike the old woman she had encountered earlier.

Please click on any of the following links to purchase a copy of the ebook today!  Smashwords, Lulu, DrivethruFiction,  Amazon for the Kindle, and  Barnes and Noble for the Nook.

CHAPTER 16

Everything seemed like a blur as Bianca struggled with her mind.  Her focus on anything else was useless.  She couldn’t even remember what happened during the day as she sat next to Emily in the auditorium for play auditions.  It was as though her entire day had fast forwarded to that moment.

She shifted her gaze to the stage.  It appeared the art department had already started on the set.  Half painted cutouts of trees stood tall, around the outline of a cottage.  Bianca shifted uncomfortably in her seat as her gaze fell upon the magic mirror.  There was something about it that made chills run down her spine.  “Maybe I shouldn’t try out.  I’m sure there are lots of other girls that would be just as good for Snow White.”

Emily yanked her best friend back down before she could bolt from the room.  “Since when have you turned down an opportunity to be in the school play?  You showed up last year to every rehearsal for the Wizard of Oz as an understudy for Dorothy unlike Cheryl who had been cast for the lead.  You deserve to be on stage!”

“That’s just your opinion.  I’m not nearly as good as some of the other girls.”

“You’re just nervous.  Everything will be fine.”

“I’m sure you’ll make an excellent dwarf,” Cheryl Hartley laughed, her apple shaped earrings jingling as she smoothed back her streaky blonde hair.  She leaned over Bianca’s seat, a feline smirk on her face.  “What makes you think you’ll ever get the lead over me?”

“She looks the part for one.  You’d have to give up spraying yourself orange by opening night,” Emily snapped in defense of her best friend who couldn’t remove her gaze from her nemesis’s earrings.

“I didn’t know pasty skin and dull hair were part of the requirements.  Gee, I guess I missed that part in the book.”

Emily narrowed her eyes.  “Are you sure you wouldn’t be better off as the queen?  I think you have the wicked part down perfectly.”

“I always get the lead,” Cheryl fluttered her lashes.  “I’m a born star.”

“You’re definitely a hot ball of burning something…”

“Excuse me?”

“Bianca,” Greg, the director called out breaking up the bickering.  “You’re up.”

“Okay,” Bianca walked to the stage, oblivious of the snide remark Cheryl threw at her.  She drew a deep breath as she climbed the steps then stopped, frowning.  Somehow she ended up in a dimly lit forest.  The crisp green foliage and gentle breeze seemed oddly comforting.   Bright colored wild flowers dotted the lush grass.  She thought it would be nice to pick some.  However as she turned around to look for more, she was back in the auditorium again.

“Are you all right?”

Bianca glanced up at Greg, unaware of the confusion that lined her face then nodded.  As she accepted a page of the script from one of the other hopefuls, her vision swam.  Sweat lined her brow, fatigue washed over her as she fought against her legs’ urge to give out on her.  She peeled off her sweater, dumping it on the stage.  “Wow, is it hot.  Did someone turn the heat on?”

“It’s kind of chilly in here actually.”  Greg glanced at his girlfriend next to him who nodded.  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Bianca nodded and started stumbling towards the stairs in hopes of making it to the bathroom in case she had to vomit.  She didn’t understand why she started feeling so sick.  It wasn’t like her.  However before she even reached the steps she passed out.

If you want to find out what happened before or next then click on any of the following links to purchase a copy of the ebook today!  Smashwords, Lulu, DrivethruFiction,  Amazon for the Kindle, and  Barnes and Noble for the Nook.

CHAPTER 40

 

It felt like Bianca had run for hours until she came to the mouth of the tunnel.  Cautiously she glanced around, but spotted no enemies.  So far so good she decided.  How should she go about finding Alphonse?

Her thoughts were broken as she heard the soft jiggle of metal against metal.

“Keep going!” A snide voice shouted.

Bianca hid behind a tree for a better look then gasped in delight.  There were five guards escorting Alphonse who looked less than happy with his company.  Now she had to come up with a plan to rescue him.  If only she hadn’t run out of bolts, and ditched the crossbow.  All she had to defend herself with now was her dagger and the sword she had taken from Hickory.

She only had one choice.  Unfortunately it was one that Alphonse would berate her for.  She removed her hood, shook out her hair then raced towards the men stopping a few feet away.

“Hey!  Which of you big, strong men would like to have bragging rights to have captured Princess Snow White?”  She yelled, keeping her weapons concealed under her cloak.

“You idiot!  What do you think you’re doing?”  Alphonse hissed at her, trying to break free of his captors.

“Is she really Snow White?”  One of the men inquired.  The shortest of the quintet shrugged.  “Doesn’t look too much like her.  Not really that pretty either.”

Another snorted.  “I don’t know.  She could just be filthy.”

Bianca rolled her eyes wishing that she hadn’t fallen in the mud earlier; the guards would have snatched her up in a blink of an eye.  “Hello?  Hair black as coal, lips red as blood, and skin fair as snow; I am Snow White!”

“Yeah, right.  Now move along, peasant.  We have to deliver this criminal to the queen.”

“I really am Snow White!”  She pouted then grabbed a rock and threw it at the nearest guard.

“Hey! What was that for?”  He hollered with fury burning in his eyes.

“Down with the queen!  Down with the queen!  Anyone who follows her is a brainless moron!  I am committing treason therefore you should capture me!”

“Don’t listen to her!”  Alphonse argued glaring daggers in her direction.  “She is mad.  She also believes her uncle is a goat and that the trees can talk.”

“If I’m crazy then so is he.  His real name is…  Oliver Ferdinand.  He’s my cousin.  He thinks fish can sing.”

“Run along, girl,” one of the guards ordered.  “We have work to do.”

“Then I apologize for doing this,” Bianca pulled out the sword and dove towards the man unaware of the purple smoke that began to appear.

If you want to read more then click on any of the following links to purchase a copy of the ebook today!  Smashwords, Lulu, DrivethruFiction,  Amazon for the Kindle, and  Barnes and Noble for the Nook

What’s even better is that stories for the others series are working themselves out as well. For a few of the ones shared with Tricia however, we’ll have to smooth out some of the details due to changes in plot, characters, and history. It shouldn’t be too hard to hammer out. We already have the notes, the accurate ones just need to be compiled together with whatever updates we have made. Once we have that sorted out, hopefully those stories will flow as freely as the others.

Spark of A New Chapter

Chapter 6 has been posted for Spark of Vengeance. This chapter took a rather unexpected turn.  I look forward to seeing the outcome in future chapters.

Next week Kallie will have to endure her torture session, I mean Adele’s help in getting her ready for her date with Tucker. Just what exactly does Adele have in store for her? Check out the story next Sunday to find out!