Serial and short fiction.
Brion’s strong arms embraced her and she felt warm for the first time in ages. She nuzzled into his shoulder. “I miss you,†she whispered against his burning skin. His thumb brushed away the tear that had escaped from her downcast eyes and tilted her head up. Flames danced out from his blue eyes….
Katie’s violent swearing ripped her traveling companions from their slumber. “Rakowsky’s gone and cut himself a new one!†Frustration cut through her voice. “We can’t infiltrate the guilds by ourselves, Orsin.†The large man rose gracefully and padded over to his comrade’s corpse. The sword was still pinning it to the earth. He glanced…
“Stand down, Rakowsky.†Orsin’s large fist caught Rakowsky’s, stopping its path toward Bionca’s face. “Our priority is to escape back to our village. Let them be.†The slender man glared and wrested his limb back. “Whatever you say, boss.†He shouldered his way past Drake, who yet refused to look at his son. Gaia’s…
“Come this way,†Gaia murmured into Drake’s ear. “We need to get out of here.†The pair slipped away as surreptitiously as they could with their chains. Gaia led them down a maze of alleyways before they stopped near a sewer grate. She had been worried about being seen, but the only people they…
Shivering, the sleeping woman pulled a ratty sheet tighter around her shrinking frame. She moaned out in fear, visions of a talking throat fueling her dreams. Red stained her eyes as the throat rasped “Be strong,†and she shrunk back. She couldn’t be strong. Had instead felt weak and helpless ever since she…
The shadow loomed ever larger over Bionca, her eyes widening. In awe, she whispered “What is that?†Dr. Carlton hobbled beside her, chuckling to himself. “That, Bionca, is a tree.†One of its leaves gently descended on the light breeze and came to rest on the woman’s left shoulder. “What do trees do? What is…
V  “Mom, we have to go, now!†Bionca pleaded while her father held their door open. Gaia shook together with the earth beneath her feet as she grabbed everything she thought might help. “Just grab the sword and let’s go! We don’t have time for this!†her daughter warned, desperation crawling into her sweet…
IV “Bionca! How many times do I have to tell you?! Get down from there!†Gaia chastised her six-year-old in exasperation. Bionca had grown into an unusual-looking child. Her skin was in splotches of Gaia’s own dark skin, mixed with the pale skin of her father. Similarly, her hair was a strange amalgamation of…
 III With a huff, Dr. Carlton dragged his last piece of equipment into the Durants’ home, the aroma of burnt lizard wafting through. He looked sadly from Gaia, rocking herself, to Brion, trying desperately to reach her, to their child, still struggling to remain alive. Its body temperature was not high enough, so…