The line for the Shake Shack spilled out the door onto Newbury Street. Elizabeth begged Jules to grab something elsewhere. But Jules craved a burger, and Elizabeth couldn’t refuse her, so they waited fifteen minutes. After standing there with the smell of greasy meat for so long, Elizabeth wanted one too. Jules looked great today. ...

A hundred more feet, Vesta thought to herself, hidden among the shadows. Her hood covered her face as she dodged the moonlight. Her chest heaved with worry, and her muscles tensed to focus on every step. Carefully, she avoided the squeaks of scattering rats, interrupted in their search for scraps. She could teleport with magic, ...

Searing pain ripped her from sleep. Pandora shot upright in bed and clutched her throat as a scream died on her lips. Metallic blood tainted her tongue; her chest convulsed as panic tightened and clawed under her skin.     She stumbled into the adjoining bathing chamber and flicked on the light. Her nightshirt hit the ...

After Howard and Jeremy closed their store for the day, they drove to Love and Locket Jeweler’s, run by Mrs. Johnson. When they entered the shop, they saw her daughter, Wendy, at the counter. “Hello there, can I interest you gentlemen in anniversary gifts?” “We’re actually here to ask you a question,” Howard said. “Jeremy, ...

Each mystery Anahí brought to light was an affirmation of men’s ignorance. Every new plant and animal walking those lands confirmed our sins were more outrageous than tales told. Otherwise, we would have borne witness to those wonders from the moment we were born. As we left the city, I showered her with questions, many ...

Almost a week after it happened, Elizabeth told Jules she had gone to see Mr. O’Donnell. They were both folding laundry in the room. The topic came up because Mr. O’Donnell had called that morning, asking Elizabeth to run some errands. She’d agreed, but knew that Jules would eventually demand an explanation. She wasn’t good ...

Athena’s Golden Champion did not scare her. She wouldn’t flinch at a pathetic mortal woman. So, why did her fingers tremble as she clenched her fist? Her nails bit into flesh and grounded her.  “She’s impassioned,” Hestia chuckled, oblivious to Persephone’s quaking. “I remember when Athena brought her to Olympus. Her spirited nature persists; not much difference exists today.”   Stop talking. Stop talking. Stop. Talking.    Persephone wanted ...

“What do I do now?” Lacey sipped her coffee as Syler’s clear boundary replayed in her mind. “When you figure that out, call me.” He was direct; he wouldn’t settle. Lacey had to decide if Brooke’s presence was worth the chaos. Her hand tightened around her mug so hard that her knuckles whitened. She felt ...

Back on the SS Survivor, I listen to the chorus of voices echo through Common B. “Good God! You took on a Rabid?” Helen’s tone rises an octave as she stares at Asher. “All by yourselves?” “We were lucky it was only the one.” Asher frowns, glancing at his dad. Warren’s face showed complete impassivity. ...

“Ridiculous! Sawyer wouldn’t steal!” Martha Benson declared. She slammed down a spoonful of mashed potatoes she was serving onto Jeremy’s plate. “We said the same, but this Pickiner guy won’t listen.” Jeremy wiped a glob of potato off his shirt. “Why go through that for a fancy rock? He thinks that wedding rings are an ...