Inky clouds turned the afternoon into an early midnight as an ebony vessel coasted into Port Victoria. Doomsday itself fell over the pirate town, and for once, everything stood silent.  From the deck, an armored figure watched the citizens with a crimson-flecked stare that promised bloodshed.  “Sir, we await your orders.” His spindly personal attendant hovered somewhere behind him.  “Prepare to dock and ...

As the jagged edge struck the crown of my head, the bundle of dingy white envelopes slipped out of the rubber band that held them together. I hadn’t seen it there, on the top shelf of my grandmother’s closet. So when I tried to take down the Danish cookie tin Gran kept as a piggy ...

Pandora would taste sweet, like aged whiskey and fresh honey. The thought tantalized him, and he shifted on his makeshift throne to readjust himself. His plan unfolded smoothly. He had secured the bargains, and they were about to blame the wrong person for everything. The next phase would begin after she fell. A savage smile pulled back his lips, sharp with the promise of ...

Betsy stayed behind to watch the house, while the others got into Howard’s van and headed to the hospital. When they arrived, they asked about Joe Peori. An EMT at the scene told them, “It’s touch and go for now, but he’s being cared for.” The men waited anxiously in the waiting area for five ...

The cave’s opening, a portal from the Upperworld, provided entry to the River Styx. It shone so brightly that Persephone shielded her eyes. The illumination was an illusion, meant to soothe souls into thinking they’d found the light. Without enough coins, it morphed into the end of their journey. Kharon was serious about collecting the ...

Red washed over the world. Rivulets of blood gushed from shining, black, plated scales, and the great wings’ labored flapping shredded the lakeside calm. To avoid the beast’s counterattack, Lysander snatched his sword and stumbled backward. His first instinct was to puke, but out of the chaos, his brother’s panic-stricken “run!” fought the fog in his ears. He fled for the forest’s protection, his legs carrying him as fast as they could through the tall grass and into the dense underbrush. Thorns raked deep gouges in his skin, and branches slapped ...

Five years have gone by since the last Solstice. Spring embraced Sur Nam Khaar, and the scent of flowers filled the air. The fields were bursting with ripe fruits and vegetables as the harvest drew near. Adjacent to the barn stood a shed, housing a dining hall for thirty and a kitchen equipped for demand, plus ...

Sawyer, looking flustered, hurried Howard and Jeremy out of the van once they parked. “The police chief called. They found someone else’s fingerprints on The Sea Monkey’s wheel!” he yelled. “Saw, calm down,” Howard said. “How can I be calm? Some slimeball used my precious boat for a heist!” Howard patted his friend’s back and ...

How do you move through your life without your usual comforts? It was a question Lacey asked herself daily. Since moving to the city, the once-familiar sounds in her apartment have echoed hollowly, reminding her of emptiness rather than the relationships she had. She was rebuilding a world apart from June, Brooke, and now Syler. ...

Cassian gripped Marina’s hand, desperate to give her some kind of reassurance. He could tell from the way her eyes slowly dilated and her palm felt clammy, she was worried.  She’s trying to hide, but she’s failing so badly it’s almost funny.  Lanterns and candles cast dim flickers around the captain’s cabin. Deep greens and blues colored the walls in sea story tapestries. ...