GC, Bk 1 part 5

Maria woke and stretched as she looked through the canopy to see an endless sea of green beneath. The rest of her family awoke slowly, sleepy mutterings from the younger children and an instant question from Alejandra.

“Where are we?”

Quinn chuckled. “We’re near a place in Brazil called Madre de Dios, a bit south and west of Rio Branco so basically its in the middle of nowhere which is exactly where we need to be. We’ll be landing shortly so you’ll want to make sure everyone’s harness is tight.”

QuickSilver 5

Catherine awoke in almost the same position as the previous night but arousal was nowhere near her mind as she made her way to the bathroom and held her head while on the toilet. After a very long hot shower she felt considerably better and made her way downstairs with a slight grimace of amusement at the sound of Bobby in the shower.

By the time he made it down she was sipping on coffee, having already set up the makings of breakfast. He leaned over for a kiss and when they broke mumbled “Mmmm, you taste like coffee…”

Catherine sat for a moment in shock. He’d as much as told her his intentions the night before and a part of her wanted nothing more than to accept while the old fears tried to drag her away. While her mind was in shock her mouth seemed to have no such handicap.

Catherine came slowly to awareness, so unlike her usual instant wakefulness. It took a moment for her to regain her bearings as she looked around at morning sunlight slanting through slats into a large and well-appointed although decidedly masculine bedroom. The sheets beside her were still warm and she drew in the scent of the man she assumed was responsible for the other delicious smells teasing her nose.

he Masque of Nevermore – Chapter 3

“Frescoes…” Geoff was excited, gesticulating with his fork. “Who would have thought to find such a thing here? I have to go see the others when we have more time.”

“Figured you and Jorge would pretty excited about it but I didn’t read Bob as an arty type of guy. I think he was more excited than either of you!” Bob grinned down the table at Charlotte around a mouthful of food.

“See, like I said, he comes off as a caveman.“ She returned the grin minus the mouthful of food and watched him visibly swallow and take a deep sip of tea.

“I’m not sure I understand?”

“Just enjoy that for a little while. Soon enough you will understand far more than you ever wished. For now, let us enjoy this excellent whiskey and speak of more pleasant things, yes?” He waited for her slight nod of agreement. “I understand your family has a rather happy occasion tomorrow, one which I feel privileged to witness. I have known Ilya literally from the moment she was born and I could not think of a finer mate for her than your brother. It warms this old heart to see love blossom in the middle of…”

This is the second story in the universe begun in "Murder in the Holy City".

“Massetti’s or Nguyen’s?” Her question deflected attention from Steph and allowed her to recover herself for a moment while the subject was roundly debated and the die cast in favor of French-Viet cuisine. They set off happily chattering amongst themselves with Elissa bringing up the rear, hand in hand with her wife.

“She’s growing up so fast… I swear it seems like it took longer with Jamie.”

Previously

Their eyes met and held. “I am the one who should be sorry Kunik. I never considered how any of my life would affect you, never understood because I wasn’t raised to regard people in that way… as servants or masters or any of that. To me you were just the dear boy I fell in love with who has grown into the man I am still in love with. The man I wish to spend the rest of my life with.”

When they finally did leave their quarters hours later she proudly wore his ring.

Previously…

Sleep was not welcome, however much she needed it. It always came with phantasms, images of Marta and their children as the bolide which destroyed Hale City stripped their flesh from their bones before their very bones crumbled and all that was left were the ghosts, begging her to tell them why she left them to die.

And Now

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This story has had a rather long hiatus but i'm finally back to work on it. Sorry for the short chapter but it seemed appropriate.

Abby

Previously ---

“Remember, you are small and weak. The time for you to strike is when others have weakened each other with fighting. Your brain is your best weapon, you must use it!. Hide if you have to, wait until the time is right for you to strike. This way, your victory will be assured.”

Gaia’s Children, Book One, Riven, part 4

Katya drew her coat around her as the damp bitterness pried icy fingers into her small shelter. Her path from Belgrade had been long and hard, hiding in the blasted ruins of Kosovar homes, venturing from cover only in the depth of night to avoid snipers and wandering bands of murderous Serbs intent on genocide. At first Belgrade had seemed so much better than Mereshor but the Russians had come there too and just like at home in Ukraine, they had slaughtered any who spoke against them.

I didn’t get any more work done before joining Theo in bed although it was quite a while before we got to sleep. We both slept until we woke which meant I woke to an empty bed just beginning to cool. I took a few moments to lie there and think before my bladder drove me to the bathroom and a shower to get the funk of the previous night off.

***Previously***

“You are beginning to make me a little nervous here Cherie. This sounds like you are planning to start a war.”

“I have never in my life started a fight Yves, not in that way.” Charlotte’s expression was stony, her tone flat and emotionless. “Given a choice, I will run away from a fight. I do not think I have a choice here. The first blow has been struck and it was by our enemy. They will strike again but it will be for the last time. This will not be allowed in my city.”

“Somebody turn that damn thing off!”

There was of course no response from the empty space and the offending mechanism sat across the room purposely out of reach, continuing its klaxon-like bleating.

Charlotte rolled out of bed and strode over to the phone, not caring that she was unclothed. If whoever was on the other end happened to be offended by the sight of her nudity they could go attempt sexual acts not possible for the greater majority of the male of the species.

This chapter kept getting in the way of everything else I tried to write. I was stuck on this idea of trying to convey the show for the reader and kept failing miserably. I had this ubercool thing in my mind's eye but I couldn't manage to do it justice... So I gave up and took this route instead. I hope you enjoy.

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“Closing time
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end….”

Go east, young woman!

“For what?”

He stared at me for a moment gauging my reactions and I managed a small smile for him. I wasn’t sure what I felt. The only thing I could sort out was that my heart wanted to jump out of my throat and my lips still tingled where he had kissed me.

This time I was the one who leaned forward ever so slowly watching his eyes as he watched mine until vision became extraneous to the world of feeling that focused on the touch of our lips together, the rasp of his slight stubble against my palm as I reached up to feel the muscles in his jaw.

“I could not ask you… I am too damaged. I have never... Never even had a friend, really. I do not deal with people well. The therapists tell me I will learn but I have never managed to reach out.”

“I think I have to contradict you on that one Kadijah. You reached out to me, just now.” He reached over to touch my forehead with the inside of his wrist and I flinched away for a moment before allowing it.

“You’ve warmed up enough to sit in front of the fire.” He reached over and popped the lever to drain the tub and grabbed a huge fluffy towel.