Hope's Light

Chapter 34

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Thirty-Four - Departures

Having become acclimated to flying the spaces between realms, the trip was uneventful and direct. Not as quick as an immediate translation, but I wasn’t ready to test such maneuvering to patterns not ingrained in both memory and heart.

Somehow both felt necessary.

Gender and Ethnic Studies
by
Tylera

This story is a homage and tribute to the absolutely wonderful recent story "Gender Studies" by Karen Elizabeth L., which is to be read in Conjunction with this.... this is basically a tribute to this.

Hope's Light

Chapter 33

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Thirty-Three - Prayer

As I wasn’t needed to help Nathanael and the Grigori guide the accelerated evolutions swiftly covering the new planet, I slipped away. And not back to the Citadel.

Without fanfare I sneaked back into the Spires, finding a healed Twitch in the kitchens experimenting with a new soup recipe. Whatever he saw across my face needed no words, and he put down a spice container to swiftly enfold me in his arms, which of course caused tears to flow anew.

Dangit.

Denise's diagnosis speaks to Brad's need to protect Jenny's future care and maybe gives him some insight into a few things regarding Denise. Everyone is pushing a want in these troubling times, is it possible everyone can get what they want?

Hope's Light

Chapter 32

by Erisian

Book 6

Part Seven

Chapter Thirty-Two - Gifts

Distant birds in Gabriel’s sky hang motionless, and the breeze ruffling through her brother’s soft curls ceases entire. The scene of the mighty slabs guarding the entrance to the Monument below sits frozen, and, unlike before, the page does not turn.

Everything remains still instead, as if suspended by Raphael’s previous words.

Until a different voice entire speaks.

“You have questions.”

Four men transform themselves into women once a month to go clubbing. Thanks to the Venn Machine in the local mall this is easy. Sometimes, they go home alone. Sometimes, they don't.

There is a lot of sex in this story. You were warned. Also, at least two romances begin. There will eventually be more stories with these dudes, or gals, or both.

Hope's Light

Chapter 31

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Thirty-One - Riders

Like most plans, it was easier said than done. Which is why I again floated between the realms in that weird space-that-wasn’t, blazing out with six wings and trying to spot a specific distant spark in a burning haystack the size of a galaxy.

Oh, and while getting yelled at.

"How long is eventually?"

Hope's Light

Chapter 30

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Thirty - Diplomacy

With everyone watching, I stepped to the table, filled a goblet, and downed it in one go.

Ugh. Whatever vintage Horatio had brought out this time, it wasn’t Asmodian. Nor I’d bet of the wines Vance had spoken highly about a long time ago, those crafted by the elves of Nidavellir. I’d forgotten how bitter were most of the offerings in Hell - heck, I’d even have preferred that Chardonnay from the dragon soiree I’d attended with Isaiah.

Dangit. Isaiah.

What was I going to tell my friend? That his greater spirit would eventually decide whether I should be allowed to exist? And if decided against, Azrael would be forced to destroy me.

Would that mean Isaiah would have to try to kill me too?

secret desires pt 1

Worse of all, Ozzie had to admit that there was something at work here
that he didn't understand. He didn't understand it at all.

Long forgotten memories resurfaced when I read Kit's last chapter "Fake I Till You Make It" Her heroine was left with nothing to wear except a sexy German costume after she went swimming in the Rhine. Sometimes Murphy has a wicked sense of humor. Or is it Karma has a wicked sense of humor? Oh well, I guarantee this is the way it happened.

He paused. He closed his eyes and placed his hand on his forehead.
It was time to gather his thoughts. What was his current status? What were his next steps?

His current status? He was wearing a pair of women's underwear, and it fit like a dream (unfortunately!)
What had he done wrong here?

Cruising the Sis Seas

A Short Story by way of a Promotional Brochure

By Maryanne Peters

Themed cruises are the new travel sensation. It is just a question of meeting a demand. In the travel business we have discovered that there are some “kinky” cruise options which may not be able to fill a whole ship, but if we charter for a whole bunch of different sexual proclivities in a single voyage, the only common and required ingredient is tolerance.

Chapter 4: The Rest of the Show

When we were finished with breakfast, but before we left to start the second day’s activities, I found a moment alone with Paul.

“How much do you remember?” I asked.

“About your gift? That it made you pretty convincingly look like a woman.”

“I gave it away.”

“What?”

“Last night, I roomed with the one who introduced herself as a trans-woman during our icebreaker.”

“I don’t remember that.”

Hope's Light

Chapter 27

by Erisian

Book 6

Part Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven - Pursuits

Entire chapters spin past.

A terrible encompassing war visits destruction’s touch to every level of Creation - slaughter and fire, anguish and ruin, all spreads ahead. Victories and losses pile on, culminating in the great rift cleaved across the tapestry, and a Gate forever locking one side from the other.

Mediation isn't court, but the consequence could be as binding if the negotiations went south. Brad's choice of who he sees personally is on the line and it could come down to fancy lawyering by his friend Lance or show one of the smarter attendees at the mediation is their daughter Jenny.

Hope's Light

Chapter 26

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Twenty-Six - Threats

Cassiel was helping Turiel to his feet when Krux’s military force finally swarmed the cavern, his soldiers bursting through the steel doors or clambering over the broken stones of the walls. Seeing three angels as the only ones moving, they didn’t know what to do. Deciding it was safer to simply leave us alone, they spread out to check the numerous cultists unconscious or dead splayed messily across the cracked tiles.

I, my good friend Paul, a couple passing acquaintances, and several other people who were complete strangers to me were convinced by various of our friends to help them run one of those interactive entertainment events. We didn’t know our friends were associated with such a thing, nor had we ever heard of this one. We were invited to a free run-through of the event so that we would know how it was supposed to work.

It seems like everywhere Mantra goes, a planet dies. It's hard for the Dark Age warrior to wrap her mind around the idea of a zombie god destroying universes. But when she finally has a chance to save lives by battling a danger she understands, she goes for it. During the action, she makes a new friend and becomes reacquainted with an old friend.

"What are– what you doing up?" he asked her, trying to sound casual, but failing.
He sounded nervous, gave off guilty vibes.

"I had to pee," she said. "What else would I be doing up?"
She gave him a suspicious look. "What are you doing up?"

"Nothing, nothing," he answered, a little too quickly.
"Just couldn't sleep. That's all. Heheh."

"Wait, wait!" he called. "Where are you going?
You're not mad at me about this stupid Fit-4-U crap, are you? Come on!"

I used to believe that people weren’t deliberately cruel; that everyone was struggling along as best they could to play the hand they were dealt. Then I met Joseph Fieldings. Joseph, Not Joe! I had seen him around town a few times and had been told that Joseph was best avoided. He was on parole for nearly killing a man in a bar fight and the smart money said he’d soon be going back to prison.