This is an expanded version of a story I posted a few weeks ago. I am lucky to have assistance and suggestions from two of this site’s finest writers, Angela Rasch and Emma Anne Tate.

She took a measured sip of orange juice, apparently considering the best approach to her self-appointed task. “It’s been six months, and you're still acting like a mangy old cat who’s been dumped in a puppy farm.”

For the rest of the week, Genesis continued working at the internship with Jesse. Most of that time was spent teaching Genesis more about how genomes worked, and how to identify what parts of the genome corresponded with what features an organism had. Genesis tried to be receptive to what Jesse was teaching her, but it felt like a mountain of information to comprehend. She felt like it would take years before she could call herself a certified geneticist.

Substitute
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

Rebecca Farnham was not an attractive woman, although she probably could have been. The fact is that she was brought up in a sporting family where achievement was more important than appearance. She had one brother playing pro-football and the older brother playing pro-golf. It was always assumed that she would excel in something physical. It could have been any of the sports she showed promise in at school, but she chose tennis.

Ursula attempts to find out more about Bineer Ketko but the conversation proves to be both puzzling and frustrating. A trip to the mess tent to clear her head leads to a chance meeting with Zakaros, who has a request for her to consider. This leads to an unexpected revelation.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

88 - Cross Purposes

I unlocked her car door and opened it for her. “Can we go back to where we were discussing the improbability of French chastity?”

“But oh, don’t you look nice?”

After flubbing a powerful incantation, meant to give newly coronated Demon Queens the wisdom of their ancestors, Devilla Satanne awakens to memories of her past life as Jacob Divington, a human from Earth. Having gained a new perspective on life, she quickly comes to a rather horrifying conclusion: she's been a complete and utter brat! No wonder everyone hates her!

And then there's the fact that she's apparently been reincarnated as the villainess of Tower Conquest, a lesbian porn game with a surprisingly intricate plot. One in which the Heroine conquers Dimona Tower, turning Devilla's people against her in the process. In victory, the Heroine brings about a glorious age of peace between demons and humans for the first time in millennia. ...Which actually sounds pretty good for her people, come to think of it. Devilla knows her terrible behavior is beyond forgiveness, but maybe she can still make up for her past mistakes? She just needs to make sure the events of the game unfold correctly. Though there is one little detail she'd like to change - the part where Devilla herself is killed or enslaved!

The series cover was commissioned from https://twitter.com/HaizeUqei

Something Borrowed
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

That is my sister Amelia. You can probably see the family likeness. And that is me – dressed as a bride. And looking at Amelia in this photo it now seems pretty clear to me that this was what she wanted all along, although maybe not dressed this way.

Life Seems to Suck Sometimes (Part 3)
By Sabrina G. Langton

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Author's Note: Hmmm... this is the chapter with just a little angst, just a little. We also find out how our heroine got her name. (It's cute, I swear.) Life starts sucking just a little bit, but we are strong we can take it, we know it's only temporary... ha... I hope YOU like it...

***

Part 3 of 5

Knowing
A Short Story
From my new collection of Short Science Fiction Stories on Amazon
By Maryanne Peters

Raphael was angry, and that was an emotion that was not unexpected.

It is not an emotion that I have ever experienced and that is deliberate. It is almost universally destructive, but it is part of the human condition. Not experiencing it serves to remind me that I am not human, although I aspire to be as human as possible, not the least to better understand how I may serve and protect.

Have another chapter of this slow burning piece. Please enjoy.

I’d had a hankering to see the “family estate,” even though I’d promised Father that I’d stay away. Well . . . especially because I’d made that promise, and I knew how deeply furious he would be when I cheerfully broke it. He had no sense of humor at all, and even less where his family was concerned. What better way to get his goat?

A Child's I's
Copyright 2024 by Heather Rose Brown

CAUTION: This is one of my darker poems. While it does mention death, there's no depiction of anyone being hurt or harmed in it. Still, if something like that might be triggering for you, then please be careful.

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This is an expanded version of a story I posted a few weeks ago. It incorporates suggestions from two of the finest writers on BCTS, Angela Rasch and Emma Anne Tate who have helped me to improve it.

With time running out, the team prepares themselves for a rematch with Xenos. They have a few tricks up their sleeves, but they know they’re walking into the devious villain’s trap. Are they ready for him?

After flubbing a powerful incantation, meant to give newly coronated Demon Queens the wisdom of their ancestors, Devilla Satanne awakens to memories of her past life as Jacob Divington, a human from Earth. Having gained a new perspective on life, she quickly comes to a rather horrifying conclusion: she's been a complete and utter brat! No wonder everyone hates her!

And then there's the fact that she's apparently been reincarnated as the villainess of Tower Conquest, a lesbian porn game with a surprisingly intricate plot. One in which the Heroine conquers Dimona Tower, turning Devilla's people against her in the process. In victory, the Heroine brings about a glorious age of peace between demons and humans for the first time in millennia. ...Which actually sounds pretty good for her people, come to think of it. Devilla knows her terrible behavior is beyond forgiveness, but maybe she can still make up for her past mistakes? She just needs to make sure the events of the game unfold correctly. Though there is one little detail she'd like to change - the part where Devilla herself is killed or enslaved!

The series cover was commissioned from https://twitter.com/HaizeUqei