Back at home I felt an urge to get into my studioand do some painting. Once again my artistic muse took over and images seemed to flow from my brain to my hand and onto the canvas. I didn’t remember falling asleep or know how long for, but on waking up I felt strangely refreshed. I looked over at the easel and instead of seeing a landscape as I previously painted for my earlier work, it was just a head and shoulders image of a worried-looking young man turning to glance back over his shoulder seeing a young woman disappearing into the distance.

My still sleepy eyes saw cars go by fast on the highway. I yawned and snuggled a little bit with Mary. It was still early and the sun was not going to rise for another two hours. I felt a little bit anxious but mostly excited about this new beginning. Mary smiled at me and squeezed my hand, just to reassure me that everything will be okay. Sometimes sisters just know.

Chapter 1 Once around the Lighthouse….

My problem, when I was young, was that I was hyperactive. Not just fidgety, but needed to be always doing something. I ran around a lot, yelled and screamed a lot and generally ran my parents ragged. I did manage to get through school and University but everyone considered that feat to be nothing short of a miracle.

Light And Shadow (Part 1 of 8)

by Erisian

Chapter 1 - Duty

The most annoying thing about hunting demons is the smell. The one in front of me naturally yielded no exception.

Green ichor of a most aromatic sort spurted generously from the stumps of the several tentacles I’d just managed to shorten, the foul mess splattering the walls of ice and rock around us as well as my best (and only) cloak. The vapors assaulting my sanity were, shall we say, worse than a raw sewage overflow from a center for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. FEMA would have posted signs declaring the bespoiled canyon a superfund site before themselves evacuating in a bureaucratic rush.

Yeah, it was that bad.

I woke up to a wonderful morning. The storm and heavy rain didn’t bother me. Life was good. The day before had been remarkable. To begin with it was my first anniversary as Secretary of the Treasury. That in itself was remarkable. In my not so humble opinion I was the obvious selection based on my merits. Then there was this tiny thing that under normal circumstances would have made it impossible for me: I’m transgendered. Just for once that worked in my favor. The newly elected president needed to show how inclusive his administration was.

“Okay, now that everyone is here. Why don’t you tell us everything about this case?” Gina looks at Marshal Weather.

Marshal Weather takes a deep breath as he stands up from the sectional sofa he had been sitting. He was surprised by how many people had shown up from Mouse’s phone call. From what he has learned so far about the people that have shown up. Is that they were either related to Mouse or worked for her uncle.

8

I slipped down and through the open space in the structure of the bleachers into a dark space full of the sound of the concert and the crowd.

The long road home
Chapter one, three suit cases.

That day was like any other really. I woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast, said goodbye to mom and I was out the door and on my way to school.