The drive was silent with a grim look on his face as they left. Bling said to him quietly so Suzie couldn’t hear, “You’re a nice man, Mister, thanks.” She hesitated before saying, “I wish you were my dad.” At that she slammed the door and ran off into the deluging night. She was never to discover the drive never forgot her, and she was a major factor in his decision to become a teacher.

WARNING – This is a disturbing account of child abuse. It is based on a reality many would prefer to pretend didn’t exist. The graphic and explicit language used in this chapter is the language that would have been familiar to and used by Bling and Suzie.

The Princess

By Julia Michelle

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Another fairly long chapter: Dawn.

Stone

Chapter 33 – Race Riots

The Minehead ambassador was blunt. ‘Hand over our citizen’s sperm in perfect condition or the catalysts won’t be arriving at all.’

I held the dress up in front of me, and looked in the mirror. Mayda gazed back at me. Of course she looked wonderful. Of course the dress would look lovely on her. It was weird as hell to know that the girl in the mirror was me.

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Chapter 26
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Throughout Paragon City, the battle waged on.

Walter Dallevan and his fighting companions prepared to go down like a trio of badasses, but the numbers of surrounding invaders were assaulted from behind in several places. Explosions popped from one direction, soldiers came in from another, an icon from a third, and the hunter Dissarap lunged into a crowd of invaders from the fourth.

Sandy brushes some dirt off an artifact that just arrived at the warehouse. She couldn’t believe that it dated back to when the Spaniards arrived. They had found a catch of artifacts in a cave she had been exploring on her trip. Technically, all the artifacts that have been shipped back to the warehouse should have remained in Mexico, but because of the infighting going on between the gangs down there. They had to be removed and brought back to the warehouse.

Previously
“I told you Tegan, I don’t lie. Tegan can go to your school with those nails. There are reasons stopping Thomas from doing so, but not Tegan.” My Grandma cut me off.

“I am Thomas!” I yelled, and my Grandma just calmly straightened the skirt I was wearing.

“Tegan, I don’t lie. You unfortunately still have to learn the cost of lying.”

“You really are a witch! If I go to school like this I will be at best teased and humiliated. I could be beaten, possibly even to death.”

Grandma just gave me a look, you know the one adult’s give to an overly petulant child, while they marshal their thoughts to rip into the child’s outburst and make them feel a few inches tall and at least five years younger than they really are. I guess it is not really mature to yell insults, especially when the person you are calling a witch actually is one, but she really got me ticked. Did she not care that I could be killed?

Grandma calmly got my attention then let me know. “Thomas likely could, but Tegan wouldn’t have those worries. Now calm down, we have much to discuss and I don’t want to send you to bed without supper, as if you were a naughty little girl. However, if you behave so then young lady, I will treat you as you behave.”

All my bluster and rage were extinguished like a flame snuffed. I sagged back into the sofa and sighed. “Why do you want me to be Tegan?”

“I told you I don’t lie…

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Chapter 25
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In the bright, early morning, a military helicopter flew across Paragon, heading for City Hall from the camp in Faultline. Walter and War Lagoon were both aboard. This brought back many memories for both of them.

Funny thing happened at Helen's birthday party.

Hey, before the chapter, I want to say that I've scrapped the two versions idea because it was dumb.

After Julian left his sister’s room, he went on with his day. On occasion, he would stop to stare at his nails, and appreciate how cute they made him feel. Over the course of the week the week his nails wore out. He was staring at his nails more, this time with disappointment.

The Other Woman

Williams wedding plans progress. Yasmeen makes the arrangements to travel to their homeland and confront the clerics

Carla arrives home around midnight and finds Angela already home and sound asleep in their bed. She quietly removes her clothes and slips her nightshirt on. She was happy when she had the operation to become a woman. If she had stayed with the Hunter organization, she would have never met Angela or had the operation to change her gender.

Author's Note: These next four chapters are, arguably, one of my favorite mini-arcs through the entire trilogy. I hope y'all enjoy it.

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Chapter 24
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They came on a Saturday morning.

Men and women in suits arrived in a suburban neighborhood, and blocked off a cul-de-sac with only their fancy cars and commanding, yet secretive presence.