Mystery Woman

Her hair caught his attention first. It bloomed from her head like a cloud of smoke, gleaming even in the poor lighting of the bar. He had never seen anything like it. Bright white, yet in a way that glimmered as it caught the light, as though stars hid somewhere within its curls. When she … Continue reading Mystery Woman →

Trapped, Part 1

How many times had Bastian come to this room? Did it number in the tens, or the hundreds? He didn’t know the answer. Perhaps it did not matter. It seemed, sometimes, that his memories of his life before this time were fading away, replaced by the vivid yet monotonous existence that now encompassed him. He … Continue reading Trapped, Part 1 →

Growth

Kon did not like to leave his apartment. He didn’t like to be around other people very much. He didn’t actually hate it, as long as they weren’t talking to him. The thought of having to smell and listen to other people was worrisome, but most people didn’t smell too bad, and the majority left … Continue reading Growth →

Bedtime Story

I’m going to tell you a story. Your grandfather told it to me when I was your age, so I think it’s time you heard it. No, it’s not really like the ones Grandma used to tell. She was great at telling them, you’re right. They weren’t really her stories, though. No, your Grandma didn’t … Continue reading Bedtime Story →

Savior

I saved a merfolk, once, when I was very young. I wouldn’t say that I saved her in the traditional sense of the word. I can guess what springs into your mind when I say it. Perhaps she was hurt, and I found her bleeding on the edge of the sea. Or, somehow, she wound … Continue reading Savior →

Everything Has a Cost

Evran, self-proclaimed Master Artificer and Enchanter, Whose Works Astound All Who View Them, slipped on his breeches with haste. The mayor’s wife sprawled across the bed, one finger curling through her hair as she watched him dress. He had just finished displaying for her his other masterful set of talents. “Evran, do you really have … Continue reading Everything Has a Cost →

The Laws

I warned them. I told them, on the night of the birth, what would happen if they killed the child’s parents. They should have listened to me. People have gotten out of the habit, these days, of respecting their elders. I see more than they expect, given my failing vision. I hear more than they … Continue reading The Laws →