The com console was awash in blood. Maricela swallowed the frightened scream that threatened to erupt from her throat. Her EVA helmet slipped from her stuttering grasp and rolled across the command deck. Its final thump made her flinch again. “Mom? Dad? Aunt Hetty? Uncle Constantine?” The only sounds came from various systems rebooting. From Continue
Relics From the Stream
The Reflectix (SF)
“Why can’t I have a Reflectix?” Becca asked for what seemed like the hundredth time. Her face was sour and pinched under her heavy black eyeliner. Twelve was a little young for such heavy makeup, but Becca’s mom was tired of the fight. “It’s just not a good idea, honey.” “I saved up the money Continue
Reborn (SF)
He was seven years old the first time he saw her. He’d been sobbing his heart out, hidden under a rose bush far from Brundt palace’s main grounds. “Who are you?” The soft, curious inquiry made him wipe his eyes on the tail of his shirt. He lifted his head. Huge eyes of midnight blue Continue
Down by the River Pt. 2 (Fantasy)
Last Time: “What’s your name?” “Faina. What’s yours?” “Frankie.” And with that, he was gone again. Of course, he returned the next day like the fly to the spider. If she still had a heart, it would have sunk with worry when he complimented her on looking drier that day. “You know what I said Continue
Down by the River Pt. 1 (Fantasy)
The water was sluggish, bringing bits of flotsam to Faina’s favorite section of the riverbank. In the spring, when the river ran fast and wild, the water carved out a circular space. Every year the little pool grew deeper. In subsequent years, no doubt the cutback would crumble and the pool would vanish into the Continue
Forthright Pt. 2 (SF)
Last time: “What was that?” Hercules asked, causing Hetty to jerk from her reverie once more. “Space junk, I think.” Val shifted the view screens from a close-up of the traffic flow around Sigma to their more immediate area. “A little big to be from a ship. You think Sigma is missing a chunk?” Hetty Continue
Forthright Pt. 1 (SF)
The chief problem with being a free trader during one of the most prolonged conflicts between two major galactic powers was both larger and smaller than one might suspect. The pressing issue that haunted Captain Hetty Gaines was that of spare parts. Spare parts were dearer than hard currency from either party in the conflict Continue
Sylvia’s Garden (Magical Realism)
The fox who visited the bottom of the garden every morning at 7:45 was a holy man. Or a seer. Not a spirit guide. Martin refused to believe in spirit guides. At his age, where did he have to go? Not yet old enough for the graveyard and yet too old to sustain the hustle Continue
The Priestess from Caithel Ur (SF)
The peace and solitude needed for meditative studies was not easy to find in the crystal palace of Caithel Ur. Dagmar’s door flew open with a slam as Tara, her eldest sister, barged in. Eilir and Tegan followed close behind, filling the room with malicious energy. “Father wants you,” Tara said without preamble. “Does he? Continue
Beeve & the Demon (Paranormal)
Beeve swore and pedaled harder as yet another car honked and swerved around him. He was already riding on the shoulder. How much farther over did they think he could go? His t-shirt was stuck to his back with sweat, and he was only halfway there. Ah well, at least the rest of the trip Continue
