Disclaimer

I do not own The Twilight Saga, Life and Death, or any other story that my fanfictions are based on.

Also most teasers, sneak peeks, lost moments, and other material on this site are unedited and as such may have errors, may be subject to some changes, etc.

Click for the Poll for the Rebirth and Affliction shorts

Poll for Rebirth and Affliction

survey tool Another Chance, An Escapee's Future, and The Unfortunate End of Bradley Tanner are not listed on the poll because we ...

Friday, December 25, 2020

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words (Micro) Holiday Edition Submissions and Winner

 A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words decided to put on a holiday based contest that was focused on the images, using fifty word (or less) stories to chronicalize the image. As with most contests, I did enter. I submitted two entries, one of which, won a prize.

My first submission was Failed It!


It's a short driblet entailing Renee's failure as a baker.

The second is A Viking Yule and winner of the White Elephant Award (an award for a story that doesn't fit any category)



This is based around the wild hunt, for now just a driblet, but eventually I do intend to extend it out to a full length one-shot.

As always, my entries are now posted on both FFN and ADifferentForest. 




Saturday, December 19, 2020

A Bit About My Thirst Submissions

By the time this posts, the results for the Thirst Contest will have been posted, though as I write this, it is still several days away. I am writing this completely unaware as to if I will get lucky and win a prize or if that will be another day of bad luck - which, given the way the voting was set up, I suspect the latter.

For the record, had I known going into the contest that the only thing the readers would be able to vote for were the specialty awards and not the traditional top three, I wouldn't have even entered. 

Here's a bit about why.

Anyone who reads my stories can pretty much safely say that I tend to write outside the norm. I'm not afraid to make people hate me and I don't write a story for a contest just to go the standard route. For the record, if you don't know what the standard is, it's an E/B HEA romance... typically with minimal to no angst. That's not me. Over the years I've had people call me the queen of angst, and though I will write E/B, they have to earn that HEA if I decide to give it to them. More often than not, I don't even bother. 

Once in a rare while one of my contest entries will actually get a popularity award, even though my stories aren't the standard. And when that happens it makes me certain I did something right. I actually impressed people enough that they voted for my Lauren story (Lost But Not Forgotten) or my Julie story (For the Dogs) or my Victoria story (Tenetur Per Sanguine). For me, awards like this are extremely satisfying. And unfortunately, with the way this contest is set up, there's almost no award the readers can vote on that works with either of my two stories. 

The two stories I entered into the Thirst Contest were Take It Back and Imprint of Yore, two very opposite stories. 

So, let's talk about Take It Back:

A lot of the people that reviewed this story during the contest have asked for me to continue it. I want people to understand, that I wrote a complete story, and I have no intention of continuing it. I gave the E/B lovers a glimpse of potential hope, but in my mind I don't see a continued story ending in anything other than tragedy. 

Bella has lost everything. She's been through literal, spiritual, and mental hell. And there's one of two ways to look at it. Either everything she's been through is her fault or it's all Edward's fault. You can pick which way you see it. Either way, there's no potential for an HEA, not in this storyline.

With that being said, maybe if I'm ever feeling especially bitter, I might continue it, but understand the ending I see in my mind is not a pretty one. 

In the mean time, I've never been opposed to people taking my fanfics and using them as a starting point for their own - as long as they give me credit for my part in it. So, if somebody wanted to write a continuation ending in an HEA, they could, but it wouldn't be me. 

-------------

Then, there's Imprint of Yore:


Of the two, this is the clear underdog, none of the reviews so far have asked for a continuation, and the review count on the contest is disproportionately low. It having the second lowest count of eighteen stories. 

And yet, I'm drawn to continue this, I want to see the next section. I want Edward and Jacob to find some sort of happy union. I see rocks and bumps and hills and mountains to climb in my mind. And I want it on paper. I want people to be able to read this story. 

So I do intend to continue this. In fact, I see this as at least a trilogy, with rough paralleling to the original Twilight saga. I don't know if it will be a success amongst my readers, but I intend to go with it, anyway. 


Thirst Contest Submissions and Winner

 As is fairly standard for me when a contest is made available (that I'm not judging or validating) I did submit the max amount allowed. In this case, that was two entries, one of which surprised me and actually won an award... mostly because I thought if either got an award it would not be the slash story.

It's making me consider updating my pre-set post that's scheduled to release in about ten hours, but I don't think I will as that was my unadulterated opinion at the time I wrote it about eight days ago. 

So, without further ado, my two entries were Take It Back and Imprint of Yore. 


------------------------------------------------------



Unlike most of my contest entries, which I tend to write as complete one-shots with no intention of ever extending them, I do intend to continue this fic. For more details on that, stay tuned for the post later today. 

As always, my contest entries are posted on both FFN and ADifferentForest. 




Sunday, November 1, 2020

TwiTricksandTreats6 Submission

 The TwiTricksandTreats6 Contest just concluded and I did manage to submit a story for it, though it was an extremely tough write for me.

The story I submitted was Frat Party for One

It is now available on my ffn account and on ADifferentForest. 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Halloween Edition Submissions and Winner

 As usual, I did submit the max of two allowed entries for the most recent A Picture contest. One of my two stories did win a special award while the other didn't win anything. 

My first submission was A Regular Salem Witch Trial and while it didn't win anything, I was quite happy with how it turned out.

My second submission was The Soldier and the Fairy, which won the Invisible Man award for a non ExB story. 


These stories are now available on my account on ffn and on ADifferentForest 

Monday, July 27, 2020

Rebirth and Affliction Sneak Peek

A brief teaser of Chapter 20 - Compromise:

We ran side by side for several minutes before Edythe spoke, “Can I ask you something and get a completely honest answer?”

Her words caught me off guard, but I answered immediately, “Of course.”

“Why did you back out after asking me to marry you?”

The question caught me off guard, and I pulled my hand from hers. “I didn't really back out.”

“Oh? You could have fooled me.”

“You do realize I was only seventeen when I d... was turned, right? Maybe in the teens of the nineteen hundreds getting married at seventeen was commonplace, but it's pretty much unheard of in today's age.” I took a deep breath. “When I sort of asked you –” I honestly still didn't think I'd truly asked her. “– it was with this assumption that we'd do it someday. We live forever, after all, but suddenly it was being pushed on me by Archie and you. Before I met you, I'd never thought of being with someone for a lifetime – never even really thought about sex, at least not any more than in an obscure health class sort of way. And I didn't have anyone to talk to about anything; no father to tell me I was making the right choice or give me a pep talk, no best friends to ask about past experiences, and no clue what I was doing. The truth is, if I hadn't met you, I doubt I ever would have married. So with the pushing, I simply... wasn't ready.”

She came to a stop, so I did as well.

“Are you saying that, what? You were worried you wouldn't know how to have sex with me?”

I was sort of surprised she'd actually understood what I was getting at with my rambling, but I scowled and looked away. “I know there's a hell of a lot more to it than the insert tab a into slot b that is taught in health class. Who was I supposed to talk to about my concerns? Certainly not Royal, and completely forget about Archie – even imagining the conversation if I went to Archie is terrifying. That leaves Earnest, and I simply... can't”

“There is Carine.” Edythe pointed out.

“You're right, she is a doctor so I suppose for a very clinical explanation I could have gone to her, but that wasn't really what I wanted.”

Saturday, July 4, 2020

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words: Summer Blowout (Mini) Edition Submissions and Winner

Back in mid February the Summer Blowout (Mini) Edition of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words was announced, and I wrote my two submissions way back then. 

The first story I submitted was Dance of the Flames, sort of an inspired elf based story that happened to be the judge's 2Brown-eyes pick for her favorite.



And my other submission was a Life and Death Alternate Universe inspired fic, Summer Blue Moon.



Friday, June 12, 2020

PerfectDateContest Submissions and Winner

I've been struggling to write lately, in fact I only just barely managed to get these two stories done. They, unfortunately, proved to be extremely difficult for me to write. 

Frankly, writing at all, has been difficult. I hope that will change soon, but I'm not certain, because I'm not even sure why I'm having such a hard time writing at the moment. 

But with all that being said, I did manage to submit two stories to the PerfectDateContest, one of which won an award.

My first story that I submitted was A Date of a Strange Variety. No one knew this, but it is a spin-off one-shot for my story Necromancy in the Fifth. 


The second one I submitted was Lost My Mind. It won the Bumble Award for best non-canon.


As always, you can click the banner images to be taken to the stories on ffn. The stories are also available on ADF. 



Monday, May 4, 2020

The News

Unless you're living under a rock by now you've heard the news. For the one or two that haven't, at approximately nine ante meridian eastern time, Stephenie Meyer officially announce Midnight Sun will be released on August 4, 2020.

Cheers, yippee, yahoo, and all of that.

You may notice the sarcasm that manages to express itself, even in that short seven word sentence. I want to be excited for this book. But, the truth is, I'm not... not even a little bit.

The longer I think about it. The less enthused I am by the fact that it's finally coming out. And before anyone asks the magic three letter word, the truth is,  I don't know. I want to be excited. But perhaps it's about the fact that it's been almost twelve years since the release of the partial draft and somewhere along the line, I've just stopped caring.

Or perhaps it's because of the numerous, very well written, Midnight Sun continuations that are on FFN. Part of me truly believes that several of those authors are better than Meyer herself. 

Or perhaps it's that I was hoping, maybe foolishly, for something else Twilight related. Meyer always said that there was a possibility of a future story featuring Jake and Renesmee... and part of me hoped. Also, after writing Life and Death, she did say she was considering writing other retellings, so I thought this release might be an "insert new characters" Bella/Jake story. Or, as was implied with The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, there were characters, plural, that stuck out to her, so maybe it was going to be another character's novella.

Maybe, I was secretly hoping for the sequel to The Host...

Instead, we get the long awaited Midnight Sun.

And I should be excited.

But, as I read the summary, I feel like it's setting me up for a let down. It promises darkness, and though I have seen Meyer write really good fantasy, really good romance, really sci-fi... I have never seen her write dark. In fact, one could say, her previous works suggest she deliberately avoids it. And unless she's gotten a lot more brazen since she wrote Life and Death The Chemist, I'm just not seeing it.

And that's the problem.

I think if the summary was marketing it as the young adult romance I'm almost a hundred percent certain it's going to end up being, I might be more exited

Monday, April 20, 2020

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Quarantine Edition Submissions

I submitted two different stories to A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Quarantine Edition. Neither of them were winners of anything, but one I am planning to turn into a full length story in the future. 

I submitted Life in a Bubble, which is a completed one-shot. It is available on both ffn and adf. 


And I submitted Letters and Barkeeps, which will be turned into a full length story in the future, but currently the one-shot is available on both ffn and adf. 



Thursday, April 16, 2020

Life and Death Characters - Casting Call

For the most part, I have avoided trying to put face to names. In large part, this because many of the characters from Life and Death. A few days ago though, I got into a conversation with a which led to us talking about some of the Cullen household and what they might look like. Since then I've worked to put faces to names. I'd already matched faces for Beau, Edythe, and Julie, but the rest of the Cullens I hadn't.

I sort of doubt I'll do it for other characters, below are Beau, Julie, and the whole Cullen Clan

Beau was described when he was human as being tall, broad-shouldered, and blue-eyed. After too many hours looking through far too many actors to mention, I finally found Luke Bilyk. I admit, he's a little too old, but I do believe he is a good match.


We never got an official description of Julie after she because a shifter, but my assumption is the females are similar to the males from the original saga, both shooting up in height, and losing they're baby fat, etc. As such, Devery Jacobs felt like a very good fit. 



Edythe was described with the same copper hair as Edward had. And no matter who the movies selected, to me 'copper hair' is more red than brown. Also, based on her general description, I belie Katherine McNamara is the best match



It was harder for me to find genderswapped characters for the rest of the Cullens. But I finally decided on Brooklyn Decker for Carine and Armie Hammer for Earnest.



Kenton Duty as Royal and Kalia Prescott as Eleanor



Cameron Ocasio as Archie and McKenna Knipe as Jessamine



Monday, March 30, 2020

Necromancy in the Fifth - Chapter 5 Sneak Peek

It's been quite awhile since I've updated this story, but I'm trying to make my muse play nice with me while the world is going to hell. Hopefully, this will allow me to start getting updates out for my stories again.

So, without further ado, a brief teaser of Chapter 5:

I wasn't sure how long I was unconscious before the sound of knocking on my door woke me. Groaning, I slowly got up off the floor.

“I'm coming,” I shouted, or at least tried to, as my voice came out more like a hoarse croak.

It took me close to a minute to make it the few feet that it was to my door. I fussed with the lock as my fingers didn't seem to want to work, before finally managing to successfully open it.

I opened my mouth upon seeing Rosalie on the other side, but she gasped.

“Bella, what the hell happened to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“There's dried blood on your face.”

I frowned before spinning around and heading to my bathroom. My reflection in the mirror looked nothing like me. Instead, the wide eyes that stared at the stained splotches of brownish-red splattered across my cheeks, lips, chin, and down my neck were horrified. The reflection also showed skin that was at least two shades too white, rings under the eyes, and unnatural sallowness to the cheeks.

For a moment, I couldn't make sense of what I was looking at. Then I grabbed a rag, turned the sink on, and soaked it. The instant it was solidly drenched, I started scrubbing on my face, forcing a redness into my skin even as I washed off the stains of blood.

Monday, March 23, 2020

Forever Protector Final Teaser - A Rebirth and Affliction Alternate Reality

Back a while ago, I started working on this particular Alternate Reality, but things happened (my flash drive broke) and the end result was that I lost almost all of it, except for the two teasers I'd posted on this blog a while ago (you can use the tag, Teaser, or the tag, Alternate Reality, if you want to view those). I've finally started reworking it, and while I'm not sure it's identical to what it was originally, I'm happy with what I've written.

For now, I'm offering one final Teaser to this Alternate Reality.


"Anyway, I need to go talk to the Cullens in person. I owe it to them to explain my decision in person.”

“You owe them nothing.” Jules' scowl was pronounced. “They were the ones who screwed you over.”

“Yes, I do. They gave up a lot for what they thought of me to be to Edythe. The fact that it turned out to be untrue is unimportant. Don't worry, I'll be back.”

I got up from where I was sitting in the sand next to her and sped off.

The run through the forest was one I'd made many times before, back when the Cullens had abandoned me. However, I couldn't help but wonder if this would be my last time making the trip.

Edythe met me outside of the house, her voice solemn. “Archie's told me your future is solidly black – that nothing I can say or do, as far as he can see, will change that.”

“They need me here, and it turns out that when I put my mind into being a protector with them that I'm quite good at it. Besides, we both know your family doesn't need me.”

“That's not true. I need you. I'll always need you.”

I smiled, wondering if she heard the rough edge in her voice which read as untrue to me. “Maybe some part of you still needs the human boy you started to fall for before I was turned, but I think it's past time we both accept that I'm not him. I've changed in a lot more ways than just going from having a beating heart to not.”

“When you left, you promised you'd someday come back, Beau.”

“I did.” I walked away from her, looking out into the forest. “It wasn't a lie. I had every intention of coming back to you. But I think we both know why I can't. When we were with the Denalis, you and Taavi were a thousands times more comfortable – more natural – together than you and I ever were. Honestly, there was more familiarity with you and Ivan, and you and Kirill, than ever with me. And most recently, I saw you briefly with a redhead here.”

“I've known all of the Denalis for more than seventy years, Beau. Of course, there's a familiarity with them. Even Magnus, I've known for more than sixty.”

It put a name with the man I'd seen. I ignored the implication that was being insecure and foolish. I knew what I'd seen, and I'd had plenty of time to think it over.

“I want you to be happy, Edythe, and I don't think I'm ever going to be what gives that to you.”

“You're wrong!”

It would be beyond easy to believe her, but I could see the dangerous loop that would lead to. I knew now, no matter how much I loved her, she clearly didn't feel the same. “I've got to get back to La Push.”

“Beau... if you change your mind, please come back to me.”

In spite of myself, I muttered, “Who knows, maybe someday.”

Then I ran away.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Life and Death Continuation Banner

As everyone knows, I almost always make my own banners for my stories. They may not be the best in the world, but it's just part of my process. However, a few days ago, I commissioned a banner for my Life and Death Continuation as whole. One that used specific people, which tends to be a bit beyond my capabilities. 

Today, I got the finished piece that was made by Bee Masen for this. 


The people I chose for characters are Devery Jacobs as Julie Black, Luke Bilyk as Beaufort Swan, and Katherine McNamara as Edythe Cullen

Saturday, March 7, 2020

A Bit About a Future Piece


Introducing a Twilight/Elfquest crossover. The Moon's Journey will be, for the time in question, a one-shot. I don't know how long this one-shot will be, though I'm assuming it will be over ten thousand words. The banner above feature Bella as an elf – specifically a wolfrider  – and her wolf, Clearwater. Though I may slip in a couple of other Twilight characters, the vast majority of the characters I will pull from will be the wolfriders in Elfquest. 

This story is inspired, in part, because it's a crossover that hasn't been done, and because I need a bit of a different ending after the bittersweet end to The Final Quest in Elfquest. Those that have read the comics will know exactly what I mean. 
__________________________________________

I don't know exactly when this story will be posted as I'm working on it between my continued work on Rebirth and Affliction: Eclipse Reimagined and it's extras, Necromancy in the Fifth, and my current drabble, We Saw the World End on a Tuesday. (Other works are on hold until inspiration strikes to work on them)

Sunday, March 1, 2020

The Shade - The Opening

Back a few months ago I submitted several pieces to The Babies at the Border, one was the completed Future-Takes for The Emotional Roller Coaster of Life (these are now posted on FFN, Stars, and Ao3). The second was the first chapter of A Different Kind of Tomato which I'm still determining how the entire story will play out (I posted the first chapter a few minutes ago on here). And the third is the opening scene of an original fiction I'm working on called The Shade. 

 My intention is to complete The Shade before I start posting it regularly wherever I end up deciding to post it. I have about four chapters wrote at the moment, and it's my assumption that it'll be about thirty or so chapters in all. Once I'm ready to post the completed story, I'm not, as of yet, sure where I'll post it. For now, here's the opening.

Summary:
Three hundred years after the end of World War III and the remnants of humanity are run by The Shade, except for a select few who fight against such oppression. But when the rebellion is captured, is all lost? Or will there still be hope? Is there a chance at love in the midst of such darkness? Or just blind hatred and rage?


Beta'd by monica03

The Shade

Opening

It's been three hundred years since World War III. The remnants of that humanity; of vehicles, electricity, computers, and so much more can be found all around, but the world I know doesn't actually have use of any of that technology.

Three hundred years ago, when World War III ended; after the atomic bombs, mustard gas, and weaponized diseases, there was a matter of a few thousand people left alive.

Over the course of the last three hundred years, the numbers have slowly raised into the hundreds of thousands, mostly thanks to The Shade.

As a child, I grew up in fear of The Shade, the ruling faction that controls not only the government, but the military, education, and even religion. They are what allows the civilized world to exist in peace.

I grew up outside of the civilized world though, and I'm not the only one. My family is a part of a faction of people that don't believe in The Shade's rule. We're the rebellion.

Or at least we were.

I close my eyes and clench my hands into fists – so tight that I'm sure I'll draw blood – as the rough sponge rubs over my skin. It feels almost like small shards of steel against my flesh, though I know it isn't. It's all in my head.

“A lady doesn't clench her fists.”

Then again, the man washing my naked body might be part of why it feels like it's rough steel against my skin. Aside from my father, who'd brought me into this world – and by that I mean he pulled me from my mom's womb after she'd been slain by The Shade – this man is the first person to ever see me disrobed.

Aluxif.

Actually, his full name is Aluxif St. Claude Jon Bonaparte de Nevogne the Seventh of The Fifth Order.

Far too much of a mouthful. If anyone asks, I'll claim I can't remember it all, though that's a lie. It's impossible for me to forget the name of the man that grooms for a role that I do not want.

I release my breath as I allow my hands to go slack.

I wish I could go back in time. Just six months. Then I'd be able to warn my family, my friends, and everyone I've ever loved... I'd be able to prevent it from happening.

But there's no going back.

He runs the sponge down my back, and I force myself to repress a shudder. The warm blueish-white liquid is supposed to feel good, at least according to Aluxif, but it doesn't. The creamy substance feels unnatural and cold – even though the temperature is actually quite warm.

When I was a child, I remember my dad reading a story to me about some epic fantasy where the woman bathed in buttermilk. At the time I hadn't known what buttermilk was so I'd asked him, and he explained it was the leftover liquid when someone churned butter.

I still don't understand why anyone would bathe in it.

I also can't help but wonder if this is what I'm in now.

If it is, I certainly don't understand the appeal. Of course, I may like it more if I'd been allowed to bathe by myself.

I'm not.

In fact, I'm not even allowed to pick up the utensils to eat.

Aluxif prevents me from having any chance of any form of escape.

I suppose I can't honestly blame him. Though if he truly understood why I was here, what I'd been threatened with, he'd know I'd never take the risk.

Of course, I know if my father knew what I've agreed to, he would disagree with my decision. But my father is dead.

Besides, if by offering up all that I am, I can save my people – imprisoned though they may be – then it is worth it. They'll escape with enough time, I'm sure of it.

His hand reaches around the front of me with the sponge and brushes over the top of my breasts. The steel shards of the sponge run smoothly over my skin, not pressing as hard as he'd been on my back.

My body reacts, nipples pebbling slightly, but I shudder in disgust – though I'm not sure if it's because of him touching me there or if it has more to do with my hatred of my own reaction.

“You must be clean for tonight,” Aluxif says, his voice gentle.

“I can wash myself!” I snap, though, in truth, I'm not as sure of that as I'd like to admit – taking baths wasn't a high priority in the rebellion, not in comparison to fighting for our rights to live and be free.

“And risk you drowning yourself? No. You can have me bathe you, or The Sisters of Aura. It's up to you.”

I shudder in genuine horror. I don't like Aluxif as he makes me uncomfortable, but at least he seems human. The Sisters of Aura, on the other hand, are freaky. They all dress in solid black, are extremely pale, and seem almost inhuman. I'd been forced to learn all of their names, and they are; Maya, Mya, Miya, Meya, Mayah, Myah, Maiya, Miah, Mia, Maia, Mija, and Maeja. The fact that they all have the same name only makes them all the more disturbing – okay, so they don't really have the same name, it just all sounds the same.

“No, I'd rather it be you than any of them.”

“Which is why I'm here. It isn't typically a role of a member of The Fifth Order to take care of women.”

“I know,” I mutter, feeling a strong desire to sink beneath the surface of the bluish-white liquid.

“None of that. A lady must not talk back, and must speak clearly when spoken to.”

I sigh but don't say anything else.

The sponge rubs along the undersides of my breasts before running the sponge lower, using firmer pressure once again.

“And what is it that I normally do?” he asks as he moves slightly on his knees so that he's beside me instead of behind me.

“The Fifth Order is tasked with schooling kids, specifically young girls, in the way of The Shade, so they know their proper place,” I say the explanation from memory. It was something I'd learned even before my people were captured – my father had made sure we all knew the obscenities we were fighting against.

“And why are we allowed such a precious task?”

“Because all of you in The Fifth Order are castrated.” Unlike the rest, I'd only learned that tidbit after coming here.

He continues to scrub me clean, going further down my body. I force my legs tighter together. I'm not about to let him touch me down there, even if it is with a sponge.

“Just because you can't get someone pregnant doesn't mean you don't still get off on certain things.” I regret the words almost as soon as I say them, but there's only so much degradation I can take before I start to lose it.

The resounding smack of flesh hitting flesh reaches my ears before I feel the burning pain on my cheek. It isn't the first time he's smacked me, but I'm still surprised – because tonight I'm supposed to swear my allegiance to The Shade.

“Impertinence does not become a lady.” His voice is cold. “And I do not like what you are implying. Teaching children is an honor and a sacred duty, none of us in our order would take advantage of that honor.”

The sponge rubs over the top of my legs, trying to access the crevice between my legs, but I keep my legs tightly pressed together.

“You will either spread your legs of your own accord, so I can wash that part of you or I will be forced to call The Sisters of Aura. You will not like it if they hold your legs apart and forcefully wash you. I am being gentle as I understand that you are not used to our ways. They simply won't care.”

I swallow, the taste of vomit in the back of my throat at the visual his words force upon me but proceed to open my legs for him. It's not the idea of them being rough that scares me, as illicit touch is illicit touch, no matter who it's by, but the idea of them touching me, period, terrifies me.

He runs the sponge over the lines of my womanhood, and the feeling of the stiff sponge is both painful and pleasant at the same time. I spasm slightly.

“Be calm, you are not –”

I break the cardinal rule by speaking over him, “I know, it's not my place to take pleasure from a man's touch.”

His eyes narrow. “How do you know that rule? I have not taught you that. It will be your master's job to teach you some such things.”

“Do you honestly think the rebellion doesn't know why we fight?” I look him in the eyes, refusing to be servile the way I'm supposed to be. “We wish for freedom from The Shade's egregious laws. We want the right to choose our own paths. I am not a cow. I deserve better than to be nothing more than some breeder of cattle.” I spit the last word.

“If everyone believed as your rebellion does, then we would have died out almost three hundred years ago. The Shade protects our future. Surely you must understand that.”

“We are not only four thousand, anymore.” I half expect him to smack me again, but he doesn't.

“And the only reason we aren't is because all of them understand their place. If there was another war like the one that decimated humanity in the first place, then there won't be a second chance.”

“Your assumption is that a life of slavery is better than death. I disagree.”

“And yet you asked to join The Shade when your death was about to occur. I think you protest too much.”

“I didn't agree to be part of The Shade because I was afraid to die. I did it to protect my people. If they had seen me executed, they would have fought and died. The little prison my people have been forced into is not large enough, or open enough, for any of mine to have escaped at that time. My sacrifice of joining The Shade allows them to live to fight another day.”

“And how do you know we didn't destroy your people the instant we took you from that prison?” He moves on to washing my legs.

“Because if that had been done, The Sisters of Aura and you wouldn't be so careful with me. It wouldn't truly matter if I managed to kill myself. You need me.”

“What if I told you that you simply were a trophy and that's the only reason we've been ordered to keep you alive.”

“I'd call you a liar. If there is one thing that The First Order is good for, it is for their ruthless practicality. If only you were watching me, I might believe it, but The Sisters of Aura wouldn't be wasted here.”

“You are correct.” He stands up after finishing my feet and offers his hand. “Come on. We must finish getting you ready for Typhor.”

I take his hand, as I know it's expected of me, and proceed to stand with his help.

As soon as I'm out of the tub of liquid, he dries me off with a towel before wrapping it around me, then proceeds to brush my hair out into a smooth luster.

Once he's done, he leads me back to my bedroom... bedroom, in this case, being a polite word for prison, as the only thing in the room is a bed that is attached to a frame, which is permanently affixed to the floor. There is no pillow, no sheets, no window, and the only door into the room locks from the outside.

Today, my bedroom has a couple of new items; a dress is laid out on my bed, and a pair of lace-up sandals are on the floor – I think they were once called gladiator sandals.

“It goes against everything I should do, but as long as you don't try anything, I will allow you to dress yourself. You may as well enjoy this last bit of freedom.” His words are strangely dispassionate, but when I glance at his face, the same can't be said of his eyes.

I quickly take advantage of his offer, stepping over to the bed and pulling the towel off. Part of me wishes he would at least turn his back, but I know he won't.

It takes me a second, as I look at the dress, to figure out how it is worn, before opening it up as I pull it from the bed. I put it on in the same way my father used to put on shirts that tied shut; slipping my right arm through one strap, pulling the material around my back, and placing my left arm through the other strap. Finally, I pull the dress together, the wrap – I remember reading stories featuring dresses called that, but it's my first time ever seeing one – and tying it shut around the waist with the ribbon provided. I use the single pull through loop at the top to secure that area, so it doesn't fall open.

The material only just closes around my body with the smallest amount of overlay, and I know, when I walk it's going to expose far more of me than I've ever allowed to have exposed... I know it's been done this way on purpose.

It's a reminder of what I am.

Nothing more than a human broodmare.

The dress is also low enough cut that the tops of my breasts are exposed.

My tongue wets my lips before I move forward and sit on the bed, pulling over the sandals so I can put them on and lace them up – the leather binding going up to just below my knees.

Once I'm done, I look up at Aluxif.

Even though I despise him, despise everything he's a part of and stands for, I've come to rely on him in these last weeks. He is not... cruel. And I know he could be.

It's not the first time I've worried about who I'm going to be traded to.

But now, more than ever, that worry is present at the forefront of my mind.

“Do you know who I'm going to be given to, Aluxif? Who I'm the prize for?”

“It would spoil the surprise if I was to tell you that. Come along now, it's time to take you to meet Typhor.”

I swallow thickly but proceed to stand up, walking over to him and taking his hand.

The walk from my bedroom through the halls of the alcazar and out to the streets of The Shade's stronghold – the city of Lanassence – amps up my anxiety with every step.

I don't want to do this.

I can't do this.

I was raised with too much pride to be reduced to nothing more than some shadewhore.

I yank, trying to pull my hand from Aluxif's grip as soon as we're on the streets. If I can make a run for it, then maybe, just maybe, I can escape.

But his grip is too tight.

“Don't.” He turns his head just enough to look at me. “You must go through with this. If you successfully get away from me, you will be captured. I assure you, the guards of this city will take you alive. And you will not like what happens if that happens. Not even counting what will happen to your people – they have only been allowed to live based on your willingness to join us – you will be killed, but not before you are raped, tortured, mentally assaulted, and more. You will beg for death months before it will be allowed.”

With the reminder of why I agreed to this originally, my shoulders slump slightly. “Okay.”

The rest of the walk through the city is quiet, at least for Aluxif and me, though I can feel eyes on me.

However, my glances around find no one.

When we reach the plateau beneath the citadel, I swallow. The stage on the plateau is already set up with an altar. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people – mostly men, though there are some women – stand around the stage, all of their eyes are on the man on stage.

I've never seen him before, this man with smoky gray eyes, firm body, black hair, and a sculpted face. I don't need the laurel crown upon his head to tell me he is Typhor, ruler of The Shade.

No, it's the fact that all of the crowd is giving him their riveted and sole attention.

And if it weren't for the fact that I hate him instantly, I might actually think him to be handsome.

Aluxif lets go of my hand. “You must go up there of your own accord, I cannot take you farther.”

I can't help but wonder if he means it literally. There were myths of sorcery that trickled even down to the members of the rebellion, but I've never believed in such travesties.

It wasn't magic that destroyed the world. It was war. Brought on by greed, by hatred, by fear. And though, in our modern times, things like hydrogen and atomic bombs may seem magical, they really aren't.

Realizing I'm stalling by letting my mind wander, I climb the steps.

The instant I step onto the stage, the man, Typhor, looks toward me briefly before glancing back towards his captive audience.

“And here is the princess of the insurgents now. Ready to bow her head and willingly serve the greater good, advocating for peace.”

I can feel the eyes as the audience looks my way. Their looks all feel like little pinpricks on my skins, but especially the completely inappropriate looks which trace the line of skin – leg and crotch – that flashes as I walk.

I walk over to the altar, realizing only as I close on it that it is a permanent part of the stage, literally carved from the same piece of stone. The altar has a large bowl made of a shiny silver metal and a knife that has a kris blade on it.

Looking briefly into the bowl, I see the stains of dried blood from people before me who have made this same oath, and I swallow convulsively before I drop to my knees the way I'm supposed to.

Typhor steps up to the other side of the altar. “Speak your oath to me, speak it clearly for the people below, as your word, your blood, and your name are your bindings to our law.”

The words have more weight than they should, and I wonder yet again if sorcery is real, then I mentally shake off the idea. It's just nerves.

“I, Nevoux Gentrix, daughter of Sederico Gentrix and Qayla Leveneau Moonsea of The Second Order –” there are gasps from some of the audience, only a few knew my mother wasn't just another member of the rebellion, but was actually a betrayer of The Shade. Not even many of my family and friends had known “– and former member of the rebellion, solemnly swear to join The Shade and uphold all its laws under the light of the holy trinity of Drekavac, Culsu, and Barbatos – the supreme beings. And under the rule of The First Order, the force of The Second Order, the faith of The Third Order, the tutelage of The Fifth Order and The Sixth Order, the trust of The Seventh Order, the wisdom of The Eighth Order, the will of The Sisters of Aura, and the philosophy of The Brothers of Dharma. And I swear to obey Typhor as ruler, as well as any man who is above me.” I bow my head as I finish, only just realizing the literal double entendre of the final statement that I've been practicing for weeks.

“Rise, Nevoux, and swear in blood, as you have in word.” Typhor's words demand obedience as I stand up.

I pick up the knife and hold the blade over my forearm briefly as I stare into Typhor's eyes before cutting cleanly into the skin, and allowing the blood to flow into the bowl.

I know the final part of the ritual is to strip me of my own self-worth, to take the name of whoever my master will be, but I still haven't been told who it is.

“Who am I being given to?” I practically whisper the words as I don't want them to carry to the crowd. My pride has been run through enough of the mud without admitting ignorance to the obvious.

“Come again?” Typhor asks, somewhat startled, but his voice is soft too.

I look down mumbling, “You know, who is going to be my master?”

I glance up in time to see his eyes flicker to the side of the stage. Somehow I know, I just know, that he's looking at Aluxif. After a moment, he quietly replies, “There really aren't many who have the capability to handle someone as untrained and untouched as you. So I've decided to keep you close. Which is to say, you will be mine.”

My eyes widen briefly before I look down, finishing my oath, “I am Nevoux, slave of Typhor of The First Order, ruler of The Shade.”

To me, it's like a weight is pressing on my shoulders, and I know now – know for sure – my life is over.

There will be no chance of escape for me.


A Different Kind of Tomato - Part 1 - Chapter 1

Back a few months ago I submitted several pieces to The Babies at the Border, one was the completed Future-Takes for The Emotional Roller Coaster of Life (these are now posted on FFN, Stars, and Ao3). The second was an opening scene to an original fiction called The Shade which I'm slowly working on completing (I will post the opening scene on the blog next). And the third was the first chapter of A Different Kind of Tomato. 

A Different Kind of Tomato is an extended story that starts a decade before the events that were in the one-shot, Poe-Tay-Toe/Poe-Tah-Toe. I'm not very far in A Different Kind of Tomato, but at this point am thinking about keeping it as blog only fic once I've got enough written to feel comfortable posting it regularly. For now, I'm posting the first chapter here on my blog. Further chapters won't be posting in awhile. 

Summary:
For Bella, life was never easy, and moving to California to chase the dream proves no less difficult. Especially when she falls for, not one man, but two. People always claim love conquers all, but Bella isn't sure she believes it. An extension of Poe-Tay-Toe/Poe-Tah-Toe.


Beta'd by monica03


A Different Kind of Tomato

Part 1

Chapter I

The tearful goodbyes to my dad, Charlie, and my first serious boyfriend, Jacob, had made the first few hours of driving almost impossible. But I was done crying a long time before I made it to Los Angeles.

It wasn't my first time in California, I'd lived there for about six months when I'd been a little over two with my mom, Renee, and my grandma, Marie. But when mom had my baby sis, Alice, we'd moved on. I honestly couldn't remember anything about that time, though I had a vague memory of a heavy wood table. Whether that had been at my grandma's house, or somewhere else, I wasn't certain.

I was chasing the typical American dream – the one that hundreds, if not thousands, of women and men went to L.A. every year to chase... chasing the dream of becoming an actor.

I was lucky, in one sense at least, because my big bro had offered me a place to stay.

Though, the idea of moving in with someone who I hadn't seen since before I was two was more than a little daunting... Though, it was hardly the first time I'd done it – in fact, it had only been ten short months since I moved in with dad.

My dad had been more than a little disappointed when I'd declared that I was heading to California to try and get a career in acting.

But he didn't get it.

Mom, Alice, and I had lived the vast majority of my childhood by staying in cheap motels, crappy apartments, and more than one halfway house. The reality was that one of the only things I'd ever been able to latch onto was the TV – with all the different actors playing numerous roles.

I tried to follow the directions to the address my brother had given me but missed the correct turn on three different occasions. When I finally pulled up in the drive of his house – as he'd instructed me to do – I was pissed and ready to start a fight for no other reason than I could.

After getting out of my truck, I grabbed one of my bags from the bed and headed to the front door, ringing the doorbell.

It took almost a good minute for the door to open. The man standing on the other side of the door was tall enough that I had to tip my head up slightly to see his face. The face told me it was my big bro, but even though I'd seen dozens of pictures of him at my dad's house, it was the first time I'd ever seen him in person.

He was far more massive than I'd expected him to be.

And if it weren't for the curly brown hair and chocolate eyes, I'd totally wonder if my mom had been having an affair on the side. But the hair and eyes were all Charlie.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder exactly what recessive genes he'd gotten to give him his stature. He was at least six and a half feet tall, and my width could be fit between his shoulders two times over.

“Emmett?” I made his name a question.

We'd spoken over the phone enough that I wondered if he might recognize my voice, though I couldn't be certain that he would.

He reached out and hugged me suddenly, picking me up as he did so. “Hey, sis!”

It was like being constricted by a boa.

“Can't... Breathe.” I wheezed out.

He put me back on my feet before reaching back and scratching the back of his head. “Sorry about that, my girlfriend always reminds me that I don't know my own strength.”

“Girlfriend?”

“You'll meet her soon enough, she comes by at least a couple times a week... Claims I'd live on take-out and pizzas if she didn't cook for me from time to time. Her name's Heidi. Here, let me help get your bags.”

He and I managed to shuffle around each other as I entered the house with the bag I was carrying, and he went to my truck.

I didn't get very far though because the instant I walked through the foyer, down the hall, and into his living room, I stopped cold – my jaw dropping as I stared.

The sectional couch was made of a cream-colored leather that appeared to be butter soft – the type of leather that costs a fortune – the coffee table, end tables, bookshelves, and TV stand were all made of ebony, and there was a two-story wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling window... Not to mention the sixty-inch television. But none of that was what had me staring.

No, it was the nude still on one wall. I couldn't think of the actress's name, but I knew I recognized her. Albeit, I didn't think I'd ever seen that much of her.

Emmett came into the living room, carrying my remaining four bags. His eyes tracked to where I was staring. “Oh, I... uh... probably should have warned you about that.”

I turned enough to arch an eyebrow at him. “And your girlfriend knows about this?”

He blushed. “She's the one that gave it to me.”

I blinked.


He led me to the bedroom that he told me was mine for as long as I needed it, and I spent the next couple of hours organizing the stuff I brought with me.

I still wasn't a hundred percent certain what to make of my big brother. It was clear, on one level, anyway, that he wanted to be a part of my life. But Emmett was approximately six years older than me – old enough that he probably remembered me as a baby.

I knew he'd been in my life until mom had run off with me when I was two, but I couldn't remember it. If it hadn't been for the fact that I'd spent my senior year with my dad – having put my foot down with my mom the day I turned eighteen – I wouldn't have even known what my brother looked like or what his voice sounded like.

I'd managed to settle into a relatively comfortable relationship with my dad within days of moving in with him, but Charlie was like me. He was quiet, extremely self-controlled, and a workaholic.

And it was abundantly clear that Emmett had far more of Renee's attitude... yet, he was more stable than mom had ever been.

I finally finished putting my belongings away before sighing and going to the balustrade overlooking the living room, but he wasn't there.

I frowned slightly, heading down the stairs to see if I could figure out where he went.

There was a back hall which I followed, finding several closed doors – at least one I was sure was the kitchen. Part of me wanted to peak in each room, but the glass door at the end of the hall caught my eye before I started exploring.

When I reached the glass door, I realized it was a pool room.

I carefully opened the door and stepped inside just as Emmett surfaced.

My eyes widened momentarily before I spun to face the wall, my cheeks burning.

It wasn't my first time seeing a naked guy, not even close, but it was different seeing my brother – even if I didn't know him well yet – than seeing Jake or the gang. There were certain things I simply didn't want to see when it came to my brother.

“Why are you staring at the wall?”

I blushed even harder. “You're naked,” I mumbled.

“Am not.”

“I know a guy's ass when I see one.”

“So I'm wearing a thong, still not naked.”

Part of me was tempted to verify, but I still didn't turn around. “And I'm still not going to look.”

“Whatever.”

We were both silent for a minute before he finally said, “Hey, I found a job for you while you start trying to find a role as an actress. If you're interested, that is.”

“What kind of job?”

“The kind that will allow you to get some spending money. It probably won't equal out to much, but you'll need some money to buy in-season clothes and that kind of crap. It's pretty much a must-have for people who want to go into acting.”

“And how do you know that? You're not an aspiring actor.” It felt ridiculous to continue talking to the wall, but I refused to get another look at his derriere.

“No, I'm not. But I've met my share of aspiring actors since moving out here.”

“Okay, so what type of place is willing to hire me without even meeting me?”

“There's a little diner about two miles from here that needs a new waitress. The owner and I are friends. He said he'd give the job to you if you want it.”

I frowned slightly because I wasn't a hundred percent certain that I had the hand/feet coordination to succeed as a waitress, but finally nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”


I'd been working at the diner for almost a week and had yet to meet Emmett's friend. I'd been hired on by the cook – a robust Irish woman who went by Siobhan, pronounced as it was spelled... at least according to her.

The owner, on the other hand, was strangely allusive. Siobhan assured me that he helped out regularly, oftentimes waiting, or cooking, or even cleaning, but I'd yet to see it.

Though, I supposed it was for the best as just the thought of meeting the boss-man made me feel like I was going to drop something.

In truth, waiting tables wasn't something I was all that good at, but I did need the money.

I stepped up to a family of four sitting in one of the booths.

“My name is Bella, and I'll be your waitress today. May I take your order?” I said cheerfully.

I started writing down their requests on the order pad when I happened to hear the door to the kitchen open. Instinct had me wanting to look and see who it was right away, but I forced myself to finish jotting down the rest of my order.

Once I was done, I turned, and my breath caught in my chest. A man I'd never seen before was at the cash register with an apron around his waist. He had spiky brown hair, a five o'clock shadow, gray-blue eyes, and a lean and tall body. He wasn't the most handsome man, at least not in the traditional sense, but he was still hot.

If I'd found him in a pool, mostly naked, I wouldn't have looked away. Part of me wanted to lick him like a lollipop.

I blushed and looked down, rushing over to give the order to the cook before spinning to hide in the bathroom while I calmed myself, but tripped and did a header right into the man in question, instead.


Monday, February 17, 2020

We Saw the World End on a Tuesday


I officially started writing We Saw the World End on a Tuesday on Valentine's Day. It's a drabble fic and I don't know how long it's going to be, but it's centering around a very real event that happened in our history. 

I'm not specifying the year or date of this story as of yet, though certain hints can help to determine it for people, and perhaps the biggest hint of all is the title. 

This story is set in, an as of yet, unstated town, and is set at a middle school/junior high level. But the general most accepted pairings: Bella/Edward, Alice/Jasper, and Rosalie/Emmett are being used for this story. There are also characters who are homosexual in this story that weren't in the Twilight Saga. I have many reasons for having lgbtq characters in my story, and I've stated some of them in previous posts so I'm not going to go into my feelings on that again. Just know that it is a part of this story. 

Friday, February 14, 2020

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Valentine Edition - Entries and Winners

I submitted two short one-shots to A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Valentine Edition and both of them won a special award. 

The first, A Different Form of Dear John, won The Sour Patch Award


The second, Will You Be?, won The Sweet Tart Award


Both stories are now posted on my FFN account and on ADF. Links to the stories can be found on the One-shots and Short Stories page, or you can visit my profile on either site by clicking the links on the right side of the page.

---

Stay tuned for an update about my newest drabble fic in the next couple of days.


Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Stories for FAGE 12

A few months ago I signed up for the twelfth FAGE (which stands for Fic Awesome Gift Exchange).

I was given the author Lovely Black Butterfly to write a fanfiction for as a gift.

The story I came up with was Watch the World Burn


Isabella lives on an island along with all the other Everlasting. The island has technology not found anywhere else and is self sustained. As the world of the Everlasting is threatened will love conquer all? An Isabella/Caius/James love triangle.


_____________________________________________________

Later, I was asked to write to write for a second author, Laurie Whitlock

And the story I wrote was Tomorrow's Goodbye


It was like a dream, dancing across the floor with all the people around them. And in the midst of it all, her partner wore a mask, so she couldn't be sure it was him. But someway, somehow, she knew. Hermione/Draco, AU.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13498193/1/Tomorrow-s-Goodbye
https://www.starslibrary.net/viewstory.php?sid=12288
https://archiveofourown.org/works/22662067
https://www.adifferentforest.net/Fiction/Title/2318/Tomorrows_Goodbye
or http://hp.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600100075


Monday, February 10, 2020

Rebirth and Affliction Sneak Peek

That's right, I'm working on it, I'm not sure how soon it will be out, but I am working on it.

And now for a brief teaser of Chapter 19 - Selfish:

“Can we go for a drive?” I asked Edythe as soon as we got back home from the baseball field.

She gave me a suspicious look before finally agreeing. “Sure.”

I supposed we could talk at home – I was sure that Archie had already seen what I was planning to talk to Edythe about – but I wanted the privacy. Even though I'd been a vampire for more than a year, I was still less than comfortable with the lack of solitude, and the incapability of having a conversation with Edythe without having everyone in the family hearing it.

Though I didn't want it bothering me, I wasn't really sure how long it was going to take for me to get used to it completely.

Once we got to the truck, Edythe got in on the driver's side. My lips twitched slightly.

“I thought this was supposed to be my truck.”

“It is.”

“Then why are you the one always driving?” So far I hadn't managed to get behind the wheel even once. >

“I'm better at driving.”

“Says who? I have the same reflexes as you do.”

“Really? I wasn't the one that lost my vehicle in the ocean.” She grinned.