A to Z Challenge - J is for Jelly beans

This is an ongoing story for the Challenge.

If you're just joining me, please start with A is for Abby.

J IS FOR JELLY BEANS

Abby took shallow breaths, unwilling to her body press any more to Demetrius' than it already was. They were swashed into a corner by a deck and a garage. Tawa was mashed against the wall and complaining in some ancient language. Sounded a little like Greek but not quite.

The man on the deck told his dog to hurry up and finish his business. The dog, of course, took his time.

Abby could hear Demetrius' heart in his chest. It annoyed her it was much calmer than hers. Her stomach quivered and her hands clenched. No matter how she was breathing, she could smell that masculine woodsy scent that she had come to know as his. Even though he had been using her soap in the shower, he still smelled like he had just come out of the forest. He was as hard and solid as a great oak too. Yet cut in the most appealing of ways.

She glanced to see him looking at her. A smirk quirked up his lips and he leaned against her more so. Abby wanted to look away, but her head refused to move. Those lips of his were a crime. Too full and sensual to be a man's, but so fitting for the fae. What would it feel like to have him kiss her? Would he be tender? Or would he be wild as he was when fighting?

The dog finally did his thing and trotted back up to the house. The man muttered and shuffled inside, shutting the glass doors and locking them. The outside lights turned off.

Abby and Demetrius stood where they were for another minute. Their gazes locked. Goose bumps freckled her arms as he bent his head. He was going to kiss her. Oh, how she wanted to taste that fire.

My face is squished. Tawa grumbled. This is only the first house of the night. Let's get moving.

Tawa's sharp voice was enough to knock some sense back into Abby's head. She pushed her way out of their hiding spot, taking in a deep breath of the cool night air. She needed to focus on the matter at hand and not the gorgeous man her hands wanted to be exploring at the moment.

"This one's in the basement. Let's avoid going in through the rest of the house in case anyone is still awake. There's a window to the basement right there." Abby pointed to it. She stiffened as she felt Demetrius' hand on the small of her back. He seemed warmer than he should, or was that just her?

"I won't fit through the window. We can go through the back here. No alarms, right?"

"No alarms, but we're not taking the chance that anyone's still awake. I can take care of this one myself." Abby marched forward and worked the window open.

"You're not going in without me." Demetrius' tone was one that demanded her to obey. She ignored him. When she sat on the ground and slid her legs in through the window, he grabbed a hold of her arm. "Not without me."

"I've been doing this for years without any help. It's just one monster." Abby tore her arm from his grasp. "You go prance around the yard or whatever it is you fairies do." She slid the rest of the way in before he could snatch her again. "Oh, be careful. The dog left something nasty out there."

Demetrius cursed at her and stuck his head through the window. "I have a blood debt. I will not have my honor insulted by being ignored or belittled like this."

"Yes, yes." Abby waved a dismissive hand at him and let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the basement. There was only one child in the house. Mark had sent her a note with the boy's address and nightmare. Furry critter in the basement ready to yank him down there and eat him. She heard a noise to her left. Her palms glowed and her blades slid free. She gripped them tightly.

The ceiling wasn't high and she could see nothing her height or taller. Another noise and she looked down. A monster the size of a rabbit hopped into view. It was all eyes, ears, and mouth, and the rest of it was covered in dirty purple fur. It growled and left a big pile of slobber on the floor.

"Lovely." Abby wrinkled her nose. She could step on the thing and be done with it.

There was another noise to her right. Then one in front of her.

Several growls echoed the first creature's and nearly two dozen of the critters hopped into view. Each of them a color of the pastel rainbow.

What do you see? How many? Tawa asked.

"Rabid jelly beans. A whole freakin' basket full."

Teaser Tuesday with The Night Circus

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I've heard so much about The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It has my expectations set very high, but I've been told it doesn't disappoint. I love the cover. It stands out on a bookshelf and offers so much mystery.

Here's your teaser:
In the blink of an eye folds of silk are glossy black feathers, large beating wings, and it is impossible to pin-point the moment when is is fully raven and no longer cloth. The raven swoops over the red velvet seats and up into the balcony where it flies in curious circles. (page 75)

A to Z Challenge - I is for Intelligence

This is part of an ongoing story for the Challenge.

If you're just joining me, please start with A is for Abby.

I IS FOR INTELLIGENCE

Abby returned to her loft with pizza in hand. She was about to toss down her satchel when she heard Demetrius. His voice was quiet and intense, talking about something going on in the old house at the end of the street. There were no houses on her street, only apartment buildings.

After a half minute more, she realized he was reading. Reading out loud.

Abby crept around the corner and peered into the loft. Demetrius was sitting in her window seat with the window wide open. Tawa was propped up across from him. He had the newest Burrows book in his hands. He paused in his reading and started to ask Tawa a question.

"You!" Abby gasped and stormed over to them, tossing the pizza onto the coffee table. "You can hear her. You've been making fun of me all this time for talking to myself and you can hear her!"

"Hey, darling. It's no reason to be mean to the pizza." Demetrius gave her that grin that infuriated her and made her stomach do flips at the same time.

If it's any consolation, I didn't know he could hear me either until yesterday. Tawa didn't sound very sympathetic. In fact, Abby was sure she sounded amused.

"Yesterday?" Abby growled and threw up her hands before pulling at her hair. "Why didn't you tell us? Do you realize how infuriating you are?"

"I didn't do it to annoy you, but it was an amusing game." Demetrius slipped out of the window seat and bent over to open the box, snagging a piece of pizza. "You never asked how much I knew about the Fearless. Well, the old tales say something about a spiritual guide for each warrior. In centuries past, the guide was wished into a sacred object - perhaps a statue or a symbol of one's faith."

I remember those days. I was in a statue of the Greek Goddess Artemis for a couple of generations. Tawa sighed wistfully.

"Yet your sacred object was a stuffed hippo." Demetrius chuckled as he took a bite, cheese stretching out. He used his tongue to skillfully reign it in.

"At least it's something I can carry around easily and not draw any attention. I think lugging around a statue would slow me down a bit." Abby stared at that tongue. She slammed her palms into her eyes and rubbed them.

We didn't go with our girls when they fought. That has been something new I've experienced with you, Tawa said. After being in the washer for the third time this week, I think I prefer being in an unmovable statue.

"Anyway," Demetrius continued. "As for being able to hear Tawa, I'm from a line that has some telepathic abilities. I don't have any active abilities, but my senses can pick up things on other wavelengths. I didn't say anything at first because I was trying to respect your relationship with your guide. I didn't want to intrude unless invited."

"So why did you?" Abby folded her arms.

"I got tired of listening to her whining about being stuck in the washer and took her out." Demetrius shrugged as he took a second bite.

I wasn't whining. Tawa sniffed.

"That I can believe," Abby said to Demetrius and picked up a piece of pizza for herself. "Okay, now we can all talk together. Anything in the book worthwhile?"

It's full of bad prose and self-entitled teens complaining their parents won't let them stay out past ten. Tawa snorted.

"As a guide for the Fearless, you have no insight into literature." Demetrius fetched the book from the window seat.

Yes, because I spend so much time with a book in my hands.

He ignored Tawa and held out the book to Abby. "Monsters praying on children. It's written simply, but speaks to the basest of fears. Great use of tension. Not graphic, but enough detail to be frightening. Leaves a good amount to the imagination." He raised a brow at that.

Abby stood motionless, pizza in hand. He knew what he was talking about. He knew literary techniques. No longer just a hot body, he had a keen mind. Nothing turned her on more than intelligence. She was so screwed.

"Did you hear me? It's triggering the imagination of its readers to realize their fears." Demetrius frowned slightly at Abby who still hadn't moved. He wiggled the book at her, waiting for her to take it.

Abby slowly reached up and took the book. Her hand fell heavily back to her side, the book bonking against her thigh. "Oh, I heard you."

A to Z Challenge - H is for Horror

This post is part of one story lasting the whole challenge.

If you're just joining me, please start with A is for Abby.

H IS FOR HORROR

"You will stay at this table, read the books or whatever, but you will not bother me while I'm working." Abby hissed out the words, glaring down at Demetrius who only infuriated her further with his lazy smile. She grit her teeth and repeated, "Stay right here."

Abby turned and marched over to another table in the library where twin twelve-year-old girls sat. They whispered and giggled, stealing glances at Demetrius. They leaned on the table in unison as Abby sat down and took her texts out of her satchel.

"Is that your boyfriend, Miss White?" Amber asked. Her twin Violet added, "He's really cute." This set them giggling again.

"No. He's not my boyfriend. He's..." Abby searched for a proper cover story. "My cousin. Visiting from out of town." Her neck ached as she willed herself not to look in the fae's direction. She knew he heard that, knew he was grinning. She tapped the book in front of her. "Down to work, girls. Algebra today."

Abby spent the hour tutoring the girls, but her mind kept drifting. It was a good thing math came easily to her and that the twins weren't paying that much attention. She would've cancelled all her appointments, but she still needed to pay rent and, more importantly, tutoring let her communicate with the children. She would hear stories about kids having problems with nightmares or, a few of them already knew she could help them with monster problems and would pass notes to her through their friends. Other adults never believed them, but she did. Were there a few false calls? Yes. Lately, though, every one was real.

As they were collecting their things after the session, Demetrius sauntered over to the table. He grinned at the girls. "Hello girls. Did you enjoy your lesson with my lovely cousin?"

"It was good." Violet flushed and giggled.

"Though I bet you'd rather be reading those books of yours." Demetrius motioned to the books they currently held in their arms and sat on the edge of the table. Their math books were already stuffed in their knapsacks. "What are those about?"

"Oh, this is the new one by M.T. Burrows. Her stories are awesome scary." Amber gazed up at Demetrius with big dreamy eyes.

"I like a good horror story. Maybe I'll pick them up. Thanks for the recommendation." Demetrius made a small noise as he was pushed off the table and straightened up, still smirking.

"Go on, girls. Your mom is likely waiting for you out front." Abby shooed them off. The twins walked away, giggling and peeking over their shoulders at Demetrius. Abby frowned at him. "I told you not to talk to the kids."

"No harm done." He shrugged. Abby couldn't help but notice the t-shirt he was wearing stretched across his chest as if barely containing him. At least it wasn't as distracting as his tattoo.

"It's creepy. Did you actually do any research while you were sitting over there? I didn't see you open more than one book." Abby sighed and hooked her satchel over her shoulder.

"Not all knowledge of value can be found in books. Though it is books that I'm interested in. Especially those ones that the girls were reading. The Burrows books."

"They're just some silly stories. Fiction. Why? Do you like to read children's books?" Abby shook her head. She hoped he would be some help with her research, but she shouldn't have expected it from one of the wild fae. He likely never read a book in a life.

"No, but look." Demetrius put an arm over her shoulder and turned her in a slow circle. He spoke in a quiet voice near her ear. "I've been watching the children. Almost all of them have a copy of the book."

Abby scanned the library. There were a lot of kids since it was after school and just before dinner. What he said was true. It was a popular series.

"So?" She was very aware of his arm on her and the nearness of his mouth to her ear. It was difficult to think about books when she could just turn her head and press her lips to his.

No, no. None of that. She took a step away from him.

"I saw that book in the room last night. The gorilla room." He dipped his head to her, seemingly awaiting something. When she didn't reply immediately, he continued. "A scary book. Awesome scary. All the children are reading it. It's breeding the monsters."

Abby was about to protest, but then it clicked. She could have kicked herself for not seeing it sooner. It didn't take much to fuel a child's imagination. She had been going too deep, researching old folklore and history. She never saw what was there all along. She hadn't been thinking like a child. There were always horror stories and films. What was different about this one?

"Let's go buy a copy."

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

Welcome to all my new followers!

And hello to you guys that have been around a while.

Chocolate for everyone!

 

I'm excited to be visiting my family in Canada this holiday.

It's been four years and a baby since I've been back.

I'll be gone for a week, and thus gone from the internet.

Please don't think I've forgotten about you or the Challenge.

I'll make up for it when I get back.

At least you have Abby and Demetrius to keep you company while I'm gone.

A to Z Challenge - G is for Giggling Gorilla

I'm writing one story over the course of the month for this challenge.

If you're just joining me now, please start at A is for Abby.

G IS FOR GIGGLING GORILLA

Abby sliced through the thick hide of the monster with the party hat. Copious amounts of black blood splattered her, but that wasn't what made her curse. The beast laughed as its wound stitched itself together within a matter of seconds.

It swung its meaty arm at her with the force and speed of a wreaking ball. Abby jumped to the side, trying to focus on an alternative method of killing this beast other than hacking it to bits. Her line of thought was interrupted as Demetrius roared and made another attack.

"Stay back!" Abby shouted and leapt back into the fray with her blades whirling.

"You get out of the way. Let me crush the beast." Demetrius growled as he brought his huge club down upon the monster. It squealed as it was struck, but it wasn't hurt that badly.

What is it with men and thinking they can solve all their problems with a big chunk of wood? Tawa said with her usual bitter bite.

"Let's not even go there. I need to find a way to kill it." Abby hissed as she was smacked across the face. There was a bright flash of pain before she forced it down. Warm blood trickled from her nose. She wiped it away with the back of her hand.

"Then leave it to me." Demetrius was like an animal when he fought. All brute force, instinctual, and deadly grace.

Are you ever going to let him pay his blood debt to you? Tawa sighed. Let him kill it. He'll eventually find a way.

"No. This is my job." Abby would not step away from her duty. Every monster she faced represented a child's life. She would end it as soon as possible. She dodged another flurry of blows.

Demetrius was noisy as he fought. Snarls and battle cries. Three days ago she had brought him home andm after resting the first night at her loft, he had gone to a nearby park and returned with his club. He claimed that it had to come from a tree spirit who willingly gave its limb for the purpose of being used against evil. It made one hell of a weapon, but it wasn't going to work quickly with this monster.

"Think like a child." Abby tore her gaze from the impressive display by the fae and zipped out of the way of the beast. She scanned the child's room. Books, lots of books, and airplane models. A row of hats neatly hung from a coat rack. Some other toys and a teddy bear with its eyes plucked out thrown into a corner. Monsters were always so cruel to the children's favorite toys.

Yes, what weakness would a child attribute to this beast? Bananas? Tawa sounded as frustrated as Abby felt.

Demetrius was thrown into her and they crashed into the wall. Chunks of plaster fell around them. He was quick to his feet and stood in front of her, bare chest heaving. He never lost hold of his club.

"Is it laughing at us?" He swung at the beast again.

Abby could hear a strange coughing noise and the monster was holding its shaking belly. She stood up and moved beside Demetrius. "It's giggling."

"I will not be laughed at by an overgrown monkey!" He roared and launched himself at the thing. He was promptly thrown against the other wall.

"It's a gorilla." The nightmares that came to life from children's minds never ceased to amaze her. Why the boy who lived there was afraid of a giggling gorilla, she didn't know, but it was sharper than the typical beast. It also had to have a weakness.

Head-on attacks weren't working. It was too clever to let her get behind it. It did a little dance as it and Demetrius exchanged blows. The polka dots on the hat sparkled in the dim light coming from outside.

The hat.

Abby darted forward. She did so without fear of the horrific beast or for her own life. Her only fear was that she so easily fell into working with Demetrius and liked it. Not that she'd ever tell him.

She swung with her left blade to distract the monster. When it dodged it, she brought the right sword down to slice through its hat. It howled. Its giggles turned into sobs. Abby rammed both her swords through its chest. This time, its wounds didn't heal. It sank to the floor with a pitiful sob and shuddered once before it died.

"The hat was its weak spot?" Demetrius scoffed. He rolled his shoulders, brushing off blood and plaster. "That makes no bloody sense at all."

"It does, but I don't expect a caveman like you to understand." Abby's glowing swords disappeared into her palms.

"Caveman? You're the one that snores." He shot back.

"You're the one carrying the club." Abby adjusted Tawa on her back and headed to the window.

"Perhaps I'm the one with the club, babycakes," Demetrius said as he hefted it over one broad shoulder. "But at least I resisted the urge to knock you out with it and carry you back to my cave while watching you towel off after your shower this morning."

Abby's mouth fell open and her cheeks flushed a brilliant crimson. There was little privacy in her loft and she had thought he'd been sleeping. She heard him chuckle as she hopped out the window. She slammed it shut and walked off without waiting for him.

A to Z Challenge - F is for Freakin' Fae

This is part of an ongoing story.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

F IS FOR FREAKIN' FAE

"You scared that girl more than the monster." Abby wiped her face with an old towel from her car's trunk. She ignored the blood splattered fae when he held out his hand for one.

"I did not. She saw how handsome and heroic I am and swooned." Demetrius snatched the towel from her when she was done. The black blood was like jelly, but the stench didn't whet the appetite in the least.

"You came barreling in through her window growling like an animal just as I had the monster. The girl screamed and fainted." Abby opened the driver's side door and unhooked Tawa from her belt. She tossed the hippo into the backseat. "I told you to stay outside and watch."

Hey! I don't care if you're mad at that brute, but be a little more gentle with me. Tawa complained.

"The beast was going to suck you dry. If I hadn't helped-" Demetrius threw the towel back into the trunk and slammed it shut.

"It was not! I could've tied its proboscis in knots, but I was going for the quick clean kill. You're the one that made it messy." Abby sat in the driver's seat and jammed the keys into the ignition. This night had gone to hell. First a pack of monsters in the attic. She'd never seen so many together. They were usually solitary creatures. Then this damn annoying fae had attached himself to her and gotten in the way of what would have been an easy kill. The mess from the fight was extensive, but all evidence of the monster in the closet would be gone as soon as the sun rose. The little girl would remember, but her memory would fade with time. Unfortunately Abby's would not.

Demetrius stood beside the car with his arms folded. The moonlight highlighted and complimented his profile. Even covered in filth, he still managed to look hot. Abby yanked her door closed and cursed herself for noticing.

"Well?" Abby glared at him.

"Well what?" He snipped back.

"I'm going home now." She couldn't believe she was waiting for him.

Neither can I. Tawa huffed.

"Where do you live? I'll meet you there." Demetrius said with a nonchalance that made Abby frown all the more.

"It's a bit of a drive. Just get in." Abby sighed.

"I'm not getting into an iron box for the second time tonight." He stood his ground.

Ha! That's right. The fae hate cars. Tawa laughed. Drive off and leave him in the dust.

"All right then. Can't say it was nice meeting you. Bye." Abby shifted the car into drive and pulled away from the curb. She saw him curse and snarl in her rearview mirror and then run up to grab the passenger side door.

"I'm coming with you." Demetrius sat down and shut the door. His hand gripped the handle and he seemed to be concentrating on not looking ill. Yet that expression alone made him appear constipated.

"Don't worry." Abby smirked. "I won't take advantage of you in your weakened state." She drove down the street and headed to the highway.

"You can give it a try, if you'd like, babe." His sly smile made hers evaporate.

"Enough with the pet names already!" Abby gripped the wheel tight in both hands. "Freakin' fae. Prancing around all fancy and pretty, thinking they can have any woman or man. I'm sure you all laugh about it at court and drink your fruity fairy wines. I will not be one of those humans. Flirt with someone else."

"So you think I'm pretty?" His smile was weak, but it was still there, still tempting.

Open the car door and kick him out. He won't have the strength to fight you. Tawa offered up her suggestion. You should have listened to me.

"Enough with your comments too." Abby shot a look over her shoulder at the hippo. Then she poke Demetrius in the arm with a rigid finger. "You're an egotistical jerk. You're only here because of your blood debt or whatever. Act like you're an honorable being, for goodness sake."

"My honor demands that I give my life for yours if the situation demands it. I will hold true to it. Do not doubt me." Demetrius' voice was quiet and serious. He swallowed thickly. "I'm not one of those, as you said, freakin' fae from the court. Those are distant cousins and I dislike them as much as you. I'm of the wild, a hunter. One of the best of my clan. No prancing, no fruity wines, no silly gossiping."

No matter the chill of the night, Abby pressed the button to lower his window and let the fresh air wash over him. He breathed in deeply, looking a little less tense.

He's still an egotistical jerk. Tawa grumped.

"You're one of the Fearless. I have much to prove in your eyes it seems." Demetrius stuck an arm outside and rested his hand on the roof.

I wonder if he'll stick his head outside like a dog. The hippo chuckled, but it tapered off as she was ignored again.

Abby said nothing. Her gut told her he was being honest. He was also proving that he would risk a lot by riding in a car. It was clearly weakening him and making him sick. She sped up to get them to her place a little faster. She didn't know what she was going to do with him, but perhaps another person to fight with her with the increase of monsters lately would be a good thing.