Sunday Snippet: Lie to Me

March 27, 2016

Happy Easter to those who observe and celebrate. We're having some lovely weather in Ohio, which might only last twenty-four hours because—hello!—it's Ohio. LOL I'm still battling the flu… apparently I got the full two-week version. Yay, me.

That said, I did enjoy my week of new shows on television. The Walking Dead followed up the Carol / Maggie excellence with another terrific episode. I'm still not all that excited for Negan to show up, but eh, we'll see what happens when he does.

Gotham took a turn I didn't expect and I'm definitely interested in where things go from here. Nygma is one crafty, creepy dude. The Magicians continues to keep me intrigued. I truly love the dynamic between Penny and Quentin. The Lost Girl finale had me sobbing… again. I'm going to miss that show so much. Bitten twisted the spikes in a little deeper, but I loved the spin with making Rachel the one with powers instead of Rocco. Awesome to see Paige again.

The Flash made a reveal I didn't expect until the end of the season, so kudos for keeping me on my toes. Arrow took a turn I didn't exactly like, but I'm in for the long haul with Oliver and company. Looking forward to a new Legends episode this week.

Agents of SHIELD keeps getting better and better. I'm excited for the Most Wanted spin off. I love those characters.

The finale for Murdoch Mysteries proved excellent. I can't believe they keep coming up with great stuff after almost ten years. Here's to another terrific season whenever it premieres.

And that's the television update for this week.

Tonight's post is from Lie to Me, an urban fantasy / contemporary paranormal novella where my main characters have to deal with a malevolent force before they get their lives on track.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Jana Ricks has a target on her back and she wants Rhys McPherson to help her get rid of it. Rhys loves Jana, but can't protect her, not if they want to stay alive, which he's determined to make happen… even if it means giving up the future he wants.

And a preview snippet…

Jana Ricks thrashed through the woods behind her house. "What the flaming hell is on my ass?" She'd pushed her daily run to late evening, hoping for cooler temperatures.

The summer humidity, worse than it had been for five years, sucked the will to exercise out of Jana during the day.

Thudding footfalls and snapping brush spurred Jana forward. She had no idea who she'd pissed off, but her gut screamed "otherworldly" pursuit. And that meant even if she made the safety of her cottage, she might not lose whatever creature nipped at her heels.

Spying the back patio, she used a burst of energy and rocketed the last few hundred feet to reach the neatly laid brick pavers. Spinning around, her breath heaving in and out, she crossed her arms in an 'X' then spread them out into a 'T'. She muttered an intricate series of words then punched both hands toward the inky black sky. Drawing power from her surroundings, she brought her arms downward in a sharp motion and sent the incantation out in all directions.

A moment later, a piercing yelp followed by a low, menacing growl met her ears.

Anger kicked hard in her chest. "Dammit. A hell hound or a hex cat." Her thighs screamed with agony because of the hard run, but she walked the perimeter of her patio, touching her foot to a series of runes on the bordering bricks. "Let's see you get past my wards, you mangy cur." Shaky legs carried her to the French doors, leading into her humble abode.

She entered and made a beeline for her phone, sitting on the kitchen table. Swiping through her contacts, her thumb hovered over the screen a moment before she hit the call icon. Lifting the device to her ear, she tamped down the fear and anger, ignored the thundering reluctance pumping along with her pulse, and waited for the recipient to respond.

On the third ring, they did.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Hey, it's Jana. I need help."

I'm really liking the way this one is coming together. I do need to take a day and really plot out the rest of the story, mainly to make sure I don't spin off in too many directions.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Left Unsaid

Well, it's the first day of spring and we're getting snow in Ohio. LOL I'm also down with the flu, so not a fun week.

Another light week in television. The Walking Dead had a terrific Carol / Maggie episode that ended up being one of the best ever.

Gotham's episode took an interesting turn. I'm excited to see what happens with Cobblepot back on the loose. Nygma is sliding into total crazytown and I'm loving it. I have a feeling Hugo is lining up a bunch of pieces and I'm very interesting in where all that goes. My other Monday night shows provided excellent viewing. The Magicians went in a direction I didn't really see coming. Lost Girl amped everything up for the finale and Bitten made me cry. LOL

Agents of SHIELD surprised me and that makes me happy. Looking forward to more and seeing where things go. Murdoch Mysteries had a great episode and the finale looks terrific. Fingers crossed there's not a huge cliffhanger.

My shows should be back this week and I'm ready and waiting.

That's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Left Unsaid, a novella based around the prompt of "a relationship sparks because the main characters almost die, for real this time."

Here's the mini-blurb:

Haven and Pryce are involved in a covert war between humanity and the fae. When the battle takes a nasty turn for the worse and their lives are in danger multiple times, the couple realizes it's sometimes better to communicate without words.

And a preview snippet…

Pryce stared at the ceiling of Haven's quarters. Haven had taken the raw sting of betrayal churning through his veins and turned it into satisfied bliss. Sated and spent, his brain finally settled into some semblance of normal.

With her tucked up against his side, he finally confessed his drama. "Maya was one of the combatants." He forced the image of her pulling the trigger from his mind.

Haven sat up, the sheet falling to reveal her torso. "She's human, Pryce. I don't get this deep connection you seem to have toward her, or your concern." She got up, crossing over to her dresser. "Why does it matter? Maya had clearly made her hatred of the fae known just by being on our enemy's side." Rifling through a drawer, she pulled out a tank top and yanked it over her head.

Pryce closed his eyes. "She's my sister. Haven." He didn't want to have this argument, but he needed to put a voice to his suspicions.

Haven paused, her hipster panties halfway up her thighs. "No, she's not. She's a girl you spent time in a foster home with. There's no blood between you." She shot him a disgusted look. "You're not family. Pryce." She came back over to the bed and settled on the edge, holding his gaze.

Price grasped her hand. "You're wrong, Haven. There's a connection, a bond. She's the only person who ever tried to have my back growing up." And the only one before Haven who gave a damn if he lived or died.

Haven blew out a long breath. "And now she's gunning for you." She moved closer, tucking her legs up under her thighs. "I don't get it, Pryce. You should be thanking your lucky balls she didn't take you out." She shook her head. "Instead, you're mourning the loss of what? A childhood memory? Because that's all she can ever be now." The conviction in her voice didn't brook argument.

Pryce sat up, swinging his legs over his side of the mattress, turning his back to Haven. "I disagree. You didn't see her." He angled his head around and gave Haven a pointed look. "You weren't there. She's not on Biedmeyer's side." But his faction grew stronger every day.

Sooner or later, humans would take sides and draw more lines in the sand.

This poor story is coming in bit, pieces, snips, and snatches. Even with that being the case, I'm actually pretty thrilled with how it's coming together. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Led Astray

Whew. Had a super-busy week running all over the place with my teenagers. Glad it's over.

Another light television week, which worked out well, considering the whole crazytown express thing. The Walking Dead turned in a fine outing, but I'm still kind of dreading the whole Neegan thing. Here's hoping I'm projecting for nothing.

My Monday lineup continues to impress. I hope Syfy continues to keep that day of the week filled with awesome shows. I can't always count on the network to make the best decisions. LOL

Tuesday's Teen Wolf finale didn't disappoint. I can honestly say I'm quite happy with how everything turned out. Theo received a just fate and, as usual, Scott's side had all the bases covered. I was a little disappointed I didn't get to see how things turned out for Parrish. I have my own personal head canon for his future. Agents of SHIELD returned and not a bad effort.

Legends of Tomorrow is still putting on a good show. I have a few, small quibbles with some aspects of the development, but I'll save those for my fandom blog where spoilers are discussed openly.

Murdoch Mysteries ended up being pretty great. I love how the show, even after being on for almost ten years, still finds new ground to cover. Seriously, can't ask for more than that in a long-running favorite.

And that's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Led Astray, a novella that started with a two-word prompt "Just drive". Loved the possibilities and images those two words invoked.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gia Schmidt is tasked with bringing Orrick Triolo around to her clan's way of thinking, but he proves a hard case to crack, even with her considerable skills. Orrick's got something she wants but if she's not careful, he'll lead her astray instead of the other way around.

And a preview snippet…

Satisfaction infused Orrick. He had Gia teetering on a precipice of fear and wariness. Good. Served her right for putting him on the hot seat. And he had no doubt she'd set him up. What he didn't know? The why.

She seemed to think he'd head straight for Manor Glen. Did she want him there for a reason? To put the final nails in his coffin before someone threw a noose around his neck. Well, too damned bad. The caves offered sanctuary and a place for them to hash out their differences. And for him to figure out whatever the hell she really wanted. He excelled at working angles and he'd find one to play with her.

She cleared her throat. "Look, I know you told me not to do or say anything, but I have to know I'm going to be safe." Her gaze landed on him for a brief second before focusing on the road again.

Orrick should let her stew a little while longer. He wanted her concern and worry. Needed to have her off-kilter and wondering. Craved her obedience, just freaking once. But he'd give her a small assurance if only to shut her up.

He didn't glance her way. "Your safety depends on your actions." He directed his gaze out the window, keeping it off Gia. "Behave and you'll be fine. Pull any of your stupid stunts and you won't." Orrick stopped there, letting the threat hang.

Gia grunted. "Simple enough." A sigh escaped her. "And fair enough." She lapsed back into silent mode.

Orrick risked a brief glance in her direction. Gia's stony profile met his gaze, but she kept her eyes focused straight ahead and chewed on the inside of her cheek. Her lips stayed pursed together, a major feat for the woman who liked to talk nonstop and fast. She appeared to be heeding his warning.

Thank the universe for small wonders.

Another hour of blissful peace before he upended her world.

Or his turned upside down.

This one is shaping up as a total blast to write. I love writing based on prompts, shaping the story and seeing where it goes.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Kings of Chaos

Okay, not exactly a super strong week of viewing pleasure, but pretty good for the shows that were on.

The Walking Dead is amping up the tension and the group is going to take on Neegan. I hope the hype is worth it. He's apparently a BFD in the comics so I'm reserving judgment. I'd rather he not gobble up screen time from my fave characters.

Gotham returned with a terrific episode. I'm quite curious to see where they're going to end up taking Gordon. But I like that his squeaky clean armor is getting tarnished. The Magicians continues to intrigue me but I'm also wondering where things are going. There seems to be something of an overlying arc yet I can't quite figure out what it is. As always, Lost Girl and Bitten make me happy. I can't stress enough how much I'll miss both when they're gone.

Agent Carter ended with a terrific bang. I'll sadly miss the show if it doesn't return. That said, what a great two season arc.

Legends of Tomorrow surprised me again. I missed the first fifteen minutes but got caught up quickly. Looking forward to this week's episode.

Teen Wolf is coming together for the big battle. Looking forward to seeing how it ends. I also caught up on Murdoch Mysteries and have to say, I love this show so much. And that's it for this week's update.

Tonight's post is from Kings of Chaos, a novella that began with the prompt of a motorcycle club charity ride gone wrong. I liked it but wanted to put a different spin on the idea so I added a fantasy element to my story.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Ainslee and Witt are stranded during a charity ride for their local children's orphanage. Foul play is involved and they have to determine which rival club has the most to gain or if someone closer to home is the culprit.

And a preview snippet…

Sated and spent, Ainslee traced circles on Witt's chest, her finger trailing along the outline of his warlock tattoo. The intricate bleed of ink colors sitting directly over his heart offered a layer of protection. Once a warlock reached Witt's level, they became a moving target, regardless of the code the crews lived by. Someone always wanted to make a name or gain acclaim by taking out a top tier member.

Ainslee's finger stopped moving and she sat up when a wild hair notion took root in her brain. "Witt, who didn't belong there today? We've been focused on the usual suspects, people we know. What if one of the ride-alongs is responsible?" Shit, why hadn't she thought of the possibility before?

Because Witt's hard body distracted her. She couldn't keep a small smirk from twisting her lips.

Witt cocked his head to one side. "I'm still trying to find my brain cells after super-hot sex and you're wheels are already spinning back to how we got here." He gave her a cocky smile. "And everyone thinks I'm only interested in your gorgeous body." His hand slid along her thigh over her hipster undies and skimmed her side to draw her back into his embrace.

Ainslee settled into the crook of his arm. "That's what we want everyone to keep thinking. They don't need to know you actually love me for my keen intelligence." More than one rival had underestimated the lengths she'd go to protect Witt and the rest of the Kings.

Witt tightened his grip on her for a moment. "I love you for everything you are, Ains." He pressed a kiss along her temple. "But you might be on to something. There weren't that many nonmember faces." He gazed into the fire. "Bobby Samuels, new prospect for the Dirty Bastards. Marco Herrah, Jacobi James." Both men were bartenders at local watering holes.

Ainslee frowned. "What about Sam Carnes? Crane? Something like that? The tattoo guy? He's not a Dirty Bastard, is he?" He didn't wear a cut, but charity rides tended to make the usual mandatory wearing an optional thing.

Witt shook his head. "Friend of. He does all their ink. Gratis."

An ingratiating gesture probably designed to curry favor… or shortcut to acceptance. "Well, shit. He rode along. Maybe he's looking to make a name? Or step up on someone's coattails." Ainslee's shoulders stiffened.

Witt pondered. "Could be. The DBs are just cocksure enough to let a prospect or jump-in twist in the wind… even if they should've told him the facts on the ground."

Ainslee growled. "Fucking Cavilli. He gets a perverse pleasure out of being a prick." Frank Cavilli, the top wizard who ran the Dirty Bastards, liked to create tension and friction.

Didn't matter if he caused internal strife in his crew or external mayhem on another club. He'd gained enough power to be almost unstoppable and enjoyed wielding his clout to produce spectacles. Ainslee wanted to see the guy go down.

Hard.

Ainslee is one tough cookie. If she wants to see Cavilli go down, she'll make it happen. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye