Well, we had a semi-nice weekend. Today is rainy and chilly but Friday and most of Saturday was sunny and beautiful.
I got a lot of television watched this week. Dipped into CW Seed's Vixen and thoroughly enjoyed the first "season". I'm almost finished with Blindspot's first season and I'm looking forward to starting season two. Watched another episode of Chicago Fire and Chicago PD this week. Not sure how much I like seeing Hank defanged on Chicago PD but I'm in for the ride either way.
Legends of Tomorrow delivered an awesome season finale. I'm thrilled with where the characters ended up and having Constatine and Gary drop their little gift on the team made me laugh.
The Flash had a decent episode. I'm actually ready for the season to be over and Devoe to be defeated. Still need to catch up on Black Lightning. I'm hoping to find time this week to watch the episodes I've missed.
I did catch an episode of Riverdale and, yeah, talk about uncomfortable. No one is having an easy time of it right now. Definitely concerned about Cheryl. Her mother is a piece of work. Fred running for mayor… that's gonna be interesting. Just saying.
I got another episode of Gotham out of the way and things did not go where I thought they would. Sofia is a piece of work. I did love the overall theme of getting people back together. "Reunion" is a perfect title for the episode.
Arrow truly continues to amaze me. I'm saddened Oliver seems to be breaking ties with everyone so he can focus on the mission, but I'm also pretty interested in how the rest of the season plays out. I'll go out on a limb and say the councilman is on Diaz's payroll, too.
I'm almost finished with season two of Jessica Jones and I'm truly thrilled we'll have a season three. That said, I hope it's a little more cohesive. It's nice to have Jessica's backstory but I'd like to see her truly throw down with a villain. Just saying.
That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Elemental Healing, a Lantern Jack Tale.
Here's the mini-blurb:
Lantern Jack is back to right another wrong. Erica Ellis is a fire demon whose powers are going out of control. She needs intervention and an ancient ritual could save her from harming others. Perth Pettigrew is a shaman knight and knows the old rites. Too bad he's no longer using his gift. It's up to Lantern Jack to bring the two together for some elemental healing.
And a preview snippet…
Erica Ellis needed to find her mentor, Blenden Matchick.
When she couldn't find him in any of the haunts the fire demon liked to hit, she freaked out. A wave of energy buzzed under her skin and Erica couldn't get it under control.
She took a deep breath. "Please don't let me black out again." The surge receded, but just a bit.
Cutting through an alley, she ducked through the back entrance to Lucky's bar. A wave of dizziness hit her and she hugged the wall. Fear simmered in her mind.
"I won't black out. I won't." The cinderblock surface heated under her hands and she jerked away from the blocks. "Dammit, I've gotta find Blenden." The small release of her power cleared her vision enough for her to walk up to the scarred bar.
"What can I get ya, babe?" The bartender had beefy forearms and a big belly.
Erica shoved her hands in her pockets and ordered. "Whiskey. Strongest you've got." The alcohol would help numb her mind and dull her powers.
The bartender eyed her up and down. "You sure about that? There ain't much to ya."
She curled her fingers into her palms. "I'm sure." Dragging a ten out of her pocket, she slapped it on the bar.
I can't get angry. Gotta stay calm.
The bartender snorted. "Yeah, okay." Turning, he grabbed a bottle off the shelf and poured a shot, then slid it in front of her.
Erica picked the glass up and slugged the contents back. "Again. How many will the ten buy me?" The liquid burn landed in her stomach and she welcomed the almost giddy rush that followed.
The guy behind the counter held up four fingers.
Erica nodded. "Keep 'em coming." Sliding up onto a stool, she waited for her next round.
The bartender shook his head. "Okay. Hope you're not driving." He poured.
Erica grunted in response. None of his business if she planned to drive or not, but she gave him props for giving the illusion of concern.
The guy next to Erica shot her a sideways glance, but she stared ahead. Picking up the glass, she drained the second drink. She didn't want the man to start a conversation. Not enough alcohol yet… she couldn't guarantee what she'd do.
The whiskey settled in her gut, coursing through her system and the tempest in her mind receded again. The bartender poured her third drink.
She ran her finger around the rim of the glass. "Has Blenden Matchick been in here tonight?" Her heart beat a staccato rhythm of hope.
The bartender's eyebrows rose. "Why's a sweet thing like you looking for that old goat?" He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a speculative glance.
Erica willed her frustration down. "Has. He. Been. Here. Tonight?" Her voice growled the words.
The man held up his hands. "No. Been two weeks since old Matchstick has been in."
Matchstick. Blenden's dual-meaning nickname. A play on his last name and his ability as a fire demon.
Erica frowned, the hope dying in her chest. "Thanks."
Two weeks. Damn. The night her powers had gone batshit and nearly burned the old warehouse they used for training down.
The last time anyone had seen her mentor.
She drank the rest of the booze in silence, trying to think of any other place she could look for Blenden. Nothing came to her and the whiskey finally did the trick of dulling her senses. She should be able to make it back to her small apartment without incident.
She hoped.
Signaling the bartender, she nodded toward the remaining whiskey. "Can I get the rest of that bottle? To take home." Digging a twenty out of her pocket, she placed it on the counter, thankfully without singe marks.
The guy handed the liquor over after capping the bottle. He swiped the money and tucked it into his cash drawer. Erica slid off the stool, only slightly unsteady, and started for the front of the bar.
A hand landed on her shoulder. "Hold up." A slight squeeze stopped her progress.
She angled her head around, ready to blast the other patron with a verbal bitchslap. The tattoo on his hand distracted her. Sun, moon, and stars were depicted on a coat of arms inked in the fleshy space between his thumb and forefinger. She'd something like it before… but where?
Her gaze met his. Dark brown with flecks of amber held steady, conveying no sinister intent.
The man nodded toward the bartender. "He owes you change. There's only ten bucks worth of whiskey in that bottle." He removed his palm from her shoulder.
Erica blinked, the experience of loss too strong to ignore. And she kept trying to place why the tattoo seemed so familiar.
The bartender gave the man a nasty look. "What're you stickin' your nose in for?" He planted his hands on his hips.
The guy's brown eyes flared with contempt. "Cheating people tends to bring bad shit to your door." His gruff voice carried a hint of a threat.
The bartender smirked. "Been in business for over twenty years. Think I'm doing okay." He hand-waved the warning.
The patron's lips twisted in a wry curve. "Dusmek." A bottle from the top shelf crashed to the floor.
The bartender's eyes went wide and he shuffled to one side. "Bah! Should've known. An 'other'. You're one of them netherworlders, aren't ya?" He turned and snatched the twenty out of his cash drawer then handed it to Erica. "Take the damned bottle and get out." He glared at the other patron. "Both of you." Reaching behind a partition, he grabbed a broom and started cleaning up.
The man finished his drink in a quick gulp and got up. Erica's brain caught up with the moment. Netherworlder. That's where I've seen the tattoo. Erica quickly followed the guy out the door, her brain spinning with possibilities.
Once outside, the guy made a left and Erica trotted to catch up. "Hey. Dude, wait a minute." He didn't stop but she fell into step beside him. "Uh, thanks for that back there." At a loss, she didn't know how to approach asking him about the ink on his hand.
The guy nodded and quickened his pace, pulling ahead of her again.
A little hopeless, Erica called out. "You're a knight, right?" Maybe he could help her find Blenden. "A shaman? I could really—"
He stopped, turned, and came back. "Keep your voice down. It doesn't matter what I am, I can't help you." He bit out the last sentence.
Erica barely kept a grip on her frustration. "You just did. Why stop now?" He could at least hear her out.
The guy shook his head. "Look, even if I wanted to—and I don't—it's forbidden. Shaman knights don't offer aid or comfort to demons." The words spat from his mouth. "Your best bet is to forget you even saw me." He whirled away and jogged across the street.
Kind of like he couldn't get away from her fast enough.
Erica gripped the whiskey bottle and cradled it close to her chest. "Yeah, thanks for nothing, asshole."
I love writing Lantern Jack tales. This one is especially fun to write.
That's it for this week.
Cheers!
Skye
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