Sunday Snippet: Worlds Collide

Ohio had record high temperatures this past week, but the weekend has brought some fall-like weather. I'm looking forward to seeing the leaves change even if it seems like the colors are less vibrant than they used to be.

Juggled several work projects and I'm in the final stages of two and starting a couple of small new ones. I'm liking the mix of things I'm currently working on. It's fun to stretch my wings sometimes.

Had a solid week of viewing, which seems weird because I did have a lot of work stuff to get done.

I started a new to me series with Agatha Raisin and thoroughly enjoyed the first two episodes. I think I'm going to like this one!

I finished up season two of Suspects and, wow, the last episode kind of packed a punch. I'll have to wait to see if more episodes become available on the streamer I use. I'm not quite ready to sign up for yet another one to see the remaining seasons.

Caught the first episode of Peak Practice season ten. Also started the second episode but got a little distracted. I might end up skipping a few because I really don't care about Andrew and his affair.

Watched a Silent Witness two-parter that dived into the Troubles and thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns.

Forgot to include Battlestar Galactica in last week's recap. Watched "Captain's Hand," which is one of my favorite episodes. This week we watched "Downloaded," which is kind of the beginning of the end to a promising series. With twenty years of hindsight, I can honestly say I didn't need or want to know that much about the cylons.

Enjoyed two episodes of Death in Paradise. I loved the hurricane episode. Only Richard would think it's just a little wind. One more episode for season two and then it's time for a changing of the guard.

Caught two episodes of Fantasy Island. I'll admit, I'm on the fence with Roark and Javier. I'm kind of down with the building of the friendship and letting Javier all Elena out for trying to protect Ruby. The thing is … he's not wrong, but he should also know Elena might have been down this road before and she almost always has information she can't share, which is kind of hinted at when Ruby more or less forgets about Mel. What's next? She forgets her kids? So … I rather love that this thread looks like it will be spun out to a thin tether. Also makes me wonder what's in store with Ruby's tattoo.

Watched two more episodes of The Batman. ManBat and Victor Frieze were the bad guys for these two. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this show the first run through.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Finally had another one with Susie, which makes me happy. Also forgot how much fun it was to have Chuckie act like Angelica for a day.

Started a rewatch of VIP. Sometimes it's so much fun to go back to shows from the late nineties and early aughts and enjoy the creative license and sheer escapism they provide.

Also started another new to me series with My Life Is Murder. I'm not quite finished with the episode, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far!

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Worlds Collide, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

On the eve of a major battle between supernatural factions, Frida Hapspell and Quant Undersmith ponder their fate and their future. With family relationships at stake, Frida takes steps to make Quant face the widening chasm he's creating with his dad … especially because she's the reason they're at odds.

And a preview snippet…

Frida Hapspell quickened her pace. "Why do I always lose track of time?" The mandatory curfew started well over two hours ago.

And she'd been holed up in the catacombs doing research. Someone had to figure out a way to open negotiations with the fae before an all-out war started. She would definitely not be the someone, but her knack for digging into subjects and boiling them down to their very essence would give whoever landed the unenviable task a leg up.

Footfalls crunched on the road behind her, and Frida cut through an alley and backed up against the wall of a bookstore. "Friend or foe?" She didn't want to find out but might not have a choice.

Peering around the corner of the building, her shoulders slumped. "Shit. Foe." Sliding further back into the alley, she made a quick run for the street and darted across, keeping away from the lamppost and its diffused light.

What the hell are shifters doing out? Of course, they weren't part of the mage society and didn't abide by the curfew. Only those who wanted the wrath of the Undersmiths paid no attention to the safety measures the ruling family put in place.

Crouching behind a half wall, Frida grimaced. "Which is not me." She cursed herself for getting too engrossed in the supernatural law tomes.

The two beings following her paused in the middle of the road, sending their gazes and, no doubt, their noses in both directions. She wouldn't stay hidden long if they got her scent. She risked glancing around, a spark of hope filling her when a lone individual came out of the corner deli.

He dropped his wrapped order on the ground and called out. "Hey, it's after curfew. You guys need to get inside and locked down for the night." He started toward the duo.

The two shifters smirked and stood shoulder to shoulder. Frida's heart sank when each made a partial transformation, their hands taking on their wolf form. Barely a second passed before they launched forward and grabbed her would-be rescuer by the throat.

Frida gasped. "Aw, shit. What the hell is he doing out after curfew?" She recognized the younger son of Stanton Undersmith.

She'd graduated with his older brother, Quant. Everyone knew the Undersmiths by sight if nothing else. The family stayed active in the community they oversaw.

Brant's startled gaze met hers for a brief moment … right before the larger of the two slashed Brant's jugular with a thick claw.

Frida bit back a scream and bile filled her mouth. She didn't want to give her position away. And she definitely didn't want to become the next victim of the shifters.

"What the hell? Stop. You're violating curfew and under arrest…" The voice trailed off when the shifters tossed Brant in its direction.

Frida took another quick look over the edge of the concrete. One of the Undersmith patrolmen held Brant's lifeless body in his arms. Frida caught sight of the shifters in full transformation tearing down the road in the opposite direction. Stifling the urge to heave her guts up, she scrambled to her feet and ran the four blocks to her building.

With shaking hands and tears flowing down her cheeks, she flipped the runes and quickly ducked inside before sinking to the floor and closing her eyes.

I just witnessed the murder of Brant Undersmith.

His death had saved her. She had no doubt his intervention kept the two shifters from killing her. The fae were gearing up for battle and taking out a member of the ruling family wouldn't go unavenged.

Resting her head on her knees, Frida dragged in a watery breath. "What the flaming hell am I going to do?" She needed time to think and process everything that happened.

She had a friendship with Quant, something she didn't want to trash. But she also inadvertently caused his brother's death, which would set Stanton on the warpath. And she really didn't want to be a casualty of the fallout.

No matter what way she turned, she'd landed smack dab between a rock and a hard place.

This story is just getting started and I'm so excited to see where it goes. I love writing Frida.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye