Sunday Snippet: Old Wounds

The first full week of August kind of flew by. We had a power outage and mobile phone outage on the same night, which made for a long six hours. Also kind of weird since there wasn't a storm or anything that would be a normal reason for the loss.

Very busy week with work projects and September is looking like another busy month. I'm definitely not complaining. I miss having dedicated writing time, but I also squeeze that in whenever I can.

The school year starts next week, which means the husband will be at his new position in the elementary school. He truly wishes he'd had this job thirty years ago. I can't blame him. He drove almost an hour each way for twenty-plus years. The schools in our district are all less than five miles away and the elementary school is three blocks from our house.

Had my daughter home for several days this week and we had a great time catching up. She even had me cut her hair, which turned out really well. Always love it when she asks me to help with stuff like that.

Had a solid viewing week and made it through my whole slate of shows, including my two back-burner ones. Not sure what the upcoming week will bring but hoping to keep on target.

Started the week with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and finished up the first season. Can't wait to start season two. Another one of my favorite episodes is coming up.

Caught another Madame Blanc Mysteries and really enjoyed the twisty turns in this one. This season is shaping up to be a lot of fun. I like Charlie and Simone so it's good to see them again.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise and it's the penultimate episode before the season thirteen finale. So great to have Florence back, even if only for a brief time. Looking forward to the finale.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. This one was a lot of fun, especially having Poirot sneaking into a house and getting caught. And spending a night in jail to boot!

Caught an episode of Elementary and very much enjoyed Sherlock figuring out Alfredo needed some support. The mystery ended up being pretty interesting also.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I remembered. Always fun to see Bruce and Barbara spar, and I loved Terry trusting Bruce to help him.

Lower Decks again charmed and annoyed me. I've come to kind of accept that's how this show is going to be for me. I did really like the teamwork in this one.

Finished up the episode of Peak Practice from last week and even started the new episode. Have to finish it this week.

Finally, Reacher. Man. This show. I truly get the hype around it. So many revelations. Finlay. Yeah, didn't see that one coming. Explains a lot. Roscoe. Badass. Seriously. I'm on the fence with Charlie's admission about Hubbel. I think there's more to the story there. And Reacher having the light-bulb moment with the last-standing professor was excellent. Here's hoping she stays alive. Can't wait to watch the next episode!

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Old Wounds, a novella that explores what one member of a couple is willing to do to support the other.

Here's the miniblurb:

When Abbot Isley's father lies near death, Nixie Grimm is willing to open old wounds to help him cope. Taking a trip down memory lane is not her favorite thing, but Abbot's steadfast support triggers a healing process she didn't know she needed and lets her move forward—with Abbot.

And a preview snippet…

Abbot loved Nixie. She cut to the chase without being nasty. He didn't have the cranial fortitude to go a full round with Barton. Punching the other man in the face ranked at the top of Abbot's list right now.

Wence lifted his chin. "We're trying, Abbot. I've called in the best."

Finally, some good news.

Abbot gave a nod. "Does that mean Kira is on board?" Kira Landry topped the list as the most talented among them.

She wove intricate spells and her knowledge of magickal healing rivaled Barton's entire team. Abbot had a deep well of respect for her even if she often disagreed with the council's methods of ruling the realm.

Barton glanced away. "Well, no. We didn't think Isaac would appreciate having his arch nemesis and leading detractor trying to heal him." His gaze snapped back to Abbot.

Abbot waved a hand. "I don't care. Get her in." He looked toward Nixie who gave a nod. "I'm confident Kira will put their differences aside and help." He paused a moment. "Honestly? She's probably my dad's only chance." He wouldn't share why he chose to be so adamant … but Kira and his father love each other deeply.

They were often at odds when it came to mage politics, but she'd move and use whatever she has at her disposal to make sure Isaac lived.

Wence opened his mouth to argue, but Nixie held up a hand and jerked her head back and forth. "Don't. You said yourself you're trying, and you called in the best. If you haven't called Kira, you have not called in the best."

Barton's face flamed red. "Abbot, why would you want her here? She's so…" He trailed off, either unwilling or unable to finish his thought.

Abbot didn't have that problem. "She's unconventional. Is that it? Nothing you've done has worked so far. She won't be afraid to dig in and solve the problem."

Wence tsked. "I won't have her meddling. She can't just come in here—"

Abbot cut him off. "Yes. She can. You can take your best and get out. Now."

Barton backpedaled. "Now, Abbot. Hold on a second here."

Nixie stepped between the men. "You heard him." She angled her head around. "I'll make the call. Go be with your dad." She grasped Barton's elbow and yanked him toward the door.

Abbot heaved a sigh. He'd be lost without Nix right now.

I'm rather happy with how this story is coming together. Two strong characters offering comfort or a swift kick is fun to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Old Wounds

More weird weather this week. And some great news for the daughter. She ended up with three scholarships and two awards for her sophomore year. Amazing!

Solid work week with ongoing edits on two projects. I'm doing some new nonfiction work and I'm enjoying it so much.

Pretty good week of television also. I finished up the second season of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life. I'd be happy if they did another run of episodes with this show.

Caught an episode of Cuffs and actually enjoyed it a lot even though the personal lives of the characters are all falling apart.

Watched two episodes of Silent Witness. I'm beginning to really enjoy Jack's tenaciousness. He won't let go when his hunches are biting down hard.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Who. I'd forgotten how the quality of the show suffered so much during Seven's tenure, which isn't a bash on the actors. They do an excellent job considering what they're given to work with.

Finished up Aliens in Alaska and really enjoyed the season. Wouldn't mind if they did more later.

Caught two episodes of Hawkeye and I'm sold. Love the interaction between the characters and enjoy the overarching plot point. Great show.

Finished up the second season of Harrow and I enjoyed it so much. One thing that really hits hard is the fact that Harrow has now murdered two people and as much as I love the character, I kind of want him to suffer some consequences for his actions. We'll see if season three offers any up for him.

Watched the Peak Practice season seven finale. Looks like some big changes for the next season with a new location for the practice. I'm looking forward to seeing where things go.

Started a quirky series with The Laundry Guy. Enjoyed seeing what he uses to bring stained items back to life. I'm definitely going to learn a lot from this show.

Caught an episode of Blue Heelers and enjoyed it. Really feeling the topic of the week vibes during this season, but it's not deal-breaking.

Consumed another MasterClass with Neil deGrasse Tyson and liked learning about the scientific method. As with Nye, Tyson has a way of putting information out there that doesn't make me feel stupid.

Watched another episode of Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow. I'm very invested in this season already and I kind of love where things are going.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. This rewatch definitely lets me find my happy place.

Also caught another episode of Chicago Med and I'm kind of still hating the new head of the ED. We'll see if that continues. I love that Rhodes is actually on to Ava and isn't really being duped … yet.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Old Wounds, a novella that has the characters going through a terrible experience and one has to revisit a painful part of their past to help the other.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Abbot Isley's father lies near death, Nixie Grimm is willing to open old wounds to help him cope. Taking a trip down memory lane is not her favorite thing, but Abbot's steadfast support triggers a healing process she didn't know she needed and lets her move forward—with Abbot.

And a preview snippet…

Nixie's heart ached. She loved the old man, too. And he's all Abbot has left.

She wanted to ask so many questions. In fact, she had to bite her tongue to keep her mouth shut. She held back because she'd react with violence if Abbot pushed her when she needed space and she wouldn't force him to speak until he wanted to.

Even if his silence killed her.

When they dumped the keys in the drop box, he finally started talking. "This so-called lead? Nothing but a dick move to get us away from the estate." He led the way, going behind the service area of the rental office where they'd project back home.

Nixie cursed softly. "Dammit. They're playing hard ball now." Which meant the council would have to start hitting back.

No more kid gloves and quiet poking around.

Abbot stopped by the ancient oak and drew a protective circle around them. "Can you get us home? I don't have the bandwidth right now." His eyes closed and he swayed to the side.

Nixie steadied him, grabbing his bicep. "I got this." Meeting his gaze, she asked one question. "Home or the healing chamber?"

Abbot didn't hesitate. "Chamber. He might not have long."

She spoke the incantation and projected them to the sacred grotto at the far end of the healing rooms. "Leave the bags. I'll come for them later." Not waiting, she led the way out of the stone-walled alcove and worked her way through the throng of council members standing in the corridor.

Abbot followed and the crowd dispersed, parting to let them through. Nixie didn't like the somber faces or the hushed conversations. She didn't dare look back to Abbot, afraid she'd lose the fragile calm she'd worked to hold on to.

Abbot paused beside the head healer, Barton Wence. "What's happening?"

Barton shook his head. "The news is grave. Isaac is near death and there's a good chance he won't make it." He drew Abbot into the alcove and continued. "The magic poison is wrapped in several layers of spells and if we counter in the wrong order—"

Abbot cut him off. "I know that. Tell me what you're doing right now."

Nixie winced at the angry tone but didn't blame Abbot for being impatient. Barton could be frustrating when a life didn't hang in the balance. To do so now bordered on stupidity.

They didn't have the patience to deal with a bunch of inane platitudes. And Isaac didn't have the time for muddled mutterings.

Nixie nudged Barton along. "Look, start with what you've done since Abbot got the call."

I'm very happy with how this story is coming along. The sages are giving me the flow in small bits and pieces but I love where things are going.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Old Wounds

Well, hello there, June. To be honest, considering it's only the second day of the month, June isn't starting off too badly. We're actually having a spring in Ohio and it's oddly unsettling. LOL

Not a bad week of television viewing. Finished up the second episode of Banshee and started on the third of the first season. I want to search around and see if the mini-episodes of the origin storyline are available. Definitely filled in some blanks.

Caught two additional episodes of Blue Heelers and started a third. I really do enjoy this show a lot.

I'm almost finished with Chicago Fire's seventh season. I'm up to episode eighteen. I loved the focus on luck and also the interaction with Severied and Foster. Great to see Donna again too.

Gotta say, I'm actually pretty satisfied with Iron Fist's season finale. Well, I guess it's more of a series finale and I freely admit that disappoints me. That said, I'm thrilled with the potential for what could have been the third season's story elements. Misty ended up in a good place even if she's not completely certain where her career is going to take her. Joy and Walker could have some terrific potential for figuring themselves out. Colleen, quite simply, kicks ass no matter what she does. But the best part is where Danny and Ward ended up… on the adventure of a lifetime to figure out what their roles are in the big picture of life. So… I would have been thrilled and happy as hell to have a third season but I'm very okay with how the show ended this iteration of itself.

Caught the camping trip episode of Classic Roswell. I remembered this one and Kyle's snark coming out if full force was so much fun. I also enjoyed the interaction with Jim and his dad. Considering the episode is all about fathers, it was a great piece of the puzzle.

Watched the second episode of Frankie Drake and enjoyed it. The show feels different this season and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'll see how the rest of the season goes.

Caught another episode of Riverdale and, man, it's so… poignant to see Luke Perry on screen. Being behind like I am, I've had time to deal with the loss of the actor but I haven't had the chance to deal with losing the character on the show… because it hasn't happened yet.

Arrow's episode ended up being excellent! Nice to finally have Black Star's name and to know her relationship with Oliver, Felicity, and William. Have to admit, my heart kind of broke when William decided to leave with his grandparents. And… I'm going to miss this show so much when it's over!

Watched the penultimate episode of The Murders and it definitely didn't disappoint. I'm excited to see if this show returns. I'm crossing my fingers because I really love the cast and the storylines.

Discovered I didn't watch the penultimate episode of Painkiller Jane. I'd forgotten this had a full season of twenty-two episodes. I'm ready to see what else happens now.

Caught the third episode of Durham County and, yeah, still dark. I truly love the character dynamics and watching Mike kind of fail at holding shit together is compelling. There's a very fine line he has to walk to stay sympathetic and so far the actor is pulling it off.

Midsomer Murders had a good episode featuring Jones in a way I haven't seen him before. I like it. Looking forward to another episode this week.

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn and Classic Who. I started the Gunfighters arc and it's not bad at all.

Watched two episodes of In the Dark and both were excellent. Good to see more of Darnell's story and I really like the detective and the bartender maybe getting together. As usual, I'm on the fence with Murphy… just when I get so damn pissed off at her, she had a moment of clarity or remorse and shows her softer side. I'm definitely intrigued and can't wait for another episode.

Caught another episode of Blade and remembered it from the first time around. Watching Krista deal with her mom kind of kicked hard and watching Chase completely screw over the pureblood did not surprise at all. Just saying.

And that's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Old Wounds, a novella that got a start with a prompt of writing the anniversary of someone's death.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Abbot Isley's father lies near death, Nixie Grimm is willing to open old wounds to help him cope. Taking a trip down memory lane is not her favorite thing, but Abbot's steadfast support triggers a healing process she didn't know she needed and lets her move forward—with Abbot.

And a preview snippet…

"Nix? Time for a road trip." Abbot Isley poked his head into the makeshift lab.

Nixie Grimm glanced up and smiled. "Does that mean?" She bit back the question almost afraid to hope.

Abbot gave a nod. "We've got a lead." He jerked his head, indicating they should leave now.

Nixie put the texts she'd been working on back in the oiled leather case. "Hot damn. Finally." She'd much rather be on the trail of their latest pain in the ass than translating ancient documents… then entering them into a database.

Even the magickal world she lived in had to get digitalized.

It didn't mean she had to be the one to make it happen.

Grabbing her backpack, she exited the room and nearly bumped into Abbot. He held her go bag in one hand along with his.

She grinned. "Remind me to thank you later." He'd know how eager she'd be to get the hell out of the estate house and on the road.

Abbot fell into step beside her and pitched his voice low. "And by thank me you mean seriously hot sex later, right?" He waited until she pushed the door open then followed her out.

She gave him a wide smile and started toward the parking lot. "Probably. After all, you're saving me from a mind-numbing fate." A hand on her shoulder halted her progress.

Abbot shook his head. "We're not going by vehicle, Nix." His gaze flicked toward the catacombs.

Holy shit.

She altered her direction. "How hot is this lead and how far away?" Only the rarest occasion warranted teleporting.

Abbot shrugged. "Solid enough they want us to go right now and by normal means a two-day drive." He trotted down the steps into the tomblike chambers.

Nixie walked beside him while they made their way to the furthest location, a tie-in to the cave system under the estate, the space where the residents could teleport to other places.

Abbot quirked a brow. "Are you ready?"

Nixie nodded. "No, wait." She leaned in closer to him. "Definitely serious hot sex later." Straightening, she waited for Abbot to start the incantation to transport them to their designation.

He made a garbled choking sound then cleared his throat to start the spell.

Nixie bit back a laugh. She lived to mess with Abbot's concentration.

This story will have a few twisty turns but I love where the road leads the characters.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Old Wounds

August 21, 2016

Well… Blonde Ambition finally showed her true colors on The Last Ship. About damned time. LOL I'm going to be really super pissed if anything happens to Kara because of Allison's machinations. I almost dread watching tonight's episode. Almost. J

Killjoys. Wow. Took a very dark turn and I love it. The way the cast works together amazes me. There's tension, usually understated, and buttloads of chemistry with everyone. I hope this show lasts for a good long time.

Dark Matter had a very trippy episode with an alternate 'verse. The showrunners have crap tons of experience with the concept, coming from the Stargate stable. The possibilities of the blink drive makes for lots of interesting scenarios. Looking forward to seeing what they do with that.

My Strike Back and Babylon 5 rewatches took a nosedive. My schedule exploded last week and I had zero time to watch either. Hopefully I'll get to reconnect this week.

Looking forward to several new shows this fall and, obviously, my returning favorites.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Old Wounds, a novella that started with the prompt of writing a scene around the anniversary of someone's death.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Abbot Isley's father lies near death, Nixie Grimm is willing to open old wounds to help him cope. Taking a trip down memory lane is not her favorite thing, but Abbot's steadfast support triggers a healing process she didn't know she needed and lets her move forward—with Abbot.

And a preview snippet…

Abbot slid into the vehicle and took a five count, resting his forehead on the steering wheel. Fishing around for the keys, he started the car and turned the heater on. The chilly interior helped clear his head, but they needed to get moving and Nixie wouldn't wait long to ask questions.

He backed out of the parking space and pulled up by the main doors. Nixie finished up and exited, dashing over to the passenger side.

She leaned in. "I can drive, if you want."

He shook his head and she settled in, buckling her seatbelt. Pulling out onto the road, he merged with the light traffic. Not many people needed to be out and about at four in the morning.

Hell, he didn't want to be driving down the street at the buttcrack of dawn.

Pounding his fist on the steering wheel, he cursed. "Damn them! Every last one of them." He gunned the engine and sped along the road, catching all the lights until he hit the outskirts of the town.

He braked to a halt, fingers drumming on the dash. When the signal changed, he floored the accelerator and shot across the intersection. The list of everything wrong with his dad played through his mind. Actually, his father had one thing wrong, but no one had been able to get to it yet. Dammit.

Nixie angled in the seat, turning to face him. "Who are we damning and what did they do to the old man? Something pretty fucked up if you have to break the land speed record to get back." She folded her arms across her chest and waited.

Abbot sighed and finally slowed down. "You know the who. My dad is in flux. Some kind of virus, but the healers can't get to it because it's wrapped in about ninety layers of spells and bindings." He made a turn onto the state route that would take them home.

Nixie's shoulders slumped. "Shit." She didn't have to say anything else.

They'd missed their mark and let the bastards get away. And his father might pay the price.

We'll eventually get to the anniversary part, but not for a while.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Old Wounds

Hello!

So… Orphan Black? Who doesn't love this show? Seriously, it's so mind-bendy and twisty. Watching Tatiana play one clone as another never fails to blow my mind. This week having Sarah act as Rachel and Alison play Sarah… well… just so damned amazing. And Delphine? The woman kicks ass. That's all I'll say. LOL

I'm dying to get to know the Castor clones and then see if the boys can play as crazy as the girls. Saturday won't get here fast enough.

Arrow and The Flash continue to make me happy. Agents of SHIELD, too. Melinda May backstory? Yes, please. Maybe we'll get some Grant Ward flashback action in the future. Wouldn't mind seeing more of what made him so batshit crazy.

If you're not catching Bitten and Lost Girl on Syfy, you need to. Excellent shows!

Made it through the first season of Teen Wolf and gotta say, I cheered out loud when one of the characters bit the dust. Actually, two, but I have a feeling dead doesn't mean forever on this show. LOL. All in all, totally enjoying season two.

Will be starting Daredevil on Netflix in the near future. I hope.

That's it for TV related news. Tonight's post is from Old Wounds, a sexy short where my main characters find their way to each other.

Here's the tagline:

When Abbot Isley's father lies near death, Nixie Grimm is willing to open old wounds to help him cope. Taking a trip down memory lane is not her favorite thing, but Abbot's steadfast support triggers a healing process she didn't know she needed and lets her move forward—with Abbot.

And a preview snippet…

A phone rang, waking Nixie from a dreamless slumber. Wrapped, warm and sexy, around Abbot, she stirred and grabbed the offending device—Abbot's.

She nudged him awake. "It's yours." Dropping the phone in his hand, she buried her face in the pillows.

Abbot yawned and answered. "Yeah." He sat up, dislodging Nixie, and swung his feet over the edge of the mattress. "Where?"

The terse tone had Nixie rolling over and the rigid set of his shoulders made concern coil deep in her gut.

Abbot spoke again. "When?" He paused, listening. "How? What's the damage?"

Nixie slid from the bed, noting he didn't ask who or why. The answer obvious, even if the details weren't known. She grabbed her bag from the other bed and started packing.

Abbot ended the call, angling his head around. "My dad. It's not good." He grabbed his jeans from the floor and tucked the phone in a pocket before shoving his feet through the legs.

Nixie dressed quickly, pulling on a tank top and yanking a fresh pair of leggings on. She zipped her bag and grabbed Abbot's, stowing his clothes and toiletries, leaving a clean T-shirt and socks out. She glanced in his direction but he hadn't moved. She'd leave him alone and let him process. Jamming her feet inside her boots, she shrugged her jacket on, snagged the keycard, and picked up both bags before exiting their room.

Outside, she let the chilly air fill her lungs. Questions burned, but they'd wait. She popped the trunk and tossed the bags in, then she did a quick check of her phone, making sure she hadn't missed any messages. Nothing. Why call or text her when Abbot would fill her in?

Maybe because he'd just received shocking news and couldn't get his head around it.

She paused outside the door, her heart aching. She loved the old man, too. The lack of details screamed more loudly than a string of expletives would. Ducking her head inside the room, she found Abbot putting on his coat.

She met his gaze. "Ready?"

He nodded. "Yeah." He scanned the room, looking for his stuff. "You got everything?"

She lifted a shoulder. "Thought it would save time. I'll run down and turn the keycard in. Car keys are on the front seat." She backed out, heading for the registration office.

Abbot exited and called out. "Nix? I'll pick you up out front."

She lifted a hand, acknowledging him. The brisk air helped clear her head but did nothing to dispel all the horrible things running through her mind. She'd give Abbot the first ten miles then she'd start asking questions.

Nixie's not the patient sort, Abbot's lucky she's giving him the first ten miles. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye