Sunday Snippet: Beastly Shadows (A Lantern Jack Short)

Whew. What a crazy week. I'm still in the throes of trying to get the house cleaned up so we can decorate our tree. We usually wait until Christmas Eve to add the ornaments, which is a good thing because I've misplaced a package I bought to go along with our superhero theme this year.

I'm behind on my shows again. Between shopping, editing, and writing, I need about four more hours each day to get stuff done. LOL That said, I'm almost through the first season of Chicago Fire and, yeah, I really love the show. I'm going the DVD route because I never watch first run anything on NBC. I'm in about year twenty of a boycott and don't see that changing anytime soon.

I've also been enjoying holiday episodes of my favorite shows. There are so many classic television shows with themed episodes and I'm trying to build my collection. I also discovered a new to us channel on my local feeds and it shows a lot of old favorites. I won't complain. It's fun to revisit stuff I loved back in the day.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Beastly Shadows, a Lantern Jack Short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lantern Jack is back. To end a centuries-old feud between werewolves and the hunters, Lantern Jack has to right another wrong. He sets out to bring childhood friends Bebe Beasley and Mannix Mortimer together on Halloween night, but to do so he has to put Mannix in the path of a bullet.

And a preview snippet…

Lantrien Jacquard, also known as Lantern Jack, heaved a weary sigh. "Another long, lonely year. But at least I had time to plan my next good deed." Being cursed and trapped as a pumpkin limited his ability, but he managed to set up an excellent scenario.

And probably not a moment too soon.

The werewolf population dwindled with every new generation. Something Jack hadn't considered when he set previous events in motion. When lupine keepers became hunters.

"Yeah, didn't think that one through at all."

Then again, his compromised state of mind didn't leave room for making good choices back then. Losing his life-mate drove Jack to the brink of madness. Grief as a motivator rarely created good things.

Pitting the keepers against the werewolves definitely counted as a bad deed. At one time, the protectors kept the wolves' domain safe on the human side. They gave the shifters the freedom to run and roam on the full moon. Now they hunted the lupine members and if the wrong remained unfixed, a majestic race would die out. And Jack would never again know freedom.

"Time to make amends again and stay on the path of redemption."

He should feel guilty for putting one of the werewolves in a sticky spot, but Jack would make certain the hunter inflicted only minimal damage. And the wolf he'd chosen as the target wouldn't go down without a fight.

The hunter that would save him—if Jack read the signs correctly—would also be in a bit of peril, but Jack didn't doubt she'd prove savvy enough to overcome generations of ingrained distrust and hatred.

She only needed a nudge in the right direction.

"And I'm just the spirit-infused pumpkin to do it."

I really love Lantern Jack and I'm having a blast writing his redemption through the series of sexy shorts.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Beast in the Belfry

December 10, 2017

It's amazing what a dusting of snow on the ground can do to boost holiday spirit. We got just a tiny bit last night and it looks so pretty today.

Gotta say the mid-season finales for my shows pretty much pulled out all the stops. The Flash left Barry hanging in a very precarious place. Not sure I'm totally down with where everything is going, but it's fun to watch. Lost a good character on Legends of Tomorrow in the form of two goodbyes. I do appreciate the revolving door aspect of the show and look forward to seeing how the others interact without their friends. The holiday trimmings of the shows provided a nice backdrop.

Arrow killed it. James is setting up quite the legion of doom in Star City. I'm very interested in seeing how that plays out when the season returns. If his little cohort who got him out in the first place tries to harm Felicity or Curtis, I'll be really pissed. Just saying.

Riverdale shook things up with breakups all over the place. Yikes. I have another interesting theory about Alice Cooper. Can't wait to see if I'm right. Oh, and this theory doesn't involve FP, at least not about their past.

I'm all caught up on Gotham. Gotta say it hurt to watch Alfred and Bruce tear each other apart. I get where Bruce is coming from, I do, but the whole being a brat is kind of pissing me off. That said, rock bottom isn't always an easy trip to take so I'll be patient. Sophia is proving to be a formidable force. I had a sneaking suspicion she was more of a puppet master than anyone originally thought. It's also fun to see the stories with Butch and Tabitha and Ed and Lee unfold. Seriously, Gotham upped it game and I'm loving it. Having Harvey walk away though… yeah, that one hurt, too.

Murdoch Mysteries continues to be excellent. I can't wait for the holiday episode. I think I'm looking forward to it more than Doctor Who this year. I really can't wait for the new doctor and new showrunner. Honestly, I'm so very disappointed in where Moffat took the show. It lost the heart I always loved. Yes, I'm sure I'm in the minority.

I've started watching my stash of holiday shows. I had to get a new laptop and I'm slowly but surely getting all the episodes transferred over. My Plex server is getting a lot of use this week. Also looking forward to The Trouble with Mistletoe when Passionflix premieres the movie!

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Beast in the Belfry, a spin on Beauty and the Beast.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A curse leaves artist Vittoria Blahm disfigured and marred for life. But Cal Gilligan sees the true woman under the scars and he falls hard for her when she saves him from plunging to his death. Vittoria can't quite believe anyone wants her and fears risking her heart to the possibility.

And a preview snippet…

Cal Gilligan locked the office and exited the building he'd be calling home when the new semester started. "It's good to be back." His alma mater welcomed him as their newest professor of literature.

After two years of knocking around, he'd been thrilled when they offered the position. He needed a place to put down roots, especially after losing his parents in a small-plane crash. Their missionary work had taken them all over the world and Cal grew up on planes and other conveyances—trains, boats, busses, even on the backs of animals—he'd pretty much survived all of them.

And benefitted from the hands-on education of navigating in foreign countries.

But now… he wanted to take stock. He'd lived so long in the shadow of his mom and dad, spending the last five years teaching English as a second language on their trips. He'd defined himself as their son. Past time for him to define Cal Gilligan, a man alone.

Crossing the quad, he headed for the parking lot. Not much had changed since he'd graduated. Some new trees and landscaping, a new seating area, and several charging stations for electronic devices—solar powered no less. But one significant difference loomed at the far end of the oval-shaped courtyard. The clock tower stood dark and silent.

Cal gazed at the lonely building. "I wonder what happened."

When he'd been in college, the tower drew students in with views of the entire campus and surrounding city. He'd gone up to the top many times, usually to study or write. He often sat out on the tiled roof below the clock face.

Wanting a closer look, he strolled the length of the quad and paused to read the sign at the main entrance. Closed to the public. Since he now had a teaching position, he wouldn't be considered the public, right?

Nostalgia urged him to try the doors. The two double slabs were locked up tight. Cal glanced over his shoulder, made sure no one else lurked in the area, then went around the side of the lower level and stopped outside the caretaker's entrance. His hand twisted the knob and the door swung open.

He flashed a smile. "Hot damn. I'm in." He wouldn't stay long, but he wanted to see the view again.

I'm having fun with reversing the gender roles in this story. Having Vittoria be the "beast" is more of a challenge than I anticipated, but I love writing the conflict she has with accepting someone as a friend who could end up being more.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: All Day Sucker

December 3, 2017

Happy December! The most wonderful, crazy time of the year is in full swing. I'm excited for holiday and really need to get my house cleaned up so we can actually celebrate. LOL

The mega crossover of DC shows occurred this week and it did not disappoint. So many things happened with interesting pairings and twisty turns. Supergirl and Arrow kicked off the fun and the crazy times spilled over into The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. Great to see some familiar and new faces. I won't get into much more, but the double wedding ended up being a surprise for me. YAY!

Riverdale continues to go places I don't expect. I have such a love / hate relationship with this show. I'm actually so happy we didn't have any Lodge parent appearances. I loved Hermione last season but this season I'm very "meh" about her. I also loved getting some insight into Sheriff Keller's personal life. I'm not necessarily a big Mayor McCoy fan, but I like the interesting twist with them. I also, somewhat shockingly, liked the beginning of Chuck's redemption. I'll stay tuned to see if that comes to anything.

I need to catch up with Gotham. I had way too much work to get through and took a full break from television on Thursday.

I did manage to catch up with Murdoch Mysteries yesterday and enjoyed both episodes I needed to see.

I'm still watching holiday movies on the Hallmark channels and should get started on television episodes this week. I'll probably begin with the Doctor Who specials. That's kind of my thing; I always begin with those.

That's it for this week's television wrap-up. Tonight's post is from All Day Sucker, a sexy short free read that shares a title name with my alter egos, ML Skye and Skylin O'Thomas.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Archer and Bree, Cupids of the First Order, have an eternity together, which means they like to keep things interesting. Archer plans a dinner party as a surprise for Bree but she ends up blowing his mind instead.

And a preview snippet…

Archer Stewart greeted the assembled guests. "Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight." He glanced at the clock on the wall. "I'm sure Bree will be here momentarily." Hopefully with clothes on.

His lips curved. With Bree, he never knew. One of the most memorable moments he had happened when she'd dropped into the grotto without a stitch on.

They'd had many ups and downs since then—a brief but intense affair followed by a stint apart then a reconciliation where Bree put her immortality on the line to break the curse Ares put on Arch.

Not in his wildest dreams did he think she'd be willing to give up being a Cupid of the First Order.

Thankfully, she didn't have to. After fulfilling Aphrodite's required servitude to her temples, Bree once again had free reign of the realm.

Which meant the last decade counted as a solid check in the win column.

Merry quirked an eyebrow. "Are you sure Bree doesn't have other plans?" Her lips twisted into a half-smile.

Arch shrugged. "None that she told me about." Bree liked to fly by the seat of her miniskirt but she usually let him know if she had something going on.

Bartholomew wrapped his arms around Merry from behind. "Ignore her. She likes stirring the pot when Bree's not around to do it."

Merry flashed a wide grin. "It's the only time I get any practice."

Arch chuckled. "Bree's definitely got a lock on kicking up a ruckus." And she made it look easy.

Flora joined in. "And her snark is always spot on. The barbs she slings aren't always tipped arrows." She nodded toward Xander and Lucia. "Just last week she had the dynamic duo howling with laughter when she described her crazy match-up of the guy with three dogs to the woman who does cat rescues. They'll need a bigger place if they hope to have room for all those animals."

Arch opened his mouth to reply but a whoosh-pop-blip sound came from the front room of Bree's bungalow. Clicking heels on the slate tile drew closer.

Bree's voice entered before she did. "Arch, you'll never guess—" She stopped short. "What's going on?" Her eyes went wide then narrowed a little but her lips spread in a wide smile.

Arch breathed a small sigh of relief. A slinky red dress hugged Bree's curves and her hair tumbled over one shoulder. Her standard cherry-colored toenails peeked out from glittery ruby pumps. Apollo's teeth, he loved it when she wore his favorite shade.

He beckoned her into the room and wrapped an arm around her. "I planned a surprise dinner party for our anniversary." Pressing a kiss to her temple, he tilted her chin to plant another on her mouth.

Bree hugged him and nodded to their guests. "I'm definitely surprised and very happy to have you all here." She eased away from Arch, snagging his hand in hers. "And I can't wait to dive into all this yummy food, but… I need to borrow Arch for like five minutes." Tugging him toward the kitchen, she motioned for the guests to start digging into the food.

Dammit. Arch hoped he didn't fuck up the entire evening.

When they entered the small kitchen, he grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him. "I'm sorry, Bree. Should've run this by you before inviting everyone over—" He stopped talking when her fingers worked the fastening of his pants loose.

His dick sprang to life and filled her palm.

She gave him saucy smirk. "Arch, my love, I'm not mad about your little surprise." Pushing the trousers past his hips, she let gravity take care of the rest. "In fact, it's sweet and charming and perfectly wonderful…" She glanced up, her gaze hidden partially by her eyelashes.

Arch had a feeling he'd like wherever she decided to take him on this foray. "But…" His cock swelled further when Bree licked her lips.

She lowered down, getting up close and personal with his groin. "I've been thinking about you all day and I have to have at least a taste or I'm going to go mad…" Her mouth enveloped the tip of his shaft, her tongue doing a wicked dance around the head.

Arch resisted the urge to go deep. He braced his arms on the counter behind him and arched forward. Bree pulled away and swirled her tongue around the head again.

She gave him a sultry smile. "I really want to spend the time to treat this like an all-day sucker, but, alas, we have guests." Sucking him deep, she swallowed around his girth.

Arch groaned, cursing his stupidly bright idea.

Bree eased away, circling his dick with her fist. "I promise to make this up to you later." She let go and helped him get his pants back up.

When she started toward the dining area, he caught her arm and slid his palm over the curve of her ass. "You know I love how naughty you are, right?" His fingers inched up the fabric of her dress and met nothing but skin. "Oh, sweet Bree. Turnabout is fair play." Easing his hand between her legs, he found her warm and wet. "Mmm. Expect a long and strenuous evening." He swatted her bare behind then tugged the skirt down.

Bree angled her head around. "Looking forward to a very lengthy romp." She wiggled her ass and strolled out into the dining area.

Arch grabbed a bottle of sparkling wine and quickly followed.

I loved revisiting Archer and Bree. This will probably be the only preview since this is a super-short flash fiction for a free read. Hope you enjoyed the brief look.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Zip Cuffs

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a wonderful one. Ours was low key, exactly the way I like it.

Somewhat of a short week for television. I did enjoy The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. Getting some insight into Mick's world made me happy. The big crossover is coming up on Monday and I'm kind of excited to see it.

Arrow's Thanksgiving episode turned out to be excellent. Love having Thea back and hopefully back in true Thea form.

As usual, I'm behind on a few of my binge watch shows but I'm addicted to the Hallmark Channels' holiday movies. I really love having something going pretty much 24 / 7.

Looking forward to the return of Riverdale next week.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Zip Cuffs, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt of writing a crime drama with handcuffs.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Thrayce Stratton finally has the man she wants, Dino Singer, but when all evidence points to him as the culprit behind several gruesome fae murders, she'll absolutely do her job as an enforcer—including using zip cuffs to get what she needs from Dino.

And a preview snippet…

When the door of Mourning Glory's burst open, Thrayce Stratton angled her head around to see who entered. "As I live and breathe, Dino Singer." She signaled the bartender for another shot.

She'd need it to stay steady. Her former partner left her behind when he received the nomination to become a fae elder almost six months ago. He hadn't looked back since. Going from enforcer to the upper echelon sealed their fate.

They'd never be able to pursue the spark they set off when they'd worked together.

Dino made his way directly toward her, his face impassive and unreadable. Whatever. Shouldn't take her too long to discover why he'd decided to slum it for the evening.

When he parked his ass on the stool next to hers, she gave him a snarky greeting. "It's only been a month. Missing the lesser life already?" She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of looking at him.

Dino propped his forearms on the bar. "No. I'm tired of being told what's appropriate now that I'm an elder." He flagged the bartender and ordered a drink. "Since I am an elder, I should be able to do what I want."

Thrayce lifted a brow. "You make a great point." She downed her shot. "And I'm guessing you have a huge desire to slum it with the underfae? Why else would you be here?" She finally slid him a sideways glance.

He met her gaze, holding it for several long moments before he answered. "No. I came here to find you." Draining his glass, he tapped the bar for another.

Thrayce widened her gaze. "Did you maybe get hexed by someone?" Seeking her out would garner attention he didn't need.

Dino's lips quirked. "No, I didn't." He sobered. "I finally achieved a life goal, but what good is attaining something if I've got no one to share it with?" Again, he held her gaze, making his meaning clear.

Well, a slap in the face wouldn't have shocked her more.

She tilted her head to one side. "Why me? You pretty much have your pick of any fae out there." Disbelief warred with a strong desire to push hard to see how far he'd take this crazy idea. "I mean, you're young, incredibly good-looking, and hold a position of power. I'm pretty sure any number of hot, sexy females are dripping with anticipation." Not to mention swimming in lust and possibly dying to get a leg up in the fae hierarchy.

Dino leaned in close. "The only woman I want wet and tingly is you." His voice rumbled against her ear.

Holy shit.

Thrayce shuddered. "Jesus. I can't believe you just said—you did just speak, right? I didn't imagine it?" Honestly, maybe she'd been hexed.

Dino's lips curved in a half-smile. "I did. And no, you didn't." He trailed a finger over her hand.

She blinked. "Why?" Did she really care?

His brow quirked and he opened his mouth, probably to repeat what he'd already said.

Thrayce shook her head. "Sorry, wrong question. When?" She met his gaze and held it.

He extended his hand. "What's wrong with now?" An eyebrow shot up.

What's wrong with now? Aside from dead fae piling up all over the city and the fact elders didn't mingle—or have sex with—enforcers, not a damn thing. Her brain's inability to wrap around the reasons warred with her libido and a potent desire to finally achieve one of her life goals.

Her sex drive won, hands down.

Reaching out, she grasped his fingers. "Let's go."

I'm kind of excited about where this story is going. Can't wait to dive back in and see what happens next.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Zeitgeist Hall

The weather in Ohio is truly crazy. We had flooding from rain yesterday and snow today.

Television this week ended up being pretty terrific. The Flash pulled in a bunch of Harrys to help save the day. Legends of Tomorrow had a fun episode with old Hollywood.

Riverdale had an interesting episode with some changing dynamics. I'm still on the fence with Hiram and whether or not I like him. I'm coming down on the not liking side but he gets some interesting snark lines so that pitches him into the fun column.

Arrow remains probably my favorite show. If the team can't be together, I like having two storylines that run along a similar theme. Also very glad John's secret is out in the open. Having Curtis work on a solution is excellent.

Catching up on Gotham today. I'll be glad to see the last of Professor Pyg. It's good to see Bruce again, too. There's never enough Alfred on the screen. LOL

I'm behind on Murdoch Mysteries. Having issues with my laptop and I usually watch via the website on that device. Here's hoping I get it fixed this week.

That's it for television. Tonight's post is from Zeitgeist Hall, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of murder mystery in a haunted castle. I couldn't wait to brainstorm ideas for this one.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Morley Graham and Watson Kinkead are off on a weekend adventure when they have serious car trouble and end up stranded at Zeitgeist Hall, a castle looming on the edge of a cliff. The creepy caretaker offers refuge, but Morley and Graham begin to suspect he's behind their stay when they discover a body in the tower.

And a preview snippet…

Abner Wilhelm jerked awake from a decades-old sleep. His nose twitched, the sweet enticing scent of blood magic filled his nostrils.

He shot out of the bed. "Finally!" He'd waited so long for another descendant of regal lineage.

After conducting a replenishing ritual, Abner wandered the halls of the monstrosity he called home. "Ha. More like my lifetime prison."

The huge castle slowly came back to life. Being the unwilling caretaker tied Abner to the life-force of the building. While he slept, the structure slumbered with him. The awakening unfolded slowly for the stone-walled fortress but for Abner, the possibility of an heir—that could release him from his cursed exile—acted as shot of adrenaline.

He entered the armor room, the only place he didn't feel lonely. Something about a dozen or so suits of armor gave the illusion of company. They weren't even creepy anymore.

He waved to the one he called Baldwin. "Yo! I'm back. Anything fun or interesting happen while I was gone?" The replenishing ceremony updated his language skills.

Words like groovy and out of sight apparently weren't in vogue at this time.

Baldwin, of course, had no reply. Abner didn't care. He had much to prepare if he wanted to be ready to break the curse binding him to this ancient dwelling. The entire castle would need some updates, but not too many. And Abner needed to catch up on world events. Almost sixty years had passed since he'd gone into his forced slumber.

After he'd failed to secure the previous blood heir and reverse fate's decree that left Abner stuck in limbo for more than two centuries. He'd be patient, carefully plan his exodus, and ensnare the next unsuspecting caretaker before he launched the plot that would secure his freedom. He wouldn't do anything stupid this time.

Because Abner couldn't wait to see the last of Zeitgeist Hall.

I have the main story plotted out and can't wait to find time to sit and write away.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Your Call

Ugh… what a week. I've been down with a combination of cold / flu symptoms. I'm pretty sure I've pulled at least three different muscles from coughing, sneezing, and blowing my nose incessantly. Bleh.

Not a bad week for television viewing. The Flash had a girls night out that brought Felicity Smoak over from Arrow and entertained in a big way. Legends of Tomorrow kind of disappointed me by bringing Damien Darhk back, even if the fight sequence proved to be very entertaining.

Arrow also had a great episode. Loved getting to know Dinah's former partner and have some background there. I'm fond of the actor who's in the role and look forward to seeing more of that storyline play out. Also liked having Oliver work with Slade. I'm excited to see where that goes, too.

Riverdale turned things up to triple digits. I'm still liking my theory about who the black hood is. Alice's past coming out and her reaction made the whole show for me. I want to see that story explored a little more. My one true hope? The snake charmer ends up being Alice's long, lost sister. How much fun would that be?

Once again, I have to catch up on Gotham. The whole cold / flu thing had me napping when it was on. LOL

The holiday movie overload is ongoing. I thoroughly enjoy the cheesy, sappy, happy fare. I've even watched a couple of them more than once.

Looking forward to more terrific TV this week. Tonight's post is from Your Call, a novella that started with a writing community project of creating a scene featuring the three prompts; sleeping, grass, ring.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After an epic battle with a spell weaver, Norje Blayheart and Barrick Nembly—adept mages—aren't sure they can stay together as a couple. Their love can be used against them and neither can risk being pawns in the looming war between the weavers and the mages.

And a preview snippet…

Norje Blayheart moaned low in her throat. "Barrick, I need you now." She twisted away from her lover and projected an image in his mind.

Barrick Nembly groaned. "Ah, Norje. You're killing me." But he gave her room to maneuver up onto her hands and knees.

Norje shuddered when he implanted the vision of her from him point of view. Her hair tumbled wildly over her shoulders, her back bowed pushing her ass up and out, and her juices glistened in the filtered light.

Sometimes being a mage had unforeseen perks. The ability to share thoughts and link on a physical and mental plane topped the list. Barrick continued the projection when he spooned in behind her, leading with his hard cock jutting out from between his legs. The moment he thrust forward, the juxtaposition of experiencing the penetration while seeing it, intensified the pleasure. Barrick couldn't hold the visualization for long—not if he wanted to have the stamina needed to complete their lovemaking. Norje took over, tuning him in to every exquisite nuance of his entry.

He tightened his grip on her waist. "Mmm. Do you feel that every time?" He withdrew and flexed his hips again.

Norje nodded. "Uh-huh. That's why it never takes very long for me to come." She edged back, taking him in deeper.

Barrick's palms smoothed over her skin, traveling the planes of her back before ghosting forward to cup her breasts. Norje basked in the sensation, heightened by the blending of their minds. The mix of internal and external awareness increased with each touch, gasp, and heavy breath. The pace ramped up, driving Norje to the edge of bliss.

Barrick grabbed her hips and held them flush with his groin. "Come with me, Norje. Come with me now." He withdrew and entered her once again, letting out a garbled moan.

Norje groaned. "I'm there. Let go." His fingers dug into her skin and she toppled over the precipice, her orgasm tearing through her at the moment Barrick's release hit him.

Riding the tempest while linked together, each collapsed when the waves receded. Barrick gathered her close and brushed his lips over her temple. She burrowed close pressing a kiss to his sternum.

Barrick's hand drifted down to curve at her waist. "Never gets old, Norje. Love you."

She smiled. "Love you too."

This story is all mapped out and I'm excited about it! There's a chance this might turn into more than one book. :D

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Xtreme Justice

November 5, 2017

Welcome to November! We're almost finished with 2017 and I'm honestly looking forward to a new year. It's been a rough ten months so far.

Excellent television viewing this week. The Flash had a great episode. It's always fun to see Cisco on the hot seat. Really enjoyed his storyline. Also interested in seeing where things go with Joe and becoming a father again.

Legends of Tomorrow didn't have a terrible episode. The homage to ET maybe went a little overboard but still fun.

Riverdale was sort of on the fence for me… until I got a wild hair theory about who the black hood is and now I have to stay tuned to see if I'm right. I'm honestly fairly disappointed with the addition of Hiram to the fold. He made a better villain working from the shadows.

Arrow continues to amaze me. I love the way roles continue to be mixed up and everything is fluid. That keeps me glued to the screen.

Got caught up on Gotham and watched this week's episode. I won't be disappointed to see the end of Professor Pyg but at least the plot is moving forward and I'm down with that.

Having fun watching holiday movies on the Hallmark channels. There's usually something on one of them that catches my interest.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Xtreme Justice, a novella that started with a writing community prompt to create characters with metahuman abilities.

Here's the mini-blurb:

The double X gene found in junk DNA makes life very interesting for a group of humans. Nyx Boit reshapes matter with her force of will. Cythe Baldetto literally has blades of steel at his fingertips. When Cythe is sent to recruit Nyx, she wants no part of his offer. To make her point, she converts his arrows, darts, and knives into liquid pools at his feet. Finally meeting his match, Cythe figures recruiting Nyx is out, but wooing her is most definitely in.

And a preview snippet…

Cythe Baldetto waited for the lights to lower in the viewing room. "Bring on the crazy." According to his former flame and current boss, he'd be impressed with Nyx Biot's ability.

Stanja Davidich wanted Cythe to become a recruiter. Not something he had much of an interest in. But knowing who else had double "x" abilities helped keep him alive.

The screen went from dark to bursting with action. Apparently Nyx had the ability to alter matter and she wielded her power with passion. Bending metal into cage traps, bringing down light fixtures to act as nets. She'd taken out three people in the first five minutes.

Cythe narrowed his eyes. "Where is this? How did you get the footage?" The building looked too familiar.

Stanja sent him a sideways glance. "Okay, I'll admit we set up a scenario to see what Nyx can do."

Cythe growled. "Which you know pisses me off." He hated the stupid games UNIT played.

A big part of the reason he and Stanja no longer had a relationship.

He let the topic go for the moment. Nyx had raw but amazing moves. She shifted a huge expanse of floor into a liquid pool. Then she changed the shimmering mass into a boiling vat of seething danger. With some training, she could probably do even more impressive stunts.

Stanja read his mood. "She's good. Look at how she almost predicts what her best move will be." Her voice held admiration.

Cythe grunted a noncommittal response. Stanja didn't have things wrong, but she didn't see the way Nyx ducked and ran for cover, moving behind a metal partition for several minutes while the team tried to get around the huge obstacle she'd laid out. Cythe's gut said Nyx had limitations and he'd bet anything the more showy or intense the matter shift, the greater toll it took on her. For now, he'd keep that piece of information to himself.

The final five UNIT members skirted the bubbling mass on the floor and engaged Nyx again. She waited until they got close to a stack of metal beams then altered the bars into flexible restraints and wrapped them around the group. The drone camera zeroed in on Nyx when she shimmied out of the building and headed toward the docks.

The lights came up and the screen went blank.

Stanja shifted her position to face Cythe. "We lost her once she got to the shipping yard, but we're pretty sure she's holed in one of the empty containers." She shuddered.

 Cythe barely bit back a smirk. Stanja liked living the cushy life the UNIT afforded her. So what if she sold half her soul to do it. Cythe signed on with them because they were the lesser of two evils. UNIT didn't try to exploit his ability for profit or personal gain, but he didn't consider himself stupid—they had a measure of control over him. No doubt they wanted to same with Nyx. Someone with her power could be an extreme threat—

Cythe straightened. "What do you want with her?" He cut right to the meat of the matter.

Stanja snorted. "Nothing sinister, Cythe. She's a powerful metahuman. Wouldn’t it be better to have her on our side?" She gave him the standard bullshit curve of her lips.

Cythe lifted a shoulder. "It might. What do you want me to do?"

Stanja flashed a genuine smile. "We want you to recruit her. Bring her into the fold."

Pretty much what he thought. "Why me?" The one piece of the puzzle he didn't have figured.

Stanja held his gaze a moment before answering. "Because you came from the outside. You know what's at stake and why she'd be an asset." She shrugged. "And you know I've been wanting you to bring in new members."

Reluctant, Cythe needed some assurances. "Why, exactly, do you want her?" Even with their past, or maybe because of it, he wanted specifics.

Stanja's eyes went wide. "Did you not just watch the same footage I did?"

Well, yeah, he did. Didn't mean he automatically thought they'd welcome Nyx with sunshine and rainbows. Which prompted his next question.

"What happens if I can't talk her into joining UNIT?"

Stanja glanced away. "We'd rather not consider that option." Her voice dropped to low tones.

Cythe nodded. Pretty much what he'd expected. Nothing sinister or nefarious… unless Nyx didn't want to play ball.

Then all bets were off.

Cythe got up and waited until Stanja met his gaze. "If you want this to happen, I do it my way, meaning UNIT doesn't get involved." At least not until he gave the go ahead.

Stanja opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it. "Fine. We'll give you latitude to work…" She didn't have to add it would only be up to a certain point.

So be it. He didn't plan on failing. If Stanja wanted him to step up and start recruiting for UNIT, she could stay the hell out of his way.

So far, this one is giving me all kinds of ideas. I'm excited to see where Cythe and Nyx go.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye