Seven science fiction and horror tales populate this collection of stories, in addition to a true tale from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and other extras. In the novelette, "The Net", the trust of a young boy in his father is tested to the limit when both become the target of an alien hacker.Seven science fiction and horror tales populate this collection of stories, in addition to a true tale from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and other extras. In the novelette, "The Net", the trust of a young boy in his father is tested to the limit when both become the target of an alien hacker. A young couple enjoying an evening stroll on a back country road in Pennsylvania discover that love can be all consuming in "The Porch." Scientist, Jason Reed, wants to save the planet from an over-population of insects, but that becomes secondary to saving a homeless woman who has been infected with a deadly infestation by the very people who are supposed to be helping her in "Dominant Species." Views: 613
Making wishes is like any other industry, full of bureaucracy and terrible customers.Be Careful what you wish for.Where do wishes come from?From long hours and an overworked staff who are on call 24/7 to make sure all your dreams come true. Did you think riches and yachts came from nowhere? Magic doesn't come from trees, you know. There are people behind the scenes making the impossible happen, no matter how ridiculous that impossible is. Views: 613
Charlotte Walker is just an intern trying to get through her surgical rotation in one piece when her life takes an abrupt turn for the weird. A seven-foot tall patient with multicolored eyes and golden skin shows up in the ER asking for her. When he tells Charlotte she's supposed to be the Empress of the entire galaxy, she naturally thinks he's high or crazy or both.
He's not.
Kristoff Verrai is the Captain of the Imperial Guard of the Goddess-Empress of the galaxy. For ten cycles he served his old mistress faithfully. Now that she is dead, his only job is to find and protect her new Incarnation until she can ascend the throne.
He doesn't expect to fall in love with her.
But a relationship between them can never be--the Empress must have a Consort with Royal blood and Kristoff is just a commoner.
Can they fight the love growing between them? Or will it overwhelm them?
If only Charlotte wasn't Descended from the most powerful female in the universe, they might have a chance... Views: 612
Eric has survived where people much stronger than him have found their deaths. And not just that: he's managed to activate his magic supply, tame one of the most dangerous dungeon monsters, find the ancient city of monster hunters and rescue Jay, the girl abandoned by the scouts in Gulper's lair.He left the Dungeons of the Crooked Mountains behind him. Now his path leads him to Orchus where our freshly-minted mage intends to finally free himself of his debt-repayment oath.But as soon as Eric and Jay descend into the valley, they discover that the local barons have been attacked by young Corwin's men who have swept through their neighbors' estates, pillaging and plundering.This makes Eric's task all the more difficult: he has to return to his home city without ending up in his enemies' clutches. You'd think his natural cautiousness and the acute instincts of his pet Gorgie would make this journey a walk in the park - but fickle Lady Luck has her own ideas... Once again Eric is being pulled into a bloody vortex of dangers. Views: 612
There's something in the shadows... and for once, it's not me. I'm Tira Misu, wielder of darkness and initiate of the Guild of Shadows. I fight like a demon (okay, I look like one, too), but I'm no monster. At least, not this time. But make no mistake, there is a monster out there, and right now, it's taking down the Traded, one unfortunate body at a time. The problem? I'm the only one who can find it. The solution? Make damned sure I have fun doing so. Views: 612
The Park: Evenstad Media's newest reality show. There are no laws. There are no rules. The only goal is to stay alive. But in Evenstad's arena, things are far from simple. Outfitted with strange new weapons, trapped in the dark, afraid for their lives, it's only a matter of time before somebody takes the first shot.12 Contestants 20,000,000 Dollars 1 Survivor The Park: Evenstad Media's newest reality show. There are no laws. There are no rules. The only goal is to stay alive. But in Evenstad's arena, things are far from simple. Outfitted with strange new weapons, trapped in the dark, afraid for their lives, it's only a matter of time before somebody takes the first shot. And all the while, the world watches. Some in disgust, some rapt, but all feeding Evenstad, and all oblivious to the horrors they're helping fund. By the time anyone notices, will there be time to put an end to it? Or will it be too late? Views: 612
Janet's husband isn't dead any more; he's been resurrected in digital form from his social media profiles. But there are a few things Janet's keeping from him.Storming out of the house after a fight with my wife, I met a grimy old man wearing a shabby overcoat and playing the saxophone. His white hair stood straight out like a halo around his head, and a thick, white mustache covered the instrument's mouthpiece as he played. I startled; that face belonged to the most famous intellect of modern times. If he was who he seemed, crowds should have been gathering, reporters clamoring for interviews, but nobody recognized him as anything other than an old homeless man--no one, that is, except me. Views: 612
She paced the room, looking out the window, waiting for the sun to set. She didn't think anyone would be coming over after her father was arrested; it'd be too dangerous to pay condolences to the daughter of a warlock. Still, she couldn't take any chances. She couldn't be interrupted, and she couldn't speak to anyone until the next morning.She paced the room, looking out the window, waiting for the sun to set. She didn't think anyone would be coming over after her father was arrested; it'd be too dangerous to pay condolences to the daughter of a warlock. Still, she couldn't take any chances. She couldn't be interrupted, and she couldn't speak to anyone until the next morning. The last rays of bright red light filtered through the curtain and left Elizabeth in the night's embrace. She opened the jar, read the spell one more time, making out letters under the moon's meager glow, and then set up the candle. She walked around the tiny flame, careful not to put it out, and began chanting, weaving a part of her own soul into the words and feeding it to the fire. “The harm to me is harm to you and all your kin and all your blood.”The flame leaped, grew larger, consuming the wax in half the time it should have. Elizabeth watched the candle burn in silence, watched energy, the soul of fire, glide through the air and hug her body. She sensed the reassurance of the spell, its protection. With a needle Elizabeth pricked her finger and let one drop of blood fall on the flame just as it was about to die. The wick hissed, and the last of the energy that smelled and tasted of vengeance came to Elizabeth. Views: 612
Inspired by Alicia Keys: 'A pocketfull of dreams' (Made in Manhattan).A girl of 17 haunted by a horrific nightmare, branded for life. A family torn apart; the mother with morbid habits, a spoiled little brother and a father with macabre interests. An enigmatic ad with a dark secret. A boy and a box with mysterious contents. The lurid price: a life for a life ...Inspired by Alicia Keys: 'A pocketfull of dreams' (Made in Manhattan).A girl of 17 haunted by a horrific nightmare, branded for life. A family torn apart; the mother with morbid habits, a spoiled little brother and a father with macabre interests. An enigmatic ad with a dark secret. A boy and a box with mysterious contents. The lurid price: a life for a life ...The fat fingers of the grey morning fog let go reluctantly of their prey and whirl up in the air that’s warming up. The early spring sun is still hiding behind the tops of the oak trees in the middle of Central Park. They are the remains of the prehistoric woods that were chopped away because of the building of new luxurious houses. She remembers the remarks from her father when they arrived at their new home. ‘What a creepy view.’ He had teased her and had laughed at her. ‘It looks like a place in the old days where they used to have satanical rites.’ Used to? Had he sensed IT coming? Had he know what would happen to her? What was waiting for all of them? Why didn´t he act upon it? Frightened she sees the long shadows of the trees on the grass. Like iron bars hiding something in the park. She is terrified of the park, afraid of what´s hidden there. She fears for when the truth will be found out. The shadow of the tree tops falls over the canal that streams around the park, it colors the water black. The wrought-iron gate that gives access to the park is wide open. Like the maul of a monster awaiting his next victim. She feels a cold shiver along her spine and has to force herself not to jump back. Views: 612
After a horrific car accident claims the life of her husband and places her young son in a coma, Natalie is left alone in the house with her guilt. It was she who had sent them out that night, it should've been her behind the wheel. As she wanders the house, she begins to sense she has to answer for that nights events, and she's not entirely alone...Bakalor, the demon of the Underworld, plans to resurface and rule the world. Nearing the final stages, he deceives land-dwelling leaders into waging war upon each other, making it easy for his victory.Ergrauth, the demon lord of the Del’Unday, leads his army of Altered Creatures to the final battle in order to seize the world before Bakalor claims it for himself.Learning of the pending war plans, Thorik attempts to prevent the demons from succeeding, while searching for a way to save his grandmother, Gluic. Unaware that he is being used as a pawn by those of great power, his desire to revive her inadvertently puts his life, and the lives of everyone he cares about in great danger. Views: 612
