Nose-to-Nose

“I’m sure Angelus thinks so,” Flavia said. “But this place is so...different. Women here, while many are intelligent and well-spoken are fierce...” She shook her head. “I’m as much as a slave as you are - you just can’t see my chains.” She sat up. “But you’re right - I suppose I should head back, see to the banquet he’s hosting next week. We’ll have lots to prepare.”

Dael hauled his tired body to his feet, offered a hand to her. When he pulled her up, she rose lightly as a dancer, and then they were almost nose-to-nose.

Consequences and Fury

“Dael,” he said, emphasizing both syllables.

“I am Flavia, though Tertius and the others may expire from righteous indignation if you call me anything but ‘Mistress’,” she said. “His name is Angelus, but you should probably call him ‘Master’.”

“I want to go home,” Dael said.

Tertius smacked him upside the head.

“Your home is gone,” Angelus said easily.

“You mean you –”

“Not us. Another one of the kings in your land, I suspect.” Angelus shrugged. “Never you mind. You belong to Flavia now. You’ll do as she says, or you won’t like the consequences.”

Dael choked back his fury.

Chase in 100

Chase is green eyes turned blue, easy smiles covering wicked grins, killer piano-hands and fighter-lithe body concealed as a dancer. He is lonely jazz and intricate classical, pre-teen melodic and easy tenor. Tonight he’s a superstar, and tomorrow he’s a murderer. He can shoot the wings off a fly with one eye closed and kill a man with his bare hands. His coworkers call him Spaz and Dreamer and think he’s an easy musician. In his dreams he’s never forgotten he’s an orphan, but in his waking hours he’s Josh, and today he thinks it’ll never end.