The Mephit's Tales

“If you could be anywhere right now,” said the red-haired girl, “where would it be?”

Murmurs went up and down the rows. Holiday resorts. Families. Idyllic destinations. More than a few settled for their own beds.

One big, brown-haired fellow just grunted.

“Come on, Matt,” urged the redhead. “There’s got to be some place you’d rather be than here, isn’t there?”

“Oh, sure there is, Jamie,” the big guy drawled. “But what’s the point in thinking about it?” He shrugged, lapsing into silence.

(more…)

Alan was cold, wet, sore, and had a pounding headache; all in all, not one of his better days.

Gingerly, he touched his brow, then his temples, then ran his fingertips over his scalp. There was a lump toward the back of his head that he quickly learned to avoid, but while his fingers got wet, they didn’t encounter anything sticky. That was a good sign, wasn’t it? (more…)

Everything was perfect, of course.

Lazuli was getting used to that. Kenji Amber was a raev; perfection was a driving goal in his life. In this case, the perfection in question seemed to be that of a plan coming together. From school to home to dinner, transportation went without a hitch. They had a table reserved, and Kenji had ordered ahead; appetizers were laid on not two minutes after they took their seats. The meal itself took longer – he hadn’t ordered that on Lazuli’s behalf – but they had something to nibble on while they waited.

(more…)

The grill was bare; burgers and sausages had been devoured, the picnic tables cleared off. Now the little family get-together was breaking up into a bunch of separate conversations, mostly segregated by age group.

One leopard in her teens caught an athletic panther of the same age by the arm. “Hey, Aaron? Can I talk to you for a bit?”

“Sure, Angie.” The panther smiled, white teeth in brilliant contrast to his dark muzzle. “What’s up?”

“Over here,” Angie murmured, nodding toward a quiet corner. Aaron frowned, puzzled, but went along without complaint.

(more…)

I’m sure my mom was upset by how often I wound up in the ER. It wasn’t that often, but I was an active kid, so it did happen. Besides, I’m sure once was more than enough for her.

On the other hand, sometimes I think she must’ve had the patience of a saint not to put me there herself.

(more…)

Adren twirled, letting his hair swirl around him, coal-black over his snowy, grey-spotted pelt. When it came to rest, a thick lock of it was hooked over his shoulder, running down his body and over his hip.

Not, he fancied, a horrible look for him, but he made no particular effort to keep it there when he straightened. No, he had no want of a studied, arranged appearance now; it was enough to know that his hair was as free of knots and tangles as he’d thought.

(more…)

It was supposed to be a routine day. No doubt it would have had some significant developments to deal with, but they would have been normal developments.

Having the expected “courier” from Northridge Fields turn out to be none other than Damion Northridge himself upset that routine in a hurry.

Servants bustled around, dusting, washing, mopping, in general tidying in a great hurry. The kitchen staff were called in early and immediately launched into frenzied activity. The butler took stock of available options and assembled a platter of refreshments and wine, which he personally bore at the Mistress’s side as the Northridge carriage came to a halt at the front portico.

(more…)

“You’re worried, Sasha.”

Sasha Devar blinked down at the woman under his hands. She had her chin on her arms and her eyes closed; until that moment, there’d been little indication that she was paying him much mind beyond the massage he was giving her. Which he did not permit himself to interrupt for more than an instant; hands still at work, he responded with a noncommittal, “Pardon, ma’am?” He was being paid, and paid well, to make her comfortable. Among other things which would come later, of course – the lapis lazuli twinkling on the rim of his right ear, in its silver setting, was not an idle decoration – but in any event, his worries weren’t on the agenda, and he thought he’d been keeping them at bay…

(more…)

For the past hour, the wolf had knelt in meditation.

It wouldn’t be entirely accurate to call it “prayer,” not in the usual sense. He was not making entreaties, not sealing bargains. He contemplated the deeds of seven entities who had merged to become a single deific amalgam; he considered the acts of heroes who had followed in their footsteps. For his service to their collective name, those Seven gave him power – but it was his mind that dictated the form that power took.

Now his meditation was complete, his purpose clear, and – most tangibly – his spells ready. The day’s deeds awaited him.

(more…)

Karim eyed his sample jar with some rue.

There was a very light sheen to it – the faintest of glows, too dim to show as such in anything but deep darkness – but that was part of the preservative enchantment on the glass. Its contents were thick, opaque, and off-white.

“Aren’t you going to use it?” a voiced hissed in the great emptiness behind him. “After you went to such lengths to acquire it…”

“Having you watching me is not making this easier,” Karim shot back, anxiety putting an edge on his tone. He swallowed; this was not a being he wanted to offend, even if that being seemed to regard the whole business as wonderfully amusing.

(more…)