Saturday, March 30, 2013

General updates

Been working on some side projects that I can't post here. Latest Anika chapter has been posted, months overdue. I'm actually about halfway done with the next one. I've gone ahead and added an index to each chapter for easier, continuous reading.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Anika - Chapter Seven



Chapter Seven



To Deal with Devils








There’s a certain truth,
Behind the lie,
Of what I’m said to be
It’s an ugly core,
Masked by façade,
Concealed from even me
If it’s flesh and blood,
And tender skin,
Composing who I am…
Let not scale and bone,
But what’s beneath,
Stay every gentle hand

I’ll never forget your kindness








1673 A.D.
Valenik, Russia – Spring



          THE TASTE WAS invigorating—iron and salt, hot against her tongue despite the chill that struck her cheeks. The initial bite had sent a full-body shudder down her spine, and even now, as she drank, she felt a twitch in her shoulders, in her toes. Satiation flooded every nerve, every synapse, as instantaneous in its delivery as an intravenous drug.
          Behind her, a scream caught her ears. Blinking, Anna felt her hands falling away from her mouth. Felt the crushed bundle of blood, flesh, and feathers leave her fingers and crumple to the ground. Still. Unmoving.
          He little girl’s eyes opened wide. Red-soaked fingers began to tremble. She drew her sleeve across her lips and felt a smear.
          Her stomach clenched.
          Revulsion.
          The scream was joined by shouting. Anger. Fear. Voices were sounding off all around her, a cacophony of outrage and disbelief.