After Stefan and Marcia spent time in the tunnels, she wanted to get back into the chapel. The headmaster arranged for Chantel's memorial service with village priest for just before Palm Sunday on a Thursday night. The small chapel would hold the service with interment in the crypt following it. Marcia was happy with the arrangements, but still felt suspicious of the way Chantel died. She wanted Stefan to join her in open...

When not working or spending time with Amber, Bruce was preparing for finals, graduation and the summer. He had checked out a few local colleges that would allow him to live at home so he could continue working at the restaurant and that way his dad wouldn't have to foot the whole cost for college. He sometimes wondered if college was the wisest choice for him. There were so many local positions that paid well and did not...

Soft sunlight leaked through the shades covering the windows of Daria's room. It softened her appearance and almost made her look angelic, as she slept. With her leg suspended, she could not roll around, as she normally did while sleeping. The light coming in the window came from sparkling reflections off the newly fallen snow. Daria moaned in discomfort, as she groggily lay trying to get comfortable, but it just made her...

It was near the end of February and Marcia looked forward to the start of spring. She loved to watch the re-awakening of the flowers and trees long dormant over the fall and winter. Naomi and she renewed their friendship, but an uneasy wariness persisted between them. After they spent time explaining why they were in the abandoned classroom floor of the school, Marcia gave up exploring the castle and searching the chapel....

As soon as Bruce pulled out of the driveway Amber bounded into the living room to tell her folks that she had been asked to be his prom date.  "Yes, we know," Mom replied. "How do you know?" "He asked us if he could invite you because he knew we would be babysitting that night," her Dad chimed in. Before she could comment further, the baby monitor on the end table let them know that Lea was up and needed attention and Amb...

Daria followed Stefan stealthily to his room and floated into the corner near the ceiling. She stayed in her shimmering state watching him study and talk to his roommate. One of his roommate's friends came by and took his roommate to play cards. Daria smiled wickedly, when they left and descended to Stefan's bed. As she sat, she shifted from the shimmering wraith to her human visage. She waited until her visage was stable...

The seconds seem to drag on as Bruce sat there with his mind struggling to understand what he had just been told. The stunning blond sitting next to him had just admitted to forging his signature on Lea's birth certificate and he was at a loss for words. Part of him understood why she did it. She didn't want the name of the baby's Father to be listed as unknown on the legal document because she would reveal the name the t...

On Saturdays it was the habit of the restaurant employees to go to breakfast at a local diner. Since Bruce became involved with Amber, he had been absent from these gatherings, they were all happy when he announced he would meet them there. They took one of the corner booths that the owner reserved for them. He knew the owner and held them in such high regard that this booth was always reserved for them on Saturday. Each...

Daria's wraith followed Stefan everywhere, from when he woke until bedtime. She floated nearby and occasionally played pranks on him. She enjoyed embarrassing him around his friends. She hated when Marcia and Naomi met with him. When Polina volunteered to open the chapel, Daria was furious. She wanted Marcia to fail in the chapel entry. The afternoon when Marcia, Stefan and Polina went to try the newly made key, Daria wat...

After the helicopter landed at the hospital seventy-five miles from the school, Daria entered the operating room to set and repair the damage to her severely broken leg. Two breaks were minor and easily set. The third break was a compound fracture that required surgery and a steel rod implant that was permanent. The operation took several hours and went very easily. They examined her coma and found it to be the result of...

Chapter 4 Victor's Past “What! Me?” Victor was actually stunned that someone, anyone, would want to hear anything he had to say. Even someone who used to be dead. “Um. Well my story isn't all that interesting, but I guess if you don't mind being bored to death, I could tell you.” Dracula chuckled, and Victor hesitated. “Sorry Doc. I wasn't laughing at you; I was laughing at what you just said.” The big monster grinned imp...

As soon as Amber's parents got home, they began to notify all of their relatives, but not before they called Allison at college. In the old fashioned gym where she trained, Allison broke down in tears after she closed her phone. Her baby sister had just given birth to a healthy baby girl, she was now officially an aunt. They even called Bruce's parents and informed them of the happy news and added that their Son did all r...

Amber pulled out her cellphone and tapped the number one key. The silence in World History class was broken by the wail of a police siren, while his cellphone vibrated. Bruce didn't need to look at the screen, he just stood up and announced to the teacher he had to leave. He headed to Amber's class and she was standing at the doorway leaning on Barbie's shoulder. She gave Bruce a hug upon his arrival and together they slo...

After Daria made a fool of herself in front of the school, Naomi, Marcia and Stefan became very good friends. They spent time walking Stefan's horse in the courtyard. Naomi and Marcia took turns riding. Naomi formed a close friendship with Stefan because they were now targets of Daria. Naomi insisted they were just friends nothing more. When the trio was not walking the horse, they explored the courtyard and castle in ear...

From The Files Of Jack Vine A Jack And The Giant P I Case File Hickory, Dickory, Doc: Case of the missing mouse “Hickory, Dickory, Doc. The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one the mouse ran down. Hickory, Dickory, Doc.” It was a Tuesday, sometime in the middle of winter and it was cold; the kind of bone wrenching cold your dad told you about when he was a kid. You know that lame old story; that, "I used to walk s...