Reader discretion advised. The story you are about to read contains mature content that some may find offensive. By choosing to read this piece, you agree that you are 18 or older and do not object to content of a sexual nature. Alicia awakened with the sun, as she had the day before. This time, however, she felt rested. While the dirt floor was a far cry from her feather-stuffed mattress, it was a great improvement over...

Reader discretion advised. The story you are about to read contains mature content that some may find offensive. By choosing to read this piece, you agree that you are 18 or older and do not object to content of a sexual nature. Alicia fought to keep her eyes open, and thought that she was certainly going to lose the battle this time. Oblivious to her waning attention, Alfred continued to drone on about his exciting – at...

He was a tinkerer ever since he could remember; plastic bricks, tiny fake logs, that’s how it all began. Since then, he had graduated to bigger and better things–they weren’t actually very big things in any literal sense of the word, but definitely much better, definitely more serious, definitely more important. It sparked and sizzled out between the cold, steel tongs holding it in place. This one failed, again. If it wer...

The snag on the corner looked like a wizard. The tree was a part of hedge of green poplars that had been planted long ago by Old Man Tolkie, a Norwegian ship-builder who had lived near here in a house with a roof that was shaped like a ship's bow. The tree became a snag because it was the tallest tree at the top of the hill, and it got hit by lightning and burned. The twenty-foot tall, staff-holding, dark wizard looked do...

Where has all the magic gone? Hearts that shatter and fall. When the future disappears in a shroud of smoke Lost to eyes that once saw it so clearly. Where has all the wonder gone? Souls that fade away. Life that meanders and laughs At the sad little twist it has. I sat upon the mountain, Breathless from the climb And laughed at the wonder of the world Now I sit amongst the many masses Breathless from the tears As I lamen...

Amanda the green witch very gently squeezed Yew berry to bewitch vile mortals who deserved to die by drinking brown- black seeds venting her wrath into the vat, her gown splashed by the boiling broth. Death Cap, Panther Cap a Pinch of, Fly Agaric Destroying Angel a Swirling deadly magic Peering through her window. Alfred whispered lets drag Her out, and get her crow And we will burn the hag Amanda stirred in some black ni...

Liam was beyond hearing me, trapped in a world of touch, scent and taste, but the liquid sloshing around in the stoneware jar I carried was just a temporary state for him. Each touch of the misty air and dew on the grass drew a faint glow from my skin and awakened my senses. Moonlight, bright enough to cast shadows, glinted off the river up ahead where she wound through the valley in tight, sweeping curves. Over the bubbl...

Despite the wilder’s assurance that I didn’t need my herbs, I scrambled to retrieve what I could while keeping half an eye on the creature who had stolen my food. Looking closer at him, I could see how thin he was. It was no wonder then why he was searching me for food and had discarded my herbs. The wilder was half starved it seemed. He was missing teeth and what teeth he had were black with decay. What I had at first ta...

Lightning struck the ancient linden tree five days ago. The scar was still smoldering when I left the village yesterday, even though Elder Jared had tried his best to heal the wound. He said that the tree is dying and that if it passes, it will mean the end of our village. The elder has said that the tree has lost its glow, that we are doomed and must atone before the end. He was still sitting before the tree, head bowed...

While sweeping the hallway or emptying the trash cans, or making sure the bathrooms had paper towels and toilet paper, Orrin thought about Jessica. “So what if I’m the janitor and she’s a lawyer’s assistant, I’m just as good as anyone who works at Ainsworth and Thelin.”Orin was extremely shy but determined to ask her out and believed that if she got to know him, she would see that he was a lot more than a janitor. He wish...

Making soup is alchemy—a brew made from the elementswhere fire, earth, air and water mingle to concoct a potionthat if seasoned well can hypnotize the senseswith its taste and nourishment.The mysteries of soup cannot be taughtby passing down a recipe of measurements.It’s more than slicing onions to be sizzledwith cut carrots, celery, green peppersthen sautéed until their essence bleedsand shines translucent from the heat....

WHOOSHING 18/08/2011 Whooshing down the icy mountain flew the mighty crows towards the small town where people were going about their business happy that the holiday was going to begin. Arthur took out his fiddle and tuned it looking around at the children’s happy expectant, upturned faces. Primed to give them music full of vitality and colour, he looked up and saw the mighty crows darkening the sky. His heart was gripped...

That sound. I know it’s the same sound. But am I dreaming or is it really there? I don’t really know anymore. Now what? Do I lay here and consider it last night's pizza giving my imagination something to do? Do I get up and let it happen again? I wonder, if I stay here and don’t check it out, will it start again or is that the trigger? It doesn’t matter, I can’t just lie here. I already wish it was over. Maybe it is, I ne...

Chastity gently pulled back on the reins, halting Stormcloud’s progress, a bewildered look upon her face. She could have sworn she’d passed through this meadow earlier. Unrolling her map, she studied it carefully, making note of the location of the river that passed through the Faerie Kingdom. According to Glint & Barnes, there should have been a bridge here and yet, obviously there was none. The pathway simply led to the...