This is my first week on Saturday Spanks, but I've seen many of my friends posting. It's past time I joined in the fun. I hope you'll all go easy on me, but I'm not going easy on you. Here is a bright red tease from Slave, the fourth Blue Moon House book.
Blurb: How does a slave become an equal? What does it take for a young man to see women in a new light?
Will has no interest in women. He thinks them all animals to be trained, beaten. It doesn't take him long to discover his preference for men, but time and error reveal how wrong his view toward women is. Before long, he is able to separate the way he treats women, which is still horrific, from the way he regards women, as fellow human beings.
He felt softness on the backs of his legs and then a single point moving up his side, a fingertip.
He had just started to relax into the soft tingling when something cracked against his backside, flaring pain in his ass cheeks. He tried to sit back, cover the exposed skin, but Nicholas took hold of the ropes linking Will’s elbows and lifted him upright.
“Red. Tell me when you see red,” he tried to tell Will.
A second stroke landed near the first, offset just enough to not sting. He’d had punishers as careful. They made each stroke hit a slightly new area so that none hurt too much, but his entire backside burned in the same heated glow.
Don't forget to check out all these other spankings!
Blue Moon House Excerpts
Friday 31 July 2015
Thursday 30 July 2015
Thursday Taster: Pandora 24
Check out all the great tasters on the blog. If you want whole story, what I have is available on WattPad.
“I thought the evil queen was chasing her.”
The women cackled. “Precisely.”
“But you are already queen.”
“Martin didn't need to know that. And because Victor holds my chain, as much as he is able, dallying with Martin was at no cost to myself.”
“I still don't understand how his wife gave birth to a girl of any power.”
“I've told you it isn't only maternal lineage. Otherwise princesses who escape would have magical daughters. We need that male input, as much as I wish we didn't.” Helen threw leaves in a tea pot and added the boiling water.
“I have no royal blood,” Tabitha said with pride.
“I think you must be mistaken. Perhaps an exiled prince? It doesn't matter. The point is, the most mundane woman can have a magical daughter, provided she is sired by royalty.”
Pandora listened, stunned. She hadn't seen her mother in years, and now she learned it was because she was being a mother to another girl, one who hadn't appreciated it.
“Do you want a cup?”
Pandora blinked, feeling tears on her lashes. “Um, yes, thank you.” She rose to take it.
Helen kept the cup and took her hand. “What's wrong?”
“You left me to be her mother.”
Helen let out a sigh and set the cup on the table, wrapping her arms around Pandora. “Only because I knew you were in the best care. Think, Bianca had nothing. Her mother was dead and her father was waiting to marry her off to the best ally. She needed me more than you did. And I'm here now,” she reminded her daughter. “You have me while Bianca sleeps.”
Pandora shuddered. “You should release her. Were you ever put in the death-sleep? It's awful.”
Tabitha handed Pandora her tea. “You are special, love. Most people don't feel the passing of the death-sleep. Your mother doesn't and I expect Bianca won't either.”
Helen's eyes went wide. “You are conscious in the death-sleep? I didn't know that was possible.” Then she shuddered too. “Oh that would be horrible. No, Pandora, I didn't condemn her to that. I'm preserving and hiding her.”
“You can't teach her while she sleeps,” Pandora pointed out, sipping her tea.
“I can't teach her at all,” Helen said flatly. “She refuses. Tabitha?”
“She took the apple from me, but I could tell she didn't want anything more. I doubt she would trust me.”
“Is there no one else?” Pandora asked.
The women looked at her.
“I can't teach anyone!” she cried. “I've only just learned myself.”
“I will give the lessons, but you could be her peer, another pupil,” Tabitha suggested. “You can assure her that I mean no harm.”
Helen nodded. “It might work. We should try. You can always put her back to sleep if things don't work out.”
Pandora thumped back onto the bed, scalding herself with hot tea. She only grimaced and fluffed her skirt. “I don't know if I can do that.”
“Oh, don't worry, dear,” Tabitha assured her. “You won't have to lie to her or put on any act. You are an experienced student and she is a new one. All you need is to be her friend, put her at ease.”
Her cup rattled as she tried to set it back on the saucer. “I've never had a real friend.” That brought back memories of Magnificent. She set the cup carefully on the floor before weeping openly.
“Oh, love,” Helen murmured, sitting beside Pandora and holding her. “I'm so sorry you didn't have anyone.”
“That's not it. He killed them, Tabitha. All of them. I saw them, broken and lifeless on the ground. How could he?”
“They would have attacked him, Pandora. Even you would defend yourself if attacked. He may be a monster, but don't count that against him.”
“No,” she replied feeling bile in her throat. “I'll hate him for coming to my bed wearing their blood.” Her magic surged past her ability to contain it and the coals flared into flame and a hot wind blowing through the cottage.
It was immediately countered with a flow directing the smoke back up the chimney. Then Tabitha put a shield around Pandora, keeping her magic under the lid.
“Calm down, child. You'll kill us and yourself lashing out like that.”
The fight went out of her and she sagged into her mother. “I don't want to wake her, not yet. Can we wait a while?” She sniffled. “Can I have you to myself for a while?” she asked her mother.
“Of course, Pandora.” Helen kissed the top of Pandora's head. “I'm all yours.”
“I thought the evil queen was chasing her.”
The women cackled. “Precisely.”
“But you are already queen.”
“Martin didn't need to know that. And because Victor holds my chain, as much as he is able, dallying with Martin was at no cost to myself.”
“I still don't understand how his wife gave birth to a girl of any power.”
“I've told you it isn't only maternal lineage. Otherwise princesses who escape would have magical daughters. We need that male input, as much as I wish we didn't.” Helen threw leaves in a tea pot and added the boiling water.
“I have no royal blood,” Tabitha said with pride.
“I think you must be mistaken. Perhaps an exiled prince? It doesn't matter. The point is, the most mundane woman can have a magical daughter, provided she is sired by royalty.”
Pandora listened, stunned. She hadn't seen her mother in years, and now she learned it was because she was being a mother to another girl, one who hadn't appreciated it.
“Do you want a cup?”
Pandora blinked, feeling tears on her lashes. “Um, yes, thank you.” She rose to take it.
Helen kept the cup and took her hand. “What's wrong?”
“You left me to be her mother.”
Helen let out a sigh and set the cup on the table, wrapping her arms around Pandora. “Only because I knew you were in the best care. Think, Bianca had nothing. Her mother was dead and her father was waiting to marry her off to the best ally. She needed me more than you did. And I'm here now,” she reminded her daughter. “You have me while Bianca sleeps.”
Pandora shuddered. “You should release her. Were you ever put in the death-sleep? It's awful.”
Tabitha handed Pandora her tea. “You are special, love. Most people don't feel the passing of the death-sleep. Your mother doesn't and I expect Bianca won't either.”
Helen's eyes went wide. “You are conscious in the death-sleep? I didn't know that was possible.” Then she shuddered too. “Oh that would be horrible. No, Pandora, I didn't condemn her to that. I'm preserving and hiding her.”
“You can't teach her while she sleeps,” Pandora pointed out, sipping her tea.
“I can't teach her at all,” Helen said flatly. “She refuses. Tabitha?”
“She took the apple from me, but I could tell she didn't want anything more. I doubt she would trust me.”
“Is there no one else?” Pandora asked.
The women looked at her.
“I can't teach anyone!” she cried. “I've only just learned myself.”
“I will give the lessons, but you could be her peer, another pupil,” Tabitha suggested. “You can assure her that I mean no harm.”
Helen nodded. “It might work. We should try. You can always put her back to sleep if things don't work out.”
Pandora thumped back onto the bed, scalding herself with hot tea. She only grimaced and fluffed her skirt. “I don't know if I can do that.”
“Oh, don't worry, dear,” Tabitha assured her. “You won't have to lie to her or put on any act. You are an experienced student and she is a new one. All you need is to be her friend, put her at ease.”
Her cup rattled as she tried to set it back on the saucer. “I've never had a real friend.” That brought back memories of Magnificent. She set the cup carefully on the floor before weeping openly.
“Oh, love,” Helen murmured, sitting beside Pandora and holding her. “I'm so sorry you didn't have anyone.”
“That's not it. He killed them, Tabitha. All of them. I saw them, broken and lifeless on the ground. How could he?”
“They would have attacked him, Pandora. Even you would defend yourself if attacked. He may be a monster, but don't count that against him.”
“No,” she replied feeling bile in her throat. “I'll hate him for coming to my bed wearing their blood.” Her magic surged past her ability to contain it and the coals flared into flame and a hot wind blowing through the cottage.
It was immediately countered with a flow directing the smoke back up the chimney. Then Tabitha put a shield around Pandora, keeping her magic under the lid.
“Calm down, child. You'll kill us and yourself lashing out like that.”
The fight went out of her and she sagged into her mother. “I don't want to wake her, not yet. Can we wait a while?” She sniffled. “Can I have you to myself for a while?” she asked her mother.
“Of course, Pandora.” Helen kissed the top of Pandora's head. “I'm all yours.”
Wednesday 29 July 2015
#MidWeekTease - Blue Moon House Investor
Happy Humpday! What better to help pull you through the rest of the week than a hot tease from a new title? Investor is the working title for the 5th Blue Moon House book, focused on Terrance and his passage with the vampires to America.
“Ah, Terrance,” Lynn greeted him. “We were just telling Kate about our decision to leave.”
“We think we'll head back to the continent, France.” Nicholas said. “We can make our way east from there on foot.”
“What about Kate?” he asked. “Surely her creditor will chase you.”
All three hung their heads and Terrance noticed tears on Kate's cheeks.
“We can't help her,” Sophia admitted. “She will have to find another employer, possibly work for Crane himself.”
At that Kate burst into sobs. “He will beat it out of me. Or worse, sell me to the vilest of his partners.”
Terrance shook his head, trying to come up with another solution. “You won't leave today, will you?”
The vampires regarded one another and he imagined that was exactly what they had planned.
“Please. Stay another night. Surely we can find another solution.” It took a few moments, but Sophia nodded and the others with her. “Um, Cook has made breakfast for all of us. Would you come sit with us?” He felt his face color with shame.
Lynn laughed. “Of course we will. Come Kate, wash your face and join us.”
“Why? So I can owe Terrance as well as Crane?” She wiped at her face with her hand.
Terrance squeezed her shoulder. “You owe me nothing. You are my guest. Please, come and eat.”
She sniffled but agreed.
“Ah, Terrance,” Lynn greeted him. “We were just telling Kate about our decision to leave.”
“We think we'll head back to the continent, France.” Nicholas said. “We can make our way east from there on foot.”
“What about Kate?” he asked. “Surely her creditor will chase you.”
All three hung their heads and Terrance noticed tears on Kate's cheeks.
“We can't help her,” Sophia admitted. “She will have to find another employer, possibly work for Crane himself.”
At that Kate burst into sobs. “He will beat it out of me. Or worse, sell me to the vilest of his partners.”
Terrance shook his head, trying to come up with another solution. “You won't leave today, will you?”
The vampires regarded one another and he imagined that was exactly what they had planned.
“Please. Stay another night. Surely we can find another solution.” It took a few moments, but Sophia nodded and the others with her. “Um, Cook has made breakfast for all of us. Would you come sit with us?” He felt his face color with shame.
Lynn laughed. “Of course we will. Come Kate, wash your face and join us.”
“Why? So I can owe Terrance as well as Crane?” She wiped at her face with her hand.
Terrance squeezed her shoulder. “You owe me nothing. You are my guest. Please, come and eat.”
She sniffled but agreed.
Thursday 23 July 2015
Thursday Tasters: Pandora 23
Check out all the great tasters on the blog. If you want whole story, what I have is available on WattPad.
Pandora chuckled and traipsed down the trail, a lightly worn path, but it did lead to a well. Using the wooden bucket there, she drew up water and poured it into her tea kettle. The metal reflected better than the wood, and she saw her own face with brown curls framing it. There was a flash and she saw someone somewhere else. Blinking, she took stock of her magic. There was the barest trickle escaping her, not enough to scry. Yet, she could see a young man, a very handsome man, in ragged clothing.
Curious, she looked at the image periodically on her way back to the cottage. Her mother and Tabitha would know.
The two were cackling next to the fire. The noise was familiar from Tabitha, but Pandora would never guess her mother's laughter sounded so sinister.
“Mother, Tabitha, look at this.” She set the kettle down between them and pointed at the reflection.
“That's him, then?” Mother asked. “There is one thing to be said in favour of princes, they are easy on the eyes.”
Pandora stepped back. “That's him?” She took it back. He wasn't handsome. He was ugly, horrid.
“Yes. Where did you drop him?” Tabitha asked, grinning. “I don't recognize that village.”
Pandora blushed a little. “I might have overdone it. I just wanted him as far away as possible.”
Helen cackled. “And you succeeded. He won't find you again this year. It will take him months just to get home.”
“Please tell me I'm not going to see him in every cup of tea,” she begged.
Tabitha stroked her back. “No, dear. It is taking some of your magic, if only the tiniest trickle. Close it off.”
She took a few breaths, focusing on building walls around her heart, holding in her magic. She had studied this, but never practised much. She would be working on it a lot, it seemed. Once certain she had all her magic contained, she peeked into the kettle and saw only herself.
She let out a sigh and the water flashed. Relief had wiped out her wall. She didn't care. She put a lid on the hateful prince and hung it on the fire.
“That was oddly satisfying,” she told the women.
They both cackled again and she joined, though hers was still a girl's giggle.
“So, Mother, you needed Tabitha's help with Bianca?” There were only two stools, but the large bed was part of the same room and Pandora sat on that.
“Yes. Although I know how to brew death-sleep, Tabitha has much more experience, and I didn't want to risk killing the girl.”
“And now she's hiding from a prince, just like I was.”
“Not exactly the same,” Tabitha told her. “Bianca will sleep until we find a way to teach her.”
“Why not the way you taught me?”
“I tried that,” Helen said, frustration hardening her lilting voice. “She thought I was trying to kill her or curse her father, or any other foolhardy thing her father led her to believe. I sent word to Tabitha when it finally dawned on me to use that fear to drive her out of the kingdom. I let her think I was going to kill her, that I had hired an assassin. That got her moving, made her use some of the magic to get far enough, find people to trust.”
“I thought the evil queen was chasing her.”
The women cackled. “Precisely.”
Pandora chuckled and traipsed down the trail, a lightly worn path, but it did lead to a well. Using the wooden bucket there, she drew up water and poured it into her tea kettle. The metal reflected better than the wood, and she saw her own face with brown curls framing it. There was a flash and she saw someone somewhere else. Blinking, she took stock of her magic. There was the barest trickle escaping her, not enough to scry. Yet, she could see a young man, a very handsome man, in ragged clothing.
Curious, she looked at the image periodically on her way back to the cottage. Her mother and Tabitha would know.
The two were cackling next to the fire. The noise was familiar from Tabitha, but Pandora would never guess her mother's laughter sounded so sinister.
“Mother, Tabitha, look at this.” She set the kettle down between them and pointed at the reflection.
“That's him, then?” Mother asked. “There is one thing to be said in favour of princes, they are easy on the eyes.”
Pandora stepped back. “That's him?” She took it back. He wasn't handsome. He was ugly, horrid.
“Yes. Where did you drop him?” Tabitha asked, grinning. “I don't recognize that village.”
Pandora blushed a little. “I might have overdone it. I just wanted him as far away as possible.”
Helen cackled. “And you succeeded. He won't find you again this year. It will take him months just to get home.”
“Please tell me I'm not going to see him in every cup of tea,” she begged.
Tabitha stroked her back. “No, dear. It is taking some of your magic, if only the tiniest trickle. Close it off.”
She took a few breaths, focusing on building walls around her heart, holding in her magic. She had studied this, but never practised much. She would be working on it a lot, it seemed. Once certain she had all her magic contained, she peeked into the kettle and saw only herself.
She let out a sigh and the water flashed. Relief had wiped out her wall. She didn't care. She put a lid on the hateful prince and hung it on the fire.
“That was oddly satisfying,” she told the women.
They both cackled again and she joined, though hers was still a girl's giggle.
“So, Mother, you needed Tabitha's help with Bianca?” There were only two stools, but the large bed was part of the same room and Pandora sat on that.
“Yes. Although I know how to brew death-sleep, Tabitha has much more experience, and I didn't want to risk killing the girl.”
“And now she's hiding from a prince, just like I was.”
“Not exactly the same,” Tabitha told her. “Bianca will sleep until we find a way to teach her.”
“Why not the way you taught me?”
“I tried that,” Helen said, frustration hardening her lilting voice. “She thought I was trying to kill her or curse her father, or any other foolhardy thing her father led her to believe. I sent word to Tabitha when it finally dawned on me to use that fear to drive her out of the kingdom. I let her think I was going to kill her, that I had hired an assassin. That got her moving, made her use some of the magic to get far enough, find people to trust.”
“I thought the evil queen was chasing her.”
The women cackled. “Precisely.”
Thursday 16 July 2015
@NaughtyNightsPr GIVEAWAY! Enter to win a FIRST EDITION Paperback copy of Blue Moon House: Kitten!
GIVEAWAY! July 16 - August 12th, 2015! Enter to win a FIRST EDITION Paperback of Blue Moon House: Kitten by Bestselling Paranormal Author Angelica Dawson!
This highly erotic, Interracial paranomal romance paperback copy has the ORIGINAL cover by the late, great, Shane Willis of Rad Act Photography and is a COLLECTORS EDITION.
Blurb:
The second book in Blue Moon House series by Angelica Dawson
Find out how each of the characters in the novel "Blue Moon House" became a member. Read the trials and tribulations they had to endure, the kinky sexual acts and wickedly wonderful ways required for entry. Find out what the big secret is all about.
Don't miss each new book in the Blue Moon House series by Angelica Dawson as she takes you back to where it all began...
Jocelyn's Story
How does a twentieth century woman take back control over her own body? By giving that control to the right man.
What if you could have limitless sexual pleasure, at the price of your own blood?
Where does the girl who has done it all go when she wants something new?
Jocelyn considers herself sexually experienced, a leader and manipulator. She is looking for the next challenge. The rumors surrounding Blue Moon House sound like just the thing she's looking for. Losing her roommate to marriage, she needs a new place to stay. Hoping to find both in the same entity, she follows the rumors to their source and finds much more than she bargained for, beginning with a discovery that defies her biological science background – vampires.
WARNING: This book contains sexual acts that may be offensive to some readers. Domination, submission, spanking, bondage, anal penetration, suspension and so much more of the sensual world of BDSM erotic romance can be found between the pages of the Blue Moon House series, and it all began with Jocelyn's Story, Blue Moon House: Kitten
Perhaps even you might like to become a member of the Blue Moon House...
This highly erotic, Interracial paranomal romance paperback copy has the ORIGINAL cover by the late, great, Shane Willis of Rad Act Photography and is a COLLECTORS EDITION.
Blurb:
The second book in Blue Moon House series by Angelica Dawson
Find out how each of the characters in the novel "Blue Moon House" became a member. Read the trials and tribulations they had to endure, the kinky sexual acts and wickedly wonderful ways required for entry. Find out what the big secret is all about.
Don't miss each new book in the Blue Moon House series by Angelica Dawson as she takes you back to where it all began...
Jocelyn's Story
How does a twentieth century woman take back control over her own body? By giving that control to the right man.
What if you could have limitless sexual pleasure, at the price of your own blood?
Where does the girl who has done it all go when she wants something new?
Jocelyn considers herself sexually experienced, a leader and manipulator. She is looking for the next challenge. The rumors surrounding Blue Moon House sound like just the thing she's looking for. Losing her roommate to marriage, she needs a new place to stay. Hoping to find both in the same entity, she follows the rumors to their source and finds much more than she bargained for, beginning with a discovery that defies her biological science background – vampires.
WARNING: This book contains sexual acts that may be offensive to some readers. Domination, submission, spanking, bondage, anal penetration, suspension and so much more of the sensual world of BDSM erotic romance can be found between the pages of the Blue Moon House series, and it all began with Jocelyn's Story, Blue Moon House: Kitten
Perhaps even you might like to become a member of the Blue Moon House...
Thursday Taster: Pandora 22
Check out all the great tasters on the blog. If you want whole story, what I have is available on WattPad.
Pandora walked away, plucking plants and mushrooms along the way. She had no money, but she could sell them, and others she could eat. Although she had never spent a night sleeping outside before, she wasn't troubled by it.
She hadn't walked half a day and she felt another woman with magic. Powerful. Stopping, she turned toward it and barely spotted the cottage covered in vines and branches. The door was clear enough when she got close and she knocked.
The low whispering inside died. After more than minute, the door opened a crack to reveal a long pointed nose and chin.
“Tabitha!” Pandora shouted in glee, pulling away the door and hugging her teacher. When she had finished squealing, she saw the other woman sitting at a table. She wore rich fabrics and her golden hair hung in perfect curls. “Mother?”
Helen rose and opened her arms to her daughter. “Pandora. Look at you.” Her mother stood less than an inch taller and kissed Pandora's temple.
“Wait. Why aren't you asleep?” Tabitha asked.
Pandora frowned and played with one of her dyed locks. “I was woken, by a prince.”
Both women gasped. “Did he?” Helen asked.
Pandora felt tears fill her eyes. “Yes. It was horrible, Mother. He was bathed in blood of my friends, and vile.”
“I thought I felt something,” Tabitha murmured.
Helen squeezed Pandora tighter. “I'm so sorry, sweet. Tabitha warned you, didn't she?”
Pandora hadn't thought about it. “You mean, he controls me now?” her voice became a squeak.
Tabitha took Pandora's chin in her hand, turning it to look at her. She squinted and then let go. “He only took you once. He doesn't control you yet. And it's weakened. Something happened during the act.”
Pandora wore a small smile as she remembered throwing him off her. “I used the pleasure magic.”
“Ha!” Helen let out a laugh before stroking Pandora's head. “That's my girl. You won't let a man win that easily. I only hope Bianca has as much backbone. Or that she isn't found. I think chasing her here is far enough. Don't you, Tabitha?”
“Yes. No one will be looking for a princess in that small alcove of dwarves.” She squinted again. “How did he know how to find you?”
Pandora thought for a moment. “He said something about our fathers.”
“That'll be it,” Helen said, her beautiful face shadowed by her sour expression. “Victor is bitter and never learned to give up.”
“Well, Helen, you can't be surprised at that, not with a name like Victor.”
Helen grumbled. “Never loses. We'll see about that.”
“You chased Bianca here?” Pandora asked.
Helen and Tabitha shared a look. “How do you know Bianca?”
“I followed one of the dwarves. He was marked with magic.”
Tabitha clapped her hands. “I knew that child could do it.”
“I was sure she would never touch it again after the last time I tried to teach her.” Helen poked the fire place and uncovered the banked coals. “Pandora, be a good girl and fetch water. The well is further into the wood, but there is a path.”
She didn't want to leave her mother and teacher, but it was obvious neither had plans to go anywhere. Her mother was busy opening canisters looking for tea.
“Ew. Tabitha! Why do you keep these?”
Pandora walked away, plucking plants and mushrooms along the way. She had no money, but she could sell them, and others she could eat. Although she had never spent a night sleeping outside before, she wasn't troubled by it.
She hadn't walked half a day and she felt another woman with magic. Powerful. Stopping, she turned toward it and barely spotted the cottage covered in vines and branches. The door was clear enough when she got close and she knocked.
The low whispering inside died. After more than minute, the door opened a crack to reveal a long pointed nose and chin.
“Tabitha!” Pandora shouted in glee, pulling away the door and hugging her teacher. When she had finished squealing, she saw the other woman sitting at a table. She wore rich fabrics and her golden hair hung in perfect curls. “Mother?”
Helen rose and opened her arms to her daughter. “Pandora. Look at you.” Her mother stood less than an inch taller and kissed Pandora's temple.
“Wait. Why aren't you asleep?” Tabitha asked.
Pandora frowned and played with one of her dyed locks. “I was woken, by a prince.”
Both women gasped. “Did he?” Helen asked.
Pandora felt tears fill her eyes. “Yes. It was horrible, Mother. He was bathed in blood of my friends, and vile.”
“I thought I felt something,” Tabitha murmured.
Helen squeezed Pandora tighter. “I'm so sorry, sweet. Tabitha warned you, didn't she?”
Pandora hadn't thought about it. “You mean, he controls me now?” her voice became a squeak.
Tabitha took Pandora's chin in her hand, turning it to look at her. She squinted and then let go. “He only took you once. He doesn't control you yet. And it's weakened. Something happened during the act.”
Pandora wore a small smile as she remembered throwing him off her. “I used the pleasure magic.”
“Ha!” Helen let out a laugh before stroking Pandora's head. “That's my girl. You won't let a man win that easily. I only hope Bianca has as much backbone. Or that she isn't found. I think chasing her here is far enough. Don't you, Tabitha?”
“Yes. No one will be looking for a princess in that small alcove of dwarves.” She squinted again. “How did he know how to find you?”
Pandora thought for a moment. “He said something about our fathers.”
“That'll be it,” Helen said, her beautiful face shadowed by her sour expression. “Victor is bitter and never learned to give up.”
“Well, Helen, you can't be surprised at that, not with a name like Victor.”
Helen grumbled. “Never loses. We'll see about that.”
“You chased Bianca here?” Pandora asked.
Helen and Tabitha shared a look. “How do you know Bianca?”
“I followed one of the dwarves. He was marked with magic.”
Tabitha clapped her hands. “I knew that child could do it.”
“I was sure she would never touch it again after the last time I tried to teach her.” Helen poked the fire place and uncovered the banked coals. “Pandora, be a good girl and fetch water. The well is further into the wood, but there is a path.”
She didn't want to leave her mother and teacher, but it was obvious neither had plans to go anywhere. Her mother was busy opening canisters looking for tea.
“Ew. Tabitha! Why do you keep these?”
Thursday 9 July 2015
Thursday Taster Pandora 21
Check out all the great tasters on the blog. If you want whole story, what I have is available on WattPad.
After earning a lunch from a mother who was grateful for Pandora's care of her colic child, she made her way down a clear path toward the base of the mountains. The dwarven homes weren't hidden, but they were built into the rock, so one had to look carefully to see them. The magic she had sensed didn't come from any one of them, but all. Counting doors, she found seven dwellings, and nearly twice that number of dwarves. They weren't inside, but rather gathered around a grave.
A lovely young woman, no older than Pandora, lay atop the chiseled stones. She couldn't have been dead long; there was still pink in her cheeks.
And she was the source of the magic. She practically pulsed with it, although it was subdued. Continuing her examination, she also found the girl wasn't dead. It seemed another victim had fallen to the Death-sleep.
“What are you doing here? Stay away from Bianca.” The little man wasn't quite a head shorter than Pandora and was at least twice as wide with thick arms and chest that had seen hard labour.
“Who is she?” Pandora asked, not moving a hair closer.
“Bianca, the snow white one. She was hiding from her step-mother, the evil queen.”
One of the others said, “And we couldn't protect her.”
They all bowed their heads and murmured apologies to the not-dead girl.
“So...she's a princess?” Pandora asked.
“Yes, daughter of King Martin of the Plain.”
Could it be a coincidence? Another princess cursed with the death-sleep?
“Evil queen? She doesn't have a pointed chin, warts?” No one could forget Tabitha's face.
“No!” the dwarf argued. “She is beautiful, with golden hair and fair skin. Almost as fair as Bianca's. She was jealous. That's why she had her killed.”
Pandora's brow furrowed. “So she came here and killed her?”
“No, no.” Another interjected. This one seeming much friendlier than any other. “The Queen hired an assassin to kill her, but Bianca got away.”
“But she killed her anyway,” Pandora surmised.
Again they all apologized to the princess.
“She was disguised,” one of the few females said. “She had to have been, or Bianca would have called for us. She certainly wouldn't have eaten her poison.”
Eaten? That didn't sound like the death-sleep, but that was the spell. “What kind of poison? I know a little magic. I might be able to cure it.” She couldn't, of course. She didn't have a cocoa bean, but they didn't know that.
“Could you?” the youngest of their community asked. He proffered an apple with a single bite out of it. It practically glowed to Pandora, it was so heavily spelled. She only needed to hold it to know how Bianca had inhaled the powder. The skin of the apple, shattering, would send the dust on it straight into her face. Pandora made a big show of examining the apple and finally handed it back to the dwarf. The truth wouldn't hurt and might make it easier for her to leave.
“I do know this poison, but I can't cure it. It is well you haven't buried her because she isn't dead. This is the death-sleep. As long as she sleeps, she will not hunger, nor age. She is perfectly preserved.”
“Why would anyone do that?”
Pandora shrugged. “Perhaps the Queen thought this was a fate worse than death.”
“No,” one the dwarves argued. “As long as she lives, there is hope.”
She had hoped they'd think that. “Tell me, how do I find King Martin's castle? I'm travelling and that seems a fit place to go. I could bring him the sad news.” She hung her head as the dwarves did.
“East,” one answered gruffly. “Go east until the hills end and the land becomes flat. You will be able to see the castle then.”
“Thank you.”
After earning a lunch from a mother who was grateful for Pandora's care of her colic child, she made her way down a clear path toward the base of the mountains. The dwarven homes weren't hidden, but they were built into the rock, so one had to look carefully to see them. The magic she had sensed didn't come from any one of them, but all. Counting doors, she found seven dwellings, and nearly twice that number of dwarves. They weren't inside, but rather gathered around a grave.
A lovely young woman, no older than Pandora, lay atop the chiseled stones. She couldn't have been dead long; there was still pink in her cheeks.
And she was the source of the magic. She practically pulsed with it, although it was subdued. Continuing her examination, she also found the girl wasn't dead. It seemed another victim had fallen to the Death-sleep.
“What are you doing here? Stay away from Bianca.” The little man wasn't quite a head shorter than Pandora and was at least twice as wide with thick arms and chest that had seen hard labour.
“Who is she?” Pandora asked, not moving a hair closer.
“Bianca, the snow white one. She was hiding from her step-mother, the evil queen.”
One of the others said, “And we couldn't protect her.”
They all bowed their heads and murmured apologies to the not-dead girl.
“So...she's a princess?” Pandora asked.
“Yes, daughter of King Martin of the Plain.”
Could it be a coincidence? Another princess cursed with the death-sleep?
“Evil queen? She doesn't have a pointed chin, warts?” No one could forget Tabitha's face.
“No!” the dwarf argued. “She is beautiful, with golden hair and fair skin. Almost as fair as Bianca's. She was jealous. That's why she had her killed.”
Pandora's brow furrowed. “So she came here and killed her?”
“No, no.” Another interjected. This one seeming much friendlier than any other. “The Queen hired an assassin to kill her, but Bianca got away.”
“But she killed her anyway,” Pandora surmised.
Again they all apologized to the princess.
“She was disguised,” one of the few females said. “She had to have been, or Bianca would have called for us. She certainly wouldn't have eaten her poison.”
Eaten? That didn't sound like the death-sleep, but that was the spell. “What kind of poison? I know a little magic. I might be able to cure it.” She couldn't, of course. She didn't have a cocoa bean, but they didn't know that.
“Could you?” the youngest of their community asked. He proffered an apple with a single bite out of it. It practically glowed to Pandora, it was so heavily spelled. She only needed to hold it to know how Bianca had inhaled the powder. The skin of the apple, shattering, would send the dust on it straight into her face. Pandora made a big show of examining the apple and finally handed it back to the dwarf. The truth wouldn't hurt and might make it easier for her to leave.
“I do know this poison, but I can't cure it. It is well you haven't buried her because she isn't dead. This is the death-sleep. As long as she sleeps, she will not hunger, nor age. She is perfectly preserved.”
“Why would anyone do that?”
Pandora shrugged. “Perhaps the Queen thought this was a fate worse than death.”
“No,” one the dwarves argued. “As long as she lives, there is hope.”
She had hoped they'd think that. “Tell me, how do I find King Martin's castle? I'm travelling and that seems a fit place to go. I could bring him the sad news.” She hung her head as the dwarves did.
“East,” one answered gruffly. “Go east until the hills end and the land becomes flat. You will be able to see the castle then.”
“Thank you.”
Thursday 2 July 2015
Thursday Taster Pandora 20
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The town was even larger than Pandora had expected. There were more people than she'd ever seen in one place before. Fortunately, they weren't all dark dwarves. Those moved among the streets, exchanging their gems and jewels for the various commodities the larger folk offered. She fit in perfectly with those, especially as she still wore her disguise. Today, there was no magic in it. She'd found the root that would turn her hair brown for several days and swapped her pretty dress for something she found in Carol's closet. The older woman had insisted that Pandora didn't need to pay her for the night, but she had insisted, wanting the older woman's clothes much more than her own. That it would compensate her host, was just an added benefit.
Frederic went directly to a stall where he would sell the carpets and clothes that he and the villagers had made from the wool of mountain sheep, but he spent a moment for her. “Do you need anything else? Directions to an Inn?”
“No, no. I can make my way. Thank you so much for the ride.” She was already distracted by the magic she sensed at the edge of the town.
Pandora dallied through the market, pretending to shop until it was obvious no one was paying her any special attention. Then she broke for the south. She came up short when she discovered she was following one of the dwarves. Pausing to adjust her shoe, she watched him go. Had Tabitha said anything about dwarven magic? She couldn't recall. Certainly there was magic among the items they mined, and plenty of it, but they didn't use it. That was why they sold it. No, the magic didn't belong to the dwarf.
She followed a little further, but felt sure she would be spied. Instead, she cast a small spell of her own. It settled around the dwarf's ankles and left footprints on the path. They would be visible to anyone else with magic, but only if they looked for it. Certain that she could follow in time, she made her way back into town. Did she have anything she could trade for food?
The town was even larger than Pandora had expected. There were more people than she'd ever seen in one place before. Fortunately, they weren't all dark dwarves. Those moved among the streets, exchanging their gems and jewels for the various commodities the larger folk offered. She fit in perfectly with those, especially as she still wore her disguise. Today, there was no magic in it. She'd found the root that would turn her hair brown for several days and swapped her pretty dress for something she found in Carol's closet. The older woman had insisted that Pandora didn't need to pay her for the night, but she had insisted, wanting the older woman's clothes much more than her own. That it would compensate her host, was just an added benefit.
Frederic went directly to a stall where he would sell the carpets and clothes that he and the villagers had made from the wool of mountain sheep, but he spent a moment for her. “Do you need anything else? Directions to an Inn?”
“No, no. I can make my way. Thank you so much for the ride.” She was already distracted by the magic she sensed at the edge of the town.
Pandora dallied through the market, pretending to shop until it was obvious no one was paying her any special attention. Then she broke for the south. She came up short when she discovered she was following one of the dwarves. Pausing to adjust her shoe, she watched him go. Had Tabitha said anything about dwarven magic? She couldn't recall. Certainly there was magic among the items they mined, and plenty of it, but they didn't use it. That was why they sold it. No, the magic didn't belong to the dwarf.
She followed a little further, but felt sure she would be spied. Instead, she cast a small spell of her own. It settled around the dwarf's ankles and left footprints on the path. They would be visible to anyone else with magic, but only if they looked for it. Certain that she could follow in time, she made her way back into town. Did she have anything she could trade for food?
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