And I Write Darker Things

 (O riginally published on my main blog,  Andi and I Write , on October 12, 2020) (Special thanks to the talent of   McCallum J. Morgan  for his incredible illustration! You can view his blog in the link on his name there.)  Gerald stared hard at the scene before him, Jasper pulling him close from behind. Gerald could feel the heartbeat of the other against his shoulder, the stutter in his breathing as the gun was lowered at the silent command from Thaz’ra, a hand motion from their wretched past. Gerald’s hands shook as he holstered the gun. “ It has been years ,” the color drained from Gerald as the voice crept into his ears, and he felt Jasper’s breath hitch again behind him. “And as I promised, I gave you a voice,” Thaz’ra answered the voice as Jasper felt the blood drain from his face, light flooding the chamber as several candles lit with blue flame. Leathery carcasses lay along one wall as Gerald swept his light along it; a bear, a two-heade...

 ( Originally published on my main blog,  Andi and I Write , on October 12, 2020.) ((Special thanks to the talent of   McCallum J. Morgan  for his incredible illustrations for this series! You can view his blog in the link on his name there.)) Thaz’ra watched the beast go down and Jasper retreated several steps, his long arm darted into the tent and swept his bag up onto his back in a single motion as he picked up the light Gerald had dropped. The popping of bone echoed in the forest behind them as Thaz’ra and him made their retreat; then Thaz’ra veered to the left. “Thaz!” “It’s after me. I will always protect my boys,” Jasper hesitated, then veered to join her. “You are a fucking martyr-” “You know what Clipper was into,” Thaz’ra hissed, “He was going to butcher Rin and I like animals…” Jasper could feel the anger that boiled in her veins as the brush rustled behind them. They ran out to the clearing, Thaz’ra whipping about to fire another round. Bo...

(Originally published on my main blog,  Andi and I Write , on October 25, 2019)   Featuring Original Illustration by Andi Daniel Thaz’ra would have followed that man into the river to drown; she felt sometimes that she should have. She was young though, freshly liberated from her parent’s home after mama bird had pushed her from the nest and savoring those first few drops of freedom on a reluctant tongue. What remained is that she followed him, as she had when they danced. They danced because what else is there to do when you’ve known someone’s body so long, so well? They’d been wrapping up their dance practice one day at Gerald’s studio, their fellow survivors from the group of horror having joined them for the practice, when he asked a question. “You ever been up the Yaak Thaz?” Thaz had paused, a glass of wine in hand. “I mean, maybe a few times maybe when I was a kid? Not that I can really remember, why?” She swirled the contents of her glass, glancing up at him. “Is it up...