Thursday Tea Party

Hello lovelies! Today my tea is a lovely jasmine found at the local Asian market.I really love the tin as well as the tea.

Today is definitely a hot cup of tea kind of day. I love fall, the crisp cool of the air, the decorations, just the feel in the air.

November is barreling towards us so quickly! If you are going to submit to Fae Corps Faery Footprints, your time is running out. October 31 is the deadline. Art, poetry, and short stories are being accepted.

November is also a busy month for me. Serena is doing Nanowrimo. If you want to follow her on the site her user name is SerenaMossgraves. She has two wips she is going to try to tackle. Kingdoms of Sin & Life, Guilt, and Undeath. She said that this way if one is blocked she has a back-up. I am again doing the P. A. D. Challenge. I looked this morning at Beauty’s tears. I have 42 poems out of the 70 needed to publish. (Poetry volumes vary in length, however I have always done 70 in each of mine.) So, the P. A. D. should put me over what I need. I will have to decide what title my next volume will be soon.

I also am still going to be writing for coffee house writers biweekly. My new post with them will publish on Monday. I am really enjoying working with them.

So, I am seeing December being a time of Layout and publishing. Fae Corps will be releasing Faery Footprints in December, and I will be releasing Beauty’s Tears. With any luck Serena will have something new to release then as well.

I am working on recording the audiobook for the princess lost. So I am hoping to release that soon as well.

Serena is currently working on her story for Fae Corps Through the Sunshine anthology. It’s a cute whimsical light faery story about snowflakes. The deadline for that is January, so she has time.

My best friend is also doing Nanowrimo this year. She’s trying her hand at fantasy romance! If you want more information about her writing, check out her blog.

So… Help me out. I’m going to post 3 different book covers. Tell me which you think I should use after the publication of Beauty’s tears.

All three are eventually going to be titles of my poetry volumes. It’s just a matter of the order of release. So drop your opinion in the comments. Which would you like to see released next?

Thursday Tea Party

Hello lovelies. Today I am having a blend of herbs in a tea. Which herbs you ask? Oh dear me… I seem to have forgotten most of them… My boyfriend makes it for me, so I only put them in my 🦉(yes my tea strainer looks like an owl) and drown the owl. I do know that he uses 5 different herbs. It has Lavender, Jasmine, and a small amount of Mandrake. Oh dear, I really have forgotten the other two. Well rest assured that it tastes like a miracle, and aids my pain meds(back and hands are extra sore today.

Well… A week into October… So much going on. My first post for coffee house writers is up. If you missed it, go here. Of course my Saturday post on here was filled with the links for my books, Serena’s books , and other places to find me.

Serena is definitely doing Nano this year. The link to her Nano page is Here. I will be doing the P. A. D. Challenge, as usual. Though I do not always use just the Writer’s Digest prompts, they usually have good ones. For the ones that want to try to follow along, or try the challenge themselves, the link for the section of the site is Writer’s Digest – Poetic Asides. It is a wonderful column regardless.

Serena has two projects to attempt working on. Kingdoms of Sin and Life, Guilt, and undeath. I believe that both are listed as active due to the desire to not allow writer’s block to slow down the momentum.

My craft studio is nearly together. We have moved most of the stuff in there, but I have still to organize and such. I have been considering doing a studio tour video. We have not gotten the electric fixed in it yet. One thing at a time, right?

With all that is going on in November…I don’t know if I can juggle everything. We will see. I may have to do a couple of less days here a week. It will depend upon my dexterity. I will be juggling a bi-weekly deadline for Coffee House Writer’s, a poem a day, an attempt at doing 1667 words in one or the other or both of Serena’s stories, homeschooling my daughter, and housework. Plus the blog and any art I can squeeze in. It is not going to be easy. So, I beg your grace ahead of time for missed posts. I will return to the normally crazy of this blog in December regardless. I am hoping that I will be able to juggle it all in November as well.

If I can I am hoping to get around to the children’s book I am working on in December. It is a middle grade story. Attack of Shoe Mountain. If I do then 2020 will be a huge year of publication for me. Both Serena and I have poetry being published in Fae Corps Publishing Faery Footprints. She is likely to have a story in the Through the Sunshine anthology. I am also hoping that at least one, if not both, of her W. I. P. novels will be published in 2020. I am usually publishing roughly 3 poetry volumes a year. If I can also add Aosm… Yeah 2020 will be a big year for me and mine. Though I might be publishing Beauty’s Tears in 2019 still. Depends upon the poetry muse. 😉

Thursday Tea Party

Hello lovelies. Today I am having a blend of herbs in a tea. Which herbs you ask? Oh dear me… I seem to have forgotten most of them… My boyfriend makes it for me, so I only put them in my 🦉(yes my tea strainer looks like an owl) and drown the owl. I do know that he uses 5 different herbs. It has Lavender, Jasmine, and a small amount of Mandrake. Oh dear, I really have forgotten the other two. Well rest assured that it tastes like a miracle, and aids my pain meds(back and hands are extra sore today.

Well… A week into October… So much going on. My first post for coffee house writers is up. If you missed it, go here. Of course my Saturday post on here was filled with the links for my books, Serena’s books , and other places to find me.

Serena is definitely doing Nano this year. The link to her Nano page is Here. I will be doing the P. A. D. Challenge, as usual. Though I do not always use just the Writer’s Digest prompts, they usually have good ones. For the ones that want to try to follow along, or try the challenge themselves, the link for the section of the site is Writer’s Digest – Poetic Asides. It is a wonderful column regardless.

Serena has two projects to attempt working on. Kingdoms of Sin and Life, Guilt, and undeath. I believe that both are listed as active due to the desire to not allow writer’s block to slow down the momentum.

My craft studio is nearly together. We have moved most of the stuff in there, but I have still to organize and such. I have been considering doing a studio tour video. We have not gotten the electric fixed in it yet. One thing at a time, right?

With all that is going on in November…I don’t know if I can juggle everything. We will see. I may have to do a couple of less days here a week. It will depend upon my dexterity. I will be juggling a bi-weekly deadline for Coffee House Writer’s, a poem a day, an attempt at doing 1667 words in one or the other or both of Serena’s stories, homeschooling my daughter, and housework. Plus the blog and any art I can squeeze in. It is not going to be easy. So, I beg your grace ahead of time for missed posts. I will return to the normally crazy of this blog in December regardless. I am hoping that I will be able to juggle it all in November as well.

If I can I am hoping to get around to the children’s book I am working on in December. It is a middle grade story. Attack of Shoe Mountain. If I do then 2020 will be a huge year of publication for me. Both Serena and I have poetry being published in Fae Corps Publishing Faery Footprints. She is likely to have a story in the Through the Sunshine anthology. I am also hoping that at least one, if not both, of her W. I. P. novels will be published in 2020. I am usually publishing roughly 3 poetry volumes a year. If I can also add Aosm… Yeah 2020 will be a big year for me and mine. Though I might be publishing Beauty’s Tears in 2019 still. Depends upon the poetry muse. 😉

Saturday links

Books I was involved in Editing /publishing:

Under the Mists:
(www.books2read.com/underthemists)

My main links :
Come see me on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/pattimouse)

my author page on Amazon
(https://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Harris/e/B012U5ZRD2)

My storenvy store
(https://www.storenvy.com/stores/1172892-serenity-studios-ooak)

My books:

A Pocketful of Poetry
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/mVB1np

Creative Juices
———————————-

<Mobi>
https://tinyurl.com/ydgqoept

<Paperback>
https://tinyurl.com/y9s5xrom

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/3J8AKK

word play
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback> http://www.amazon.com/Word-Play-Patricia-Lynn-Harris/dp/1519794983/ref=la_B012U5ZRD2_1_6_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451694114&sr=1-6

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bMQ0YB

Sacks of Wit
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bWzaKM

Pip the Pup
——————-

<Everywhere Else> https://www.books2read.com/u/bWzaKM

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

Bedtime Tales I:
The Teddy Bear Picnic
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

Bedtime Tales II: The Princess Lost
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

Life Drops
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback >

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/4DlaNP

Wayward Dreams
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/m2vjer

Prompted Prose
————————–

<Mobi>
https://tinyurl.com/mqua3so

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/boZzGv

Dream Webs
———————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/38rNMZ

Literary Drops
———————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/md0eWy

Word Petals
——————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback >

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bMQ0YB

Soul’s Door
——————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everything Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/47ZpYE

Music for the soul
——————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1980990573/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KgKwBbF0F9934

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bQ9o9w

Poetry Kisses
———————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1717918581/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ObKwBbE57D724

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/47Zpx8

Temporal Verse
—————————

<Everwhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/4jDOR2

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1386556556/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Fs2UBb8RTBX47

Soul Drops
——————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/m0g5QY

Spilled Verse
———————

<mobi> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXLYKQP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_d7GqCbCJRMQ2X

<paperback> https://www.amazon.com/dp/1794353003/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_krXqCb4AFYYK4

<Everywhere Else>
https://books2read.com/u/3LGr6X
Dream Drips
——————–

<Mobi> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RVCCP82/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_knK3Cb4YPT96N

<paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://books2read.com/u/4Nan7N

Ink Splashes
———————
Mobi: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TKWHFYV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_H2RgDb8WN3M8Y

Everywhere else:

books2read.com/u/bzWEPZ

Paperback : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1076805507/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_s2RgDb5VKF7J3

Inspiration without a home

———————————————-
https://books2read.com/u/m2rRVG

Whispers of the Muse

—————————————————
https://books2read.com/u/baWGr6

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Serena’s Books
************************************
The Death Of Neverland

————————————————–

Mobi – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VTCKZ3H

Paperback – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1729360181/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_StH1Bb9MJD9M5

Draft to digital – https://www.books2read.com/u/mVB5p5

Rust, Gore, and the Junkyard Zombie
————————————————–

Mobi – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B7J5FSS

Paperback – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1980471320

Draft 2 digital – https://www.books2read.com/u/47ZAa7

************************************

Friday Prompts – Zombie

Ok. Here’s the list for October. Send me a link to your post, comment below or email to patti.mouse@gmail.com. The prompt can be answered however you see fit as long as it is individual work- yours. So art, poetry, short story, photos, or whatever you can come up with.Today lets explore Zombies! Here is some drawings of a zombie I did!

And a poem from Pocketful of Poetry

Zombie

Also did you know that Serena has a Zombie Novel out? Rust, Gore, and the Junkyard Zombie

So, now let’s see what you can do with it!

Kingdoms of Sin. In progress continues

Gareth sighed. He was of royal blood. This king thing was not supposed to be difficult. The kingdom of Greed was a right mess when he took the throne. The ones who were supposed to be monitoring the finances were stealing from the taxes brought in. The people were starving. He had to fight with himself not to allow his own greed to overtake him. Starving people couldn’t pay taxes after all.
Add in the visions and dreams here lately… Gareth really was starting to wonder if he was going mad. He had not been the sort to fancy a man in his bed. He enjoyed the ladies too much to even consider such a thing. His dreams have been so very erotic. Causing sensations that he had only imagined beforehand. And always the same man. Tall, pale skin, dark black hair down his back. Piercing blue eyes that he woke up wishing to see again.
Gareth would wake up hearing the same words, feeling as if he was being caressed by those long nimble hands. “My greed, you are mine, and mine alone.” There was never anyone else in his bed. He always woke up a mess as if there was a lover with him.
That, and Gareth could swear that Dracus would be on the throne when he would go to the throne room. The sight was both reassuring and disturbing. He heard the servants whispering. He was apparently the only one who saw the man. So he stopped reacting. He had enough of a mess to clean up in this kingdom without the people thinking that he was going mad. In fact he needed to create an illusion of strength to be able to get things done.
He had some weirdo running around calling himself the pie lich. Gareth didn’t really mind that this idiot was handing out free food, but inciting the poor people to hate the crown… Well he couldn’t allow that.
The dirgibles that flowed between the kingdoms were always searched, and the guards were watching for this Pie Lich. To no avail. Gareth was certain that the people were protecting their “hero”. He really did not want to kill the idiot, as it would create a martyr. Just a conversation perhaps, to get the crown bashing to stop. Perhaps even learn the magic woven into the pie pans he handed out. There were three types of pie pan, silver, gold, and platinum. The silver pan would refill itself once each day. The gold would refill three times each day. The platinum would stay filled.
The problem was that they only functioned for the family gifted with them. So, the magic could not be dissected by his mages. Gareth had already seen that failure.
Gareth walked to the window, feeling that moment of homesickness. He felt a hand gentle on his shoulder, even as Dracus’s voice slid into his mind. “Your mother visits my envy. She plans to see you. Do you regret that moment when you took the throne?”
Thrown into a flashback, Gareth thought about the first time he landed in this kindom. Two years ago, walking off of the gangplank from the dirigible. Thinking then of how he could run this kingdom better than the old man who held the throne.
Though the seas had ships for the fishing and such, the dirigibles were safer for passengers and goods. The fish in the seas were massive and mean. There were no fees for basic passage, only for the higher class passengers.
Though he was of royal blood, he was also a runaway. He had snuck into free seating, and then seethed with envy and rage the whole trip. His father had given his sister what was rightfully his. Gareth knew how childish he had been. When he climbed down the gangplank, he saw the misery around him. How people were to the point of stabbing each other over crusts of bread. Gareth felt the draw of the throne. He was born to rule!

Note ****

This is not a direct continue from the story. This is part of the second chapter. It is also before editing, so there might be changes to the final story… These are teases into what Serena is working on. If you want to read the whole thing then you will have to get the book when she finishes it. I will be working on the cover soon. And Serena has told me that this is her Nanowrimo project.

September Links

Ok, I know that the link post isn’t due until next week. However, Whispers of the Muse is releasing (it’s in the process of publishing now) and there is a preorder for Inspiration Without a Home. That means that I should be doing a release week link post. So I decided to do a combined effort.

===========================

Books I was involved in Editing /publishing:

Under the Mists:

{Also has a story from Serena.}
(www.books2read.com/underthemists)

My main links :
Come see me on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/pattimouse)

my author page on Amazon
(https://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Harris/e/B012U5ZRD2)

My storenvy store
(https://www.storenvy.com/stores/1172892-serenity-studios-ooak)

My books:

==============================

A Pocketful of Poetry
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/mVB1np

===============================

Creative Juices
———————————-

<Mobi>
https://tinyurl.com/ydgqoept

<Paperback>
https://tinyurl.com/y9s5xrom

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/3J8AKK

=============================
word play
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback> http://www.amazon.com/Word-Play-Patricia-Lynn-Harris/dp/1519794983/ref=la_B012U5ZRD2_1_6_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451694114&sr=1-6

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bMQ0YB

==============================

Sacks of Wit
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bWzaKM

===============================

Pip the Pup
——————-

<Everywhere Else> https://www.books2read.com/u/bWzaKM

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

============================

Bedtime Tales I:
The Teddy Bear Picnic
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

==============================

Bedtime Tales II: The Princess Lost
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

================================

Life Drops
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback >

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/4DlaNP

================================

Wayward Dreams
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/m2vjer

================================
Prompted Prose
————————–

<Mobi>
https://tinyurl.com/mqua3so

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/boZzGv

==============================
Dream Webs
———————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/38rNMZ

================================

Literary Drops
———————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/md0eWy

===============================

Word Petals
——————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback >

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bMQ0YB

================================
Soul’s Door
——————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everything Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/47ZpYE

================================
Music for the soul
——————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1980990573/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KgKwBbF0F9934

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bQ9o9w

================================
Poetry Kisses
———————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1717918581/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ObKwBbE57D724

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/47Zpx8

================================
Temporal Verse
—————————

<Everwhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/4jDOR2

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1386556556/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Fs2UBb8RTBX47

================================
Soul Drops
——————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/m0g5QY

===============================
Spilled Verse
———————

<mobi> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXLYKQP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_d7GqCbCJRMQ2X

<paperback> https://www.amazon.com/dp/1794353003/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_krXqCb4AFYYK4

<Everywhere Else>
https://books2read.com/u/3LGr6X

================================
Dream Drips
——————–

<Mobi> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RVCCP82/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_knK3Cb4YPT96N

<paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://books2read.com/u/4Nan7N

================================
Ink Splashes
———————
Mobi: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TKWHFYV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_H2RgDb8WN3M8Y

Everywhere else:

books2read.com/u/bzWEPZ

Paperback : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1076805507/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_s2RgDb5VKF7J3

================================
Inspiration without a home
https://books2read.com/u/m2rRVG
Whispers of the Muse
https://books2read.com/u/baWGr6

=================================
Serena’s Books
************************************
The Death Of Neverland

Mobi – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VTCKZ3H

Paperback – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1729360181/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_StH1Bb9MJD9M5

Draft to digital – https://www.books2read.com/u/mVB5p5

********************************

Rust, Gore, and the Junkyard Zombie

Mobi – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B7J5FSS

Paperback – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1980471320

Draft 2 digital – https://www.books2read.com/u/47ZAa7

***********************************

Well that’s all for now. This link post has grown quite a lot in the last year.

Thursday Tea Party

Hello, my lovelies. Today the tea is Stash Chai Black Tea. Quite delicious, and palatable either hot or cold.

On to announcements. My Patreon is about to be busy. I plan to do both Sketchtember and inktober. September will also be a daily prompt for Fae Corps. September will be busy all around for me. There is the deadline for submissions on Faerie Footprints.

I am truly enjoying being a part of Fae Corps. I am also looking into a guest blog sort of thing.

Serena has decided to post about once a month a continuation of The Kingdoms of Sin. She said that you will see the whole thing before we publish it.

I have noticed quite a few new following the blog as of late! I wanted to welcome you all. I do appreciate all of you. Especially when I am late posting, or absent. There is always grace here.

Kingdoms of Sin. In progress. By Serena.

“You’re mine…Only mine. Soon you will understand this too. My Envy.” The Queen shook her head as the voice was silk in her mind. Shaking away the ghost of a caress on her dusky cheek, she sat up and looked about. Her bedchamber was as cold and empty as before she woke. She knew it had been a dream. It was always a dream.
It was the same dream night after night. Every night since the first night she sat upon the throne. Of the seven kingdoms, hers was the only one that had ever been inherited. All of the thrones were cursed. Though at that moment, she wondered if hers was the worst. She wanted the peace of mind she once had to return. Most of the kingdom’s population only mildly felt the sin of the throne… Unless the king or queen let the throne rule.
Dracus the Apocalypse long ago had ridden across the lands. He was ruthless in his determination, and his blood lust. He was accompanied by his seven generals. He gifted each one a throne. He named each kingdom for a sin. Rumors of him turning his beloved Pride into a blood sucker were whispered when no one could hear them. After all Vampire was not something anyone wanted to be heard by the queen. People who crossed her were known to disappear. Sometimes crossing Pride was as simple as being just too pretty. Pride was one of the only two kingdoms still ruled by its original ruler. Wrath was the other, and wrath was a wasteland. Gluttony was also rumored to be a vampire, but she is the second to sit that throne.
The Queen of Envy sighed as she climbed from her bed. Knowing that he was dead did not help. She had been warned that the throne brought madness. It was why her father left her as his heir. Her twin brother, though older, was ill suited to sit Envy’s throne. She had recently heard rumors of her twin taking over the throne of Greed. That throne would suit him. She pulled the robe tighter as she crossed into the throne room to face the sight she knew would be there. Even expecting him, he was a sight.
He sat too easily on the uncomfortable seat. Barely visible, and she knew from experience, only visible to her. His broad shoulders moving widely, as though he was laughing. “Come my little envy, tell me what troubles you!” His dark features were barely visible in the candlelit room. She would not see him during the day. His voice never left her. Dracus was her great grandfather. The original Envy was heavy with child when the sins locked him away. He was also the sexiest man she had ever laid eyes upon. Long Dark hair cascading in a thick mane over a broad muscular frame. The urge to reach out and caress the stubble covering the high cheekbones had her shaking her head. None of the thoughts that she was having felt even remotely sane. Then again, nothing surrounding Dracus or the seven sins was ever sane.
The tale goes that Dracus conquered the whole world and split it into seven equal island kingdoms. Dracus the Apocalypse was a powerful wizard who delved into dark and evil magics. He named each of the kingdoms after one of the seven deadly sins. He cursed the thrones so that he could control each of the rulers. Then he set his most trusted warriors to the thrones. The sins were mostly afraid of his power. He knew what was in their minds. Five of them banded together to lock him away, certain that Dracus would be their destruction. Pride and envy were loyal beyond measure. Both his mistresses, They wanted nothing of the plan. Dracus told them to go along with the plan, promising them both that he would ride again. it prompted the old children’s rhyme.

When again Dracus rides,
Blood will rain freely from the sky
Those whose sin is plain to see
Should run, lest his gaze fall upon thee.

Choosing instead not to acknowledge him, she walked through the throne room heading to the kitchen. The cook would likely warm her some milk, much as he had when she was little. Unsettled nerves would not help her to deal with the curse. It did help that this was home. She was no stranger here, even if she felt different since her coronation. The servants here were the same ones who had been here throughout her childhood. The cook was aging, and already training the one who would replace him. The queen quickly smiled to hide the sudden desire to have his peace of mind. Though she knew no one could read the sudden emotional surge from her mind, The tense smile gave her a focus point. The worried look on the old cooks face let her know she was making things worse. He had been trained in her grandmother’s time, and likely saw her father going down the crazy path as well. Probably more so. After all, if her father had similar thoughts…well Dracus was not exactly her father’s type. Swallowing an almost hysterical chuckle she faced the old cook determined not to appear as insane as she was feeling.
“Trouble sleeping, Your Majesty?” His voice was soothing in the calm night air, familiarity easing the tension in her neck far better than she expected it to.
“Yes, Karl. I was hoping to talk my way into a cup of warm cinnamon milk. Much like you would make when I was a child.” She hoped the regulated tone she was using would ease his worry. The cook looked her over once more, then apparently not seeing what was keeping her awake, nodded.
The queen grabbed one of the faded stools that was next to the prep island in the center of the kitchen. They were meant to hold children, but her frame was still small and slender. Though her family was human, it was said that her mother was a dusky skinned elf…It was also said that though they were twins, she resembled her mother greatly where her brother was the spitting image of their father. The twins never truly knew their mother. The old king spoke of her as a whisper in the night, a legendary thief that fell in love with the king of a simple kingdom. The two had a passion that the servants would speak of well after the elf had run. She grew restless as the children aged. The queen barely remembered a lovely dark skinned face from her childhood. The twins were but six when their mother left. Though it was painful, their father spoke only kind things of their mother. Raising the twins with love, The old king never chose another mate. Queen Ella of Envy thought she finally could understand why. She wondered again more seriously if her father ever saw Dracus the same way. If the seductive imagery would be there if she was male. She also wondered if her twin really took greed, and if he suffered the assault on the mind that she was. She honestly found that idea funny enough for a chuckle under her breath. The look from the cook had her quickly straightening up.
The cook brought her a mug of warmed milk sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and some snicker-doodles. Her favorite cookies, Of course he would remember. Karl was more like an uncle than a servant. He had been there long before Ella could remember. She wanted to beg him not to retire. Her sense of royal pride wouldn’t let her. Instead, She thanked him, and sat enjoying the treat he had brought her.
The king’s recent passing had nearly everyone in the kingdom on edge. Especially because he was found on the throne clutching the miniature painting of her mother with a smile on his face. Ella had not had time to grieve his passing. The throne could not be empty. Some could remember the time the king’s elder sister took the throne. She lasted less than a week. She also is said to have done quite a lot of damage to Envy during her reign. The ill-suited did not sit the throne for long. Dracus apparently was quick to drive the people insane who did not belong on the thrones. It was said this happened in all of the kingdoms. Sloth and Greed went through the rulers the most. It drew those already maddened by their own sin. Those suited for the throne could ignore the madness it brought. The kingdom would then flourish under a suitable ruler. Ella was determined to survive and be suited for the throne her father died on. Regardless of creepy dead relatives, or her own weird desires. In order to survive, she had to be the one in control of her mind.
The comforts of childhood helped. She finished the treats, and then cautiously headed back to bed. She needed to focus on her intended destination to avoid letting her mind be taken again by the vision of Dracus. She was the queen after all, this was her kingdom! It was her mind that he was trying to invade, and she refused to allow it.
Strengthened will, and exhaustion, insured that the rest of the night passed uneventful. She dealt with the duties of court mechanically, needing to be seen as the sane and in control person suited for the throne. She was starting to hear the servants whispering when they thought she could not hear. Her nerves were starting to stretch thin. As the last of the petitioners stepped up to the front, Ella couldn’t hold the surprise from her face. The guards had allowed this person to approach while wearing a tightly drawn black hooded cape. A slender frame that was covered completely by the soft material of the cape.
Ella cleared her throat. “And who are you to come before us dressed like a rogue?” She battled the jump as the voice of Dracus carressed her ears.
“Don’t you recognize her my dear Envy? She who bore you stands before you.”
Ella shook her head and commanded. “Identify yourself, or face the royal dungeon!”
The hooded stranger lowered her hood to reveal a beautiful elf with obsidian skin. Her long flowing white hair flying free behind her, and piercing blood red eyes. “Hold your Majesty. I am a friend. I have returned to mourn a man who I loved, and beg your forgiveness. Even though I do not deserve it.” Her husky voice was but a faint memory to the queen, but it was familiar.
“Mama?” Ella gasped, too shocked to be the stoic face of the queen. She had honestly never expected to lay eyes on this woman again, and after her father’s death… Well it was too much. Angry tears filled the Queen’s eyes, nearly as quickly as questions bubbled up in her heart. So many that she wanted to ask, but was held back by the idea of the appearance of weakness. Instead, she gripped the throne until she could compose herself appropriately.
Dracus, again, was in her mind. “She is not here to harm you. She is an immortal being. Of course I can grant you that. Immortality. I would gladly give you an eternity. You are eternally mine.”
In some ways his spiel was helpful. It gave her the distraction to be queen again, instead of poor little Ella. “Welcome home mother. I am afraid that you chose to return too late. You will find that your welcome is not as warm as His Majesty’s would have been. However, this is your home. You may rest here.”
Ella stood up and motioned for the guard to close the hall. “Join me for dinner. Until then, I believe that you know where your marital bedroom was? Or do you need an escort?”
Her mother, Indrianna’s, beautiful face held a dark grin that didn’t quite reach those hard red eyes. “I remember. Ella, please allow me to explain myself.” Her pleads fell flat as Ella walked away. Indrianna sighed. She saw the stiffness in Ella as she walked away. Perhaps she should have gone to Gareth first. She needed to do this, with both of the twins. She loved their father deeply, but she had been unable to handle seeing him age. He refused to allow her to use magic and keep him young and alive. It tore her to pieces, knowing that he was so taken with Dracus, that he would refuse to continue on living for her. She had expected that he would still be around more than eleven years after she left. Dracus’s call was too seductive. And now her twins had both fallen victim to Dracus. She expected Gareth to be Dracus’s. For as a child he always had an envious and greedy nature. He wanted all of the attention. Ella was a sweet natured child. Generous and kind, always. Indrianna failed to see that in her now. To be honest, Ella was acting more like her mother’s people than her father’s.
If the guards were watching they would have seen a wry grin on the former queen before she heeded towards her former bedroom. Indrianna ignored Dracus as she passed into bittersweet memories. Dracus had appeared to her ever since her marriage. She also knew more information about who and what Dracus was than anyone. She could have saved her precious Francis… If he had let her. She pulled the hood back over her head to hide the tears that she could no longer stop.
She may have handled her choices badly, but she was still a noble daughter from a prominent house. The daughter of the master of madness and the baddest necromancer in all of the realms. Her posture improved with that thought. She slipped into her bedroom. With a sigh, she faced the idea that this would be harder than expected. Francis was a good man.
To be continued…

(Pattimouse’s note. I originally planned for a campaign setting based on this world for D20 tabletop RPG. The story has apparently decided to come first… I don’t want to do Dedras as a nom de plume unless I do that setting for the game. If it ends up as just the story, then it will be Serena’s.)

Thursday Storytime

Winter Whimsical

By Serena Mossgraves

Ever wonder where snowflakes come from? The faeries have a history for all of the first events, even the first snowflake. History has a mischevious little frost faery making much of what is now winter standard.
She was created from the ice that ran down the mountainside. No other was like her, as winter was quite the desolate time. Dreary cold and ice had everyone else just hiding inside.

She was named Snow after the mountain ice she came from. Oh the mountain snow was beautiful, just didn’t have the individuality we know today. The faery was gorgeous, tiny with skin like porcelin, eyes of the clearest blue. She was stunning to behold.
Snow was unlike any of her kind who had been made before. Most frost faerys were cold in nature, purposeful and driven to do what frost does…Snow was not.

She was whimsical, and enjoyed fun things. She was creative, with a mischevious streak. This led her to get in a lot of trouble with the other fae.
Snow would lay traps, build statues from ice, and generally do things to have fun. Nothing harmful, just all in fun. She found the snow too hard to use in her jokes, so she looked for a way to soften it. She wanted to throw it at people, in balls to see the look on their faces.

At first she tried to heat it, hoping it would soften. To her dismay, the ice melted, creating a slush that only got in the way. She decided that the heat was not what she needed, but was not sure what she did need.
Next, in her search, Snow thought perhaps a hammer! Let us shatter the ice to make it softer!

The snow shattered, but it was sharper and made it more difficult to use for her pranks. She didn’t want to hurt anyone after all. She needed to find a way to soften it so she could throw it easily. She searched feverishly for a way to work out this problem.
Snow tried using magic, and found that the snow went white, and opaque. Though she found it to be more lovely, it was still too hard. She tried to use an axe, to find it did the same as a hammer.

Frustrated, Snow sought out the wise owl of the forest for advice. She wanted to see if he could solve the dilemma that she faced. She was determined that she must find a way to soften the snow.

She felt desperation, and it confused her. Faeries were rarely desperate. Nature kept faeries doing what they were born to do. Snow was an aberration. She was a frost faerie with a warm personality and a Whimsical sense of humor.
Not that being an aberration was really bad. It meant that she was unique, and special. Though each faerie was unique, so many were so similar that being this different was enough to create a feeling in her of being alone.

The trip to the great owl was a scary one. Snow was small, and everything around the forest was so overpoweringly big. His home was in the great oak in the center of the forest, where even the sun had trouble being seen.
All of the faeries knew that the old owl was great and wise. He was ancient like the trees he lived in. His feathers were all gray with the years he had lived.

Faeries lived short little lives, so many did not understand age, nor the wisdom that went with. Snow understood that the owl knew things she could not. He would, she hoped, be able to tell her how to make the snow soft. She wanted to throw it.

She thought it might be fun to play in. Snow felt like the faeries were too serious. None of the other frost faeries seemed to want to play. She felt like she could bring joy by teaching them how to play.

For such a young faery Snow had a definite ideals about what was good and bad in the world around her. She saw it as a reason to be silly.
The owl was walking onto the outside branch of his home as Snow flew up. He ruffled his feathers as he settled onto the branch. Seeing the excitement in the young faery, he knew his hunt for the night would be postponed for a while.

“Who are you? And why are you here?” He hooted at her.
Snow did an overbalanced curtsy that nearly had her falling from the tree. After she caught herself and got situated on the branch, she answered the severe old owl.

“I seek your wisdom, Old master owl. I am the frost faery named Snow. I want to use the snow for fun and for play. I have tried to soften it in multiple ways. Heat only made a slush, which wasn’t fun with which to play. Hammers sharpened it, cutting anything that touches it. All then becoming too uncomfortable with which to play. I tried my magic, without hesitation or delay. It colored white, and appeared quite opaque. Still, too hard with which to form and play. Please, master owl, what advice have you?”

The Owl studiously fixed the young faery with a glare. Watching as she squirmed he answered with a knowledgeable air.

“Your magic you tried, on the outside it’s true. Try it again on the inside won’t you? Add little holes throughout the solid snow, and then I think you will find it soft enough indeed.”

With that statement, he flew off into the night. Quickly Snow found that he was nowhere in sight.

Stunned, she stammered to herself. “Magic the inside, indeed. I should have thought of that all by myself. The old owl’s wisdom that was rumored has been proven true.” With that thought, Snow flew off herself. To the mountain she flew, high into the clouds. She settled herself where the snow she was named for lay about the ground.
Snow cast her magic, to poke little holes. The white ice shattered into flakes of soft and white. Making it perfect to have a snowball fight. She taught the faeries winter play, and is the reason for the snowflakes that we see today.