So here we go. What happens when a human drinks Dragon ale? Come find out.

And for anyone that is just joining us Thank you and Welcome!!! The first part of this story is pinned to the top of my page please start there so everything makes sense to you. And now on with the show….

Ben inhaled deeply, the smell of wood burning filled his senses. What the? He cracked one eye open, stone walls and a super soft bed. He quickly shut his eye the light was not being kind to his head.

“Hey sleepy head. Don’t try to move yet. You drank too much last night.” Ben obeyed the angelic voice.

He smacked his lips and realized his mouth felt and tasted like a hot dumpster. “Uh, Tia I think something died in my mouth.”

“Here drink this. It will make things better. Just keep your eyes closed.”

Ben felt cool soothing fingers run through his hair then helped lean his head up so he could drink. The taste of black licorice erupted across his tongue. He wrinkled his nose as he swallowed. “Oh, that is disgusting. What is that?”

Tia giggled. “It’s an herbal tea something to help calm your system and rehydrate you. Landon was right, you are a light weight. I need you to drink a bit more.”

Ben lifted his head again and took another drink making a face and shuddering at the taste. “I dreamt about all the stories my mom used to tell me about dragons when I was just a kid. God Tia, I grew up with you and didn’t even know it. There was this one story she would tell me about you growing up in the big castle and I told her once that I would go and save you from all the other dragons and marry you myself.” He groaned as he sat up in bed. “God I am never drinking with your best friend again. That stuff is evil.”

Tia admired Ben’s body as he drank the tea. When he handed the cup back she smiled. “Feeling up to a light breakfast? We have a few things to take care of and I would really like to see that book you and your mom created. If all the stories she told you were true, I would like to read them for myself. I want my memories back but the thought of remembering all the horrible stuff that happened scares me. What if I can’t handle the memories?”

Ben threw the covers off and stood up wrapping Tia in his arms. “You are amazing. You’ll be able to handle them when you’re ready, and I will be right there to help you through it. Tia, sweetheart, you are not alone. You never have been. You have your father and Landon and now you have my family as well. We will all be there to support you. Besides I did vow to come and save you from the evil dragons.” He teased to help lighten the mood.

Read more

enough with my ramblings time to hand you part 6 of Like a Dragon to a Flame.

Landon landed at the steps of the castle.

“I will never get used to this,” Ben said as he slid off Landon’s back. He wobbled as he took a couple of steps. “Thanks, Landon. I’m sure flying us back and forth can’t be easy.”

Landon looked down at Ben. “It’s alright. The two of you weigh close to nothing for me. When the time comes let me teach you to fly.”

“Hey man, you got it. If anyone has to watch me fail a few times I think I’d rather have you laughing at me then some stranger or worse Tia.”

Landon chuckled “Yeah, she would never let you live it down. On the upside, I will only tease you occasionally.”

Ben looked around realizing Tia had already gone inside. “Tia is convinced those stories are true.”

“She should because they are. There’s a reason Tia was never allowed to leave the kingdom. Astarot is still out there. He will take any chance he can to get to her.”

“In that case, we had better get in there. Tia is going to explode.” Ben turned to run up the stairs, but Landon stopped him.

“She may kick and scream, but she is no threat as a human. It’s one of the reasons Xiu turned her. If she was in her true form, she could bring this castle down. This way when she is told the truth she can rage safely. As soon as you emailed us, we put anything of value in the vault so she can’t destroy it.”

“I can calm her down,” Ben answered

Landon shook his head “A dragon needs to vent, or they can end up going into a blind rage. Killing and destroying everything in sight.” Landon looked up at the castle doors “We need to let her vent and her father can handle it. Come on I’ll show you around the city. Trust me it’s safer this way.” Landon led Ben away from the castle silently praying Xiu could salvage this mess.

***

Xiu sat in the great hall waiting for his daughter. He looked down at the small stack of clothing sitting next to him. It had been a long while since he had had to wear human clothing and he hoped it wouldn’t come down to him having to wear them again. If his daughter was in a blind rage, then he would need to be able to calm her quickly. She was human so her emotions might just play into his favor. Then he heard human footsteps moving furiously down the hall.

“Father!” Tia’s voice echoed through the halls. She stormed into the main hall seeing her father lounging in his pillows across the room. “You have a lot of explaining to do.” She growled and the hall began to shake. Her eyes flashed electric blue.

Xiu sat up a little straighter alarmed at this turn of events. “That was not how you were meant to hear the truth of your past. Come sit with me I will tell you everything.”

“Tell me! You want to tell me? I want my memories back! You had no right to take them from me. You had no right keeping me from the rest of the world. Hiding me away like some helpless fairytale princess. How dare you. It should have been my choice.” Tia was sobbing, tears running down her face. “Ahhh! Why do I keep leaking? Turn me back right now. Fight me like a dragon.” Her knees gave out and she fell to the floor.

Subscribe now

Read more

Ben pulled up to the small cottage. It had a rustic looking wooden fence and a small garden off to one side. Tia took a deep breath as she grabbed Ben’s hand.

He looked over at her with a reassuring smile. “It’s going to be fine. Mom is going to love you and Dad will threaten to take you away from me.”

Tia glanced up at him with unsure eyes. “Sure, they’ll love me until they find out what I am. Then…” she stated as her hands began to shake.

Ben turned in his seat to face her. “Tia look at me. If it scares you this bad, then we never have to tell my parents what we are.” He promised as he rubbed her hand hoping to calm her.

“And when they want to come see you?” She asked.

“Then they come to my home here,” Ben replied.

“And what about the wedding?” She continued.

“That’s a little more complicated, but with the help of your father, I think I know how to handle that as well,” Ben answered.

Tia gave him a small smile. “Ok then. We don’t tell them for now. One big shock at a time.”

They walked up to the door and Ben knocked. A few moments later an older full-figured woman answered the door. She had auburn colored hair with just a touch of white here or there and Amber eyes that danced with joy at seeing her son. “Honey, Ben’s here with his friend.” She called over her shoulder then took Tia by the arm leading her into the house. “Come on in. I’m Lisa, Ben’s mom, and this is his father, James.” Lisa stated cheerfully as she led Tia into the kitchen.

At the stove was Ben’s father, he looked just like his son only a couple decades older. James turned around and smiled charmingly at Tia “Well hello, come, sit, lunch is almost ready.” He said and began serving up grilled Ruben sandwiches with German potato salad and coleslaw.

Once everyone was settled Lisa turned to Tia “So where did you and Ben meet?”

“We met at Karen’s Diner and started talking,” Tia answered.

“And how long ago was this?” James asked.

“Dad,” Ben warned.

“What, last week you were single and complaining about your boss. Then today according to my associate, you’re engaged to a beautiful young lady, who single-handedly took over your place of work in a day. We just want to understand what’s going on.” His father answered.

Ben was quiet for a moment trying to figure out a way to explain the last few days that would satisfy his parents. “You know growing up, I heard the story of how you and mom fell in love. The two of you were at the same movie theater. You saw mom with her friends from across the lobby and you knew in that instance that she would be the woman that you would marry. So, was that story true dad?” Ben challenged

Read more

First let me start with I love to research just about anything. I learn about what ever it is and my imagination just goes wild with it. In this case it is dragons and serpents.

Tia is my main female character of Like a Dragon to a Flame (Paranormal/ Fantasy romance) Tia is a water dragon and is names after the deity Tiamat. She is feisty and has one heck of a temper. Here is a little of what I found on Tiamat.

Tiamat was the personification of the primordial sea, so she was salt water.

and her lover was named Abzu he was called the sweet water, that made him fresh water. and they “Mingled the waters” and created the start of the Mesopotamian Patheon.

Later Abzu is captured and held prisoner by a god called Ea.

Tiamat being a normal female takes offence and shows all her anger by joining with another named Qingu and created a army to get revenge. She is super ticked off and does a lot of damage.

Well along comes Murduk and he takes her down and creates the heavens and the earth with her body. then he takes Qingu and mixes his blood with the red clay of earth and creates the first humans.

That is just a small amount of the research but now…

Well now my brain has decided that Tia my water dragon needs to find a mate with in the humans so that the magic of future dragons will not consume them and cause havoc because a ticked off female dragon can cause a lot of harm if they go nuts.

The source for the research is from the myth Enuma Elis and a quick read through Wikipedia which has a tone of stuff on the Mesopotamian gods. I always make sure I have at least two sources that I have red from to make sure everything lines up. but I found a third for this because this story is going to be a long series with a lot of characters. So here is the link of the third site.
https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/tiamat/index.html

For those of you that have stayed so far Thank you, I do love to ramble. And if you are now interested in what my story looks like I have the link to part one of Like a Dragon to a Flame below. Just please keep in mind that this first book is considered 18+ so you have been warned. If you like it so far please consider becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll get to follow my story’s journey from start to finish and get a finished e-book copy of each book as it comes out. So come join me we can talk about myth, lore, and writing all day long.

The next day Landon flew Tia and Ben to the outskirts of Teine. They walked back to the inn where Ben’s car had been left. Jim walked out of the inn and waved at the couple.

“Well hello Miss Tia.” Jim greeted as he took her hand affectionately. “I’m glad to see you again. Are you enjoying your stay so far?”

Tia smiled warmly at the old inn keeper. “I have enjoyed everything so far. In fact, I found quite the tour guild at that diner you sent me to.”

He smiled and nodded towards Ben. “He looks like a fine young man. Well, I will let you two youngsters go have a little fun.” He patted Tia’s hand then held his hand out to Ben “Now young man you had better keep this sweet girl safe.”

Ben took his hand and noted that the old man was stronger than he looked. “Yes, sir I will.” Ben promised then led Tia to the car.

***

Ben pulled up to his apartment building and turned the car off. “Well, here we are, home sweet home,” Ben announced as he opened the car door.

The building was three stories, Ben’s apartment was on the ground floor. He opened the front door and they walked in. It was a nicely furnished home with pictures of his family on the wall in a spacious living area. Ben watched as Tia walked slowly through the apartment looking at all the pictures, reading the titles of books on the desk. She looked up and smiled at him, tears in her eyes.

“Your parents really love you.” She observed as she picked up a picture of him and his parents at his college graduation.

Ben walked over and took the picture, placing it back on the desk, then took both her hands in his. “Yes, they do, and they will absolutely adore you when they meet you tomorrow.” He stated, “Come on I’ll show you the rest of my humble abode, then we have to go tell my boss the good news.”

Ben showed her the rest of the apartment laughing as she asked what the box was on the dresser in his bedroom was. He picked up the remote and pushed the power button, bring the TV to life. Tia jumped back with a growl.

“What kind of magic locks people in boxes? Did they do something wrong to be imprisoned in this way?” She asked as curiosity won over fear.

“They aren’t trapped it’s a broadcast they film these people acting out a play then sent it to our TVs through these electronic boxes.” He explained

“Fascinating.” She said in awe as she tapped the screen. “Your world is so much different than mine. Not to mention your family is here. Now here I am wanting to take you away from your home.” She stated sadly

Ben tilted her head up to look him in the eye. “Yes, our worlds are different, and yes, I will miss seeing my parents all the time. But I will still get to see everyone when we can. I love you, and I will not have you beat yourself up over this. It’s my decision and I would do it a thousand times over to be with you, Tia,” Ben stated firmly then leaned in and softly kissed her.

Tia leaned into his body sliding her arms around his neck. Ben held her close breathing in the scent of her hair. “Besides your world holds wonders for me to explore. I mean think of it I get to learn to fly and wait umm do we breathe fire?” He joked.

Read more

Also if you haven’t yet please consider subscribing my muse will love you forever.

Subscribe now

The Portrait

by

Megan Kuykendall

When she began her search for the truth, she couldn’t have imagined the rabbit hole it would send her through. Lanie shook her head at the thought. Had it only been a week since Dr. Simmons had died in a car accident? The memory of the accident still haunted her…

Lanie was working on getting the field of flowers exactly right for this art assignment. Landscapes were what she wanted to paint. The beauty of the land seemed to call to her, and she wanted to capture it for all time.

“Wow, your work just seems to get better every time I hand you a new challenge.” Dr. Simmons praised he scrutinized the field of flowers. “Tell you what, after my next class is done, I will have some free time. If you can come back, I’ll show you how to get brighter color out of the oil paints you’re using.”

Lanie smiled brightly at her favorite teacher. “That would be amazing. Thank you. I will be back right after class, promise.”

Later that day, Lanie was hurrying to the art room when she heard angry voices. She slowed down and stood just outside the classroom to listen. She recognized Dr. Simmons’ voice, but the other man’s voice she had never heard before.

“I need more time. You cannot rush this kind of art. If you do, it won’t hold, and that would make things a hundred times worse. Look, you need to go. I have a student that will be here any moment,” Dr. Simmons stated.

“Fine, but just know we are watching you and who knows what might happen if we don’t like what we see,” the other man replied.

Lanie took a few steps back before the big burly man came storming out of the classroom. She kept her head down and clutched her sketch pads to her chest as he went past her. Lanie promised herself she would sketch the man later that night in her dorm room, then hurried into the room to find a very flustered art teacher storming around the room, grabbing supplies from different drawers.

“Um, Dr. Simmons? Is everything alright?” Lanie asked.

The teacher jumped slightly at her voice. “Lanie, sorry, I didn’t hear you arrive. Everything is fine. Why do you ask?”

“I didn’t mean to but, I overheard you and the man that just left arguing. He looked angry when he left.” Lanie looked around the room, avoiding eye contact, embarrassed that she had been ease dropping.

“Ah, heard that, did you? It’s all right, just a disagreement with a fellow artist. He will get over it. Now let’s get started on making your colors more lifelike…”

For the next few hours, Dr. Simmons went through ways to brighten colors with herbal teas and crushing different flowers into paste and adding them to the oil paints. He talked about how nature provides everything a natural artist would ever need and showed her a personal journal he had all his recipes in. He promised to let her look through it and copy it at another time. That night, Dr. Simmons was run off the road. The crashed killed him instantly.

Now here Lanie was standing in the cemetery watching as her mentor was lowered into the ground. She looked around. There were faculty and students, but there did not seem to be any family present. She moved over to where the Dean of the arts department was standing.

“Sir, I was just wondering, did Dr. Simmons have any family?” Lanie asked.

The tall older man gave her a sad smile. “I’m afraid not. His sister died a few years back. He had a brother, but they haven’t been on good terms for years. He didn’t really have friends outside of the school. For all intents and purposes, the school was his family. You were one of his favorites. He said that you had unlimited possibilities and would be one of the greats.”

Lanie was floored by what she was told. New tears flowed freely at the pain of hearing the praise. She wanted to show the world how amazing her teacher had been, and the journal would be the perfect way to honor him. Lanie would get the book and use it to learn from Dr. Simmons, even if he couldn’t be there in the flesh to teach her. She would make him proud. Lanie took a few more moments to say her silent goodbyes and then left. She had a mission, and time was of the essence.

It was late, but there were still a couple of classes going on. There were also people still using the art lab. Not that there were a ton of people around. Lanie made her way down the corridor to Dr. Simmons’ classroom. Lanie tried the door and was relieved when it opened. She poked her head into the dark room. Nobody around that was good. Lanie hurried inside, closing the door behind her. Now to find the journal. The room felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for something. It was creeping her out. Lanie went to the back of the room to the storage closet. She was sure the book would be there. Once in the closet with the door shut, Lanie turned the light on so she could see what she was doing. The filing cabinet was just to the right and Lanie started to search through the files. Fifteen minutes later, she bounced with excitement as she pulled the book out of the cabinet.

“Yes, I have you.” She whispered, excitement rushed through her veins. She looked around the room and her eyes stopped on a large, covered canvas. “Oh, I wonder if you are the project.” She breathed and walked the few steps to it and pulled the white sheet off. There was a landscape of a hill with a cold, dark castle sitting at the top. Lifeless trees dotted the landscape. The sky was grey, like it was freezing cold and about to rain. It was eerie and confusing. Dr. Simmons was so happy and full of life. How could he have been painting this desolate, sad place?

“Ah, you found it. A magnificent piece, is it not?”

Lanie jumped and spun around, barely keeping a yelp from erupting from her mouth. There in the doorway was the Dean. “Dean. Gracen, you scared me. I’m sorry, I was just looking for the book I needed for my project. I saw the sheet and my curiosity got the better of me. Don’t worry, I will put it back the way it was.” She looked the Dean over. He was tall, slender, with white short hair and dark eyes with wire-rimmed glasses. Nothing was different about him, yet something about the way he looked at her. It was as if he was sizing her up for something.

He glanced at the book in her hand and his eyes lit up. “So, you know about the book. You are the one he wanted to inherit the gift.”

“Gift? I don’t understand,” Lanie stated.

Dean Gracen smiled, but it was brittle not reaching his eyes. “The gift is not something I can explain. The gift will explain itself in time. Please, take the journal. It was meant for you. Who knows, maybe you will be the one to finish this work of art.” The Dean threw the sheet back over the canvas and patted Lanie on the shoulder. He turned and walked out of the storage closet, leaving Lanie to stare after him.

Lanie tossed and turned as her mind tried to make senses of the day. She knew she was dreaming, but couldn’t seem to wake up. The dream looked like the painting. Lanie looked up the hill and there was the castle in the distance. It was raining. The road up the hill was all muddy and there was a man standing at the entrance to the castle.

“You will all bow to me, or you will all die.” The stranger yelled up at the castle gates. But the castle was quiet. The scene changed suddenly. Smoke blacked the sky out. It was rising from the castle. Lanie covered her mouth in horror when she noticed the dead bodies lying across the top of the castle wall. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the sight. That is when Lanie heard his voice.

“You can keep this from happing again.”

Lanie’s eyes flew open and there in front of her stood Dr. Simmons he was smiling sadly at her.

“I was hoping to have more time with you. I had seven years to learn from my mentor. But that was not your fate. You have an amazing gift, Lanie. It will be raw to begin with, but in time, the magic within will flow freely.”

Lanie gave him a confused look. “Magic? No, I paint that’s it. That’s my talent.”

Dr. Simmons nodded. “Exactly, and when you wake, you will remember this, and you will paint. Finish my work, just let the magic flow.”

Lanie looked around at the bleak scene surrounding them. She turned back to her teacher, but he was gone.

Lanie woke up slowly. Her mind felt foggy as she rolled out of bed. She started the coffeepot and headed to the shower. The dark dream rolled around in her mind and would not fade away.

Lanie spent the day going to classes and meeting up with friends. The painting was never far from her mind. By the end of the day, she couldn’t stand it and rushed to Dr. Simmons’ room. She needed to see that painting again.

Lanie hurried to the classroom and turned the corner, stopping cold. The man that had fought with her teacher was coming out of the room and he was holding the painting.

She ducked back around the corner to keep from being seen. After a few moments, she snuck a look. The man was hurrying off in the opposite direction. Lanie bit her lower lip, trying to decide what to do. “This is a bad idea.” She hurried after the man, needing to see where he was taking the painting.

Lanie became alarmed when the man came to a stop at a padlocked door. Everyone knew it led down into the basement, but why did this guy have a key?

The man looked around, and Lanie ducked into a nearby classroom. She counted to ten, then rushed out. The door was still partially open.

Lanie berated herself for being stupid one last time, then hurried through the door and down the stairs. She could hear his footsteps ahead. “This is how you die in movies.” She turned the corner, and a faint light illuminated the end of the hallway. She found it odd that there were no other rooms down here. The one thing she did know was if this guy came out of that room, she would be caught.

As she got closer, Lanie could hear two male voices. “We have to find a way,” one voice stated.

“Relax, I have it covered. I can finish it. I never understood why I wasn’t the one picked to begin with.” That was the man that had fought with Mr. Simmons.

“You know that’s not the way it works. The canvas calls to the chosen. The magic must flow,” answered the other man.

Lanie crept closer. She needed to see the other men in the room, then she would get away and decide what to do.

“Look at the painting. The canvas feels the chosen one close.”

Lanie took one last step, and a feeling of dizziness overtook her. She tried to breathe deep to stay awake and not be sick. Behind her closed eyelids, she could see colors and feelings of grief and fear overwhelmed her. Both her hands began to tingle. It was at that moment Lanie knew the only way to get rid of the feelings was to get to that canvas and paint.

“Yes, there you are. Come, come, don’t try to fight the magic. We need you.”

Lanie felt a warm hand on her arm. The person led her into the room. The lighting was a muted blue, giving everything a gloomy feel. Not that it mattered to Lanie all she noticed was the canvas. The colors were swirling, distorting the scene. She had this crazy thought that the painting was alive and moving.

“Here, take this,” the unknown male voices encouraged.

A paintbrush touched her hand. That was it. She grabbed the wooden handle like a lifeline. Hours blurred as she franticly put paint to canvas. Lanie grabbed oils and herbs as if she had been mixing paints her whole life. A buzzing of voices chanted behind her, but Lanie couldn’t be bothered to listen to what they were saying. Suddenly, she felt the flow of energy stop. It was like a door was slammed shut and she stumbled as the paintbrush fell from her numb hand.

Someone caught Lanie before she fell and set her in a chair.

“You were amazing. The world owes you a dept it will never know about.”

A bottle of water found its way into her hand. “Please drink. You will come back to yourself. I remember Dave’s first time working the magics he passed out and woke two days later. You are stronger, I think.”

Lanie blinked a few times, her mind not ready to keep up yet. “Um, Dave?”

The man continued. “Ah, I am sorry you would know him as Dr. Simmons.” Lanie just nodded to show she had heard not really having the energy to do more.

The man leaned over her and put his hand over her eyes and whispered, “Rest.” Lanie’s world went black.

The morning light intruded on Lanie’s dreams, though she couldn’t remember anything but bright, happy colors. She slowly stretched her only thought was her body felt good, rested, relaxed.

You are awake, that is good. We must talk. You have a very bright future ahead of you.”

Lanie looked at the man sitting by her bed. “How did I get home?” She still was not thinking fast.

“I brought you here. Of course, now that you have come into your own, we will be moving you out of the dorms.”

“What happened? What did the other guy do with the painting?” Lanie suddenly realized that her desperate need to see the painting was gone.

“You finished it. Come see what beauty you brought into the world.”

Lanie sat up, relieved to see she was still wearing her clothing from the night before. She stood up and seen the canvas sitting on the opposite side of the room. A cloth was draped over it. Lanie grabbed the cloth with shaking fingers and pulled. There, staring back at her, was the man from the dream. He was caught in mid-scream. She could see the castle in the background, smoke rising above it. Death was everywhere in the painting. “Why would I paint something so dark?” Everything seemed so vivid, as if she were just looking through a window.

She bent closer to look at the details and jumped back. The man had moved. His eyes were now staring at her, his mouth now closed. The terror and hate this man felt was there in his eyes.

The stranger put a hand on her shoulder. “You did not create this. That soul created his own hell. You used the magics to trap him into this. Now he will spend eternity living in the death and destruction he had created.” The man turned toward Lanie, a grim look on his face. “This will not be the only time you will be called on to work the magics. There is only a hand full of gifted people like you in this world. We need you to keep evil from destroying our world. I must tell you that there is no choice in this. You will use the magics when they call to you.”

Lanie felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. “And what happens if I don’t use the magics?” She whispered, barely able to get the question out.

“Then you will die. The magics will consume you.” He answered.

“I see. Are all the people that have been imprisoned killers?”

“Yes, they have all committed mass murder. They torture and destroy.” He confirmed.

“I don’t even know your name.” Lanie stated as she watched the man in the painting.

“I am Michael and the man that had taken the canvas is Collins. He was Dave’s brother. Collins wanted to finish what his brother had started. The man could never get it through his head that he did not have the gift. The magics choose who they flow through. I will give you time to take all this in, then we will talk about your new life. You might want to start packing things are about to start moving very fast for you.” He picked up the portrait. The man trapped inside began yelling, but the sound was not coming through. “I will see about having this transported to the catacombs.”

Michael walked out, leaving Lanie to her thoughts. She walked back over to her bed and sat down. Her hand reached under her pillow and gripped the journal that Dr. Simmons had left her. Just a few days ago, she was just an art student and now Lanie wasn’t sure that she was even sane. Lanie took a deep breath and opened the journal, flipping to the last page.

Lanie,

If you are reading this, you have started your new journey. It will test you, but I promise all the twists and turns are worth it. You will do amazing things. The world needs you. Good luck.

Dr. Simmons

Lanie ran her fingers over the page. A small smile forming on her lips as she accepted her fate. Sane or not, things were going to be interesting from this moment forward.

Part 3 of like a Dragon to a Flame.

If you haven’t read the first 2 parts I will put a link at the end of this post so you can start at the beginning.

Jim had an expansive breakfast waiting for Tia and her guest when they emerged from her room.

“Ah, there you are. I was starting to think I would have to come knock on the door. Come. Sit. Eat.” Jim indicated the table he had set up

Ben looked at all the food and laughed “Jeez, Jim, were you expecting and army or something?”

Jim smiled, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I want to make sure Miss Tia gets off to a good start.”

Tia beamed at the older man. “This looks and smells amazing. Thank you. I am famished. I can’t remember the last time I was this hungry.” She began filling her plate with a little of everything.

Ben fixed his own plate, putting only about half of what Tia had mounded on hers. They ate in companionable silence each in their own thoughts.

***

After breakfast Tia and Ben walked out of town to the place where Tia had left Landon.

“So, tell me again why we can’t take my car?” Ben asked as they walked hand in hand into the clearing.

“Because cars are not allowed in the town I’m from.” She answered.

“Wow, you really are sheltered. No cars it must be hard to get around.” Ben stopped just inside the clearing. The fire caught his attention then he realized that the large brown lump wasn’t a rock or hill but an animal. It seemed to be staring into the flames. Ben pulled Tia’s hand and tried to yank her back behind him. “Tia, that’s a dragon! What the hell! You have a dragon?” Ben exclaimed not wanting to get the beast’s attention.

Tia gave Ben an amused look as she called out to her friend. “Landon, we need to go have a chat with my father. There seems to be a side effect to the spell he placed on me.” She pulled Ben’s hand leading him further into the clearing.

“Well, that was fast.” Landon said as he stretched and turned around.

“What are you talking about?” Tia demanded seeing the smug look Landon gave her.

“The mark, you found your mate.” Landon answered as if it was obvious.

“So, you knew, and you didn’t tell me?” She demanded, starting to get angry.

“Of course, I knew but I wasn’t allowed to tell you. Now both of you come on, your father is waiting.” Landon turned his attention to Ben with a big toothy grin. “Oh, and since my friend here is being so rude. My name is Landon, welcome to the family.”

Ben took a couple of steps back as he found his voice. “You talk! Wow, I think I just stumbled into the twilight zone. My name is Ben. Thank you I think”

“Tia, Ben get on we have to go.” Landon said as he knelt.

Tia climbed on Landon’s back and held her hand out to Ben. “Come on if we want answers, this is the only way to get them. Trust me.”

Ben looked at Landon then up at Tia. Her eyes were pleading that he believed in her and trust that she knew what she was doing. The thought of leaving without her never even crossed his mind. He took a deep breath then took her hand and climbed up behind her. “Um, is this a bad time to tell you I’m afraid of heights?”

Within moments they were in the air. By dusk they landed just outside the castle. “I thought we were a few days away.” Tia asked mockingly to Landon.

“Yes, well I took a short cut home.” He replied sarcastically.

“Come on Ben my father is inside.” Tia grabbed his hand to lead the way. They walked into the great hall and there on a pile of silk pillows was the King looking very pleased with himself.

“Ah, my daughter returns, excellent! So, what is your name my boy?” The great dragon asked.

“Ben, sir.” He replied then turned to Tia. “Your father is a dragon as well?”

Read more

Subscribe now

Shivering on the frosty bench, she pulled her thin coat tighter against the icy wind, her bare hands red and raw.

Ruth sighed as she looked at the empty leash in her hand, and worked to hold back a sob. It was just supposed to be a quick stop at the park to let Loki get all that puppy energy out before they headed out of state to stay with a friend for the holidays.

Loki was a small dog, a mutt that captured Ruth’s heart when she went to the local shelter to find a friend to help with the loneliness. The pup practically jumped into her arms and from that moment on, the loneliness had disappeared. Two years had gone by since that day, and not once had Loki ever tried to get off his lead.

Ruth had spent the last three hours searching for the little dog, calling his name and shaking his favorite dog treat bag to get him to come back. She didn’t know what to do. Ruth knew if she left the park that Loki was going to die from the cold, what with his short fur and thin little sweater. She also knew that if she didn’t warm up and find some help that she could end up with the flu or hypothermia. So, she sat on the bench, fear of the loss holding her to the spot.

One minute Loki had been trotting along at her side, then he seemed to hear something and pulled on his harness then wiggled out. Before she knew it, Loki had sprinted into the woods with a few little woofs.

Ruth took a few deep breaths, letting the cold air fill her lungs and help to center her. She would go to the car and warm up for a few moments, then start the search again. She had already talked to most of the people there and showed them a picture of the beloved dog. Everyone said they would keep an eye out for Loki, but Ruth had a knot in her stomach that whispered she would never see her dog again. She rubbed her hands together and readied herself to get up to head back to the car.

“Hey,” a quiet voice said. Ruth looked up to find a young woman that looked to be around 15 years old. “You look lost. Is there something I can do to help?”

Ruth gave the girl a sad smile. “I’m looking for my dog. He got off his lead. He is small and white with brown spots. Have you seen him?”

“Um, no, do you have a picture of him on your phone?” The girl asked.

“Yes.” Ruth pulled her cell phone out and showed the stranger the last picture she had taken of Loki.

“Oh, he is so cute. May I?” The girl took the phone and texted herself the picture as she began to chat. “You know I love dogs. They are such wonderful creatures. Their capacity for love is boundless.” The girl was texting something on her own phone. “How long has your baby been missing?”

Ruth looked down at the time on her phone. “About three and a half hours.”

“In this weather? It’s so cold out here you must be frozen. Can I ask what your pup’s name is?” The girl asked.

“Loki.” Ruth was confused by what the girl was doing. She would ask a question, then type it into her phone. Ruth was about to get up when she noticed other teenagers were walking toward them. She began to get nervous. “What is going on?”

The girl smiled and waved at the group coming closer. “Well, there is a group of us from my school that does volunteer work at the local animal shelter. We also do fundraisers for the local women’s shelters. I texted the group. We are here to help find Loki.”

Ruth was floored. She didn’t know what to say. “I don’t even know your name,” Ruth half whispered as hope began to take root again.

The girl smiled. “I’m Amy. Give me a moment.” Amy turned to the twenty plus teens that showed up. “You all have the picture of Loki. Let’s split up into teams of two. We can start by going into the woods over there. That was the last place Loki was seen.” The teens all paired off and headed in the direction the little dog had run off.

Amy turned back to Ruth and held her hand out. “Now let’s get you warmed up. Come, let’s go to your car. These guys know this park like the back of their hand. They will have Loki back in your arms in no time.”

Amy helped Ruth to her car and started the engine so the heater could run while they waited.

Twenty-five minutes later, two boys came out of the woods and over to the car. Ruth and Amy quickly opened the doors and got out to greet them.

The boy that was walking faster had a big grin on his face. “We found him, but this little fella wouldn’t leave unless we brought her, too.” The other boy walked up next, and he held a smaller dog that was shivering and obviously scared. The poor thing had seen better days. It was thin and dirty. The little girl was whimpering. “I’m sure she’s a stray. I doubt she would have made it through the night if Loki here hadn’t found her.”

Ruth moved closer and Loki jumped from the boy’s arms into Ruth’s as he licked her face, happy to be reunited. He was crying and wagging his tail as he would lick her face, then look back at the smaller dog. It was obvious Loki was asking if they could take her with them. Ruth looked the other dog over. The stray had longer fur than Loki and it was completely light brown. There were matted patches that would need to be cut off the poor pup. The little girl wagged its tail and looked up at her with sad brown eyes. Ruth knew she was lost.

“I guess this means you have a new sister, Loki.” Ruth laughed as Loki licked her face again. “Ok, we need to make some plans.” She looked at Amy and the two boys that had saved her dog. “I hate to ask, but I have to be at my friend’s house in a few hours. I will be there for the next three weeks, helping her with some personal business. Could you put out the word that this little lady was found and see if the owner will want her back?”

Amy smiled. “Of course we can ask the shelter to run a post on their Facebook page and we can ask the paper to run a found ad. No problem.”

“Great. I need to call my friend and let her know I have to go by the vet’s office to have this baby looked at and get the proper food to help her recover. I cannot thank you all enough. This kindness is just…” Tears formed in Ruth’s eyes. “It’s nothing short of a miracle. Thank you all again.” Ruth grabbed her phone. “Amy, thank you for everything you and your friends have done. I would like to stay in touch if that is ok.”

Amy smiled and gave Loki a pat on the head. “I would like that. You have my number already saved on your phone. Have a safe trip and good luck with your new pup dog.”

Ruth opened the back door to her car and opened the small carrier and the teenage boy put the little girl in the carrier. Loki jumped down into the car and snuggled into the carrier with her. Ruth shook everyone’s hands and then got in the car and called her vet. The vet said they could see her today and, and she was off to tend to the new addition to her family.

Four weeks later…

Ruth walked into the large room at the local high school where the volunteer club would meet each month. She was a bit nervous but excited to see how her surprise would go over with all the teens.

The final bell rang and one by one, the twenty-two kids that were part of the club walked into the classroom. Most of them smiled when they walked in, remembering the woman they had helped weeks before. They all took a seat and Amy stood at the front of the class. “Everyone remembers Ruth, I hope. We helped her find her dog not long ago. She just got back from her out-of-town visit and would like to address the group.”

Everyone clapped and Ruth moved next to Amy. “I just wanted to acknowledge the good deed you all participated in. It amazes me the selflessness each of you exhibited in helping a stranger that day. So, I would like all of you to formally meet Freya. She is doing wonderfully and is happy to have a new home. As a thank you for everything you all did for my little family, I have asked if it was alright to make a donation to your group and the school said it would be fine. So, I am awarding your club fifteen hundred dollars to help with whatever cause you all decide to help next. Also, I would like to hand each of you a pass to my restaurant in town. I will give you a free meal for the year each time you come in. I hope that this helps all of you and shows that you all make a difference in people’s lives. Thank you.”

The group sat stunned for a few moments as Ruth opened the larger pet carrier that was set up behind her. Loki and Freya came trotting out and running around the room, getting pets and love from all the kids. They were all super happy, and each came up to thank Ruth for her generosity. Ruth stood back with Amy and watched the group. Ruth turned and smiled at the young woman. “All of you give me hope for the future.” And she hugged her new friend.

I hope you enjoyed this short story. I created this story using this first sentence prompt from First Line Fiction:

“Shivering on the frosty bench, she pulled her thin coat tighter against the icy wind, her bare hands red and raw.”

Now on with the show!!! Here is part 2 of Like a Dragon to a Flame

Subscribe now

Tia woke up warm and cocooned next to Landon. He had covered her with one of his wings like a blanket. She yawned, stretched, and quietly moved out from next to her best friend. She stood up and walked around the small clearing they had used for their camp. Tia stoked the smoldering ambers of the fire from the night before, and then she pulled the duffel bag over to her. She began rummaging through clothes, hairbrush, toothbrush, socks, and sandals. Not in here.” she muttered to herself then pushed the bag to the side and grabbed the backpack. Tia opened it and saw the cloth sack right on top. She grabbed it and opened the ties breathing deeply of the Rosemary tea. She took a generous amount and added it to the pot of water that was sitting close to the fire.

Tia was dipping some of the tea into her mug when Landon began to stir.

“Mmm, Rosemary.” He said sleepily.

“I have all I want; you’re welcome to the rest.” Tia said motioning to the large pot settled in the hot coals.

“Glad to see your mood has improved, because we will be arriving at the human city called Teine later this afternoon.” Landon answered as he stretched and walked over to the fire.

“How very like my father to send me to a city named fire. So, is this Teine a large city?” Tia asked, obviously still upset with her father but starting to show hints of interest about this new place.

“It’s fairly small, only around twenty thousand humans.” Landon replied as he drank some of the tea.

“Good, so a decent number of men to look through.” Tia said as she got to her feet. “I’m going to wash up and put some new clothing on. I wouldn’t want to shock the humans when I get there.” Tia said with a wicked smile. She took a bowl of Rosemary tea and proceeded to undress and wash her body. She took her time washing her long straight chestnut hair getting use to the satin feel of it. Once dressed she walked back into the clearing in a pair of white running shoes, well-fitting faded blue jeans and a short black tank top with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.

“Well, I don’t think it will take you long to find a husband dressed like that.” Landon admired.

“Don’t tell me you actually like this form?” Tia asked, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

“Actually, I find the female form very appealing. Not as much as a female dragon, but if I found a human that I could love, I would not find her form distasteful.” Landon defended as he knelt for Tia to mount.

Tia climbed onto Landon’s back, getting comfortable. “But how could you possibly be more then friends? Landon, you are a fully-grown dragon. I can sit on your back. How could you be intimate with a human?”

Landon took off and began flying toward the town of Tiene “Tia we are dragons, pure magic. We can take their form for short periods of time.”

“So, I pop in and out of human form for the rest of my life?” She asked wrinkling her nose at the thought.

Landon chuckled as he looked back at her. “If you love him, you’ll find a way Tia. Now start looking for a clearing in the woods. The town is not far.”

It wasn’t long and they were in a quiet clearing just outside town. “Alright I think I have everything. Are you sure you’re going to be alright here?” She asked looking around at the small clearing.

“I’ll be fine. Now go.” Landon had lain down and playfully puffed air through his nostrils at her.

Tia laughed and picked up her backpack. “I’ll be back in a few days to check on you.” Tia assured him then kissed Landon on the cheek.

***

It didn’t take long to find the road heading into town. Tia walked until she found a nice Bed and Breakfast just on the outskirts of the city. Tia looked at the whitewashed sign The Talon B&B. She went in and walked up to the desk where an older gentleman was standing. He had a small pot belly and wore grey slacks and a red and black plaid shirt with black suspenders. He had shaggy white hair that looked like it had never been tamed.

“Hello young lady. May I help you?” He asked in that nice grandfatherly way that puts you at ease.

Read more

The Music in the Attic

Tina sat quietly in the lawyer’s office. She couldn’t believe her great aunt had passed away. She had just talked to the woman a few days a go and everything had seemed fine.

“And furthermore, the rest of the estate will be bequeathed to the one that can find the music in the attic.” The lawyer’s voice had finally penetrated Tina’s thoughts.

“I’m sorry, but what does that mean?” Tina asked. The other twenty relatives murmured and nodded as they to wanted clarification.

The older man just gave a secretive smile. “I have been given my instructions. Now shall we? There is to be no preparation beforehand. My office has cars waiting to take us all to Mrs. Nelson’s home.

Tina was the only one to get into the lawyer’s car. Everyone else was packed into the cars that were driving behind them. The man drove in silence for a few moments before he finally spoke. “You know your family has a unique history. Every generation or so has one brilliant musician that rises to create amazing music that is celebrated around the world. When the one talent passes, another rises to take their place. Not a single one of you has been classically trained. It is as though the music just sits and waits for its time and the chosen just begins to play. It’s magical, and I am privileged to be here today when this new talent is revealed. This is the way they have always been chosen.”

Tina sat there listening, but it wasn’t really making a lot of sense. She just felt numb. How could anyone feel the music on such a sad day? The pain of her aunt’s passing was being held in check, pushed back and locked in a small box, hopefully to never be felt again. A single tear ran down her cheek. “Aunt Anna played the piano so well it was like feeling yourself a drift in a sea of notes. I always lost myself in her music, but now at this moment I feel nothing. I’m thankful for the numbness I don’t want to face that pain,” Tina stated in a flat voice as she looked out ahead. Tina seen her aunt’s large Victorian home. The grey clouds overhead made the usually bright and happy home look like it was in mourning. “It’s like all the joy has been sapped away.”

The lawyer reach over and patted her hand in sympathy. “It will brighten soon.”

They pulled into the driveway and waited for the rest of the family to park and gather.

“Come.” The lawyer turned and walked into the house. Everyone else followed.

They went into the parlor, where Anna had spent most of her time composing her music on the baby grand piano that was prominently displayed in the middle of the room. The lawyer was standing in front of the piano and waited for everyone to settle before he spoke.

“Each of you will be given a chance to go upstairs and look around. If something draws you pick it up and bring it downstairs with you, please. This whatever it is you may pick will be yours to keep for as long as you live, but upon your death, the object will be returned to the estate. This has been the way of this family for as long as it has existed.” The lawyer looked around at the many faces and smiled at the only child in the group. He pointed at the girl. “You may go first.”

The young girl was maybe nine or ten years old. She slid off her mother’s lap and went up the stairs alone. Fifteen minutes later, she came back down with a small tiara in her hands. She was smiling brightly. “Auntie and I played dress up all the time. This was my favorite.” The girl stated.

“Then it is now yours.” The lawyer stated.

From that point, each person was chosen, and they came back down with something to do with music: an instrument or a sheet of music. The lawyer asked each of them to play the instrument or go to the piano and play the sheet of music. None could play well. It all sounded flat and off key. There was no soul in the music.

The last person to go upstairs into the attic was Tina. What she saw depressed her. To think that the beautiful music her family had created for so long ended with her aunt was heart breaking. She felt the lid to that little box inside her slide open just a little and the beginning of grief start to leak out. Tina took a deep breath and pushed the pain back again. When she opened her eyes, a black case caught her eye. Tina had only seen this case once when she had been very young, five, maybe six years old. It had belonged to Anna’s grandfather. Tina pulled the case over to her and wiped at the dust on top. She sneezed a few times as she waved to get the dust away from her. There was a silver nameplate on the case that read ‘Always all around you. Music is the way. Maverick Nelson’ Tina smiled sadly and took the case downstairs.

Tina walked into the parlor and walked over to the piano and lay the case on the lid. She would squeak a few notes and a piece of her aunt and extended family would go with her. Tina’s hands were shaking as she popped the latches and opened the case. She looked down at a beautiful violin. She had always wanted to pick it up, but her aunt said that no one could touch it but the one meant to have it, the one that music flowed through. Tina sniffed as a tear ran down her cheek. She could almost feel her aunt standing behind her and could smell the sweet scent of perfume the woman wore. Tina pulled the instrument out of the case along with the bow. She tucked the padded spot under her chin like she had seen other violists do and closed her eyes. She placed the bow on the strings and she felt a light breath over her ear and the so loved and familiar voice whisper. “Play.”

Tina envisioned her aunt seated at the piano like normal and hear her begin to play a sad song. The gasps of people around Tina didn’t really register to the young woman. She just felt the music pouring into her. The feelings of pain and abandonment sang in her veins as she began to pull the bow across the strings and play for the first time in her life. She could feel the music sing in her veins, the feel of generations before her playing there with her. It was a sad song full of grief and regret for things left unsaid or not done soon enough. It was family gone, a love taken, the friend you always depended on suddenly ripped from the one that needed them most. Tina felt it all. She was silently crying while she poured her soul out into this instrument. On the last note, she sagged against the piano, wiped out from letting her grief and sorrow loose. Her heart felt torn, but lighter. She could feel the healing beginning.

Tina opened her eyes and looked around, confused for a moment. Everyone was silent, tears running down their faces. Then one of her cousins began to clap and stood up. The woman walked over to Tina and wrapped her arms around her and held tight. “Beautiful. Anna would be so happy to know it’s you that will take her place.”

The lawyer smiled and nodded once. “All is as it should be. Tina, the legacy of your family is now yours. We know you will create new music that will carry the world. You are home.”

Tina just blinked a few times and looked around. She turned and placed the violin back in its case with care and let out a sigh. A huge weight finally lifting “Yes, Home.”

The End

I do hope you enjoyed my story. Please follow or subscribe to keep up with what I do next.

I love to hear from readers. Tell me what instrument do you think you would have chosen?

The prompt I used for this story was: Your character finds an old violin, and though they never learned how to play, a haunting melody springs forth.

If you would like to listen to the music I did while writing this story you can find it here:

This is the beginning of my next work in Progress titled Like a Dragon to a Flame. I decided to offer fans and new to me reader the chance to follow along as I write this story. I hope you enjoy and by all means comment and let me know what you think as we go. Posts will be every other Friday.

All future posts for this story will be a paid subscription. After I finish and everything is edited all paid subsribers will get the chance to down load a e-book copy of the book for free. I will also post when the physical books are ready and will offer the chance to get a signed copy mailed to you at a discount. I do hope you come along for this adventure with me.

Warning this is a 18+ book. It is Paranormal Romance.

(I do try to write so both men and women enjoy my books. Happy Reading.)

Now come and join my world of magic and myth…

Like a Dragon to a Flame

By

Megan Kuykendall
Part 1

Landon watched as Tia stormed back and forth in front of the fireplace. The blue of her scales reflected the fire light. She was beautiful when she was angry and right now Tia was furious. She finally turned to shout at him one more time, her brilliant eyes flashing with anger.

“I can’t believe he’s doing this to me!” Tia growled as she began pacing again. She was the epitome of every European story ever told about dragons and the knights that went to their deaths to try and slay them. “The throne is my right! I am his only child, and he wants to make me marry! I won’t do it. He can’t make me!”

“Tia, it’s always been this way, he had to marry before he could take the throne. Your father just wants to make sure your marriage is happy and based on love, not arranged like his was.” Landon attempted to reason.

“But a human? And not just any human but one outside of our realm!” Tia spat as she threw herself down into the mound of pillows that she loved to sleep in.

A knock at the door kept Landon from replying. A moment later a cute little black dragon came in cautiously. “I’m sorry to interrupt my lady, but your father wishes to see you.” The little dragon squeaked.

Tia saw the way the child was cowering and took pity on him. “Tell my father I will be there momentarily.” She instructed gently.

“Yes, my lady!” The little one said excited to bring good news to the king.

Tia stood and stretched her lean form, spreading out her long claws and flapping her eloquent wings a few times. “Duty calls, I guess the sooner I get this over with the better.” She sighed resigned to her fate.

***

Xiu was lying on a pile of furs in the dining hall. A large roasted bull was on a serving table in front of him. He was picking absentmindedly at the hind quarters with one of his razor-sharp claws when his daughter came in and sat down on the pile of furs next to him.

“You summoned me father?” Tia sulked as she pulled a piece of flesh off the bull’s ribs.

Xiu ignored the clipped tone his daughter used. “I have put together the things you will need to go out and explore the human world. I expect you to head out after lunch.” The huge flaming red dragon took a chunk of meat off the bull’s hind quarters and devoured it.

“Father, you must reconsider. I mean, look at me. I am going to terrify every human I see. These people have never laid eyes on a real dragon before.” Tia lifted a bowl filled with wine and drank deeply. “Besides I don’t think it will work. I mean how is a human supposed to mate with a dragon. They are so small and weak. I don’t get it.”

“We need fresh blood in our line to dilute the magic in our veins. If the magic becomes too strong it could drive a future dragon mad. They will go feral, killing everything in their path. Would you see that happen to your child or grandchild?”

Tia sighed and bowed her head “No. Gods, I wish mother was here she would know just what to do.”

Xiu chuckled “Yes, she had a way with keeping the two of us from fighting.” He filled Tia’s bowl with more wine. “I was going through a few of her things the other day. I stumbled upon one of her old journals and decided to take her advice with our different views on you marrying a human from outside our kingdom.”

Tia looked at her father hopefully “So you’ll reconsider?”

“No, I didn’t say that. Your mother used to have a saying when things would seem too difficult to deal with. She would wrap her tail around mine to calm me down then she would smile and say, ‘When all else fails, throw a little magic at it. So, I have decided to take her advice.”

Tia smiled fondly at the memory of her mother. “Father I am only one hundred years old. I’ve just begun to have fun. I mean I haven’t even had a potential mate yet. Could we maybe wait say ten more years and then talk about all this then?” Tia sipped at her wine hoping her father would see reason.

“I’m afraid not. Things are changing fast outside our kingdom. We need to have a better understanding of the human world now. You can take as much time as you want. Go out explore enjoy the adventure.” Xiu looked over at his daughter pleadingly “I just want you to find love my dear. Your mother and I learned to care for each other. We became close but it was never true love. I want you to find that soul that makes you burn with need and love for them. A mate that you would die for if it came to that.”

Tia looked at her father, surprised at his words. “Then let me marry a dragon. I can’t love a human in that manner. I’m not even fond of the human form.”

Xiu smirked “Oh, I don’t know you might change your mind once you’ve grown used to it.”

Tia finished her second bowl of wine. “Once I’ve grown used to it?”

“You will understand soon enough.” Xiu evaded.

Tia started to feel dizzy. She looked over at her father and went to speak but blacked out instead.

***

When Tia came to, she felt strange. She went to sit up, but her limbs would not cooperate. She shook her head and opened her eyes to find fingers where claws should be. Her beautiful blue scales were gone, replaced with pale pink skin. Tia went to let out a roar in anger, but it came out as a shrill shriek.

“Father! Father!” She shouted but instead of her father coming into the dining hall Landon entered. Tia watched as his handsome earth-colored scales simmered and his gold eyes shone with amusement. “He is already gone Tia. Come, it is time for your search to begin.” Landon turned to lead the way out.

“Oh no you don’t! Look at me! I’m human, turn me back this instance!” Tia yelled and stood up on shaky legs. “Father can’t do this to me! How am I supposed to do anything like this? I can barely stand without falling over!”

“I am looking at you and I think you need to put some clothes on,” Landon teased.

Tia realized he was right and grabbed for a pile of clothing sitting close to her on the floor. She clumsily put the green tank top and pair of blue jeans on managing to fall only once in the process, then slipped a pair of leather sandals on.

“Gods, how can humans wear this stuff it’s so restricting and uncomfortable.” Tia complained as she pulled at her clothes.

“You’re beautiful when you’re angry as a dragon, but as a human, you’re absolutely adorable.” Landon teased “You will become use to the clothing. Now we have a long journey ahead of us so let’s get moving.”

Tia fumed for a moment then wobbled out of the dining hall. Landon chuckled as he followed her. Outside at the bottom of the stone steps was a duffel bag and backpack.

“So, these are mine I presume.” Tia said, less than enthused.

“Come on Tia lets go it’s a two-day journey to the human world.” Landon urged. He knelt to allow Tia to climb on his back. “Just think of it this way, you are finally getting to go on that grand adventure we had always talked about when we were kids.” He coddled

“I am not riding around on your back!” Tia folded her arms in front of her and gave Landon her best stubborn look. She came off more like a spoiled child than the menacing dragon she was used to being

“Then I guess we walk. Of course, there is no telling how many of our friends are going to see you leave the city looking like this.” Landon countered with a toothy grin.

Tia’s eyes got big and her face blushed. “Fuck, fine you win for now. Get me out of here before someone sees us.”

Landon took the duffle and backpack in one claw as Tia climbed awkwardly onto his back. Landon looked over his shoulder and winked “Hold on tight.” He spread his wings and took off into the sky.

***

Tia’s favorite thing in the whole world was flying. She loved the cool wind against her scales and the speed. Looking down over the world always made her feel free and powerful. Right now, however, she felt out of control holding onto Landon praying she didn’t lose her grip and slid off his back. Granted she trusted her best friend not to let her plummet to her death but still why take the chance.

Tia’s long chestnut colored hair was whipping around getting into her face and aggravating her to no end. “I need to stop,” She yelled into Landon’s ear as she looked around for a clearing. There was a large area filled with old hardwood trees. There was a clearing in the middle perfect to hide one large brown dragon. “There!” She pointed “Land there!”

Landon seen the spot and flapped his wings bring them around. Within moments he was making a feather light landing. “And here we are. Do you want to make camp for the night or just rest?”

Tia slid off Landon’s back and fell hard on the ground. “Ow!” she complained and stood up quickly. She reached for one of the duffels picking it up with ease. Tia was happy to find she was stronger than the typical human female. She sat down and started rummaging around in the bag.

“I think we can set up camp.” She answered

Landon used his tail to move large limbs and rocks out of the clearing while Tia gathered what they would need for a decent fire.

“Well, aren’t you handy to have around,” Landon teased as he turned watched Tia build the fire.

Tia just glared at him “Why don’t you make yourself useful and hunt us dinner?”

Landon shook his head. “No can do. Anything big enough for us to eat would be noticed when it came up missing. Besides I’ve already eaten. You should have some bread and cheese packed away in there someplace. You’re just going to have to tough it out for tonight.”

Tia rolled her eyes and sighed. “Whatever. Let’s just get some rest. I’ll get something in the morning. Tia sat on the ground next to the fire.

Landon watched Tia staring into the flames she looked miserable. He moved closer and laid behind her wrapping his body around where she was sitting. “Lay back there is no need to be uncomfortable.” He offered

Tia eased against him and was soon asleep. He tossed a little more wood on the fire then laid a wing over Tia like a blanket. “Sleep well my friend.” And he settled in for the night.

If you are enjoying the story so far please consider subscribing to my Sub Stack.

The perfect weekend getaway

by Megan Kuykendall

The smell of fresh baked banana nut bread always takes me back to my first stay in a bed and breakfast…

I was having a very hectic day at work trying to put an article for the local paper to bed and finishing an outline for a new radio commercial our company was bidding for.

Around seven in the evening a knock came, and my boyfriend’s head popped in around the half-opened door. A smirk crossed his handsome features. “Thought I’d find you here.”

I looked up at him then the clock on my laptop. “Guess I lost track of time again.” I stretched my arms above my head trying to convince the muscles in my back to relax.

“Well, grab your laptop this weekend you’re working out of the office. And before you say anything your partner already agreed. You need a small break from these four walls,” He stated smugly.

“Adam, I have too much to do. I can’t,” I replied regretfully. “I still have a script to go over and send the article into the newspaper editor for the final look over.” I motioned to the open files and papers covering my desk.

“I didn’t say you had to stop working just that you’re not doing it here. The one rule is from 6 pm to 10 pm you are all mine.”

“Well just let me…” I moved my hand back just in time.

Adam closed my laptop and walked around the desk as he started closing folders and putting them into my bag. “You don’t get a vote. I’ve already made the reservations. It’s been too long since we got away.”

I shook my head a smile playing at my lips as I let him finish putting my stuff away. He shouldered my bag and held out his hand for me. I took it and we were off.

Thirty minutes into the trip I drifted off to sleep.

A couple of hours went by before Adam woke me. “Hey, we’re almost there.”

He pulled off the main road onto a gravel drive. We bumped around for about a mile before a lone house came into view. It was a beautiful older two-story farmhouse. It was whitewashed with a wraparound porch complete with rocking chairs near the front door.

“Is this where we are staying?”

“Yep” Adam looked over mischief was sparkling in his eyes as he parked the car.

“It’s adorable. Is that a pond behind the house?” My nose was practically pressing onto the window as I looked around.

“It is. There’s a lovely place for you to go settle and write tomorrow if you like.”

I smiled brightly at the only person in the world that truly got me and what I would like. It was at that time my stomach decided to make its wishes heard as it grumbled loudly. I laughed as I took his hand squeezing it lightly “Actually can we get settled in a bit after we find a place to grab some dinner.”

“Linda, one of the owners is cooking for us this weekend. We don’t have to think about joining humanity again until Monday.” Adam lifted my hand to his lips and placed a light kiss on my knuckles.

“Home cooking? And no dishes? I think I’m in heaven. After dinner I’m going to try to knock out the rest of my work so we can just relax the rest of the weekend.” I leaned over and kissed his lips.

“Come on let’s get checked in. If you grab your computer bag, I’ll take care of the rest,” He said as we got out of the car.

It didn’t take us long to get checked in and all our stuff put up in our room.

Once settled we walked downstairs to the mouthwatering smell of pot roast, mashed potatoes, English peas, and fresh backed Irish soda bread. We sat down and filled our plates.

“Hmm, I may not ever leave if all her cooking is this good.” I hummed happily as we munched away.

Linda just smiled brightly and filled our glasses with peach tea leaving the pitcher on the table and giving the two of us privacy as we ate.

“So, what’s the deal with this place? I mean look around it’s like stepping back in time a hundred years or so.”

“Glad you like it. Linda and her husband rent rooms out for special occasions. Romantic getaways and such.” Adam buttered a piece of soda bread and put it on my plate. “There is plenty enough time to talk and explore the house over the next few days. For tonight let’s talk work. I would like to help you finish so I can have you all to myself.”

We worked the rest of the night finishing and sending off everything around one in the morning. I looked over to the bed to find a sleeping Adam. I powered down my computer and went to bed curling up behind this wonderful man.

The warmth of the sun woke me the next morning. Adam snuggled up around me. I took a little while just to relax and enjoy the feeling of contentment and safety of the moment. No deadlines to stress about. It was perfect. Finally, the need to get up and start the day was too big a pull. I wiggled in Adams arms and kissed his nose playfully.

“Hey sleepy head time to wake up,” I whispered.

Adam pulled me tighter into his arms and kissed the top of my head. “Hmm, not yet you’re warm and my eyes refuse to open.”

I understood the sentiment. “Alright I’ll give you five more minutes then you have to feed me.”

Adam nuzzled my neck lightly “Deal.”

We spent the next twenty minutes just snuggling and holding one another before getting up.

After we dressed, we went downstairs.

The dining room table was laid out with fresh fruit, warm cinnamon rolls and fresh squeezed OJ. We sat down and fixed our plates.

“So, what is on the agenda today?” I asked and pulled a bit of cinnamon roll apart.

Adam took a sip of juice. “Well, I was thinking there is a small antique mall not far from here.”

“Sounds like fun, but are you sure you want to go antiquing? I mean digging through all that old stuff. You could get your hands dirty.” I teased with a playful grin.

Adam smirked “I think I’ll take my chances. Besides, I love watching you go treasure hunting.”

We spent all morning and part of the afternoon going from vender to vender looking through boxes playing and forgetting the rest of the world existed. We walked hand in hand into the last shop and began to look around. I found a box with old letters and postcards and began looking through them.

Adam wandered over to the back wall where there were local artist paintings for sale. I watched as he moved from one to the next slowly looking each one over. Then he stopped at one and reached up, pulling it down. I stopped looking through the box and walked over to see what had captivated his attention.

The painting was of a woman siting next to a pond. She had her back to the artist, but she had long wavy dark hair. The woman was looking out over the water waving to a man out on a little boat in the middle of the pond. The man was waving back happy and obviously in love with the woman on shore.

Adam looked over his shoulder at me. “I think this would be perfect to put over the mantel in the living room. What do you think?”

I watched as Adam’s eyes went back to the painting. Something about that painting called to him. “I think you may be right. Let’s get it.”

Adam paid for the painting, and we headed back to the little farmhouse to clean up and get ready for dinner.

After dinner Adam and I went out for a walk down a lit walkway that led to the lake behind the house.

When we got to the water’s edge we found a picnic blanket laid out with a bottle of chilled Champaign and some chocolate glazed banana nut bread. We sat and enjoyed the view as we indulged in desert at the end of the bottle Adam took a very deep breath.

I sipped at my drink and smiled “What? Did you hear something?” I glanced around for a wild animal or something.

While I was looking around Adam reached into his pocket and moved in front of me. “No noise, just me trying to calm my nerves.” He answered with a nervous laugh.

I giggled “Nerves, what’s there to be nervous about? This place is perfect. What more could you ask for?” I asked

“Well, there is one more thing.” And he knelt to one knee and held out a beautiful ring. “Will you marry me?” He asked.

I almost dropped my glass. I shakily placed the glass to the side, then threw my arms around his neck.

“Does this mean yes?” Adam asked as he hugged me tightly.

“Yes.” I whispered and moved back holding my hand out. Adam smiled and slid the ring on my finger.

Buzzzzzzz…. The sound of the timer brought me back to the present.

“Oh, good the bread is ready.”


I hope you enjoyed reading this short story as I have said sometimes I write these little snippets to get the imagination flowing. This one was a prompt: Place lake, food bread, feeling love. so what do you think did I get it close?

I like to try out prompts sometimes. It helps when I get stuck I play with a quick story that has nothing to do with the current project I am working on and then I am ready to go again. This was one of those stories.

Haunted Waters

By Megan Kuykendall

Prompt: The water was rising too fast.

The water was rising too fast. There wasn’t anything any of us could do. We just watched in terror as the water flooded into the car. The only thought in my pounding head was no one would find us in time, they didn’t even know where to look. The icy tendrils of the lake water wrapped around my ankle, and it snapped me out of the fog I had been in.

“Ok, everyone stay calm. We can get out of this. Does everyone know how to swim?” I called out to the other three girls in the car with me. So much for our joy ride. We should have known better than to drive over that bridge so late at night. Everyone knew the lake was haunted.

“I can’t swim. I never learned,” Peggy blurted out fear and panic lacing her voice. “Oh god I’m going to drown!”

I turned to look at her Peggy was trembling in the back seat. “I need you to calm down. I won’t let you drown. I’ll take you to shore but I need you to breathe and not panic. Otherwise, you will make saving your life very difficult.” I was glad to see Peggy taking deep breaths and give me a small smile. “Now, anyone else not know how to swim?’

Sam and Jenny both shook their heads “Yeah, we can swim.”

“Now I need everyone to unbuckle your seat belts and get ready to roll down your windows. The car will fill with water fast once the windows are down.” I looked over at Sam and Jenny. “As soon as you can get out into the water and start to swim for shore. Peggy and I will be right behind you.”

For the first time in my life, I was glad my dad had bought me an old beat up car. It was more airtight than most of the newer cars, so it was sinking slower. More importantly we had to manually roll down the windows. If it had had automatic windows, we would all be trapped in the car.

We all rolled our windows down and watched as the water started to pour in. Sam and Jenny, both pulled themselves out of the car and began to swim a little distance away treading water and waiting to see Peggy and I get out.

Peggy looked at me nervously. I gave her my best reassuring smile. “See piece of cake. Now it’s our turn. I’m going to get out and be right in front of you ready to pull you close. Ready?”

Peggy pales but nodded. “No, but I can’t stay in here.” She moved closer to the window. The water was now up to the bottom of our seats and was ice cold.

“Here I go.” I pulled myself though the window and splashed into the water outside the car and moved to Peggy’s window. “Now it’s your turn. I’ve got you as soon as you come out. I’m going to put my arm around your waist and pull to me tight. Don’t try to fight me just relax and I will take care of everything ok?” I look behind me and see my other two friends still treading water waiting.

Peggy took a couple of deep breaths and started to move to push out of the window when the car lurched and groaned, tossing her back into the seat. She screamed as the water began rushing in faster. I moved to the window and reached for her grabbing her arm and pulled as hard as I could dragging her through the window, I put my feet against the car door and pushed off propelling us both back and away from the sinking car. Peggy was flailing her arms and legs as she screamed.

“Stop moving!” I yelled into her ear, and she went still. I adjusted my hold on her. “There we go much better. Now for the long swim home. Just relax and let me take care of everything. The worst part is over.” We both watched as my car sank under the water with one last groan and what I could have sworn was heart wrenching sob. I started swimming toward shore. Now that we were out of the car the other two girls began to swim that way as well. They had a good head start on us.

I took my time swimming making sure I didn’t tire myself out too fast. My one summer as a lifeguard at a local summer camp had taught me enough to do this safely. “Still with me Peggy?”

“Um, yeah I’m good thank you,” She sounded subdued.

“Ok good just no going to sleep alright.”

Peggy barked out a laugh. “No chance of that. I promise.”

We swam along for about twenty minutes before I noticed a light fog rolling in over the water. I thought it was strange since it had not rained, and the night had not been overly warm. I stopped for a moment and called out. “Hey, Sam, how far are we from you?” I waited a few heartbeats but there was no reply. “Jenny! Can you hear me?” Still no answer.

“Oh god, do you think they are alright?” Peggy whispered to me.

I knew I needed to keep her calm. “They probably can’t hear us because they are so far ahead. Who knows they might already be on shore. Let’s get back to it.” I started swimming again. Slow but sure.

The water seemed to have gotten colder, and I felt something brush against my leg. “Peggy, I need you to relax I just felt something brush against me. It was probably just a fish or something. Just giving you a heads up.”

I could hear Peggy’s teeth chattering “Ok I understand,” She responded.

I felt it again but this time it was closer to my ankle I kicked at whatever it was and kept swimming at the slow steady pace I had set. That was when it happened. Something wrapped around my ankle. It felt like a hand, the grip was tight and no matter how hard I tried it would not let go. I felt my heart begin to race but stayed calm on the outside. Peggy would drag me down with her if she started to panic.

“What’s wrong? Why are we not moving?” Peggy asked, “Are you Ok?”

I could hear the fear in her voice as I kicked at the grip around my ankle. “Do you think you could tread water for just a moment I think something got caught around my foot,” I answer amazed at how relaxed my voice sounded.

“I think so. I can try,” She answered.

“Ok I’m going to let you go and you just tread water like we were doing earlier.” I eased my grip from around her and moved back just a bit. I felt the water start to move around me as she began to work her arms and legs. “That’s great Ok now I am going to duck under the water for a moment I will be right back promise.”

I watched as Peggy fought her panic then she nodded. I took a deep breath and ducked under to see what had my leg. I almost screamed when I seen the face of a girl I had never seen before staring up at me. She had a hold of my leg and the serene almost peaceful look she gave me was the scariest thing I had ever witnessed in my life. I kicked out at her hand again to dis lodge it, but she just pulled hard to make me come to her. I knew in that moment if I didn’t get free, I would die, and she would drag me down to God knew where with her. I reached down and pried her hand off she opened her mouth, and I could hear a high-pitched scream come from all around me. I kicked and pushed myself to get to the surface to Peggy and to if I had anything to do with it the safety of the shore. I broke through the water and took a lung full of needed oxygen.

“We go to go now!” I sputtered and grabbed Peggy swimming as hard as I could toward the shore. It felt like an eternity later, but the fog had lifted, and the water was warmer. Then I heard the most wonderful sound I had ever heard, the panicked sound of our friends screaming our names. Peggy yelled back,” We’re here! We’re here!”

The next thing I knew Sam was swimming next to me and taking Peggy “Let me help.” We were on the shore and gasping for breath a few minutes later.

Peggy kept shooting me worried looks but she didn’t say anything. We were both just happy to be alive. Later at the hospital all our parents came and collected us to happy that we were all alright to be made about us sneaking out for a joy ride.

I never crossed that bridge or went near that lake again. But I did a little research and found an old article. Seventy-five years earlier a girl had been murdered in the lake. She had drowned. The killer had later turned himself in saying that the girl had haunted him and tried to lure him back to the lake. The picture in the paper was of the girl I had seen under that water. I wonder how many people had joined her in that lake.

So have you ever encountered a ghost?
And if you liked this story consider subscribing.

Subscribe now

Beginnings are hard. Where do I start?

I was born and raised in North Georgia. My Grandmother was the first to give me a journal when I was eight. So I could write down all my daydreams. That is where my love of reading and writing began. It was my escape and also a way I could get my thoughts in order. From there it snowballed. I found my love of myth and lore when I got my first copy of The Iliad and Odyssey from my Grandfather at fourteen. Since then Paranormal and Myth have been my world. I took a different view of the myths and lore. I always thought the monsters were misunderstood and that the true evil was almost always human made.

Not everything that goes bump in the night is evil. Someone told me that when I was just a kid and I took it to heart. When I read something I always asked what would happen if. What would happen if the town didn’t think the old woman was bad because she mixed herbs to make a sickness go away? What would happen if the shifter was allowed to stay would he protect the village from the next invasion? Why make fun of someone for being different maybe different makes them exactly what is needed. These are the things that dominate my writing. I prefer to write about a different perspective and finding that the creatures that everyone fear can be wonderful and amazing not just dangerous. The biggest question I always had was what would happen if I brought the myths to life in our time? How would they act? What would they be doing? I try my best to answer those questions in my books.

Why am I here on Substack you ask?

I want to use Substack to get to know other Authors and readers. My plan is to start my day with a post on what I am thinking kind of a quick check in “Hey guys how’s it going this will be my day I hope” type thing.

For paid subscribers:

I want to share some of the research I have found to give an idea of what I am doing and where it all came from. Behind the scenes type stuff.

I Also plan on putting up some of my books as I write them and some short stories that you won’t get anywhere else, deleted scenes, or little stories from characters that happen after the book is done.

This is where I hope to show my world and how I got there. Maybe make a few friends along the way and if I’m really lucky inspire a few people as well.

This is pretty much me in a nutshell come and join me on my writing journey.

Subscribe and comment what was your favorite myth or story when you were growing up?