Chapter 5

Going back to school felt more intimidating than facing the training chamber.

{This is a very short story by my standards}
The art of the window dresser is easy to understand. Their goal is to grab passersby's attention, then entice them to come into the store and, hopefully, persuade them to spend a lot of money. That is the theory… In practice, it only works sometimes.

After a man is stabbed in the back and dies, he wakes up in the Labyrinth with a new body, new power, and another chance.

This story takes place in the same universe as my story Invoker.

Where the Sunflowers Grow
By
Rebecca Anna Coleman

-9-
Eden, Mississippi

SYNOPSIS: In 1566 Constantinople, a Janissary is bitten by an ancient vampiress and awakens transformed; first into something between genders, then, through blood and hunger, into a woman. Across five centuries she moves through mercenary camps, European brothels, the court of Versailles, Victorian England, two World Wars, and the New World; feeding discreetly, loving unwisely, and burying everyone she touches. Her body is clay, shaped by desire and will. And the woman who made her has been watching all along,

Chapter One: Selection

After a man is stabbed in the back and dies, he wakes up in the Labyrinth with a new body, new power, and another chance.

This story takes place in the same universe as my story Invoker.

Where the Sunflowers Grow
By
Rebecca Anna Coleman

-8-

Fight or Flight

I took a deep breath and peered across the table at my cousin. Who seemed more focused on her plate of fried catfish and okra than looking at me. Finally she noticed me and then without thinking she eased her piece of fried fish down and looked at me.

“Something on your mind?” Mary Grace said as she peered at me.

After a man is stabbed in the back and dies, he wakes up in the Labyrinth with a new body, new power, and another chance.

This story takes place in the same universe as my story Invoker.

[one week later in Leeds]

“Thanks for meeting me,” said Dora
She had put on one of her ‘Hazel’ outfits, complete with makeup and a long copper wig for the event.

After a man is stabbed in the back and dies, he wakes up in the Labyrinth with a new body, new power, and another chance.

This story takes place in the same universe as my story Invoker.

“There’s no room,” I announced. “We’ll have to take it all back.”

Noise; lots of it. I’m cold: I must have shivered as someone wrapped a warm blanket around me. Drift away again…

Noise again, light… My mother’s voice:

“I think he’s coming around.”

“Let’s have a look.”

Male, foreign, heavily accented.

“Ah; you back to us, yes?”

“Grunt”

“Whatyouname?”

“Huh?”

“He’s asking you for your name.”

Mother’s voice again.

“Name… Aisling…”

“It’s his stage name…”

Opening eyes, lights on ceiling, a man standing over me, white coat, stethoscope.

“You gonna be much longer in there?” my flatmate asks as I apply the finishing touches to my make-up and give my ever-growing hair one final brush.

“Just a sec,” I reply. “Just got one last thing to do….” I smile as I reach into my medicine drawer and retrieve the two packets of pills that over the last two weeks have become beyond precious to me. The fact that one packet is labelled ‘progesterone’ and the other ‘oestrogen’ should be all you need to know why.

Authors Note: Hi! Seven chapters left I think. Thank you for all being my beta readers. Your comments are what keeps me excited to continue posting. If you've enjoyed my story there is something you could do for me. Give me some constructive criticism. I'm going to go back through the text and work on grammar, but I'm also considering making a few changes. You could also let me know where you think this is going to go.