Hope's Light

Chapter 16

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Sixteen - Grace

Over thirty demons and souls genuflected before me.

And I had no idea how to respond.

Hope's Light

Chapter 15

by Erisian

Book 6

Part Four

Chapter Fifteen - Continuance

Time, fluid in its speed across all realms, inexorably moves forward with each advancing page.

Upon the fundament do towers rise, gleaming with marbled perfection in the undying shine radiating eternally from above. Multitudes of angels, working hand-in-hand and wing-to-wing in the fulfillment of the plans laid out by their cherished Architect, constructing the channels which culminate at the focal point, at the tallest tower of all:

The Throne.

Routine for Brad enforces order, structure, and security - but Sara isn't easily put into a box. No doubt there's an attraction, but what does her being Trans mean to pursuing her? Funny thing about stepping outside the norms, ya might realize there's more to life and you've been missing out.

Authors note: Hope is to drop a weekly chapter, with the goal being six to eight in total. Dropped this early because I'm traveling for the holiday. Happy Turkey day everyone! Thank you for considering the read.

Chapter Two – Purging

Transwoman Stephanie Nielsen is on trial for murdering her lover. The trial continues and her sordid but tragic past is revealed. The case is balancing on a knife edge as Stephanie's lawyer and the ADA battle it out in court and the tabloids report every gruesome detail of the murder and her private life.

Hope's Light

Chapter 14

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Fourteen - Balance

The crimson trail illuminated by the bracers held steady and straight, but the realm of hot barren desert curved away as we flew higher through a sky of perpetual sunset. There the path twisted to snap at right angles to the realm’s reality, and once more we found ourselves fading through clouds into somewhere else.

I’d been living in my two-story house for many years before I discovered the top of the closet.

Hope's Light

Chapter 13

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Thirteen - Traces

“Alright dude, how’s this supposed to work?”

Nick and I were standing on the tower’s rooftop. A wide variety of antennas, all made of clumped bundles of wire or actual dishes pointed at distant targets, surrounded us. The power and signal cables, hardened against the ridiculous heat from the uncomfortably close burning sky, coiled about like massive snakes having a grand ol’ party.

A party we’d intruded upon, though we had done our best not to trip over anyone.

It's time – time to grow a pair!

There’s two meanings here – one for boys … get a pair of macho-type balls OR … grow some breasts.

This is an Alys-500 story for anyone to borrow and grow

In late May, Dido and John Proudfoot were having one of their regular reviews of their quest to bring Thomas Fox to justice.

Heel
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

Heel - the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch
by a contemptible person - a person who is self-centered or untrustworthy

Hope's Light

Chapter 12

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Twelve - Ideals

Sucking air into lungs finding themselves able to expand fully, Nick again pushed a hand against the rack of green produce to stay upright.

“Gimme…gimme a minute.”

“Sure.”

Emotions, fresh and bleeding, spilled one after another across the lines of his face. Not just the tautness of anger and pain - but also the deepest troughs of despair, haunted by what he’d just touched.

A Grumpy Old Man’s Tale 61 The Green Dragon in the Green Dragon

The BEE’s, Bearthwaite Educational Establishment, approach to discipline was an even deeper mystery to outsiders, for poor behaviour was virtually unheard of in a BEE class. The ‘We just leave discipline to pissed off mums, other than that we just make it up as we go, because the kids know very well how they are supposed to behave,’ approach didn’t really seem to be a viable discipline model to outsiders, but it was all that there seemed to be. As far as any could tell there wasn’t even a set of acceptable behaviour protocols or guidelines or an effective chain of command either.

Chapter 8

When I did arrive back at the school, my room was spic and span, and everyone was happy to see me. Of course, I was way behind with the gossip and the activities. While I had been away there had been a complete intake of first year students, and the older ones had left. There were a lot of cards on my bed, all from girls who had visited the sites, with many of them expressing their gratitude with my involvement with them.

Sometimes, you're in the right and you have to say so.

Sometimes – you have to argue! Because they are in the wrong.

Hope's Light

Chapter 11

by Erisian

Book 6

Chapter Eleven - Stand

I spent a few more minutes, there in the now-empty hall. Tsáyidiel remained quiet, allowing me space to think. While the idea of returning to give Krux the grief he so greatly deserved appealed, the entire quest to find the Apostle no longer felt as urgent.

Oh, I still wanted to know if this demon had information that could lead to my other friends, and also wanted to find out just exactly who he was to be saying things in my name. But from what Cassius had just told me, other priorities had become much more important.

And thus decision became action.

The Alter Ego
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

If I was to tell you my name then you might have heard of me, so I will just tell you that my first name is John, or at least it was. It is a common name and will give nothing away – not that you could ever consider me and him to be the same person. Not anymore.

Rose wakes up the next morning feeling tired. Last night she had gathered some evidence that she needs to show Sasha and hopefully, she’ll be able to read the faded writing on the pieces of wood she bagged and brought back with her. However, right now she needs to open her garage and take care of business.

Synopsis
With Rick (now almost fully Yvette) tucked away nicely, our spotlight shifts to the star of the night: our dear Doctor Valentine.

No More Worlds to Conquer
A Short Story being an Alternative Retelling of History
By Maryanne Peters

It had been an ordinary day up to this point. I was on my lunch break eating a sandwich at a park picnic table. I wouldn’t call the area I was in secluded. You could faintly hear the busy street less than a hundred yards away. To see the street, you would have to crane your neck and look through a bunch of bushes and trees to see it. I usually chose this bench because it was furthest away from the row of restaurants not far from the park entrance. Most people who ate lunch in the park would find somewhere closer to the middle of the park to eat.

Mantra has met indecisively with the rebellion leaders, but Gabriel has some important news for her. He has located the hiding place of the all-powerful Time Gem, one of the Infinity Stones. Mantra goes to capture it, but unfortunately, she is not the only one who wants to get her hands on that source of ultimate power!

“Is that the time?” Elisa started, hearing the chimes of the antique on her mantle. “We're going to be late!” she told Juan as she got up from the couch and turned off the screen with a gesture.

“Wait, wait!” Juan protested with a smile. “You can't just leave me hanging like that, Chica!”