Christie is having one of those repetitive dream experiences again, only this one feels somehow urgent - like she needs to do something and soon. Trying her new meditation skills is a possibility. What to do? Sometimes, a girl just really needs her Mom and her Grandfather.

More life experiences for our emerging sorceress. A girls' lunch at school gets disrupted by a troll. Thanksgiving is for Sorcery lessons and practical exams. Christie gets a dancing pal. Christmas plans are put on hold by a flu bug.

Just before her Saturday class at the dojang, Christie is all suited up and hoping for some sparring practice. Her next advancement test is only a couple of weeks away, and she wants to be ready!. Some things go right. Some others, eh, not so much. In the end, however, a great many things in Christie's future may start to change.

Amanda, Christie's Mother, is driving home, stuck in traffic, after her meeting with Grandfather Kim. Her child's so far unique trial continues to bother her, and she uses the time in traffic jams to plan. Meanwhile, Christie is trying to develop some plans of her own on how to deal with members of the Competive Cheer and Dance Team who won't leave her alone. Christie's trial maybe hard to figure, but Amanda is well able to help her daughter learn how to deal with such minor annoyances - without magic and without Taekwando.

Christie's Mom, Amanda, is concerned. So far, her daughter's trial is nothing like any other such experience documented in her family's extensive records. She's worried something has gone wrong with Christie's fate. She decides to seek advice from another person of power. Someone who already knows that Christie used to be Charlie.

I think I must have fainted. What I remember is that I opened my eyes and saw three faces looming over me. I was lying on the hotel room bed and made some squeaking noises when I tried to speak.

“Mmm. That feels good.”

We continued for at least another hour, just like we had been before we went to sleep last night. Kissing, cuddling, holding and continuing to explore each other’s bodies.

I was ready, and had been for about ten minutes. I heard the door bell, followed by muffled voices. Looking out of my bedroom window over our driveway and towards the road, I couldn’t see James’s car. Perhaps it was someone else, just dropping by at this time by coincidence.

“Sam! James is here, when you’re ready,” my Mum called up the stairs, the cue to start the two minute countdown to my first date as a girl. My nervous excitement was actually causing my body to tremble, ever so slightly. “What am I doing? What’s happened to me?” I thought.

I made zero progress in putting any of my new clothes away. I had just chilled out, curled up in the single corner of my king size bed that had been kept clear of clothes. For what was probably an hour, I played on my phone. I don’t use social media, but I do watch YouTube. Lots lately. The last hour had been makeup tutorials and clothing haul reviews. I couldn’t get enough of it.

I went downstairs to get a drink, and found my Mum and Sister both in the kitchen.

“Mum’s home?” I said in surprise, as Claire pulled onto the driveway.

Seeing my Mum back from work before 7pm at the earliest was unusual. She was a bit of a workaholic, albeit a very successful one. As the divisional CEO of a large segment within a FTSE100 consumer goods business, the financial rewards almost matched how hard she worked. My Dad, before he died, had been the Group CFO of the same business, him and my mother having met each other at work many years ago.

“I don’t have any pyjamas. I don’t wear them; I’m neither seven nor seventy years old! Can’t I just keep this on, until going to bed?” I said, gesturing towards my current outfit?

“No. I don’t want you crying all over my clothes. And you need those as costumes, don’t you?” My sister replied.

“Why on earth would I cry? What are you going to do to me?” I queried in fake panic.

“Nothing. I hope you don’t. But trust someone who knows from experience, these girlie chats about boys often end that way.”

“Boy chats?”

“Hi you two!” Gary says, greeting me and Kayla with hugs as we enter his home and drop our travel cases in the hallway.

“Hi dad!” Kayla replies with a giggle, before we head through to the living room and flop down on the plush sofa.

“Hi you two!” Charlene- Kayla’s mother- says as she emerges from the kitchen with four warm (and very welcome) mugs of tea. “Did you have a good train ride from London?”

“Yeah, it was great, thanks!” Kayla replies. “Didn’t get mobbed by TOO many fans, hehe!”

Shadowsblade a Whateley Tale: Written by Shadowsblade

Created for war and forged in pain, dealing with demons within and without.

AFTER nine plus months off I am back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs Bennet and the Body in the Library

By Susannah Donim

Chapter Fourteen – Mrs Bennet Confronts the Killer

The police seem no closer to finding the killer. What will happen to Holly and her Auntie Michelle?

When I found Holly unconscious and covered in blood, I panicked.

Mrs Bennet and the Body in the Library

By Susannah Donim

Chapter Eleven – The Body in the Library

Just as Mike was getting used to playing a Regency matron during the day, and a middle-aged actress at night, disaster strikes.

I liked Sam, I always had, but I couldn’t see how her being in my bedroom with both of us in sexy nighties could possibly be a good idea.

“What can I do for you, Sam?” I asked, warily.

“But won’t I be late for rehearsal?” I asked Bailey as we emerged from the 14th Street subway station into the late morning sun.