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kaylinasher · 1 year

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Asher was in his smallest dragon form, his tail laying across one of Kailyn’s delicate collarbones as his head and front claws were laying on the opposite one. For this occasion, he had turned his scales an iridescent blue and green with flashes of gold and purple. With his eyes closed and laying very still, he could be mistaken for a piece of jewelry if someone didn’t know to look for his small sides to be moving with his breathing. Few outside of the castle that Kaylin lived in knew of Asher’s secret, which is how it had been kept for so long.

Her dress was black, strapless with an empire waist, and went all the way to the floor. Simple and elegant, it fit Kaylin’s style perfectly. She had chosen mid-height heeled pumps since she was hoping that the Duke would not like being rebuffed, but if he chose to be stubborn she was prepared to have to stand her ground. Better to have shoes on that she could have stable footing if he chose to abandon all pretenses of being a gentleman. It would not be the first time that she had to deal with disappointing a potential suitor, but she was determined that it would be the last.

Even with Asher curled up and resting around her neck, Kaylin was nervous. From an early age she had learned to wear a mask of soft indifference on her face, no matter what was going on within her mind. It was expected as a Princess that she was never to appear troubled, regardless of her true feelings. When her mother had been slaughtered before her in the court by a traitorous soldier, she had been chastised later for her scream and outburst of grief. Only Asher had stopped her father from physically striking her. She had only been fifteen at the time, but already she was expected to react to nothing. However, she was different than her father, she felt too deeply.

That was where the rift had started regarding suitors. Her father just felt that she should pick one that she found attractive enough to have sex with and bear him children. They could both have affairs after the wedding, but that marriage was just a contract between families, not for love. After the conversation that she and Asher had a few days before, Kaylin was even more convinced that she and her father would never see eye to eye on this and the only solution was to go to the Palace in Imperium City and see her cousins. They would have to have an idea of some kind of solution. Even if that meant leaving all she’d ever known and starting anew.

Right on time, the Duke arrived as Kaylin was thinking all this over. Part of her had wanted him to be late as an excuse to pick a fight for him and send him home humiliated. Of course it would not be that easy, not with this one. He seemed determined to use her to raise his status in the realm, and she was just as determined not to be a stepping stone for him. Asher had never treated her as less, or even more actually. They were truly best friends, equals, and now that she knew his true feelings, the Duke had no chance.

“Princess Kailyn, you look ravishing.” Duke Xavier spoke, condescension dripped from his voice. He still did not understand why he was negotiating the land treaty with a female, let alone one that he was supposed to be convincing to court him. Surely the Princess did not have the education, training, or knowledge to be able to do these negotiations. Already he had tired of trying to explain to her why she should compromise with him on where the lines would be between her father’s and his father’s lands. However, she was stubborn and ignorant.

“What a unique piece.” Xavier stepped too close and acted too familiar as his finger lightly ran over her collarbones near where Asher lay. “Its beauty suits yours, Princess.”

Kaylin had to fight not to physically recoil from his touch and she was glad that Asher remained motionless. She was quite sure that neither of them were happy with the level of familiarity that the Duke had assumed. When she didn’t immediately respond favorably, he thankfully stepped back a few feet, which allowed her to feel as if she could breath freely again.

“Thank you, Lord Xavier. I do have a dinner later I must attend to.” The only dinner she had later was the one that she and Asher most likely would share together like always. She was considering having him take her to Earth, Maine to be exact. She was craving lobster and found that the preparation in that part of the Earthly realm was by far the best. That was not something she would mention to Xavier however, as that trip would be made in jeans, a heavy sweater, boots, and a parka at this time of year on Earth.

“I envy whomever’s arm you shall be on, Princess.” Xavier fought to keep his face impassive and not show that he was displeased that whatever dinner that she was going to, it was one he was not invited to or even aware of. How had that slipped by his father? “I wish you would have told me sooner, I would have been most pleased to accompany you and not leave you having to search for an escort.”

She saw the shocked and now clearly displeased look upon the Duke’s face at her words, but she failed to care as she stepped forward towards him. Tiny claws bit into her collar bone as Asher tried to warn her not to be too hostile to the Duke, there were still diplomatic relations to be kept in mind, after all. “You are here, sir, to negotiate regarding our realms and kingdoms, are you not? I do not know why you then assume that I would ask you to escort me anywhere. Do you assume such of males who you are negotiating with?”

“You assume I shall be on anyone’s arm.” Unlike Xavier, displeasure was immediately clear on Kaylin’s face and if the Duke had missed it, the change in the tone of her voice would have been another clue. She had been looking for a reason for a fight to put him in his place, and now she had one. “I can assure you, Duke Noir, that I am quite capable of attending a state dinner on my own without the need of escort from a male.” Her chin lifted definitely and there was challenge to her eyes.

Xavier was at a loss for words at her challenge. He could not deny that he would not have said similar to a man, but admitting that would give her the upper hand and his father was steadfast in his demands for the negotiations that were ongoing between their territories. His father had also assured him that the Princess was looking for a suitor, but now he was wondering if that information had been in error, as she seemed most resistant to male attention. He could not think of what he could have done to upset her, it was not as if her place was really to be doing such diplomacy. Females were to be cordial and make dignitaries feel at home, not work out treaties. The only exception being Imperium’s Queen of course.

“I apologize for if I offended, Your Majesty.” Xavier bowed slightly, trying to save face and rescue the negotiations before he was summarily dismissed and the whole arbitration was canceled. If he had to go back to his father with nothing, the punishment would be severe, of that he was sure.

“I would suggest in the future, Duke Noir, that you remember you are here on matters of diplomacy ONLY. There is no further reason for you being here and for our talks. If you were given reason to believe otherwise by anyone other than myself, then you were misled.” There was no doubt that Kaylin was fully annoyed and done with the Duke. “Now, we have matters of this land treaty to discuss. My social calendar is not open for more discussion.”

Turning away from the Duke, Kaylin headed over to the meeting table where the maps had been spread the previous day. While then she had been contrite and demure, she had tired of him, and his forward nature had soured him receiving such pleasantries now. As her heels clicked against the stone floor, she could swear she felt Asher purring and she knew she felt his front feet lightly rub against her skin. She knew that he was pleased that the Duke had been rebuffed and also that he was trying to reassure her for the coming discussions on land partitions.

“Now, your idea of boundaries between our kingdoms within Imperium is not agreeable. Not to myself and not to my father. We do not want war as that would involve my grandfather and cousin, and you do know how dearest Abriella likes to avoid conflict within Imperium.” There was a smug smirk forming on Kaylin’s lips. Xavier seemed to have forgotten that little tidbit of information based on the look upon his handsome face. It was, after all, Kaylin’s ace in the hole the whole time. Challenge her family, and they would just go up the food chain. They didn’t need to renegotiate territory, this was a favor to the Noir dynasty, not hers.

“Princess, i was hoping that after you looked over what we were proposing that you could see our reasoning behind the new boundaries. The logic that motivated them. It would benefit both of our peoples in the end.” The Duke implored her; and possibly if she had been a simple female without the rearing and education that she had received, she might have fallen for it. However, her father had not only educated her, but so had Asher and others in the court who saw her as more than a trophy for her father to hand off to the first suitor to impress her.

“You do insult me, Duke Noir. You want me to hand over this land,” she gestured to the low land that led to the sea, “where our fishing and grazing of livestock is done. And you also want me to cut my people off from one source of water by giving you this forest here.” She motioned to a large green spot on the map. “I understand that to you these seem logical to go along the streams and rivers, when in reality the only logical reason to suggest such a thing is to weaken not only our infrastructure but our people’s ability to survive without relying on anyone else.”

She saw the Duke swallow and her smirk became more pronounced as she leaned over the map table that now separated them. “I will give you neither of these lands. In fact, I will not even take this latest proposal to my father, for the insult could lead to us demanding you hand over a large portion of your land as recompense. I suggest you go back to your father and tell him that the Dufrene’s are neither fools nor are they blind to the overtures that you are making.” A slight malevolence entered her expression. “If your dynasty’s acquisitions do not cease to threaten our sovereignty within Imperium, we shall be forced to take action, and I can assure you, Duke Xavier,” his name was said with a heavy dose of derision and her eyes became intense as her hands flattened on the table. “Not one of your family will survive.”

Xavier swallowed and took a step back. Nothing he had heard of Kaylin or her father had prepared him for this. He had fully expected to come in and charm her into a courtship, or possibly even a betrothal, along with an acquisition of land that would benefit his family. Instead it was clear that at some point he had committed a weighty offense and now was going to be lucky to escape with his life. Why no one had warned him of this, he was not sure.

“My sincere apologies, Princess Kailyn. I will pass your sentiments on to my father. I am sure that no offense was intended by his proposition of the changing of boundaries. As you say, we were only…” a raised hand from Kailyn silenced him. The look on her face was nie on rage.

“Sir, if you would like to exit this chamber with your tongue and head still in their original locations, I suggest you remain silent and exit NOW.” Kalyn was now standing erect, arms at her sides, and her gaze ice cold as she stared at the Duke.

Without another word, he bowed, turned on his heel, and quickly exited the room. Once had left, Kailyn sunk down in one of the large chairs that surrounded the table. The cushioning doing little to provide relief from the cold firmness of the hardwood they were made of. A tickle of magic across her skin told her that Asher had resumed his human form, so she was not surprised when a warm, large hand landed on her shoulder. She simply stared at the map and gave a small nod to acknowledge him. The gravity of the situation weighed on her. While she had every right to react as she did, and her father would back her up, it did not mean that what was tantamount to a warning shot at a neighboring kingdom would be well received.

For his part, Asher stood quietly next to her. He had known her long enough to know that there were no words that would ease the burden, and that what she needed was just for him to be there.

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hunnie-luv · 1 year

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Shot through the darkness,

A strike to the chest,

She falters,

Then cracks,

Then flakes.

Shards clink to the floor with every shaky step,

Slicing her soles,

Speaking in a way that her voice box dreamed it could.

She gathers what’s left,

And she persists.

#writing #female writers #writer #creative writing #poem #sad #woman writer #angst prompt

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yayaidea · 11 months

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Who sits in the yard

photographed by Chakriya PHOU

There was a family moving to a new house.

The house had a backyard, and it had an old bed made of wood.

When the sun set, the man who was the owner of the house usually saw a woman sitting on the wooden bed by showing her back and she had dark long hair.

As the man was about to go ask who she was and why she came into his yard, the woman disappeared.

This event happened for a few days. The man felt doubtful; he called the village chief coming to his house, then he and his relatives went to that spot and dug the ground.

Shock, they found a skeleton there.

The village chief and the man reported to the police. The police did an autoscopy and knew it was a woman.

The police investigated and found the truth that the dead woman was a maid of one of the former owners of the house. She was killed by the house owner many years ago and they buried her in the yard. Then they sold their house and went to live in another province.

This house was sold to a few owners before it reached the current man. However no one saw her ghost, only him did, but the former owners said the same that after they moved into the house, they felt unwell as the sun set and their family members usually got sick, so they sold the house.

After the corpse was pulled out, the house owner didn't see anything anymore.

#chakriya phou #dolphin 4d #dolphin4d #woman writer #ghost story

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nikoadari · 1 year

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I Think I'm Dating a Fae, Chapter 4

March 17

Dear Diary,

We’re finally on our way to Japan! Gah, I’m so excited!…is what I would be saying if there weren’t three – count ‘em – three separate delays at the airport. For what? Who the hell knows!? They wouldn’t tell us anything! I mean, really?

This is a vacation for us, but what if we were going to Japan for a business trip or to see a dying relative? They can’t just make people late for that kind of thing! Worse, a few of the aides or techs or whatever they’re called said that this was better than it had been for a good while.

This is why we listen to Sol’s dreams about the future. He told me it’s a family trait of his from at least four or five generations back. I believe him, obviously. My grandmama Patricia had that same gift, after all. Sometimes I wish I had that power. The dreams tend to be right like ninety percent of the time. If we had come a bit earlier like I’d suggested, it would have been a disaster!

It tends to go to the firstborns, though, in my family. With two aunties older than Mama, there was no way I’d be born with it. It’s a real shame.

At least we managed to get on the plane at all. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but we’re flying first class! I don’t even want to know what these tickets must have cost! We’re all in our own separate…pods I guess is a good way to describe them. They’re huge. How is there so much room for them on this plane??

And get this! Sol showed us all how to make the seats flatten into actual beds to sleep on which, just so we’re clear, is insane!

I’m actually really glad Sol was able to show us this. He was the one who had the dream about everything being so backlogged and slow at the airport, but he was still frustrated at the long wait. He doesn’t get angry very often, but each hour we were delayed, it looked like he was getting closer and closer to that edge.

He calmed down quickly enough once we were actually on the plane, though, and showing us everything put him in a good mood again. I’m glad. I don’t know what he would do if he was frustrated and also trapped with other people in a small space like an airplane. He always has to be alone to calm down.

He still seems a little on edge, though. Nervous. He didn’t tell me he dreamt of anything else that could happen. What’s the deal?

He’ll tell me when he wants me to know, I guess.

Anyway, I had to put my phone on airplane mode, and it’s been a while since then, but it said it was 3:39 pm when I last checked. That’s just past nap time for the kids, so it’s good that they’re already sleeping. I figured they would be all over the place. They must be even more exhausted than I am.

Well, I suppose they were all over the place for a good while. Looking out the windows, bouncing up and down in the seats, asking over and over and over again when the plane would be taking off (like I would know).

Ramon got so excited he almost peed himself, poor thing. We were lucky to catch it in time. What a first impression that would have made to the staff (they’re really polite, by the way – far more polite than I remember them ever being before. Maybe we just got better ones this time…or maybe they’re just supposed to be nicer to the rich people).

The kids settled down a few minutes after take-off and I didn’t even have to distract them with toys or a snack first. Instead, they were busy scrambling to look outside. Good Lord, when they pressed their faces against the windows I thought I was going to have a heart attack! I had to pull out some Kleenex wipes and sanitize it – I’m 100% certain no one cleans these things between each and every flight.

It was cute, though, and nice to see them get so excited just by looking outside. We had a special little private space within first class so we were able to talk normally; Sol was telling them the names of the clouds we passed before Ramon got a little too rambunctious – he wanted to actually open the window (Lord have mercy) and was mad that he couldn’t – and we had to put him down for a nap.

It was real cute actually.

Sol put him in his lap and held him, singing this lullaby in another language. He called it Urdu, I think? Or is it Erdu? Erdoo? I’ll have to look it up once we land; no way in hell I’m asking Sol.

I always knew he was well-traveled – he spends most of the year traveling from one place to the next, helping people in need before disappearing into the wilderness alone, but all the “fun facts” he had about other countries at the airport came completely out of left field.

Sol’s been absolutely everywhere, and if he hasn’t actually visited a place he knows someone who has. That’s awesome; I’m more than happy for him to experience and know all that. I’m just not planning on showing that I know literally nothing. He already had to explain the map to me three separate times when planning the trip because my middle school geography classes failed me.

Anyway, Sol said the song was called “Soja Gaan.” Or is it “Soja Jaan?” Or “Souga Gan?” Again, not asking. I’ll look it up later. It sounded absolutely beautiful.

So I was listening and just watching him while he sang to our son and, well, let’s just say that the song wasn’t the only thing beautiful. Sol was looking out the window at one point while he was singing, and the sun’s reflection hit his eyes just right and made them look absolutely golden. How could anyone be so lovely?

And how could someone so lovely be mine?

Oh yeah, and his lullaby put Yasmine to sleep, too, as a happy accident. And it might have made me a bit tired, as well. We have twelve more hours on the flight now so I might as well get some sleep while I can. Time to set out the bed!

Oh, God, this is so cool!! I’m ‘bout to lose my shit!

Four more hours to go. I want to stretch so bad!

Sol’s abandoned me to go to the bathroom and now I have no one to talk to! The kids are watching a movie on these big TV screens in their pods (very fancy) and I’m scared that if they stop looking at the screen, they’ll never look at it again for the entire flight. This is their second movie, but I’ve had to tell Yasmine to be quiet about two thousand times. She keeps bursting into song or talking to the characters on the screen.

And she won’t keep still. Even thought she has all this space to sit in she’s constantly fidgeting and twitching so much it makes me crazy, but usually TV helps. I don’t usually let them watch more than one movie at a time, though. It’s just not cutting it anymore, and I can’t read them a story when most people are trying to sleep now. I wish the kids would go back to sleep.

Yasmine’s tried to get up three different times and Ramon once. They both want to run through the walkway. I only got them to sit down last time threatening a whooping. I don’t like doing that but I can’t just let them run up and down the walkway!

I don’t know why I even agreed to this. Yasmine’s never been good at sitting still, even for a seven year old, and taking these two on such a long trip was a stupid idea. Especially since this is their first one! It’s not like I can take it all back now but we have to get on the plane again once the vacation’s over!

I know I don’t really want to, if I think about it seriously, but this sucks and I feel like I just want to go home.

Sol’s back. He took one look at my face and leaned down to kiss me, right on my forehead. I actually tried to fight it a bit because who wants to be that woman stuck in a silly high school romance novel? But it didn’t work. Lord help me, but I felt all my stress just…melt away. This is so cheesy, nooo!

He had the kids pause their movie for some more Japanese practice (they’ve been practicing every day for the last couple of weeks) and so now they’re all practicing. I’ve been practicing, too, a little. I’ll join later.

Right now I’m going to read some more of those books I brought about fae and fairy lore. I’ve always thought that those little kisses made me feel so nice because, well, I’m in love with this man. But just in case, let’s check!

Ha! I knew it!

“Be wary of any food a good neighbor may give you. Food is a tool often used for spells and magic of all sorts, good and bad. Altering emotions, and even death are just a few.”

So altering emotions is a fae power! Yeah, the book never mentioned anything other than food being the way to cast the spells, but good neighbors are secretive! There could be plenty of other ways to alter emotions that don’t include food!

Besides, he’s done the food thing, too! I don’t know how many times I’ve eaten his cooking and, even though I’m in the absolute worst mood, began feeling so relaxed and happy out of nowhere! And, once or twice, when he was cooking and in a mood, I began to feel depressed. The kids, too.

I never understood why he looked so guilty after that, but now…maybe his emotions affected the food he made by accident? I’m so on to you, Sol!

Reading books on this was actually more informative than my haphazard Google searches. Who knew? I feel like this almost proves he’s at least not a human. I also learned that I’ve apparently been pretty rude in how I refer to Sol’s kind.

Fae don’t actually like to be called fae. They prefer other terms like “forest folk,” “people of the hills,” “good neighbors,” “the others,” or simply “them,” which isn’t ominous at all, no ma’am. Also, I feel like Sol fit this one perfectly: “twilight beings.” I almost feel bad for laughing but it’s just so dramatic and so him.

Apparently the term comes from the belief that it’s easiest to see them when it’s twilight. Sol told me once that that’s his favorite time, but he looks the same as anyone else during those hours. This legend doesn’t ring true for him but still. That’s his new nickname now.

It made me think, though. I’ve never doubted that my man’s name is Sol. When he bought me that new car, he signed it over to me with that name, and he always introduces himself like that.

But what if it was all a lie?

The gentry (God, these names are so dramatic) in the stories never introduce themselves with their own names because then you’ll have power over them. Sol uses a lot of different names for different countries. His Brazilian name is Bento, his Mali name is Adama, his Japanese name is Kazuki, etc. I have no idea how he keeps track of them all. He says it’s so the locals will have an easier time saying it, and also, in my opinion, because he likes different names and wants an excuse to use them all.

He’s never stumbled over the name “Sol,” though, and his family never has either, but that could be something of a pet name everyone calls him, right? Especially if his family knows. They would never call Sol by his given name around a human like me.

No, no. I’m being silly. He hasn’t stolen my name or anything…probably. What does that even mean? It doesn’t matter. He’s never lied to me about anything else, not even silly things. And a name is pretty important, and I know he believes that, too. He wouldn’t lie about it.

Sol believes that names hold a type of power, just like all words, and so what you call a person over and over again throughout their life is almost sacred. He would have told me if “Sol” wasn’t his real name.

Hahahahaha! Just said, “Twilight Being who is the love of my life?” to get his attention and he immediately looked at me with the most unimpressed, borderline disgusted expression I have ever seen in my life. It’s a keeper!

#urban fantasy #I Think I'm Dating a Fae #I think I'm dating a fae #fantasy writing #creative writing #black authors #black autistic #autistic author #fae #faery #faerie #bipoc authors #writing #writing community #writers on tumblr #queer writers #woman writer #writer

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palaceofimperium · 1 year

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IMPERIUM & CALIGO

The Past & Present of Imperium & Caligo

When Abriella and Abbadon were mated, there was a change that took place in the realm that had been called the Chistendom’s Hell. Before their mating, there were truly many levels to Hell; and none of them looked remotely like the depictions that Earthly artists had rendered through the years. There was no fire or brimstone in the sense that had been depicted, no pit with souls writhing about it in it, and in most respects all levels were far more mundane than anything that man’s imagination had come up with to manipulate the masses with through religion.

Those upper levels of Hell were split from the lower and formed the realm now known as Imperium. They had always been the levels where the demons, the Fallen, and other creatures that chose or had been cast into Hell called home. Yes, there were always creatures who had CHOSEN to call Hell home, and those creatures still resided in Imperium. They were the creatures with darker tendencies or that had been traditionally hunted in the Earthly realm and ones like it. It was a mix of creatures with a mix of motivations, and has remained that way since the split. The buildings varied in design through the ages of humanity and civilization, covering all of the different cultures that the beings that inhabited it were from. Those not from the Earthly realm brought designs from their own cultures as well. While it was varied, there was a strange cohesion to it.

Another thing that remained was the sense of order that had always been there. The creatures did not prey upon one another and there were rules that were followed. Beings were tasked with keeping that order and enforcing the rules. Those who broke them and brought chaos into the upper realms, were cast into the lower realms. Even amongst those considered “evil” by human standards, there was a code of what could be called honor. What level and rank you were in those realms, and by default then in Imperium, depended on what rank of Angel you were before the Fall. Other beings were ranked upon power and influence.

The lower levels of Hell became Caligo, which is still ruled to this day by Abriella as Queen and now her brother Cruz as co-regient King. Those are the levels of the damned. They are not the torture pits of lore, although there is no doubt that the torture is their purpose. Those levels were dark, sometimes pitch black, and it was where the damned were sent and the demons worked.

The Palace of Imperium had been crafted by Lucifer after the Fall. Originally it had looked like something from a fantasy novel, gleaming white glass and crystal, but it had morphed over the years. It has grown and changed to meet Lucifer and the other Princes’ needs. Now that Abriella and Cruz are the rulers of Imperium, they are in control of the status of the Palace. It currently resembles something more akin to the Palace of Versailles, but what the future holds is in the hands of Abriella and Cruz, and it is a power that they respect.

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