| Stanley Part 8 - Lhiannan-Shee |
1907
Edwardina looped her arm around Tashriel’s and smiled flirtatiously.
“Come and sit down. Lady Mabel and I are dying to hear all the gossip regarding the dashing Stanley!” She pouted, dragging Tashriel halfway across the blue reception room with her and over to a group of comfy armchairs beside a small table laden with cakes and a crockery.
“I’ll be mother, shall I?” she asked, raising the china teapot and filling three delicate china tea cups. Tashriel and Lady Mabel took the offered cups and played along with her.
“Well?” Edwardina asked, raising one of her delicately arched eyebrows. “Are you going to tell us the full story or not?”
Edwardina had not failed to notice that Tashriel did not appear to be his normal self. He seemed preoccupied and there was something else which Edwardina could not quite put her finger on. She reached for a coconut macaroon and bit into its delicious sweetness.
“Very well,” uttered Tashriel, leaning forward slightly and placing the untouched tea cup back onto the table.
“The talented young man in question has had the misfortune to fall into the path of Arwydau, a member of the Lhiannan-Shee.”
“Talented?” queried Edwardina, her curiosity piqued even further that it already was. “Is he an artist?”
“Not with paints,” replied Tashriel. “With words.”
“Published?”
“Not yet. He will be though, one day, I am sure. Arwydau only reserves her special attention for those with exceptional talent in their field.”
It was Lady Mabel’s curiosity which was now awakened.
“You know her?”
Tashriel responded with an empty smile which failed to reach his sapphire blue eyes. “The Lady and are I are, shall we say, old acquaintances.”
“You were lovers, weren’t you?” Edwardina said with glee, placing a hand on his. “Did she break your heart?”
“For pity’s sake, child! Must you go on about love as though it is some trivial matter to be discussed over tea and macaroons!” Lady Mabel bristled.
Edwardina was possessed by tiny pangs of guilt. She had not meant to behave inappropriately or upset anyone. “I am sorry,” she said sincerely to both Tashriel and Lady Mabel. “I am afraid I opened my mouth to speak without thinking -– again!” And then directly to Tashriel, “I promise to behave while you tell us all about the problem with Stanley.”
Edwardina did not understand why she was so interested in a man she had never met and only briefly caught a look at. There was something so very attractive about him though. She felt driven to learn more!
***
Stanley wrote furiously, his fingers black with ink and his study strewn with papers. Three days’ growth of beard shadowed his face and his eyes had achieved a wild and absent appearance.
He threw himself back in his chair, oblivious to the chaos around him, and grinned at the manuscript on the writing desk. This was his best work yet! It was good enough to rival Doyle and Wells!
Stanley reached for the open bottle of whisky close by and took a long swig from it before hurriedly lighting himself a cigarette. Tomorrow he would go to the library and conduct more research. There was no time to waste; he must be onto it whilst he was in the mood to write. He never knew when his muse would leave him.
He briefly remembered that there was something else that he had intended to do too. Some place he had planned on revisiting. He vaguely recalled a most unusual looking man with long blond hair. Perhaps he had imagined him? He was not sure if he had or not. It was getting harder and harder to tell reality from daydreams these days. Anyway, whatever it was could wait; he had more important things to do.
A twinkling caught the corner of Stanley’s eye and he looked down at his crumpled grey tailored trousers. There it was again! He tried to brush the glittery substance away but no matter how hard he tried it wouldn’t shift. He remained that way for several hours, until he eventually collapsed across his desk and slept fitfully.
To be continued...
PrevLabels: 1907, Refuge of Delayed Souls, Stanley, Web Fiction |
posted by Miladysa @ 18:00  |
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| Dreamers of Dreams |
April 11, 2011 marks the release of the first volume of Dreamers of Dreams: A Webfiction Anthology. This Ebook release, released simultaneously on several popular Ebook and webfiction stores, is a free book containing excerpts and opening chapters of several web fiction novels currently available for free online. The offerings of the Anthology include both completed works, and novels currently being serialized. A wide variety of genres is represented, from superhero to zombie apocalypse, urban fantasy to science fiction, folk tale to murder mystery, space opera to high fantasy. The purpose of this first installment of what promises to be a regularly released anthology series is to introduce the Ebook reader to free fiction available online that they may not be aware of, and highlight promising new writers who are taking the risks of self publishing online.
Volume one of Dreamers of Dreams will include the following authors and stories:
Ted Campbell - Flyover City!
Eva Shandor - Cold Ghost
Cassandra Stryffe - Zombie Diapers
Bex Aaron - Independence Day
J.J. Adams - The Undeadslayer
Alexander Hollins - Phoenix 2125
Rebecca Wilson - Soul Chaser
Christopher Wright - Pay Me, Bug!
Kyt Dotson - Black Hat Magick
G.L. Drummond - Midnight Intentions
Miladysa - Refuge of Delayed Souls
Meilin Miranda - Scryer's Gulch
M.E. Traylor - Guts and Sass
The anthology is created and distributed by DreamFantastic Publishing, and more information on the anthology, as well as links to the individual authors represented within, can be found at http://www.dreamfantastic.com/anthology/ . A .99 cent version of the anthology, the Author’s Support Edition, will be sold starting the end of April, and will contain additional bonus content from many of the represented authors. Any questions or concerns, as well as requests to be included in future anthology’s, should be directed to Editor@dreamfantastic.com. Labels: ebook, Miladysa, Refuge of Delayed Souls |
| posted by Miladysa @ 10:31 |
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