Tag Archives: Cia Nordwell

Wednesday Briefs: May 1, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Jonlyn of the Urionites: Part 3 by J Ray Lamb

“Urion has accepted your offerings and sacrifices!” Jonlyn yelled joyously, “However, we are not yet done.”

“Houdsin, please assist me by taking my furs and broach. Krajn, please take this flint. Narthun, we will need your second bowl.”

“Good people of the Elm Woods, I was visited by one of Urion’s Messengers today. I am not sure what the message foretells, but the message was as clear as a baby’s eyes. The sacrifice you are about to see is what has been shown to me, and I must do. If I do not survive, I name Krajn as my Regent…”

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Wednesday Briefs: April 24, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Jonlyn of the Urionites by J Ray Lamb

Jonlyn’s head was swimming with the events that had just transpired. He sat down on the deerskin covered chair and started reflecting on what had just happened. He hadn’t noticed the passing of time until the warmth of the sun had passed leaving him sitting in the shadows. While the deerskin was warm under him, he was slowly starting to cool down. He picked up a flagon of wine and headed back out of his abode. One of the many benefits of being the Club was that he had a private outdoor area where he could be himself.

 

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Wednesday Briefs: April 17, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #11 (3.3) by J L Hayes

“Strigoi,” the old woman repeated. “Heartbreakers. Seducers of women… and of men.” A few of the men in the room squirmed uneasily at her words, while others playfully poked their neighbors and chortled in amusement. “The eyes in the night that see all,” she continued. “The mouths that demand, that steal the lifeblood of others in order to remain forever young.”

“What are you talking about?” one person called out, followed by another and another until the question echoed throughout the room. “What do you know, bunica?” “What tales are you trying to pass off as truth?” As quickly as they’d begun, the voices suddenly stilled.

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Wednesday Briefs: April 10, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #10 (3.2) by J L Hayes

A collective gasp surged through the alehouse. The ensuing silence rendered the argument between the two men all the more audible, encouraging listeners.

“I simply said she seems very happy lately. That’s all I said, Bogdan. You are making a fuss over nothing.” And yet the tone of the speaker’s voice implied so much more. What did he know, what could he have seen, and did it somehow relate to Dracula?

How could it not?

Avram focused his attention

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Wednesday Briefs: April 3, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #9 (3.1) by J L Hayes

Gunther fell silent. Tendrils of anxiety wrapped about Avram’s heart.  Why was it beating so fast? Something was wrong. and whatever it was it was about to get worse. Someone dropped a glass, which shattered, and he visibly flinched at the explosion.

This was no time to panic, and no time to borrow trouble. He forced himself to take deep breaths. Maybe he should step outside for a moment. He needed to think, but without all the noise. He glanced across the room. Bogdan was still there. One less worry.

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Wednesday Briefs: March 20, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #8 (2.4) by Julie Lynn Hayes

Despite his light-hearted words, Avram knew his friend was troubled by the defection of so many of his parishioners, but he never betrayed those feelings, either by word or manner, when he encountered those people as he went about the village. He treated them as he always had—with kindness and patience—and was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need. If they felt guilty or disloyal in any way, that was a matter for their conscience, not his. Still, fewer church members meant fewer tithes, which made maintaining the church difficult. Avram (with the consent of Dracula) helped when he could, but when times were lean, such as they were now, money was difficult to find. Yet another reason to curb Dracula’s spending, although that was easier said than done. And attempting to explain economics to the man was well-nigh impossible.

“I have your bread, Father.”

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Wednesday Briefs: March 13, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #7 (2.3) by J L Hayes

Avram shook his head as he pushed open the heavy wooden door of the alehouse after leaving his horse stabled nearby. An uneasy feeling had taken up residence in the pit of his stomach. He wished Dracula wouldn’t take such risks just for sexual gratification, particularly this close to home. And a married woman at that. What if the husband found out? While he was sure the vampire could more than handle himself in a fight, the ramifications of being outed would be detrimental to both of them. Dracula may be on the immortal side, but he was neither invincible nor invulnerable—given the right circumstances, he could be killed. At least Avram didn’t have to worry that he was using this woman for her blood. That would be disastrous indeed.

Sometimes I think the man is just meshuggeneh.

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Wednesday Briefs: March 6,2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #6 (2.2) by J L Hayes

He teased the soft skin of her neck with his tongue, tasting her, savoring the lavender and cloves scent that had first drawn him to her. She shivered in response. The throbbing of her jugular vein intoxicated him, filled as it was with primal promises of what would be. So enticing… so tempting. How provident that Avram had provided his master with sustenance before he left the castle, as if anticipating what the vampire intended to do and forestalling a… problem… should his desire for blood outweigh his common sense. Being mostly satiated, he would allow himself just a mere sip of her sweetness, but not until matters of the carnal kind had been attended to.

Memories of her blood that

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Wednesday Briefs: February 28, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #5 (2.1) by J L Hayes

Compared to other Orthodox churches throughout Romania, the church in Bistritz was smaller and less elaborate. Built of stone during the thirteenth century, it lay on the outskirts of the village, and served as the town’s spiritual center until a second church was built some years later, nearer to the town center. The villagers referred to the original church as the Old Church, while the newer edifice was simply the Church. The Old Church was unusual in that pews had been installed, a feature not common in traditional Orthodox churches, as it was considered disrespectful for people to sit during sermons. Dracula’s ancestors had graciously donated the pews for not altogether altruistic motives—namely their own comfort. The first pews had been built from sturdy European beech,

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Wednesday Briefs: February 21, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula @4 (2.0) by J L Hayes

A midnight breeze blew warm across the Carpathians, carrying the familiar scent of Norway spruce and Scots pine to the lone figure making his solitary way down the mountain toward the village below. Dracula loved the night above all other times. He felt that darkness possessed a certain serenity not to be found during the daylight hours. A peace of mind that was lacking beneath the sun’s fierce rays. He drew strength from the night and preferred the solitude of his castle to the cacophony of human life. Of course, his predilection for human blood demanded that he exercise extreme caution in its acquisition, especially so close to home. Unfortunately,

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