Monthly Archives: October 2020

October 4, 2020

Your Update: A Shot in the Dark – Part 5

I’m happy to report that as of this post — I’m not planning to take a week off from Flash Fiction. I was able to organize and get everything for this week ready, and I’m hopeful to get into a routine the way I did last year. By the end of January, I was doing most of my work in the classroom, and able to keep my weekends free, and able to write at night. I’m teaching an exploratory course that starts over every three weeks or so which means once I get through this first cycle, I’ll have a better sense of what works and what doesn’t work. I’m not going to do an October status post because I can’t really set any plans or goals just yet. We’re going week by week — this week, I’m comfortable saying that as long as I’m not too tired, I’ll be working on Flash Fiction.

I scheduled Mad World’s chapters today! I did it slowly, a few chapters at a time so it didn’t feel overwhelming. To make sure they post in the right order, they’re scheduled a minute a part, starting at 6:39 AM on Tuesday, and posting steadily over the next twenty minutes until 7 AM.  I’m posting five chapters a day at FF.net and Archive of Our Own, starting Tuesday afternoon, and ending on Saturday.  I also wrote another scene for Fool Me Twice today, so we’re moving along on that.

I’m hoping to get back to the beta draft for Book 4 this week, but it’s lower on my list than FMT and Flash Fiction at the moment, at least for this week.

Note: Something that is not up for debate is the fact that I write a variety of Flash Fiction series. I don’t plan to stop writing any to concentrate on just one. It defeats the purpose of doing the Flash Fiction which was to give my brain regular breaks from working on the same novel for eight months at time. I’m convinced that I was able to write Mad World this summer at the same speed I did because I added Flash Fiction. I never got bored because I had so much occupying me between all the stories I worked on. It was a happy compromise and I have written more in 2020 than I have since 2003. It’s not a coincidence. I love my readers, especially Patreon supporters who make this something I can justify taking so much time to work on, but supporting my work does not entitle you to direct it. I love that you have favorites, I really do, but it puts pressure on me that I don’t need right now. Please do not leave requests when I haven’t asked for them. Thanks!

This entry is part 5 of 18 in the Flash Fiction: Shot in the Dark

Written in 57 minutes. No time for spell check or typos. made a mistake in part 2 — Jake is turning 6 in 2013, not 5

Port Charles Airport: Private Hangar

Elizabeth wasn’t expecting both of the men who met them at the steps of Sonny’s private plane, but she was touched to see Sonny Corinthos standing next to Spinelli. Since his botched wedding to Kate a few months ago, Sonny had been laying low, struggling with Kate’s relapse and struggle with her dissociative identity disorder.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” Jason said, echoing Elizabeth’s thoughts as Laura and Spinelli boarded to get started on retcon — Elizabeth knew Spinelli was planning to pull anything Laura remembered from her time on the island to help them put together everything they could before they landed in Mykonos, the closest airport to the Cassadine’s private, unnamed island.

“You tell me there’s a chance your son is alive,” Sonny began, “and I’m not staying home. How many times did you put yourself on the line for my kids?” He set a hand against his chest, his voice a bit rusty.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth told him. She squeezed his other hand. “Did you put Carly on guard to make sure Joss doesn’t find a way to get to Jax’s plane?”

Sonny grinned, his dimple flashing. “Funny thing — Carly was still on the phone with me when she caught Joss trying to sweet talk Jax into coming back from Sydney.”

Jason just shook his head lightly. “They were really planning it,” he said incredulously.

“You mean Robin, Elizabeth, and Carly’s kids were planning to help?” Sonny snorted. “Of course they were.”

“I think that was half compliment, half insult—” Sonny just laughed as he turned and boarded the plane.

Elizabeth looked up the stairs after him. Once she boarded, once the plane took off this — this was real.

“Whatever we find in Greece,” Jason told her, his voice quiet against her ear, “we’ll get through it.”

“The hope hurts more than anything else,” she murmured. “If Luke is lying to us—if he’s wrong—” She looked at Jason. “I’m just barely getting past losing him.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “But if there’s even a small chance he’s out there—”

“We’ll bring him home,” Jason told her.

Inside the airplane, Spinelli had already set up mission control at a large table, his fingers flying over a laptop. He said something to Laura who was peering over her shoulder.

“You need to get belted in for take set off,” Jason told him as he stored his and Elizabeth’s bags in one of the compartments. “We can get back to this—”

“I can’t believe you’re tapping into active satellites,” Laura said, a touch of wonder in her voice. She sat next to Sonny in one of the take off chairs, pulling the seatbelt across her lap. “When I was on the island with Luke back with the Ice Princess, all we had were the crappy maps Robert pilfered from the WSB—”

“Speaking of Sir Robert,” Spinelli said as Jason grabbed him by the shoulder and all but shoved him into his takeoff chair before returning to the table and closing the laptop and securing it for take off. “Have we considered calling in reinforcements?”

“Not until we know more,” Laura said. “Luke—I’m sure there’s more he’s not telling me. How did he and Lucky get on this trail in the first place? Robert will want to call in Anna, and Luke does not want that—”

She sighed, looked at Sonny as if noticing she was next to him for the first time. “Thank you. For the use of the plane.”

“Almost like old times,” Sonny said. “You still handy with a shotgun?”

About twenty minutes later, the plane had taken off and made it to cruising altitude. Spinelli threw off his seatbelt and rushed back over to his computer.

“Can you zoom in with the satellites?” Sonny asked as they crowded him. “Get some eyes on who is where?”

“No so much,” Spinelli said with a frown as he continued typing. “But once we’re on the ground in Greece, and closer, I can use the satellite connection to pick up any security camera feeds. Once I know what I’m looking for, I can hack in and get some better information.”

“Can he really do that?” Elizabeth asked, folding her arms. It had been years since she’d seen Spinelli at work. She bit her lip.

“I used to doubt him, too,” Jason admitted, putting arm around her shoulders. “But he was able to get me inside the Metro Court when it was taken hostage.” They traded a glance, both remembering that because he’d been there, he’d been able to save her life—and she’d told him about Jake.

“I have it!” Spinelli announced. He grinned at Laura. “Does this look familiar?”

“Yes—” Laura gestured at the screen. “That’s the main estate. The house that Mikkos’ father built when they came to Greece after fleeing Russia. It was built into the cliff, and—” She took a deep breath. “It’s where I lived.”

“What about the grounds?” Jason said , and she blinked. “What other buildings?”

“There was a dower house,” Laura continued. “In the gardens. There’s a vineyard, of course. And orchards. And Stavros had elaborate English gardens planted while I was there.” She nodded as Spinelli moved the satellite. “Yes — the dower house was in the English gardens. Mikkos’ mother lived there, but I think she’d died. Just before the Ice Princess, maybe.” She squinted at the screen. “That wasn’t there when we came in 1980,” she said. “And I don’t remember it from my time.”

“But it could have been added since—” Sonny began, but Laura shook her head.

“Stefan never cared much for Greece,” she told him. “He preferred the London house and the estate in Scotland. He raised Nikolas there most of the time to keep him from Helena as much as possible. He never added on. This wouldn’t have been there before 2003.”

“Added in the last decade doesn’t mean much,” Elizabeth said, then she paused. “Spinelli—” She leaned into the screen. “Am I wrong, or does that building look wrong?”

“Wrong?”

“It doesn’t fit,” Laura said with a nod. “If Nikolas had added it, he’d have made it match the rest of the estate. But this is an ugly, square building. A concrete block.”

“Wait—zoom out—” Jason waited as Spinelli obeyed. “And it’s set apart. Not the way the other house is—but—”

“Isolated,” Sonny said.

“We’ll want to start there for camera access,” Laura decided. “It’s probably one of Helena’s labs. She always had a hole to run to. She has something on Spoon Island, I’m sure of it. She’s able to slip in and out too much.”

“All right,” Spinelli said. “I’ll keep mapping the island, and try to get a sense of what kind of activity we can expect. I can probably find out if the coast is heavily guarded. It’s going to be hell getting on and off the island—”

“Luke will have that covered,” Sonny said. “He was always handy with a boat.”

Mykonos, Greece

Luke sat on the terrace of the flat he had arranged for him and Cowboy, lingering over a cigar as he looked out over the Adriatic Sea and the dim lights of the Cassadine estate in the distance.

Behind him, Lucky was pacing and raging—another day with bad tides meant another scuttled rescue plan to the island. Luke glanced down at his phone when it lit up. His chest eased as he saw Laura’s text.

On my way. In the air now. Bringing Jason and Elizabeth. And friends. Don’t go to the island until we get there.

Then another message.

Luke, tell me again that you’re sure. Tell me we’re not doing this to Elizabeth without proof.

Luke exhaled, picked up the phone and opened up the message app. He’d held this back, had waited until he knew Laura was coming. Had worried if he sent this — she might not come, too.

He needed her. Cowboy needed her.

Angel, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my whole life. If that’s not our boy, then he’s got a twin.

He hit send, then attached the photograph. He turned to look at his son as Lucky flipped a coffee table, wincing. He just hoped they had enough time.

Plane

Laura made a face when Luke’s first message came through — if he Angel’d her one more time—

And then the bottom fell out of her world as the photograph loaded. She brushed her fingers on the image, then zoomed in. She looked up to find Elizabeth sitting on one of the sofas, talking quietly to Jason. He said something, and Elizabeth smiled at him.

Laura looked back at the image of the little boy sitting next to Nikolas on a bench in the middle of a garden — at the grinning, blonde boy with his father’s eyes and mother’s smile.

If this wasn’t Jake—

“Elizabeth,” Laura managed. She looked up, tears spilling over her cheeks. “Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth got to her feet, alarm spreading across her expression as she rushed across the plane. “Laura—”

Laura handed her the phone and Elizabeth stared at the photo—Jason was right behind her and they both paled as they took in the little boy.

“He’s—” Elizabeth’s voice faltered. “He’s there.”

“He’s older,” Jason said roughly. “He’s—”

Jake had left them just before he’d turned four. He’d be six in a few months.

“And Nikolas is right there. Jake is smiling at him. He knows him—” Elizabeth squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh, God, oh, God, it’s real—it’s real—he’s real—” She turned to Jason, clutching her hands in his shirt. “You see him, too, don’t you?” she demanded, shrilly. “Tell me you see him, too!”

“I see him.” Jason framed her face in his hands, leaned his forehead against hers as his voice dropped. “I see him. He’s real. He’s alive.”

Spinelli rose from the desk and approached the two of them. “If I could,” he said gently, “if I could see the phone—I could give you reassurances. I can look at the image on my computer and tell you if it’s real. When it was taken. Where.”

With a trembling hand, Elizabeth looked at the phone, shook her head. “N-No—” She clutched it to her chest. “No, I can’t—”

“Come with me,” the younger man said. “You can hold the phone. I’ll put the cord in. I don’t have to touch it. You just—just save it to the camera roll.”

Elizabeth sucked in a shaky breath, the sob rolling through it as she looked down at the photo. Her fingers were shaking so hard she could barely following Spinelli’s instructions so Jason’s larger hand covered hers and he saved the photo so that Spinelli could attach the cord and transfer the photo.

“Luke had that photo the whole time,” Sonny said, his tone tense. “And he held it back.” He traded a troubled look with Laura. “What the hell else is he hiding?”

“I don’t know, but if we can just bring Jake home—” Laura closed her eyes. “I’ll kill my husband later, Sonny. Just—God, I pray Spinelli doesn’t say the photo is fake or altered. I’m not sure she can handle it.”

“She’s stronger than she looks,” Sonny murmured, “but she shouldn’t have to it. If Luke is screwing with them about this for one of his stupid plans—” He shook his head and sat down, putting his head in his hands.

Cassadine Estate: Lab

Nikolas sighed and pushed open the heavy metal door, walking into the square room with its work station and cot. He closed it, then leaned against the door frame. “Hey.”

A woman with dark hair looked up from the desk, the skin beneath her eyes dark purple. “Hey,” she said dully. She cleared her throat. “What time is it?”

“Nearly nine,” Nikolas said. “In the morning,” he added because she was never allowed to leave the lab and there were no windows. “You didn’t sleep again.”

“Couldn’t. If I sleep, I’m wasting time.” She bit her lip, met his eyes. “I think it worked this time. I think the message got out. I just don’t know—God I don’t know if he’ll understand it. Nikolas—” Her voice broke. “I just want this to be over.”

“I promised Jake he’ll be home by his birthday,” Nikolas said with a false smile. “So, let’s hope Patrick can understand what you sent him, and that he gets it to Jason and Elizabeth.”

“Yeah.” Robin Scorpio dragged a hand through her hair. “Yeah, well, when Jason finds out that your family faked Jake’s death—” Her smile was humorless. “Your grandmother is going to wish she’d picked any other enemy. Jason will take her apart.”

“I’m counting on it,” Nikolas admitted. “How soon will you know?”

“I don’t know.” Robin stared at the terminal in front of her. “He just needs to reply to it. C’mon—”

“It’s after midnight there—”

Robin sighed. “You’re right. He’s probably asleep. I guess I should go back to working on Helena’s project. Though why she wants Stefan to wake up when she has Stavros to do her bidding—” She jerked a shoulder.

“It’s best not to expect rational explanations from my grandmother.”

Drake House: Bedroom

Patrick glared at his cell phone as it lit up. He’d just barely managed to break up a fist fight between Cameron and Spencer before Aiden had started to cry, missing his mother — and Emma had started to cry because she wanted to know but her why people came back from the dead but her mother couldn’t —

He just wanted to go to sleep, and nearly ignored the message. But the doctor in him didn’t know how to do that, so Patrick stopped pulling off his shirt to reach for the phone on the table beside his bed.

Then stared at it for a long moment, unable to believe what he was seeing.

race cars. our special code so you know its me. am alive. trapped on cassadine island. world is going to end. need jason and the cavalry. i love you.

Race cars.

The pulse in his temple began to throb as he remembered the night they’d laughed about her parents in the WSB and running operations and having code words— She’d been so beautiful, laughing, and teasing him — telling him that if she were in trouble, she’d send him the words race cars because of their first real date in his hotel room.

He’d laughed at her, but here it was—here it was. Her code. Their code.

His heart pounding, Patrick typed in his code and replied.

pain in the ass. jesus christ. please don’t be a dream please dont be a lie. cavalry already coming. i love you.

He hit send, then dialed his mother-in-law. “Anna? Get Robert on the line. As soon as I find a babysitter, we need to go to Greece. Robin is alive.” Patrick scowled. “No, I’m not on pills again—damn it, Anna—she used our code.”

The other line was silent for a moment.

“I’ll call Mac and Felicia to stay with Emma,” Anna said. “Wheels up in an hour—”

“Great. Oh, and Cameron, Aiden, and Spencer are here, too because Laura, Jason and Elizabeth flew to Greece because Jake is alive, too. See you in an hour—” Patrick hung on Anna’s protestations as he stared at himself in the mirror.

His phone beeped again.

race cars. i can’t believe you really weren’t joking when you said my code name would be pain in the ass. honestly. we’re changing it. can’t wait to see you.

October 3, 2020

Your Update Link: Signs of Life – Part 3

I hope everyone is having a good weekend 🙂 It’s been a wild few days in the world, huh? I’m getting settled in at the new job, and I spent this morning organizing my lesson plans for next week. One of my assets is my ability to organize and do it quickly — that definitely comes from the last few years of juggling two part-time jobs, full-time graduate work, and writing. I have my structure done for the course, and tomorrow I just have to finalize this week’s project and film instructions for my remote students.

Right now, I’m leaning towards being able to write Flash Fiction this week – or at least having time for it. What I’m less sure about is honestly energy. It’s been six months since I worked in a classroom, and I lost the ability to be on my feet without bathroom breaks or a minute to breath for hours at a time. That’s going to take a minute for me to get back, so let’s say that I’ll keep the schedule but I might skip a day during the week and make it up on the weekend. We’ll see how it goes.

I finalized Mad World, Book 3 today and actually compiled all the chapters. Tomorrow, I’ll schedule them and they’ll go live on Tuesday. I’m so happy to finally show it off to you guys! I also did a lot of work for Fool Me Twice today. Chapter 1 is finished, and I’m happy with how it’s starting. I’ll be updating tomorrow with Shot in the Dark, making up Wednesday’s Flash Fiction.

This entry is part 3 of 41 in the Flash Fiction: Signs of Life

Written in 54 minutes. Basic spell check, but not reread for typos.

Studio: Hallway

Elizabeth wasn’t sure if she was happy or irritated when she turned the corner and found Jason leaning against the wall next to her door. After the day she’d just had, she wondered if he’d say something that was supposed to reassure her. The last time he’d tried that, she’d just wanted to smack him with a baseball bat.

“Uh, hey.” Jason straightened as she approached and pulled out her keys. “We have a problem.”

“Must be Tuesday,” she muttered. She unlocked her door and shoved it open. “I hope we have the same problem or else my day is going to get worse.”

Jason frowned as he walked into the studio ahead of her. He turned to face her when he reached the sofa. “What do you mean?”

“You first. What’s wrong?” Elizabeth unzipped her jacket and tossed it over the back of the sofa. She unclipped her hair, letting it spill down around her shoulders. She blinked when she realized Jason hadn’t said anything, but was just staring at her. “Jason?”

“What—” He shook his head slightly. “I’m sorry — I — Sonny told me that Nikolas went to the PCPD to try to get me arrested for the Christmas party.”

“Of course he did.” Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “Well, that’s funny because my problem is also about the—” She stopped when he winced. “Wait, is that why Taggert and Capelli stopped me on the pier?”

“They already questioned you?” Jason made a face when she nodded. “Damn it. I was hoping to get to you first. Look—I know you were just trying to help, but—” He scrubbed his hands down his face. “What’s the damage? How bad is it?”

Elizabeth stared at him for a long moment, her eyes aching, her lip trembling as it hit her. Why he looked so worried, why he was so irritated —

“The damage,” she repeated softly. “Because I’m a silly little girl who either told them the truth or lied my ass off, right? And either way, now you think I’m in trouble because I don’t know what’s going on.”

Jason flinched, exhaled slowly. “No, that’s not—I just—”

A sharp knock on the door cut him off, and Elizabeth turned away from him, grateful for the interruption. She swiped at her eyes—she was not going to let him see that he’d upset her. First she’d throw him out and then she’d cry.

She peered through the window of the door, then growled. “What the hell—” Elizabeth yanked it open. “I told you, I have nothing to say—”

“Look, Elizabeth, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to—” Taggert froze, then tensed when he spied Jason over her shoulder. “What did you call him to compare stories?” he demanded.

Elizabeth threw open the door and stood back so that both men were facing each other. “What story?” she asked coolly. She folded her arms. “Did I tell you any stories, Taggert?”

“Elizabeth—” Taggert began.

“Let me call Alexis,” Jason said at the same time. Both men stopped talking, then glared at each other.

“Just in case Taggert tries to tell you differently,” Elizabeth said to Jason, “he wanted to ask me a couple of questions. He asked me two. I answered one of them.”

“I’m sorry about Capelli,” Taggert continued.

“He asked me if I saw you on November 30, and I told him yes,” Elizabeth told Jason, ignoring the detective. Not taking her eyes from Jason, she continued, “Taggert, did I tell you anything else?”

“No,” Taggert bit out. “But—”

Jason’s expression didn’t change, but she knew it was because of the cop in the room, so Elizabeth turned back to Taggert. “I told you, I have nothing else to say to you. Or to anyone else at the PCPD. You got two questions. It’s not my fault Capelli wasted the second one. If you want to talk me again, you better have an arrest warrant. Good bye.” She slammed the door in his face and stalked past Jason to sit on the sofa and tug off her boots.

“I’d wait a few minutes for him to leave,” Elizabeth said without looking at Jason. She tossed her boots with her other shoes. “And then you can get out, too.”

“I’m sorry,” Jason said after a long moment of silence. He sat on the sofa, careful to sit as far away from her as possible. “I just—”

“Didn’t trust me,” Elizabeth said. She jerked a shoulder. “It’s fine. You know they’re investigating you for Anthony Moreno, right?”

Jason winced. “Yeah. Did they tell you that?”

“In a roundabout way. Capelli wasted his question trying to be cute,” Elizabeth said. She turned slightly, drawing her leg underneath. “He asked me how long I screwed you before you left to kill Moreno.”

Jason’s expression tensed, and his nostrils flared. “He what—”

“I told him that my personal life isn’t relevant, so I wasn’t answering the question and I walked away. I think Taggert was trying to do good cop, bad cop again.” She rubbed her fist absently against her chest. “I’ll just stay away from them. I’ve already told them I won’t say anything without a lawyer, so we should be fine.”

“Yeah, I—” Jason pressed his lips together. “I’m sorry,” he repeated, his tone softer. “I should have trusted you. You’ve never let me down.”

“Give me time. I’m pretty good at disappointing people.” A lump rose in her throat and she swallowed hard, staring at her fingers. “And, you know, this is my fault anyway. I’m the one that told Nikolas—I’m the reason—”

“Hey—” Jason leaned forward, waiting for her to look up. “He came in and found me half-dressed on your sofa, Elizabeth. He was already thinking it.”

“Yeah, I know, but I didn’t have to throw gasoline—” She sighed. “I think it’s just frustrating. Everyone’s looking at me like I’m doing something wrong. And before you say it’s about you—it’s not. It’s me. Because they all bring up Lucky. That was Nikolas’s problem. Lucky’s only been gone eight months—and my grandmother—” Elizabeth pressed her fingers to her lips. “I wonder if this would hurt even more if it were true.”

Jason frowned slightly, shaking his head. “What do you mean?”

“If—” Elizabeth felt her cheeks heat even as she continued, “if you and I were—if I was dating anyone—” she added, “and people were judging me for moving on. It’s been eight months.” She closed her eyes. “In a few weeks, it’ll be nine months. He’s dead. He’s gone. And I worked so hard to be okay with that.”

“Elizabeth, hey—”

“And I am okay with it. I am,” she insisted, when she could see the doubt in Jason’s expression. “It sucks, and it’s terrible, but I can breathe. I can see a future for myself without him, and that wasn’t true even a few months ago. And the people who love me—they don’t care. They’re not even happy—and if I were really moving on, I think—”

And maybe that was why this hurt so much. Because she was moving on. It didn’t matter that Jason wasn’t moving with her, that he was still just a friend. She knew what her feelings were, even if they didn’t matter. And maybe that’s what Nikolas, Emily, and her grandmother could see.

It hurt like hell that they didn’t want her to be happy, to date again, to fall in love again.

“I really think it is because they think it’s me,” Jason told her softly. “When you do start to—” He paused and his expression almost looked pained, “when do you start to date again, they’ll be fine—”

“But they don’t know the truth,” Elizabeth said, “so for all they know, I’m happy with you, and that doesn’t matter to them—ugh, you don’t get it,” she muttered. She shoved herself off the sofa. “I know, to you, because it’s not true, it shouldn’t matter what they think because in a few weeks—” She wrapped on arm around her waist, and bit the thumb on her other hand. “That’ll be worse,” she muttered.

“How?” Jason asked. She heard him stand, but Elizabeth didn’t turn to face him. “Won’t this be better when everyone moves on to the next thing?”

Because everyone would think he’d broken up with her. No one would ever believe she’d leave him. And for Jason, it would be over, but Elizabeth would still deal with the smirks and the pitying looks. And because telling him that would be too close to admitting that she wanted this to be more, so she closed her eyes, swallowed hard, then turned around to smile at him.

“You’re right. Everything will be better when this is just a memory.”

Jason frowned at her, searching her eyes. “Don’t do that,” he said darkly. “Don’t lie to me.”

“Then don’t—” Elizabeth huffed. “Don’t ask me stupid questions like that, Jason. You’re not a woman, so you don’t get it. This will be better for you when everyone forgets. But no one is going to forget. They’re just going to think we broke up, and—” She hissed. “I’m not doing this. This is the same stupid thing from last night, and I’m just tired. Can we just leave it at that?”

She walked over to the sink, wishing she had some brushes she could pretend to wash. Could she ask him to leave? How could she just get him to leave her alone and stop asking her questions—

“Because of what they said about you,” Jason said slowly, “people are going to think I broke it off.”

Damn, she wished he wasn’t smart or didn’t know her so well. “I know it doesn’t matter what people think. Or that it shouldn’t,” she added. She bit her lip. “But it does. And none of this is your problem. It was my lie that started this, my friends and family who made it public knowledge—”

“You lied for me.” He was closer to her now, and she could almost feel his breath on her neck, shivers sliding across her skin.

Elizabeth slowly turned around—Jason was only a few inches away from her. She lifted her chin so that their eyes met and held. “You were hurt. And I wanted Nikolas to leave so I could make sure you were okay.”

He tucked an errant curl behind her ear, a finger tip sliding around the curve of her ear. “And I am. Because of you.” There was something different in his eyes—something she’d never seen before, and the way his breathing had changed.

“The things they said,” Elizabeth said, “they’re true. I know they’re the reasons you’d never look at me, and it’s going to hurt when people say it’s why—”

“They’re wrong,” Jason told her, his voice husky, his fingertip trailing down her cheek bone to sweep across her chin. “And they don’t know anything about you. Or me.” He dipped his head down, and just before their lips met, “They don’t know anything about us.”

Then he kissed her.

—

This had not been the plan.

Jason had intended to get to Elizabeth before the PCPD could, and tell her not to say anything without a lawyer. Then he was going to leave because all the gossip would go away faster if they weren’t seen together.

Then he’d been stupid and said something that had hurt her—then Taggert had showed up and proved to Jason that not only had he been stupid—he’d been arrogant to assume Elizabeth would leap at the chance to tell the PCPD they’d spent the night together.

And then she’d been pissed at him, and when she’d walked away from him, upset because he didn’t understand why it mattered what people thought about them because they weren’t technically a them —

The truth had finally slammed into Jason like a freight train and he’d been left feeling slightly stunned. It hurt Elizabeth that people didn’t think she was the kind of woman that would keep him because she wanted to be, and she thought they were right.

And he couldn’t stand her to think that. To entertain it for even a second. So when she’d look at him with her beautiful eyes, and that hair he’d just wanted to slide his hands through since the moment she’d let it down—

Jason stopped thinking.

And he kissed her.

He forced himself to keep it light, to keep it soft—because if he showed her how much he actually wanted her, she might run screaming from the building—

Or maybe Jason wasn’t ready to find out Elizabeth really did feel the same.

Her lips was soft, sweet, and trembled slightly underneath his—then they parted and he dipped his tongue in to taste her, to see if she was sweet all over—

With a sound that might have been a purr, Elizabeth slid her arms around his neck and tipped her head, pressed herself closer to him. Jason’s hands dove into her hair, sliding through the soft, silky strands.

Elizabeth’s hands slid down from his neck to his chest, and then she said gently pushed. Jason stepped back, ending the kiss as they stared at each other, their faces flushed, breathing shallow.

“I—” Elizabeth began, but before either of them could say a word, there was another knock at the door. A pounding. She winced, then went over to the door. “It’s Taggert again,” she said with a mutter.

Jason swore, then yanked the door open. “She told you—” he began, but then stopped as Taggert, with a few other officers behind him, held up a piece of paper.

A search warrant.

October 2, 2020

Your Update: A King’s Command – Part 5

Hello! Thanks for understanding about skipping Wednesday. I’ve been literally running around like an insane person for the last three days, and honestly it was all I could do just to get some sleep. I think I finally have myself mostly sorted. I still have an insane amount of work to do this week, but it doesn’t feel as overwhelming as it did on Wednesday. I have a plan for the course, I’ve met most of my students, I survived my return to Zoom meeting this morning, and I can find my way around the building — sort of. It feels manageable.

At the moment, I think I’m taking next week off from Flash Fiction just to get myself truly sorted and make sure I stay on track for Fool Me Twice and Mad World. I love Flash Fiction, and I am obsessed with all my series, so I don’t want to kill myself trying to fit them in right now when taking a week off means I can really get a good sense of everything and set myself up for success. Once I’m through next week, I’ll have created most of the templates I’ll need for the rest of the course. I also might change my mind and keep writing. It depends on this weekend. I’ll let you know on Sunday when I make up Wednesday’s A Shot in the Dark entry.

I’m also going to be finalizing Mad World, Book 3’s release for this Tuesday. I’m scheduling chapters on Saturday and Sunday, so they’ll go live on Tuesday at 7 AM EST. I’m working on Book 4’s beta structure as well. I haven’t touched it in a few days, obviously, but I’m scheduling time to get into it tomorrow.  I’m working on graphics to promote all three books, so see this post for more information on how you can help!

Fool Me TwiceAnd in the best news — I started writing Fool Me Twice yesterday! I use Pacemaker to to track my progress because it lets me set all kinds of writing goals. I can decide whether I want to write steadily (same writing goal everyday) or start small and build my stamina. For the first time, I’m selecting the second one. Yesterday, I only had to write 85 words, lol. I wrote 825! My total goal is 160k, which is 5k averaged over 32 chapters.  I wrote the first scene which is a flashback scene, and it was so much fun. I just wrote for 25 minutes yesterday, really the only fun thing I did all day, LOL.  Earlier tonight, I wrote two more scenes and added another 1300 words.

This entry is part 5 of 27 in the Flash Fiction: A King's Command

Written in 53 minutes. Did a basic spell check, but did not read for typos.

Jason passed a long, sleepless night in the room next door to the room where his new wife slept. After a few hours of listening to Johnny and Francis snore — something Jason was usually able to block out — he gave up and went to sit in front of Elizabeth’s closed door.

During supper in the public rooms, he’d become too aware of the type of men who used the lodgings — and had realized his wife was the only woman on the premises. A woman sleeping alone. He had the Highlander’s natural distrust of people, and there was none he distrusted as much as other men when a beautiful woman was left defenseless.

He passed what was left the night sitting in front of her door, dozing from time to time. He rarely needed much sleep and could go several days without a full night’s rest. He’d be able to relax once they’d left Edinburgh in the morning and were traveling north.

When the clock at St. Giles Cathedral rang the hour, Jason scrubbed his hands over his face, rose to his feet, and returned to his room to rouse his men and send one of them to resume guarding. He wish he had more men for the trip to Braegarie—it would be nearly a month before they could reach the walls of his keep and he knew there much could happen on the road between the capital and the hills of his family’s land.

Francis grumbled when Jason kicked his shoulder, but got to his feet and went to the hallway while Jason went downstairs. He was surprised when the inn keeper was already at his desk. “Laird Morgan,” the man said with a falsely cheerful voice. “A messenger came in the night for you.” He slid a slip of paper across the desk. “Will you be leaving us this morn?”

Jason scowled at the contents of the note. Albany requested they come to the palace later that day so Jason could complete his oath of loyalty. He crumpled it with a clench of his fist. He’d signed his oath in the parish register when he’d married on Albany’s order the day before. “Yes,” he told the innkeeper.

“Will you be needing any food for the road?” the man called as Jason turned away. A refusal was on the tip of his tongue, but then he sighed, remembering it wasn’t just he and his men foraging for themselves.

They had Elizabeth to look after now.

“Yes,” he muttered. “I’ll settle the bill when we leave.”

Upstairs, Elizabeth was surprised when the blond man from the day before knocked on her door and gruffly asked if he should find some water for her to wash with.

“Only if it isn’t any trouble,” Elizabeth said, folding her hands together. “I know it might be my last chance for some time. The road from Annan was quite long, and Father wasn’t able to stop near water often.”

Francis narrowed his eyes at something she’d said—perhaps her father. “The road from the Lowlands is hardly the same as the one to the Highlands,” he said, as if insulted by the comparison.

“So there are more sources of water?” she asked dubiously. “Or perhaps you know the terrain well enough to find them better?”

“I—” Francis shook his head. “I’ll get the water,” he muttered. “Don’t leave the room—”

She drew back as if slapped. “Don’t leave the—” she repeated, but the man had already pulled the door closed in her face. Was she a prisoner? Did her new husband trust her so little? She’d thought—she’d hoped they understood one another better after their conversation the night before, but maybe it had just been her wistful longing. He’d seemed so angry at how her father had treated her —

But he still didn’t know why the regent had forced the marriage, and she could not speak to the reasons either. Beyond the incident with the poison, giving her hand in marriage to the leader of a strong Highland clan made little sense to her, and Elizabeth truly hoped Jason was wrong — that she wasn’t somehow a pawn in some court intrigue she did not understand.

When the door opened again, it wasn’t Francis who came in with a pitcher of water, but her husband. In his other hand, he carried a sack. He tossed it on the bed. “There are warmer clothes,” he told her. “A cloak and some dresses. If they don’t fit—”

“I can make do,” Elizabeth promised, her eyes widening as Jason set the pitcher next to the bowl on the table. “Thank you—”

“No point in having you freeze to death,” he muttered. He paused at the door, then met her eyes. “I’d like you to stay in here until one of us comes to get you,” Jason told her. “There’s—” He paused, looked at the ground for a long moment, as if irritated with himself. “I should have let you spend the night at the palace,” he muttered. “This—this inn isn’t safe.”

“Oh.” Elizabeth rubbed her hand up her arm, some of her unease and disappointment sliding away. He wanted her to be safe. That was all right. “I won’t move from here without you or your men.”

“Thank you. We’ll—we’ll be leaving as soon as possible. Don’t take too long.”

Elizabeth nearly stopped him—nearly asked if she might be able to send word to her brother—she wouldn’t miss her father or her sister much, but, oh, Steven — would she ever see him again?

But Jason had already been kind enough this morning and she was wary of testing him further.

—

He should have ignored the summons from the king and never come to Edinburgh. If he’d stayed at home, he might not now be married to a woman who knew how to cut him to his knees with a single look in her eye.

Jason had simply told her to stay in the room, and she’d flinched. Not visibly—but he’d seen a shift in the shadows of her eyes and he’d understood it — so he’d explained himself so she’d feel better.

He never explained himself. This husband business was not comfortable, and he was more annoyed with himself as he went to the innkeeper and asked the man to send a note to his wife’s family at their lodgings so that they might say goodbye to her. And he’d sent Johnny out this morning to get more supplies for the trip home, including a tent so that Elizabeth could have some comfort and privacy on the trip home.

Jason wasn’t entirely sure why he’d thought of it, but from Johnny’s expression, he knew he would be taunted about it for years to come. Highland women traveled light like their men, Johnny would tell him, but that was because the man only knew camp followers, not wives.

Jason didn’t know a lot about wives either, but he was sure he knew more than Johnny did.

“I got the tent,” Johnny said as Jason joined him in the street. He patted the pack horse with their supplies. “And I found a mount for milady,” he drawled. “Shall I get some cushions for her saddle?”

Jason just stared at him, then turned away to find Francis tying his saddle bag closed. “Go and get Elizabeth.”

“You don’t want to do that yourself?” Francis asked. “She’s your wife—”

And he thought if she looked at him one more time, he might do something else he didn’t understand, so — “No, I need to settle with the innkeeper.”

Francis coughed as he passed Jason and Johnny, and Jason glared at him because that cough sounded a lot like “Coward.”

A few minutes later, Elizabeth emerged from the inn, her new blue wool cloak fastened around her neck, the hood drawn down so that her curly brown hair spilled over shoulders. Jason stared at him, realizing now he hadn’t seen her hair unbound until now—it had been hidden beneath court hoods and tied back —

Elizabeth’s smile dimmed slightly as she met Jason’s eyes. She turned to look behind her. “What’s wrong?” she asked, drawing her brows together. “Did I forget something?”

“I have your bags,” Francis said as he went to Elizabeth’s horse and put the two sacks of clothing into the saddlebags.

“You’ll ride this,” Jason told Elizabeth, shaking his head slightly. It was just hair, he told himself sternly. He took her elbow and walked her over to the horse. “Let me know when you tire. You’ll not be used to the pace we set—”

“I will, I don’t want to slow you down by not being honest about that,” Elizabeth promised. She looked around, then sighed. “Are we leaving now?”

“We are,” Jason told her. “I’m sorry. I sent word to your family, but—”

Her eyes flew to his, startled. “You did?” she asked, breathlessly. “But you don’t like them—”

Behind her, Johnny whacked Francis in the shoulder, and gestured at Jason with a smirk. Jason narrowed his eyes at the two of them. Idiots.

“It’s all right,” she said. She took a deep breath, and forced a smile. “Thank you. I’ll write them when we get…” Elizabeth chewed her bottom lip. “When we get where we’re going,” she finished, nervously.

“Braegarie,” Jason muttered as he turned away from Elizabeth, irritated with himself and the world. He wished now he hadn’t turned around because maybe he could have tossed her on the horse and been away before the man hurrying towards them reached the inn.

But Elizabeth saw him before Jason could say anything and her eyes lit up. “Steven!” She waved a hand. “You came!”

Steven Webber strode towards them, his own face splitting into a grin. “Bits! I worried that I would miss you.” He took her hands, squeezed them. “I thought you were staying in Edinburgh a few more days. Albany said you might be removing to the palace today—” He cast a suspicious look at Jason who just bared his teeth. This man who had let their father mark his wife’s face would not judge Jason for dragging his sister away from the luxury of court.

“Jason has responsibilities at home,” Elizabeth said, “and I—I would like to see Braegarie,” she finished. “It will be my home, too—”

“Of course.” Steven frowned again at Jason. “I need to speak to my sister alone for a moment.”

“Steven—”

“Five minutes,” Jason snapped. “I want to be gone so we can reach Linlithgow by nightfall.”

Steven bristled, but took his sister’s hand and walked out of earshot with her, turning away so that Jason couldn’t see his face, only his wife’s.

“It’s very nice that you made sure she could say goodbye to her brother,” Francis said soberly. “Almost as nice as the clothes you sent me out to buy.”

“Or the tent and horse I bought,” Johnny added. “Why, it’s almost sweet—”

Jason was only half-listening to them—was focusing on Elizabeth’s face as he saw the happiness and sparkle in her eyes slowly fade as Steven continued to speak to her. Whatever he was saying — it was making her sad. She dipped her head, looking at the stone streets. Her brother tipped her head up, putting a finger under her chin. Elizabeth looked away, and Jason could see the shine of a tear on her cheek.

Jason clenched his fists at his side, but Johnny grabbed Jason’s elbow before he could stride forward. “I wonder,” Johnny murmured, “if Webber has spoken to the regent — if perhaps he’s giving Elizabeth orders.”

“Orders—” Jason exhaled slowly. Steven had mentioned speaking to Albany after the wedding, and the regent had hoped to keep Jason and Elizabeth in the palace for several days and weeks. He’d not wanted to be dragged in court politics, but his marriage might have landed him right in the middle of it.

“You think Albany is sending a spy into our clan?” Francis asked. “For what purpose?”

“To ensure Jason’s loyalty. Or to be ready if he’s not. Regents don’t stay in power long,” Johnny said with a shrug. “And I can’t think of a better spy than a slip of a woman that screams victim.”

Jason growled, fisted a hand in Johnny’s white knit shirt, and dragged him close. “Whatever you think of her, you keep it to yourself—”

“You see?” Johnny said with a smirk. “You’ve known her two days, and you’re ready to battle one of your loyal men for speaking against her—”

Jason released Johnny with nearly a shove. “She’s not a spy. Not a willing one,” he amended as he turned his attention back to his wife and her brother. No, he could not bring himself to see Elizabeth as that kind of woman — but neither could he deny that whatever her brother had said to Elizabeth had upset her and it would be foolish to deny that Johnny could be right.

Finally, Steven and Elizabeth returned to the trio and the group of horses clustered around the inn’s entrance. “Write often, Bits,” he told her with a swift hug. “And if you need me—”

“She won’t,” Jason said, flatly, taking Elizabeth by the elbow and drawing her away from him. “We don’t beat our women, Webber, which is more than I can saw for you Lowlanders.”

Steven winced, then nodded. “My sister is precious to me,” he told Jason, his face serious and sober. “And I hope that she will be precious to you—”

“Steven,” Elizabeth hissed.

“I love you,” Steven told her. He kissed her forehead. “Remember what I said.”

“I—” Her expression faltered again, and Jason tensed. “I will.”

Finally, Steven Webber walked away, and Jason held out a hand to help his wife mount the horse. “What did your brother say to you?”

“He said to remember my mother,” Elizabeth said softly. “And to never forget what she taught me.”

Jason frowned. It seemed strange that such a remark could inspire the change he’d seen in her, but it wasn’t impossible, so he let it go and settled her on the horse and in the sidesaddle.

A few moments later, Johnny led the way to the road that would take them out of Edinburgh and home, as Jason kept a careful on his wife and wondered what secrets she kept from him.

October 1, 2020

Hello! This is me waving at you from the future, LOL. I’m scheduling this to go live on Thursday morning because I have a huge favor to ask! I’m working on graphics to promote Mad World, particularly the first two books, and I one of the things I wanted to do was use quotes. If you have a favorite line from either of the first two books, please reply below and let me know! Hopefully you guys have been rereading to prep for Book 3! We’re so close!