I’m baaaaccccckkkkkk.
Yes, and I said that with that creepy kid voice from Poltergeist, only changed that one word. First off, it’s good to be back. I honestly didn’t think I was going to get another spare moment for…well…ever. That’s how it feels when you’re under a deadline and you’ve left things. Okay, I didn’t really leave them. I had blocks, other commitments. You name it. But it all boiled down to having to focus on one thing and one thing only.
The good part. I finished the book and I’m stoked for when it releases. It’s my first MM book and my first angel book. From Grace: Gabriel will be releasing this October. More details to follow as I get them. I’ve also decided to make it a series, so there’ll be at least two more books to come.
Okay…on to the flash fiction. I was going to do a bit from the next angel book, but…I realized it could have some spoilers in it, so…. alas, it’s going in a completely different direction. Here’s the beautiful photo…and a peek into the minds of my next characters, for a Halloween story I’m writing. Not sure this will be part of the book, but…it’s an insight into my leading man. It’s connected to the bit from last month. If you want to read that the go here… July Picture Flash Fiction. It’s not necessary but feel free. Otherwise…
“You know you only have to burn the bones, right? Not send the ashes into space.”
Daniel clenched his jaw as Arrynn shuffled in behind him, her arm lightly brushing against his. He didn’t turn, didn’t make eye contact. He couldn’t. Not without wanting to fucking scream. Grab her arms, give her a hard shake and demand answers he knew weren’t hers to give. Make sense out of a reality that was so far beyond sensible, it wasn’t even dust in his rearview.
He watched the flames lick at the bleached bones, the tiny sparks lifting into the air like hundreds of fireflies taking flight. “No harm in being sure.”
She snorted. “Guess that’s one way of looking at it.”
He cursed under his breath, ignoring the warning bells still ringing in his head as he twisted to meet her gaze. “You got something you want to say?”
Arrynn shrugged, kicking at the sand with her boot. “I think you already know.”
“Being thorough doesn’t make me crazy.” He laughed. “What am I saying… We hunt fucking ghosts for a living. We’re already crazy.”
“We do what’s needed so others don’t have to know the truth.”
He turned to face her, his hands fisted at his sides. “And what truth is that? That ghosts are real? Or that they’ll fucking kill you if given the chance?”
Arrynn sighed. “Not all spirits become vengeful.”
“No. But it only takes one to change your life.” He spun, staring at the mix of orange and yellow as it rippled along the pile.
A hand cupped his shoulder, the easy weight nearly taking him to his knees. She moved in closer, her breath tickling the hairs on his nape. “You know it wasn’t her fault, right? Dying the way she did…”
He pulled away from her touch. He didn’t want her pity. Her understanding. Fuck, he didn’t want anything other than to bury every last memory. Find a way to get through the day without the overwhelming sense of guilt smothering him.
He shook his head. “I know it wasn’t her fault. It was mine.”
“Daniel…”
“This would all be a lot easier if everyone just stopped coddling me!” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “We both know it’s true. I let her go off alone. Left her vulnerable. I was supposed to protect her.”
Arrynn scoffed. “Oh, so now you’re the one who murdered her? Only one man is to blame, and his ass is doing twenty-five to life, without the chance of parole.” She closed half the distance. “All I’m trying to say is…at some point, you’re going to have to forgive yourself. Move on. This…” She waved at the equipment spread out on the sand. The fire reaching toward the sky. “This is just a bandaid. A temporary fix. Until you deal with Isabel’s death—”
“I’ve dealt with it.”
“Oh, baby. You’ve done everything but deal with it. You hunt. You kill. You send a steady stream of spirits back across that veil, but you haven’t come close to dealing with her death. I see it, Daniel. We all see it.”
She glanced at the fire, then headed for the path, stopping behind him. “You know how I feel about you. But regardless of that, watching you fight her ghost at every turn…even when it’s not there… It’s not just killing you. I’m not saying you need to forget, just…let it go. Let her go.”
He caught her arm as she moved past him. “It’s not her I can’t let go of. I know she’s dead. I know that whatever we had… I’m not stuck in the past, Arrynn.”
“Then what?”
He let his head bow to his chest. “It’s knowing I couldn’t save her soul. That I let it continue until there was nothing left but anger. Blame. Resentment. That my legacy to her was letting her turn into the very monsters we hunt.”
“You weren’t a hunter, then. Hell, you thought you were imagining it.”
“And now you know why it haunts me.”
He released her, shoving his hands in his pockets before he wrapped them around her and didn’t let go. Until he’d sealed his mouth to hers to stop the screams. Stripped her down and buried himself inside her until there was nothing left but them. This moment.
Arrynn sighed, the sound a mixture of sadness and resolution. “I’ll be in the car with Jimmy. Make sure the fire’s out.”
Her feet padded across the sand, the soft scuffle slowly fading. Daniel stared out at the rising sun. He knew Arrynn was right. He needed to move on. Stop dwelling on facts he couldn’t change. Find a way to make peace with the ghosts he’d never be able to banish.
I’m waiting for you Daniel. I’ll always be waiting.
Her voice echoed around him, the soft caress of her fingers along his neck making him jump. He turned, searching the beach, breath held, muscles clenched, only to stare into the unrelenting darkness.
Daniel hissed out his breath, picking up his bags before kicking sand over the flames. It must be the fatigue. His mind playing tricks on him. He’d seen to it Isabel couldn’t hurt him again. Couldn’t hurt anyone. He’d won…hadn’t he?
And that’s all for me. Please check out the other two ladies. I’m sure they’ll have amazing stories.
Oooooohhhhhhh! Great job! I’m even *more* intrigued!
I can’t wait to read this book. You’ve got me hooked and I’m feeling big feels already. Great job!
You’re so good. 🙂 I can’t wait to read the angel books but this one looks pretty awesome too!