Gone But Not Forgotten – Part 15
They were scheduled to go deeper in the mines than they had ever been thus far and the entire team was apprehensive. Matilda was not supposed to be in charge, but was told by her trainer that she would lead the team in. He would provide back up in case of an emergency. Matilda tried very hard not to panic as she went through the sequence of regulations pertaining to deep drops.
All of them were issued safety lines. These were attached to titanium rings set in concrete blocks, anchored to the rock at the top of the shaft. Each miner was equipped with climbing gear and a comunit so even if they got lost, they could be tracked.
Parisium was too primitive a base to have elevators in the shafts. It was just as well, for the power went out regularly and the generators were not strong enough to raise a cage. The ladders were sturdy and firmly attached to the side of the shaft. The stone was very soft, so the walls had to be constantly hewn and the ladders re-secured.
Bobby went down first, Matilda followed and the rest of the team came down in pairs. At the bottom, they stood in a tight group, the lights on their helmets the only illumination. It was cold down here, far more than any of them had anticipated. An involuntary shiver took them all by surprise before the monitors on their stasuits clicked on the thermals.
“Oh, I have to contact base,” Matilda remembered suddenly.
Soon, she hoped, this would become automatic. New duties were always hard to get used to. A quick report of their position and condition of her miners and they were told to release their safety lines and tie off at the ring for the next level down.
Their lines could be released by a remote button on their belts. The ropes wound up automatically, but if the hooks fell on anyone from fifty feet above, it would be her responsibility.
“Stand back from the shaft and release by the numbers,” she ordered.
One by one, the miners released their lines. Each had been assigned a number from one to ten and they released in that order. When all of them were free, they reconnected in reverse order from ten to one.
Matilda, who was last to connect, was responsible for seeing each of them secured properly. If they weren’t, she had to instruct them to reconnect. Each rope was emblazoned with a team number and when she checked, Bobby’s line was twisted and kinked, impeding Jane’s rope.
“Numbers three and four, reconnect reverse numbers,” meaning Bobby first, then Jane.
“You could use our names, Number One,” Jane said haughtily.
“Give it a rest, Number Three. She’s doing it by the regs. Just disconnect and hook up again so we don’t stand here all day,” James fussed at her.
Sulkily, Jane disconnected her line, found an empty spot and reattached. Bobby was working the kinks out of his line when they felt a tremor. It was powerful enough for them to lose their footing. Bobby’s line was being stubborn, the latch would not release for him to connect to the loop.
“Three, Bobby, secure!” Matilda felt panic rising in her, but she fought it down. “Base, this is unit 4-6-2, experiencing tremors in sector four!”
Crackling static. “Hold position, 4-6-2. Area below is unstable.”
“Bobby, get your line,” James urged.
“It won’t release, I can’t get it!”
“We’ll double on mine,” James suggested. “They are rated for four hundred pounds. You don’t weigh over two hundred and neither do I.”
“Tilda?” They needed her decision, it was her job.
“Do it, James. Bobby, keep trying to hook up.”
A sharp nod and both young men worked furiously to secure James’ rope to Bobby as well. Another tremor shook them and several of the members fell to their knees. They heard debris fall down the ladder, blocking their ascent.
“Base, this is 4-6-2, the shaft is blocked. Do we continue down?” Static.
“Hold… Unstable… hold pos-….”
“We can’t stay here,” Matilda decided. “I don’t care what they say, we have to move.”
“You heard Base,” Jane objected. “They said hold.”
“They said something, but what? They could have said do not hold,” James argued.
“The ladder is blocked, the floor could give way any second. I’ll make this democratic. Hold or move?”
Another tremor shook them and part of the ladder fell loose from the wall. A unanimous “Move!” and the all tried to go in different directions at once.
“Stop!” Bobby bellowed. “What do we do, Tilda?”
“We’ve got to get to another ladder and hope we can get back up. These passages go in a grid. Next ladder is one click north. Follow by the numbers.”
“I don’t want to be last!” Stella wailed.
“Don’t be a baby,” Jane growled. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll go last and you come up by James.”
They traded spots. Matilda nodded a silent thank you. It was the first time Jane had shown any team spirit.
Part of the wall in the tunnel had collapsed, but it was passable. They struggled through in an organized manner. The next ladder was blocked too, but they re-secured their lines quickly and started down the next passage. Bobby’s line still refused to open, so he and James remained roped together.
Welcome Today’s Guest Blogger – Liena Ferror!
Liena has graciously consented to introduce us to her ‘friend’, Keara. Below is an interview she conducted with this fascinating character.
Who are you?
My name is Keara McCabe. I am the Queen of the Ghost Drakon, a once thought extinct race of dragon like creatures. My mother was full blooded ghost drakon that had the ability to disappear and reappear at the merest thought. She also breathed lightning. I also have these powers. I can’t transform into a full drakon like my mother but I can cover myself in scales, unfurl bat like wings and change my fingers into claws.
Where do you live?
I currently live on the property of Master Vampire Andres Kaden in South Central Pennsylvania. Andres was kind enough to give us one of his guesthouses on his grounds. I live there with my mate Gannon and adopted daughter, Josephine.
Do you have any special strengths?
I have lightning abilities. I can appear and disappear with a thought. Here on second, gone the next. That’s where the ghost drakon got their name. I can generate lightning bolts which will disintegrate flesh on contact. Though I don’t do it very often, I can breathe bolts as well. It leaves a nasty taste in my mouth when I do. I can grow wings which are large and bat like and fly. There is nothing like feeling the wind in my hair as I fly around invisibly through the night. It’s an incredible feeling. I also can also use fae magick but do so rarely.
Are you the hero of your own story?
Yes, I am the hero. With my special abilities, I come in pretty handy in a battle and helped my mate and the Alliance of warriors he belongs to on a couple of occasions.
What is your problem in the story?
My problem in my story is coming to grips with the fact I spent over thirty years of my life believing I was human to find out I’m a ghost drakon and fae hybrid. My powers appeared many years ago when I was a little girl on the evening my parents were killed. They reappeared a couple months back when my home was attacked by a group of lycans. I disappeared from plain sight and found my lightning abilities. That was one hell of a night, let me tell you.
Do you embrace conflict?
I used to try and avoid it and still do to a certain extent. My mate is the warrior in the family but I am always ready to lend the Alliance a hand should they need it. I am usually at home with my daughter, Josie.
How do you see yourself?
I see myself as a strong, independent woman with special powers that humans could only ever dream of. My powers alone set me apart from anyone in this world. I am a loving mate and mother as well.
How does the author see you?
Liena sees me as I described above. An independent woman with a large heart yet ready to battle in a moment’s notice if my family or the Alliance is threatened.
How do your enemies see you?
Honestly? They should see me as their worst enemy. I can disintegrate a renegade or enemy vampire or lycan with my lightning ability. Turn them to ash actually. My claws are razor sharp and can inflict mortal wounds with one swipe. Plus, I swing a mean sword as well.
Do you have any skills?
Besides my drakon and fae abilities, I am an experienced candle maker. I own my own candle shop called Light Your Way Candle Shop. My foster mother taught me how to make candles when I lived with them. I fell in love with the craft. I make them in every way, shape and form.
What makes you happy?
My mate Gannon makes me happy. He can be hard-headed but he is very loving and was instrumental in my coping with finding out I wasn’t human. I’m glad fate paired us. My daughter also makes me happy. Josie is eleven and a wonderful child. She is such a smart kid. She reminds me of a blonde haired Shirley Temple. So I would say my family makes me the happiest.
What in your past had the most profound effect on you?
The death of my parents at the hands of a thief. I was younger than Josie when it happened. I never had the opportunity to really get to know them. I was too concerned with being a kid. That’s what I regret the most, taking them for granted. With their death, I had no one to tell me about coming into my drakon powers. It was a shock to find out hands on like I did and learn of our history from the Drakon Archives.
vampire’s ultimate fatal attraction is the essence of a ghost…
Innocent to the paranormal world and innocent to the world of men, Keara McCabe finds herself caught in a century’s old battle between renegade vampires and lycans after witnessing the murder of her friend at the fangs of an immortal bloodsucker. On the other hand, the vampire barely sips her blood and dies. From that moment forward, she becomes wanted dead or alive. The vampires want her destroyed for the danger she is, the lycans want her as a weapon against all vampires.
Lycan Gannon Langon vows to protect her from both her enemies. But it’s in her arms that he finds innocence and fire, tentativeness and passion. As their desire ignites, the enemy implements a deadly plan.
Will Keara and Gannon survive to explore their new love together or will that love be destroyed?
To learn more about Liena Ferror’s work:
www.lienaferror.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/liena.ferror
www.myspace.com/lienaferror
www.eirelanderpublishing.com
Gone But Not Forgotten – Part 10
Months passed and the Trimagnite pocket was capped and harvesting began. True to his word, Wil had told Orion to split the profit. Everyone from the supervisors down to the lowliest Miner One got an equal share.
Wil appeared very little, and when he did arrive, it was always a turn around trip. More often than not, he would even politely refuse a dinner invitation. When Ed finally approached him, he came up with a lame excuse about not wanting to intrude. It was nonsense and they both knew it, but after seeing the agonized look in Wil’s eyes, Ed did not pursue it. Whatever demon Wil was fighting, Ed wouldn’t put him in an uncompromising position.
“The invitation is always there, my friend.”
“Thanks, Ed. That means a lot to me.”
After several such conversations, Ed was determined to get to the bottom of it. Wil had made half a dozen different excuses and Ed knew they were all bogus. He decided not to take another one for an answer.
“The girls are asking to see you, Wil. Mary made your favorite, chicken and ham pie with all the trappings.”
“I’d be imposing, Ed. I don’t want to intrude.”
“Since when does family impose? Look, Wil, whatever is troubling you, let’s talk about it. We can work through this together.”
“Thanks, Ed, but it’s just not that easy.” How could he say to this man, “I’m in love with your daughter”? Clearly, he could not. Ed would never understand.
It’s Amie’s birthday, Wil. She’s your goddaughter, you can’t miss it.”
No, he couldn’t, he had not forgotten the obligation.
“I’ll be there, Ed. I”m sorry, I’ve had a lot that I’ve been dealing with. Tell Mary and the girls I’ll be there.”
“Party starts at 1900, don’t be late,” Ed said quietly, walking away.
Something was strained between them and Ed desperately wanted to find out what so they could discuss it. In Ed’s mind, no problem was without a solution, you just had to look harder for some than others.
Wil showed up for Amie’s party with an outrageously large stuffed toy for her, new chronograph for each of the other girls, a pearl necklace for Mary and a bottle of Morwellian brandy for Ed as a peace offering. He knew he had deeply offended this hard headed, generous man, but his emotions were in turmoil. Never having been very good at dealing with his feelings, he tended to avoid awkward situations, hoping they would go away. Unfortunately, they rarely did.
After the party, to which Bobby had also been invited, Ed and Wil sat down to open the bottle. Wil ceremoniously broke the century old wax over the cork and poured their drinks into two of the tiny glasses which came with each bottle. Morwellian brandy was incredibly potent and was carefully consumed.
Ed made a toast to Mary and the girls, which Wil joined self-consciously. Ed eyed his friend a long time, setting his glass down with a click.
“Something on your mind, Wil? My granddaddy used to say someone was as skittish as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
Wil forced a grin. “Sorry, Ed. I’m just afraid I if I really tell you the truth, you’ll never allow me back here.”
Ed’s brow furrowed deeply. “This sounds serious, Wil.”
Wil was thinking it was even more serious than Ed knew, but he had to say something now, before losing his nerve.
“I love her, Ed,” he mumbled.
Ed stiffened. “You’re telling me you’ve been avoiding us because you are in love with my wife?”
He rose from his chair, pointing at the door. His face was going red and his hand shook. Wil vaulted upward, calming hands on Ed’s shoulders.
“No! No, it’s not Mary I love, Ed. It’s Matilda… I’m in love with Matilda.”
Where it had been red with fury, now Ed’s countenance went stark white. His breath came in sharp gasps, like a fish out of water. Clasping his hand on his chest, his knees gave out and he collapsed in the chair.
“Swear to me, Wil, nothing ever….”
“On my honor, Ed, I swear! She’s like my own daughter!” He ran work hardened fingers through his dark hair, setting it on end. His eyes held the wildness of a mad man who’s been trapped by circumstances. He turned anguished eyes on Ed’s pale face.
“Nothing has ever happened between us. But I couldn’t… this is ripping me apart, Ed. I’ve never loved anyone the way I do her. It’s like someone tore my heart from my chest and cut out my lungs!”
Ed said nothing for a long time. Wil sat opposite him, leaning forward with elbows on knees, clasped hands seeming to beg for forgiveness, dark head bowed as if in prayer.
“Wil, soon this won’t even matter. Saltulle is all played out, there’s nothing left. Even the Trimagnite is gone, every drop. We’ll be leaving in a few weeks. Mary and I are going to Solaris and Matilda’s stationed somewhere else. Don’t try to find her, let her go. If you love her and if you have ever respected me, you’ll let her go.”
Wil’s heart sank to his feet. He gulped painfully, his heart seeming to rise in his throat. “I promise, Ed. I promise to try to forget her, but one day we’ll find one another again and for my sake I hope it’s soon. A man can’t live forever without his heart.”
He rose silently, placing a steady, comforting hand on Ed’s shoulder as he walked toward the door. Without looking back, he walked past the shed where the new, black floater cycle was stored. He wanted to leave a note, tell her how he felt, but knew Ed would never forgive him if he did. Instead, he headed to the space port and boarded his ship alone.
Gone But Not Forgotten – Part 8
Because of a miscalculation on Wil’s part, Matilda’s in trouble. He carries her to the Mine Base in order to find the one doctor he knows can take care of her.
“That helps Trim shock?” Wil asked.
“Hell no, it’s for me! Hurry! Tell me exactly what happened.” Dr. Watson worked furiously as he spoke.
Wil reported in clear detail.
“Wil, you know better! What the hell’s wrong with you? You could have killed her!”
Wil’s features remained immobile as the doctor worked.
“Tell me something I don’t know, Walt. Trust me when I tell you nothing you say is any more damning than what I’m telling myself. I’d no idea she was so sensitive.”
He smacked himself in the forehead, groaning loudly, his throat constricting in a mournful howl of anguish. “God, Walt, shoot me! She’s a kid, not a full grown woman, but I didn’t think!”
“How old?”
“Sixteen, today.”
“How long was she out there?”
“About thirty minutes.”
The doctor shoved past him. “If I thought it would do any good, I would shoot you.” He popped Wil’s cheek along the scar. “I know just how much good that would do. Be useful, take off your shirt.”
“What?” Wil’s agonized stare had not shifted from Matilda’s pale face.
“Shirt off! The only thing that can save this girl is you.”
“Huh?”
“Try not to sound as stupid as you are. I know what’s inside you, remember? I helped put it there.”
“What about blood type, Walt? If it’s different….”
“Let me worry about that.”
He took some ultra sophisticated equipment from a locked cabinet in the corner of his office. Wil had his shirt off and the doctor shoved him into a chair.
“This will make you light headed,” the doctor began.
“I don’t get lightheaded, Walt.”
Watson gave him a long, patient look.
“This will make you lightheaded. Argue with me and I’ll see you never wake up, clear?”
“Crystal, Doc.” Wil sighed and settled back in the chair.
He felt a sharp stick in the crook of his arm and jumped in surprise. Hardly anyone used conventional needles any more unless they were very backward technologically. This set up hardly qualified. The needle led to a flexible, clear tube a centimeter or so in diameter. This in turn emptied his blood into a high speed centrifuge where it separated and became a clear, silvery liquid which dripped into another tube, ending in Matilda’s arm. A third line brought the red blood cells back to Wil, filtering through a needle in his neck.
“Your healing ability is partially genetic and partly what we did to you. I can filter your blood, but it’s still in the serum. That’s what we’re feeding her. You’ll get your red blood cells back. Drink this.”
He handed Wil a large thermal bottle of cold liquid. It was roughly two liters of fluid.
“All of it?”
The doctor nodded, not taking his eyes off Matilda. “Think of it as a really big shooter. You’re losing a lot of fluid, that replaces it.”
Sighing resignedly, Wil picked up the bottle and drank. In disgust, he spewed, wiping his lips roughly with the back of his hand.
“This tastes like lizard piss!”
“You’re an expert on flavors? You’ve sampled some lizard piss, have you?”
“Yeah, as a matter of fact, I have,” he replied testily.
The doctor shrugged. “Chug it, won’t taste it as long.”
“Thanks, you’re a real saint.” He held his breath and guzzled the vile stuff down as quickly as he could. He fought the strong urge to vomit, glowering at the doctor, who ignored him.
The color was returning to Matilda’s pale cheeks and Wil was beginning to feel dizzy, when the doctor shut off the tube leading to her arm. The centrifuge shunted the red blood cells back at Wil. When it finished, the doctor disconnected it too.
A few minutes later, Matilda sat up looking confused. “Why am I here?”
Dr. Watson checked her carefully. “Do you know where you are?”
“Base One, you’re Doctor Watson.”
“I was the doctor who delivered you, young lady.”
“Why am I here? Where’s Wil?”
The doctor stood aside to show her Wil’s inert form.
“What happened?”
“Little accident on the ranges, you’ll both be fine. He’s just having a short nap, he’s been waiting for you to wake up.” He tapped Wil sharply on the shoulder, “She’s awake.”
Part 9 - http://www.myspace.com/dellanioakes
A Quote from “Indian Summer”
Second Wind Publishing is hosting a Halloween contest. Details later this month. Below is a quote from my novel, “Indian Summer”. Bookmark this site and come back when armed with instructions! Good luck and let the best ghost or ghoul win! http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com/
The picture in the trash as appalling! I had randomly sketched a face of a man, lit from behind by flames in the shape of tormented souls. His own face was almost like a skull and his eyes burned with black flame! The horror of it shook me.
Gone But Not Forgotten – part 4
In our last episode, Matilda had found something strange in her travels as a log runner for the Guild. Her father said it was Trimagnite, a dangerous and deadly, liquid ore used by the Navigation Guild as fuel. To carry the message back to the Guild HQ, they enlist the help of Wil VanLipsig, The Lone Wolf.
They walked in silence once more and Bobby reached out, twining his fingers with hers. A couple houses down from hers, they stopped to kiss again and he felt he never wanted to let her go. Her mother saw them from the front window and called her inside.
“Night, Bobby. See you tomorrow.”
“See ya.” He grinned sheepishly, snuggling his ears into the collar of his jump suit. Nights on Saltulle were chilly.
Light streamed from the back door as her little sisters opened it and rushed out surrounding her, bombarding her with questions.
“Who was that?” Amie started.
“How was work?” Brigette countered.
“So, who is he?”
“Did you have a good day?”
“His name is Bobby, work was fine.”
“Do you like him? Did he kiss you?” Brigette changed subjects once her question had been answered.
“Are you gonna date him?” They leapt around her in circles, their hands joined as if playing Ring Around the Rosy. “Tilda’s got a boyfriend, Tilda’s got a boyfriend!”
“Oh, hush, you two!” She shoved them vehemently apart, charging for the back door.
Rushing headlong, blindly trying to get away from her sisters and sort out her emotions, she barreled into a solid, male body which was far too large for her father. Stopping suddenly, she glanced up into the dark, imposing eye of Uncle Wil. She reddened to the roots of her hair as she tried to duck around him.
Wil dodged left and right countering her movements playfully. Laughing happily, he finally relented, picking her up and setting her down on the other side of the kitchen near the door to her bedroom.
“Good to see you, birthday girl.” He chuckled deep in his chest.
Matilda had seen people shy away from this large, sternly imposing man, but to her he was comforting, warm and genuine. Uncle Wil was as much a part of their lives as the grass, trees and mines.
“Happy Birthday, Tilda,” he said quietly, his penetrating dark orb riveted on hers.
As a child she had been fascinated with that eye patch and his deep, jagged scar. Now she hardly noticed them.
“Not until tomorrow,” she replied timidly.
“Well, I’m not going to be here tomorrow, honey.”
“You promised!” Amie yelled, always minding everyone’s business but her own.
“I know, smidgeon, but Uncle Wil has to got called away on important business. I’ll be here tonight, then I have to leave tomorrow.”
He tossed Amie high in the air, catching her with ease as she giggled and shook her golden curls.
“Me next,” Brigette demanded.
Wil caught Amie, swinging her down to the floor. She hung from his forearm like a trapeze. “Fuss budget, you’re getting too tall. I’d break your mother’s furniture and she’d break my b…”
“Wil!” Mary interrupted dangerously.
“Behind,” he finished with an impish wink.
“Dinner!” Mary announced, deflecting further conflict. “Girls, wash. Men, wash too, I know how you two are.”
“Aw, Mary, you take all the fun out of digging in the dirt,” Ed laughed, kissing her cheek.
“Don’t try to bribe me with kisses, you reprobate! I know you love your digs more than me.”
He popped her on the fanny as she went to the stove, then dutifully washed his hands. Conversation at dinner was minimal until dessert. Over coffee and pie, Wil and Ed lit a couple of aromatic cheroots and talked shop until time for the girls to go to bed. Amie went down first, then Brigette. Matilda begged to be allowed to stay up.
“After all, tomorrow is my birthday and I’m practically an adult!”
Wil glanced at her, head to one side, then exchanged a look with her father.
“She has a point,” Ed added, interrupting his wife’s protests.
“This conversation kind of includes her, Mary,” Wil said firmly.
Mary threw up her hands in submission. “Don’t stay up late,” she scolded her daughter. “And you two, clean up after yourselves!” She stalked from the room calling over her shoulder, “Goodnight!”
Who’s Your Favorite Character?
Heroes and Villains, every story needs them. I love a really nasty villain as much as I do a good hero. So, who are your favorites?
As for me, in the hero line – I’ve got to go with Odysseus. He was great! Not just brawn, he had brains too! Who but Odysseus came up with the Trojan Horse? Got to give him points for cleverness.
For a villain, I love Iago from Othello. Shakespeare sure knew how to write them, didn’t he? Iago was focused, committed, evil. Let’s hear it for the bad guy – boo hiss!
Visit Bitten by Books for Your Chance to Win!
Bitten by Books is holding a contest and there is a chance for one lucky person to win a Sony Reader! Chat with Ilona Andrews & enter for your chance to win! http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=10377
A Tangled Web Cover Contest!
October 26, 2009 at 9:06 pm (Uncategorized) (cover contest, Dellani Oakes, make a comment to enter, Tangled Web, win a free copy)
I am still trying to choose a cover for my new book. Please vote for your favorite by leaving a comment. One lucky person will win a signed copy of “A Tangled Web”! Winner will be chosen at random. But you can’t enter if you don’t make a comment! Pictures are on my Blogger site. I couldn’t get satisfactory image results here.
http://writersanctuary.blogspot.com/2009/10/tangled-web-covers.html
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