A somewhat random collection of short fiction, starting with a story about a squirrel...

It would be fun, she said. A great way to blow off some steam, she said. Con should have known better. One look at the inn and he could have told anyone it was going to end poorly. But his sister had already spent the money and he already had enough people questioning the state of his mind. Supposed hauntings. Strange guests. Shadows and warnings around every corner. He wasn't going to last the week. At least the room service is good. (Though this started as an ONC project, it is now a full-length novel) Beautiful cover by @StormRidden Copyright © 2021

Survival is all about rules. It's really very simple. Follow the rules and maybe you last just a little bit longer than most other people. These rules are harsh. They are cruel and unforgiving. You might not like them. Hell, you may hate them, but the fact is you must listen to them. I don't really care if you think that's too hard. I don't care if you believe me and I don't care if you think I'm just being a hard-ass. Go right ahead, think that if you must. The rules still stand. Sit there and deny all you want. If you think you can do it better than me that's fine, just don't come looking for sympathy when things go south because you didn't follow the rules. Looking at you I already have my reservations. I just get this feeling that you aren't going to even listen to the rules. But I'm tired of watching people die of stupidity so I'm going to teach them to you anyway. Listen to my story, I'm only going to tell it once. Then, you can follow the rules if you want to. ***This story contains strong language and some sexual references but nothing explicit*** Copyright © 2017

Zara Morrigan didn't really expect to get accepted into Belmare, the premier university of magic in Oclia. After all, the entire world already knew the heir to Family Morrigan didn't have any magic of her own. She had only applied to please her mother. It was really more a private joke than anything...until the arrival of the acceptance letter. Now, Zara must survive monsters, magic-users and school politics. Not to mention mounds of homework. Frankly, she would rather face murder charges than attend her mother's alma mater. But when students really do start dropping dead, Zara must fight to clear her name. Belmare wasn't meant for the weak. Incredible cover made by lovely Aria

All Encants are now required by law to be part of a guild in order to keep track of them. In order to control their magic. Even with no family or friends to miss her absence, Maevus Kildaren is still uneager to be coerced into a life suddenly filled with strangers. Ordered by the Queen into one of the largest and most prominent guilds in the capital city, Maevus soon finds guild life to be far different from what she expected. But changing times don't allow for peace. A mysterious contract and an order from the queen forces Maevus into partnering with one of the guild's most powerful Encants, known only by the name of Volt. No one can tell her what his real name is. All she knows is he's brimming with magic and dangerous. But he may just be the only way to stay alive in a city with dangers at every turn. Copyright © 2018

Born the son of a lowly hunter and abandoned as a child, Zhenxing never expected to be brought to Heaven and become the most treasured attendant of the mighty Tiger Immortal, one of the twelve Zodiac Guardians appointed by the Jade Emperor. But the world is tumultuous and not even the Heavenly Realm resides in peace for long. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, a dreadful discovery is made. The Tiger Immortal is found dead and a grieving Zhenxing flees Heaven, blamed and pursued by the remaining eleven Zodiacs. Abandoned and bewildered, Zhenxing seeks refuge in the one place those of the Heavenly Realm are loathe to tread: the Demon Realm. While in hiding, he discovers shocking evidence that the one who killed the Tiger Immortal was not his most beloved servant, but one of his fellow Guardians! With the help of a sinister and charming demon prince named Lixin, Zhenxing digs further into the mystery hoping to clear his name and avenge his beloved Tiger Immortal. Beautiful cover made by my lovely friend @AriaofStorms