Explore the Crypt

The grand ballroom is completely filled to the brink Each and every one of the them I would surely drink Their white painted faces make...

He resents buying her “baubles.” His note on scratch paper when he forgot her birthday stating he would have bought flowers, chocolate, and a card after work but stores aren’t open 24 hours anymore— should be enough. New pots and pans for Christmas— appreciated, already scorched by him and the children— So thoughtful. The wedding rings with the center stone taken from his ex-fiancé’s ring should suffice. She shouldn’t even notice. The Tiffany olive cuff she longed for

Here I sit, pondering whether the spirit of Christmas has gone Absent is it from the commercial displays on our front lawn The time has...

This week's Character Corner features Sophia Chambers. She is the English representative of the Vampire Council. She is the vampiric...

Not having you before me, to defend me, wounds me— slices straight through my core, stings worse than the swords and daggers you left me exposed to. You shielded me from the blows of my world. Now I brace for the impact of arrows and gunshots, each one piercing my thin, unprotected skin. You were my chainmail— no more. You whispered strategies into my ear, showed me the places my enemy was weak. Now I am blinded, left out in the open to be captured and bound by his ropes,

Separate lives— he sleeps during the day, a vampire; I sleep during the night. Not much more than a hello passes between us. Anything more meets only silence. He won’t acknowledge me— not in the same room, not when I text while he’s away. My words fly into the ether, evaporating before they ever reach their destination. The wait for any reaction— even a meaningless thumbs-up emoji— is a hunger. I starve, feeling less than human. Head down, I walk into the room as he w

This week's Character Corner, meet the Lycanthrope Alpha of the Northside of Glen Cove, Simon Phelps. One of the Seven Alpha, he is the...

No one said I was wrongfully accused The justice system corrupt and abused The righteous celebrate my dark demise I became the one that...

It had been a hectic year for Michael, whose name is pronounced Michelle, and Barbara Durments. They were finally on their way to the...

This week's Character Corner is the Vampire Council's representative from India, Draco's ex-girlfriend, Sana Ramsammy. Taught by her...

He dangles a carrot before a soul craving something new. Offers a whole buffet— from the simplicity of a golden apple, a vanilla cupcake, to a whole suckling pig. I find the ultimate bait— a mille-feuille, a tower of fragile layers, pastry and cream barely holding together. French, indulgent, uncommon. The last piece. Exactly what I want. I think it’s mine— but he turns his back, walks away, devours the whole thing. He points back at a dish of carrot sticks. This is a

This week's Character Corner features the public access celebrity preacher, Reverend Jimmy Ray Torkin. Constantly over at the Jordans he...

Greetings and salutations, Hey gang, it's Kirk coming to you from the Hospital Bed of Love, and we're now in December, and that...

Can’t look at the world with rose colored glasses Or make decisions slower than molasses Our world is filled up with such trouble and...

The sun is up. You wait for me to rise out of bed to say hello. I wait for you to leave, go to your bed. Act like nothing happened, you didn’t hurl empty insults at me. Everything’s fine. I won’t walk into the line of fire knowingly for your next attack. You called me selfish repeatedly last night. All I do is serve this family while you and the children only worry about your own amusement. Baskets still full of dirty laundry, you sit in your chair, unaffected. Sink of d

This week's Character Corner is Pyotr Lavanov. Draco's youngest brother, who lived, was there when the brutal attack by the Mongolian...

Trying to find the gratitude in this month of Thankful Thursdays and Thanksgiving. At the moment, I can’t. Maybe just for the Wellbutrin that gets me through one more day. It helps me survive but not quite thrive in a daily life of baskets of laundry— we won’t have clean bath towels unless I take on the load. Spilled coffee on the counter no one will wipe up but me. A family who won’t listen when I ask them to put their dishes in the sink after they’ve eaten, or take ou

On this week's Character Corner, meet the Vampire Council's French representative, Pierre DuPont. This gentleman is a straight shooter...

It all happened one fatal night When I suffered a werewolf’s bite Not too long, I began my plight Changing into a hideous sight The...

He says I don’t speak English. But I’m sorry? Not in his vocabulary. I read the book on love languages— none of them seem to be his. So I’ve made my own: a lexicon of forced apology. Not kiss it better, but buy it better. Flirting with an ex at a party, staying by her side past midnight. A Tiffany cuff for his lies. Pink satin bows in the glovebox— he swore he wasn’t seeing anyone. Wicked tickets? Now it’s not so wicked. A bottle of Viagra, three tablets gone. Marti