Flash: Honey’s Adoption

Image by Nika Benedictova on Unsplash

“Aw, isn’t she the cutest.” I hunch down beside the black cat. “Look someone has put her in a costume.”

“Jessie, it has orange eyes.”

“I know.” I sit beside the cat, not directly in front of it so she (or he, I wouldn’t want to misgender the black beauty, but in my mind all cats are girls like my calico pair at home) could decide if we might be friends. “And believe me, if it’s owner is around we would be having a talk. But I don’t think they are contacts, they look natural.”

“Its nails are blood colored.”

“They did not!”

The cat hissed at my sudden outburst.

“So sorry honey,” I say looking down at the cat, “but did your owners paint your needles of death? If they did, that is so rude. Could I see, please?” I hold out my hand carefully, waiting.

Turning towards me, the cat holds out a paw, her claws extended.

They are indeed red, but it appears the keratin is naturally that color. I take the foot and press the toe beans to extend the claws further. “All good.” I whisper, assuring her and myself, letting go of her foot. “Gill, they are fine, she just has some unusual coloring.” The cat stands up and saunters over to me, standing on her back legs and raising her small body so her front claws prick at my jeans.

I hold my breath, and Gill, bless his overcautious body, takes a step back. She pushes off and lands in my lap, the wings opening and closing with the movement. Turning around in a circle in my crossed legs, she presents me with her long black tail with a swish across my face, an extra smack against my nose, and an unmistakable view confirming she is female, before settling down. I start scritching her behind the neck and she arches into it.

“Where…” Gill coughs. “How are those wings attached?”

I dig into the fur, looking for strings or some sort of wire frame, maybe a leash support. The wings look leather with very short fur over them, almost a felt, thick along the lead edges mimicking bones; whoever made the costume did an amazing job. “Not sure,” I answer, “I can’t find anything.” I frown. “Not even a collar.” I run a hand down the body. “Oh, honey, do you need a place to live?”

“No, absolutely not.”

“No?” I raise my eyebrow at my live-in fiancée.

“No, we do not need another cat.”

“We can’t take her to a shelter, not this close to Halloween. All kinds of kooks grab up black cats this time of year.”

“No. She is a demon cat, look at her.”

“Darling, they are all demon cats.” I lean closer as I continue to pet her. “Isn’t that right honey? Do you have a name? Would you mind if I call you Honey for those beautiful eyes of yours until we figure it out?”

Gill sits on a discarded can in the alleyway. “No, please do not name the demon cat.” He covered his face with his hands. “We will have to take it home, then keep it separated from the others for two weeks, then all the new vet bills, explaining why the fuck Honey has wings.”

“So you think Honey is a good name?” I ask happily. Honey’s body is doing a deep, nearly silent purr against my hand. “She likes it.”

“Right,” Gill sits up straight. “Honey,” he says to the cat and she lifts her head to look at him. “Oh, this is going to be a fucking disaster,” he mutters, before continuing in his I’m-in-control voice I enjoy so much in the bedroom. “Do you want to be adopted?” he pauses and her head tilts sideways. “By us. We have two cats, normal ones … well they are both whack jobs and Patches ain’t too smart.”

“An understatement,” I whisper to Honey, “but I love her for it.”

“Queen Bee is gonna to do the territory thing. But she is lazy about it and will wear down. But,” Gill held up a finger and I felt Honey tense under my hands, “Jessie and I are engaged. We plan on getting married next June after I finish college and we will be having two children.”

“Four,” I whisper really soft to the potential adoptee, Gill was an only child didn’t know just how big his heart could grow. I felt Honey relax back into the pets. A full house doesn’t seem to be a problem.

“You must treat these kids well. No harm to our children, to our present fur babies, any future fur babies because Jessie collects them as you can see, or to us.” Gill dropped his hand to his knee. “If you came to live with us, you are welcome, and we will protect you as one of our own, but we expect the same courtesy.”

Honey looks back and forth between us, takes a gentle swipe at my hand, and then leaps out of my lap. Those gorgeous wings do a quick spread for the perfect landing then pulling against her body. Whoever made them did an incredible job. She walks away, her tail swishing.

“Oh, oh well,” I say, disappointed. “I guess, as clean and neat as she is, she already has an owner.”

At the entry of the alleyway she meows in annoyance, turning her orange eyes at us. The sunlight streaming in from the street made them look like they were glowing.

“Oh, wait, she wants us to follow!” I jump up and go to where Honey is sitting, waiting for us, her wings completely blending into her fur.

Gill reluctantly follows. “No, I think she is waiting for us. God help us.”

Honey hisses at Gill.

“Sorry, no G word. Got it.” He shrugs. “We don’t use it much.” My patient, forgiving boyfriend pauses in the twilight between the noon sun on the street and the midnight dark of the alleyway. “Blessed be better?”

Honey stands, flicking her tail high before walking over and rubbing his legs.

(words 1022; first published 11/20/2023)

Book Review (SERIES): Quincy Harker Year Four

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I spend a lot more time talking about the Bubbaverse John Hartness created than the Quincyverse … although Canon has them sharing the universe. Hartness says it is because he can’t keep things straight. Quincy Harker focuses on a more traditional brand of Urban Fantasy, whereas Bubba is more humor-filled (and the humor is why I love it so).

Salvation: Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter Year Four by John G. Hartness

  1. She Talks to Angels
  2. Shout at the Devil
  3. Angel of Harlem
  4. Sympathy for the Devil

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for SALVATION

The Quest for Glory comes to its thrilling conclusion in this Quincy Harker collection! Glory’s lost her wings, and Harker is running around collection Archangels like they’re Pokémon, but things go from bad to worse as he gets nearer to his final battle with the king of lies himself, Lucifer! Follow the adventures of Harker and the modern day Shadow Council as they try to save the world and restore Glory’s divinity.

MY REVIEW for SALVATION

The final four novellas of the Quincy Harker, Quest for Glory, have been collected in one volume: She Talks to Angels, Shout at the Devil, Angel of Harlem, and Sympathy for the Devil.

A well-done urban fantasy series beginning to end within the greater lore of the Quincy Harker universe. I loved how each of the angels had their own particular style and personality. The fight scenes are Quincy blow-outs – leveling mansions and erasing demons.

 

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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for SHE TALKS TO ANGELS

She’s part Harley Quinn and part Wynona Earp.
She’s the granddaughter of the greatest vampire hunter who ever lived.
She’s part of The Shadow Council, a secret group of people working to save the world.
She’s Gabriella Van Helsing, and she’s going to blow some crap up.

In the fifth part of the Quincy Harker crossover series, Gabby helps hunt down a rogue archangel in St. Louis, learning more about herself, about history, and about that cute doctor’s son than she expected when she took the gig. The fate of the world is in her hands, and now this non-magical woman from Chicago has to suit up and play in the metaphysical big leagues to hunt down The Voice of God and keep the Midwest from becoming Ground Zero for the Apocalypse!

MY REVIEW for SHE TALKS TO ANGELS

Gabby Van Helsing gets her own book in the Shadow Council Case Files and fills it cover to cover with action, humor, and her own version of mayhem. A gray hat – straddling talking to angels and drinking with demons (and trying to get dates with both) – Gabrielle will settle gun fights with grenades and magic battles with daggers.

John G. Hartness does put in one darling (technical editing term) into the book when Gabrielle joins a poker game. Long-time followers of Hatness knows he got his writing start in blogging about poker championships.

Two Jacks represents Gabby’s placement in the world perfectly. Not powerful enough to win on her own, usually, but with good enough support – she might-could rake in the pot. And she picks up an Ace supporting card – but can she keep him … and his very hot son … in her hand and on her side?

An action-packed and funny addition to Quincy Harker’s world.

 

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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for SHOUT AT THE DEVIL

The Quest for Glory continues as Quincy Harker travels west to hunt down a rogue Archangel and avenge the murder of a good friend!

For the past year, Quincy Harker and the Shadow Council have been hurtling toward a climactic confrontation with Lucifer for the fate of the world. That final battle moves ever nearer as Harker learns of the murder of an old friend in San Francisco. He puts his quest on hold to find his friend’s killer, but when he gets to the City by the Bay, he finds that his two cases are irrevocably entwined and leading to a cataclysmic confrontation that may leave all of San Francisco a smoking ruin!

Ah crap, aren’t angels supposed to be the good guys?

Well, nothing is ever easy with Harker and the gang!

MY REVIEW for SHOUT AT THE DEVIL

Quincy Harker may gain friends from time-to-time but few are old friends – as in, they reach an old age and die of natural causes. Faye Spataro, a West Coast water mage, unfortunately was not the exception to prove the rule. Happily married and now brutally murdered, Quincy investigates among the supernaturals in a town he is unfamiliar with, Sparato’s wife at his side seeking her own vengence.

Then Quincy finds the signs of an Archangel among the corpses of more of the city’s Talented.

While Quincy may be equal a tactical nuke in the supernatural world – capable of laying waste to city blocks, Archangels are the Yellowstone supervolcano. Without his normal team, can he (and the city … and the state and the country) survive when the Archangel of Death walks the Earth?

The normal action-packed magic-slinging Quincy Harker story with a side of police procedural thrown in. If you like Quincy, you’ll love this.

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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for ANGEL OF HARLEM

The Quest for Glory rushes toward its conclusion as Quincy Harker steps in for a missing Shadow Council member and goes to New York City to find the last Archangel. But when pieces of his past come back to haunt him, Quincy Harker must face feelings long buried and horrors brand new when the Big Apple and a band of angry demons try to take a bite out of him!

MY REVIEW for ANGEL OF HARLEM

A pitch perfect Quincy Harker story – magic and mayhem, unexpected twists, Harker cursing, emotions, amusement, and moving the Quest for Glory forward. Each angel finding gets harder and harder; and the final one comes with a nearly impossible price to pay.

This novella’s book buzz was so good, I’m scared to go into the next.

 

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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL

He’s collected Archangels like Pokémon. He’s battled monsters all over the country. Now he’s fighting his way through all the Circles of Hell to save a friend. In Sympathy for the Devil, The Quest for Glory concludes as Harker and Co. literally go through Hell to get Glory’s wings back!

It’s been a two-year quest that has spanned the continent, and now Quincy Harker, Charlotte, NC’s favorite (and only) Demon Hunter is crossing dimensions to do battle with Lucifer and restore his Guardian Angel Glory’s divinity. Harker and his band of merry angels, monsters, and humans set off to keep Lucifer from re-starting the War on Heaven, but things go sideways right from the jump.

How will Harker navigate the tortures and temptations of Hell to save his friend and the world?
Can Harker keep himself together in the face of everything Lucifer and his minions will throw at him?
Is he really hero enough to stand toe to toe with the Devil himself and come out alive?
Or will he fall prey to the “man of wealth and taste?”

MY REVIEW for SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL

If you get told to go to hell often enough, you might end up there through no fault of your own. … But in Quincy’s case, it’s all on him.

The end of a two-year arc over lots of novellas, Sympathy for the Devil finishes the Quest for Glory and does a very good job on delivering on the buildup.

The falling action, though, in the epilogue, too predictable and common. Everything else though is pure Quincy Harker style.

Flash: Summoning

Acquired from the internet – tweeted by @MicroSFF (has lots of cool micro stories)

This appeared as a prompt for a Facebook writing group I’m part of – aim is 50 words, I went a little over. The question, using this as an example, is what would you be summoned for?

***

When the familiar tingling happened, I apologized to my client before disappearing, confident my coworkers will cover for me, unlike some others. I was growling when I appeared within the summoning circle surrounded by the demons of Hell. “What is it THIS time!!?”

As one, they took a step back.

“Sorry to be a bother, but, well, some of our clients need help with their taxes.”

I glared. “They’re dead.”

“Only thing certain in life is death and taxes, and death is optional for the immortals.”

“Still dead if they’re yours.”

The horned devils shuffled their feet. “Russia is taxing its supernatural population to help pay for the war.”

“And you expect me to help?” I spun to the one holding the blood squeeze bottle used to create the circle. “Or help them dodge?” I stepped outside the circle, where they misadded six cryptocurrencies sales from whoever’s self employment tax form they used as the basis for the ward.

“Dodge!” It screamed back-peddling. “Dodge. Dodge. Dodge. Please don’t hurt me.”

“I won’t make you do word problems this time.” I promised, picking up the pile of papers beside the United States form they exploited to summon me . Russian tax code wasn’t my strong suit, but I knew a guy.

(words 210; first published May 15, 2022)

Flash: Innuk ‘n Me

I jumped over the edge, disappearing from sight, letting the bullets continue their straight line above my head while the shots echoed in the ravine. Praying my beat-up sneakers didn’t give up the ghost on the way down, I slid down the ravine wall which was more vertical than sloped. Normally I would be guiding the descent using my gloved hand while riding my skateboard, but this wasn’t a concrete skate park and I wasn’t dressed, so I grabbed a broad branch with a smaller branch handle and pressed it against the soil, stone, and vegetation for what little control it could offer me. I directed through a shale outcropping into a corpse of trees which would block me from overhead view, managing to come to a complete stop after the wickedest wallride of my life. The slope still was over 80 degrees, but I managed to be completely out of sight, and the shale actually curved a bit overhead.

“Where the fuck did she go?” a voice asked overhead.

Here we are little man, come get us.

Will you shut the fuck up! I wished I could shout at my inner rider. He can’t hear my thoughts any more than I can hear his. But he could project his voice into my head. Unfortunately for him to hear me, I have to speak out loud and I couldn’t risk that. I had enough trouble controlling my gasps for breath.

“Girl jumped.” The other chaser responded. His voice deeper than the other and had less of an accent. “Demon may have teleported her. Damn demons. Check to see if the phone trace is still up.”

So that how they found me. Well, that shouldn’t be an issue since I dropped that back when they first started chasing me.

“She’s back at the club.”

No she isn’t. She is here. Come get her.

Innuk, man, I am going to fucking lock you up for a year if you don’t shut the hell up. I am not going to let you out to kill these dudes. That just leads to more trouble.

“Fuck, call in our position and see if they can pick us up.”

The dark got darker as the moon set for the night before I heard a car come to take them away. In between Innuk begged, whined, and screamed. He hadn’t tasted blood in weeks. My fingers cramped holding back his claws, my mouth ached from holding back the teeth. I couldn’t stopped the forked tongue from darting out to smell the air and lick my lips. I waited another two hours even though the smell of the other humans had faded, waiting until Venus danced along the horizon, before hissing at him. “Be quiet and let me think.”

Up or down? Down. Innuk couldn’t teleport, and I didn’t know of any other possessors who could, but thank the nine hells that rumor never faded. I let him raise close to the surface. Tougher skin and claws would help the descent. My eyes changed to his, and the night didn’t brighten so much as became our natural environment.

I would need to kill some people to pay for tonight. I would need to get that done before leaving for a new home. Not enough time to do proper research, so the kill will be messy and easy to trace. Innuk will love it. I smile, letting our teeth become sharp.

(words 572; first published 3/28/2022)