Tag: SciFi (superpowers)

Flash: Oopsie

Erin Penn

Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash


Oopsie.

Danielle studied the most recent disaster. Maybe her dad should have left her at the school, but when a random earthquake happened during her testing, he pulled her out quick as a wink and hugged her tight.

Random earthquake … right.

She knew her test results. Everyone who knew her knew that the paper slip would turn pink on her sixteenth birthday as soon as her blood dropped on it. They should have taken her out much sooner.

Well, at least the truck driver wouldn’t be picking up people to rape anymore.

She started scrambling down the landslide to get to the semi and her backpack, the body behind her little better than a smear.

*** and ick. Let’s try that again, but with action and dialog.

Version 2

“Hey, why are we stopping?” Danielle asked the trucker who picked her up at the Washington-Oregon border as he pulled over at a wide spot in the deserted two-lane highway through deep woods.

The man, who had introduced himself as Colin and up till now acted like a kindly uncle, sneered. “Toll time.”

Danielle’s adrenaline spiked. “What do you mean?” she asked calmly, ignoring the rumbling in her ears.

“Oh, you know.” Colin pivoted in his seat once the rig came to a complete stop and he thumbed off the engine. “I see what’s under that pretty blue jacket and if it is nice enough, you show me more.”

Scooting away from him on the pleather seat, Danielle pulled her backpack up to put between him and her. “Um, how about no?”

“How about yes.” The driver leaned over, snatching and shoving the backpack into the back of the cab. “It ain’t no big thing, just the toll of the road. Get used to it sweetheart, if you want to get to the southern border.”

Danielle twisted her body to face the door, grabbing the handle and pulling frantically at it as he laughed and, outside the vehicle, thunder rolled in the hills. No, no no. No!

“Come on, little changeling. It’s not like you are human anymore.” His meaty hands grabbed at her jacket as she twisted and fought. His adult strength won out, and he pulled her outside the cab onto the asphalt after he unlocked the doors, throwing her down on her butt, her hands scraped against the gravel on the side of the road. “Stay down and don’t run. Now get out of that jacket.”

“You think I’m a changeling.” Danielle panted, trembling. “Aren’t you scared?”

The man snorted. “Of a sixteen-year-old foundling? If you were anything, they would have hunted you down the instant your powers emerged.” Unwinding his belt from his pants, he wrapped it around one hand. “All you kids made a dash for the border. They just let you get so far then scoop you up. You may as well enjoy this.” Colin said, kicking off his pants. “No need to die a virgin, am I right?”

He snapped his belt at her, startling her, destroying the last of her control and the trembles roared out like they had at the school when they came at her with the needle.

Dad wasn’t here to pick her out of the rubble, but this time there was no roof to cave in, only a road.

Danielle walked to the edge of the landslide, stepping over the bloody streak where she had pushed the trucker away from her, into his semi, and over the edge.

Her bag was down there, inside the cab, with all her money, all her dad’s money, and the phone numbers she never memorized but dad wouldn’t let her take her phone because he said they could trace it. The trucker likely had food in his living space.

Sighing, Danielle started leveraging herself down the slabs of asphalt. If she wasn’t being hunted before, she would be hunted now. Three dead so far because of her.

(words – first version 117, second version 525, first published 4/25/2023 – from a picture prompt for a Facebook writing group. Aim is about 50 words)

By a Landslide Series
Sixteen years (10/11/2020)
Oopsie (11/8/2020)

Book Review: Darkness (Series)

Erin Penn

Amazon Cover

Into the Darkness: Darkness Book One by Nora Ash
Hidden in Darkness: Darkness Book Two by Nora Ash
Shades of Darkness: Darkness Book Three by Nora Ash
Fires in the Darkness: Darkness Book Four by Nora Ash

SERIES REVIEW

I read the series as an omnibus of the four hard erotica superpower novellas which combined for a reasonably price long novel written by the amazing Nora Ash. The writing is tight, with descriptive unique sex scenes, strong characters, plus the compelling story arc missing from most eroticas.

The sex arc showing the growth from two enemies in lust with the same woman to a true menage is potent. The superpower story going from a simple robbery to the final battle with the big bad hits many, many of the clique high points one needs in a superpower story – kidnapping, betrayal, intrepid reporters, and corrupt politicians. A balance between character building, sex, and plot is stuck with marvelous precision by the author.

I don’t really like the males of the menage, though The Shade wiggles his way into my heart by the fourth book. And Ms. Ash’s preference for dominating sex does show through.

I have reviewed the books separately. All of them rate high with none of the typical middle sag in a story. Since my original review, the omnibus has been retired and Ms. Ash has re-covered the series with brilliant art downplaying the superhero and up-playing the dominating sex. 

 

Amazon Cover

Into the Darkness: Darkness Book One by Nora Ash

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

There are no such things as heroes.

I went out for coffee. I came back with a nemesis.

The city’s favorite hero, Lightning, saved me from getting gunned down, and I thought my luck was finally changing. Not only was I not dead; I also managed to snag an exclusive interview with the masked supe. Only, instead of job stability and internet fame, I earned the attention of every dangerous criminal in the city. The only thing that’ll save my life now is allowing Lightning to claim me as his pet. To offer my body in the hopes that he’ll protect me.

But the city has it wrong. He’s not one of the good guys. And submitting to his claim will bring another darkness from the shadows. A darkness whose only goal is to take anything his archenemy possesses.

Including me.

Book 1 in Nora Ash’s dark Paranormal Romance ménage, Darkness. Each installment is novella length and ends in a cliffhanger.

MY REVIEW

First of four books in a hard erotica series. Total pages 427 – total price $9. The first book is free (at the time of the review) which allows you to see if you like the story and writing style before committing to any cost. The first book includes two harsh, hot sex scenes.

A well-written superpower hard erotica story – yep, all those adjectives apply. The opening scene is the heroine witnessing a robbery being stopped by a super “hero”. The scenes of superpowers in action are exactly what I expect from any superpower story. The scenes with the hard erotica are exactly what I expect from such stories down to the ropey streams. The well-defined characters and levels to the plot are what I expect from a well-written story set in urban contemporary times. 

Finding all three at once! Miraculous. 

Why didn’t I give it a five-star for Goodreads? Well, I just didn’t like the men of the menage. Ms. Ash does say they are “bad boys” – and they are; one is a jerk and the other a killer.

But at the same time they, in their own ways, try to be good. The jerk has mind control and uses it on the woman to show how dangerous his world is, even going as far as using it to “mark” her. But not taking so far as to take her against her will. The killer likely has the same ability, but uses only force of will to bend the woman into submission. Again, like his opposite in her affections, he does not take her against her will. He waits until she screams for him and makes every effort to have her enjoy every second of his claiming.

Both men want to dominate her and have her obey their wishes. Good luck with that fellows, Kat may be only human but she has a mind of her own.

Trigger warning – intense near gang-rape before super-save.

 

Amazon Cover

Hidden in Darkness: Darkness Book Two by Nora Ash

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

A human pet to dominate and control.
To breed.
That’s what I am to them.
They don’t care what I want—they only care who wins the claim to call me his.
But with corruption running deep, and my city on the brink of destruction, I need to find a way to save it. If the two supes fighting for dominance over my body refuse to do it… I guess I have to.

Book 2 in Nora Ash’s dark Paranormal Romance menage, Darkness. Each installment is novella length and ends in a cliffhanger.

MY REVIEW

Starting to really love The Shade. Really going to smack Lightning. Both boys need a serious attitude adjustment, and I think Kat is going to give it to them if they continue to ply their own private war in her bedroom. Either that, or she is going to die of ecstasy. 

The second of the Darkness series continues the promise of the first with solid superpower plot advancement as Kat continues her investigations, with breathtaking erotica as Lightning finally claims what is his, and with stunning character development as The Shade registers his objection in a way which shows how powerful he is beyond simple superpowers (a man willing to give control while still dominating – shiver producing!). An excellent mix of superpower and hard erotica.

 

Amazon Cover

Shades of Darkness: Darkness Book Three by Nora Ash

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

Pain. Violation. Degradation.
That’s what getting involved with two magic-welding rivals has brought me. And the longer I stay with them, the deeper I’m sucked into the infested web of corruption running through every layer of my city.
I should try to escape—find a way out and away. No human can survive the demands of two such powerful men using her body as their battleground.
But they are the only key I have to saving my city from the powers threatening to lay it to ruin.

And when the rest of the supe community learns of my existence, my two protectors have to decide what’s more important: their age-old strife… or my life.

Book 3 in Nora Ash’s dark Paranormal Romance menage, Darkness. Each installment is novella length and ends in a cliffhanger.

MY REVIEW

Girlfriend why did you have to go and get yourself kidnapped? Such a clique superpower thing to do, especially after going off into the warehouse district in the first book and getting caught snooping during a ball in the second book.

At least I really believe all the cliques actually apply. That warehouse part, while stunningly stupid on your part Kat, really, really felt … just felt. Made me forget I was reading an erotica.

This book too. Even during the kidnapping, in some ways, you were rescuing yourself. Even in the world of the big bad supers, you have your own agency. Good going.

Now get those men into your bed and have some MFM fun!

 

Amazon Cover

Fires in the Darkness: Darkness Book Four by Nora Ash

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

I am out of time.
There is no more waiting, no more hiding in the shadows. No more pretending I don’t love the two men who have claimed me as theirs.
But darkness has arrived.
And if we don’t fight it… If it wins….
I will lose my soul.

MY REVIEW

The exciting conclusion to the Darkness series completes the wonderful superhero plot with the final big bad revealed, further character development of the male leads into (finally) beings you can like, and strong MFM sex scenes driving the character development while satisfying the erotica urges.

The difference between p*rn and erotica and romance – p*rn you can remove the stuff outside the sex and nothing really changes, romance you can remove the sex scenes and nothing changes, but with erotica the mix of sex and pushing forward the plot means you must have both for the story to make sense.

Fires in the Darkness delivers on the MFM menage erotica promise.

A little disappointed with where the superpowers come from, but at least Ms. Ash does provide a backstory. On the other hand, I was only expecting a Happy-for-Now ending so I guess everything balances.

Flash: Too Close

Erin Penn

Photo by Carlos Arthur M.R on Unsplash

Spitting out sand and dirt, Megan rolled over as she regained consciousness, into a thorny something which tore into her business coat, but the tweed fabric prevented the plant from scratching her. Where was she? The sun was beating down on her like she was at work. It was hot, fucking brutally hot, way beyond being outside in Richmond in July. The sand and dirt burned to touch. She had been … what had she been doing??

A shadow crossed her, bringing relief from the scorching sun. Megan looked up.

The flyer.

She swallowed hard.

(words 95; first published July 10, 2022 – from a picture prompt for a Facebook writing group. Aim is about 50 words)

Getting Closer Series
Getting Closer (9/27/2020)
Too Close (10/4/2020)

Flash: Getting Closer

Erin Penn

1156430 © Michael Iwasaki | Dreamstime.com

Twenty-four floors up and you’d think the Civic Assistant Supervision offices should always be brightly lit during the daylight hours in their glass building, but the office building across the street stood even taller and gave welcome relief from the afternoon sun, allowing the air conditioner time to catch up. The shadow had crept away to the north side about an hour ago, leaving Megan sweating again under the seven o’clock summer sun hitting her desk. Her most recent promotion had moved her closer to the window, making her debate the benefits of further promotions on days like today.

Days where a jail break left one of their subcontractor-employee guards dead, six injured, and twelve fugitives outside their containment. With the help of satellites, software recognition, and local law enforcement, Megan lived up to her name Bloodhound and nine were back in custody and two more about to be recaptured. Leaving only one left.

The dangerous one.

The one who hadn’t responded to the nano-neutralizers Dr. Masters had created for the powered criminals.

She adjusted her screen yet again away from the glare. Flyers usually couldn’t help flying, and so many satellites pay attention to the air. Weather, missile observation, and aviation monitoring only scrapped the top lichen off human’s fascination with monitoring the sky. Megan wiped her forehead, ignoring the quiet around her. Only her supervisor remained. All other services had passed down the line to their California branch.

Her powers were minuscule compared to most, too narrow an application, but perfect for finding people. She nudged the mouse to click a different satellite download. Her gut said she was getting closer to her prey.

Her area desk darkened as a cloud crossed the sun, bringing welcome relief from the heat, except the edge of the shadow didn’t carry the soft diffusion of a cloud. The dark shadow was too solid.

Looking up from the screen to the outside, Megan saw a very different object between her building and the sun.

(words 332; first published May 30, 2022 – from a picture prompt for a Facebook writing group. Aim is about 50 words)

Getting Closer Series
Getting Closer (9/27/2020)
Too Close (10/4/2020)

Flash: Gynock (Part 4)

Erin Penn

For the last part of Gynock’s story, includes the breakdown of how the game mechanics actual would work in the game sessions.

The Pandora’s Box campaign worked really well, and I was sorry to see it end. I’ve often thought of maybe taking the conceit of the story (the spirits of the gods released upon the word) and reworking it into a publishable form.

Part four is the deescalation of action … for now. Destinee is not one to share her husband for every long.

Debating a moment, but deciding that she wanted to investigate her target and until then Moonblossom was safe, Gynock returned to his quarters and got his handheld and sunglasses. Until Destinee calmed down, he feared for the goddess’s life.

After over an hour of discovering more of the myths behind the woman he loved, which was not the easiest task set before him. Destinee had worked as the secretary and business manager for the dojo and was much more technically savvy than him. The search was slow going until he heard the brunette “Aha!”

Gynock came around the desk to stand behind her to see what she had discovered. For a moment the smell of his leathers and her sweat distracted him, but he pushed it back with annoyance. His mind should be set on higher things then the adolescent fantasy that had held him enthralled for so long. He looked at the display, not seeing what had caught her attention even when she pointed them out with her fingers. “What?” he finally asked.

“Balhr, Bright Beauty” she read patiently from the screen. “All that looked upon him fell in love with him and promised not to hurt him. Only little mistletoe, which lived in the shadows, and never saw him, didn’t make the oath.” She leaned back in the chair and looked up at him. “You, my dear husband, are a creature of shadows. When you are in the light, the spell binds you, but darkness returns to your true nature.”

Confounded by the implication that something other than his real emotions controlled him at the moment, and that when they had been clawing each other earlier he had been in his right mind, his shook his head doubtfully.

She stood up and faced him directly, leaning against the desk because of the small amount of space between them. “No really, you care for me because you care me, not because I manipulated you into it.” She laid her hand on his cheek.

Still shaking his head in disbelief, he said. “So if I just call the shadows…” and he did so, action and thought being nearly the same thing to him, instantly proving her theory. “Oh god.” He kissed his true love gently on the forehead and leaned into her strength. “What are we going to do?”

“I noticed you didn’t try to step away just now when earlier you couldn’t touch me.” She commented, making eye contact with him despite the total absence of light.

“So what’s the idea now, was it sex or time in the shadows breaking the spell?”

“Maybe both, could be fun trying to figure out.” She flirted.

It was good that the omnipresent cameras couldn’t record activity in his shadows; otherwise the territorial Alexander would have had a few words about how they used his office.

***     

Taking a break to allow his powers to recharge, since he couldn’t maintain the darkness at all times, they walked back to their quarters. Returned to the light mode of thoughts, he couldn’t quite believe their discoveries even while he enjoyed the back view of the woman in front of him. There was no love in his heart for her, but she still was the sexiest thing he knew. The goddess was something to be adored and protected. This demon was dangerous and stimulating. He loved the goddess just a little more, because she needed him, but the mortal was temptation walking because she should be forbidden.

Something struck him and he asked, “Are you certain you can spend so much time in the shadows?”

Looking over her shoulder, she stopped a moment and grabbed his hand. After tapping it twice, she drew him into a side corridor that used to lead to LuEllen’s rooms. A couple of the walls had been clawed by the Sphinx as she learned about her talons before she had moved permanently in with the Redwoods. Destinee stopped in front of one such area and did the silent code for clean.

Expanding on his earlier question, he stated. “I killed at least a dozen people with shadows earlier today and drove others insane. At least that is what they told me. Normals like you.” Even now he felt no remorse; he would do anything to protect his goddess.

He watched the thoughts tumble through her head. To most people, her face was a blank mask but he always watched her expressive eyes. “So far I am good.” She answered carefully.

“Even the others, the ringwearers, don’t like it. They say it feels cold, evil … and they hear things.”

She nodded. “I hear things too, people I’ve killed, but I know I beat them, and other things. … I think most people haven’t faced their darker side and it scares them. The good are scared it will conquer them and evil know it will consume them someday … I’ve faced all that long ago.” She glanced around before continuing. “Besides, it’s your noir and when I am in it I feel …. safe. Truly, I am okay with it.”

***

The next morning, the unit meeting had both of them sipping coffee so black that it was melting the plastic straws. He seemed to have a handle on his emotions; he was totally and deeply in love with two women and wanted to protect them both. Then the prisoner videos started and the need to worship and protect Moonblossom surged. He squirmed in his seat fighting the need to run to her aid; there was no way he would be successful if he tried right now. Destinee watched him from where she was taking notes and he realized any action he took would result in Moonblossom’s death.

Suddenly the need for action passed as he realized that if Destinee killed the goddess’s body, then the energy would transfer to his wife. His lack of movement seemed to upset her more, and soon thereafter she dragged him to the sparring room.

A whispered warning, acknowledging that the spell had rule of him, fell upon his ears as she had him in a momentary hold. “If you dare have anything further to do with that Thing, I will destroy it.”

Rolling away, enjoying the fact that now he could beat her instead of the other way around, he responded with great satisfaction, “If you kill her, she will take you over.” Either way he would win; if she did nothing, Moonblossom would remain safe; otherwise both of his loves would be in the same body.

She smiled as she shook her head and feinted on his weaker side before taking advantage of having a lower center of gravity. As he fell and tried to regain his breath, he heard her say “I didn’t say kill, I said destroy.” For a moment he froze as he grasped the difference. “I will find a way, somehow.”

Realizing that his wife has never made an idle threat in her life, he put thoughts of rescue to the back of his mind. Better that the goddess be alive and captured then dead and destroyed. His wife was very possessive.

***

Game Effects discovered over the next few days:

  • The longer Gynock is separated from his wife (like on trips), and the more exposed to daylight the less strong his natural feelings for her. His feelings for Adonis do not change. The obsessive love the spell (for lack of a better word) commands, requires a halo effect destruction on all other loves including self. Strangely, his emotions towards his daughter do not change. His emotions will go from love, to sexual attraction, to toleration, to active hatred over time (restoration works in reverse). It takes about a week (or a single hour if exposed to Adonis directly) to reach hatred. This includes a near suicidal need to keep Adonis safe; “it matters not what happens to this wretched body so long as she lives on.”
  • Restoration time is required to return the emotions of his wife to normal. That is time in the shadows with her. The longer the time away, the more “sessions” in the shadows are needed to restore most of his mind to normal. (Again, the obsession never goes away while he is in the light.)
  • Only when either his daughter or wife is in his shadows WITH him, is the spell rendered inert. If he creates a shadow around them, but does not enter, the obsession remains. If they are outside the shadow and he within, the obsession remains at full strength. The minute either enters the cloud with him, the obsession disappears from his thoughts. They are the lodestones to his true nature.
  • His shadows seem to have no detrimental effect on his family. They seem to be able to see as good as him in the black, they don’t get cold (in fact they say it is a comforting warmth), and can hear in and out of the cloud just fine, furthermore, the tentacles cannot be made to harm them (ever since his wife said the safe word, they “know” how hard they can squeeze her without hurting her). In addition, obfuscate abilities seem to have no effect on them. He can sneak up on them using normal skills, but the “superpowers” do not make any difference on how successful he is.
  • He really is faster and stronger than his wife and can beat her in hand-to-hand (most of the time).
  • The ring makes no comment on the obsession and seems to have quieted down now that it is located in Gynock’s palm.

(words 1,193; first published 8/9/2020)