R.B. Holbrook's Blog, page 13

Angel and Demon vs. Randomness 3

Angel: “So you want us to write a story based on this scene from Children of Sun?”

Demon: “Not happening.”

Randy: “Why not? Just think, Demon, you could write it the way you want. Show every detail of the torture and-”

Angel: “Not happening.”

Randy: “You two have spent too much time together. You’re starting to sound alike.”

Demon: “What?!”

Angel: “Maybe my influence is rubbing off on you, Demon.”

Demon: “No the hell it ain’t!”

Randy: “Ain’t isn’t a word. So I’m thinking this story can be longer than 500 words. But not too long. And-”

Demon: “I didn’t agree to this. I AIN’T doing it!”

Randy: “The characters should be original. But I’ll allow one or two of the characters from the original book.”

Angel: “Randy, us working together is a really bad idea. I don’t think-”

Randy: “Also, make sure it connects to Children of Sun.”

Demon: “Dammit! You’re not even listening are you?”

Randy: “Okay, here’s the scene for reference. Have fun!”

<><><><><>

Laura mentally swept the motel room, but she gained no insight into what had caused the dead man in the corner of the room to claw out his own eyes and throat. She had never seen anything like it. Nothing about this made sense. House of River had sent agents out to look for the man, who had gone missing after finding out valuable information about the Oracle. There was talk about an assassin being after him, but no one in River would have sent out such a request. They needed him alive. And this man was House of River, so who else would have wanted him dead? Possibly, another House that wanted the information he had.

The dead man was a keeper of records for River, the House of spirituality. He was one of the younger ones that could see into the past, like herself. Historians, as they were called. Because he was on a higher enlightenment level than she, he was privileged with access to many of the vaults of information that most other members of the House were not. So when it was discovered that he had breakthrough information, the Heads of River immediately had requested his presence. That was three weeks ago, and now he lay dead from self-mutilation.

Since his disappearance, rumors had begun to spread, suggesting that the Oracle’s power was waning. If that was the case, then the Structure was about to suffer a huge setback. Looking at the man in the corner, Laura shuddered. How can you claw out your own throat?

“Did you find anything?”

Laura turned to face one of the three Heads of River. Mary Alexander was the most influential of the leaders of the biggest House in the Structure–and the sourest, after this incident. She was a stout woman with a double chin and short black hair that was flipped up. The frightening woman looked like a politician in her dark-gray suit. Her light-brown skin came from her Dominican father, and her narrow, brown eyes looked at everything like it was beneath her, although she was the shortest one in the room.

Laura clasped her hands to keep them from shaking before answering, “Nothing, but I have only swept the surface.”

Armed with firsthand knowledge, this was a woman possessed. Fueled by ambition and dreams of power, Laura saw Mary’s past in great detail, especially her business practices. Not because she wanted to, but because Mary Alexander had no regrets about the things she had done for power, and so she never had suppressed any of her past. She was a daddy’s girl, and her father had taught her everything that had made him successful. She was known for her brutal yet effective headstrong tactics, and not many people dared to cross this woman. She was vying for more power with her seat at the head of River, and she did not keep it a secret. Anyone who believed himself or herself to be an obstacle became fair game.

“Nothing.”

“Pissed” was the only explanation Laura could give for that expression. “I’m trying to dig deeper, but this was a higher-level incident. This will require more time,” Laura said.

“Higher-level? How high?” Mary’s expression grew softer immediately. Her dark-brown eyes unfocused as she began to wonder the very thing Laura was wondering. Who else wanted at this man, and why? The woman rubbed her chubby hands together and then placed them on Laura’s forehead. Mary was using her abilities to enhance Laura’s powers. A surge of energy went through Laura’s body, amplifying her visions. The images in the room from the past went from blank to vivid instantly.

Laura stood before a huge, black figure, an evil image of a being. Blacker than the night sky. A void. Fear clamped onto her, holding her in place. Her vision focused on the eyes. The eyes were death, chaining her, dragging her into its presence, welcoming her into its cold embrace. Her soul burned, and pain seeped from every pore, oozing like her own blood, which was soon to spill–but not just yet. There was still more time. Plenty of time. The being wanted to make sure she felt the pain over and over before her blood spilled. It did not smile, but she felt its wicked pleasure. A thousand needles penetrated the very depths of her. Her voice became raw before she realized she was screaming.

The figure was gone, and the room was back as she remembered. But the images were still there, so fresh. Playing over and over …

“What went on here?” Mary asked, breathless. She looked scared but not as scared as Laura. Not nearly scared enough. Whatever that had been, it was coming for her next. It knew her, saw into her soul, and was prepared to take her. It enjoyed her taste and was going to take more. Laura backed up into a wall and went down on her knees, praying. She chanted words she had not chanted since she was a child. She had seen evil in its purest form.

“Talk to me. What did you see?” Mary insisted.

“It wants me. It’s coming for me.” Laura shook uncontrollably. She looked up into Mary’s face. “You killed me!” She cried hot tears.

“You’re fine. It was just past events. Remember, you can only see past events. Laura,” Mary said, and smacked her. “Get hold of yourself.”

Laura tried to focus, tried to think, but nothing made sense. That figure was so real. It was right in the room with her. She looked around to the man. He had done that to himself. Fear had driven him to kill himself in such a manner. A few seconds longer with that … being … and she might have done the same. Would have done the same.

“What I saw was not human. What he saw was not human. It possessed him, drove him to that.”

“Did he say anything?”

“Rambling, nothing but ramblings,” Laura could barely remember hearing anything. “There was something. Demon … something.”

“Demon’s Wrath?” Mary’s eyes popped wide open.

“I don’t know … maybe. I … What is Demon’s Wrath?” By the silence coming from the woman, it was clear it wasn’t good. From the images, it had to be worse.

Mary called in the cleanup crew. “Clean it up. Everything. We won’t find anything out.” She looked at Laura with apologetic eyes. “I’m sorry, Laura, but you may be right. I think I just got you killed.”

Somehow Laura had already known that the moment the void had looked back at her.

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, children of sun, Oracle's Legacy, R B Holbrook, randomness, writing

Angel and Demon vs. Randomness 2

Randy: “Why not? It’s a great idea! You two writing a story togeth-”

Demon: “You want me to work with Angel!”

Angel: “You want us to work together. It barely worked last time.”

Randy: “I think you two did great!”

Angel: “No-”

Demon: “-the hell we didn’t!”

Randy: “Come on, think about it. RB would love to hear your take on Oracle’s Legacy.”

Angel: “That’s another thing. Oracle’s Legacy is RB’s work. I’d feel like I’m encroaching on her world by writing something based on it.”

Randy: “Hello! Have you never heard of fan fiction? Fans encroach on authors’ worlds all the time!!”

Demon: “Ain’t that the truth. I love the erotic knock-offs.”

Angel: “Of course you would.”

Randy: “So you’ll do it? You’ll write a short story based on that scene from Children of Sun?”

Angel: “Well…”

Demon: “Don’t give in, Angel. Don’t do it!”

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, children of sun, collaboration, cooperation, Oracle's Legacy, R B Holbrook, writing

Angel and Demon vs. Randomness 1

Randy: “Laura mentally swept the motel room, but she gained no insight into what had caused the dead man in the corner of the room to claw out his own eyes and throat.”

Angel: “Oh, dear.”

Demon: “YES!! More. Read MORE!”

Randy: “She had never seen anything like it. Nothing about this made sense.”

Angel: “Please stop reading that part. Read another part or another book entirely.”

Demon: “But RB wrote this and would be soooo disappointed if she heard you talking about her book like that.”

Angel: “Yes… I know… but it’s a violent book. And the language-”

Demon: “Is mild compared to how I would have written it.”

Randy: “The dead man was a keeper of records for River, the House of spirituality. He was one of the younger ones that could see into the past, like herself. Historians, as they were called.”

Demon: “Randy, just skip down to the part where Laura looks into the past and sees-“

Angel: “No, I don’t like that part.”

Randy: “Oooo! OOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

Demon & Angel: “What?!”

Randy: “I know what your next writing prompt is! I want you two to write about the seer that was killed in this scene. RB never mentions anything more about him, so you’re going to add a face and name to who this seer truly is. Both of you!”

Angel: “You want us to cooperate and-“

Demon: “HEEEELL NO!”

Randy: “You can do it!! Come on team!!

Demon: “Hell-“

Angel: “No.”

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, book, children of sun, Oracle's Legacy, R B Holbrook, trilogy, writing

Character Defamation, Probably?

Demon: “I can’t believe you have me looking like a damn goat!”

Rb: “It’s fiction, Demon. I wrote it to make Randy feel better.”

Demon: “Bullshit! That’s defamation of character.”

Randy: “Wow! Goat knew that? Even used it in the right context and everything.”

Angel: “I’m shocked, too! Demon has an intellectual side.”

Demon: “Shut the hell up! Stop calling me goat. See! This is your doing, RB! You’ve got that idiot Randy thinking I’m a goat. Look at me, I’m too beautiful to be some lame farm animal. I ought to sue!!”

Rb: “Then sue me. First, however, realize you have no claim because it’s fiction, your exact likeness is not portrayed, nor is your name. The demon in the story isn’t “you” but a general demon. You can’t blame me for Randy’s own imagination.”

Demon: “But you just said that… Wait…” glances back over the story Sweeter than Sadness.

Angel: “I believe the wheels are turning.”

Demon: “Shut it!”

Randy: “In other words, Rb never said it was you. You just assumed. And you know what they say about assumptions, Ass.”

Demon: “Bite me you son of a-”

Rb: “So I guess all your fancy talk doesn’t mean much if you can’t back it.”

Demon: “I was setup! I shall have my revenge!”

Rb: “Yes, yes. After I finish my book. Back to writing.”

Demon: “Don’t ignore me, dammit!”

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, defamation of character, fiction, laws, literary, R B Holbrook, writing

Words Count

Rb: “The word count in my book exceeds my 150,000 word limit by… oh… 50,000 words.”

Demon: “Holy Hell, who writes that much?!”

Randy: “Isn’t Holy Hell an oxymoron?”

Angel: “Yes.”

Demon: “Bite me.”

Randy: “I hate germs. And fleas. Biting you would just invite both.”

Demon: “What the f-”

Angel: “Focus! Both of you!”

Randy: “Yeah, goat, focus.”

Demon: “That’s the second time you’ve called me a damn goat. Check your damn eyes. Do I look like a goat?“

Rb: “Ya’ll go ahead and fight. I’ve got a book to condense. Scenes to edit. Words to eliminate and-”

Angel: “Why not just keep it as is?”

Rb: “I’ve thought about it, but first I want to make sure all of it is necessary before I decide that. There may be parts I can actually cut out because it’s pointless or too wordy. If all of it is relevant, then I’ll keep it as is. Just another revision process.”

Demon: “Randy Bitch, if you think you got what it takes, bring it on!”

Randy: “I do. At least, in a short story.” Says while holding up Sweeter than Sadness.

Angel: “Uh, oh.”

Demon: “What… WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!”

Rb: “Crap. Maybe I should have told him not to share that short story.”

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, blog, editing, R B Holbrook, reading, revising, short story, word count, writing

It’s Not What You Think

RB: “So you guys think I’m trying too hard. That’s the reason for this intervention?”

Angel: “Yes, Randy and I believe you may be trying to reach for a perfection that doesn’t exist.”

RB: “Mmmm… A couple of months ago, I would have agreed with you. But more than one someones got to me before you did. I’ve already had all kinds of lectures about trying to please everyone and not writing what I feel… Yada, yada, yada… That’s no longer an issue.”

Angel & Randy: “What?!”

Demon: “Then what’s the damn issue?”

Angel: “Demon!?”

Randy: “Oh, it’s back.”

Demon: “Did you just say IT?!!!?”

Randy: “Did I?”

Demon: “You son of a-”

Randy: “I’m the one who should be pissed you demon goat stinky-”

Demon: “Goat! Who’s a goat? What kind of shit stereotype are you blabbering about?”

Angel: “Randy, don’t show him that story.”

Demon: “What story? What the hell is going on?”

Rb: “Demon, I see you couldn’t stay away too long.”

Demon: “Yeah, I’ll find a way to get you back for that prank. Regardless, I can’t leave you too long with Angel, her goody-goody-goodness would rub off on you more than it has.”

Angel: “And here I was about to welcome you back. I changed my mind. So RB what is the problem you’re having.”

RB: “Wordcount.”

Angel, Demon, Randy: “HUH?!?“

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, prank, R B Holbrook, wordcount, writing

It’s Complicated

Randy: “Where is that nefarious Demon? I haven’t seen him in ages.”

Angel: “Oh… well. RB played a little trick on him so he might not return anytime soon.”

Randy: “Really?! RB did it for me didn’t she? I’m loved!”

Angel: “Not just you. Sometimes Demon can get out of hand and has to be… brought back to his senses…or something like that.”

Randy: “You seem out of sorts. Is it because that Demon bastard’s not here?”

Angel: “No. What is bothering me is RB? She’s still not finished with that book. It seems to be giving her more problems than anything she has written.”

Randy: “Yeah, I heard RB mumbling something about if I subtract the kid, what catalyst can I use to…”

Angel: slaps a hand over Randy’s mouth, “There is an unspoken pact, Randy. Anyone involved in helping with the story or even knows the storyline cannot reveal ANYTHING without RB’s permission or until it has been released for publication. Do you understand?”

Randy nods quickly.

Angel: “Good. Because as easily as you have been created, you can be erased.”

Randy: “Scary.”

Angel: “I don’t mean to scare you. But RB likes her privacy.”

Randy: “The mighty RB might be trying too hard. Abraham Lincoln once said:

“When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it’s best to let him run.”

You know sometimes when a person is trying to be perfect, nothing goes right and easy tasks become far more complicated than they should be.”

Angel: “Randy! That’s it. We just need to get RB to relax a bit. Come on.”

Randy: “Sir Random Ness saves the day!”

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Abraham Lincoln, Angel vs. Demon, complicated, R B Holbrook, trying too hard, writing

Sweeter Than Sadness

Rb: “Hey, Randy.”

Randy: “Hey Rb… *sigh* Did you know E=mc^2?”

Rb: “Yeah, heard about that-”

Randy: “Did you also know that red and blue paint mixed together makes purple paint?”

Rb: “You don’t say. Listen-”

Randy: “And that love is a fleeting emotion that’s followed by the devastating shatter of the fragile ego and delicate heart?”

Rb: “Right… That’s what I want to talk to you about actually.”

Randy: “Me? Why would anyone want to talk to me?”

Rb: “There is something I want to show you… Something I believe will make you feel better. Read it.”

Randy: *sigh* “Ok, but nothing will ever make this pain go away…”

~~~**~~~

Randy didn’t believe his life would even come to this. Angel and he grew up together, both good kid to their parents and obedient minds at school. She should be with him even now. The two weren’t supposed to be separated. The idea of it felt as wrong as actually being apart from her.

Strolling around the corner, he pressed his back to the exterior brick of the building, then kissed the ring on his finger. They studied together in high school, always in the library, stealing glances at each other. Then one day they were stealing kisses from one another. After graduation, they planned to marry upon entering college. Both families anticipated and welcomed the engagement. Angel was his angel. His heart.

Pounding foot falls brought his attention to focus. When the first sharp tip of a horn appeared at the corner of Randy’s eye, magic pooled into his fist. He turned and struck out, magic shooting the unsuspecting malevolence off its hairy feet.

What possessed him wasn’t the magic he and Angel were born with. No, it was the magic Angel had bestowed upon him while dying. “I’m sorry… Randy, I love you… I’m sorry this… Please live… fight… And be happy.”

“Angel!” He begged, pleaded for her to stay with him.

“Live… hunt…”

The tears abandoned him long ago. Something sweeter than sadness filled him. Magic pumped a fever into his veins awakening the hunger of justice. Justice that Angel’s death demanded.

Neither college nor family had meaning. Every breath, every bead of sweat, and every moment damned in an existence without her was only about the hunt. The kill.

Crouched patiently, Randy waited over the hairy black horned brute lying splayed in the street… cattle primed for the slaughter. When the demon finally stirred, lifting his head in surprise, Randy said, “Good evening you goat looking son of a bitch. How was your nap?”

“How! How did you catch me?” The demon’s voice was a savage growl as he tried to get up.

Randy’s hand pushed downward toward the demon’s chest, so close, but not touching. Magic pressed hell’s spawn into asphalt keeping him immobile. “Wasn’t hard to find you. Demons are pretty eager to give up their secrets when they’re presented with a quick death after a dose of torture. No matter how much hell a demon endures, they still get antsy at the sight of fire.”

A low chuckle came from the creature. “Watch it kid? You tip too far into evil, you’ll curse yourself.”

“Doesn’t matter.” With a slow intake of breath, the image of Angel dying flashed before him. “I’m already cursed.”

“I can bring her back you know.”

Randy nodded. “I know.”

“Then let’s make a deal.” Sharp brown and yellow teeth appeared through his sick grin.

Magic grabbed the demon’s throat, squeezing. “I’m sorry, I’ve already made a deal with Angel: to hunt the horde of you down and end you. For her, I would do anything. She may be dead, but she lives here,” he pointed to his head, “And here.” His hand covered his chest. “And do you know how many demons have tried to make a deal with me? That shit’s old.” Randy squeezed harder.

“Wait, no, I…”

“No begging. That’s pathetic,” Randy said, before the force of his magic ended the beast with a snap. Flames erupted, engulfing the body turning it into ash. Randy stepped back and turned away, before saying, “Rest in peace, Angel.”

~~~**~~~

Randy: “I… don’t understand?”

Rb: “Do you know why I write? To explore all the possibilities that could play out in this world or any world: good, bad, magic, odd, crazy, or impossible. There are so many possibilities available through writing that reality just doesn’t provide. The heartache we live, doesn’t have to be the same in a story. Yeah it hurts to be rejected by Angel and humiliated by Demon, ending up looking like a crying wimp. But in a story, in your imagination, you can become a god, a force of nature no one can touch… Now do you get it?”

Randy: “Yeah. And this is for me?” He grins down at the paper.

Rb: “Sure.”

Randy: “There is only one problem with your story.”

Rb: “Let me guess, you didn’t get the girl?”

Randy: “Exactly!”

Rb: “Then by all means rewrite it and spin it your way. Go get the girl, Randy. Go get the girl.”

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, demonslayer, fantasy, magic, R B Holbrook, revenge, short story, writing

The Demon-Slayer

Angel: “Do you think you can handle this, Rb? I mean you can be a little cold and-”

Rb: “I’ve got this, Angel.”

Angel: “Yes, well… remember Randy just had his heart broken and… even I couldn’t make him feel better.”

Rb: “Maybe because you are one source of his heartache?”

Angel: “True, but I never meant for this to happen.”

Rb: “Of course not. That was the other source: Demon having his sick fun. He’s not the only one who can have fun though… I remember you told me that you used to be a demon-slayer.”

Angel: “To be more correct, I hunted down demons and eliminated their power. I didn’t kill the actual demon.”

Rb: “Do you still do it?”

Angel: “No, but I keep the gear on hand just in case I am called into duty.”

Rb: “Really? Show me!!”

Angel: “Very well, but just so you know, I won’t attack Demon unless I have been given instructions by my superiors to do so.” She says then transforms into glowing armour, holdong dual swords.

Rb: “Nice! Hold that pose. DEMON! Come here!!”

Angel: “You’re not…”

Demon: “What the hell do you-” Steps into the room, “Holy shit!” and disappears.

Rb: “HAHAHAHAHA!”

Angel: transforming back, “You’re very sneaky.”

Rb: “Hahahahaha! That was great! Oh, I wish I’d taken a picture. HAHA! Did you see the look on his face when he thought you were in demon-slayer mode? Brilliant!”

Angel: “Well… it was a little fun. I bet we won’t see him for a couple of days.”

Rb: “At least. Now to speak with Randy.”

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, fiction, R B Holbrook, sneaky, writing

In the Dark

Rb: “So let me get this right, Angel. Randy has the hots for you?” *smirk*

Angel: “This isn’t funny.”

Rb: “And he asked Demon of all people to help him to pop the question? hehe.”

Angel: “Rb!”

Rb: “Sorry, Angel, I’m not laughing at you. That idiot Random Ness gets what he deserves for even trusting Demon. First, he’s a demon. Second, he hates you and Randy. Third… this is Demon we’re talking about, right?”

Angel: “Randy is a bit… naïve… but now he’s so depressed he doesn’t even give us decent writing prompts. He just keeps giving the same writing prompt over and over. What should I do?”

Rb: “What’s the writing prompt?”

Angel: “The pain of a broken heart.”

Rb: “Did one of you use it?”

Angel: “I did. Demon was too busy laughing.”

Rb: “Figures. Let me see what you wrote…”

—%%%—

The dark is where I belong. Shut into a room and away from the rest of the world so not to infect them with this painful illness. This festering pain creeps in my chest as I imagine your smile. It’s a torture that twists and sours my stomach keeping any appetite at bay.

The memories of your touch, your smell… over and over in my head as I lay here, wishing things could have been different. What did I do wrong? What should I have changed? Why wasn’t I good enough? I loved you and yet…

Throbbing against my temples brings tears to my eyes. I belong here in the dark, where the light doesn’t hurt, doesn’t make it worse. The light shows what I wish to keep hidden. The bitter anger and consuming sadness, I cannot deny they exist and yet in the light they would be a beacon to everyone about my plight.

I will not be a banner for the broken-hearted.

You may have left me, broken and cringing, but I will not share this sickness. I will not drag another into my abyss.

In the dark, I’ll remain curled and crying until the agony eases and I can pretend the pain doesn’t exist. Right here I’ll pray that this disease doesn’t spread to another soul, destroying their hope of love.

—%%%—

Rb: “I like it.”

Angel: “Thank you. So what do we do about Randy?”

Rb: “Let me handle this.”

RbH

Filed under: Angel vs. Demon Blog Tagged: Angel vs. Demon, broken-heart, flash fiction, heart break, R B Holbrook, short story, writing