M.S. Watson's Blog, page 15

52 Week Short Story Writing Challenge - #15

Background:There really isn’t much to say about this short story and itsbackground; I was just home ill with the flu, listening to AvalancheCity’s album ‘Our New Life Above the Ground’.
ShortStory #15 – When Karma Calls
Pleatsof rose pink silk billowed like sails around her long, thin legs; adelicate matching corset was fitted around her ribcage, sleeves toher wrists. Her seamstresses had insisted on providing a beautifulwhite dress for her wedding yet she had declined them and chose therose pink. It was her final defiance before her marriage, beforeMaster Henry Vasdez gained possession of her. Orana’s father stoodat the closed entrance, wearing his best black dress suit; his clearblue eyes were bright, greying brown hair combed perfectly.Heextended his arm to Orana and she lifted her own reluctantly;something flashed in his gaze, disappointment in her colour choice.Rose pink had been Kinden’s favourite colour on her; he’d alsobeen the one to buy her the beautiful dress she was to be wed in.Wearing the dress so boldly was a statement as to who her heartreally belonged to, and everyone in the chapel knew it.Orana’sfather stepped closer, reaching up to arrange the delicate goldenwaves of her hair, the servants fixing the veil over her head. Itfell over her face, obscuring it from plain view. Inside the voiceshushed as the organ began playing the wedding march and Orana was allbut dragged through the doors. Eager faces blurred as they all turnedto face her but only one face was in her focus, the one of hersoon-to-be husband’s.Hiseyes were the deep colour of a lake in storm, a cruel smile stretchedacross his too-handsome face. Orana wanted to backpedal, to escape,but there was nowhere to go. The chapel grew darker with every stepbut she still managed to reach the alter. Henry looked like the devilin disguise as the celebration drew onward, hands blistering hotagainst hers as he forced her to hold his fingers.Whenthe priest turned to Orana, every eye in the chapel fell on her. “Doyou, Miss Orana Deredge take Master Henry Vasdez to be your husband?”Orana’s breathing was silent in comparison with the chorus of theothers in the room. Her father wiped sweat from his brow with theback of a sweaty hand; Henry looked like he was about to charge herdown like a bull with crimson in its sights. She tore her hands awayfrom Henry, looking down at where the skin had turned pink where he’dgripped her.Withan apologetic glance at her father she turned and ran from thechapel, tearing through the doors before the servants could stop her.She heard Henry’s enraged voice booming from the building and hisfootfalls on the tiles but she was already down the stairs and racingtoward one of the guest’s horses. Still Henry was faster, snatchingher by the waist before she could mount the animal.He wasstrong but he had left the sword at his waist clear, easily taken.She leaned toward him limply until her hand wrapped around the hiltand she drew it from its sheath. It glinted and shone in the light asshe stepped back three paces, raising the blade until its tip restedbelow his throat. It rested in the hollow of his collarbone, drawinga single drop of blood that ran down the blade’s sharp edge.“Yieldand I shall leave you alive,” she said. The chapel guests wereexiting the building, gasping at the scene they found. Orana ignoredthem, narrowing her eyes at the demon before her.“Iwill never yield,” he said, spitting at her feet. “I need claimof my prize. You have the boldness to wed in the dress of an illicitlover’s, wear his favourite colour because it flatters you and Ihave tolerated it. Now I will be paid for my tolerance with theeternal binding of our souls in the house of God. Come now, yield.”Orana smiled too-sweetly and pulled back the sword, ready to be ridof him but someone called her name.Fromthe edge of the meadow Orana saw the tall, muscular outline of hertrue beloved. His black hair fell in his fiery yellow-orange eyes andhe raised a crossbow. She ran from Henry, the weapon firing in thesame instant. As Henry collapsed with the arrow protruding from hisback Orana mounted the horse and galloped over to Kinden, onlystopping long enough for him to mount and take the reins.Theyrode for hours, over plains and fields as they escaped the bittergathering at the chapel. Eventually they stopped at the edge of afield of corn, leaving the white filly to drink from a well beside awindmill. While Kinden ensured the windmill was safe to remain in forthe night, Orana stood at the edge of the cornfield holding herselftight. All she could think of was Henry’s face as he fell, hisblood already pooling on the dusty ground.Kindenreturned, ensuring that the windmill was empty and ready for theevening. The sunset had already fallen, engulfed by the evening. Hegathered wood and began a fire as the cold bit them both; Orana knewthere would be frost by morning. She sat shivering, leaning againstthe outer wall of the windmill as she watched Kinden light the fire.When it was glowing brightly and heating her frozen body he moved toher side, pulling her into his warm embrace.Heknew that there was something wrong by the faraway expression shewore; he placed a gentle finger below her chin and tipped her headback.“Tellme what is bothering you,” he murmured quietly. She sighed; shenever could hold together a strong wall whenever she was around him.She laced her fingers through his and realized exactly how much shehad missed him the past few weeks.“Whydid you come?” she whispered. Kinden kissed the crown of her headgently; nearby the horse whinnied quietly and went back to chewing onsome hay.“Iwould sooner die than see you marry a demon like him,” he said,meaning to be gentle but his voice came out fierce. He looked atOrana apologetically but she gently kissed him instead.Sometimeskarma was busy so you have to take the reins instead.

Oh dear, I'm horrible at continuous updates O.o

First, I will have to say a massive 'I'M SORRY!' because it has been too long since I wrote my entries. If I'm correct, I am behind by eight weeks. Anyway, please don't be mad with me. I sat down last week and wrote four entries, I just didn't have a USB to copy them off my Nan's laptop but I will as of tomorrow. So expect short stories galore and I will try not to fall behind again. My gosh, I feel awful when I get behind. O.o

I'm a Goodreads author now!

I never really write much for this blog aside from short stories but I'm happy to say I am a Goodreads author now! http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5758425.MS_Watson
And I'm going to be completing two book reviews for my reviews blog in the next week or so:

'Switched' by Amanda Hocking, the new inspiration for my hopeful career in writing.'Fallen in Love' by Lauren Kate, a novel I have almost completed reading.So until later, bon voyage!MS Watson

Read my new full novel for free, exclusive to Wattpad! XD

So since I sent my manuscript to Penguin I'm hoping to spread the love with uploading my novel to Wattpad and allowing people to read for free. :) And I'm working on writing a new series to send to Solstice Publishing, see if they'd like to publish me, and the new trailer for Glass Bones since the first one corrupted on my laptop and can only be viewed in Movie Maker. So head on over using the link (http://www.wattpad.com/3504746-glass-bones) and let me know what you think!

♥M.S. Watson

The happiest rejection letter on earth... and more! XD

So today I log onto my emails in a whim to see if I have anything interesting and among the inbox emails is a reply to my manuscript submission to Penguin. I open it, expecting nothing of interest but it was sent from the managing editor from Penguin stating although they cannot offer me a publishing contract not to stop writing and to keep sending to other publishers. :) So that's why it's the happiest rejection letter on earth, and it's the only rejection letter I have.

PLUS I have been waiting forever to get Fallen In Love by Lauren Kate and Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare and I finally got them today. My room is slowly turning into a library but it's a little hobby of mine.

52 Week Short Story Writing Challenge - #14

Background:So I'm bored right now, waiting for 2 o'clock to come so I can goto work but what better time than this to do my 14th shortstory. All I've got running through my head right now is 'angel,angel, angel' since I've been reading a lot of angel stories so Imay as well get it out of my mind and into readable words. I reallydon't know what I'm going to write – since I write the storybackgrounds mostly before I start the stories – so be kind. :)
ShortStory #14 – All Around
Mirandastiffened, looking down at the boyfriend who had cheated yet beggedfor a second chance, a small blue box open with a silverdiamond-embedded ring inside. He had his other hand around hers,green eyes sparkling as she paused in the door of her car. They werein the employee parking lot at his multi-million dollar campaigningbusiness, the knees of his expensive black suit dusty as he knelt."Please,"he pleaded. Miranda glanced away from Derek, seeing something shiningin her peripheral vision. Yet when she looked, there wasn't anyonearound; the parking lot was all but abandoned as people headed homefor the evening. She looked down at Derek again and shook her head,pulling her hand from his grasp."No,"she said. "I cannot marry someone like you. I need someone who Ican rely on, who won't cheat on me." Derek kept pleading butMiranda was already inside the expensive BMW, flicking the centrallocking and listening to the faint rev as the engine started. Shereversed, speeding away as Derek rose to his feet and startedflinging crude words at her retreating tail lights.Thetyres spun as Miranda sped out of the parking lot and onto the road,merging with the thickness of traffic congestion. She sighed andswitched on the radio, the BMW crawling forward; she consideredparking it on the side of the road and walking home when a vehicleplunged into the traffic behind her. It was massive, built like apickup but the way it ploughed was more like a tank.Itcrawled closer, plastic and metal screeching as vehicles were tossedcarelessly aside. Miranda watched as it got closer, her handsfrantically trying to free her from the seatbelt. It stuck fast,refusing to give as she shoved at it. She whimpered with fear, theheadlights of the pickup glaring at her through the rear visionmirror. The last remaining vehicles were pushed aside, the pickupbearing down on the BMW and Miranda glimpsed Derek in the driver'sseat.TheBMW shuddered as the pickup slammed into it, crushing its frameworkand spraying smashed glass everywhere. Miranda cried out, shieldingher head with her arms and suddenly someone's arms were around her.The seatbelt and interior of the vehicle disappeared from around herand for a moment she knew how it felt to fly, the wind rushing by.Shemanaged to wrench her eyes open and she glanced up, gasping when hereyes fell on a being of pure light. He was probably several feetfall, a tumble of brown hair falling artfully across his forehead.Wizened blue eyes shone with light as they fixed on Miranda's brownones, fair skin over high cheekbones. Not a flaw touched the figure;no wrinkles.Shelooked down and whimpered, curling closer; they were higher thanshe'd ever been. The air was thin but the angel held her tightly,flying without a single short breath. He held her as though sheweighed nothing more than a feather, skin smooth under her fingertipsas she tightened her arms around his neck. From up here they werehigher than the clouds, giving them an uninterrupted view of thestars."Youare safe now," he said, soaring through the clouds with an eeriesilence. Miranda couldn't stop staring at him. He smiled slightly."Shut your eyes." She obeyed him, feeling the wind against hercheeks and the soaring through her ears.Whenhe spoke again she could hear his smile. "You will wake in yourhome," he murmured in her ear. "You will know that this reallyhappened but you will never tell a soul. Sleep now." And suddenlyshe felt consciousness evade her, leaving her like silverfish betweenher fingertips. A rushing blackness took her over, a small flicker atthe end of it. She rushed toward it, reaching out with both fingers……andwoke.

52 Week Short Story Writing Challenge - #13

Background:Woo! This short story officially marks having worked through aquarter of my writing challenge. This is also my thirteenth shortstory and since thirteen is my lucky number, I'm putting in a bitof extra effort. For some reason up until now I have had a pretty badwriter's block that whenever I think is gone, it returns with avengeance. So without further ado, here is Shadow Girl.
ShortStory #13 – Shadow Girl
Thefirst time he saw her, he thought she was the most beautiful girlhe'd ever seen, even if she wasn't really a human girl atall. She appeared on a frozen night, when Alden's breath danced ina white cloud in front of him and the night sky was choked by ice anda blanket of darkness. That had been a while ago, during the snowstorm that almost killed him. She'd stepped out of the darkness,pulling them into a girl-like shape until she became human.Aldencleared his head and focused on walking through the darkened alley,his boots thudding rhythmically against the damp concrete. The gun inhis waistband holster was a welcome cold weight until he finallyheard them. They howled to the east with an iciness thatchilled Alden to the bone. He chased after them, listening to theheavy breathing and falls of their paws. Werewolves were fast butwith his speed rune scrawled down his spine he was able to catch upquickly.There,ahead; they leapt and bounced with the agile strength of normalwolves except these were unnatural. He leapt as the werewolves leapt,only bringing out his gun when they came to a sudden stop. Heskidded, shoes gripping against the cold ground and he braced himselfagainst the wolves. He flipped the safety off the gun, training it onthe pack as the first one leapt.Hewas going to be slaughtered, he knew as the first wolf went down andseveral others replaced him. They snarled, horrible saliva drippingfrom their fanged jaws and their claws scratching against the ground.Three advanced at once, knocking him roughly onto his back. Thepistol in his hand went crazy, firing with deadly precision. Thethree collapsed heavily beside him but before he could recover to hisfeet the next line of wolves were on him.Thisis it, he thought, the gun knocked to the side as a wolf batted hisarm with a paw. This is how I will die. He fought onward, bashingagainst the wolves and dodging their snapping jowls. Minutes passedas the wolves bit at him, digging their teeth into his flesh andtearing it apart like a chew toy. Alden grappled with them, almostlosing consciousness until the four wolves pulling him apart werewhipped aside.Gentlesinging filled Alden's ears and suddenly the shadows began to part,revealing a girl who stood over him like an angel. She managed asmall smile before lifting her bare white arms and the white gown shewore started billowing with an invisible breeze. The wolveswhimpered, backing away from Alden's bloody body and they turned,running through the darkness.Thegirl bent down suddenly, kneeling on the ground and she liftedAlden's head into her lap. Somewhere far away he could still hearthe singing, beautiful and haunting but unlike the wolves he wasn'tafraid. Her fingers were feather soft as she brushed aside his blackhair, the exact opposite to her moon-pale hair. Her violet eyes fixedon his and she bent down, brushing her soft lips against his for thebriefest of moments."Iwill love you always," she whispered and suddenly she was gone,just like the cuts and bruises that had somehow vanished, leavingAlden to think if he'd dreamed of it all.

52 Week Short Story Writing Challenge - #12

Background:So school's back now and I've been focusing on it a bit, makingkeeping with my challenge difficult but not impossible. One of myteachers wants me to reconsider changing my English choice fromstandard to advanced but I'm not exactly sure. Oh, and if anyonewould like to talk to me about my challenge, if they'd like to doit or just a little comment on how to improve my own, please followme on my twitter at www.twitter.com/missabooks. So in the meanwhilehere is another short story named Huntress.
ShortStory #12 - Huntress
Herbreath was jagged; coming in and out as though someone was physicallytearing it and sewing it back in. The exit was ahead, a bright signabove the stone arch but she never made it. She whipped aside,tearing out her swords and her delicate fangs in the same moment asthe hellhound advanced on her. It sent her tumbling but she got abooted foot under its belly and shoved upward, its throat letting outa whimper between snarls.Theglassy cries of the other vampires were following close behind,piercing her ears and scraping against her skull. She would surelydie if they caught hold of her.Theswords glinted silver in her hands as she reached up and severed thehellhounds head, the heavy thing landing with a thud beside her. Darkblood poured from the stump of its neck and onto her leather bodysuitas she scrambled to her feet and took off toward the exit again. Fromthe corridor she saw the vampires pouring out behind her but then shewas through the exit and into the park, moonlight dancing on the darklake beside the path.Windpicked up, howling like the dead hellhound and whipping her blondehair into her eyes; she picked up speed until she was merely a whiteblur against the night. Her boots thudded against the ground, heavyweights on the ends of her legs that threatened to slow her. Stillshe managed to outrun the other vampires, her fangs leaving finetrails of blood down her chin. Ahead a slow human jogger enjoyed thecooling summer night and she hurried to him, snapping his neck cleanbefore the vampires could kill him."Nightbringer!""Princess!""Vampiress!"Thevampires behind her screamed the names, each time causing the ancientrunes around her wrists to glow brightly. She couldn't deny whatshe was but as the only vampire to be able to walk during the daythey wanted to kill her. Some wanted her death out of jealousy,others out of fear. The river rushed beside her and suddenly sheveered left, sliding the swords back in their hilts and her fangsinto her jaw.Shejumped, narrowly clearing the wide river and stumbling on the stones;the vampires across the river screamed, their vulnerability of waterforcing them to remain on the other side. As a half-human huntressshe didn't feel the overwhelming fear that moving water gavefull-blooded vampires, merely a queasy feeling that faded fast onceshe'd gained her footing.Therewere approximately twenty vampires across the river, each staring ather with hate-filled eyes and screaming loud. The huntress stood herground, hands gripping the hilts of her swords as they glinted, freefrom their sheaths. The vampires weren't all together, some pacingthe river looking for ways across whilst others continued theirscreaming, however, there was one that didn't do anything.Delosstood silently amongst the vampires, dark brown eyes black in shadow;a crooked smile pulled his lips as she watched. She knew that heloved her but wanted to kill her as much as the other vampires. Sheremembered the times he'd hugged her, whispered in her ear that shewould always be safe as long as he drew breath. He no longer did.Witha sigh, the huntress turned on her heel, disappearing into thedarkness cast by the forest as she heard his deep voice whisper threesmall but meaningful words."Ilove you." But she was already gone.

52 Week Short Story Writing Challenge - #11

Background: Alrightso I usually refrain from writing in a male third-person perspectivesimply because I am female but anyway... To me the title of thisshort story is a bit of a pun because not only is the main characterviewing life from a different perspective but I am also, as anauthor. Dimitri is the main character's name, because I've alwaysloved that name but never really had a large part in my novelwriting. It was also rather freaky writing this late at night, whilstthe neighbour's dog howled like a wolf. So without further ado, Iintroduce Dimitri.
Short Story #11 - A Different Perspective
Hestood in a pool of blood. It wasn't usually this bad but the wolfenhad pulled out the enforcements this time. The bar looked like aslaughterhouse, disfigured limbs in every direction. Dimitri's bootsstepped carefully through the macabre scene but still crunched as hemoved, bone fragments scattered around. No, they'd gone way too far.Dimitricrouched down, grabbing a small ring that had fallen in the crowd'shaste; he stiffened as he recognized the small piece of jewellery. Hewould recognize that ring anywhere. He clenched his fingers aroundthe silver and pearl band, pain coursing through his body as he triedto deny her death. Lyli was so innocent, so human; she was the onlyperson who he confided in. To think that she was gone...Lightingswung overhead still, casting flickering lights through the room.Other hunters were scavenging through, looking for survivors butknowing there wouldn't be any. Head aching, Dimitri walked outsideand breathed in the not-so-clean city air. His back pressed againstthe car door, cyan eyes staring blankly at the stars above. Shecouldn't be dead, she just couldn't...Nearbythe darkened alley where the trash cans were kept rattled and hemoved into a defensive position, eyes fixed with both hands readyingthe gun that sat in his holster. The shadows moved, his eyesadjusting to the lack of light and the bulking outline of a wolfencame into view. He clicked the safety off but faultered, wonderingwhy the midnight black creature wasn't attacking him.Momentspassed, his eyes watching the blue-black fur of the animal until itshifted to its human form. He noticed her eyes first, taking in thehazel eyes flecked with green and teal lined with smudged blackeyeliner. Her favourite silver party dress seemed to replace the fur,torn and revealing too much pale skin; long blue-black hair to herwaist and a single trail of blood emerged from the corner of hermouth.In herhands was the corpse of a baby, its body shredded and its face caughtin an eternal scream. Lyli gently placed the baby aside, runningtoward Dimitri with arms wide. He raised the gun an inch but when shedidn't attack he switched the safety on, shoving it in his holsterbefore flinging his arms around her. She wasn't thin as a twig,always the same curvy girl he'd first seen in that dingy old diner."Theychanged me," she sobbed into his shoulder, her soft hands clenchingaround fistfuls of his shirt. "They captured me and forced me tokill the baby. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" Dimitri moved slowly,reaching with only one hand. "I'm so, so sorry!" she continued."Asam I," he said quietly, looking down at her with sad eyes as shepulled away. She gasped, sobbing hard as he pulled the knife away,blood on its edge. They both collapsed to the ground, cradling eachother as blood spilled over the ground. "I love you," hewhispered, shutting his eyes. A single tear trailed down his cheekand he knew, in a way, they would both die.Thelast thing he felt as he bled out was the soft pressure of her lipsagainst his, the world fading to nothingness.

52 Week Short Story Writing Challenge - #10

Background:I've been a bit slack with my short stories as of recent but I'mtrying so hard to get in a mood where I write something worthreading. This is a story inspired by children with such diseases asleukaemia and their battle of pain and love. This is dedicated tothose who have both won and lost the battle, little soldiers whosehearts are full and are a true inspiration in the world. I listenedto Boyce Avenue's acoustic version of 'On My Way' duringwriting this.
ShortStory #10 - Separated
Salinewatched the fan whirl around in circles on the ceiling. It had gonearound four hundred times now, a continuous whir that buzzed in hermind. Her wrist tickled where the plastic band was wrapped, hermedical details written in scrawling black ink. It was her twelfthbirthday and yet instead of being at home, celebrating with herfamily, she was in a too-clean white room of the hospital,recovering.Anurse walked in with a clipboard in hand, her scrubs glaringlyimmaculate as she smiled. Kind brown eyes looked at Salinesympathetically, like most people looked at her now. The nurse leftagain after checking her progress. Sympathy,an expression that made her skin tingle with frustration. Saline hadcollapsed during class one day and ever since it was the sameexpression duplicated on so many strangers' faces. She disliked theexpression so much, wishing that people would look at her like shewas a human instead of some thing that had mutated beforetheir eyes.Sheglanced to her right and saw the table beside her bed, a mass ofcolour from the gifts and balloons that her family had brought. Theyweren't allowed to see her yet – she was much too weak from thesurgery. They'd seen her briefly when she woke, squeezing her handand telling her that everything was going to be alright. That wasn'twhat the doctors' faces said as they wheeled her grimly away,tearing her hand away from her mother's."Westill have to allow her time to rest," the main surgeon had toldher parents and sisters. "Then we'll commence testing to see ifwe cured her of her cancer. You will see her later."Salinesat up, grabbing the first present and she tore open the paper;inside was a box with 'Danbo' written in large letters. Shesmiled, remembering the moment before all this; she'd been a happy,normal girl back then, looking through various shopping websites withher mother for gift ideas. When she'd seen the Japanese Danborobots she'd instantly asked her parents for one, disappointed whenthey said no.Apparentlythey changed their minds along with the dramatic change in herhealth.Salinewent through the other presents – her first mobile phone, aporcelain collectors doll; a portable gaming console with herfavourite games – but it was the last present that caught her eye:a professional camera. She checked the card that came with it:anonymous. Pushing the other presents aside, she opened the box andsetup the camera, waiting until the sun began setting before thecamera was charged and ready to go.Shegrabbed it, gently getting out of bed despite the doctor's orders;she could barely move but managed, sliding open the window to revealthe pink-purple sunset over the Nevada desert. She raised the camera,taking shot after shot as the sky changed colour, dimming until itwas completely evening. The moon raised overhead, a sliver of thewhiteness mostly blackened by the earth's shadow.Exhausted,Saline walked back to her hospital bed and grabbed her laptop,logging onto Flickr. It took a few moments to load but when it wasfully open she set about uploading the photos she'd taken, writinga simple fact about herself on each one: her favourite colour, herfavourite season; her favourite sport and what she wanted to be ifshe lived old enough. When she ran out of facts she started writinghaikus and sonnets describing the beauty of nature and the thingsthat people took for granted.Yawning,she put away the laptop as the words began to blur from herexhaustion; she settled under the crisp blankets and fell asleep,dreaming of the world the way she wished it would be. Morning camequickly, the sun shining brightly through the window. She sat up,going through the morning routine of breakfast and getting cleaned upbefore returning to her bed to be left alone again.Sheopened her Flickr.Over2,000,000 views in the past hour alone and several requests fromHollywood and big-time photographers to do a collaboration photoshoot.Shedeclined with a grin.Shewas only a normal 12-year-old girl after all.