Sunday Snippet: Worlds Collide

Ohio had record hightemperatures this past week, but the weekend has brought some fall-like weather.I'm looking forward to seeing the leaves change even if it seems like thecolors are less vibrant than they used to be.

Juggled severalwork projects and I'm in the final stages of two and starting a couple of smallnew ones. I'm liking the mix of things I'm currently working on. It's fun tostretch my wings sometimes.

Had a solid week ofviewing, which seems weird because I did have a lot of work stuff to get done.

I started a new tome series with Agatha Raisin and thoroughly enjoyed the first twoepisodes. I think I'm going to like this one!

I finished up seasontwo of Suspects and, wow, the last episode kind of packed a punch. I'llhave to wait to see if more episodes become available on the streamer I use.I'm not quite ready to sign up for yet another one to see the remaining seasons.

Caught the firstepisode of Peak Practice season ten. Also started the second episode butgot a little distracted. I might end up skipping a few because I really don'tcare about Andrew and his affair.

Watched a SilentWitness two-parter that dived into the Troubles and thoroughly enjoyed thetwists and turns.

Forgot to include BattlestarGalactica in last week's recap. Watched "Captain's Hand," whichis one of my favorite episodes. This week we watched "Downloaded,"which is kind of the beginning of the end to a promising series. With twentyyears of hindsight, I can honestly say I didn't need or want to know that muchabout the cylons.

Enjoyed twoepisodes of Death in Paradise. I loved the hurricane episode. OnlyRichard would think it's just a little wind. One more episode for season twoand then it's time for a changing of the guard.

Caught two episodesof Fantasy Island. I'll admit, I'm on the fence with Roark and Javier. I'mkind of down with the building of the friendship and letting Javier all Elenaout for trying to protect Ruby. The thing is … he's not wrong, but he shouldalso know Elena might have been down this road before and she almost always hasinformation she can't share, which is kind of hinted at when Ruby more or lessforgets about Mel. What's next? She forgets her kids? So … I rather love thatthis thread looks like it will be spun out to a thin tether. Also makes mewonder what's in store with Ruby's tattoo.

Watched two moreepisodes of The Batman. ManBat and Victor Frieze were the bad guys forthese two. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this show the first run through.

Enjoyed twoepisodes of Classic Rugrats. Finally had another one with Susie, whichmakes me happy. Also forgot how much fun it was to have Chuckie act likeAngelica for a day.

Started a rewatchof VIP. Sometimes it's so much fun to go back to shows from the late ninetiesand early aughts and enjoy the creative license and sheer escapism theyprovide.

Also startedanother new to me series with My Life Is Murder. I'm not quite finishedwith the episode, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far!

And that's prettymuch it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Worlds Collide,a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

On the eve of a major battle between supernatural factions,Frida Hapspell and Quant Undersmith ponder their fate and their future. Withfamily relationships at stake, Frida takes steps to make Quant face thewidening chasm he's creating with his dad … especially because she's the reasonthey're at odds.

And a preview snippet…

Frida Hapspell quickenedher pace. "Why do I always lose track of time?" The mandatory curfewstarted well over two hours ago.

And she'd been holed upin the catacombs doing research. Someone had to figure out a way to open negotiationswith the fae before an all-out war started. She would definitely not be thesomeone, but her knack for digging into subjects and boiling them down to theirvery essence would give whoever landed the unenviable task a leg up.

Footfalls crunched onthe road behind her, and Frida cut through an alley and backed up against thewall of a bookstore. "Friend or foe?" She didn't want to find out butmight not have a choice.

Peering around thecorner of the building, her shoulders slumped. "Shit. Foe." Sliding furtherback into the alley, she made a quick run for the street and darted across,keeping away from the lamppost and its diffused light.

What the hell areshifters doing out?Of course, they weren't part of the mage society and didn't abide by thecurfew. Only those who wanted the wrath of the Undersmiths paid no attention tothe safety measures the ruling family put in place.

Crouching behind a halfwall, Frida grimaced. "Which is not me." She cursed herself for gettingtoo engrossed in the supernatural law tomes.

The two beingsfollowing her paused in the middle of the road, sending their gazes and, nodoubt, their noses in both directions. She wouldn't stay hidden long if theygot her scent. She risked glancing around, a spark of hope filling her when alone individual came out of the corner deli.

He dropped his wrappedorder on the ground and called out. "Hey, it's after curfew. You guys needto get inside and locked down for the night." He started toward the duo.

The two shifterssmirked and stood shoulder to shoulder. Frida's heart sank when each made apartial transformation, their hands taking on their wolf form. Barely a secondpassed before they launched forward and grabbed her would-be rescuer by thethroat.

Frida gasped. "Aw,shit. What the hell is he doing out after curfew?" She recognizedthe younger son of Stanton Undersmith.

She'd graduated withhis older brother, Quant. Everyone knew the Undersmiths by sight if nothingelse. The family stayed active in the community they oversaw.

Brant's startled gaze methers for a brief moment … right before the larger of the two slashed Brant's jugularwith a thick claw.

Frida bit back a screamand bile filled her mouth. She didn't want to give her position away. And shedefinitely didn't want to become the next victim of the shifters.

"What the hell? Stop.You're violating curfew and under arrest…" The voice trailed off when theshifters tossed Brant in its direction.

Frida took anotherquick look over the edge of the concrete. One of the Undersmith patrolmen heldBrant's lifeless body in his arms. Frida caught sight of the shifters in fulltransformation tearing down the road in the opposite direction. Stifling the urgeto heave her guts up, she scrambled to her feet and ran the four blocks to herbuilding.

With shaking hands andtears flowing down her cheeks, she flipped the runes and quickly ducked insidebefore sinking to the floor and closing her eyes.

I just witnessed themurder of Brant Undersmith.

His death had savedher. She had no doubt his intervention kept the two shifters from killing her. Thefae were gearing up for battle and taking out a member of the ruling familywouldn't go unavenged.

Resting her head on herknees, Frida dragged in a watery breath. "What the flaming hell am I goingto do?" She needed time to think and process everything that happened.

She had a friendshipwith Quant, something she didn't want to trash. But she also inadvertently causedhis brother's death, which would set Stanton on the warpath. And she reallydidn't want to be a casualty of the fallout.

No matter what way sheturned, she'd landed smack dab between a rock and a hard place.

This story is justgetting started and I'm so excited to see where it goes. I love writing Frida.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye