Murder Most Fowl – Part V #atozchallenge

For the A to Z challenge, I present Murder Most Fowl, an unedited serial story from the unpublished Cera Chronicles. Please excuse the grammar mistakes. This hasn’t been critiqued yet. If you’re just diving into this story, you may want to start with part A.

Violence wasn’t always my first response, but on this world, I considered it my go-to solution. I lobbed a fireball at the cowgirl who’d been annoying me more than my stalker. She rolled out of the way and disappeared behind one of the walls.

Pandemonium erupted. The good people of Graverock charged for the other exit while Undertaker Coleman doled out cover fire. He saluted me. “Well, I’ve gotta go meet my new clients. Good luck!” He yanked the door closed behind him.

I growled and charged after Perry, summoning more flames to my bidding.

“Mistress Cera!” Michael scrambled after me. “The metal on this world reacts to your power. If you use too much—”

I raced out into the open. A bullet struck my shoulder. Pain burned deep and blood dribbled from the wound.

Without looking, Seth flung one of the many daggers he always carried. The cowboy who’d shot me dropped dead.

I clutched my shoulder, applying pressure to stem the blood flow. “This world can actually kill me?” Well that was frigging fantastic. I extinguished my fire. Brute force it’d be then.

Fresh skin spread over the wound. I released my shoulder and scanned the group surrounding the entrance. About two-dozen assailants—a mix of human and cattle, most dressed like the pirates I’d fought earlier.

Metal clicked near my ear, and a barrel touched my temple. “I don’t know why you’re involved…” Perry pressed her six-shooter harder against my face. “But this is where you get uninvolved.”

Wood creaked with a tightening bow string somewhere behind me. Off to my side a shadow moved. “Don’t kill her.”

Perry snorted. “Don’t you mean me?”

“Well, yes, but not in the way you do.” I turned my head to look at her, and the barrel centered between my eyes. Past Perry’s head, I could see Seth’s towering form, and the sword poised to behead her. In my peripheral, Fues stood in the doorway, arrow nocked. I dropped my gaze and focused on the ‘x’ shaped pendant hanging from a leather collar around her neck. I’d seen one of those before…

Joe crept out through the doorway. “Perry?”

She cast him a glance. “Joseph? I missed you…” She swung the six-shooter in his direction. “But my aim’s gettin’ better.”

The air cracked with a boom. Perry screamed and clutched her hand. Bartholomew reloaded his shotgun. “Nobody shoots my son ‘cept me.”

Perry whipped another gun from her belt with her opposite hand and fired. Lightning shot in a glorious blaze.

Bartholomew’s eyes went wide and his gaze dropped to the hole in his shirt. “You’re gonna…” His knees buckled and the toothpick fell from his mouth. “…pay for that…”

Thanks for reading! If you want to start at the beginning, find it here. Don’t forget to visit other bloggers participating in the A to Z Challenge.

Do you have any criticism? Suggestions? Wild, off-the-wall ideas of “you know what would be funny…?” Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear them.

Edit:

I completely forgot about Featured Photo Friday! So here is a macro shot of a violet flower.

I don’t actually know what these flowers/plants are called, but they are everywhere around here. I’m not even sure if they’re considered a flower or a weed. But it was either this shot, which I took about a month ago, or vegetables, which were much more boring.

Hopefully you like the photo. And if you know what it is, I’d love to find out!

The post Murder Most Fowl – Part V #atozchallenge appeared first on Squirrel Talk.