The tenth part in the Apollyon's Saint series. The suicidal writers society continues to torment Gabriel as he tries to return to humanity. Upon his return, Gabriel finds himself imprisoned by Templars, and sent on a ship to the Vatican where he meets the descendants of Salem.Whether they are spirits of the departed or figments of an overactive imagination, ghosts are a staple in fiction. Storytellers have portrayed ghosts as scary, friendly, or annoying across many genres. Now, eight authors offer their own interpretations of ghosts through a collection of short stories that will appeal to fans of horror, fantasy, or young adult fiction.“Deathwatch” by Katie French - Teenage sisters Charlotte and Georgie stumble into a robbery, and their normal life gets flipped upside down. Worse, when the clerk kills one of the robbers, his face is covered in a supernatural swarm of bugs. Charlotte must be hallucinating. It's the only explanation for the terrible things she's seen. Everyone calls the clerk a hometown hero, but Charlotte's not so sure. Then a dead girl appears in her mirror with clues to the truth, and Charlotte learns there's more horror to this world than she ever expected.“Tides” by Sarah Dalton - Andrea wakes with sand on her feet. She is sleepwalking down to the sea every night, but remembers little more than a vague recollection of a boy who lives on the beach. With an absent father and a mother who would rather walk along the coast than look after her daughter, Andrea struggles to get by. She’s haunted, but from a memory, or a spirit?“Shadowspirit” by M.A. George - On a good day, Henta Mourngard is stalked by dreadspirits and netherphantoms, a living magnet for creatures of the afterlife. On a bad day, she finds herself communing with a demon of the underworld—worse yet, interrogating one—in a desperate attempt to track down the shadowspirit who has been her guide since infancy. Demons don’t take kindly to interrogation. And the search for a missing shadowspirit leads to places the living daren’t tread (lest they no longer qualify as living). ‘Tis unfortunate for Henta that today is not a “good day”. “The Little Girl” by Jamie Campbell - Sixteen-year-old Penny is moving house… again. Starting out in a small town, she is hopeful this time will be the last. As long as the little girl doesn’t follow her, she will be rid of her past hauntings. The only problem is, the little girl won’t let her go and now she is about to grow stronger than ever before.“The Ghost Below” by Ariele Sieling - White Rabbit gets sent to run cables in the bowels of the spaceship as a punishment. While working, she discovers that the ship's ghost might be more than he seems.“Slave Runner” by H.S. Stone - Malika and her sister are captured by slave traders but receive an unexpected gift of freedom when their captors encounter a deadly gathering of ghosts. The sisters escape to a nearby village, where they learn that the new sanctuary isn’t as safe as they thought it would be, and ghosts aren’t what they most need to fear.“Farewell Ohana (A Ghostly Mini-Wave)” by Sutton Shields - Maile Lahela is under attack by someone in the Kauai Camp for the Curiously Creepy. When she awakens one morning unable to see, her peculiar, yet loyal friends decide it’s time to escape the institution—something that’s never been done. But before they can leave, Maile has a mission of her own…one that could cost them their lives. Farewell Ohana is a short, fun-filled, emotional prequel to the events occurring in Overfalls, Wave Two of The Merworld Water Wars series by Sutton Shields.“Ghost Girl” by Susan Fodor - Zoey Saunders has her future mapped out, but an accident brings her life to an untimely end. In her new state of being, Zoey feels compelled to seek justice for her death and bring healing to her family who have become a shadow of their former selves. But what constitutes justice and will getting even ever be enough to replace the life she lost?

Chased from an Austrian cliff-top castle by an angry mob armed with pitchforks and torches – where can a zombie run to for safety?Hunted down by a headmaster with a silver-bullet-loaded rifle – what’s a boarding school matron-turned werewolf to do?Weary of jumping out from behind pyramids, half-heartedly cursing tourists – how’s an ancient mummy to fill his time?Chased from an Austrian cliff-top castle by an angry mob armed with pitchforks and torches – where can a zombie run to for safety?Hunted down by a headmaster with a silver-bullet-loaded rifle – what’s a boarding school matron-turned werewolf to do?Weary of jumping out from behind pyramids, half-heartedly cursing tourists – how’s an ancient mummy to fill his time?The answer is found at the ancestral home of vampire Victor Romanoff, located on a remote island in the Eastern European country of Mortavia. Here, a motley assortment of B-movie monsters, ghosts and more find refuge and retirement - until the castle is threatened by a greedy property developer. How can the residents see off the threat without resorting to their old ways?

It’s Time To Meet A New Kind Of Hero... Dante Stark has a dark secret--a legacy left to him by his father which is both a blessing and a curse. A traumatic experience as a small boy gave him special powers of healing, but it comes with a price. Destined to wander the world alone to heal others, he's accepted his fate. Until Selina Rogers forces him to confront his deepest fears, erotic desires, and question his capacity to love. Selina Rogers has made a name for herself at Inferno Enterprises. She's tough, confident and prepared to succeed. She's also built a world she believes is safe, until she's attacked and then saved by a masked stranger. As he helps her heal physically and emotionally, she becomes fascinated by his overwhelming power and gentle touch. Determined to show Dante the love he's been denying himself, Selina surrenders her heart, and dreams of a future with the mysterious man who completes her. But will his dark legacy destroy them...or save them both...

The newly crowned Prince Jared, ruler of All Archenfield, has inherited a kingdom in crisis. The murder of his older brother has revealed a traitorous plot in his court, calling into question who, if anyone, Jared can trust as he ascends the throne. Now the realm is on the brink of invasion from the brutal Princes of Paddenburg, and Jared must travel to neighboring kingdoms in search of allies to defend his throne. Little does he know that an even more dangerous plot is hatching in the Archenfield court—one put in motion by the very people he left in charge. The second book in Justin Somper’s Allies & Assassins series delivers another twisted tale of high-stakes betrayal and political machinations in a court where no one can be trusted and everyone is a suspect.

THE UNWITHERING REALM is a massive tale of a greater and darker evil with longer reach than anything Man can imagine, of despair without bounds, of pain beyond measure, and of the faith required to surmount all three. It is a story of inexorable destiny written in the stars and the stubborn courage that is required to defy it. In THE BLOOD STORM, Ilya Muromets is bound and determined to be a hero, and heroes do not quit simply because they face impossible odds. THE BLOOD STORM is the fourth book in THE UNWITHERING REALM, the Dragon Award-winning series by science fiction grandmaster John C. Wright, author of THE GOLDEN AGE, MOTH & COBWEB, and AWAKE IN THE NIGHT LAND.

When an Englishman visits an American rodeo show, he gets far more than horse-play... A horror/fantasy story with a Lovecraft tinge.3000 words.When an Englishman visits an American rodeo show, he gets far more than horse-play...A horror fantasy story with a Lovecraft tinge, for fans of the wierd tale...

Fix the past. Save the future. Dak, Sera, and Riq involve themselves in one of the most bizarre spy missions in history . . . and the outcome of World War II hangs in the balance.

Legend has it that the Alleluia Files contain the truth about the god of Samaria. Now, a child raised in captivity among the angels will journey the length and breadth of her world to seek the documents that will alter the face of Samaria forever...

The Scarlet King is the final book in the Sacred Water trilogy. In the third book we find that the ancient enemy of Those of the Red also seeks the power of the iodine. They are of the East and much feared for good reasons. Those of the Forest must come to the aid of their former enemy for the survival of their civilization is at stake.PrologueThe Scarlet King is the final book in the Sacred Water trilogy. In the first book the world of Daniel and Heather is introduced as well as the importance of the sacred water which contains iodine which prevents the development of deformed babies. These iodine deficient babies are referred to medically as cretins but in the world of Daniel and Heather they were called half brains. Their status was as sub humans and slaves. One of these half brains is Betty who is blessed with a way of knowing things and becomes instrumental in protecting the Sacred Water.Others had learned of the power of the Sacred Water and tried to capture the source which was located in the Forest which is as much a living thing as it is a place in the mountains. It is the efforts of Daniel and Heather with those of the Forest who defeat those who would have captured the spring of their sacred water. Not only those of the forest but also those of the northern and southern kingdoms were depended upon this single source of iodine. As was seen in the second book "The Time Before" another ancient people Those of the Red whose existence had been forgotten through time also sought the health of the Sacred Water but who chose force as their method. Now in the third book we find that the ancient enemy of Those of the Red also seeks the power of the iodine. They are of the East and much feared for good reasons.This series developed from my own interest in diseases of thyroid which was a major portion of my medical practice. The early descriptions of the Africans brought to this country as slaves contains drawings of their course facial features and descriptions of their slow mental status. It turns out that the majority of those captured into slavery were from the iodine deficiency areas of Africa. Many of our prejudices like those explored in this trilogy were based on medical issues which could have been easily solved had the knowledge been available. This book is written for young readers of all ages who are interested in science and medicine.

In this humorous short story, Mr. Quimbly sets out on his first-ever field assignment for the Tax and Revenue Agency to investigate the mysterious Mr. Green on a charge of coin hoarding. He finds both the illegal coin collection and Mr. Green at a dilapidated warehouse down by the docks ... and also discovers that he's bitten off a bit more than he can chew.Levi, an entangled whale, is making a dying journey up the Atlantic coastline. Each day brings the creature closer to a frightening end - strangled beneath fishing nets and lead sinkers. When a science blog highlights the giant’s torment, it is a call to action for one group of teenage boys determined to change the leviathan’s fate.With humor and a thoughtful voice, Jeep Muldoon relates the story of a daring rescue on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It’s a tale of heart, with adventure at every turn. Along the way, Jeep reveals a hidden psychic talent that is essential to the team’s plan.The boys set up their command center ahead of the whale at the Cape Lookout Eco Camp. Each passing day brings a new adventure with a bashful sea monster, a pair of ghostly banker ponies and the unassuming heir to a baseball legend. But, when Levi finally arrives, it’s go time. Following a Moby Dick-like rampage, Jeep and his pals dive right back into danger. Testing the limits of friendship and courage, the boys launch a midnight mission to the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” in WhaleQuest!

One must be careful when choosing a partner for an evening of harmless infidelity. Especially when one is a king who rules over a vast kingdom and is locked in a sham marriage with a queen who wants him dead.If caution is not heeded, a king in such a situation might find himself assassinated. But he also might have his fondest desire fulfilled.A beautiful young dancer’s performance at the royal banquet has pleased her king. To show his gratitude, he offers her the fruits of his kingdom. She may have anything.Anything her heart desires.The King cannot refuse when the dancer asks for a night in his bed. Though it is the first time he will betray his marriage, he feels no guilt for he knows the Queen is, at that very moment, in the arms of another.But this tryst is not as it seems, for the Queen and her lover lust only for the reins of the kingdom. That night, they have set in motion a plan to murder their ruler and steal his throne.The King learns of this plot, but far too late to stop it. The assassination might succeed, but for the actions of a surprising ally, his new bed mate.The beautiful dancer, too, is not as she seems. She alone holds the power to save her king from the traitors, and to restore his kingdom to him. She will do this by presenting him an offer of her own. He may have anything.Anything his heart desires.Originally written as a single chapter in the Wither the Waking World novel The Death You Deserve, Betrayal is a glimpse into the origins of the cursed land of Illengaard, known as the Kingdom of Teardrops.

Hunter Drake, Elf sorcerer, and Josephine, Cherokee maiden, should never have met, but when Josephine opens the portal her family guards, their worlds collide—literally. Now Josephine must figure out how to restore balance between Eladi and Ayeli. Will love help her make the right decision? Or will desire betray both worlds?Hunter Drake, Elf sorcerer, and Josephine, Cherokee maiden, should never have met, but when Josephine opens the portal her family has guarded for centuries, their worlds collide—literally. All of a sudden, Josephine is caught up in a war that has overtaken Drake's world...and now it threatens hers. Fairy tales, time portals and Cherokee mythology entwine in this tale of love, adventure, war and duty that spans two worlds. "Strange Path" is a prequel to Michelle Garren Flye's acclaimed Synchronicity Series.

While Rivan and Galairel go to confront the Congregate's merchant aristocracy, Kelsaro leads her band of revolutionaries on a raid beneath the Imperial Precinct.As Timo and the Orphan fleet close in on the capital, Kel and her allies amongst the underground gangs of Incarnate finally put weeks of planning into action, with a little help from their girl on the inside.'Beneath the Precinct: Reprise' is part of the cyber-fantasy 'To Walk the Path', the final installment of 'The Star Plague Journals'.

As the old gods awaken, the Chromeria is in a race to find its lost Prism, the only man who may be able to stop catastrophe, Gavin Guile. But Gavin's enslaved on a galley, and when he finally escapes, he finds himself in less than friendly hands. Without the ability to draft which has defined him . . . Meanwhile, the Color Prince's army continues its inexorable advance, having swallowed two of the seven satrapies, they now invade the Blood Forest. Andross Guile, thinking his son Gavin lost, tasks his two grandsons with stopping the advance. Kip and his psychopathic half-brother Zymun will compete for the ultimate prize: who will become the next Prism.