When a mysterious creature targets a young boy, only paranormal investigator Soren Chase can stop it. But can Soren save the boy in time?When a mysterious creature targets a young boy, only paranormal investigator Soren Chase can stop it. But can Soren save the boy in time? For Soren, the case is personal. The boy's father was John Townes, Soren's best friend who died in a supernatural attack several years earlier. Soren will do anything to save John's son, but he must act fast. Because the kidnapper has a mission of his own, and he's willing to destroy anyone who gets in his way...A prequel to the full-length novel The Forest of Forever, Closed at Dark is a self-contained novella that can be enjoyed by anyone who loves urban fantasy, mystery and suspense.

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification. And she really can’t imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe.
 But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world. From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

The Last Watch is the stunning sequel to the Night Watch trilogy, following the fortunes of the Others. Indistinguishable from normal people but possessed of supernatural powers and capable of entering the Twilight, a shadowy world that exists in parallel to our own, each Other owes allegiance either to the Dark, or to the Light... While on holiday in Scotland, visiting 'The Dungeons of Edinburgh', a young Russian tourist is murdered. As the police grapple with the fact that the cause of the young man's death was a massive loss of blood, the Watches are immediately aware that there is a renegade vampire on the loose. Anton - the hero of the Night Watch trilogy - is detailed to this seemingly mundane investigation, but begins to realise that there is much more to the story than a wildcat vampire and a single murder, and discovers that a team of unlicensed Others are hunting for a fabled magical treasure, hidden in the sixth level of the Twilight by Merlin himself...

June 1812. Just weeks after her catastrophic coming-out ball, Lady Helen Wrexhall—now disowned by her uncle—is a full member of the demon-hunting Dark Days Club. Her mentor, Lord Carlston, has arranged for Helen to spend the summer season in Brighton so that he can train her new Reclaimer powers. However, the long-term effects of Carlston’s Reclaimer work have taken hold, and his sanity is beginning to slip. At the same time, Carlston’s Dark Days Club colleague and nemesis will stop at nothing to bring Helen over to his side—and the Duke of Selburn is determined to marry her. The stakes are even higher for Helen as she struggles to become the warrior that everyone expects her to be.

Nikki Donovan, Demon Princess, is back - and stuck in a love triangle that's straight out of hell! Fresh from finding out that she is a demon princess, fighting her aunt for her life, and rescuing her father from being poisoned, Nikki Donovan is looking forward to getting back to her regular high school life. But when Rhys, the handsome king of the faery realm, decides to show up at her school as a "foreign exchange student," Nikki knows this won't be possible. Couple with this a whole host of other problems: there's a new prophecy that claims she will destroy everyone. Her conflicted feelings for Rhys and her boyfriend, Michael, are getting in the way of their relationship. Her best friend Melinda just might be a demon-slayer-in-training, and her old crush Chris might know of her demon side. Throw in a field trip to none other than Hell itself...and Nikki's going to be hoping for a rain check on more than just her homework!

Queen Elizabeth I of England (ruled in late 1500's), also known as Gloriana and Good Queen Bess, has been a source of endless fascination for centuries. There are many movies (Elizabeth made Cate Blanchett's career) and dozens of books, not to mention Web sites devoted to her. While there was great strife during her reign, Elizabeth I was one of the most beloved monarchs of all time, and her period is known as the Golden Age of English history. Some of the world's greatest luminaries came from her country in that period, including William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, Christopher Marlowe, and Sir Walter Raleigh. A fable satirizing Spenser's The Faerie Queene and reflecting the real life of Elizabeth I. GLORIANA, OR THE UNFULFILL'D QUEEN tells of a woman who ascends to the throne upon the death of her debauched and corrupted father, King Hern. Gloriana's reign brings the Empire of Albion into a Golden Age, but her oppressive responsibilities choke her, prohibiting any form of sexual satisfaction no matter what fetish she tries. Her problem is in fact symbolic of the hypocrisy of her entire court. While her life is meant to mirror that of her nation¿an image of purity, virtue, enlightenment, and prosperity the truth is that her peaceful empire is kept secure by her wicked chancellor Montfallcon and his corrupt network of spies and murderers, the most sinister of whom Captain Quire, is commissioned to seduce Gloriana and thus bring down Albion and the entire empire.

A Cappea Varra story.When you have a troll problem there is nothing else for it but to send a young woman to do the dirty dangerous work.A Gender Switch Adventure

Life has never been so insane for Nikki James. There's another teenager missing. She has another vampire to contend with. Her partner and best friend Jake is in the hospital dying. And a madman is kidnapping the wealthy. Just when it seems nothing else could possibly go wrong, Michael returns-but not for her. This time, however, Nikki has no intention of running from either the case or from what still lies between her and Michael. And she isn't going to let him run, either. The last thing Michael Kelly needs is a confrontation with Nikki-especially when his control over his bloodlust is still so tenuous. But when a kidnapper steps up his agenda to murder, he's forced into a partnership with Nikki to keep her safe. Soon Michael discovers the biggest danger he faces may not be from his need to "taste" her, but from his desire to make her a permanent part of his life-a life that is sure to get her killed. Nikki is determined to make Michael see that life apart is worse than death. But before she can make him see the light, a specter from Michael's past rises that could destroy any hope she has of a future with him. Because this time the threat isn't physical. It's a matter of the heart. Nikki must compete with the woman-the vampire-for whom Michael gave up life.

It’s the summer of 1974 and 21-year old Dawn Emerson has only three things she wants to do: compete one last time in the Ellensburg Rodeo, win back her ex-boyfriend Ryan, and become the best damn music journalist at Central Washington University. But all her plans are left in the dust when she’s contacted by Creem magazine to go on the road with one of her favorite groups, the up-and-coming metal band, Hybrid. At first the assignment reads like a dream come true. Not only will Dawn land some much-needed credibility as a female music journalist, but she’ll finally get to experience life from the other side of the stage, and maybe crack the drunken, enigmatic code that is guitarist Sage Knightly. Instead, Dawn finds herself on an aging tour bus filled with ego-maniacs, band politics and a whole lot of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. When monsters start showing up in dressing rooms and some of Sage’s groupies become increasingly strange and dangerous, Dawn discovers the band is not only going places – they’re going straight to Hell. And Dawn has a backstage pass.

After journeymage Wren and Queen Teressa argue over wicked Hawk Rhiscarlan,Wren leaves the magic school seeking Prince Connor.Wren is aboard a smuggler,fighting pirates with magic when Teressa flirts with Hawk, who upsets her court as Tyron-the next Queen’s Mage-watches helplessly.Evil ex-king Andreus adds to the danger that the four friends must resolve—along with their personal conflicts.

Evanna is struggling through her turbulent life with a mom who doesn't pay any attention to her, a new school, and a fake friend who is sure to turn on Evanna as soon as possible. But her crazy life is going to become even more so as she is thrust into the dangerous and terrifying world of the Land of Au. There, she learns that a murderous villain named Arachne is taking control of Earth, and everEvanna is struggling through her turbulent life with a mom who doesn't pay any attention to her, a new school, and a fake friend who is sure to turn on Evanna as soon as possible. But her crazy life is going to become even more so as she is thrust into the dangerous and terrifying world of the Land of Au. There, she learns that a murderous villain named Arachne is taking control of Earth, and everything Evanna has ever known is in mortal peril. She has only a month and mysterious powers to defeat Arachne. She also meets six people, Holly, Kae, Stephanie, Eli, Phillip, and Mallory, who are going to help her. If she doesn't manage to defeat Arachne. . . well, we don't want to go there. Follow Evanna's adventures as she and her friends learn to work together to try defeat Arachne and save the world.

Lore of the Underlings continues. In this episode: While on nightwatch for his fallen friend, the beautiful vell Arrowborne, Fyryx Hurx reveals much about the people he leads -- the Treasured of Syland -- a chosen folk cast long ago into the internal exile of an unforgiving wilderness by the clever and farseeing Semperor. Of himself he reveals much as well, as he ponders a new threat from without.Welcome back to Lore of the Underlings, a trail of tales to the end of things, and maybe a bit beyond.The lore continues. In this episode: While on nightwatch for his fallen friend, the beautiful vell Arrowborne, Fyryx Hurx reveals much about the people he leads -- the Treasured of Syland -- a chosen folk cast long ago into the hard internal exile of an unforgiving wilderness by the clever and farseeing Semperor.Of himself the man Fyryx reveals much as well, as he wanders the past to ponder a new threat -- strangers from without, three foreigners armed with uncomfortable tales. Can his boyhood memories help him now?Lore of the Underlings is an epic poetry series from John Klobucher's lands of Lore. It's a bittersweet saga of gold and shadow told in classic style -- with old-world words but new-world wit. Fun for fans of puns and lyrical tongues![Second revision]

In the sacred city of Axcanan, the time of the Chosen has come again.The sky-god and the goddess of the dark night waters require sacrifices.For Clever Sun-Fox and his twin sister, Red Flower Hummingbird, it is an honor.For Ulli, twinless slave to the temple priest, it is a terrible duty that will reveal a more terrible truth.Ten years ago two children went missing and were presumed to be victims of a satanic ritual. Police charged the antisocial brother of one of the victims with the crime, but the real culprit's still on the loose. The approaching anniversary prompts the killer to strike again, but there's a private investigator who's beginning to ask the right questions about what happened a decade earlier. The killer discovers that he's being hunted, and decides to do whatever it takes to stay hidden. Lincoln Pierce always wanted to be a private detective, but his life didn't end up the way he expected. His daughter's debilitating disease forced him to make some questionable decisions, and he's been paying for them ever since. He's determined to make the most of a bad situation, and has started looking into a case that could change his entire career, if he doesn't get killed in the process.

A Legend of Arria: in the final days of the Golden Age, Doomba and his forces approach the walls of Coe Pidaria. But something happens that none of them ever expected, and the Wastelands are created in the first act of the Dark Age.In "The Red Siren," travel back in time to the island of Mystycetii in the days when mermaids ate oysters and were ruled by a mer-king. Follow the journey of the naturalist Dove as he attempts to fall in love with his betrothed, Rowynne, and comes crashing down hard for a local mermaid. Then, fast-forward to the present for "Ocean Girl," the story of a mermaid named Luna who wants to win a human dance contest - will she get up after her fall from the spotlight? Finally, jump into the near future with "People with Fishtails," the tale of two landlubbers who find themselves on an environmental pirate ship. Gayle is searching for her mother, whom she believes to be a mermaid ,while Sander is on the lookout for unusual marine specimens. Neither of the two knows they're also looking for love...Enjoy a journey through the ages with these three tales of mermaids!

If you ever wanted to convince someone to stop smoking, read this short story. Be careful who you offer a cigarette to. This story is based on fact.Mason was dumped at a party for smoking. Cassandra walks up and introduces herself to Mason. She asks for a cigarette then invites Mason home to her place. Cassandra’s watches over her sister from the window of the old mansion. Mason was enjoying a threesome party when he was told to leave. Walking back to the party he was warned to stay away from the girls. He can’t understand the warning till he goes to retrieve his packet of cigarettes he left behind.