“All these years of work…wasted!” His anguished roars bellowed through the shack, and surrounding forest, as he lifted her viles and bottles deliberately smashing each one to the earthen floor. Losing his balance in this forceful act, he fell in a heap on the broken bottles. He stood dripping small bits of blood as he walked towards their bedroom. He screeched while he wildly clawed at the linens, ripping his nails back in the process. He welcomed the pain, it felt better than the pain in his chest where his heart was once whole. All at once, the rage took over. Flames launched around the room from his body. He held his quaking hands before him, watching the fresh beads of blood sizzling from the heat of his skin. He wished he could feel the flames scorch his skin, but instead thought of the cool touch of her skin. One last howl thundered into the night, as he collapsed under the weight of his overwhelming sorrow.
Fighting off the desire to let himself cry, rain tore the sky open flooding the last remaining flickers of fire. His skin also cooled in the rainfall, steam rising from his crumpled form. His rage had fully succumbed to despair. He had allowed himself to love her so fully that he left himself vulnerable. A mistake he would never make again. His home, his love and his future were gone. He stood and vowed that, like their love, her and her lover’s future…would end in ashes.

The forest was white washed in light, leaving my attacker and I temporarily blind. I never saw him again, but I was horrified to hear the scream that followed the intense blast. I knew it belonged to Selene, The Princess of Estrieal. As the light faded away, I ran towards her, watching as the shape of her body crumpled. Transportation is difficult enough, let alone the strength needed to cast a light spell that bright. It took all the energy I had left to reach her. Falling at her side, I checked for a pulse…nothing. I lifted her head into my lap and stroked her face. “What were you thinking…” I began to sob uncontrollably, I was so exhausted and pain began to radiate from injuries I didn’t even know I had yet. I placed my hands on her cheeks and began chanting air incantations, hoping to get her to start breathing. “You are not going to die here!” I screamed to the gods. I took a deep breath and poured all the power I had left into my magic. The taste of blood filled my mouth, my throat and chest burned with every word of my spells…still not a trace of life. I sat there willing her to live, to breathe. The forest was as lifeless as she was . Our enemy was slain by the lightning she summoned, but at a cost I was not willing to pay.
“I failed you, Selene! We trained side by side, you were always the stronger one, but I wasn’t even strong enough to save you!” “Who said it was your job to save me?”
Her emerald green eyes fluttered open and focused on mine as she stirred in my arms. I pulled her into an embrace before I could think better of it. Her grip around me tightened, and we held on to the moment as long as possible.
“I don’t care if we can’t be together, I love you Selene!” I said still holding her close. She stiffened a little but didn’t pull away. “I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t say it right now!” She pulled away, and gently touched the side of my bleeding face. “Who said we can’t be together?” She rasped with a slight growl in her voice. She pulled me in and kissed me. The whole world fell away.

Twenty-five years ago, 10 days after his 18th birthday, my father attended The Soulstice Mage Trials. He was placed as a Spirit Mage with the rare allocation of Soul Searcher.
On my 11th birthday, seven years ago, he disappeared. My name is Farrow. I am half mage and half witch, among the first small group of half mages to attend the Soulstice Mage Trials. If all goes to plan, I will be placed as a spirit mage, allocated as a Soul Searcher and begin my training with my new friends. However, when whispers behind closed doors of a growing dark power, and even darker secrets, lead to a new disappearance and a possible direction to find my father, will I be strong enough to save them both, or even survive at all?

Zinnia Ashcroft, a sophomore at the prestigious Lensore College of Art and Design, is living her dream of studying interior design. That is, until the sudden death of her beloved grandfather reels her back to her hometown of Bridgewater, and a surprise inheritance changes everything.
She is about to learn that the fantastical stories her grandfather told her about their town, and it’s inhabitants, were not just fairytales, and could very well have been the cause of his death. When Zinnia begins digging deeper, a mysterious item in her grandfather’s shop appears, bringing with it a whirlwind encounter, thrusting Zinnia into the very world of magic, mystery and mayhem that she is still refusing to believe in.
Welcome to the Curious Corner store, where new items for sale show up daily…and entirely on their own.

With all the speed I could muster, I raced for the safety of the woods.
The sight of you with her in town was more than I could bare.
Strength of feelings I couldn’t understand, let alone, control overwhelmed me when she touched your face.
Of all the people in the village, why In goddesses name did she have to choose you. Earth, branches and leaves crunched beneath my thunderous pace as I made my way to my sacred place. You will not be hers without a fight!
“Are you prepared to go toe to toe with me,” I screamed into the darkening sky. Bound to my blood is the ancient power of my ancestors. To call upon it now in my time of need, I draw my great grandmother’s dagger. My swift slice leaves no pain in my palm as I drip my essence into the bowl in the center of my alter. Being still and silent, I begin to prepare to call the elements around me. With the elements answering my call, tingling begins in my spine. The moon is just getting into the correct position for my spell to be at its strongest.
Power is thrumming through me now, as I stand firmly at my alter. Of all the elements I use in this spell, water is the most powerful since I use my own tears. Fire lit candles surround the earthen clay bowl that holds my blood and tears representing water and spirit. “You will feel me summoning your soul tonight even if you are not here to hear it my love,” speaking my intentions to my alter, it’s items and my surroundings i find intensifies my results. “Burn bright candles, send my words to my desired one’s ears on your wafting smoke,” I ask of Fire and Wind. “With my bowl of earthen clay, made by my hands, I ask earth to ground and protect me!” “Desire can lead one to wildness” my grandmother used to warn, she was the one who taught me how to utilize the power of earth. On the chance she could see me now, I hope she’d be proud of the witch I’d become. The pieces are all falling into place, it’s almost time. Whispering a special prayer to my goddess for luck, I lift my hands and open them to embrace the night sky. Wind swirls around me with a supportive embrace, showing me it’s excitement at what’s to come. “You, Earth, Fire, Wind, Water and Spirit, hear and aid me this night,” I command! “Hear my plea, O goddess, take my work and bless me as you see fit!” My words begin to flow, like water, through my mind as I mentally write my incantation. “Name that gives me power and strength, pass through my lips to aid me this night, I am your daughter, Lowelle, O goddess of night.” Through the clearing beyond my alter I could see the light in your cottage go out.
Cleansing new tears flowed down my face knowing that I would be with you in her place soon.
Waters responded to my emotions as tiny tear drop like beads rose up from the near by stream and hovered around me. Our time together will come, smiling as this thought crossed my mind. Intentions set clear in my mind. “Are you ready and sure, my child, once you set this into motion, it cannot be undone!” Clear as day, I heard my goddess speak to me. “Our paths are meant to run as one, I am sure!” Spirits of my ancestors gather near and fill me with power I’ve never known before. “Entwine with me ancestors, elements and goddess.” You will be mine. Are stars will align. Mine and mine alone with this spell. “With the strength of earth You are bound to my being With the power of fire You burn with desire On the whispering wind You hear my name Through cleansing waters Our intentions are clear Our spirits entwine You are mine “

Nervous eyes meet mine Butterflies dance up my spine Time stands still, we move Our internal magnets pull Closing the distance between

He left…he just walked away.
I was left, stunned, in a vintage wedding gown on the steps of a cathedral. Billowing smoke from the incense, lit for the ceremony , floated around me stinging my already burning eyes. I should be getting married right now, but instead, the groom is gone. Large salty tears poured from my eyes as I clawed at my made up face and pulled a multitude of pins, and bits of hair, from my head. Reaching full hysteria, I began to rip at the dress that felt more like a straight jacket trying to keep me confined. I couldn’t breathe and didn’t want it on, or anywhere near me. Swiftly, I was grabbed off the floor, carried into a nearby room and placed gently into an old chair. My fingernails snapped and splintered into the wooden arms and pain radiated through my fingers and beyond. The pain felt good. “I’m going to kill him for this!” A man said coldly, handing me a box of tissues. “MAVEN!!!” My partner’s voice pulled me from my trance. “Sorry Ryan, I…” His warm hands steadied my shoulders, I read concern on his face. “ You were crying and shaking…you scratched your face.” I could taste blood but I had no idea where it was coming from. He took his thumb and wiped my cheek, it shined red. I pulled a small pack of travel tissues from my purse and absently patted my face. “What did you see Mav?” I was about to answer him when a young officer approached us from the scene. I could sense that this was his first murder investigation by the paleness of his skin and haunted look in his red eyes.
“Detective Sullivan…” he nodded to my partner. His eyes drifted towards me but made no contact, “Ma’am.”
“Stoltz was it?” Ryan patted his shoulder once.
“What do you have so far?” Ryan turned the officer with the next strategic pat so he didn’t have to look at the victim anymore and they walked back in the direction of the other officers.
As a medium, I have been working with Detective Ryan Sullivan for a year now and have helped solve a couple cold cases, but this was the first time he brought me to an active scene. The visions are stronger when I am at the site and ,apparently, even more so when the deceased are still present.
Before me, a burned out vehicle held the victims charred remains in the back seat. It is not going to be possible to gather anything from the present state of things, forensics was going to take a while. I was walking closer to the vehicle when a wind whipped from the trunk and I felt a blistering heat on the palms of my outstretched hands.
I turned away to shield my face. The flashing red and blue from the sirens in the distance suddenly began to fade along with all sound. Ryan and officer Stoltz were still talking. He was looking at the ground and kicking a small rock with the toe of his boot. Ryan kept his eyes on me. The bustling scene slowed to a crawl, then vanished all together. I was facing total blackness. Suddenly, breaking the silence, was a cracking sound, like logs in a fire, coming from directly behind me. A wave of nausea hit me as I was locked inside the now blazing vehicle. An unbearable heat licked at my face and arms but I couldn’t move. I felt as if I were on fire. My skin bubbling and bursting open. I was screaming soundlessly while also trying to gulp in air. Nothing but smoke filled my lungs burning me from the inside out. I could feel my life force being wrenched from me.
I looked in the rear view mirror and gasped. The woman I was, in my vision from before, was right next to me. Her face was stained with mascara tracks and smeared lipstick or blood. Her eyes were black holes and her jaw hung broken open at an unnatural angle. Her boney hands grabbed my arms turning me to face her, and pulling me closer. Broken shattered fingernails drove into the skin I had left. She cocked her head sharply and the bones in her neck cracked, the corner of her mouth twitched up and she leaned in closer and gargled, “If he wasn’t going to love me, he wasn’t going to love anyone!”