The antiquities shop looked like every other little storefront along the colorful, busy marketplace. It was a bit worn, the paint starting to fade and the front picture window a little dusty and smudged with fingerprints. The once dark green canopy over the open doorway was a paler shade of moss, frayed at the edges. […]

“This region has many…ancient spirits.  They…feed upon the weaknesses that all people possess.  Most do little harm, but some are dangerous, even deadly.  It is my task to drive these spirits from the injured and ill.” He snorted and his gaze turned away from her.  Manara’s heart cracked at that motion, and knew her future was […]

He approached her slowly, reaching his arms around her back and untying her wrists. Once released, she jerked the gag down in a fit of rage.
“Why did you bring me here?” she demanded angrily.
“Because you wanted me to,” he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
“You’re mad!” she slammed a tiny fist into the […]

Eight murders—no—nine, I corrected as I parked my Nash Airflyte behind the flashing black-and-white and flipped off the lights. I returned the nod of the uniformed officer who stood beside the squad car, then glanced at the rundown, brick tenement building. Scrawled across the bottom right side in thick, black letters was, Kilroy was here. […]

St. Catherine’s International School of Business is a peaceful retreat for the over-privileged children of the Elite, where they are gently guided through a remedial academic program with white-gloved hands, ensuring a prestigious diploma to hang in the family library.  The faculty and students are stunned when someone dares to disturb the secluded peace of […]