#and it seems to be made a deal between god and the devil (sean) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

galadrieljones · 5 years ago

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The Lily Farm - Chapter 47

AO3 | Masterpost

Pairing: Arthur x Mary Beth

Rating: M (Mature) - sexual content, violence, and adult themes

Summary: After Sean’s death, Mary Beth asks Arthur to take her on a hunting trip, somewhere far away. What takes place at first is a simple love story: full of trials and journeys that they must endure together, as a team. But over time, things complicate. The gang is in trouble, and as Arthur and Mary Beth aim to set out on their own one day, they must find a way to help those they love while eventually, finding escape. Their ultimate goal is to go north with the Marstons, to find the bucolic stretches of Wisconsin where, rumor has it, there are lily farms. Will they make it? How will they survive when all hope seems lost? This is their story.

Chapter 47: The Widow of Willard’s Rest, Pt. 2

Two weeks went by. They stayed, helping. It was a strange development. Charlotte found herself artificially in love with Arthur, as his presence sated the male absence inside the house, but it was more complicated than it seemed. He was a pillar, an anchor. He was exceedingly sturdy and he seemed to understand everything about the world and how it worked. He was so capable. He never stumbled or hit a bump in the road that he could not handle. He spoke so little but for to Mary Beth with whom he seemed to share an almost telepathic appreciation. They were so in love, but it wasn’t just frills or public displays, noticed Charlotte. The way they knew how to co-operate with one another, how one always understood what the other needed at any given time. They would argue about a book they read, which Mary Beth had liked but Arthur deemed as pedestrian. Arthur would draw a picture in his downtime under a tree, and Mary Beth would compliment his picture, and he would smile at her while chewing on a reed and then she would pat him on the head and kiss his eyes and then go away back to folding laundry as if nothing at all had happened. Their relationship was sobered and wise and it felt organic to their surroundings as if it had always been so—like the trees and the wind.

Anyway, oddly enough, in the nights when she was alone, Charlotte knew the difference between Cal and Arthur. She felt only the cold sheets where he had used to lie, and it was so real she wept, her loneliness absolute. But during the day, while Mary Beth would be helping Charlotte in the garden where they were pulling up the last of the root vegetables, or they would be reading or tidying the house, cooking dinner, making apple juice, doing whatever work it was they could, Charlotte’s grief lost its linearity and the past became the present, vice versa. Arthur reminded her of Cal even as they were nothing alike. He filled the property with his sounds, his sights, and his smell, and she did not know whether or who or what she had become, but she just wanted to be close to him. She was not jealous of Mary Beth. She was fond of Mary Beth, and she looked at Mary Beth’s relationship with Arthur in admiration. Charlotte’s grief was twisting up her perceptions. She did not want Arthur to be her husband. She did not really love him even as she felt she did. She just missed her own husband, and Arthur, in all of his masculine replacement qualities, was there. He protected the home, chopped the firewood, taught Charlotte to use a gun.

But then the days would end. Arthur and Mary Beth would retire to their room on one side of the house, and Charlotte would return to her own on the other. Cal’s things hanging neatly in the wardrobe. Her delusions would die, and this was always a most terrible realization. Some nights, she did not know what she would do. It manifested in all manner of confusion. She did not know how she could possibly survive.

One night, Charlotte had fallen asleep in the living room on the sofa, in front of the fire, with her tea almost tipping out of her hand and onto the floor. Arthur came inside from where he had been chopping wood extra—it looked like maybe a winter storm was coming, and he didn’t want to run out. He saw Charlotte, dozed off with her tea dripping on the rug, and he went right over, got down on one knee and with his delicate touch, lifted the mug from her hand. He was just going to take it to the sink to rinse. But when he got close to her, she sat straight up. It was alarming. The mug fell onto the floor, and she looked right at him as if she was looking into the jaws of the devil himself, and then as if she’d seen god. She said, “Cal?”

Arthur felt terror for his misstep. It was a mistake, he knew now. He saw in her that night himself from many months before when he had done the same exact thing to Mary Beth. He had scared the Jesus out of her at the Wintersons,' and the weight of what Charlotte was dealing now with came down hard and crushed him something holy. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder to steady her. He said, “It’s okay, Mrs. Balfour. It’s just Arthur.”

It took her a moment, in which her eyes flickered back to life from a heavy dreaming state and filled with recognition. When she came to the realization that she had been dreaming or something worse, she collapsed silently. He held her. He didn’t know what to do. She seemed frozen in terror. Mary Beth came out of their room at one point and said, “Oh my god. Arthur, is she okay?”

“I ain’t sure,” said Arthur.

Charlotte had begun to cry though. She looked up at Mary Beth, seeming embarrassed. She wiped her tears on the back of her hand and said, “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?”

She was pulling herself together now. She sat back from Arthur’s embrace and smiled at him, gratefully. She tucked her hands into her lap. She blinked repeatedly and said, “It was just a dream.”

Mary Beth sighed. “Come on,” she said. She took Charlotte by the arm and led her back to her bedroom. “Let’s get you to bed,” she said. “I’ll stay with you tonight.”

Arthur watched them going down the hall to Charlotte’s bedroom. “Oh, that’s quite all right,” said Charlotte, proper as usual. “It was just a dream. I’ll be fine, Mary Beth.”

“Nuh-uh,” said Mary Beth. “I am staying with you. We are having a sleepover, and you can’t stop me.”

Charlotte was quiet for a moment. Then he could hear that she had come out of it, and she was smiling. “All right,” she said to Mary Beth. “I suppose that would be fine. But really, you don’t have to stay the entire night.”

“I know,” said Mary Beth. “I know. Thank you.”

Then, they were gone.

Arthur took a deep breath, looking around at the neatness of the living room. The expensive blue sofa, the pretty lace curtains. He turned around to clean up the tea from the rug. It wasn’t too bad. He put the mug in the sink, and then he went to sit down at the kitchen table with a small glass of whiskey.

Feeling a little pent up, he lit an oil lamp for extra light and took out his journal which he considered writing in for a time, but then he did not. He closed it, rubbed his eyes. He wasn’t thinking about Charlotte, even as he felt deeply for her and her predicament. He wasn’t thinking about her. In his heart of hearts, he knew she would be okay. He sipped the whiskey and lit a cigarette and slouched in the chair. He let his head hang off the back, rolling it around on his shoulders.

Time was getting longwinded now, thought Arthur in exhaustion, for him and Mary Beth. Every week that passed, the pressure of waiting mounted—it had begun to wear him thin, particularly at the end of each day, and each day got worse than the last. There had still been no word from Dutch in nearly four months time, and tomorrow was Sunday once more. If there was no word still at the post office in Annesburg, he wondered if he would find himself revising their plan, against Hosea’s recommendation. He really did not like this business with John and the penitentiary, and he thought it ought to have been solved by now.

He poured one more glass of whiskey then and brought it with him back to the bedroom. He changed out of his jeans and his shirt and his vest and suspenders and heavy coat, got into bed wearing only his union suit. Propped up against the headboard, he turned the lamp up a little and smoked while working on an old sketch he had been revisiting. It was of Shady Belle. He had wanted to get it perfect. He thought it was one of his best ones yet, and all the right angles juxtaposed with the soft of the vines consuming the house back to nature made his mind quiet. He drank and continued to draw. The country up here was dead quiet, just as it was at Deer Cottage. You could hear nothing but the wind in the chimney and the occasional pack of wolves howling up at the moon.

A little while later, as his eyelids were getting heavy, Mary Beth came back and was surprised that he had not gone to sleep yet. “You’re up,” she said, fluffing her hair. She hopped into the bed, under the covers. “I thought you’d be half to dream land by now.”

“Couldn’t really sleep,” said Arthur. “But I feel better now.”

She put her chin on his shoulder to look at the drawing. “Wow,” she said. “That one is really good, Arthur.”

Arthur sighed, scratched at the stubbled on his chin and kissed her on the top of the head. Then he closed the journal and said, “Thank you, my lady. I thought so, too.”

“Charlotte kicked me out,” she said out of nowhere.

“What?”

“She insisted I return to you.”

“Well, that’s good, ain’t it?” said Arthur. He picked up her hand to brush his thumb across her knuckles. They were somewhat dry from the cold weather.

“I think so,” said Mary Beth. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”

“Yes, I do. But it’s gonna take time. Charlotte seems good at keeping up appearances but under the surface, it’s like tangled barbed wire.”

“Maybe we should take her with us tomorrow,” said Mary Beth. The bed was warm and big around them. “To the town. Maybe getting away from this place for a day, maybe it would do her some good.”

Arthur mulled it over. “That ain’t a bad plan.”

“I just feel like—like this place is all full of reminders. It’s like a dream in and of itself. Maybe seeing the world going on, as usual, maybe that would help.”

“We may be riding through snow,” said Arthur. “At least till we get down from these hills. It’s been overcast all day, and I’m a little concerned about a storm.”

“That’s okay.”

“I was just gonna go by myself,” said Arthur, “but if you ladies want to come, that’s fine with me.”

The wind was blowing then, creaking through the pines and against the window panes. They both turned their heads to look. Mary Beth got closer to him. She said, “I think I’d prefer we all stick together. Just in case.”

Arthur smiled. “When did you become the worrier?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “Since this damn baby.”

He took a big, deep breath then. It went all the way down into his bones, and he placed his hand right on her tummy, where it sloped gently beneath her nightgown. He was now filled with warmth and perseverance. He kissed her on the forehead and said, “It’s gonna be okay.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

She closed her eyes. The wind kept blowing.

“It’s been too many months without word,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am, it has.”

“What happens tomorrow.”

Arthur did not want to worry her, not any more than she already was. He didn't want to worry about tomorrow. “Let’s figure that out then.”

“Maybe the letter will be there this time,” she said. “Maybe this is the week.”

Arthur smoothed the curls behind her ear. He glanced back to the window. “Maybe,” he said. The stove was holding strong, heating the room.

That very night, not so far out, huddled in an abandoned mining shack north of Annesburg, John and Sadie sat, trying to figure their way through a predicament. Along with help from the Texas Rangers, Sadie had busted John free the night before. She had wanted to bring Charles, but Charles was needed to defend the gang. Without Arthur, and now John, too, they were desperate. They needed guns. Plus, the Rangers were good at dealing with law types. They had a curious code, thought Sadie, as they provided a genius distraction at the jail. It involved them detaining the Warden in his office for voluntary questioning, on the accusation that he had knowingly been holding a criminal whose comeuppance rightly belonged to the great state of Texas, not Lemoyne, and that they were there to pick him up. The Warden was dazzled by their badges and easily confused. He listened to them carefully even as he had no idea what they were talking about. It was during this time that Sadie put the lights out on several of the guards outside and wrangled John, who had been digging a midnight trench in ball and chain. Call and LaBoeuf dismissed the Warden well before word broke and paddled them all off the island on a row boat. The job was quiet and smart and the Warden had been none the wiser. Arthur would have bene proud. But in the end, they could hear the alarm sounding from behind as they floated away on their daring escape, and when they docked in Van Horn, they knew it would be trouble. Law had swarmed all up and down the banks of the Lanahechee by that afternoon.

“This is goddam fucked,” said John now. He was angry, and drinking from a bottle of booze they’d plucked off a passed-out vagabond on the beach, north of Van Horn. Sadie was kindling the fire, no nonsense. “We ain’t never gonna get back to Shady Belle at this rate.”

“We ain’t going back to Shady Belle,” said Sadie. “I goddam told you that. Weren't you listening?”

"No, I wasn't,” said John, kind of a smart mouth. “We ain’t exactly had a moment to process since getting off that boat, Sadie. Where the hell are we going?”

“The gang’s in Bluewater Marsh,” said Sadie, ignoring his attitude. “Just for now. Too many Pinkertons moving into the bayou for Dutch’s comfort. It’s temporary.”

"Law on the river banks, law down in the bayou. Where the hell are we supposed to go next?"

"Just keep your head about you."

“Are Arthur and Mary Beth okay?” said John.

“They’re fine,” said Sadie, sighing. “The Rangers sent them on their way a couple days after the river boat. They’re in hiding.”

“Where?”

“How the hell should I know,” said Sadie. “They’re waiting on word from us. It weren’t no picnic arranging for your rescue, by the way. Took more than a month in preparation and even still we had to wait for LaBoeuf to get his legs back after getting shot on the boat you decided to storm.”

John spat into the fire, looked at his boots. “Well, I said thank you,” he said. “And I’ll say it again. Every goddam day of my life. Thank. You.” He closed his eyes. “I ain’t never been so goddam grateful. You got my word on that.”

She looked at him, felt bad all of a sudden. He was sort of like a dumbass puppy, she thought. His beard had grown out while in jail, and he looked older, albeit skinny. She reached into her pocket, withdrew a tin of tobacco and some rolling papers. “Here. Roll some of them up, will you?”

John opened one eye. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m gonna go hunt us something to eat in a minute here. You gotta be hungry.”

“It’s way too cold. You'll freeze.”

“Would you prefer starvation, Mr. Marston?” She took out her pistol, polished it up with a handkerchief.

"No,” said John. “But just—be careful. These hills is full of some weird shit. Bad folks.”

“I know what I’m dealing with.”

“Oh, yeah?” He rolled one cigarette, sealed it, and handed it over. “You ever killed a member of the Murfree Brood?”

Sadie took the cigarette and gave him a look. She leaned forward to light it with the hearth. “Dozens of them,” she said, exhaling a lungful. “Me and Charles hunted O’Driscolls up here a bunch of months ago. Killed our fair share of hill people, too. Mostly with dynamite. They’re real stupid. Tend to live in caves like animals.”

John sighed. He seemed genuinely stressed out, in the way a man should be whose got a family. He kept rolling the cigarettes. He sealed one and then another. He lit one finally for himself and smoked. As he did, he settled back, leaning against the wall. He was still in his prison rags, had dark circles under his eyes. That shack was a piece of shit and looked like it had been previously occupied by shine dealers, but the stove worked, and the chimney was swept. There were a lot of empty bottles and a couple of beds made out of burlap and hay. She listened to him breathing, sighing heavily, like he was meditating or something.

Sadie had fashioned some of the burlap from the shack around her person with her belt, as a makeshift coat. It wasn't fancy, but it would do. On her way out the door she became regretful for no good reason. She looked back at John. She swallowed her pride and said, “Abigail is fine, John. I told you, right? Her and Jack is just fine.”

“Yeah, you told me,” said John, smoking with his eyes closed. “That part, I heard. Thanks.”

“I’m gonna get you back to her,” said Sadie.

“It’s gonna be lawmen everywhere,” said John, shaking his head. "Everywhere."

“Don’t matter,” said Sadie, holstering her volcanic. “We’ll lay low a couple of days, and then we’ll start making our way south. We'll make it.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I ain’t leaving another widow to rot away in this god forsaken country,” she said. “That's why.”

John opened his eyes. Her anger was like an inferno, he thought, burning quietly in the back of her brain. But it was focused. It hadn’t always been focused. The fire was casting shadows on her face and on the walls all around. The wind was whistling though the meager chimney. “Okay,” he said, choosing to believe her. He sort of had to.

So she nodded, full of resolve for the coming task. “I’ll be back,” she said. “Try to get some goddam sleep.”

“I’ll try,” said John.

“Good.” She tipped her hat and was on her way.

Meanwhile, Charlotte sat in her tall, brass bed, by the window. The bed was so white, and pure. The sheets had been a wedding gift from her mother and made of a fine, blue-dyed Egyptian cotton. Mary Beth had washed them and every other scrap of linen in the whole house that week. They smelled clean. They smelled like lavender. Charlotte blinked several times, as her eyes felt dry. She had been reading, but that had got boring. She set the book on the bedside table and was now looking out at the winter weather. As the snow started to fall in little crystals that whipped across the yard and through the woods and down into the open plains, she allowed herself to feel small, and insignificant. Like one stupid widow in a vast husbandless world. She had wanted to be alone, and now she tried to hear his voice in her head, wished for it, just this once, and for one single moment, she thought she could hear it indeed. She closed her eyes. “Oh, Cal,” she said aloud.

But the sound of her own voice startled her. It chased his voice away. Beyond the walls, she thought she could hear more voices now, in the distance, coming up the walk, full of phantoms and strangers who wanted her throat. But it was just the wind.

#red dead redemption 2 #arthur morgan #rdr2 #mary beth gaskill #arthur x mary beth #the lily farm #<3

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zacklover24 · 6 years ago

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Forgotten west chapter 8

Summary: The west was a forgotten place, a time when the land said to be untamable and untouched. A time of gangs and outlaws, a time when the law both good and bad ruled. A time when people did good and bad thing. They lived and they died and time went on, the west was soon forgotten and the gangs that though to rule were long gone and no one could tell who really ruled the land. But this story is about the survival of one gang, and there will and desire to live in changing times. But that didn’t last long soon they were gone and all that was left was broken dreams and broken hope. Time travel au, dealings with the devil, a coming of age story.

Tagging: @dolphinitley, @lokighost, @deputyoneill, @outranks, @nykamito-x, @thotful-writing, @naromoreau, @trashmouth-skywalker

Thank you for your support! Question: Should I post this on Ao3?

Morning came to the camp, a little to fast but also to slow. Arthur woke, happy to see that angel was here and it was not some sort of fucked up dream. The girl was curled up in a ball on her cot, she had been given one of the wolf pelts and was happily sleeping. Arthur smiled, and headed over to the percolator, nothing like a strong cup of coffee to wake him up and to drive away the chill that settled over the camp.

“Good morning, Mister Morgan.” Pearson greets cheerfully as he was making a fresh batch of biscuits.

“Good morning to you Mister Pearson, what a great morning isn’t it?” Arthur asks starting to nurse his coffee.

“You seem to be in a good mood this morning.” Pearson comments with a smile.

“Angel’s back, she didn’t tell those bastards a thing, micah is off living somewhere like a crazy hermit and for the moment were all safe.” Arthur explains smiling watching as john, and javier were switching guard with lenny and karen and were heading off to bed, “JOHN!”

“Yes, arthur?” John asks stopping mid-step.

“Go lay down in my cot, I’m heading out soon.” Arthur tells him, as stored over to john and gave him a quick kiss.

“You feeling’ okay arthur?” John asks him trying to hide his blush, those pearson didn’t seem to care as the many was busying himself with breakfast.

“Feeling fine, just happy to have everyone that should be here is here. Dutch needs to me to head out to check on micah, should be back before tonight.” Arthur tells him with a wink.

John turned a bright red, checking to see that thank God neither angel nor jack were up, “Christ arthur.”

“Just be ready for tonight.” Arthur tells him with a wink, and heading off to his horse, which still did not have a name. Arthur was gone in a flash heading up to get micah and John could blink a few times before heading to arthur cot, john laid down but, not before pressing a kiss to angel check and went to sleep.

Angel work to the sounds of the camp and to light snoring. She sat up to see her uncle John sleeping in her pa cot, that was nothing new. With a yawn, she rubbed her eyes trying to rub sleep out of her eyes. Angel quickly washed and dressed and was heading over to the chuck wagon to grab some grub, when an arm wrapped around her waist,and picked her up, swing her around as she started to giggle, and then someone started to quickly paper her face with kisses.

“Good mornin’ darlin’” Sean greets with a cheery tone of voice.

“Good morning sean.” Angel greets back with a smile as she gave his check a kiss.

“Sleep well darlin’?” He asks setting her down and helping her get a plate, with flapjacks, sourdough biscuits with a nice helping of blackberry jam on it, some sliced apples with tiny bit of honey, and eggs.

“Yes, I did. I missed being here.” Angel tells him as she got her milk, sean and angel walked to the dominoes tables where charles and kieran were eating. Kiern stilled as he saw sean sitting down and helping angel sit.

“Good morning uncle charles, and who are you?” Angel asks looking at kiern with a head title.

“Kieran duffy miss…” Kieran introduces watching sean, who drinking his coffee.

“Angel, angel morgan.” Angel says beaming. Kieran could only stare at angel as she ate, this was arthur daughter? “So where did you come from?”

“We found him when we were up at colter, he’s been helping us take care of the horses and take out colm men” Charles tells her starting to eat. Not a full on lie, but not the whole truth either.

“Oh okay.” Angel says smiling, when breakfast was over, dutch had called angel over to his tent and pulled out a book.

“Angel my dear, why don’t read out loud for a little while?” He asks handing her the book, as he looked out, to see hosea helping jack with his reading while abigail watched.

“Okay uncle dutch.” Angel says smiling as she looked at the book it was ‘alice adventures in wonderland.’

‘ALICE was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, "and what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?'

So she was considering, in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself "Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!" (when she thought it over afterwards it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but, when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.

The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down what seemed to be a very deep well.’

“Your doing great sweetie.” Dutch praises with a head pat, as he started to look for a cigar to smoke. He missed his pipe, maybe arthur could find him a new one.

“Thank you uncle Dutch. Umm uncle Dutch can I ask you something?”

“Of course sweetie.”

“Well the night I got away, a man named Cornwall joined me and milton and he said that you robbed a lot of money from him. And he was looking forward to see hang.”

Dutch room in a deep breath before letting it out, did these men have no shame? The answer was no, who talked about that in front of a child?

“Yes, we did rob him. But this man sounds awful and by the sounds of it he just likes to hear himself talk. We won't let him hang anyone here. Now let's get to your reading.”

Angel read as dutch sat and listened smoking cigar, and the rest of the morning passed the gang on by. And by afternoon, arthur and micah arrived back at camp with a large score and stagecoach, and a notable banking stage, one that dutch didn’t want traced back to him or the gang.

“HOSEA!” Dutch yells as angel was hiding behind him, dutch knew that angel was afraid of micah. Arthur was off to the side, a hand resting on his revelor as he watched for micah to make a move. Even frost was watching micah, the wolf was in attack mood.

“Yes, dutch.” Hosea answer coming over and seeing the stagecoach, “What the hell is that doing here?”

“Mister. Belle and arthur robbed it, and I want it gone!” Dutch yells as angel flinched, dutch patted her on the head, “I’m sorry angel.”

Hosea let out a hum while rubbing his his chain in thought, “I can off load it to seamus over at emerald ranch, should fetch us some money.”

“Fine, do it!” Dutch snaps, “And take jaiver with you, I don’t want you going alone.”

“Naturally.” Hosea agrees going to get jaiver.

“Pa?” Angel softly asks, as arthur looked at angel.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Can I go with uncle hosea and uncle javier? I’ll stay with them I swear.” Angel asks him with a hopeful look.

“I don’t see why not. Give me time to get ready.” Arthur says approving. And soon they were off, heading towards to the ranch

Angel sat between javier and hosea as they rode off to emalard ranch as the horses followed after them. During the ride over, javier was helping angel to learn spanish and she giggled each time he taught her a bad word. Much hosea annyonce. He was also teaching her the words that they passed which made the ride over fast and smooth.

“Stick close both of you, the owner of this place is a right bastard.” Hosea warns as they pulled up, a man who angel guessed was seamus meet them at the entrance to a large barn and they rode right in.

“Not bad hosea.” Seamus says looking the stagecoach over, “I can give you fifty dollars for it.”

“Fine.” Hosea says quickly agreeing, watching angel. The girl was off playing with the dog.

“Your granddaughter?” Seamus asks watching the dog lick her face. And giving hosea the money.

“Something like that, thank you seamus.” Hosea says pocketing the money. Angel was happily playing with the dog, when a cold shiver went up her spine.

“Uncle javier.” She calls finding the man tending to the horses. She ran over to him, feeling very afraid.

“Angel? What’s wrong?” He asks, as she looked afraid.

“I want to go back to camp, now.” She tells him hugging him.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Were going now.” Javier says looking at hosea and gesturing to the horses. Hosea gave a nod and they left. Hosea later pressed angel for answer but, she was mute as to the why.

************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Night soon blanked the area, arthur and john had left at sundown and would be back some time tomorrow. Most everyone in camp agreed that both men needed some time away from camp. Most of the gang had went to bed, leaving few awake. Swanson, and uncle were off drinking, while bill and micah stood watch. Sean and charles were sitting by the fire talking, when sean heard whimpering coming from arthur tent. He stood and walked over to see angel whimpering in her sleep.

“Shh it’s okay dalrin’.” Sean coos rubbing her back as she woke up and looked at him with a fearful look and unshed tears in her eyes. “It was a bad dream, nothing more.”

“It felt real sean ,and it was scary I think.” She whispers pulling her knees up to her chest.

“That’s the thing about dreams darlin’ they may seem real but they ain't. Your safe, ain’t nothing going to hurt you.” Sean gently explains.

“I don’t want to go back to sleep.” Angel whimpers staring at sean.

“Your doing to have to darln’. How about this, why don’t I stay here with you till you fall asleep?” Sean asks.

“I would like that.” She tells him with a small smile, as she laid back down, grabbing sean hand. True to his word, sean stayed till angel went back to sleep, just as frost showed back up and slept under her cot.

“Is everything alright?” Charles asks watching as sean picked up his beer bottle and sit back down.

“Aye she had nightmare, nothing that warnets to much concern.” Sean tells him with a dismissive hand wave.

“That girl, she's a trooper.”

“Her and jack have us watching out for them. As long were here nothin' is going to happen to them.”

End of line

#Forgotten West #red dead 2 #red dead redemption 2 #rd2 #red dead redemption #arthur morgan #john marston #arthur morgan and john marston #charles smith #sean macguire #dutch van der linde #hosea matthews #Javier Escuella #randall pearson #fluff #family fluff #slice of life #kieran duffy

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mangled-dreams · 7 years ago

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Dealings with a Devil (Part 29)

Reader X Darkiplier

You, Reader, have made a deal with what you believed to be a fantasized version of your favorite YouTuber’s alter ego, Darkiplier after he’d visited you in a dream. You believed Darkiplier to only exist in your dreams and on Markiplier’s YouTube channel, but by some impossible way he’s real and he intends on collecting on your debt to him.

“What?” You whisper looking between the five people before you. Sean and Wade had joined for the little gathering of minds. Mark had just told you about the context of the box of mystery and stressed induced sleeplessness.

“I wish I were joking, Y/N. We turned over the box to the police, but since we don't have a name and he hasn't threatened you, there isn't a whole lot they can do.” Mark tells you, gauging your response to his words.

Closing your eyes you bow your head. This is not the way you had imagined ending your week at the convention. In a day you'd be leaving to visit Ida and her family to spend time with her grandmother... but now... now you wonder if that's a good idea. Could this guy just be following you around everywhere? Has he seen you with Anti or Dark? Is your family safe?

Like a broken record, or a CD on a loop, these thoughts run circles in your mind. You feel a little lightheaded and dizzy at the thought your brothers or parents are being photographed because of you. Looking up you note the worried faces, everyone is so concerned and it warms your heart a little... “What should I do? I can't go about my life worrying about someone following me.” You say looking from Mark to Sean. You really wish Anti and Dark could be with you, but neither can really risk being seen by their human counterparts. You don't exactly know why, but they've both stressed it wouldn't be a good situation.

“We were talking about that last night. We can't really help you when you go back to Washington, but while you're here someone is going to be with you at all times. Even if you have to use the restroom. When we know who the guy is and have a photo of him we can let security know and they'll ask him to leave, but the convention is ending today and it'd really be a moot point.” Tyler tells you. You want to laugh about his word choice but can't. This is too serious to even smile.

You appreciate their concern and dedication to keeping you protected, but you can't ask this level of protection and you tell them so. “Thank you for being so ready to keep an eye on me, but that's unfair to you guys. You came to have fun, and I'm sure you've gotten your fair share of...” you pause for a second to think of a gentle word to use. “Enthusiastic fan. I don't want you to have to deviate from your own plans for me.” Everyone gives you a shake of their heads.

“No, we're okay with this. Not to be crude and sound extremely sexist, but that guy could easily just toss you over his shoulder and make off with you.” Ethan pipes in with a slight half smile.

You sigh, he's right. You can manifest things and use telepathy pretty well, but levitation and actual fire power is not your forte. Looking down at your feet again you sigh and resign yourself to your fate.

You spend most of the day glued to someone's side. Whenever you got up to eat, use the bathroom, or even just to wander around the convention to look at other booths you have a chaperon. It's nice, to have the company at least, but it also serves as a reminder that there is potentially a weirdo still out there, attending the convention, stalking you.

Currently it's Ethan walking around with you. He's chatty as always and very fun company. He keeps your mind from going too far into the shaded area of worry as you browse booths, talking with fans and other celebrities, not that you really think of yourself as one. More of a roadie than a celebrity.

You'd just finished talking with Nathan Fallon before heading back to Ethan's booth to finish out the night when you catch sight of a familiar face. You pause ever so slightly, Ethan taking notice and looking in the direction you're looking at. He sees him too.

Mr. Creepy Stalker.

The man's eyes are locked with yours again and you fail at suppressing a shiver. Sure, you've been through quite a bit due to Anti and Dark, but this...it just somehow feels too real. Ethan loops his arm around your shoulders and urges you forward breaking the spell between you two.

“Come on, we need to get back to the booth. I'm going to leave you with Mark and let security know he's here.” Ethan says glancing over his shoulder at the man as you weave through the crowd. You already know Mr. Creepy Stalker is still following you. You can feel it in your bones.

Without real thought you reach out to Anti and Dark. You need their comfort in this exact moment. You feel Dark respond, but he doesn't say anything, merely acknowledging your attempt in contacting him. Anti responds with actual words.

“Everything a'right?” Anti asks.

Your heart is racing in your chest as you get back to Mark's booth. He can tell there is something wrong instantly and quickly comes to greet that pair of you. “What's wrong?” he asks looking at Ethan. “He's here?” Mark asks scanning the crowd with a stern scowl on his lips.

You nod your head and are quickly passed off to Mark. “I just need a little bit of comfort.” You respond truthfully. You feel Anti's unease with your response. “Will I see you or Dark tonight?” You ask, praying the answer is yes to one or both.

“I'm going to let security know.” Ethan says before leaving you in Mark's care.

Mark sits you between himself and Wade as they finish their line of fans. Both remain professional, even as they keep a weathered eye out for your less than welcomed guest. Ethan returned about ten minutes later after reporting in with the security detail. You hate sitting with your stomach turning from both fear and worry for the people around you. Now, more than you ever have, you wish you could use what ever powers Anti and Dark seem to think you have.

“If you need me, I'm there.” Anti tells you. You let him know you need him and he promises to see you when you return from the convention.

When the last of the line is properly greeted, talked with, and leaves with a signed poster of your creation, you turn to Mark and say, “I want to go home, Mark.”

Mark nods, his eyes the softest you've seen them. You wouldn't say he's showing you pity as much as sympathy. He knows there is little he can do to help you past getting you to your hotel room and on our plane tomorrow. You don't blame him for feeling a little helpless in such a situation.

Packing up the few things you brought with you, Mark Wade, Ethan, Tyler, and Sean do the same and the six of you walk out together. You keep your senses sharp as you exit the building.

It's not until you're halfway to the parking garage that you realize you forgot your phone. You honestly debate just leaving it and buying a new one, but you decide against it. What if Mr. Creepy Stalker got to it? He'd have nearly unlimited access to your personal life. “I forgot my phone.” you announce halting the group.

“What?” Tyler asks thinking you must be joking.

“You can't be serious.” Sean adds just as skeptical.

You sigh. “No, I'm not joking. I seriously left my phone and I really don't want to take the chance that Mr. Creepy will get it. I have to go back.” You say looking as bad at you feel about the whole thing.

You hear a collective sigh before Tyler and Ethan pipe up that they would walk you back to the convention floor to get your phone. Mark hesitantly yields and the three of you hurry back to the convention floor while Mark walks with Sean and Wade to the cars.

Your phone is right where you had set it down to adjust your bag before leaving earlier. “Thank God!” you sigh pocketing your phone before heading off with Ethan and Tyler again. “Thank you for coming back with me.” you tell them for the third time.

The pair chuckle. “We know it's over kill, but we want to be safe about this.” Tyler tells you and for the like hundredth time that day, you can see a little bit of Jackson in him. Seeing qualities of your own brother in your guard eases a little of your worry. Ethan definitely reminds you of Anthony though and you aren't sure if it's a good or bad thing.

When you enter your hotel room Anti is there waiting for you. He's sitting on the couch when you enter and stands upon seeing you. Without tough or any words, you hurry into his arms and hug him close. You don't tell him what's wrong right away. You just tell him you need comfort and to feel safe before telling him what had happened.

When you are able to explain what happened the night before Anti is livid with anger. You already knew he'd be like this. His form glitching in and out of your space as he paces back and forth. He's cursing and just about shouting in the room, you have to ask him to quite down a little before hotel management comes to make sure you're okay.

He does, a little, but he's still unable to maintain a completely physical form. You feel a little guilty since it's...in a way your fault? “Anti, please. I...I need you to be level headed. I know this is very unsettling...”

Anti spins on his heel to look at you. His eyes alone make you fawn away from him, but in combination with his scowl you feel a genuine fear you haven't felt in a long time. “This is not your fault!” he nearly howls at you, stalking towards you. You quickly back away. You're 99% sure he isn't going to hurt you, but in this state...you can't hold to that.

“Anti, please.” you squeak when he grabs your arms, pinning you in place.

“Why didn't you tell me? Tell Dark his happened? Do you have any idea how important you are to us? To me?” Anti asks, his hands remaining firm on your arms even as his whole body spasms in front of you. You have to turn your head and close your eyes a little at the viciousness of the colors and flickering.

“I didn't want you to react like this!!” you shout, tears cascading down your cheeks. You wanted to avoid all of this right now. “Please, I...I'm scared, Anti. What if he hurts my family?” You manage to say as his grip loosens a little.

Anti sighs, his head dropping to touch your shoulder as he focuses on controlling his physical form. “I'm sorry.” Its the only thing he says before transporting the pair of you into the bed again, your clothing changing during the split second travel. Anti hold you tight against his chest and you finally feel safe enough to fall asleep.

You now know why it's hard for Anti and Dark to feel comfortable enough to actually sleep.

Part 30

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shadowednavi · 8 years ago

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Well I can’t stop there. Time for EPISODE SIX.

poor cooper. let him sleep.

Audrey let him drink his coffee. AUDREY PLS CONTAIN YOUR THIRST

Jerry is so gross. He's like a short Sean Penn. Get your leg of lamb out of the scene, unless it's used as a murder weapon to take out both him and Ben and served to the police officers a delightful meal.

Okay so the blood on Leo's shirt belonged to Jacques, not Laura. the plot thickens~

There's a porn magazine, fun. And Leo's truck is in one of the photos? SO LET'S GO TO LEO'S HOUSE. WHERE BOBBY IS ABOUT TO DIE. STOP POINTING THAT GUN AT HER. --okay thank god it's the police here first. Shelly thank god you made the connection to Jacques. Please let her murder him. The gun is in her hands, and if Leo dies today, it better be by her hand.

I feel like the healthiest adulterous relationship is Norma and Ed. which really isn't saying much. But they're handling it in the most mature way, which is to split off and settle their situations.

Audrey, NOW what are you doing. JESUS WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING YOU KNOW WHAT I'M JUST GOING TO CALL YOU CHARLOTTE FROM NOW ON BECAUSE HOLY SHIT YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND I MEAN YOU GET SHIT DONE BUT OMG

Donna and James are talking about not keeping secrets between each other and doing "what's right". I hope he's as sincere as he's shown up til now. Donna seems to want to do right by her friend, so hopefully they're both trustworthy?

agent cooper you are wearing forensics gloves and eating a donut. you are going to fsk up your evidence with sugar and glaze.

OH GOD NO LAURA WAS BEING USED AS A MODEL FOR THE PORN MAGAZINE? WITH PHOTOS TAKEN AT THAT ONE EYED JACK PLACE?

So our new investigation crew is Donna, James, and Madeleine (and auxiliary Audrey). I do believe they are as earnest as they seem. So there's something about the Palmer family that deals with visions and premonitions, since Madeleine just spoke about always feeling "close" to OH NO NORMA'S MANSLAUGHTERING MAN IS LISTENING IN WITH HIS CREEPY DOMINO. Hank is his name. That's a lot easier to type.

"family counseling". jesus this is going well.

"Did you CRYYYYY" lol ok jacobi you sure know how to provoke a kid. But hey! it's actually getting results, so it can't be too bad, right? So Laura really was going through some serious emotional issues. --WAIT IS HE INSINUATING LAURA CORRUPTED HIM? How is SHE the one corrupting people? She gets other people around her to do bad things like run drugs and shit? I don't know if I quite understood that, but then again Dr. Jacobi isn't exactly the most trustworthy person, and a shitty doctor if he's leading Bobby's responses on like that.

Oh hello log lady. your log might not judge, but you're being kind of a jerk.

"Shut your eyes and you'll burst into flames". I feel like everything she says is going to be relevant in the future so I might as well write it all down. "Fire is the devil hiding like a coward in the smoke"

So, Agent Cooper. do the honors and ask. what did the log see? "Dark, laughing, the owls were flying, many things were blocked, laughing, two men, two girls, flashlights passed by in the woods over the bridge, the owls were near, the dark was pressing in on her. Quiet then. Later, footsteps. One man passed by, screams, far away, terrible, terrible, one voice (boy or girl?) girl, further up over the ridge, the owls were silent."

Our ghostbusters are now looking into the creepy house from the porn magazine photos. OH THAT'S CREEPY. Red curtains everywhere, with music playing. A camera, and a bird, and twine. AND BLOOD. THIS IS A CURSED PLACE. AND A CHIP WITH A J CUT OUT OF IT. IT'S CURSED YOU GUYS GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN

katherine finds a new way to be a bitch every episode I swear

Audrey now what are you doing, last time you were in a room of norwegians you killed a million dollar deal. Well at least you're out of the room and in your secret passage. She has to stomach watching two monsters make out, but hey at least she got to hear that the mill will be burned? More people knowing about that is a good thing because it might not happen?

WELP IT'S LEELAND'S GRIEVING HOUR. We couldn't go one episode without it, right? OH BUT THE ICELANDIC PEOPLE ARE CATCHING ON TO THE GRIEF DANCE. That's actually kind of charming in its discomfort.

Madeleine coming in clutch, finding a recorded tape in Laura's room! What did you find? or is that going to wait for the next episode?

Wow Josie looks hot in silhouette. WOW JOSIE COMING IN CLUTCH YES YOU FOUND THE BOOK GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT BURN THAT SISTER IN LAW OF YOURS

Oh speaking of burning things Shelly now is your chance to end that fucker-- OH SHIT LEO IS BACK AND GOING TO BURN THE MILL OH SHIT HE GOT HIS ASS BEAT BY ....Ed?

SHELLY PULL THE TRIGGER YES OH MY GOD YOU DID IT OH MY GOD

oh speaking of murder, is Agent Cooper going to murder the choir keeping him up all night-- CHARLOTTE WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING. JESUS

The plot threads are turning into knots, but I think I'm keeping up. I'm remembering a lot more names and faces than I expected to, which is pretty awesome given how big the cast is. thank you concerta for making this a productive first viewing lol

#tricia watches twin peaks #twin peaks #twin peaks spoilers

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tsnficmasterpost-blog · 8 years ago

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ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

tranquilize by oflights: Mark Zuckerberg’s relationship with the Phoenix Club had always been simple, and he liked it that way. Now he’s investigating a rape that took place at one of their parties, figuring out who his friends and enemies are, and desperately trying to keep his past where it belongs. Nothing is simple, especially now that Eduardo has been punched. | Veronica Mars AU. ★★★★★

a fellowship to call your own by antistar_e: “‘Minion’,“ goes Mark, looking up at the last second. "It’s Slytherin for friend.” And, for a beat, Eduardo looks remarkably pleased. | Harry Potter AU. ★★★

five things that never happened to mark zuckerberg by antistar_e: Or, five unfortunate events that could have ruined everything. | Harry Potter AU.

let silence talk to itself by antistar_e: Eduardo says nothing, because they’re only the half-human children of the gods, and what are those worth? Greek heroes are what the universe uses to pick its teeth. | Percy Jackson AU. ★★

shermer’s theory by antistar_e: “Boy,” she’d said. “Boy, when you grow up, you’re either going to go to jail or become a millionaire,” and Mark tips his head back and supposes it’s a good thing he never had plans to be rich. | Another Earth AU.

and your victor is... by antistar_e: Sean Parker hated his government long before he became the winner of the 26th Annual Hunger Games. | The Hunger Games AU. ★★

m.a.d. (mutually assured destruction) by antistar_e: There’s only one way to enter this world, but there are so many interesting ways to leave it. | Serial Killer AU.

the rules of endogamy by antistar_e: Erica Albright goes to state university. She has four brothers and a green-eyed daemon named Oswald, and it’s very hard to get under her skin. | His Dark Materials AU.

heave ho, thieves and beggars by antistar_e: Or, when Wash’s cousin contacts Serenity saying that the youngest, richest man in the universe wants to hire them for a job, an empty purse leaves Malcolm Reynolds hard-pressed to take the offer. The problem? Mark Zuckerberg needs their help to break a friend out of the Academy. And as it turns out, that’s just the easy part. | Firefly AU. ★★★

the twelve labors of sean parker by antistar_e: Meet Sean Parker. He’s 24 years old, he hates most condescending authority figures as much as they hate him, and he’s just joined a crime syndicate called the Harvard Connection. This is going to go well. | Mafia/Superpowers AU. ★★★

the secret life of daydreams by hapakitsune: When the wealthy Dustin Moskovitz arrives in Meryton with two companions in tow, he throws the quiet lives of Christopher Hughes and Eduardo Saverin into chaos. Christopher finds himself falling in love with the charming, affable Dustin while Eduardo and Mark never cease arguing long enough to realize that they may be a good match. | Pride and Prejudice AU.

love in a major key by hapakitsune: Mark and Eduardo’s summer fling should have been just that – a fling. But when they end up in orchestra together, the things they didn’t talk about bubble to the surface, and they’re both forced to deal with the issues neither of them want to confront. | High School AU.

unexpected relations by grim_lupine: It’s true, there’s remarkably little awkwardness between Mark and him. | Stepbrothers AU. ★★★★★

this is your heart (never let it rule your head) by speakmefair: Mark is supposed to be dead. So is Erica. It doesn’t seem to have been anything more than a temporary problem for either of them. Milton, on the other hand, is dead, and Eduardo is trying to work out why none of these things add up to something which makes sense. | Sherlock AU. ★★★

weigh up your options (when you have no choice) by speakmefair: Riding on the crest of the wave of David Beckham’s $250m arrival at LA Galaxy, Peter Thiel decides to create a new team for the MLS: the Palo Alto Redwoods. | Soccer AU.

we’ve got the dreamers’ disease by thedeadparrot: In which Mark and Eduardo are BFFs in high school, Mark has a gigantic, horrible, soul-eating crush on Eduardo, Eduardo has issues, and Sean comes in and blows everything up (not literally). | High School AU.

sympathy for the devil series by thedeadparrot, merisunshine36: Sean is hard at work turning Mark’s budding criminal enterprise into the next big game in town. Then Eduardo shows up, and pretty much ruins everything. | Mafia AU. ★★★

in every line of code by lc2l: Mark’s parents buy him Eduardo - a state-of-the-art, brand new, tailor made robotic best friend - for his birthday. The only problem is, Mark asked for a laptop. | Robots AU. ★★

when they open up your heart by ellot: Eduardo has a timer, Mark doesn’t, soulmates exist, and boys are silly when dealing with feelings. | Soulmates/Timer AU.

best practices in workplace relationships by blackeyedgirl: Where they meet when Mark’s already a billionaire and Eduardo is his new personal assistant.

addendum on setting appropriate boundaries by blackeyedgirl: Eduardo is still trying to work out where the edges of this thing should be. Mark isn’t always much help in figuring that out.

from cover to cover by abriata: Where Mark is a famous novelist, and Eduardo is his agent. | Author AU. ★★★

threads by abriata: Eduardo marries Mark to avoid getting deported. Five years later, he wants a divorce. Mark is not okay with this. | Marriage-of-convenience AU. ★★★

for a purpose by abriata: Mark draws Eduardo long before he meets him. | Magical Abilities AU.

call me (any, anytime) by aqualined: The one where Mark learns proper phone etiquette and that you can actually fall in love with the sound of someone’s voice—well, maybe if that someone’s Eduardo. | Tech Help AU.

call to me with words i never knew by forsanethaec: In which Mark learns how to make a friend, and then learns a little more. | Investor!Eduardo AU.

sweet on you by moogle62: Cakes are baked, feelings are felt, and Mark makes his known - eventually. | Baker AU. ★★★★★

you go talk to your friends, talk to my friends, talk to me by moogle62: Mark tries to remember that feelings are not the enemy, especially when they involve Eduardo, the ludicrously attractive transfer student. Also includes: awkward math class flirting, Erica's orange socks and people making out in cupboards. | High School AU.

shaped like a question mark by jibrailis: Where Eduardo is a children’s librarian and Mark is an information specialist brought in to revamp the catalogue. And along the way there are books! misunderstandings! online reference! romance! | Librarian AU. ★★

clockwork heart series by addandsubtract: Mark’s a hacker. Eduardo is – not. | Cyberpunk AU.

just gonna get my feet wet until i drown by justbreathe80: Good thing he hadn’t tried too hard to picture Mark Z., because after Sean’s hyper, condescending reminder about how important this client was, he wouldn’t have imagined this guy staring him down, not blinking, for the world. | Prostitution AU.

whatever it is that a wound remembers by ailurish: Mark is good at computers and keeping Eduardo safe. He is not good at keeping himself safe. | Spy AU.

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hermanwatts · 5 years ago

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Fantasy New Releases: 25 April, 2020

This week’s fantasy new releases feature Appalachian witches, sellswords-turned-usurpers, and vampire hunters more dangerous than the vampires they pursue.

Blood Creek Phantom (Blood Creek Series #3) – Jay Barnson

An army of the living and an army of the dead converge on the Crossroads, and the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance.

Sean Williams can see the ghosts of the dead rising in Maple Bend. They can see him, too—including the vengeful spirit of a serial murderer hunting him. To save Maple Bend from the plans of the Man in the White Suit, Sean must put the dead to rest—but doing so may cost him the girl who haunts his dreams.

Beyond the Crossroads, a powerful army approaches, led by the evil daughter of the Man in the White Suit. Jenny Morgan, an inexperienced witch self-exiled to this magical parallel version of West Virginia, stands with the defenders to halt a vastly superior force. But is she truly part of the last line of defense against the darkness, or is she the key to its victory?

The Faerie Trader – J. R. Castle

From the World of The Alburnium Chronicles comes another enchanting tale.

Jael Azazel’s friends describe him as a stupid faun with a big heart, but Jael respectfully disagrees. Truth is, he’s simply not been able to catch a break. What he needs is a bit of luck to get back on his hooves.

Then along comes the deal of a lifetime. With the wealth acquired, Jael sees that he will be set for life, be able to hold his head high, and hopefully win Tila’s heart.

But it’s what he doesn’t see that could land him in a world of trouble and shatter all his hopes and dreams.

Flame (Awaken Online: Tarot #2) – Travis Bagwell

Deadly competition. Deep desert. A dying tyrant.

Finn Harris was declared the Mage Guild’s champion.

However, that was only the beginning of the Emir’s competition. The next stage will send Finn and his companions deep into the desert north of Lahab in search of a long-lost relic. The magical artifact is said to be held within the Abyss.

Except, this time, he’s not just facing novice mages. Everyone in the region seems to be arrayed against him, god and man alike. Racing against the other two champions, swept into the middle of a conflict between the Emir and those he’s wronged, and at the mercy of a manipulative fire goddess, Finn must battle his way through the Abyss and claim his prize.

Yet he will not stop, and he cannot afford to fail – not with Rachael’s life hanging in the balance.

He will need to embrace his gifts and overcome his past.

Finn will need to become a true prophet of the flame.

Operation Vampire (Murphy’s War #1) – Steven G. Johnson

Mick Murphy’s an Irish half-elf from Manhattan. His best buddy, Dave, is a dwarf from Brooklyn. Along with a company of misfits, screwballs and, well, trolls from the pit, they’ll take on anything Austro-Hungaro-Roumania, or even Hell, cares to throw at them.

Assigned to King Company—the reconnaissance company—of the 134th Infantry Regiment in November of 1944, they’re the regimental reserve, the Colonel’s bodyguard, the military police, and general rock-straighteners. But once in a while, when the gremlins stop hexing their Jeeps, they go out and poke around to find out where the Enemy is and what he’s up to.

They’re very good at finding and dealing with all the vampires, werewolves, and sky demons the Enemy can throw at them. Unfortunately, though, behind them are the Big Boys, deep down in a pit of their own, and the War won’t end until G.I.s plant their boots on the Devil’s throne and kick him out.

Working their way up to this biggest of D-Days—the assault on Hell, itself—is going to tax the United States Army to its utmost…but the dogfaces on the Line are one step ahead of the brass, because they’re already halfway to Hell.

Rogue Evolution (The Rogue Dungeon #4) – James Hunter and eden Hudson

Build. Evolve. Conquer.

Welcome to the dawn of a whole new kind of monster…

Roark von Graf built a nation on the bodies of griefed players and disgruntled mobs who wanted him dead. He grinded his way up to the level cap of the Troll Evolutionary Path and made powerful underhanded alliances along the way, but even all of that isn’t enough to defeat the Tyrant King’s right-hand mage, Lowen, and the Divine armies of the most powerful dungeon in the game.

When Lowen and the Vault of the Radiant Shield go on the attack, Roark’s only hope of survival lies in the stolen World Stone Pendant and its mysterious transmutation magic. To stand a chance against the overpowered mage, he’ll have to unlock the game-changing cheat that is Mega-Evolutions.

But while Roark and his Troll Nation are entrenched in an all-out battle for survival, the Tyrant King is preparing to unleash his hidden weapon—one that will hit Roark where he’s most vulnerable…

The Usurper (Brutal #1) – James Alderdice

Introducing the Usurper King…And the Road to the Crown is paved in blood…

The Fates weave a tapestry of life and death for young Gathelaus the Sellsword. Now an unexpected opportunity presents itself for the famed mercenary, he has but to claim the blood red crown…

But once you wear the crown, how long can you hold it until that power is turned against you? Follow Gathelaus on a journey through a life of magic, action and intrigue; battling gods and monsters across a mystic realm …

The Usurper is an action-packed heroic adventure in the vein of classic pulp fiction and heroic fantasy. If you like Conan the Barbarian, The Witcher and Logen Ninefingers along with vengeful sorcery, savage duels, larger-than-life characters, and witty humor, then you’ll love James Alderdice’s barbaric tale.

Vampire Hunter D Volume 29: Noble Front – Hideyuki Kikuchi

12,090 A.D. It is a dark time for the world. Humanity is just crawling out from under three hundred years of domination by the race of vampires known as the Nobility. The war against the vampires has taken its toll; cities lie in ruin, the countryside is fragmented into small villages and fiefdoms that still struggle against nightly raids by the fallen vampires-and the remnants of their genetically manufactured demons and werewolves. Every village wants a Hunter-one of the warriors who have pledged their laser guns and their swords to the eradication of the Nobility. But some Hunters are better than others, and some bring their own kind of danger with them…

Out on the Frontier, the killers called the “Nameless” have no wanted posters–because everyone they go after winds up dead. Now D must measure his sword against these grotesque and deadly freaks!

Hired by the mayor of Schwartzen to stop a corrupt political ploy that would sacrifice human lives to appease the local Noble, Grand Duke Bergenzy, the vampire hunter arrives in town to find his client has himself dropped dead under suspicious circumstances. His widow, wanting no more bloodshed, begs D to simply forget the job–but D’s interest in the job is just beginning…

Watcher’s Test (Life in Exile #1) – Sean Oswald

This isn’t a game. This is his new life.

Dave has been wandering through life for a long time. His day job bores him and he never seems to be able to meet his family’s expectations. The only escape he’s ever had is his love of MMORPGs.

But when he becomes the subject of a test without even knowing it, he’s portaled into a game-world called Eloria with no way out. It’s a frequent daydream of his, however, in none of those dreams did his wife and daughter ever accompany him.

Now, Dave must balance protecting his family with exploring his dream… oh, and trying to stay alive. Monstrous beasts roam Eloria, worst of all, an undead army led by the vile Death Knight.

He’ll have to adapt fast and learn to cooperate if he hopes to make a new home for his family. And just maybe, along the way, he’ll find out why they’re living a life in exile.

Fantasy New Releases: 25 April, 2020 published first on https://sixchexus.weebly.com/

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