Teasers

Hungry Lake

The first freeze sends a man to his death every year out here. You would think that the stories of so many years would keep them away until it was safe, but no one believes it will be him that is chosen. They all know that the northern lake has the best winter game, both under and above the ice. Everyone wants to cash in, but so does the lake. Just one a year, but without fail every year. They are never found in the spring. Bodies, clothing, gear -- all of it taken by the lake.

Those of us that live here know better than to trust the lake until after the sacrifice. That's what we call it, what else could it be? The rest of the year there are no problems; no one has ever drowned here in the summer and only one ever falls through in the winter. The lake takes its sacrifice and serves us well the rest of the year.

Vinny the Vampire

Wear dark clothes, Vincent. Stay in the shadows. You draw too much attention to yourself, Vincent. The voice of his mentor, and sire, echoed in his mind, just one more argument on the same old, tired topic. Christopher disapproved of everything that his young childe ever did, or so it seemed to Vincent. It was a lovely night, the sky clear, the cobblestones wet from a shower earlier that day, and the moon reflecting brightly in the puddles along the edge of the street.

"I don't know why he thinks I can't take care of myself. I like wearing bright colors; it brings out my eyes. And the shadows just make everything so drab." The pale young man, wearing a bright red jacket over a crisp white shirt and shiny purple pants that had cost a fortune, spoke to no one but himself as he strode down the sidewalk of the darkened city. "Why shouldn't I let people see me? It's not like I eat in the town square."

Shattered Dreams

It was a sunny summer day. She and her father sat in a small motorboat in the center of the lake behind the family�s cabin. They were silent, watching their bobbers for any sign of movement. The seconds dragged into long minutes and it did not take long before the young girl got bored. Spying the cup of worms, she began to pick them out and line them up on one end of the seat. She was trying to get them to race one another. Her father�s laughter boomed across the lake, but soon he was too busy reeling in his line to notice that the long worm was winning. He pulled in a big perch.

It seemed like hours before her bobber sank. Even the worms had gotten bored of the races. She struggled with a fishing pole twice her height, but managed to land a good-sized sunfish, without too much difficulty. �Big yellow belly, like the sun� Dad had told her only last year when he had taught her to name all the fish in the lake.

The Demon Within

The house was silent, even Lord Gastone had gone to bed, done with his books for the night. Jacob had retired hours ago, the last round for the evening long since finished. It was time to go, a beautiful evening for a stroll. The house was boring, they all needed a bit of excitement, and Gerald was only too happy to oblige. He would give them something to do. Lord Gastone spent too much time with his books and Jacob had only children to chase out of the orchard.