After a wonderful family trip to Tennessee, I am trying to get back into the groove. I know I missed some good stories and will catch up on those as I am able. Welcome to Tuesday Tales, where you’ll find entertaining excerpts from a group of hard-working writers. You can enjoy stories and see works in progress unfold. This week’s word prompt is year, and the excerpt is from a fae-themed historical fantasy. Make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
A primeval forest stretched out before me, and then snapped like a rubber band to cocoon me with a confusing dance of images. Each overlapped the others in skewed, akilter waves. I waded as through molasses. Huge flowers drooped along the crowded pathway. Hollow sounds and musical tones cavorted around me like partygoers celebrating a new year. I sought a particular crystalline voice for its centering guidance. From the morass it fluttered. Follow the amaryllis. Follow the golden sepaline drops. Delphine’s words echoed inside my head and popped out before me as if printed on poster board.
In agony I clutched my hand. The Oghamic symbol carved into my palm burned like the sear of a hot poker. The symbol pulsated and took on physical form, pressing against each inch of my flesh. The pressure on my stomach was nauseating. I was being pushed and squeezed through a tube the size of a slender reed, strewn out like a string of taffy. The journey through the interdimensional portal sucked the oxygen out of me.
When I could breathe again, I found myself heaving, face up, on the forest floor. It was different now, less crowded and yet even more surreal. Someone I instinctively knew as not a friend hovered over me, along with other members of his group. “Give her some space.” Irritation turned his voice shrill.
Like rows of choreographed ants, his assembly glided away, forming a v-shape around me.
I rolled over, lifted myself onto all fours, and jerked upright, planting my feet and swaying.
His lip curled. “For what it’s worth, she lives.”
I forced a grin. “Speak to me, not about me.”
“Cheeky twit.” He turned away.
“Wait! Which way do I go?”
A gleam appeared in his slitted eyes. Flabby lips clamped into pencil stubs and then smacked open. “You request a boon?”
His eager expression stopped me cold. There was no camaraderie to be found here.
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the picture prompt year. Thanks for stopping by. Read the other amazing excerpts at Tuesday Tales.
Wishing you a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2021.
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2020 Flossie Benton Rogers
Rather an eerie scene. Fantastic descriptions. Well done.
That journey is somewhat eerie. Thanks, Susanne!
No! Not fair to leave us dangling. Vivid imagery. Captivating.
I’m glad you find it captivating. Thanks, Loretta!
Wonderful descriptions! Well done.
I’m glad you liked the descriptions!
Ooh intriguing! You have such a way with descriptions.
Thank you, Cathy!
I love the imagery of the scene! And he gave me the chills! Great job!
He is a bit chilling to me, too, Tricia.
Wow!! Always impressive- I feel like I was there. – this part is perfectly wonderful as a description: The pressure on my stomach was nauseating. I was being pushed and squeezed through a tube the size of a slender reed, strewn out like a string of taffy
Jillian
I’m glad you liked that image, Jillian. Thanks so much.