Tuesday Tales is a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their WIPs based on word and picture prompts. Today’s prompt is the picture below. This week we switch to a work in progress entitled Kestrel. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
The demon’s hands were freezing, his wings cold and rubbery against Kestrel’s arm where he had her tucked her in close to him as they flew. She wrinkled her nose. The cold, putrid formaldehyde smell clung to her pores and filled her mouth, gagging her.
Swirls of light flashed by, as they soared at a dizzying pace. Oh my goddess, they were traversing dimensions. Her heart sank. Even if she could free herself, where would she go? How could she possibly get back to her own world?
The sound of the sea penetrated her consciousness, and she looked down in amazement at a vast expanse of choppy gray water. A tall crag loomed off in the distance, slowly growing larger as they moved closer. The gothic stone castle atop the rocks sent her heart racing. Unless there was egress on the opposite side, there was no way of leaving this fortress without jumping to her death on the rocks below.
Entering through an open window, he set her down in a large, ornate sitting room. She shuddered and stumbled backward, casting her eyes around for a door or any means of escape. A flash of pastel caught her eye. She frowned at the painting hanging over a mahogany serving table. It depicted three cocktails, pink, aqua, and purple.
Capricious and out of place in this Victorian styled room.
“Sit, Kestrel,” the demon commanded, indicating a lady’s armless chair upholstered in luxurious gold brocade.
She sank into the chair, hating the way his hissing voice sent fear bubbling through her veins.
His thin lips spread into what he probably considered a smile. “I think you need repast after our excursion.” He extended an arm toward the painting. The cocktail with the purple liquid materialized in his hand.
Kestrel sucked in a breath. What the hell was going on here?
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Cheers & Happy Reading! 
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
So beautifully written and, a wow-factor for including the prompt into the scene. Well done 🙂
Thank you, Iris! I wondered if I was being too literal, but I couldn’t resist the demon’s cool trick.
I love the way he made the drink appear out of the painting! So cool, so original. Yes, I agree with Iris, I love your description. I could feel myself flying along with her. Great scene!
Thank you, Jean! What a nice thing to say.
What a wonderfully written snippet! I loved all the detail and that magical painting.
Thanks, Vicki! Don’t we all wish we had such a painting?
Wow! I was glued the whole time! Great imagery!
Thanks so much, Tricia!
Love it Flossie!!! I also have a hero named Kestrel in one of my books. The drink coming out the painting was a very clever use of the prompt.
Jillian
Thank you, Jillian!
Powerful imagery in this short snippet and such a clever way to include the picture prompt. Hope you share more of these two. I want to know why he picked her and how she’s going to end up.
Thank you, Sherry! I appreciate that.
Loved it!
An usual way to use the picture prompt, and it worked very well. Great job!
Especially how he materialized the drink in his hand from the picture.
I’m glad you thought it worked well, Trisha. Wasn’t sure if I was being too literal!