Trade All the Stars
At this exact moment, everything aligned to make daylight in New Coyoacan the brightest it could be. In another twelve minutes, the Ring would face Ceres' dark side and the ambient light would dim, if only by a few dozen lumens thanks to mirrors and...
Going Concerns (Chapter 4)
Annie couldn't remember when she'd managed to get to sleep. It was before sunrise, at least. Betteridge and Ayalin hadn't asked too many questions of her, and had asked even fewer questions that hadn't already been asked--and answered--with their...
Going Concerns (Chapter 3)
Whatever else she thought of Gibson, Annie couldn't accuse him of coming unprepared. He'd brought a better lockpick set than she owned--well, than the one she _had_ owned, before she'd had to sell it--and had let both of them into Union's office so...
Going Concerns (Chapter 2)
Before last year, Annie had been in Guard stations perhaps once before in her life. After last year, she'd hoped to never be in one again. They'd been unfailingly polite throughout that investigation, which she'd started out appreciating but ended up...
Going Concerns (Chapter 1)
It was at about the halfway point between Islip's Books and her second-story flat in the East Garden district of Raneadhros--as she'd never seen a garden there, she had yet to understand the name--that Annie began to suspect she was being...
The Narrow Road in Morning Light
When she entered the inn, framed momentarily in the doorway by the fading sunset, the four patrons--and the innkeeper--looked up. Normally, few passing by her on a road would spare a second glance. She did stand out; wolves were an uncommon race, and...
Indigo Rain (Part 1)
Bells on ankles, wrists, and tail jangled a wild rhythm as Roulette spun on one leg, the other bent at the knee, lifted high. Each ring and clap was as precise as each flare of her skirt. With no musical partner, it fell on her shoulders alone to hold...
Christmas at Joe's
The bell on the diner's door jangled, stilled, jangled again spasmodically as a blast of cool air came in from the mostly-empty city street outside. "Hi, Frank," Jean said. She hadn't looked up from the counter, cleaning rag still in hand; she just...
Shattered Stone (Part 2)
She woke up to the sound of a soft tapping at her door. She blinked sleep out of her eyes, and looked at the clock; the hour suggested it should be twilight. Sitting up in bed, she arranged the sheet around herself and unlatched the door from across...
Going Concerns (Chapter 9)
Sinvy had reached the hotel room before they did; as they walked down the hallway toward him, he had his own pocketwatch out. "There you are!" he exclaimed. "You're five minutes late!" "That's it?" Gibson sounded surprised. "We made better time than I...
Going Concerns (Chapter 8)
"I hate funeral homes." Annie trudged behind Gibson up the walk to Barash and Sons Mortuary. In the way of all its kind, the building imposed serenity through artifice. The tastefully understated one-story brick structure _almost_ looked like it could...
Going Concerns (Chapter 7)
"So you're saying _you're_ our original informant." They guided him inside, Annie only letting go of his arm once he'd been guided to the couch and forcibly sat down between them. The Rilima nodded, readjusting his shirt collar and glaring at Annie....