[NANOWRIMO] Day 13

As I stand gaping at her, Faun throws her arms open wide. As she envelopes me in a back-crunching hug, the aromas of sage and cinnamon assail my nostrils. I cough lightly and she laughs again. She releases me and steps back into the hall as her dark eyes survey me from hair to heels.

"Oh, Becca, you know I love you, but you worry too much."

"Mom does need us."

"You know she only needs you. Is this about Larry?"

I inhale sharply. "Why would I call you about him?"

"Because I am the only person who understands you." She grins as she grabs the handle of her bag and wheels it into the room.

I close the door and follow in her wake. She sits down on my couch, a queen on her throne, and gestures elegantly for me to sit down beside her.

"Have a seat on my couch and Dr. Freud and I will help you with your issues."

I frown at her but find myself seated beside her. "I don't..."

"...really want to talk about it." She reaches out to take my hand, flipping it over to peer at the lines on my palm. "That's okay. Your lifeline tells me everything I need to know, but maybe you should tell me what you need to know."

I try to wrap my head around her statement, find myself more confused, and shake my head. She leans in to stare deep into my eyes.

"It's okay, Becca. You will talk to me eventually, but I didn't come in response to all your messages."

"What?" Something about her gaze made me uncomfortable.

I tried to draw away, but she grabbed my other hand. Her eyes widened as she spoke softly. "I recently found out something about myself...about us..."

As she paused, I tried again to reclaim my hands. She held them tighter and continued. "We have a destiny. I want to embrace it , but we have to embrace it together."

I opened my mouth but lost my will to speak as her voice washed over me again. "I just need your blood to get things started."

"My blood?" Words found their way to my lips at last. "Should you be taking some sort of medication?"

"No. Just be quiet and close your eyes."

I don't want to obey, but something in the tone of her voice hypnotizes me. As she disappears behind my eyelashes, her smile falters. Then my eyelids block out the light and I wait. My heart beats faster in the darkness and I wait. Her grip on my hands loosens, but she doesn't let them go. Even if she did, I know I couldn't pull away now. Something draws me in. Curiosity?

What is she about to do? A part of me feels like I always knew her words to be true. We are meant to do something great or terrible. With my sister, I fear she might choose the terrible and drag me into the darkness with her.

Called away again by the hungry, but I finally posted. Tell me how excited you are or share your questions or comments below. It might inspire me.

[NANOWRIMO] Day 6

Clearly, a real try for 50,000 beautiful words would have proven a failure this month, but I have returned for another installment. Post any thoughts in the comments below.

"Faun?" I shudder slightly at the desperate sound of my voice.

"Yes, Becca." I can hear the smile in her voice. "Miss me?"

"Why haven't you called?"

"Right to business then?"

I don't respond. I know she is baiting me. After a minute of silence, she sighs. Another minute and she clears her throat loudly. I wait. She waits. I hit the mute button so she can't even hear me breath.

"You called me..."

I bite my lower lip and wait.

"...so what did you want?"

I click the mute button again. "You have to learn to listen to your messages."

"I did, but you didn't say what you really want."

"I did. I want you to come home." Annoyance forces the words out in short, clipped bursts.

"You can tell me whatever it is over the phone."

"I shouldn't have to. You..." A loud knock on the door cuts off my rant. "Hold on."

As I walk toward the door, Faun laughs. I frown and grab the knob. As I pull the door toward me, I peer into the hallway. My frown deepens as the gypsy girl standing there grins at me.

"Someone's at the door." Faun's voice floods over me. "Happy to see me?"

Have more to type, but my boss needs food. :)

[NANOWRIMO] Day 1

Not a lot of sparks were generated by my comments, which kind of leaves me to my own devices. Clearly, my readers don't realize how dangerous that can be. Let me shake my head and let some ideas bounce into each other.

The whir of the blender pulls me back out of my troubled thoughts. I didn't realize I hit the button and now my attempt at a milkshake has become thick, chocolatey milk. I shake my head and turn it off. I dump the frothy mixture into a large milkshake glass and open the top drawer, reaching to the back until I feel a straw. I pull it out, disinterestedly observing the lime green hue as I drop it into my concoction.

As the chilled chocolate rolls across my tongue, my mind wanders again. I close my eyes and picture a scene thousands of miles away. I wonder how accurate my vision can be with no response to dozens of emails and almost as many phone calls. I open my eyes and reach for my phone.

"No new messages."

Words that wound my heart flash across the screen. I flip it over so the unkind, unblinking face can't continue to scream my rejection. To further taunt me, the phone rings. The shrill tones inform me that the call is not the one I want. I sigh and turn away, refusing to let the real world pull me out of my attempts at prognostication.

As I step into the living room, I realize I have downed the entire milkshake in record time. I set the glass down on the end table and sit on the couch. I stare blankly at the television, willing visions to splash across the dark screen. Once more I am denied. I sigh and reach for the remote. The landline phone rings. I stare at it, waiting for the mechanical voice to break the silence.

"Faun's cell."

I jump for the phone.

Where do you think this should go?