#vss365 "There." She stepped back and gave her handiwork a quick inspection. "It should work in complete #harmony with the magic and make sure you don't get any more cutouts." "You sure?" "Positive. Machines I get, just trust me." She faltered as he turned his attention to her. "Or not."

#vss365 "Does it hurt?" She stared at the palm of his hand where the ball of #lightning sat. "Me? No." "But if I touched it?" Her eyes were wide with wonder. He didn't know how to react, was he just a science experiment? "Depends on the power I put into it." She swallowed and pulled her hand away.

#vss365 Smoke and sparks filled the office as he looked around, surveying the damage. Stray magics calmed, fizzling out to nothing. He still felt the thrum of his power as he checked everyone was okay. His landed on her last. Magicless, she still looked fierce and powerful. He stared, #spellbound.

A little isometric cavern. Flaming pedestal. Chest on a plinth. Bosh. What more do you need?

He handed it to her without a word. He averted his gaze, as if worried. Frowning, she opened the #jewellery box and lifted out the simple chain. "It's um..." "I know you don't like rings, I thought you could wear this on it." The second box took her breath away as he knelt. #vss365

#vss365 "Kae said you needed help with your test." He took his jacket off and threw it over the back of a chair. He scowled, folding his arms to show lack of enthusiasm. "Oh, you're helping?" "Clearly there's no stopping you, so at least this way I can keep an eye." She smirked."How #magnanimous."

#vss365 "Kae said you needed help with your test." He took his jacket off and threw it over the back of a chair. He scowled, folding his arms to show lack of enthusiasm. "Oh, you're helping?" "Clearly there's no stopping you, so at least this way I can keep an eye." She smirked."How #magnanimous."

#vss365 Erin watched Lyle as he moved across the office, averting her eyes if he looked her way. Gone were his normal catlike movements and keen gaze. Instead, he was almost shuffling, struggling to hold himself through #lethargy. His refusal to eat was especially worrying for a vampire.

A little temple map. Somewhat ruined, probably located hidden between the boughs of a dense forest.... #rpgmap

#vss365 "I've been looking for you everywhere." "I'm where you left me." She was even sat at the same desk with her presentation notes in front of her. "Why? Come on, all the #splendor of Avalon awaits, let's go for a walk." He held the door. "I don't think I can." Her eyes were wide and terrified.

#vss365 "You're being watched." Her eyes flicked to the bar where the two women stood. They smiled as they spotted his attention and waved. He smiled awkwardly back. "But I'm sat with you." "They see a #timid ghost. I couldn't possibly be on a date with you." She shrugged. "That's not what I see."

#vss365 "What #quest are we going on tonight?" Godley nearly dropped his bags of snacks all over the table. "We haven't finished the last campaign yet." Todd replied. "Weren't the trolls defeated by the giant stoat?" Godley's face creased in confusion. "No that was real. Harix still has the stoat."

Shameless Self-Promo Saturday! Need a fantasy read with HEART? Look no further and grab your copy of BUDDY THE KNIGHT AND THE QUEEN OF SORROW today! www.amazon.com/Buddy-Knight...

Kezia is not happy. Armed with her new info she decides to face up to the archangel... open.substack.com/pub/lexikoni... #fantasy #angels #freefiction #fiction #writingcommunity

#vss365 Thos closed the door behind him and sat the other side of her desk without speaking. "If you've come to tell me I'm getting #obsessed with this, the others have all been in here first." "I've learnt it's not wise to dismiss your ideas out of hand. Tell me what you have."

#vss365 She picked up her bag and left before he could yell some more. As soon as the door swung shut, she heard it open again. "What were you thinking? I told you how dangerous he is. You thought going in there alone was a #stellar idea did you? That maybe I was exaggerating?" 1/2

#vss365 "Your #blatant disregard for instructions and your own safety is mindblowing." Thos slammed a photo on the table in front of Rowan. "I explictly told you NOT to go back. I would find a another way of finding the proof." "I didn't." Rowan leaned forward looking at it. "That isn't me." 1/2

#vss365 He stomped down the corridor. The windows to his left caught his reflection. He knew he looked bad, but he could still do this. He took a deep breath and pulled himself together. At least she wouldn't be here, watching him. She wouldn't want to be near the #beastly captain ever again. 1/2

#vss365 She tentatively entered the chamber. "Should I be in here?" "I asked you to come, and at the moment, I'm in charge so yes." "At the moment?" "If I get this wrong, then I won't be." He pointed at the plans. "I need someone I trust, to tell me what key, #miniscule detail I've missed."

I've just added a new episode to the substack of the ex-angel turned detective series. Kezia finds out some troubling truths today. Things are about to get serious. open.substack.com/pub/lexikoni... #fantasy #fantasyfiction #writing #series #angels #amwriting #reading #books #writingcommunity

#vss365 "Why are you sitting with all the lights off?" He only just spied her thanks to the glow from the hallway casting the narrowest sliver of light across her. "All the things I'm scared of, the #dark has never been one of them." She squinted. "I like it, feels like I can actually breathe."

#vss365 "Have you been to a reunion?" Rowan scrolled through the posts about the upcoming event. "No, I lost #touch with a lot of people." Elena shrugged. "School or university?" Elena hesitated, looking sheepish. "Both. You know how it is, if you don't message first, then it all goes silent."

#vss365 "Are you hiding?" "I call it a tactical withdrawal," Elena shrugged. He continued to stare at her, silently urging her to explain. " #Bones are their thing, I do the tech stuff. Without any manual help from those two either so they can dig around in the dirt on their own thanks."

#vss365 She couldn't take her eyes off him. His normally #pale skin was nearly translucent and if they didn't find a way out soon, he was going to lose control. "Stop looking at me like that," he slurred. "Like what?" "Like I'm going to eat you. I've got hours." He couldn't lie to save his life.

#vss365 They sat in a circle, all watching the lambent firelight. Having to set up camp here for the night wasn't ideal but they couldn't go back or keep searching. The flames were mesmerising - enough to make them all silent. A spark jumped and Elle recoiled, snapping upright. "I know where it is."

#vss365 The #pain in his eyes made her own heart ache. "Feels like everything's going wrong," he continued. "And there's nothing I can do about it." "You're used to being able to make a difference," she nodded. "Now you get to see what it's been like to be me. Utterly powerless."

#vss365 He was staring into space. The coffee in front of him was untouched alongside his phone flashing angrily at being ignored. She sat opposite him cautiously as if approaching a wild animal. "All a bit much?" He blinked, focusing his eyes on her. "It's making my #soul hurt."

Check out Fantasy Map Maker - now live on Kickstarter!

#vss365 "How late were you working on that last night?" She shrugged but the #shadows under her eyes told the truth. "I know you're trying to help,but what good will it do if you burn yourself out?" He gritted his teeth. She wasn't listening. "You need to ease back slowly." "I need to feel useful."

A couple of close-ups of an isometric fort I drew for a commission last year. It was a lot of fun to draw!

#vss365 Rowan ran her fingers over the words. "Over time, everyone thought they knew best and interpreted the translations but they did was #obfuscate the meaning. To see what it really says you need to go back to the source, to translate it firsthand. Then," she tapped it, "then we find the prize."

#vss365 He caught sight of her across the room. He could tell her energy was beginning to #wane. Her eyes were starting to wander, looking for the way out. He wove his way through the crowd towards her and lent in to her ear. "I think you've done your duty. Shall we escape?"

#vss365 "We're leaving in ten." "I need more time, I'm on the #cusp of..." "A breakthrough? The same one you've been talking about for 20 hours? We can't wait Elena." "I'm close." "You're not, so can you just stop for 2 minutes and talk to me?" "Why so you can say goodbye?" Her voice cracked. 1/2

#vss365 It had all been a trap, not even an elaborate one. I turned, knowing what I was going to see: his glowing eyes and unnaturally sharp teeth. "The best #ruse is the simplest one," he hissed. "I didn't even really have to do much, you convinced yourself of most of it, I just nodded along."

#vss365 "It won't work." She stated matter of factly. "I'm not doing anything." "You're trying to make me #bend to you will by glowering at me." She kept moving around the room. "But you've overused your weapon, I am now impervious to your glower." "Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow. She shivered.

Latest episode of Falling is up on the substack. Kezia goes to get help from Bertie, but who or what is he? open.substack.com/pub/lexikoni... #angels #writing #fiction #fantasy #fantasyfiction #freereads

#vss365 "I can't concentrate while you're #looming over me." "I am not looming." She slowly lifted her head, peering up at him. He was incredibly close. She swallowed. "What do you call this then?" "Taking an interest." He shrugged one shoulder. She felt her face grow red. If only.

Too many distractions. Flashing lights, rolling videos, information overload. Brain can't stay on course. Got a job, got a plan, but I keep #veering off course. So much pain, so much anger, sinking into a spiral of gloom of news and images It's a fight to get one foot in front of the other #vss365

#vss365 The wind whipped through the trees. The leaves whistled as they shook on the branches. And then, everything became still. Not even the birds made a #murmur. It was as if the whole woodland was holding its breath, waiting for something. Seven seconds of silence. Then all hell broke loose.

#sologame #ttrpg

#vss365 They stood outside, waiting for an opening. Thos looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "This was your idea you know." She swallowed hard and gripped the railing she was leaning against. The whole world felt #wonky. How had sneaking into the enemy's main building ever felt like a good plan?

#vss365 She couldn't help but look at the clock. There was no way she was going to be able to do this in time. But a #slapdash approach would probably get them in more trouble. "Can you get me into the building?" He looked at her in surprise. "If I can get on one of their machines, I can do it."

#vss365 "You can #adorn me with as many pretty compliments as you want, I can't do this any faster." Her shoulders dropped. "If I can do it at all." "It's ok, I have a plan B." She looked up him, his face unreadable. She had the distinct feeling plan B would not go well for him. She typed faster.

"There isn't a #symphony of angels to be heard Harry. Just a discordant mess of orders and silence. Sometimes I miss it but truth be told, I'm probably better off here." #vss365 Read more of the fallen angel on my substack free series below! #writingcommunity

#vss365 "How is it going?" She glared at him over the coffee."You've ruined it." "I'm just asking." He peered over her shoulder but the screen was full of nonsense. "I'm not the best person for this." "It's like you're playing a #symphony when your hands fly over that keyboard. Who could be better?"

#vss365 Elena glanced up as he walked in. "Just you?" "They're all too #spooked. Seem to think you might murder them." He wandered closer. "I won't disabuse them of that notion. Stops them from coming in every 5 minutes asking me how I'm doing." She eyed him suspiciously. "Just bringing coffee."

#vss365 "How's she doing?" Thos peered over the heads and through the window. "No idea, Declan won't go in and ask." "Neither will you." Declan huffed. "She's muttering to herself, she's fine. When she stops you have to worry." They stared at him. "It's fine, she's an #oddball but pretty much sane."

Just added a new episode to Falling, my free #fantasy #fiction series on my substack. Kezia, a former #angel, is not ready to face her past. open.substack.com/pub/lexikoni...

#vss365 "6 hours? I'll just paint a replica of the Mona Lisa while I'm at it." Kae held up his hands, "We know it will be hard..." "Hard? I'm #clueless how to use the code once I've found it. After I've cracked that, I have to rewrite it to avert utter destruction all in 6 hours?" "5 hours 55."

#vss365 "Can you figure it out?" They all stared as she started to scroll through the contents on screen. Her eyes began to swim, the code was mammoth and controlled so many things. "I, the #abstraction's going to take an age alone. I need to filter out all the other commands." "We have six hours."