The cat hissed at her #shadow, which seemed to be extending farther across the floor than the lighting allowed…Wicke flicked open his knife, dropping it into the humming tar. It shrieked, and so did Ellis. “So, did you want to be possessed, or no?” he asked with a grin. #vss365

“From the butcher.” It’s the easiest choice, but Ezra sees Hawthorn’s nose wrinkle. “That could help take the edge off,” they say, “Could you fetch it for me now?” Ezra agrees, but he can’t help but feel Hawthorn is still trying to get rid of him…should he leave them alone? ⬇️options in comments⬇️

this overcast day keeps the winter hag inside Brigid’s flame brightens— #DailyHaikuPrompt #overcast #haiku #imbolc

Good Sunday to all, #vss365 crowd! please help me out by reading and commenting on my interactive story: making a deal with a devil? 😈 but how should Ezra deliver? 🩸 *cross-posted on the Bird Site (same handle, post is pinned), if you prefer to vote over there 💖

Moving day sucked. The power hadn’t been turned on. Some dishes had cracked; the bedframe hadn’t been delivered. As Selene settled on the floor in a sleeping bag, a ghostly violin played #soothingly through the house. Goodnight, she whispered to this unexpected roommate. #vss365

“final girl writing” is brought to you by meetings in graveyards, half-drowned rage, & a series of car crashes. subscribe & comment: write a single long sentence about your morning routine (do you make coffee?). xo, Katherine open.substack.com/pub/finalgir...

“What would you offer me instead?” “You need blood, right?” “Correct.” “Does it need to be human?” “...No.” “If I get it for you, do I have your word you’ll leave the people of Jack’s Landing unharmed?” Hawthorn smiles. “Perhaps. Where do you intend to source the blood, Ezra?” ⬇️options in comments⬇️

beach day, dampened by sand—in all the uncomfortable places #DailyHaikuPrompt #sand #haiku

i might be landlocked, but the ocean keeps calling me through all the shells lined up on my windowsill…telling me to hop aboard the #FastPrompt ship and get creative! 🌊🌊🌊

curtain-dimmed glimmer while they make love, the full moon shines on and on and— #DailyHaikuPrompt #glimmer #haiku

Happy Saturday to the #vss365 & #FastPrompt crowd! please help me out and comment on my interactive story: Hawthorn is hurting 🩸 and Ezra is worried 🗡️ how should H react? *cross-posted on the Bird Site (same handle, post is pinned), if you prefer to vote over there 💖

the poet, dreaming: floating, a lotus grows from their belly button #DailyHaikuPrompt #lotus #haiku

“I have to ask, are you in pain?” Hawthorn shifts, red eyes glinting from the shade. “I think…I was poisoned. It is uncomfortable, but I can bear it until I can…hunt.” An awkward silence ensues. “I would rather you didn’t hurt anyone in town,” Ezra says quietly. Hawthorn: ⬇️ see options in comments ⬇️

The #thrum of magic stopped Viola dead in her tracks. Like a badly tuned guitar, the vibration lingered in her chest—and then was cut off. “Someone’s dead,” she said, and started walking in the right direction. Or the wrong one, depending on your point of view. Wicke cursed and followed her. #vss365

bare legs, sweat-stained sheets mosquito-whine lullaby high noon—darkened room #DailyHaikuPrompt #mosquito #haiku

kingfisher, crown me— with vibrant blue feathers, with summer’s fleeting kiss #DailyHaikuPrompt #kingfisher #haiku

Ezra squints at the sky. “Right, I think I have some time.” He settles on the bank, in the sunlight. Hawthorn mutters from the shadows, in a different language than Common, before snapping, “Why?” Ezra grins. “Curiosity. And I feel like you’d be lonely if I left now. So…” ⬇️ see options in comments ⬇️

crunch across hoarfrost just to kiss a boy, to make him warm your fingers #DailyHaikuPrompt #hoarfrost #haiku

Before she went missing, my best friend Kate taught me the word “ #obfuscate”: to obscure and complicate, to hide or darken. She was always super smart and eloquent, but never rubbed your face in it—so I know whatever is sitting in the backseat isn’t her, just something wearing her face… #vss365

Hello #vss365 crowd! it would really help me out if you could read and comment on my interactive story: should Ezra heed Hawthorn’s warning 🗡️ or stick around a little longer? 💬 *cross-posted on the Bird Site, if you prefer to vote over there :)

take the blame and run streetlights flickering to life— the end of summer #HaikuFeels #blame #haiku

sketch lover sleeping charcoal-stained fingers marring the page and the sheets #DailyHaikuPrompt #charcoal #haiku

Hawthorn hisses suddenly, showing off fangs. Ezra flinches. “Leave me alone. Once night falls…someone…might come looking for me.” Right, because where there’s one vampire, there’s another—if not a whole coven. “Go home, Ezra,” they continue. “Don’t be outside after dark.” ⬇️ see options in comments ⬇️

Spirited away, they said. Only things found of him were his bow, a #quiver with three arrows left in it, and his sandals—found by the river, they said, and you know what’s on the other side of the river, in the wilder wood—where trees still walk, and animals can speak… #vss365

She misses the wolf, the wild still running in her veins. Under a #waning moon she dreams of running, of the stars’ secret songs. Her children are too young to understand where Mama goes, why she comes back with blood under her nails, their howls not enough to keep her… #vss365

“Listen, Hawthorn, we’re about half a mile from Jack’s Landing, on the River Nor. It’s just after noon—sunset’s not for awhile. I don’t know what happened to you, but I’d like to help, if I can.” “…Once the sun sets, I’ll be an even greater threat to you.” “That’s true, but…” ⬇️ options in comments ⬇️

lonely in black lace in cigarette smoke, and seven years of regret #DailyHaikuPrompt #lonely #haiku

a girl and her dog under a summer sky pawprints in the sand #DailyHaikuPrompt #SummerSky #haiku

“…trees?” They study the scattered flowers, and it clicks— “Hawthorn. My name is Hawthorn.” “Nice to meet you.” The greeting comes naturally, despite the circumstances. “I’m Ezra.” “You’re afraid of me, Ezra.” Red eyes stare. Ezra eyes the dagger. “Well…only if you’re…hungry.” (options in comments⬇️)

undo the winter re-bloom the flowers; bring back summer sweat—and you #HaikuFeels #undo #haiku

She didn’t grow up believing in magic—one of those solemn children with too-practical parents, fenced in by an iron and concrete city. But on the #cusp of adulthood, magic found her—violently and without quarter, dragging her into a destiny she was poorly prepared for… #vss365

Leaving the canvas tarp blocking the sun, Ezra quietly asks, “What’s your name?” The vampire slowly, stiffly, sits up. “My name…is…” “Could you be…Datura?” They squint in the brightness. “…that doesn’t sound right. My name has something to do with…” (see comment for options ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ )

light clothes have no place in a blizzard, but— she’s an ice queen #DailyHaikuPrompt #blizzard #LightClothes #haiku

“Your fiancé is here to bail you out.” Bonny didn’t know what they were talking about—until she saw Conor Brawley waiting on her, solemn yet smug. To keep up the #ruse, she threw herself into his arms. “I’m gonna kill you, baby,” she whispered, sickly sweet. #vss365

Sloan first saw Tawnie when she was ejected from Fairmont Jr’s party—hair mussed, missing an earring. Her dress strap #slipping down, almost revealing too much. Discovered somewhere she shouldn’t have been. Screeching, security dragging her out—but her eyes were laughing. #vss365

Happy Sunday, #vss365 crowd! Help me write an interactive story: read the options ⬇️ and comment your answer—our protagonist has a vampire on their hands! Is the answer violence or conversation? Poll is also open on Twitter, until midnight MST ✨✨

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Despite there being no pulse, the person’s hand releases the flowers and grabs hold of Ezra’s. They groan, “Where…?” The dagger thunks down as they push back the blindfold, revealing rusty red eyes. A vampire, Ezra thinks, and it is a sunny afternoon— (see comment for options ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ )

fight on, write on—calling the #FastPrompt squad to don their capes, shake down some villains, and serve up some Justice!

missing the mountains over cold coffee, over cold love, spilled sugar #DailyHaikuPrompt #mountain #haiku

evening rain, washing the last of the snow away you wring out your hair #DailyHaikuPrompt #EveningRain #haiku

…a body, laid out in gold-trimmed finery. Cowled and blindfolded, all Ezra can make out of facial features are blue-tinged lips. The figure's arms are crossed over their chest; one hand clasps a silver dagger, the other holds white flowers. Ezra leans closer, to determine: (see options ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ )

love me wildly, in shades of may-blooming meadows the sky, opening— #DailyHaikuPrompt #meadow #haiku

i hope the sparrows are somewhere warm tonight as the roof creaks, cracks— #DailyHaikuPrompt #sparrow #haiku

You didn’t have to wait until nightfall for the undead to emerge, not in Ash Creek. As the storm settled into a #drizzle, on a Sunday afternoon, Molly Blackwood was circled by a coven of vampires. “All this for little old me?” she laughed. “You know how to treat a lady.” #vss365

Walking by the river, Ezra spots an #unmoored punt bumping against the bank. Once painted green and gold, flaking away now, black slime at the waterline. Approaching carefully, Ezra spots the name “DATURA” carved into the bow. Pulling back a canvas cover, they find: #vss365 (see options ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ )

smoke across the lake guitar strum by firelight a song my heart knows #DailyHaikuPrompt #smoke #haiku

She goes to where the pine trees #bend, like devout monks or tired soldiers, giving in to the wind and the world’s turning. It is a good place to think, a good place to bury what one no longer wants to carry— A place where a whispered prayer does not often go unanswered. #vss365

remember: a starry girl small soul displaced too soon i pray you fall back down to earth, gently glitter and grace / joy-bringer and joyful— #WriteMap 395 #joy / 401 #star / #poetry

luna moth, yearning for Selene’s kiss— moonbeams cross my bed #DailyHaikuPrompt #moth #haiku