The Oak and the Willow Tree
One autumn day, long ago, a willow seed played and lost several games with her brothers and sisters. She became cross and jumped up and...
An Assassin’s Tale
Delphine couldn't remember the exact moment she became a hired assassin, but here she was atop a roof, examining a carriage as it rolled...
Becky and the Drifter
Becky Fantour swallowed her tears and turned from her mother’s eyes. “No, Ma, it’s okay. I’ll go to university next year.” She lied,...
The Vain Ruler and his Ambitious Manservant
Back when the hills were young and forests covered the land, the ruler of a kingdom — ancient even in those times — was troubled by his...
Sleeping Beauty
Waking in the middle of the night, I stumbled into the bathroom, and was surprised to discover that someone — Maya — was sleeping in the...
From Death to Muerte
A mother with twelve children — a thirteenth in her belly — had more mouths to feed than money. Their father had gone to El Norte, The...
Henry & Grace
At first they came for the food. Later, they stayed for the stories. They appeared one summer morning on the fire escape, munching on...
The Creole Moon
The soft tears of the begonias dewed softly in the early dawn as the creole moon journeyed to her bed. Before she could take her rest she...
The Storyteller
My breath emerges like a fog and then dissipates. I pull my coat closer as the train trundles down the track. I recede into myself and...
Painfully Royal
Clara could hear the rustling of the satin and tulle down the hallway. Her heart pounded wildly. Nervously, she smoothed her clothes and...
Trapped
A single beam of light formed a little yellow rectangle on the cement floor. She hates it and tries to avoid looking at it, but the room...
Trash
Tabitha loved to play with the vast collections in her grandmother’s sewing room, a whole wall of seashells organized by species and...
The Brute
My name is Hiramel. I was born a girl, but named and raised as an elf. A foundling — a polite term for a baby with no future in its...
Ever After
Peter pulled his collar up and tucked in his scarf. Mist wove around him, squeezing in between the seams of his clothing. The forest was...
Witchwood
Everyone knew there was a witch in the forest. No one spoke of her in polite company, but there was hardly a person in town who hadn’t...
