Ha!
I cannot BELIEVE they've let me use that title!
Ladies and gentlemen, the collection I've been promising you, the book that scoops up all those little short stories and provides you with some brand new ones, has been unleashed. There won't be a Spoiler Zone post because it's not one of the "book" books, but even so, try to limit the amount you give away about the endings.
Of the new stories included, I'm finding it hard to pick a favourite. The Horror Writers' Halloween Ball is the most out-and-out comedy of the lot, but Across A Dark Plain is a WESTERN, for god's sake, and it was SO much fun changing my writing style slightly to convey that mood.
But I think Get Thee Behind Me, Bubba Moon is probably my favourite. Much like The End of the World (which is also collected here), it's told from the point of view of an outsider, in this case a middle-aged American man. I didn't mean it to be quite so long, but it grew from a short story to a novella before I knew what was happening. The tone of this one is different, too — until a certain pair of intrepid detectives wander in with their bickering and their jokes...
Anyway, I hope you like it. I hope you ALSO like the sample chapter from The Dying of the Light. It is VERY well written, if I do say so myself.
Oh, and speaking of TDOTL, tomorrow I shall be revealing an awesomely cool limited edition alternative cover.
And it ROCKS.
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4,344 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 3401 – 3600 of 4344 Newer› Newest»Well, I don't see any reason why he'd want your name. In fact, I sort of doubt he'd bother you at all if it weren't for you guys insulting Adra so often. What do you have against her, anyway?
#ChaseForBook9
Everyoneeeee diesssss, Loki... You cannottttt escape the clutches of deathhhhh... The clutchessss of meeeeee... I alwaysssss winnnnn
Humanssss... Side dishhhhh...
She is a fun person to torment.
Zanida: Also she is simply annoying.
But what makes her more fun to torment than anyone else?
...Are you planning on eating me, as well, then?
#ChaseForBook9
*studies Loki and Zanida* I've never had Asgardianssssss beforeeeee...
She is a coward, afraid to stand up for herself.
Zanida: Get lost, shadow thing.
Maybeeee, Arethaaaaaa... Butttttt there are more... Fillinggggg dishesssss to come firsttttt...
So... Is thisssss what passessss for a godddddd these daysssss? I am disappointedddddd... I expected moreeeee...
Zanida: *sends an ice shard towards the voice
I dedicate this page to Thor, in hope I will come back to Asgard one day to see him.
-Zanida
*ice shard strikes the shadow in what would be the stomach*
*pulls the shard from its stomach and swallows it*
Mmm...
*tendrils of darkness grasp at the Sceptre*
*it goes through the image of Loki, which disappesrs promptly*
Zanida: *eyes widen, not really able to run
*flits to beside Zanida*
*extends its jaw, bearing its fangs and screams into her face with a mouth wide enough that could potentially swallow her head*
Zanida: *tries to stand up, and runs*
She's not, you know. She's really not. *backs away slowly*
#ChaseForBook9
Asgardianssssss... So weakkkkk...
*doesn't see Zanida worth chasing*
Zanida: *turns, draws lance, and sets it on fire lunging at the shadow*
*grasps the lance with tendrils of shadow, which wrap around it, absorbing the fire and becoming more numerous as they travel down the length of the weapon and towards Zanida*
Zanida: *tries to pull the lance away, terrified of the shadows*
*emerges from the shadows on the lance and screams into Zanida's face again, this time for longer*
Runnnnnn... Runnnnn like the preyyyyyy you areeeeeee...
*backs away a bit faster*
#ChaseForBook9
Zanida: *pulls free and runs by Aretha, too terrified to care she's hiding by a Midgardian*
(I just thought, "You know what this blog really needs? A hideous shadow creature who gets stronger with fear and death. We're missing one."
And then it began scaring people. And I very much doubt it will stop. Because it's cool like that.
Seems I have to go. Night!)
Oh, ok. Night, Dragona!
#ChaseForBook9
Nighty night-Zat
Zanida: It left...
*breathes out* It looks like it...
#ChaseForBook9
Zanida: Owww...
(Hi, sorry I fell asleep.)
(Eh thats fine.-Zaf
(Hey Elleni.
Thanks Zaffy. Miss anything?)
Zanida: *sits with Loki, in a lot of pain*
Do not even open your mouth.
(Oh. Fun...?)
-She looks at Zanida and frowns-
Is she quite alright?
((Ribs broken.))
Zanida: Yes, totally.
(Ouch. I know from experience, that's a bastard.)
Can I help at all?
-She drops fiddles through her pockets and finds some leaves in a plastic pocket. She holds them out to Zanida-
Chew.
Zanida: What are these?
They help with pain. Or they're supposed to.
Zanida: *chews*
Who did this to her?
-She looks at Loki, frowning-
Also. I was not claimed. I was temporarily forced onto your side. So stop with this whole 'I can claim whomever I'd like!'
Elleni. Same one who broke my arm and wrist.
...
-She starts walking away, intent on finding Elleni and making he pay-
I will be back with her head.
(We will see...))
Zanida: Where is Zafira when you need her?
Zafira: Watching you two Asgardians suffer
(I'll just comatose you as bring you over.)
(You will be fine.)
Zanida: Just help?
Zafira: No.
(Probably not.
Sorry, I had to do some stuff.)
Hello. :-)
~Iggy
(I said 'probably not'.
Hey Iggy!)
-She sees Elleni in the distance and smile-
Hello. I heard you hurt a... Associate of mine.
*smiles
(Hi Silver!
Should I try to exist in the roleplay, or just spectate? Ah, decisions, decisions.
~Iggy)
-She approaches quietly and her smile turns into a grimace-
(Role play with us!)
-She watches her go and raises her chin-
I will get you later. Goodbye.
(Elleniiiiiiiiii! :D)
(If I forget to respond or have to have dinner or something, it'll be worse, though. I don't want to make people have to pause because of me.
Besides, I have no idea what to do!
But, um, I can try?)
*Exists*
*Perches in the top of a tree, watching through binoculars*
~Iggy
(I probably won't.)
-She looks around, the feeling of being watched is strong. She looks around, her eyes skimming over Iggy's position-
*Lowers binoculars and waves*
Hi!
~Iggy
(Yep. Probably.)
-She sees Iggy's wave and goes to wave back. But decides against it, just in case it knocks him into a coma-
Hey.
Hey!
Um, I sort of randomly ended up here. What is this place?
Also, have you seen my friend?
~Iggy
(I won't hurt you, Elleni. If that means anything.
Unless you attack me first, of course.
~Iggy)
They call it Blogland, from what I can gather. Which friend? That friend? The one who I was about to bring Loki and Zanida?
-She points to the sky, at Elleni-
(-Grin-)
Zafira: I am not healing you idiots.
*takes the scepter and pokes Zafira with it* Heal us.
Zafira: *heals them both*
*breaks the connection* You did.
(I think I am going to have to go now. I've got to get dog food.)
(Au revoir!)
((Bye...-Zaf
(I have now eaten dinner!)
No, my friend who probably won't want me to say her name. She's sometimes a beetle, if that helps.
Blogland, cool...
~Iggy
(I'm back!)
Um... I can't say I have... Sorry... And yeah, it is cool here.
Zanida: Loki...
I know, sister.
Zanida: I think...Thor is coming
Okay, she's probably not here, then.
*Climbs down from tree*
Hi, I'm Iggy. :-)
Thor? Is that good...?
~Iggy
Hi Iggy. I'm... Just call me Silver.
(Hello sweetie!)
No, not for us.
Zanida: Loki we need-
I know.
*plants an apologetic purple banana plant in Blogland for octopus*
Liar.
Zanida: I...I apologize.
We're going to take one of them to Jodenheim.
Zanida: Who do we take?
((Who wants to meet Laufey, Zan and Loki's dad!-Zaf
(Hello Mahogany!
And meeting Laufey would be cool!)
Hello Silver.
*Looks confused*
Ooh, a purple banana plant. Cool!
~Iggy
(I don't know! Is Laufey nice?
~Iggy)
((He's a Frost Giant, so not nice, but there's a reason. ))
Zanida: *looks at the Midgardians* Which ine?
Oh, hello! I didn't realise there were still people around. I've kind've just started up a profile.
Hello, Mahogany.
Zanida: Hi there.
I may or may not be present, depending. Loki, would you rather pick up where we left off, or simply move on from this point, since you've already established a chain of events that might be disrupted by, perhaps, an untimely death?
So, hello Elleni, Silver, Iggy and Loki. :)
(Interesting names!)
(Hi Mahogany! Nice to meet you!)
(Oh. Okay then.
Hello Mahogany!
...
Hello Alastair.
~Iggy)
(Hey Alastair!)
Your name is interesting, too. :-)
~Iggy
I would like to continue, Alastair, with our fight. My author was watching Thor 2, and Frigga died, Zafira does not handle that well.
So how might I jump into the conversation? Or maybe l'll just watch this Roleplay that seems to be happening.
*sits cross-legged on customized wooden floorboards*
*sighs* Oh, lovely. We'll all exchange pleasantries, shall we? Hello, Iggy, Dreaming in Silver, Mahogany Reen.
Zanida: I'm Zanida Laufeydottir, and the one standing beside me with the scepter is Loki Laufeyson, my brother.
Zafira would like to say that, you may kill either one of us off, but you may not make it so that we cannot be brought back. She says that she wishes to not have to have Thor come down, and an angry god of thunder is not something her fellow Bloglandians need. I only relay the message.
Please, Alastair, call me Silver. And hi.
Fine. I'll explain, this time, before writing anything else, what exactly the sphere of energy that I've made does.
It prevents anyone from shunting, teleporting, or otherwise moving into or out of it. Similarly, physical attacks from the outside will not reach the inside, and vice versa. However, the more attacks or attempts to infiltrate the sphere is forced to withstand, the more taxing it will become for me to maintain it. The barrier will hold until I lower it, or until I die, and therefore can't maintain it any longer regardless of will. Any mental communications or attacks would be able to pass through unhindered.
Is there anything more I ought to clarify?
My ability to appear and disappear, I can still do this while inside, correct? I just cannot go get Zanida I have to stay within the perimeter.
Hello Alastair!
I think I'll join Mahogany in watching. I haven't the faintest idea what's going on.
*Climbs up a tree with binoculars again*
~Iggy
Yes. You could disappear and reappear as many times as you liked, within the area.
I'll bear that in mind, Adra. *hugs*
((I'll happily chat out of character whilst fighting. Basically Loki and Alastair, and Zanida are fighting. If you guys are familiar with The Avengers, that's how I'm portraying Loki, well how he is in the movies.-Zaf
Very well. *looks over and hugs Zanida tightly* We'll make it out alive.
Zanida: Please do.
*lets go of her* Alright Alastair, let's pick up right after you projected the sheild, sound fair enough?
Well hi there, Adra! Do I get a hug too?
*shares pink-flavored popcorn with Iggy*
I find it quite interesting, if foolish, that you care for fairness in what seems to be intended as a fight to the death. *a dark sphere of energy grows to surround he and Loki* But yes, I'd consider it fair enough.
Thank you for the explanation, Loki. Are they obeying the magical rules of the Skulduggery world, or is this a different kind of fight?
Good, wouldn't want disappoint, would we? *makes multiples of self surround Alastair, all sending daggers at his chest, but only the real Loki's dagger will hit*
Zanida: *looks at the energy, and keeps a steady stream of lava at it*
Well, bye Adra.. :)
((I am obeying the rules of magic, in other words, I will react to things as needed, Zanida and I, work under the ways the Asgardians would. All of our abilities are Asgardian, and do not reflect Skulduggery Pleasant, but we respect that you lot are mages.-Loki))
*Looks curiously at popcorn*
What does pink-flavored popcorn taste like?
~Iggy
*lets it hit him, fixing his gaze on the real one* *pulls the dagger out, quickly healing himself* *another of him appears behind Loki, aiming a knife at the god's neck*
*moves and turns to face the other Alastair, letting the knife graze the shoulder* You can do that too. *punches Alastair's jaw*
Oh I see... That makes for an interesting battle! I must admit that I am not very well-educated on the Asgardian universe, but I'll try to keep up.
*ponders the question* It tastes very.... pink.
((I am meant to have magic in the way that a mage from your books would, though I'm rather varying from the standards, as are many others here. My first discipline was to steal true names, and over the course of several centuries I've stolen 50 more disciplines and personalities.))
*raises his arm to block the strike, and reaches to grab Loki's shoulder* *he's been working on a way to infect a frost giant so its internal temperature will increase dramatically, and intends to test it now*
Oh.... I am confused once again. Haha, oh well!
*claps*
*takes dagger and sends it into the wrist of the hand Alastair has on me*
Zanida: ALASTAIR I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU TAKE LOKI'S TRUE NAME I WILL REVIVE YOU AND MAKE SURE ADRA WILL NEVER HAVE A PIECE OF YOU TO BURY!!'
((Okay, imagine this: Alastair has 50 disciplines of magic. He can use any of the 50.
As for my two Asgardians- Loki and Zanida are Frost Giants meaning they were born in Jodenheim, a cold and dark realm. Zanida inherited the ability to create ice in her hands, like Frost Giants. Loki and Zanida were taken from Jodenheim very young. They did not know their parentage until adulthood. Zanida has the Asgardian ability to be a goddess of fire. Loki is the god of mishief, adopted son of Frigga and Odin.-Zaf
*Supposes it would be unwise to suggest that Alastair and Loki either share power or take turns being the cool one*
*Doesn't really know what's going on, either*
*Tries pink popcorn*
Yeah. It's, um, very pink indeed!
~Iggy
((Loki and Zanida are currently the only two on the blog who can touch the Tesseract, a Frost Giant relic. You guys would suffer severe burns and pretty much frost bite at its worst. Anything else I need to explain?-Zaf
*doesn't move, prying the dagger out and starting to heal himself again* *tosses the dagger to his other, who catches it, and then throws it at Loki*
*smirks at Loki* If I steal his name, I won't be the one you have to revive, Zanida.
.........O_O
Isn't it just? It's the moth essence that gives it the flavour.
*catches the dagger, giving the Alastair who threw it a very smug look, then sends it back much faster then he threw*
Zanida: He's a god, you'd die first, and if we're taking names here, mine is more useful. Loki can't create ice without the Tesseract, but I can.
((Yeah, see Loki is on Midgard (earth) to take over, which his first attempt was during The Avengers where he allied with the Chitari. Now I'm rping the second attempt, to take over the mages first. This time he's allied with the Frost Giants, and his only sibling, Zanida. Remember- Thor is king now, and Zanida is Thor's wife. -Zaf
*blocks it with a wall of air* *the other pulls a knife from his coat and slashes at Loki's chest, waiting to see if overheating him will have done anything*
.... *blinks*
Riiiight,
*Puts down popcorn*
~Iggy
*the armor protect's his chest, fires the sceptre at one of the Alastairs* *is noticeably having trouble with the sceptre, but otherwise unphased by the overheating* Did you really make it hotter for me? It does not bother me, but I will say I am warmer. Perhaps you can unfreeze my heart.
*shrugs and buries face in box*
*dematerializes to avoid the scepter* Someone else could quite easily do it. But I don't imagine it'll be me. *slashes at him again, this time aiming for his neck*
Hello Amethyst!
~Iggy
Hello! How are you?
*puts arm up to block, and again sends a dagger to Alastair's eye* There's litterally ice encasing my heart according to Odin.
*catches it, and stabs again towards Loki's neck, trapping the arm he'd used to block the last one with his own* Perhaps I'll try it sometime, then.
*flinches at the cut of the knife, and sends a kick to Alastair's shin, enough to hopefully shatter some bones* Perhaps. I know you're not going to just kill me for fun, Zafira said you love experimenting.
Well, she's right at that. *winces slightly, shifting his weight to his other leg, and uses air to try to push the knife deeper into his neck*
*attempts to move so the knife doesn't get him that deep* You can't kill a god.
Amethyst, hello!
Hello Mahogany! How are you?
I'm okay. Confused, but okay.
You?
~Iggy
((Ah poor gerbil. I forgot where iTunes left Thor 2, so its the scene where Loki talks to Frigga in his cell, so Loki yells: HE'S NOT MY FATHER! And I look over and Coco my gerbil is running fast on the wheel and fell off, at least the gerbil fears Loki.-Zaf
((Adra, you can't appear in there. Only Loki and Alastair can be in the sphere of energy. Otherwise Zanida would have got in.-Zaf
I'm fine. :)
I don't think I've met you or Mahogany yet.
I don't think I've met you, either.
Hi, I'm Iggy. :-)
~Iggy
*grins* Are you trying to convince me, or yourself? *pulls the knife out of his neck with shadows, and tosses it to his other, who licks some of Loki's blood off the blade* *within a few minutes, his blood should start to clot at an accelerated rate till it kills him* *isn't certain that it'll work in a frost giant, but there's a fair chance that it will*
((I am sorry, love, but I've essentially isolated Loki and myself for the time being... I certainly don't intend to die, if that helps. *hugs tightly*))
Nice to meet you! I'm Amethyst!
What...did....you....do?! *laughs as he still is standing* Alastair, I have ice in me, I have blood but I assure you I am right, you may need an alternative route.
I'm experimenting. Things are bound to go wrong. But I'd be wary of delayed effects, in any case. *throws a few sharpened shadows at his neck*
((Sincerest apologies, love...))
*the shadows hit, but the image disappears and appears a few feet away* I shall be.
Zanida: *still using fire to try and break through to Loki* Don't kill him...take me not him...
*the copy of him disappears, returning to the first* *throws fire at Loki*
*quietly* Okay, fight like Zan, I can do that. *fires the sceptre at the fire* *is totally prepared for something bad to happen because of that* Your little girl can't help you now, Alastair! Why don't I end this and visit the little whore.
I might've met you, Amethyst, but I could never be too sure. A pleasure anyways. :) I'm swell.
Nice to meet you Mahogany!
Zafira: Zanida, if Loki is trapped with Alastair, he'll die. You may as well prepare to lose him.
Zanida: I swore to Thor I would return Loki home alive..
Zafira: I am sorry.
*it forms a small explosion as it hits the wall* You can't, from here, if I don't let you. I don't intend to. *forces screams into his mind, attempting to distract him, and shoots a bolt of electricity at him*
*hears the screaming and suddenly finds himself on the ground feeling as if Thor had hit him with lightning* What...screams...stop...!
*grins broadly, excited to have found a weakness* If you so much as threaten or insult Adra again, this is what I'll respond with. *throws another stream of fire at him*
*manages to roll away from the fire* I'll kill her myself, Alastair, I'm going to make sure she dies.
*shoves a few more screams into his head* Wrong reaction. *sends more shadows at his neck*
*doesn't have the focus to dodge and for once a faint shriek is heard as the shadows hit him* Kill me I dare you.
Zanida: DO NOT TOUCH MY BROTHER ALASTAIR!!!
*steps closer to Loki, standing over him, and tosses a knife directly at his neck* *if it hits, the next thing he'll do is use shadows to twist it, tearing his throat open*
*the only thing keeping his neck safe is the armor* I didn't mean it. Why don't we just let me sister have some fun now?
*my
No. *drops to his knees beside Loki, positioning his knife over the god's eye* I'm only after you. And if you hadn't threatened Adra, I wouldn't have to be. Bear that in mind, if the others bring you back. *the barrier of energy is weakening rapidly, growing lighter by the second* *drives the knife downwards, aiming to push it through his eye into his head*
*laughs, and manages to appear a foot away from Alastair* You'll kill me again? There's a line.
Zanida: *tries to get through the barrier*
Zafira: *whips shadows at the barrier, trying to get Zanida inside*
I'll kill you as many times as I have to. *reaches for his soul this time rather than attacking him physically, attempting to pull his life away*
*doesn't even try to stop him, realizing this is something he has no control over*
Zanida: *breaks through the weakened barrier, Zafira at her heels* Get away *lunges at Alastair, attempting to drive her ice shard through his neck*
Oh. My. God. I just read all the comments I missed while I was camping so that's.......
*goes back and counts the pages*
...almost 2000 comments! Wow! That took 2 days.
Anyways I'm back from camping and it was great! Hot but great!
Also, I feel so happy after reading the comments!
I was missed! Yay! Somebody dedicated the page to me camping! And I haven't even met them yet! And Silente greeted someone the way I do! (Sorta..)
Hi Silver! How be's yous?
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D <3
Ah, it feels great to be back!
Missed you all!!!!!!
Hello Dugglyn! How are you?
Ok, I Gtg to sheep! I just wanted to say hi before I sbeept!!!
(And yes, that is a word! Well, not really but I say it is!)
Hi Amethyst!!!!!
I be's goods!!!!!!
How be's yous?!?
How be's yous eyes?!?!
Msd.........
I'm fine and my eyes are fine too! I might sleep too now. Bye!
((Wow its so worth it to stay up this late.-Zaf
*moves just slightly forward, letting it bury itself in his shoulder instead, as he pulls away Loki's soul* In the future, Zanida, if you don't want me as your enemy, you really ought to let Adra alone.
Ok, Bye!!!!
Zanida: Alastair please....he's the only family I have- had- bring him back. *kneels beside her brother*
Zafira: Alastair, leave Loki and Zanida alone. Loki's mischevious, now please just bring back Loki, I really don't want to do it.
*sees Elleni*
EEELLLLLEEEENNNNNIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!
*hugs her*
Hi! How be's yous?!?!
How be's yous eyes?!?!
Ugh.
Hmm...
((Oh gods now I hear the music played during Frigga's funeral. I ought to break out the emergency 1:30 am chocolate-Zaf
I dedicate this page to a great friend of mine in Blogland. I don't know her in real life but I know her online and I'm glad. She is kind and funny and a loyal friend. She is one of the first people I ever met on Blogland. She was so welcoming and thoughtful! And then she disappeared. I didn't see her for awhile. To tel you the truth, she kinda slipped my mind. I had only met her once...
And then someone new comes on. She is very similar to the person who first greeted me. Similar name too. Turns out it was her.
She lives near me and I have to meet her some day.
By now most of you know who this is dedicated to. Unless you are like Silente and are really bad at guessing! XD
That's right, this page is dedicated to Elleni Jazz. You my friend, are amazing!
**tell
And actually, that was a little vague. You are not as bad as Silente at guessing if you did not figure it out!
(*pokes Silente*
Just joking!)
*huggles back*
You are wonderful!
I'm good!
Yeah, read the role play....!
:(
I hate James!
((Emergency chocolate broken out.-Zaffy
@Zaf hehehe. I love emergency chocolate! You should give some to me!
*shifty eyes*
((Loki just died okay I'm shaking.-Zaf
((*hugs* Its almost quarter to 2am...hopefully Ari didn't fall adleep on me-Zaf
Of course, maybe giving Dugglyn chocolate is not a good idea......
Dugglyn + chocolate = >>>>>>>>
*smiles sympathetically*
Aww, Zaf!
*hugs*
Your welcome Elleni!
Ok, Gtg. Got swim team and swim meet tomorrow. Oh my, lots o swimming! I'm swimming twice a day every day!
Bye!
*huggles Elleni*
*huggles Zaffy*
*hugs* Okay by 1:55am I'm typing something up and going to bed.-Zaf
Let him stay dead, for all I care. If he has no respect for the only living thing I've ever loved, I owe no respect to him.
*vanishes, reappearing in a nondescript, dank cellar* *collapses against the concrete and closes his eyes, leaving the ice shard to melt in his shoulder*
Zanida: *looks up at Alastair but doesn't reply* Zafira please...please....my brother....
Zafira: Come back to the treehouse, *touches Zanida and Loki shadow-walking into the treehouse* I can bring back the dead, Zanida, but I do not know if I should. Loki has done some horrible things.
Zanida: Zafira, I understand. Please-
Zafira: I am not finished. It just so happens I have a score to settle with Adra, so I shall revive your brother.
Zanida: Thank you!
Ravel: Zaf? I hear- good god who killed Loki?
Zanida: *is holding her brothers sceptre, actually in tears*
Zafira: Later, Ravel.
i sooo wish i could get to London so i could enter the competition for the requiem tickets. D:
((What does Zafira have against Adra?))
*it begins to thunder and lightning, pouring rain*
*Meanwhile in Asgard*
Thor: Heimdall? What have you seen.
Heimdall: I could see Loki, and he is dead.
Thor: Who killed him?
Heimdall: Alastair.
Astrid: Loki! Heimdall let me go over-
Thor: No, Astrid. Zanida must deal with it on her own.
Astrid: *nods*
Thor: Keep me alerted, Heimdall. *takes Astrid back*
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