Poor Little Witch Girl Meira gobbled her dinner before running off to play with her friends, a quick kiss for first Sass, then me and finally our mother as she dashed away. Mom rose a short time later, walking to the counter to dish up another serving. She'd be disappearing shortly, off to take food to my grandmother, and I'd lose the chance I had to ask her what I really wanted to ask. But the words stuck in my throat so long Mom had already walked past me, a glass of milk and more steaming casserole on a plate, before I managed to speak. "I want to get a job." Sydlynn Hayle just wants to be...

College Bound I grunted from the weight of the suitcase as I heaved it out of the back of the van. What had I packed again? I didn't remember it being this heavy when I loaded it into the twin's car only seven hours ago. Seven long and painful hours. I forced a smile as Esther and Estelle stepped up onto the curb, matching prim skirts and twin sets as much their uniform as their very comfortable looking shoes. They didn't smile back, but through my connection to them from the family magic, I was sure their flat expressions had nothing to do with how they felt about me. Well. Pretty sure....

Welcome to Demonicon "I am Pagomaris, first aide to Ruler. I'm thrilled to have you both here. It's my responsibility to ensure you are presentable for the parade." Presentable? Parade? "Everyone is so excited to meet you." She turned and clapped, a pair of young female demons dressed more simply than her scurrying forward with armloads of what appeared to be cosmetics, jewelry and the most elaborate clothing I'd ever seen. "Shall we begin?" Something about the woman's attitude ramped me up to dig in my heels so hard I expected the stone floor to split under me. "No," I said. Syd is home for...

Come the Brotherhood You must be careful. I turn toward the voice, see a shape floating next to me in the dark, glowing softly iridescent, all the colors of the rainbow and others for which I have no names. Of what? The sound and feel of the shape is feminine. She lifts her arm and points. I see them then, below and before me, two vast armies stretching out over an empty gray plane, facing each other. But they've not yet begun to fight. I recognize witches and vampires, Sidhe and demons, other creatures I've never laid eyes on, crowding one side. On the other side are humans, feeling empty...

Gone Girl, Gone Dad holds his ground, doesn't move. I'm about to bowl him over with my suitcase when he finally stands back, as if we've just been in some stupid standoff he's choosing to let me win. He holds the door open for me. "See you, then," he says. I hate him so much in that moment, my stomach heaves, tightens into a giant knot. The only thing saving me is the wide open door and the freedom beyond it. From Dad, from my memories. So why does it still hurt there is no hug goodbye from her daddy for Riley James? When Riley James loses the love of her life to leukemia, she doesn't know if...

A Poo Poo Kind of Morning I tried not to look down the mouth of hell staring back at me from inside the glaringly pristine outer ceramic shell of the white throne, my throat catching, stomach doing half flips and a rather impressive rollover routine that would have gotten at least a 9.5 even from the Russian judges. Instead, I forced myself to smile and swallow and remind myself the elbow length yellow rubber gloves grasping the handle of the standard issue plunger were all that stood between me and Pooageddon. Suck it up, Fee. Big girl panties and adulting and all that. "At what point," I...