A New Sci/Fi, Fantasy, Romance, Space Opera

For those of you familiar with my writing, you know I can't be defined by one genre. I thought I'd share this blurb with you for my upcoming novel.

***

Jenna thought her lonely life as a hardened transport pilot was good enough until she met Mikael, an archaeologist who'd never been off-planet before. After discovering an ancient Oracle left by a mysterious race, their lives become forfeit.

Now they are on the run, falling in love, and trying to unlock the secrets of the gods themselves. As they bounce from planet to planet, searching for answers, death is only one step behind and getting closer.

***

What do you think? I'm also going to *gulp* explore religious issues - a subject I've rather skirted around before. Do you give your characters religions in your writing?

Death By Chocolate - #FridayFlash

It's the one year anniversary of #fridayflash and Jon Strother at Mad Utopia has a list of everyone's debut story, along with the date that it posted. This makes for a fun walk down memory lane and I urge you to check out the list. You can find it here. While you're there make sure to give Jon a big thank you for starting this fantastic group!

************************

Lights glowed through shop windows around the Grand Place as people strolled in the warm Brussels night air.

"I've heard that Godiva chocolate is to die for." Chloe glanced sideways at her companion, a smile on her face. "Would you buy me some?"

"Of course, my sweet." Lucien chuckled at her enthusiasm and led her toward the famous shop. "If, as you say, it's worth dying for, then how could I possibly refuse?"

"Look! They have chocolate covered marshmallows." Chloe dragged Lucien over to the counter in the tiny store, her eyes shining with delight.

"Fancy meeting you here, my friend." The voice at Lucien's back fairly dripped with irony. He straightened, trying for nonchalance as he turned around to confront the speaker.

"Death, Chronos. What a pleasant surprise. What brings you to Belgium?"

"I have a craving for chocolate covered peanuts tonight," Death said, his jaw dropped in a laugh.

"Actually, Michael sent us." Chronos watched Lucien's face turn a dull red as the import of that statement sank in. "You can't have her. She has other plans for Chloe."

Lucien struggled with that information for a moment before relaxing.

"Well, I already have the girl. Why doesn't She come here Herself and take her? Why send messengers?"

Death wandered behind the counter and helped himself to the peanuts, tossing them into an eye socket as he savored their gooey richness.

"Come on, Evil. Let's not stand here arguing forever." Chronos froze time to make his point. "You know time won't work in your favor on this one, Lucien."


"All right," he muttered. "But you take her home."


"Agreed. But be a gentleman and pay for her chocolate first."


Chronos hid a smirk as Lucien snarled and slapped some Euros on the counter. He sank through the floor in a fiery huff.


"Are we ready to leave?" Death popped the last of the peanuts in the air.


"Uh, not quite. You have chocolate…" Chronos motioned circles around his eyes with his fingers and handed Death a napkin.


"Thanks, dude. Guess they melted faster than I thought. How do you want to handle her?" Death pointed at Chloe, frozen mid-bite in a chocolate marshmallow ecstasy.


Chronos shrugged and tipped his hourglass. Chloe disappeared.


"She'll think she was sleepwalking and raided the refrigerator. Hand me a piece of that orange chocolate, will you?"


©2010 Laura Eno

Death on Wheels - #FridayFlash

The rumbling started just as Chronos propped his feet up on the coffee table to settle in for a bit of TV. Startled, he glanced around the room but couldn't find the source of the noise.

As it grew louder, he could feel the vibration through the soles of his feet when he stood up. The hourglass on the credenza shook, scattering time in waves that would affect the mortal population on Earth.

Something was coming – something big.

Just as the noise reached an unbearable level, the double doors to his house flew open of their own volition. Chronos stared at the open expanse, wondering what creature was about to pay a visit.

He covered his ears in a desperate attempt to stop the rattling going on inside his brain as an image of flames and chrome filled his vision.

It was Death on a Harley.

"Greetings, my friend. Do you like my new bike?"

Chronos took in the leather-clad spectre, complete with black visor on the helmet.

"Turn that thing off, will you? My teeth are vibrating and I can't hear a word you're saying."

"Sorry, dude." Death turned the key after one last gun to the engine. "I said, how do you like my new bike?"

Chronos cautiously removed his hands, his ears still ringing from the commotion. He smiled at the flames painted on the gas tank. The chopper suited Death.

"It's nice, but did you have to drive it into my living room? It might drip oil on the carpet."

Death looked down at the green shag that hadn't been changed since the '70s, but decided not to say anything.

"Hop on. I have a collection to make but I thought I'd swing by and pick you up. It'll be fun. We'll take the scenic route there."

He tossed a helmet at Chronos. The scythe emblem on the side of it matched the one Death wore. Chronos laughed as he caught it.

"You never cease to amuse me." He slipped the helmet on and straddled the back of the bike.

They wound their way towards the appointed place, Chronos enjoying the wind whipping at his robes. Leaning side to side as they banked into turns at high speed, he settled into the rhythm and took in the scenery.

Too soon, Death turned the bike toward their objective – the island of Madagascar. He let the wheels touch into the surf, spraying water that soaked Chronos' robes.

"Did you enjoy the ride?" Death asked after he made his collection.

"I did, although I can see the advantages of wearing leather." He wrung more seawater out of his robes.

"Good. You haven't really experienced the complete thrill of the ride yet though, my friend. Perhaps you'll allow me to start the engine for the trip back?" Death dropped his jaw in a laugh.

"All right. But if I'm deaf by the time we get home you'll owe me."

"No worries." Death turned the key and the engine roared to life.

©2010 Laura Eno

Turn Back the Clock - #FridayFlash

"Great news, my friend." Death bounced onto the sofa with child-like glee after walking in the door.

Chronos sloshed the cup of tea he'd been holding while reading the paper when a femur struck him. He shook his head and smiled at Death's enthusiasm for life.

"What momentous thing has happened this time?"

"I have an appointment in a few minutes," Death said. "Come with me and I'll tell you all about it."

They arrived inside of a nursing home. The recreation room held a number of residents who called out greetings to Thanatos with great grim humor. Chronos looked around with interest as Death shook hands with people, working the room like a politician looking for votes. He wondered who was to be the collection.

"Who are you here to collect?" Chronos asked after several minutes of socializing went by.

"No one. I just stop in each week to visit. They consider me an old friend around here. But let me tell you about my news. Cleopatra has consented to finally go out with me."

"What made her change her mind after all these centuries?" Chronos knew that she'd rebuffed Death many times.

"Well, my friend, that's where you come in. I need a small favor. See, I told her about the androids in the beach bar, the time that you traveled 400 years into the future? She said she'd like to go there with me. I need a couple of grains of sand from you to take her though."

"Oh, no. Don't you remember what happened the last time I gave you some? You dropped them on the border between France and England."

Death shrugged and tossed a peanut in the air, catching it in his eye socket.

"I don't think the British mind being an island. They should have called it the Thanatos Channel though. Besides, I'm only asking for two grains this time. You have millions of them. Please?"

"I know I'm going to regret this." Chronos fumbled with his hourglass as he muttered dire consequences for any future mishaps.

He fished out two grains of sand and placed them on Death's outstretched metacarpals. One grain promptly fell to the floor and Chronos dove for it. A metal walker leg tromped on his hand while an orthopedic shoe stepped on the tiny speck.

Chronos and Death both froze as the wizened benefactor blossomed into a beauty, shaving 70 years off her age in an instant. Bemused, they watched the lithesome woman march out the front door dressed only in a housecoat and support hose flopping about her ankles.

"That one doesn't count, does it?" Chagrin colored Death's voice.

Chronos laughed. "No, but why don't I put them in your pocket for you? That way you'll know where they are when it's time to use them."

"A timely suggestion." Death linked arms with Chronos as they left, shouts of farewell following their exit.

©2010 Laura Eno

Surf's Up - #FridayFlash

Chronos flopped down on his sofa, grateful to be back home after the strain of holding time in neutral for twelve hours straight. Suddenly, 'Surfing USA' assaulted his ears as Death plunked his bony frame down next to him, the earphones from his iPod reverberating the music much like a pinball machine would bounce a ball.


"Would you please turn that down," Chronos asked without opening his eyes. "Your bones don't do much to contain the noise and I have a massive headache."


"Sorry. I heard about that black hole tearing through the space-time continuum. Pretty bad, huh?"


"It's fixed now, but I'm knackered." Chronos heard a plink-plop, like pebbles striking glass. He opened his eyes in time to find Death tossing peanuts in the air and having them hit a pair of sunglasses that he wore over his eye sockets. The peanuts pinged around the room like small missiles.


"Why are you wearing sunglasses?"


"Oh, I forgot I had them on. I thought my game was a bit off." Death removed them and caught the next volley. "Much better."


"You could catch them in your mouth like normal people do," Chronos suggested.


"No challenge in that." Death unhinged his jaw so wide he looked like a cobra. "Mouth's too big."


Blinking back tears at the glare in the room, Chronos finally noticed the source. Death wasn't wearing his usual black robe and cowl.


"What are you wearing? It's searing my eyes."


"Isn't it cool? Lachesis wove it for me. It's called a tropical shirt. That's why I came over. I want to go surfing and I thought you'd like to come with me. It'll be fun." He turned his Beach Boys music back up.


Chronos waved his hands in surrender. "I'll go if you promise me no more music."


Death slipped his sunglasses back on and smiled. "Let's boogie, old man."


***


The sun and sand were pleasant, Chronos admitted to himself. He stripped off his sandals and relaxed, watching Death skim along the tops of the waves without benefit of a board.


When he came back to shore a crowd of young people gathered around, wanting to know how he'd done that. While Death entertained them, Chronos noticed something amiss and went over to stand by his friend.


"Hold still a minute. You have a loose thread here." Chronos tugged and snapped it off. One of the young surfers dropped dead at his feet.


"Oops… I forgot that Lachesis wove this. She must have used life threads to make it."


"Quick! Give me the thread." Death knotted it back onto the shirt, but missed the original placement.


"Whoa, that was unreal." The young man got to his feet, a bit unsteady. He looked around at his companions. "Why am I hanging out here, wasting my time? My father wants me to become a doctor."


He turned and walked away without a backward glance, leaving the others puzzled. Death shrugged.


"It wasn't his original weave but, hey, he's still walking. Maybe I should retire this shirt. Wouldn't do to snag it and change someone else's life – or start a war." He looked down at the material. "I wonder how many lives I'm wearing right now?"


He took off his sunglasses and linked arms with Chronos. "Did you get enough fun in the sun, my friend?"


Chronos laughed. "Plenty. I think it's time to go home. Play that surf song again though, will you?"


©2010 Laura Eno

Different Strokes - #FridayFlash

"There's nothing like a good battle first thing in the morning."

War stood high above the fighting, his sword waving as if conducting a symphony. Death didn't reply. His iPod was on and he continued to whistle 'Louie, Louie' between the gaps in his teeth.

Gaia shimmered in, surprising both men. She didn't normally frequent battles. The frown on her face didn't bode well, either.

"Would you mind moving over to the left a bit?" she said without preamble. "You're trampling endangered fungi."

War crossed his well-muscled arms over his chest, the sword in his hand jabbing Death in the ribs.

"Careful where you poke that thing."

War ignored Death's complaint to focus on Gaia's. "I can't move a war. They break out wherever they may. I have no control over fungi trampling."

"I meant you. You're standing in it."

He looked down at his feet. Several mushrooms oozed out from beneath his boots, mashed into a paste. A strong breeze sprang up, ruffling his hair. War quickly stepped aside, lest Gaia start a monsoon and ruin his battle plans.

"Thank you. I'll remind you to watch where you plant your bloody boots." She glared at both men and whirled out on the wind.

"Meddlesome woman," War muttered.

"You need to relax, my friend. This war doesn't need your supervision." Death peered down into the valley. "It is escalating on its own. Come, I have the perfect game to ease your tension."

"I don't have time for your games, Death."

"But you'll enjoy this one. It's a test of your prowess."

"Oh?" War enjoyed showing off his superior skills. "What is this game?"

"It's called bowling."

***

"The object of the game is to toss this ball and knock over the pins—"

People scattered as a stray ball crashed into the setting machine three lanes over. Death shook his head at War's pleased grin.

"No. You don't throw it like a shot put and we're only supposed to play in our own lane. Here, let me demonstrate."

Death rolled the ball down the lane, hitting five of the pins.

"Gently, see? Now you try it."

War picked up a ball and crushed it while trying to place his fingers in the holes. He grabbed another and crunched through the debris to stand on the line. His toss touched the lane halfway down, took a bounce to the right and continued in the next lane, where it sank into the gutter.

The owner of the bowling alley, a massive brute named Max, stomped over to confront them.

"Clear out of here. You're scaring all my customers away."

War drew his sword and Death hastened to plant himself between them.

"I don't think this game is good for relaxation after all, my friend. Why don't we go over to my house for a rousing game of checkers instead?"

©2010 Laura Eno

A Night On The Town - #FridayFlash

"I just love this movie, don't you?" Death tossed a piece of popcorn into the air and caught it in his eye socket.

"It's okay, but Achilles did not look like Brad Pitt." Chronos slurped his drink and wondered why Hollywood got it wrong so much of the time. Honestly, some of the bizarre notions they came up with…

A piece of popcorn bounced off Death's brow bone, hitting the man in front of them. The gentleman turned to complain but his words got caught in his throat as he stared at the visage behind him. Chronos watched the man blanch and turn back around.

"Is he the one you came for?" Only people about to die saw Death as he really was.

"No, but his time will come soon."

The man jumped out of his seat and ran towards the exit. Death watched him go with a shake of his skull.

"He could have stayed and enjoyed the rest of the movie. I didn't mean that soon."

"Who are you here for?" Chronos scanned the crowd, trying to guess.

"No one. I just thought it'd be fun to go see a movie. Aren't you having a good time?"

Chronos thought it over. It'd been a while since he'd done something not work related.

"Yeah, I guess I am. Pass the popcorn, will you?"

***

After the movie let out they strolled down the Champs-Elysees, watching people scurry by in the cold night air.

"Are you going to the Valentine's Day party at Gaia's tomorrow night?"

"I don't have a date," Chronos said. "Last year Eros kept shooting his arrows at me. They hurt."

"Lucien could fix you up."

"With a succubus? Are you crazy?"

Death's jaw dropped so low in a laugh that Chronos thought it might come unhinged.

"We're in the City of Love, old man. Find a pretty girl and ask her. You've got time."

Chronos chuckled at his friend's little joke.

"I don't think so. Are you taking Helga?" He distinctly remembered Death's date from last year. When he'd tried to shake hands with her, his arm passed right through her mid-section.

"Yes. I am attracted to the pointy horns on her helmet. They don't make Viking women the way they used to. Pity. She sings well too."

"I remember. Pure opera quality."

The party did sound like fun. Maybe he'd speak to Lucien after all. No harm in dating a succubus for just one evening, was there? At least she would keep Eros at bay.

***

"I've got just the girl for you," Lucien said the next morning when Chronos enquired. He snapped his fingers and a well-shaped demon appeared in a puff of smoke.

"This is Lilith. Guaranteed to make you the envy of all men."

"I don't want to be envied and they're all named Lilith."

Lucien chomped on his cigar and smiled. "Minor technicality. She's perfect for you. You'll have to get her back here before midnight though."

"What happens at midnight?"

Lucien studied him for a moment, a red glint in his eye. "You really don't want to know."

Chronos shuddered. Did he really want to do this? Lucien saw the hesitation and slapped him on the shoulder.

"You two will have fun…trust me." He left in a swirl, a wide smile on his face.
Chronos looked at his date and shrugged. At least she'd come clothed.

***

The evening was pleasant enough. Eros found some other victim to harass and Lilith clung to his arm while batting her lashes at him. Helga livened up the evening by belting out a few of Death's favorite funeral dirges while he popped candy hearts in the air to catch.

Chronos glanced at the clock in surprise. It was 11:58. Stopping time didn't work on demons. He rushed Lilith back to Lucien's place just as the clock struck midnight and her hands turned into claws.

"I had a wager going with some of the boys that you wouldn't get Lilith back in time." Lucien chuckled through the smoke of his cigar.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you." Chronos smiled faintly, wondering just what his date would have done to him had he kept her out longer. Her scales were a beautiful ripple of color though.

"Oh, you didn't disappoint me. I won the wager. I knew you'd be conscious enough of the time to get her back."

Chronos wasn't about to admit how close he'd come to losing track, settling for a gracious exit instead. Perhaps next year Helga could hook him up with a friend.

©2010 Laura Eno

Sore Loser - #FridayFlash

This is a continuation of last week's story "Time's Faux Pas."


Chronos stumbled into his house after a long visit with Nyx and collapsed on the sofa. Perhaps he should stop time for a week or two and get some sleep. Death sauntered in from the kitchen just then, a bowl of peanuts balanced in one skeletal hand.

"You look like hell, old man."

Opening one eye, Chronos found Death peering at him closely.

"You have a peanut stuck…" Chronos motioned a finger to his nose, trying to stifle a laugh. Death dug the nut out of his nasal cavity with as much dignity as he could muster before chuckling himself.

"Wouldn’t do to make a collection with a peanut stuffed up my nose. It could hurt my credibility."

"With your cowl up they probably wouldn’t notice anyway."

Death studied the sand in the hourglass on the table.

"My collection is right outside Lucien’s, but I’ve got some time yet. Do you want to play a couple of racks?"

"Why do you want to play pool with Evil?"

Death shrugged. "Why not? I’m neutral. Besides, he’s got the best joint in town. I hear Clotho drops in there from time to time."

That got Chronos’ attention. "The Fates hang out in a pool hall?"

"Only the youngest one. She still likes to party."

"You go on without me," Chronos said. He gave in to a huge yawn and sank deeper into the sofa. "Turn the hourglass over for me on your way out, will you?"

Death shook his skull in amusement as Chronos started to snore. He set the bowl of peanuts down on the table, in case his friend woke up hungry, and faded out.

***

"Thanatos, it’s good of you to stop by," Lucien called out as Death materialized next to the bar. "Join me in a game?"

The bar patrons shrank back as Death ambled over to the table. Most people saw him as a nice looking young man, if they saw him at all. Only those whose time has come would see the skeletal visage. Of course, all in here were doomed so they saw him for who he was.

"What brings you here?" Lucien waved his cigar in the air, its smoke twirling around the woman standing next to him and intoxicating her with its unique aroma.

"I’ve got a pickup later on."

"Not in here I trust." Lucien smiled but his eyes narrowed and sparked with glints of red.

The floor next to Death opened, swallowing the person standing beside him in a belch of flames. He ignored the theatrics.

"No. It’s outside."

Lucien relaxed his stance and called for the bartender to bring over a bowl of peanuts.

"How about a game?"

The shriek of locked brakes and rend of metal came halfway through the second game.

"That’s my appointment." Death turned to go just as a car burst through the wall, lodging itself amongst the scattered bricks. Lucien chomped down on his cigar and grinned.

"He’s inside my establishment. That makes him mine."

"A soul in the hand, Lucien…" Death pointed to the customers starting to scramble over the hood on their way out.

"All right!"

He chuckled as Lucien’s fists balled in impotent fury. He really was a sore loser. Concentrating on Chronos, Death sent out the call that he was needed right away.

Chronos appeared, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"This better be life or death—" One look around convinced him. He shifted his hourglass to the side and time stopped for the mortals.

"Thanks for coming so quickly, old friend."

"You're lucky I heard you—"

Motion in the corner yanked both Chronos' and Death's attention. The bartender still moved as if nothing was amiss. Lucien followed their stares.

"He's not mortal, but demon." When they turned a questioning glance at him, Evil shrugged. "It's hard to find good help these days. Besides, he makes a damn fine martini. Now, can we get on with the problem of keeping my clientele penned in here?"

Chronos rewound time to just before the point of impact and they stopped the car from coming through the wall. Time flowed again as Death collected his soul.

"Lucien seemed a bit testy tonight," Chronos remarked.

"He's just mad that I beat him at a game. Evil hates to lose." Death chuckled, his jawbone dropping in a fair imitation of a smile. He put his bony arm around Chronos. "Let's get back home, shall we?"

©2010 Laura Eno

Time's Faux Pas - #FridayFlash

“I’m bored.”

Chronos looked over to see if his companion heard him. Death sat in a recliner, flicking peanuts from a spoon and catching them in his eye sockets.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“I heard you. Why don’t you go visit Nyx?”

Chronos shuddered, remembering the last time he’d been in that wily woman’s clutches. The goddess of Night was not to be taken lightly. He wasn’t sure he was up to repeating that experience.

“No, I want to do something constructive. You know, help people.”

“You’ve got all the time in the world to do it.” Not getting a laugh at his little joke, Death stood up. “I have a collection to make. Let me know what you come up with. It might affect my schedule.”

Chronos nodded and scratched his beard. The longer it got the more it itched. It was all this cold, dry air—

That’s it, he thought. People complained about how long winter lasted. He could do something about that.

He paid a visit to Gaia but she wasn’t at home. Probably out fixing the latest tree blight. No matter. Chronos couldn’t see any flaw to his plan that would upset Mother Nature.

First, he sped up the earth’s orbit. Then he removed the month of February. Pleased with his solution, Chronos wasn’t prepared for the complaints that poured in.

Gaia pounded on his door, then blew in before he’d had a chance to answer it.

“You’ve disrupted the growing season.”

Chronos took a step backwards. If she started a tornado right now, he’d lose all the knickknacks off his shelves.

“I only wanted to ease the suffering that a long winter brings.”

“Did you think about the Southern Hemisphere? You shortened their summer.”

“Oh. That hadn’t occurred to me.” Before he could say more the doorbell rang. Eros stood on the doorstep, his bow pulled taut and an arrow aimed at Chronos’ head.

“You’ve removed the month of love, you blasted timepiece! How am I supposed to match people without Valentine’s Day? What will this do to the flower and chocolate industries? You bloody well better change it back before I skewer you.”

Death and War popped in together. War had his sword drawn but Death eased it aside.

“I’m afraid you’ve made a mess of things, old friend. War will have to intensify his efforts and I will no doubt be working overtime to keep up.”

“I understand.” Chronos raised his hands to forestall any more accusations. “I have changed it back.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and left him at once. The sudden silence gnawed at him.

“I’m bored,” he said to the empty room. Maybe he’d go visit Nyx after all.

©2010 Laura Eno