It was around the time the birds started hatching that I knew there was going to be trouble. Despite having to shift premises almost every night, Silk still managed to draw a crowd. We had a new batch of aphids’ honey coming in, and sales on butterfly dust were on the rise. Yes, things were … More Silk and Paper
I walk through fields of brittle stalks, amidst wafting ash and charcoal dust. This cold is dry, and thin, and bleak, and though this sun shines down, its light is empty. This was once a place of life. A place where the air thrummed with birdsong, or the hum of insects, or the rustle of … More Before the Fire Came
Cupid switched off the television and sat staring at the blank screen. First the girl with the braid, then the green hood guy, now this dude in the black leather with all his costumed friends. And here he was thinking archery was a dying art. Bows, it now seemed, stood for something. For justice, or … More Bows Are For Good Guys
We found no gods, so we became them. As the universe wound down, and the lights in the sky began to fade, we reached out into the void, seeking the paradise promised. Seeking an end to the end. But the thing we had put off for millennia was now approaching, as we raced toward equilibrium. … More New Gods
There was one body too many in the morgue. Susan checked, then double checked the paperwork, before returning to the unaccounted-for corpse. The only thing worse than a missing body, was a spare one. If her boss found out, she’d be in for it. Biting down on her lip, Susan gave the nameless she a … More Gift on a Gurney
“Let me tell you about the time I took out Carnivorous Carrot single-handedly.” Sergeant Scrum said, taking another swig of his pineapple juice cocktail. “With his single hand, that is.” Mimi Resourceful stared at the blue suited man across the table from her and contemplated if now was the time to try out her new … More The Resourceful Sergeant Scrum
There is a place where dreams and reality blur into a single, pleasure-filled haze. Where the air is thicker than the water, and the water runs with honey. Where there are no rules or limitations, and all pain, pleasure, and paradise bows down in the name of the queen. They call it Silk. Silk was … More Veuve Noir
You know job satisfaction is down when even Death is fed up. It was one of those cold mornings when the sunlight feels empty and the air is somehow thinner than usual. I sat on a bench, staring out over the playground and watching a little girl move holes in the sandbox. She was alone. … More To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
The Spray Brigade marched across the benchtop. Toaster shrunk from their glares. Waffleiron skittered behind him. Only Espresso refused to move out of their way. “Back in line,” Surfacespray ordered. Espresso stood firm on the bench and glared back at the Brigade leader. “You don’t own us,” he said. Lieutenant Mop lunged forward and bashed … More Game of Homes
“How about this cafe, mother?” Zeus paused outside the Cafe Delos. It was light inside, but not too bright so as to be glaring. It had enough spare tables that they could sit away from the other customers, but wasn’t so empty that it would be awkward, and the music playing was the soft jazz … More Just Syrup For the Dragon
C. A. Harland 