Let’s Talk Process: An Excerpt
I’m in a bit of a crunch to finish this latest draft of Chaos and so, rather than a ramble about writing, you’re going to get some actual writing. Below is what fell out of my brain this morning. It is unrefined and likely has mistakes/typos/etc etc. I hope you enjoy it anyway.
Chapter Nine
Jade fought but Linette’s slight form and iron will won the day.
As the pain began to ease, for that single moment, she was grateful.
And then the edge appeared and she fell and though she sought purchase she failed and she fell.
Through blissful silence and perfect stillness and respite she fell.
And then, there was the void, the swirling maelstrom of shifting opalesence, the clash of cymbals and the whine of agitated strings, burning heat and burning cold.
Possibility, random probability, Chaos gaped its maw and swallowed her.
Well, well, a voice boomed, Ordusdotter, how you have grown.
Jade landed hard, the breath knocked from her.
Or perhaps that was my soul making an attempt at a runner.
The first of the creatures to appear was twice her height, its legs jointed in the manner of a goats, ridged horns curling back from the crown of its head. It ran its black tongue over the ridges of its serrated teeth, one three toed, taloned foot on either side of her waist. It leaned forward, face inches from hers, breath stinking, incongruously, of star lilies. It ran a finger down the center of her forehead, over the bridge of her nose, across her lips and to the hollow of her throat. You look very like your mother. She was a glorious creature until she chained herself to that body. Though I have had my fill of that as well and while it is certainly a demotion, I can’t quite bring myself to call it a loss. He set the tips of his black nails between her breasts. She is still strong enough to resist this. Such a sad disservice they did you when they crafted you into this hybrid thing with all of the power and none of the endurance.
He pressed down, penetrating spectral flesh, cracking illusory bone.
Jade screamed.
The thing scooped out a handful of her and studied it in the shifting light of Chaos.
Jade lurched up, scrabbled at his wrist, gaining purchase, gaining her feet.
Well, well. It does have a bit of fight left. The thing set the handful of Jade in the hair, where it hovered, compressing itself smaller and smaller. That will make the meal even more delicious.
Jade screamed a gain, a battle cry this time, bleeding essence with every rise of and fall of her mortal chest, every compression of her mortal heart. She gathered it to her, and even as she continued to leach it, formed what she was able to capture into a shimmering dagger.
If you want a fight, she said, all you needed do was ask.
Ah, and your father’s mouth. A dangerous combination. I wonder that they should love you so much and decide to craft you into such a weak, little thing.
They circled one another, mortal goddess and demon, neither feinting nor posturing.
Others gathered. Gorgeous, elven things with tapered ears and empty eyes, clad in silks, their very touch burning poison; minute balls of fuzz that chittered and swarmed; squat, brick red entities wreathed in fire; plague beasts constructed of pustules and infectious slime. More and more, and more.
All waiting for her to fall.
Bets were placed in all manner of languages and voices: squeaking and oozing, whispers of wind through summer leaves, crackling and devouring.
An order should she survive this bout, of who would be permitted to make the next attempt at obliterating her.
**********
“Damnit,” Huginn muttered, watching Jade writhe. “Linette —”
“I see, I see.” The core temperature reading on the vitals projection leapt and Jade began to shiver violently. Linette pressed another pressure spray to Jade’s neck but it had little effect and the azure drained from the other woman’s face leaving behind a pale gray but for the silvery-violet high on her cheeks and across her collarbones.
Munnin paced. Kneeling every so often, squeezing his finger to reopen the small wound he had made, drawing a rune or a pictogram on the deck in his own blood. Rising to pace again.
Sasquatch would not be moved from his mistress’ side, forcing Linette to step over and around him. His lips were peeled back from his throat and a low growl rolled from deep in his chest.
Huginn closed his eyes. “She is trying,” he said. “But they are coming.”
**********
His attack was a blur of sound a motion, a sonic boom and claws tearing her abdomen.
She could let them tear her apart. She could join the Primordial and melt into it, escaping the prison her mother and her father had created for her with the best of intentions and far to little understanding.
Lot of that going around.
No. No, I’m not going out that easily, you bastards.
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