The Zahncliff Institute: chapter 6 preview

Victim #2

I died on a Thursday, a bloody mess on the grass, shadows all around.

That day I didn't have many plans, just a few errands, then a date that evening. Everything went wonderfully; the guy was tall, dark haired, had eyes the blue of the ocean, and we clicked. After the the renaissance fair and some dinner, he walked me to the edge of the park.

“I'll be fine from here, thanks,” I said, smiling at him in the moon light, and rearranging my shawl.

“Are you sure? I don't want any wandering suitors to come along and sweep you off your feet.” He pulled me in, settled his hands on my hips, and pressed his lips against mine. I felt a flutter in my stomach.

“I'll simply say 'I am taken until further notice. Please hang up, and try again later.'” He laughed and spun me around.

“Tomorrow night, same time, same place?” He said. I started to walk along the path into the trees.

“Sounds lovely. Farewell, good sir!” I said.

I heard him laugh faintly.

“Farewell, dear maiden!”

I continued walking along the path, a song in my heart, and let everything amaze me. The gentle breeze whispering through the tall stately trees, the bright sky over head, the scent of earth and distant flowering trees. Coming around a corner, I stopped suddenly. There was a tall bald man standing in front of me, hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket, small earrings glinting in the moon light. With the moon to his back, he had black holes for eyes, and the shadow made him look like some sort of demon. I slid my hand into my purse for my pocket knife, and carefully pulled it out. The man grinned, and his teeth glowed. Then, his body started churning and snapping, twisting out of shape, elongating, until a mighty cobra rose as high as the trees, scales gleaming like jewels. Vicious green eyes slanted down on me, and I shook like a reed in the wind.

“Little one, why do you wander the dark night alone?” He hissed, swaying back and forth in front of me. I clenched my hand around my knife, knowing it would do little good.

“What are you?” I asked, my voice trembling. He laughed, a vile scraping sound, and began to wrap himself around me, drawing tighter and tighter.

“Please....Please.....Ple--” I gasped, as the dry scaly muscles of the snake started to crush my bones. I could hear myself breaking, and felt hot pain everywhere inside of me. Blood dripped from my nose and mouth, but I did not feel it. He withdrew, and as I lay broken on the pavement, he returned to the form of a man, took my knife from my still clenched hand, and used it to cut a piece of my hair. Then, he turned and left me there, my body twisted and shapeless. I closed my eyes.

My name is Elanor McKinney.

I died on a Thursday, a bloody mess on the grass, shadows all around.

**

Winter

This is a random scribbling I did some months back, when Idaho was still in the icy chains of winter. All I can say is that I'm glad it's summer!

The wind is whistling past our house, the screen door banging open and shut. Frost creeps across the front window, Hoar frost building in the corners, and coating the trees outside.

It's beautiful, but deadly.

The heaters barely stave off the effects of the silent chill, sneaking into your bones, and making you quake from the inside.

Breeze rising to a howl, it drags across the lawn, fighting; the tree whips to and fro, and snow begins to descend in a flurry, struggling to land, but instead getting carried afar by the icy tempest. Occasionally, headlights are seen through the dim pale, but otherwise, I am blind to the outside world. All has been obscured from my view.

Nights falls, and the cold seeps into the walls, up the headboard, and once more burrows into my bones. Sleep hits like a black wall, and I do not resist.

Morning comes. Sun glints through the window in a merry dance. I abandon the warm embrace of my blankets, and draw aside the curtains; the sun has emboldened, and now continues to grow in strength and warmth. The frosted trees take on a new demeanor, crystalline curtains of ethereal glory, and the shafts of shining light touch on the snow, now lazily drifting downward, like a million miniature mirrors glinting joyfully, celebrating for the new come morn.

Worst Vacation Ever!

Last Friday we started a four hour drive to Utah for the Scottish Highland games. Dad had been coughing, and so had Col, but we thought they would be fine when we got down there. Boy, were we wrong.
First, we went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point, and that was awesome. Except for all the dirt. There were "Excavation" sites all throughout for children, and due to Kitty and Avie's great interest in this, we were delayed. During this time, Dad's coughing escalated, and he started pretty much drowning in his own mucus. After that, we headed to the games.
Due to a delayed spring, however, the Cotton Wood was blooming late, and fell from the sky like snow while we were in Lehi. Of course, Col and Dad are oober allergic to the stuff, and started to get puffy red eyes after just a bit. Plus it was hot, and me and Avie got lost, and then the food was terrible, and it was over all suckish.

Dad's condition kept going downhill, and everyone else started coughing too.
The next day, we left Dad at the hotel, and went to Temple Square in Salt Lake. After driving around the block, looking for a way to get to a parking lot, we finally found a place, and started to explore. We wandered around the museum there, and saw a bunch of cool stuff, but Col and Kitty started acting up a wee bit. Next we headed across the street. After walking just a few steps, Avie spewed up her grapes from that morning. Barfing at temple square: Yay! luckily it was outside, and was hosed away by the time we came back around. It was another hot day.
The kids continued to be royal pains. At Beehive House, the sister missionaries became very pushy about signing a slip thing so they could call someone and tell them about the gospel. We got tired of that, and left. My camera kept malfunctioning, so I didn't get many good pictures.

That night we went to the Blue Plate Diner for dinner, and all was well until we were almost done eating: Avie puked all over the floor. After cleaning up, we went home for the night.
Monday rolled around, and Mom had a small sewing academy, so we were left with a sickly dad, a barfy Avie, and coughing Col and Kitty. Me and mom are the only ones that are semi healthy! That night we decided to reschedule our flights to Biloxi Mississippi, and forgo the rest of our "Vacation". Today we drove back along Utah's INSANE highways, and came back home to our chickens. I have never been more glad that a trip was over!


Hopefully we won't all be zombies the next time around!

On The Road Again....

Due to a family trip down South, chapter six of the Zahncliff Institute may be delayed..... I'm taking my jump-drive with me so I can keep working, but I also need to squeeze in trips to the beach, and classical diners.

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures, and post them! also, I may be doing some watercolors.
We leave tomorrow at O' dark hundred to Utah for such things as the Scottish Games, and a Dinosaur Museum. I shall geek out. And maybe bring back a small sword. And a Tyrannosaurus claw.

Also (Off topic), if you have any ideas for mythical creatures, I would love to hear from you! I need as many ideas as I can get. Comment below, and the coolest, most amusing, or most creative might be seen in the next chapter of the Zahncliff Institute! Thanks so much!
Anne C.

Stats

Hey guys! thanks for being so patient with the writing.... At points, it gets to be hard going, so I'm glad of support. Since I've published chapter five, viewer numbers have spiked! Its gone from one, maybe two a day, to five or more a day! Thanks for reading Pancakes and Pixies, the blog that has to do with a little bit of everything.

Anne C.