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Back to ShoreBy Miklas Manneke QuailBellMagazine.com The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
InhaleBy Claire Ledoyen QuailBellMagazine.com i look at myself before i write, take a long drag of my face and pick up a pen but not before i get my paper out. today on the toilet i realized all i ever think about is myself and poetry. then i wondered what other people must think about all the time, if they weren't thinking about themselves like I do. ExhaleBy Claire Ledoyen QuailBellMagazine.com a simple snap astounds me. this pleasant click is all it took to fix what has been broken for months. Shaking Hands Under the TreeBy Claire Ledoyen QuailBellMagazine.com magic and sticky sap clover dots my face as i am the earth & insects the flowerpots of mystery hanging in your mouth. Not the Last Conversation with a GhostBy Claire Ledoyen
QuailBellMagazine.com bukowski walked up beside me, smoking a cigarette and staring at the ashgarden of the graveyard. i looked at him and said, "hey, do you still write?" with a flick of his smoking fag he replied, "apparently". whatever happened to the mockingbird i asked him "you know," he said, "the same thing that happens to all of us." after that i gave him half of my peanut butter and jelly he walked away then. I believe he was muttering, "don't write a poem about this". The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Caketrope of BURTON's TeamBy Alexandre Dubosc QuailBellMagazine.com The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
War and Women By Jasmine White QuailBellMagazine.com “Lady Eva, the battle witch, and the rogue await your pleasure in the throne room, as you requested, Your Majesty,” the manservant said from the doorway.
“Perfect. I shall be along after reading news of the battlefront,” King Edimire said. An hour later, the three women bowed as the king swept in and up the steps as graceful as a pregnant pig. “Good morning, Your Grace,” they said. “Ladies are supposed to curtsy, but never mind that. As you know, my army is fighting this so called “Just Empire” in the south. You I can spare. Go to that would-be-usurper’s kingdom and bring him to his knees! End this war.” “Yes, Your Grace!” The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
SnailsBy Brooke Covington QuailBellMagazine.com A beautiful, hollow burden to bear
Housing a haven, a protective lair Oozing mucous on a sea of wet concrete Spotting an easy meal, the slow-moving friends meet A black and white affair Bathing in sunlight, exposed to my stare A daytime discovery, unexpected and rare Almost always alone, nature’s perpetual outcast But never stumbling, strong and steadfast Inhabiting a room all of its own The number of guests forever remains at one But today is different; separates have become a pair Camaraderie and sustenance—the two will share Today, unlike any day A black and white affair The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Meeting GirlsBy Tyler Withrow
QuailBellMagazine.com I put on my favorite shirt, a light blue button-down, creased and slightly faded from the wear and tear it had gone through over the many times I had worn it. I hadn’t met the right girl yet, nor did I expect to meet one that was perfect for me any time soon. I rolled up my sleeves, attempting to avoid looking like I was trying too hard. I always hear that ‘soul mates’ are awfully hard to find, and I wasn’t planning on settling for second best. I stepped out of the door, feeling like I looked good, ready to meet girls. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have trouble meeting girls, I just haven’t gotten what I wanted from any of the relationships I’ve had yet. I bring them home after the second or third date, and they leave the next morning and never come back, as if they had forgotten me completely. I’m not the pickiest guy, all I want from them is commitment. I can never seem to get it for some reason. As I stepped into the street, raindrops began to fall from the sky, scattering the ground around me in droplets of darkness. I started walking faster, hoping to get to someplace where I could get out of the rain before I got completely soaked. The streetlights came on, illuminating the raindrops falling underneath them in a yellow-orange cone. I ran through the drops of starlight, ignoring the car that endeavored to splash water on me as well. I ducked inside the first public building that I saw, a small bar three blocks from the club I had planned on going to. There was no reason to keep going when the rain was this heavy. Soaked to the skin, I slicked my shoulder-length black hair back, trying to make the best of my dishevelment. I looked up, checking through the bar patrons, listing them off and cataloguing them in my head, face and personality type. It’s a personal talent, something I picked up from growing up with an unusual family. Primarily standard fare graced the small bar, middle-class businessmen, one or two drunks, and a few lonely girls. I looked at the scattered individuals, unimpressed by what I had discerned from them. I turned towards the bar to take a seat myself, when I saw the very last thing I had expected to see in the world, let alone a small bar that I had never intended to enter in the first place. Sitting by herself in the corner of the room was a girl with the longest, silkiest black hair I had ever seen, bright green eyes, and porcelain-white skin, so much so that she could have reflected light off of her. Our eyes literally met from across the room. I had never experienced something near what I did when I saw her. My face started getting hot, and my heart sped up. I felt uncomfortable-perhaps for the first time in my life. All of my confidence was suddenly sapped, and the last thing I wanted to do was approach her, the source of everything that was suddenly new and different about my life. Despite all of this, I had to talk to her. This was a girl I had to meet, no matter how I felt about it. I took a step towards her, scattering water droplets on the floor. My soaking wet clothes felt as if they weighed hundreds of pounds, dragging me towards the floor. I took another step, hoping I would just melt through the floor, disappear into nothing. Anything would be better than this torture, the fear of the unknown. I pressed on, into the breach. In reality it took me about thirty seconds to cross the room and flop down into the seat next to her, although it felt like the same number of years. When I was finally able to sit, relief hit, almost without warning. The approach was finished, and conversation was my personal strong point. Talking to someone about nothing had been the easiest thing in the world for me since I was in seventh grade. The instant I opened my mouth, however, my confidence broke. I barely managed to squeak out, “H-hello.” “Hi,” she replied, grinning at the drenched, awkward man standing in front of her. I looked up from my feet and into her eyes. With a jarring crash, my thoughts returned to earth as I saw exactly what I was dealing with. I laughed quietly to myself, surprised but amused at the situation I had walked into. I knew not only what she was, but what she was capable of. She wasn’t just a regular girl, she was a succubus, a creature that drains life from any man she can drag close enough to her. I sat down next to her, slipping into polite conversation, my confidence restored, as if nothing had happened. At this point, I had only to tread carefully. Four hours later, we were alone in her apartment. It really was inevitable, now that I think of it. As she leaned in to kiss me, I caught a glimpse of regret flickering across the corner of her eye. Almost as soon as I caught a glimpse of it, though, it disappeared, a snake crawling into a tunnel before I even had a chance to blink. I knew she knew what she was doing. All the better that I was here to stop her. Our lips touched, and I kissed her back. After a few seconds, she pulled back, confused. “Why aren’t you asleep? Nobody’s ever kissed me back before…” She trailed off, pulling away from me. I grinned, looking carefully into her eyes. “Think carefully. It will come to you eventually.” After a few moments her bewilderment had only increased. “Who are you? What are you? Nobody can…” She looked down, chewing on one of her fingernails absently. “But then…you could be like me.” I nodded ever so slightly, saying nothing, not wanting to disrupt her train of thought. She didn’t pick up on it, lost in her own thoughts. I couldn’t fathom quite what was happening in her eyes. They flickered, jumped from place to place. Did she not know the extent to which her kind was able to hurt people? But how could she not? Every one I’ve ever met knew exactly what she was doing, and even enjoyed it. As doubts began to dance through my head, I heard my master’s voice echoing through my mind. Deep as the ocean, with a slight southern drawl to it. “There’s no point in leaving any monster alive. They’re heartless. They feel no remorse for what they do, and most every one of them enjoys killing people. That’s why they’re called monsters, boy.” “Please forgive me,” she said, the words flying out of her mouth. I jumped in my seat, fumbling with the stake in my pocket, just out of her line of sight. “I don’t know very much about my…our kind. My parents abandoned me at a young age, so I never learned about my way of life.” I looked at her questioningly. “Our way of life,” she corrected herself immediately. My heart skipped a beat, and my next sentence caught in my throat. I looked down, confused, and turned to the side slightly, checking the cross under my shirt that was protecting me from her aura. It seemed to be still functional, no cracks or chips. Was what I had felt just real? She couldn’t possibly be manipulating me while I was wearing the cross. “Anyways, I’m sorry. I’ve been alone for a while now. I didn’t think there was anyone else out there that was like me…” She blushed and looked down, tears welling up in her eyes. In that moment, ten years of hunting experience flew out the window, along with all of my preconceptions. I had heard of ‘real’ love, but I had never expected it would hit me so quickly, let alone on the first day I met the girl. I guess that’s what love really is. At this point, I felt like I knew that she was telling the truth. In all honesty, there was no way I could kill her now. As the tears started running down her face, I threw my arms around her, all caution to the wind. Through the tears, and muffled by my shoulder, I heard, “You don’t talk much, do you?” A giggle followed. “I guess you could say I think a lot more than I talk,” I said. I paused, and held her tighter. “You don’t have to be alone anymore.” She laughed out loud, one of the happiest sounds I’ve ever heard. “Thank you…so much.” It was the last place in the world I had expected to meet the right girl. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Colosse - A Wood TaleBy Yves Geleyn and Hornet Inc. QuailBellMagazine.com The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
FangulousBy Jasmine White QuailBellMagazine.com Thanks to LPDragonfly, Obsidian Dawn, and Trisste for Photoshop brushes! I, a humble mortal, greet you, Vampire. You are “in” this decade. In case you are over a hundred years old—no, don’t tell me—that means we humans are very interested in your kind. Ever since the supernatural genre tweaked your image, many people find you irresistible. How has your image changed? They say your heart still beats with compassion, you abstain from drinking human blood out of courtesy, and that you even sparkle under the sun. In other words, humans are more than willing to let you take advantage of them. You are the bewitching predator. I can’t presume to tell you, the masters of seduction, about increasing performance in the bedroom, but I can give you a general overview of humans today. If you were asleep for the last few decades, humans enjoy a steady source of income, allowing them the freedom to play, shop, and travel. The computer industry is one of the boosts that has helped humans get to this point. Towns are no longer separated; the Internet connects everyone, all the time. Kind of like your telepathy, except it’s voluntary. A lot of humans spend more time under the sun and other manmade sources of ultraviolet radiation in order to tan their skin. They have also become obsessed with dying their hair different colors including bright blonde, brilliant bronze, and blood red—pun intended. Speech has taken a plunge. Definitions have changed, the endings of words have been chopped short, and unfinished sentences run rampant. Your technologically-challenged state, your paler complexion and, impeccable grammar are sure to set you apart from the modern day crowd. Many things are now common place, if not socially acceptable, though people would still rather not talk about. Attracted to the same sex? Alright. Like bondage or any other painful activities? Someone out there is interested. Any and all acts can be fulfilled, but continue to keep them to yourself.And it is not only men that are involved. Just like how taverns are no longer a man's pastime. Men and women mingle in bars and clubs. It is one of the main ways to find a willing partner to leave with.You can even sample the goods while dancing, which is akin to sex with clothes on nowadays. Take your time and enjoy the appetizers. Once you are done and have brought your human to your lair, it's all up to you. Due to your predatory nature, inflicting pain on your partner’s body is expected. To increase pleasure for both participants, I suggest drinking very little blood before the act, since hunger is the best seasoning. I have read that bloodsucking can be a very sensual act, if done right. Scratches and bite marks will be numerous and bones may be broken in the process. Do what you do best, but please be sure not to overdo it. But in case you do kill your human, by accident or not, obliterate the evidence or you won’t get away with murder. Well, you will, but this isn’t the 1500s. The police will start investigating, it will be on the evening news, and everyone will be talking about it. If anything, you will be annoyed to death—pun!—before the talk dies down, which could lead you into a cycle of murderous rampages. Humans have become more advanced, but still give into their more base instincts when you come around. There is not much else I can impart to you. If I have forced you into a stereotype, Vampire, I sincerely apologize. With all of these versions authors and movies feeds us, it is difficult to know fact from fiction. Please, do me no harm, for I know you not. All I do know is that you are fangulous. |