Paid StoryThat Which is Hidden
Shadows and Secrets
"The Oracle of Delphi by Elyse Debarre takes you, the reader, on an enchanting journey into the heart of ancient Greece. Masterfully written, her story will captivate and inspire you. From the very first page, Elyse's evocative prose transports you to a world where the myth and the historical intertwine seamlessly."
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The smell of rain is so invigorating. I watch through my window the rain pouring down from the heavens above. A sense of melancholy. A weeping sky full of tears kissing the ground. A Pitter- Patter intensifying into a heavier amplified sound. Rain hitting the still pond creating bubbles. Transitioning the peaceful pond to a dynamic pattern of ripples and waves creating circle effects. Dark gray billowing clouds thicken, covering the once vivid blue sky. Concealing the sun in a blankety overcast. Stormy days. Rolling thunderclouds can be seen bad weather is approaching. Thunderous booming claps following bolts of lightning; rumbling loudly, bright flashes in the skies. Thunder then lighting so very frighting. Brilliant, jagged lines fill the sky of lightning bolts. Thunder warns us when lightning is nearby, roars, echos, cracks and bangs. A cloud burst of down pours come quickly. Drenching all that it touches. Leaving puddles all around. Splashing down on the ground. The winds howl wildly swaying the trees with the force of the gusts. The leaves blowing and rustled as they dance in the wind. Fluttering in every direction, swaying in the breeze, reaching the ground as their final destination. Critters scatter running for shelter in hollow trees, underground burrows, dense shrubs. Pools of standing water on the ground. Some birds play in the puddles when the rain slows down. A drizzling mist a gentler pitter- patter of rain. The intense thunder and lightning begin to fade, breaking down and ceases to exist. The clouds appear as a rippling wave like form, in the sky after the storm with shades of gray and black. Hinting of a returning sun. Soon fluffy white clouds emerge and break up after the raging storm. Scattering in the sky. The suns golden rays start to pierce through. Soon the blue sky emerges from the shadows of the raging storm hidden from the turbulent clouds. The stormy darkness now reveals a brilliant hue of yellow, purple and blue, a sense of renewal. After the storm a rainbow appears. A sign of beauty. A memorable image. A promise of sunshine. The power of nature is a humbling experience. There is always a chance for a brighter day.
Rise of the Magi
Book 2 of the Priests and Magi quadrilogy.
Shadows stir, and old enemies resurface.
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The trolls in the attic are constantly scampering around. They are the noisiest bunch of trolls.There must be at least 50 of the little buggers up there. So many people have asked me why do I let trolls live in my attic? They just refuse to leave. One sunny day I decided to go into the attic open the window to air it out. A couple of days later I started to hear sounds up there. I open the attic door to find trolls in my attic. Why are you here I shouted. The troll told me squirrels have infested their tree; they saw my window was open that was a come on in invitation. You cannot live in my attic. Oh yes, we can replied the Great troll Zolan . If you do not want to be eaten you will let us live here. I quickly slammed the attic door. Bolted it shut and never opened it again. To this day they have lived in my attic using my window as their door to the outside world. They come and go as they please .Every now and then I find a treasure of coins on my front porch from them. They are quite generous. Trolls will be nice to you if you treat them kindly. They only go out at night because the sun is their enemy. The sunlight will turn them into stone. So they are very, very careful not to be outside during the day time. At night they forage for food .Making a campfire in my backyard to cook and tell stories. They like to eat animals like goats, fish , cats and naughty children. So keep your cats and naughty children from harms way.Sometimes they even eat rocks and socks. The rocks sharpen their teeth. Now for the socks I have no idea .These trolls are mischievous troublemakers sometimes hostile. They kidnap humans for personal servants or even making them their spouses. They could even use them for their personal amusement, or for dinner. They are sometimes helpful. They like to trade goods and do favors for pay. They have magical capabilities such as shapeshifting into animals or humans Some can even become invisible. Late one evening I heard a ruckus in the attic. I dare not go upstairs into the attic for fear I might be eaten or manipulated. The night was damp and foggy from yesterdays rain.I look out the window to see 3 Trolls dragging a large sack. The sack was full of movements as if someone was inside of it. I make sure I am not seen spying on the trolls. They dragged the sack to the backyard by the huge oak tree they once inhabited. The trolls untie the sack, one of their victims pops their head out scared out of his wits. The Great troll Zolan says the last 2 days where very amusing.You danced for us, did tricks and served us delicious fish .You were a very good human.We were only kidding about our threats, you are free to go, just remember we know who you are. Do not breathe a word about us for fear you will be found and eaten. The Great troll Zolan gave him some precious stones to keep for entertaining them.Their victim ran as fast as his legs could carry him. They made their way back into the attic. To drink ale, dance and tell stories of their antics. I don't know what I shall do about these trolls in my attic for fear I will be eaten. To my dismay I shall have to put up with these noisy trolls.Knock, knock, knock on the front door. Who could this be so late at night? Scampering noises in the distance. I open the door to find treasures of gold stacked on the floor. These trolls are quite generous I've heard these trolls are dimwitted .There has to be a way for me to outsmart them .Who knows what they may do next time. They can be so sinister sometimes.As I sit here thinking of a way to outsmart those trolls these ideas come to mind. #1 they do not like the sounds of loud bells #2 They can't swim #3 they are very clumsy#4 sunlight will turn them into stone #5 they will burst if they get angry. So I come up with this brilliant idea. I dig a deep enough hole in the back yard around the big old oak tree to hold all the trolls. I line it with a tarp. fill it with water. cover the hole with a light weight tarp then some dirt and leaves. I put a fence with a gate around the oak tree so nothing is able to fall in the hole untill Saturday. I will then write a note for them to come to a party I am having at 10pm there will be roasted goat and ale. Dancing all night long, they will get very drunk and all fall into the hole. Those drunken clumsy trolls will get angry and burst. I will then be able to get into my attic and have treasures for the rest of my life; The trolls will be gone. Happy days are here again. Every day I was outside during the day, digging around the big oak tree. After a week I completed my task. The trolls had no clue of my plan. They would come and go without noticing anything different in the yard. They were a dimwitted bunch. It was time to make my plan a reality. I left a note on my porch for them. Big party for my friends the trolls at 10pm on Saturday night. Feast of roast goat over a fire pit on a spit and ale. Music and dancing all night long around the big oak tree. Come all. How can they resist? Waiting for Saturday night to be here So very impatient and restless. The feeling of anticipation is so great. Finally, the time has come I look out my window to see all the trolls gathered around the fire pit drooling at the goat and drinking ale. They will get their belly fill of their last meal. I will put on some dancing music Trolls just want to have fun is their favorite song. They will dance around the big old oak tree. Soon they will be drunken trolls. The music has begun the trolls get to their feet and start dancing. They make a line to the big old oak tree, The great troll Zolan leads the way. One by one they fall into the hole. They are seriously angry. Grunting, snorting and splashing. Horrible sounds coming from the hole, all the sudden they burst. KABOOM! Exploded trolls are such a horrible site, they had it coming to them. I go to my front porch to find another pile of cold coins stacked up high on the floor; those trolls were quite generous. I go back inside to unbolt my attic door. I push the door open I could not believe my eyes. All around the attic was gold coins piled to the ceiling. Precious stones scattered all over the floor. Talk about hoarders. This is the best hoard I have ever seen in my life! As I'm walking around with the biggest smile on my face I hear a noise coming from underneath a pile of coins .A faint whimpering sound. I brush away the coins to find a baby troll. She is the size of my hand.I pick her up and take her downstairs. I will care for her and make her my own. She will learn human ways and not become a mischievous trouble maker. She will be kind ,respectful and eat healthy foods.She will not know of any troll ways. I will name her Angel. My sweet Angel.As Angel grows to be a teenager she starts to wonder why her appearance is so different from her father's. He told her she is a troll .trolls used to live in my attic till one day they just left.I found you under a stack of coins.That's when I took you under my wing and cared for you. I taught you human ways because the ways of the trolls were not good for a girl troll.I grew to love you as my own.Angel sighed ,I am so ugly I long to be beautiful and tall. I told her there is a way .I remember the trolls are shapeshifters and can transform into anything. Think deeply about what you want you will then transform into that thought .Angel thought and thought about being a beautiful, tall human being.Angel looked in the mirror and couldn't believe her eyes.This is magical ,I'm stunning. I had to wait for you to become older before I could tell you of your powers and how to use them in a good way.Thank you , thank you. I am so grateful. I can now go out into the world and not be noticed as a troll. Angel lived a happy life to this day. She has never grown old only wiser.
The Vagabunda: Journeys Without Borders is an ongoing memoir that invites readers into the adventurous life of a traveller, archaeologist, and doctor of medicine candidate. In this vibrant series, Elyssa Vagabunda shares her explorations across continents, offering a deeply personal window into the cultures, histories, and landscapes she has encountered.
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One morning, a little boy receives a letter from a dove. Curious as to who sent him a letter, he writes one back and returns it to the dove. Surprisingly he receives another letter from the same person. Who is this person? What do they look like? And should he go find out?
When Moira entered her residency at McGuinness University Hospital, she expected grueling hours and horrifying traumas. She never would have imagined that she would experience her own trauma in her own home. One phone call from her own phone number was about to change everything. Thrust into the shadowy underworld of fae and noctae, she has to find answers while trying to stay alive.
