Brenda Drake . . . under the influence of coffee: SEMI-FINALIST

Thursday, March 24, 2011

SEMI-FINALIST - 4

Name : Roland D. Yeomans

Title : French Quarter Nocturne

Genre : Urban Fantasy

It rained lies and death today.

But some things even Hurricane Katrina couldn’t change.

As it had for the past century and a half, the setting sun took its last look on St. Peter’s street as it transformed to Rue La Mort. The flooded street sparkled with flakes of burning silver. Beneath the muddy water, spirits swam restlessly, looking nothing so much as seeping blood under the sea.

Though I had seen the transformation a thousand times, tonight’s still hollowed out my chest. My vision blurred. My head became light. Reality stretched like taffy pulled by some demented demon-child.

The world looked as if I were viewing it from the wrong end of a telescope. My head felt full of helium. I half-expected it to float off my shoulders.

The evening fog became blood mists billowing over the flooded street. The mists became figures out of nightmare. I stood my ground. There were dazed innocents behind me, and I would protect them as I had protected them for a hundred and fifty years.

Frightening me never worked. The ghost demons fell back to the tried and true, murmuring hollow promises in my ear. I felt off-balanced as if I would fall into madness. I still stood my ground. Hissing in anger, they drifted off down the flooded Rue La Mort in search of more gullible souls.

A shadow loomed over me. I held onto my Stetson and craned my neck, looking up. There it was in all its hellish glory.

Meilori’s, the Crossroads of Worlds.

6 comments:

Michael Di GesuMarch 24, 2011 at 7:37 AM
CONGRATULATIONS, ROLAND....
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Elaine AM SmithMarch 24, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Roland! Yeah! Congratulations on your well earned semi-final place.
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Roland D. YeomansMarch 24, 2011 at 1:12 PM
Thanks, Michael and Elaine. Thanks, Brenda and the other judges. Hibbs wants to meet the judge, Godzilla. He's the curious sort you know!

I am grateful and honored to be one of the those chosen. Those that weren't, ABNA let me know how you may be feeling now. All that any of us can do is try our best each day, never giving up on our dreams. Thanks again, Roland
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Julie HedlundMarch 24, 2011 at 1:47 PM
Love that first line - great entry. Congratulations!
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Kalen O'DonnellMarch 24, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Wow, this is awesome. I somehow missed it in the initial blogfest rounds, but I'm hooked. Really original premise and great first line. Good luck!
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Sharon K. MayhewMarch 25, 2011 at 7:47 AM
Congratulations, Roland!
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