Sunday Snippet: An Answer to Fate

It's been a busy week. We're still kind of off-kilter after the loss of our doggo. Our younger one is adjusting and I'm thankful for that. Our vet office is amazing, and they've been wonderful throughout this whole process.

Ohio weather is being very Ohio right now. Warm up, cool down, something kind of in between. I had to clear snow off my car at the beginning of last week. It didn't stick around, which is okay with me. I don't mind snow, but I'm also not quite ready for it yet.

Work was very busy this past week. Had a terrific Zoom meeting with an author and two other members of a team I often work with. We're getting ready to hand over the project for the next steps. Also had another Zoom session with a different author and they're making headway on their memoir. Finished up a developmental edit and we're getting ready to hand that one off also. Had an older project pop back up and I think we have that one resolved. I also finished up a copy edit and started a new proofread.

Not a bad viewing week either. I made it through all of my usual slate of shows. The next two weeks are going to be a little iffy, but I'll make an effort to stay current.

I started with the season three opener of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The introduction of her dad was fun, and I liked seeing Jack show a little jealousy.

Also caught another episode of Foyle's War and I'd forgotten how much of a role Andrew played in this episode. If I remember correctly, we won't see him again for a while.

Watched another episode of Beyond Paradise. I'm enjoying Archie and Esther's romance a lot. I loved Humphrey being in the uncomfortable position of having to question Martha as a suspect to clear her. And I'm so glad Anne finally spilled the beans about her biopsy.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. I love Hastings and Miss Lemon investigating and then chatting about Poirot. The lengths he went to to protect the countess kind of charmed me.

Elementary had a great episode. Discovering Joan has a half-sister is interesting. I also love how tangled up everything ended up being. Bringing Mycroft into the equation is a snare that will have some repercussions, I think. Especially with the NSA showing up again.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it. I remembered it from my original watch. Getting Ace's backstory is great.

Also got to watch another episode of Lower Decks. The characters are starting to gel for me, and Mariner is way less annoying this season. Very glad I stuck with this one.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from An Answer to Fate, a novella that kicks of a trilogy of stories.

Here's the miniblurb:

Quillan Jaymes and Jeb Paladino finally get their act together and declare themselves a couple. Too bad that's when everything goes wrong.

And a sneaky peek…

Quillan's mind needed to be sharp if she wanted to pull this escape off.

After every meal, she’d excuse herself, find the closest empty head and force herself to throw it all up. She loaded up on fluids to combat the dehydration, but it helped only minimally.

And all the while, she continued to feed Luther’s delusion that she’d finally be willing to accept him in her heart.

The day before her planned departure, Quillan almost stumbled into a meeting between five of the seven cyborgs on base. Staying out of sight, she listened to their heated debate regarding the plans for her destiny.

She overheard vital information, and it completely gutted her. Stunned, she considered leaving that very moment but discounted the impossible idea. On top of that, a deep-seated anger coiled through her belly and the need for revenge became her guiding factor.

Dining later with Luther, she pretended the food still had her malleable as she quietly listened to him expound on the meaning of love.

"So you see … we can be bonded together and help bring a new order to the entire universe."

Without the narcotic effect of the drugs, she had difficulty not spewing her rage … but she’d need every scrap of strength she had for her escape.

With the meal complete, Quillan excused herself. "I'll be right back." She allowed her gaze to hint at something else.

The quick flash of teeth from Luther’s grin made her cringe inwardly, but she gave no hint of what he had coming.

She hit the head and, after expelling the contents of her stomach, Quillan removed the knife she'd secreted away from its hiding place in her boot. She palmed the blade, familiarizing herself with its weight and heft.

It's time.

Giving her head a shake to muss up her hair a little, she fought a wave of dizziness. Undoing the top two buttons of her shirt, she exited the bathroom and cast her gaze over the space she’d grown to hate. She wouldn't miss this fake façade of a residence.

She struck a seductive pose. "Luther…" She called his name softly.

He turned and his face lit up at her provocative pretense.

He didn’t see the knife leave her hand, didn’t realize what had happened until it stuck out of chest … just below the reinforced plating leading down from his shoulder. His pierced heart beat the final few staccatos of life.

Walking calmly over to him, Quillan loomed over his body waiting for his breathing to cease. “My heart will never accept you. Never.” Yanking the knife out, she didn’t take time to clean the blade as she exited the room.

This story is going to be tricky to get right. I'll probably end up waiting until I get at least the second book finished before releasing this one, mainly to make sure I don't have to plant seeds for book three.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye