New Story! "A Bird In the Hand"

Fresh out of the oven and full of tasty superheroine mind control goodness is my latest story in the EMCSA. It's called A Bird in the Hand (Parts 1&2  and Parts 3&4 plus Epilogue) and it is part of J. Darksong's new superhero story anthology. It's my first time playing in his "omegaverse" playground, but hopefully not the last.

The story centers around two superheroine characters from J. Darksong's excellent novel Hero of the Day. Avenging Angel and Seraph are two lovely and powerful winged heroines who are left somewhat troubled, conflicted, and even a bit estranged from each other in the aftermath of the "Aphrodite Incident". But when Avenging Angel goes missing, Seraph knows that she will do whatever it takes to find her lost friend. But who could have known that it would take so much?

Excerpt:

"I was just about to have dinner. Care to join me?"

"Not hungry," Seraph said. It was a lie. She was famished. She hadn't eaten since Blackfinger's calling card had interrupted her breakfast.

"Oh come now," said Grimalde, "You can't take your eyes off the food. Sit. Eat. If you want I'll sample everything first to prove it's not poisoned. Jessie-"

"Um, Josie, sir," the server said.

"Whatever. Make her a plate. A full fillet and a little bit of everything else. Okay, kiddo, two plates, neither one touched. Pick the one you want."

Patty still didn't trust the slimeball, but she couldn't see how this could be dangerous, and she was hungry. "The one on the left," she said as she sat down at the far end of the long table, away from Nigel. The salmon fillet was perfect. It had probably been swimming in the river this morning. The garlic potatoes tasted as good as they smelled. The mixed veggies had just the right texture and crunch, and the subtle seasoning enhanced, rather than masked their flavor. The whole meal was perfect. She was even more suspicious. What did he want?

"I figured you'd sit all the way over there," said Nigel, "I have something to show you. It's sitting on the chair to your left."

It was neatly folded, but unmistakable—sky blue spandex, dark blue gloves and opera mask, white stockings, blue ballet slippers with white trim and blue ribbons—it was Avenging Angel's costume. Patty and Angie had lived together. Patty knew this costume almost as well as her own. Especially with as many times as she had, well, removed it. Her cheeks reddened as she thought again of her shameful months as Venus Satore's slave and Angie's lesbian lover.

"Something bugging you, kid?" said Nigel.

"I'm not a kid," she growled back, "Where did you get this?"

"Apparently Blackfinger's men can be bought," he said, "So, there was of course some hair and skin found on that outfit. I took the liberty of running a DNA match. It matches local society maven-cum-nerd Angela Prentiss. Is that who it should match, Patty?"

Distractedly, Seraph said only, "Yes". Then she gasped, suddenly realizing that she had outed both of their secret identities with one word.

"Jessie, pour the lady some wine. A nice California chardonnay for a nice California college girl," he said. She flinched. "Oh, don't look so shocked, Patty. I've known who you winged do-gooders are for years. Here, two glasses. Pick whichever you like. I'll take the other. I know you're not 21 yet, not for a few more months, but I won't tell if you won't."

If this is a trap, she thought, now is the time to get out. She eyed the open door. Then she looked again at her partner's uniform. I've got to save her, and Grimalde has all the cards. She took the glass on the right this time.