April 8, 2009Cassandra leaned against the balcony in her hotel room, watching the ocean as the faintest hint of dawn approached. Out there on the bay the lights of some early morning boat cut across the waters. The faint sounds of laughter from some holidaying group reached her ears. Her hand was faintly chilled from the scotch on the rocks that ( Read more... )

Even after five years here, she still hated living in the United States. Everything was so ugly, so overly commercialized, with a contest bombardment of ways to make you want to buy and sell the American Dream. Everyone was so rude, in such a hurry to continue on with the rat race they found themselves trapped in. Airports were the worst, and by ( Read more... )

(A Cass peice that I forgot to post ( Read more... )

The temperature in Las Vegas had seemed to plummet overnight, a chill wind making the balcony unpleasant this morning. Cassandra hadn't bothered to clean up the second room from the rituals the day before and the smells of various types of incense still lingered in the living room as she paced in front of the sliding doors. A half empty bottle of ( Read more... )

Storms over the east coast diverted the plane south to Dallas. The airport reminded her of the lower levels of hell, as it always did, between the crowding and the odd echoing sounds of the travelers. She missed the days when flying was a luxury, when only those of good manners could afford to travel, not the hordes of families with small screaming ( Read more... )

You had something to hide
Should have hidden it, shouldn’t you
Now you’re not satisfied
With what you’re being put throughThe party was boring, as always. Friends of her grandfather, empty politicians and social maneuvering with nothing important to gain. After Embassy dinners and the political maneuverings of governments, this all seemed so petty ( Read more... )

His hair slipped though her fingers like silk, catching slightly on the slight calluses from far less pleasant actions. The dark little impulses where harder to push aside, that desire just to push him to the floor and see if he could match what was building in her mind. Words danced between them, his web of self-denial matched against a Mastigos ( Read more... )

The foundation room was one of the most exclusive in Vegas, coddling those who could afford it with carved woods, soft furniture and all the sins that the city was famous for. You brought people here for the shock value when you took them outside, for the view of the entire valley from this one spot. Mountains and the glittering lights of airplanes ( Read more... )

After a week on the road the condo seemed both too large and confining at once. She tossed her suitcase on the chair and sat on the couch. Lilith took advantage of her distraction to claim her lap as she gazed around. It was hers, a place crafted with objects of art, with cool walls and white rattan furniture like there was in Johannesburg. All ( Read more... )

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