The Messenger – Ep. 24 of “The Marquis”

On April 1, 2016May 20, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Fiction Entertainment, Free Reads29 Comments

I sit frozen in my black dress with palms joined on my lap. The funeral unfolds before my blank eyes, and so do the days after. I count them by the number of times Jeanie Simmons – Jeremy’s curly-haired, rosy-cheeked, fluffy younger sister and my dearest friend – enters with food. I nibble just enough of it to keep me alive, but my appetite is as dead as the monster who fathered me, and who now lays two meters beneath ground level.

“Are you still seeing Joyous?”

Her hazel eyes dart around, as if the walls have ears. “You know I can’t answer that, Saph.”

Of course, he’s the Marquis’ ‘cousin’ – in truth one of his fellow seprpent-killers. I lower my voice and grab her elbow. “If you are, you need to help me, Jeanie. I need to get back with the Marquis.”

Jeanie’s hand covers mine that I now realize is so clenched around her fluffy elbow that my knuckles show.

“Something must be terribly wrong with you, Saph,” she whispers. She looks me in the eye with a curious expression. “You haven’t spoken at all since you saw Mr Lothar dead in the study, and now that you do open your mouth it’s to talk about the Marquis. Is that a way of dealing with your grief? I mean, Gunnar Lothar is dead, your own –”

“Don’t even say it,” I cut her off. “That man was a monster, a . . . Whenever I think about him I want to rip the flesh off my bones for being his child.” On a second thought I shrug. “I suppose I must be grieving, and anger makes it all more bearable.”

Stomping up the stairs makes Jeanie’s mouth close before she can say another word. The door opens and Jeremy enters the attic in a confident prance, his muscular physique barely making it through the doorframe. The police officers who came with him remain outside the open door. He walks straight to the window with a triumphant attitude.

“I’ll make this short, Saphira,” he says, staring proud out the window. “The coroner called. They established Mr Lothar’s death was not suicide.” He turns to assess my expression as he gives me the news, cocking an eyebrow. “He was murdered.”

He lets moments pass to allow the information to settle in.

“Do you happen to know anybody who had a reason to kill him?” He continues mockingly. “Someone who wanted revenge, maybe?”

The Marquis’ words from the day we went to the asylum come back to me. “Would you consider that I hurt you, if I took revenge on your father?” And yet he wasn’t the only one with a motive.

“I also know of someone who goes to terrible lengths to keep his real identity secret,” I retort. “Someone who set Vivien Grant’s house on fire to kill her. Someone who’s put her mother in the lunatic asylum and has the poor woman so terrified that she won’t talk. I’m sure the same person hung Gunnar by the chandelier too – Ivan Basarab. Gunnar knew his true identiy. Ivan Basarab is terribly dangerous Jeremy, and despite what you might think, you can’t control him.”

Jeremy’s cocky attitude turns to anger. His face goes red.

“The whole town will believe it was the Marquis, Saphira,” he barks. “They’ll burn down his manor like peasants did haunted castles back in the Dark Ages eventually.”

Jeremy’s hatred of the Marquis fills the room like floating poison. I remember how the Marquis twisted his arm behind his back at the asylum, keeping him in check despite Jeremy’s big muscles and violent struggles, forcing down his ears the information that his own father had been a rapist, a monster.

“You hate him for having told you the truth.” I hold Jeremy’s gaze, defiant.

“Maybe, a little. But, most of all, I hate him for having taken you away from me.”

***

Next episode.

Previous episode.

All previous episodes.

Enjoyed this? Please let me know your thoughts in a comment, I’m always ecstatic to read from you. Stay tuned for a new episode on Tuesday and check out the story from the start available here (Part I – Saphira), and here (Part II – The Marquis.) Enjoy!

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Quiz 2 – What kind of Lover are You?

On March 31, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Psychology, Quizzes18 Comments

Welcome to Quiz No. 2 of the What Kind of Lover are you? Series Quizzes, which will reveal more about yourself as a lover. Remember to be honest in your response, since it is absolutely necessary for a correct assessment.

Please answer the following question by choosing the variant that best suits you.

What do you offer your lover with most ease?

I listen to them
I hold them and caress them
I do things for them
I give them gifts
I talk to them

Interpretations:

I listen to them – you’re genuinely interested in every aspect of your partner’s psyche; you’re understanding and accommodating, but you’re not without advantage yourself in being a good listener – through listening, you gain power over your partner.
I hold them and caress them – your love language is touch, and it’s the kind of soothing you need yourself; physical contact is what you feel brings you closer to your partner’s soul; you would be praised as a skilled lover.
I do things for them – your love language is usefulness, and it’s the language you understand best yourself; you offer your partner what you would like to receive in return; you would be praised as a reliable and grounded partner.
I give them gifts – you’re a cunning person, and a cunning lover; you appreciate expensive gifts yourself, not for their value as objects, but because an expensive gift shows you how valued you are yourself; you’re good at business and entrepreneurship, and apply similar means to conquer your love interest.
I talk to them – your forte is emotional support; you believe you understand your lover well, and try to find solutions to their problems; you may be greatly admired for your intellect, and pairing this language of love with the “I listen to them” variant will make you electrifying.

Enjoyed this quiz? Plenty more where it came from. Check out the other quizzes in the Quizzes section on this site, and please share your feelings in a comment. I’m always happy to read from you. Check out there first quiz of this series here, and the first quiz of the What is your Calling? Series Quizzes here.

Feel free to roam this site for many more goodies, especially the Short Stories of Suspense. Stay tuned for a new episode of The Marquis tomorrow for a suspenseful and thrilling ride. Enjoy!

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What kind of Women do Men Really Like? – Psychology of Attraction

On March 30, 2016March 30, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Psych Secrets, Psychology12 Comments

I’ve been conducting a survey, consulting specialty psych articles and talking to therapists. In doing so, I posed various questions regarding the Psychology of Attraction, and one of the biggest ones was – What kind of Women do Men Really like? I’ve listened and taken notes, then I’ve read and listened some more, just because it felt fair – we’ve been dealing with the kind of guys we gals mostly fall for and why, but what kind of women do men like?

We gals may have a stereotype in our minds that guys are only attracted to the 90-60-90 type of women, fat lips and slim waists, inflated boobs and scrunched brains, high cheekbones and short attention span, fully butts and empty stomachs. Well, here comes the verdict of the survey. The stereotype is – wait for it – tr… fall…..tru…..fallllll…… only partly TRUE.

Yes, physical aspect is very important for the guys. The Pamela Anderson stereotype is successful, but guess what? Not more than others. Men’s tastes in what they like in women vary, and they vary a whole lot, so discussing what you should look like to attract a partner is rather useless. The survey concluded in three tips about how to be attractive to men. Three tips that will never fail to matter:

Grooming and Hygiene – Keep it to your own style, if decent or ostentatious, but be groomed. Grooming in truth matters because it latches on receptors in the male brain that tell the man you’re clean.
Silence and Feedback – Not because men like stupid women – by no means, they do care about the kind of woman that appreciates them; no point if that woman is someone whose opinion no one holds in any special regard – but because silence often equals mystery, and because silence enables listening, which not only men, but people generally deeply appreciate. Listening shows the person that you truly do care about them and what they have to say. This is how men often lose their heads for women who don’t really have anything to talk about – they mistake that for mystery and being “a good listener.” The man gets the feeling that he “inhabits” the woman. Most men are “penetrators,” so feeling they “inhabit” a woman gives them the same kind of satisfaction in the psyche that sex does physically. This way the man can project his own Anima – the feminine part of his psyche – into the woman. In short, silence leaves room for fantasy. Giving feedback to what she is told by asking questions or offering an opinion – without making it about herself – only enhances the effect the silent woman has on the man.
Modesty – People – not only men – are attracted to modesty (in combination with the two traits above; no point in smelling of sweat and being modest, even though the combo may have its moments in intimacy). The femme fatale type from the movies does have her fair share of the market, but the men who go for that kind of woman are NOT the rule. If the femme fatale does enjoy a measure of success, it’s mostly short-lived and restricted to the passionate part of a relationship. When the going gets tough, the femme fatale will get cheated on, dumped, or – if she’s lucky and the partner does stay with her – the guy turns out to be a psycho, stalker and often abuser with serious mommy issues. Or a poet.

We’ll go in on these subjects in following articles in the following weeks – Wednesdays will be for the exploration of Romance Tips, How to be Attractive, and Love Issues, so stay tuned. I’m deep in studies and research and interviews. Just a short disclaimer: There are always exceptions to the rule, and my studies aim to drill and go in-depth on the rule, not the exceptions. We are all unique, and I love conducting studies on one person alone (Personal Profiles), but I’m not at the liberty to disclose the findings publicly on the blog, but only to mingle them with the discoveries from other individuals, as well as with research and interview results, and thereby calculate the “rule.”

I’d love to hear your take on this first article of the series, your personal experiences and views. The real dissection of the matter only begins at the end of the post, with your comments 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading from you!

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The Punishment of an Evil Man – Ep. 23 of “The Marquis”

On March 29, 2016June 3, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Fiction Entertainment, Free Reads7 Comments

Jeremy wraps the place up, giving his men curt orders and telling Lord Barkley to shut up each time the man opens his mouth.

“Anything you say can and will be used against you, sir, I must remind you,” he says coldly.

His men scurry around taking “prints” of the Marquis. They’re still in shock, but Jeremy managed to get them working despite that.

He moves his bulky frame around, doing what he must as head of the team, but he’s obviously distressed from what he’s found out. There’s something wild in his eyes, and the expression of his steroid- and testosterone-transformed features, square and shadowed by his three-day beard, make him look as deranged as the lunatics that inhabit this asylum. I’d like to remind him about the sewers, but I don’t dare to, he looks so angry.

Not even outside do I dare address him. We’re riding in a police van. I’m in the back holding my crying mother’s hand, her sobbing and nose-blowing accompanying the humming of the engine. Jeremy sits across from me in silence. He doesn’t even look at me. When we stop in front of my parental home I realize what’s happening, and I shake my head violently.

“No, I’m not going in there.”

“Yes you are. Your father has been worried sick about you,” Jeremy says. He sounds as cold as he had with Lord Barkley, and also a shade spiteful. As if it were in any way my fault that his father had been part of the group that had raped Catherine Lancaster. As if it were my fault that his father had been as much of a monster as mine.

“He pushed me in the Marquis’ arms himself, you know this,” I retort in a biting tone. “He was happy to see us depart together on the night he announced our engagement. But maybe it’s you who should have a word with Gunnar. In the end, the Marquis is right – Gunnar and his group perpetrated a terrible crime, and they should have to answer for it.”

“We have no proof for that crime, Saphira,” Jeremy says, keeping his glare out the side window. “I can’t corner people based on allegations alone, I’m sure you understand.”

My mouth curls in a sour expression. “You only pretended to believe me when I told you the story? Is that it?” Now that I come to think about it – indeed, why hadn’t he investigated as soon as he’d heard about Gunnar’s crime?

“No, it’s not. But I still need proof in order to take action.”

“If you only investigated Catherine Lancaster’s case, maybe you’d get your evidence,” I say through my teeth.

“If you only let me do my job without acting all smart-ass, things would be different.”

“Different how, Jeremy? Based on how you’re doing your job, these people’s crimes will remain unheard of.”

I’m aware of the poison in my tone, but I can’t help it. Jeremy springs forward and grabs my jaw in his huge rough hand.

“The Marquis of Vandenesse is London’s priority, and with good reason. London sent me back here for him. He’s the most dangerous of all killers I’ve ever investigated, Saphira, and you know his vile nature better than anyone. What changed? Why do you try to redirect me to your father Gunnar and his group of bastards? Why aren’t you vehement against the Marquis anymore?”

“Jeremy, please listen to me.” My jaw hurts from his grip and I speak with difficulty. He notices and lets go. I rub my cheek to sooth the pain as I talk. “The Marquis isn’t the evil creature you and I believed him to be. He talked to me, he told me things . . . Listen, Jeremy,” I take a deep breath and say the next sentence with a heavy heart. “I have reason to believe that my father is Ivan Basarab, the faceless Slayer. This is your chance to find out so much, Jeremy.”

“No, Gunnar is not the Slayer,” Mum reacts as if from a dream. She’s still pale from shock, but apparently she’s coming back to herself. “But I’ve heard that name many times from him. Even a few days ago he talked on the phone with this Ivan Basarab.”

I’m completely surprised, and Jeremy too. His small dark eyes narrow. “Okay, all right. I’ll have a word with your father, even though I don’t believe this is the right time.”

“Wonderful. And then please let me return to the Marquis’ manor.”

He grins. “No, can’t do, Saphira. You’ll be interested to hear we found witnesses of the Marquis’ murder on Vladimir Pukov. His manor is surrounded, and we’ll arrest him on sight. You and the Marquis will never come together again.”

Another flash of despair goes through my heart. “But . . . There were no witnesses to what happened with Pukov. You must have ‘produced’ them.”

Jeremy’s eyes narrow into bitter slits. “Just a short while ago you were ready to testify against the Marquis yourself. Come on tell me, Saphira, what swayed you? Was it his declarations of love? Was it his hypnotic powers? Or did you actually fall for him?”

My lips freeze, but the truth must be clear in my eyes, which Jeremy stares into closely.

“If you switched sides, things will end up badly for you, Saphira,” are his last words before he looks me up and down in disgust. He opens the door, inviting both Mum and me out of the van. I’d like to resent him for his abusive attitude, but I can’t. It’s not every day you discover your father was a rapist and maybe even a killer, so he has mitigating circumstances.

My heart drums in anxiety as we head toward the house, and I’m sure so does Mum’s. The hand that squeezes mine is sweaty, and a look at her reveals wide scared eyes and stiff features. She’s still in shock, which is probably why she didn’t react to Jeremy’s treatment of me in the van. I feel lonely, naked and lost, and I long for the Marquis’ protective arms around me, for the reassuring sound of his rich voice in my ear. It’s incredible how my tormentor of yore has become my only haven.

The house looms bigger before us as we approach it. With its grey walls damp from bad weather it resembles a huge beast rising from the ocean, spreading out its jaws to swallow me. My throat clogs with panic. I don’t want to go in there, and I don’t want to face the monster who fathered me.

The door screeches open like the entrance to an abandoned, haunted house, but inside the dim corridor everything is in place, just like the last time I saw it. The stairs leading to the upper floor and the attic, the entrance to the drawing room on the right and the one to Gunnar’s study on the left, all appear imbued with an air of morbidity.

I look around, unable to move as I hear the door closing behind me. I’m trapped inside with Mum and Jeremy, and a knot moves up my throat. I’m growing sick.

“Please announce your husband you’re back, along with Saphira, and tell him I’d like a word,” Jeremy commands Mum.

She swallows and proceeds towards the study hunchbacked, her hands trembling on the knobs as she pushes the doors open. She stiffens in place, and her mouth falls open.

“Mrs Lothar,” Jeremy nudges her, at first only verbally, and then physically as he approaches. But as he raises his gaze from Mum to whatever greets them from that study, he bursts inside. Alarmed, I follow. A second after my eyes fall on Gunnar I scream until the veins in my neck swell.

He hangs from a rope tied to the chandelier, his feet dangling over a fallen stool. His shirt is open to reveal his hairless white stomach, and his mouth sticks thick and black out of his mouth. His fleshy cheeks are bluish-yellow, and he’s already started to smell. I breathe in the stench of death and scream long and hard until I fall exhausted on the floor.

***

Next episode.

Previous episode.

All previous episodes.

Enjoyed this? Please let me know your thoughts in a comment, I’m always ecstatic to read from you. Stay tuned for a new episode on Friday and check out the prequel, Saphira, in available here: ) Enjoy!

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Quiz 1 – What is your Calling?

On March 28, 2016March 28, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Psych Secrets, Psychology, Quizzes25 Comments

We often wonder – what were we born for? What’s our purpose, our meaning? Why are we here?

On Thursday I promised you two new Series Quizzes. One of them reveals quiz after quiz What kind of Lover you are, while the series that starts tonight will guide you to discovering What your Calling is, and this is the first step. Please answer the following question, and be fully sincere in doing so. This is the first step to discovering your inclinations, talents, calling, your purpose.

Which of the following activities would you prefer on a rainy Fall evening?

Watching a reality show.
Reading a book.
Playing cards with friends.
Making love to your partner.
Making plans for the future.

Interpretations:

Watching a reality show – you’re tired; your body, soul and mind first need a break from the speeding everyday life in order to get in touch with your true passions.
Reading a book – you’re a scholar; you like accumulating knowledge and are good at conveying it further; you have inclinations to become a professor.
Playing cards with friends – you’re very sociable; you like being and working with people, while also focusing on a task; you have inclinations to organize social gatherings and/or host them.
Making love to your partner – you’re a born loving soul; your calling is nurturing and helping your loved one grow; you may have inclinations as a therapist, sex therapist/counselor or even nurse.
Making plans for the future – you have inclinations as a strategist and manager; you are success-oriented and driven, you’re the “guy with the results;” with some experience, you could make a good business consultant among other things.

Enjoyed this quiz? Stay tuned for more of the What’s your Calling? Series Quizzes next Monday, but until then don’t miss the next quiz of the What kind of Lover are you? Series Quizzes on Thursday. And, until then, don’t miss the next episode of The Marquis tomorrow, when more loose ends will connect.

If you’re interested in a whole load of quizzes, check out many more of my quizzes here.

I’d love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and feelings in a comment and, if you like, especially your chosen answer to this quiz. You know I’m always super curious : )

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Bad Blood – Ep. 22 of “The Marquis”

On March 25, 2016May 20, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Fiction Entertainment, Free Reads6 Comments

“That’s enough, Saphira,” Jeremy cuts in. He walks to me and extends a hand, but the Marquis grabs and twists it behind his back. As big and muscular as Inspector Jeremy Simmons is, he groans and bares his teeth as he leans backwards into the Marquis’ clasp.

“If you ever try to touch her again, I’ll break every bone in your body,” the Marquis threatens. He’s taller and leaner than Jeremy, therefore more agile even without his engineered powers, but he’s also so much stronger. His ivory features are locked, and his black eyes angry coals.

“Please, Kieran, don’t hurt him,” I plead. “He’s innocent.”

The Marquis keeps his glare on Jeremy, his sweet lips drawing in a hiss. “I’m not so sure.”

“Better tell him the truth. That he should be on our side.”

“What the hell is this?” Jeremy groans and tries to struggle from the Marquis’ grip, but without success.

“Please, just listen to him, Jeremy.”

“Saphira, what is happening?” Mum is puzzled, her hand gently touching mine.

I look straight into her eyes and tell her the story in a few short sentences – that Catherine Lancaster, Lord Lancaster’s daughter, had been raped by a group of men from this town, and that my father, Gunnar Lothar, killed her in the end. Mum gasps and takes a few steps back, gripping the rest of the chair where she sat as we walked in.

“Your father was one of them too, Inspector Boy,” the Marquis hisses in Jeremy’s ear. “The lucky bastard died before I got my hands on him, so don’t give me reason to take it out on you, his son.”

Jeremy struggles like a wounded animal, kicking the air in front of him, but unable to release himself from the Marquis’ hold. “You fucking bastard!”

The Marquis is inhumanly strong, and Jeremy’s struggles don’t move him an inch. He turns his vicious black glare to Lord Barkley.

“What about you, filth bag? Could it be, that you were one of them as well?”

Lord Barkley is still sitting in his chair, the cigarette burning his fingers but he doesn’t seem aware of that. He looks stunned at Kieran, unable to utter one word.

Mum presses her fingers on her temples, shaking her head. “This can’t be. This can’t be happening.”

I approach her carefully, searching her gaze but she looks down, then sideways, then upwards, avoiding my gaze.

“It is, Mum,” I say gently. “If you’re honest to yourself, you’ve always known. But you’ve tried to silence your sixth sense.” As I did through compulsive painting, but this is not about me, so I keep the remark to myself. The Marquis’ voice cuts in, making me look at him and Jeremy again.

“And you, stupid shit,” he addresses Jeremy, “you find out all sorts of stuff but not the essential. You spoiled, superficial and incompetent brat. Didn’t you ever at least suspect of all the bastards in this cursed place? Or, what, are you covering their arses?”

“Wait a second,” Mum says, her voice faint, her eyes wide on the Marquis. “What happened with Catherine Lancaster was decades ago. What have you got to do with it?”

I clear my voice and hold her shoulders as I speak, so I can support her if she falls. “Kieran was Lord Lancaster’s stable boy, Mum. He and Catherine were secretly in love, and the night she was raped he was beaten almost to death by Vladimir Pukov’s people – Pukov was part of the group as well, and Dad wanted me to marry him even though he knew this.”

Mum looks stunned from me to the Marquis, then to Lord Barkley, who sits silent in his chair.

“But,” she whispers, “I knew Catherine. We were friends. We grew up together, just like you and Vivien, Lauren and Jeanie. Lord Lancaster said she had run away with the stable boy. It came as a shock to the rest of us, we knew nothing, I . . .”

“Lord Lancaster couldn’t take the pain, Mum,” I say. “He spread a story he could at least try to live with.”

Mum slumps into the chair behind her, and I support her by the shoulders as she does. Her eyes are fixed in awe on the Marquis. “But that means . . . How old are you?”

The Marquis looks at her, but doesn’t answer.

“My God,” she whispers. “And Saphira? What role did she play in your plot?”

Pain cuts through my chest, and I sink my head.

“At first I wanted to use her in my revenge on Catherine’s tormentors,” the Marquis explains. “I wanted to have her lure them to places where I could kill them right before her eyes, torment her mind and soul in the process, and in the end have her father find her mad from everything she’s witnessed in the same place Catherine was found. I considered it an act of kindness – to her, not Gunnar – not having her sleep with all those men too. I took the decision to go easier on her than initially planned after I got to know her. She made a painting of me, and she . . . I fell in love with your daughter, Mrs Lothar. It sounds impossible, coming from a monster like me, whose soul has been frozen for decades, but it’s the pure truth. I don’t expect you to give us your blessing, but I’d like you to know that for her sake I decided to drop all thoughts of revenge. But unfortunately, this town’s troubles won’t end with that.”

Jeremy has another fit of struggling, and this time he makes it out of the Marquis’ arms – or the Marquis let him go, since he doesn’t look surprised. He and Jeremy now face each other. The Marquis arranges the collar of his suit jacket, while Jeremy flexes and glares.

“This town’s biggest problem is you, devil,” Jeremy growls. The Marquis smiles at him like a prince at a powerless angry peasant.

“I’m not the one who set the Grants’ house on fire and tried to kill Vivien. That was Ivan Basarab – the Slayer – whose true name you should be busy finding out. He’s one of this town’s honourable citizens, killers, filth bags that you now have no more excuse to ignore.”

“You need proof for all these allegations, de Vandenesse and, right now, all I truly got is proof that you’re a killer. Guards!” Jeremy calls.

Quick steps stomp closer and louder from the corridor, and policemen burst in. They take out their guns and focus on Kieran as if they’ve been waiting for this command all along. I scream and want to run to Kieran, but one of the policemen stops me and keeps me away from the scene as more men pour in. This is indeed a trap they set up for Kieran.

Kieran looks left, right and relaxes. A smile pulls one corner of his sweet mouth, and that is the last sight I get of his human self before his skin starts losing it’s opaque consistence, turning into something jelly-like and transparent, then into increasingly metallic scales. His eyes spring into slits, and his serpent tongue shoots out of his mouth as he gives out a piping hiss that sends an unbearable buzz through all our ears.

I squeeze my eyes shut and press my hands to my ears, but the buzz still pierces through. Only when it stops I dare look up again to see all policemen scrambling up from the floor, the terrified looks in their eyes and the confusion as they grope around testimony that the Marquis had been right – nothing of the security here has anything on him.

The door is open, with no trace of the Marquis, while Jeremy is the only person standing, however stunned with a gun in his hand in the middle of his sprawled men.

Someone breathes hoarsely behind me. I turn to see Ronald Lord Barkley, and realize his knotty hands are clamped around my shoulders. He shakes and can’t take his eyes off the door.

“I didn’t have anything to do with it,” he whispers.

“Excuse me?” I try to get away from him, but his fingers sink into my shoulders, keeping me in place as a human shield.

“I didn’t have anything to do with their dark practices. I was part of their group of friends all those years ago, but I never participated in the terrible things they did.”

I shake myself from his grip and hurry to help my Mum up from the floor.

“What in all Saints’ names was that?” She exclaims, looking desperate and brushing invisible cockroaches off her body. She’s horrified, hysterical, making it hard to help her up. “He’s a monster! A monster!”

I struggle with her to help her calm down, and it’s a real fight until she manages to get a grip.

***

Next episode.

Previous episode.

All previous episodes.

Enjoyed this? Please let me know your thoughts in a comment, I’m always ecstatic to read from you. Stay tuned for a new episode on Tuesday and check out the prequel, Saphira, in available here: ) Enjoy!

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Quiz 1 – What kind of Lover are you?

On March 24, 2016March 24, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Psychology, Quizzes27 Comments

Welcome to a new quiz project that I’ve been working on for a while now – the Series Quizzes. This project will consist of two Series Quizzes that will be posted twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. The first series, as you can surely guess from the title, will reflect what kind of lover you are, but not only; it will also show other traits about yourself, sensitive things that you might normally be wary of approaching.

During the following weeks each quiz will reveal new traits about yourself as a Lover, what your strengths are, what your lovers might like best about you, but you will also learn about your weak spots.

With your permission I’ll keep Topic No. 2 a secret until Monday, when the other Series Quiz will start. That being said, let us proceed.

Please answer the following question by choosing the variant that best suits you. Remember to be honest with yourself, since honesty is a Must for a correct assessment.

Which of the following characteristics stimulates you more when choosing a partner?

Face
Physicality
Intellect
Kindness
Talent

What your choice says about you:

Face – you’re a good judge of character; you have strong intuition; you’re truthful and profound and just the right level of confident; you might have a history of liking those who don’t like you in return and the other way around.
Physicality – you’re wary of emotional involvement, and this might be due to some unfortunate experiences from the past; you might be the ‘electric’ type, hot and cold, which spurs lovers on to chase you.
Intellect – you’re communicative and a bit insecure; you might value yourself through the appreciation of others (as in you feel valuable if you’re loved by someone you consider valuable yourself).
Kindness – you’ve suffered before and need nurturing; some wounds are still open, and certain events in your life might have changed you drastically; you’re kind at your own turn, and that draws people to you.
Talent – you know people through what they “do,” and you appreciate their dedication; you want a dedicated, capable, very special partner to reflect yourself, and you unconsciously gauge those traits through their dedication to their art, but this backfires; you may end up suffering greatly in relationships.

And there’s plenty more where this came from. Stay tuned for more of the What kind of Lover are you? Series Quiz, which will reveal more of your strengths and weaknesses, what truly attracts you and what makes you attractive.

Enjoyed this quiz? Plenty more where it came from. Check out the other quizzes in the Quizzes section on this site, and please share your feelings in a comment. I’m always happy to read from you.

Feel free to roam this site for many more goodies, especially the Short Stories of Suspense. Stay tuned for a new episode of The Marquis tomorrow for a suspenseful and thrilling ride. Enjoy!

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QUIZ – What does your Perception say about you?

On March 14, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Psych Secrets, Psychology, Quizzes34 Comments

Words are a powerful window into the soul. Words reveal a lot about you. Take a look at the featured picture. What word do you feel describes it best?

Fog
Ship
Moon
Sea
Clouds

Interpretation:

Fog – you enjoy exploring yourself and others, secrets never cease to fascinate you. You often intrigue and fascinate. You may be prone to and cause crushes.
Ship – to you, life is a journey. You keep a clear head and you have an analytical mind. You’re calculated and hard-working.
Moon – you’re highly intuitive and empathic. You’re a creature of the night. You’re often kind and understanding.
Sea – you’re a free spirit. You’re wild and tend to do things exactly opposite from how you’re told to do them. You may have covert commitment issues.
Clouds – you have big dreams and strong fantasy. You’re avant-garde and tolerant. You’re open minded and like being “different.”

So what did you get? Curiosity is eating at me, and I’m looking forward to your comments.

From the heart,

Ana

Pic source.

Liebster Award – Praising and “Prizing” Bloggers

On March 13, 2016March 13, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Inspiration, True Stories31 Comments

A huge bunch of flowers and thanks to Miss Andi for having nominated me for the Liebster Award. I can only hope that these words manage to convey my genuine gratitude and pleasure to be part of this. Miss Andi and her co-bloggers aren’t music critics, but they have great taste – that’s how they describe their blog and I can endorse the statement, as well as Miss Andi’s talent with words and – hopefully soon – pancakes. I’m coming over for that pancake one of these days, Miss Andi 🙂

The Liebster Award is a new-comer award given by bloggers to other bloggers, it creates a great platform for new blogs to be discovered and build communications. The best thing about this award is that it creates a lot of encouragement and support within our blogging community.

However, the award comes with a price. We have to answer a set of 10 questions formulated by the person who nominated us, providing honest answers and, at our turn, a set of 10 questions of our own. Here are Miss Andi’s questions and my answers:

How do you eat your pancake?

Fat, fluffy and smeared with chocolate.

Do you sing when you cook (Do you cook)?

I don’t sing (I have a terrible voice – husband says “swan voice.”) I also happen to have two left hands what cooking is concerned.

What would you rather live without? Tea or coffee? Why?

Tea. I cannot imagine a life without coffee. I’m a total coffee junkie, I love it so much I take it 20 times a day like some people take the cigarette. It’s almost a fetish, I even pin coffee pictures on Pinterest.

To turn off the world do you watch a movie or listen to music?

Listen to music, if I have to choose between the two. But I normally turn to books. Coffee and books by the window on a rainy day is my idea of paradise and my kind of unwinding/meditation.

Do you stream (music or movies) or prefer physical copies?

I stream.

When was the last time you went to a record store?

Seemingly an eternity ago. I was ten and I borrowed a DVD with Jet Li from Planet Hollywood (with my mom). Does anybody know if they still exist?

What band did you last see in a concert?

Last concert was Michael Jackson in 1996 with my mother.

What’s the best way to procrastinate?

Daydreaming.

What’s your happy place?

The sea. Physical or in my mind.

Are you going to do the A to Z challenge in April?

Not sure yet. I’m considering adjusting the challenge and making a quiz every day starting with the respective letter, but that would mean some changes in the schedule for the online reads, so I’m still thinking about it. What do you guys think, should I do it?

Now, before I share with you my own 10 questions, I’d like to mention that I don’t know if all the bloggers I’ll nominate here are new-comers, but I’ll nominate SOME (ONLY SOME!) of those that I truly believe deserve the award and don’t have over 1000 followers. There are many bloggers I discovered and who deserve a close look, and I’ll link to them in the following Meet and Greets.

Okay, here are my questions, and I hope you’ll take the time to answer one or two of them in a comment, because I’d love to hear from all of you. I’m a people lover and I can’t get enough of you guys.

What’s your favorite pastime (hobby)?
If you had to choose between a book, a song and a movie, what would you choose? Why?
What is your ideal lover like?
What’s your life dream?
What’s your ultimate goal with your blog?
What’s your favorite book or movie? Why?
What do you daydream about?
What was your favorite fairytale as a kid?
What’s your favorite word?
What’s your favorite place in the world? Tell me a little about your reasons for the choice.

I nominate the following bloggers:

Hyperion Sturm – stories and wisdom

Sara Flower – creative writing

Dracul van Helsing – comedy writing

Gary Lum – special food blog

Miriam – Travel Blog

Eternal Atlantis – about mythology, history and mystery

Rosie Amber – book reviews and book/publishing mentor

Stephanie Hurt – romance novels and writing tips

Niki’s Simple Life – Inspiring, motivating, mindfulness

Mark Fonz – last but definitely not least, cancer survivor blogging to encourage

Liebster Award Rules:

Thank your nominator;
Share the award on your blog;
Answer the 10 questions asked to you;
Ask 10 questions to 10 new nominees (who have less than 300 followers);
Notify them via social media.

Looking forward to reading from you 🙂

One Image. One Word. What does it say about you?

On March 10, 2016March 14, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Psych Secrets, Psychology, Quizzes37 Comments

Welcome to a new One Image-One Word personality quiz, in which I’ll gladly interpret each one of your answers.

Take a look at the picture above and share in a comment the first word that comes to your mind. Based on that I’ll get back at you with a few personality traits that word reveals about you in connection with the picture. Thank you in advance for sharing, and I’m looking forward to your comments! 🙂

Pic source.

On The Dark Side of your Spirit Animal

On March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Inspiration, Quizzes12 Comments

First of all, I’d like to thank Arcane Owl for the idea for the article. They wanted to know more about the dark side of their spirit animal, since the Quiz (if you haven’t taken the quiz about your spirit animal yet, you can take it here) focused more on the strengths than the weaknesses, on the bright side rather than the dark side.

Before I go on writing a few of the “darker” traits of the spirit animals, I’d like to tell you a bit (just a bit) about WHY I don’t normally do that.

First of all, I’m sick and tired of the downright dystopian inclinations of our media and entertainment. I’m a people lover, and my intention with these quizzes is to help you discover what’s good about yourself, the strengths you can build on, the traits you can sharpen and use to attain your goals in life.

Our self-esteem is often a wreck of its accord, and we don’t need someone else to hammer the nails in our wrists. Focusing on the bad only weakens the good. Zooming in on the dark only reduces the light. I always have and always will focus on the bright side and will always bring your strengths in the limelight. As a former teacher I know this works wonders, nurtures talent, power and confidence.

That being said, off to the dark side:

Wolf – you can become a victim of false friends. You may warm snakes at your breast. You would go to any lengths to protect those you care for. Sometimes, however, you can go aggressive on the wrong people.
Fox – you’re often subversive and use your cunningness to put others at a disadvantage. You can be vindictive and your honesty bends. You may be forced in situations where your dignity is challenged, and you’ll play the part, but you’ll get back at the offender.
Lion – you’re too proud and often vain. You may have a sense of entitlement, which bothers. You repay loyalty but suffer greatly if betrayed. When hurt, you may fall prey to falsely sweet tongues licking your wounds, to flattery.
Bear – you may indulge in too much relaxation time. Escapism is a danger. Your loves are long-lasting, but you may stay true to people who hurt you. You tend to avoid problems instead of solving them.
Dolphin – you’re often too sweet, trying to please everybody. You may be easily taken advantage of. To top it all, those whom you’ve proved your worth to act all proud and have you prove yourself again and again. You’re terrified of disappointing, a trait which can be used to manipulate you.

These are some of the “dark” traits of these spirit animals. Of my experience I may confidently state that the good outweighs the bad, and that the qualities outweigh the defects by far. Let me know your thoughts in a comment, I’m always happy to read from you.

I’d also like to mention this, because I think it’s only fair to both you and me: Lately I’ve received a great many requests for personal profiles on my Gmail address. As much as I’d love to oblige every request, limited time doesn’t allow it, so I decided to make personal profiling an official offer: 25 $ for a roughly full three-page personal profile with focus on any area of your life. Please write to me at ana.calin@across-language.com.

Best of thoughts,

Ana

Pic source.

One Image. One Word. What do they reveal about you?

On March 3, 2016March 12, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Fiction Entertainment50 Comments

Welcome to a new One Image-One Word personality quiz, in which I’ll gladly interpret each one of your answers.

Take a look at the picture above and share in a comment the first word that comes to your mind. Based on that I’ll get back at you with three personality traits that word reveals about you in connection with the picture. Thank you in advance for sharing, and I’m looking forward to your comments! 🙂

Pic source.

One Image. One Word. What do they reveal about you?

On February 29, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Psychology, Quizzes30 Comments

Welcome to a new One Image-One Word personality quiz, in which I’ll interpret each one of your answers.

Pic source.

Quiz – One Image. One Word. What do they reveal about you?

On February 25, 2016March 12, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Psych Secrets, Psychology, Quizzes53 Comments

Welcome to a new personality test, everybody, one that I’ve been looking forward to for quite a while.

P.S. PLEASE DON’T FORGET ABOUT SATURDAY, THE MEET AND GREET DAY. If you follow blogs that are special to you and that have enriched your life, please share a link and a few words about them; I’ll check them out and maybe put them on my list. ALSO, IF YOU RUN A BLOG YOURSELF THAT FOCUSES ON OFFERING, HELPING OR SHARING, let me know, I’ll be sure to check you out 🙂

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Quiz – What do your Spells say about you?

On February 22, 2016February 22, 2016 By Ana CalinIn Psychology, Quizzes28 Comments

Hey, welcome to a special Theme Quiz – What do your Spells say about you? Please read the question, then the choices, and make your decision within the first 5 seconds since the moment you understood what each choice means. Don’t read the interpretations before you’ve made your choice, and be completely honest. And most of all – Enjoy! : )

Which of the following “Spells” do you feel most drawn to?

Delicate as roses and mighty as lava may his love be
High as the falcon may we fly, and a king’s sceptre may we hold
Hard to grasp as the spirit may we be, and fast as wind may we travel
Bow their heads they shall, and stretch their hands with gifts
Wise words may the spirit whisper in our ear, and truths may he reveal

Interpretation:

Love – Love and passion are your highest values; they’re what you crave most and what you offer best; it’s what gives you energy and your most beautiful fantasy; it is the meaning of your life to find true love;
Control – You need to know everything that happens in and around your life and keep a grip on it; it’s the only way you feel safe; success is your goal, and you have a talent to see the “big picture;” you place great value on information;
Freedom – You value freedom most; commitment isn’t your cup of tea; you like sensations, the unpredictable; you’re jovial and friendly, but don’t let anybody get too close or invade your private sphere; you may be an air sign;
Power – What you desire is to be a leader; you’ve proven to yourself you can make good decisions for yourself and for others; your life goal is power; you like organizing and managing, and you take pleasure in building strategies;
Knowledge – What you crave most is knowledge; you may love to read and feel drawn to secrets and history (probably ancient history most); you’re an observer, witty and calm; you like your moments alone with yourself, to meditate.

Enjoyed this quiz? Plenty more where it came from. Check out the other quizzes in the Quizzes section, and please share your feelings in a comment. I’m always happy to read from you. For updates subscribe to this blog and follow me on Twitter @AnaCalinAuth, and I’ll be sure to shout out every time a new article is out.

Feel free to roam the site for many more goodies, especially the Short Stories of Suspense, and stay tuned for a new episode of The Marquis tomorrow for a suspenseful and thrilling ride. Enjoy!

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