About Spikenard: Freedom to Fly
by Winnie Jerome
58 pages
/ 22000 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-739-8, 1-60370-739-5
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, Sony-optimized pdf
Zhong Shi is a young dragon in the early days of China, known for being headstrong and a little vain. His lover, Chen Jing, keeps him out of trouble, and keeps him happy, at least until he and Chen Jing are assigned to meddle in the affairs of humans. When a terrible accident befalls Chen Jing, though, Zhong Shi worries he'll never be happy again.
In modern America, Sebastian has boyfriend problems when he meets David. He's definitely attracted, but trying to be true to Luke, who spends more time fighting with Sebastian than loving him. When things start to go horribly wrong, Sebastian finds himself turning to David, looking for the kind of understanding only a soul mate can give. The stories of the two couples begin to intertwine in the way of myth and magic, but will Sebastian and David be able to make things right in time?
Sample
400 B.C., China
Zhong Shi twisted his serpentine body and bellowed with joy as he soared through the sky. He felt pity for the humans, because they were confined to the ground. They could never feel their blood surge as they ascended toward the heavens, or experience the rush of the wind through their hair.
He hoped the humans were looking up, so that they could see the way the sunlight broke into a kaleidoscopic display when it reflected off his red scales. They could also admire the way his small horns had been polished until they shone like the sun, and how the hair gracing his chin and the tip of his tail was as lustrous as silk.
He paused during his flight to groom again, since he wanted to ensure that not a single strand of his green hair was out of place. Zhong Shi never tired of hearing the people below praising his beauty, but it annoyed him when less attractive dragons were also spoken of with high accolades for their appearance. He wondered if this was because the humans were awestruck by any member of his species, or if they were simply cursed with a staggering inability to judge true handsomeness.
He decided that it must be the latter. That was of no consequence -- he would preen some more, and then he would be the only dragon who garnered appreciation. He had just finished his tidying when he heard a thrashing noise from the cloud bank above him. The next moment, a copious amount of rain drenched him from head to tail.
Zhong Shi sputtered and dove forward to escape the deluge. He was still too young to control the weather, which caused him no end of consternation. Once he was clear, he shouted out, "Who dares?"
A calm voice replied, "Must you create such a large fuss, Little One?"
The owner of the voice drifted out from behind the clouds. He was an azure dragon -- unlike Zhong Shi, his horns had several branches, and he had an air of dignity and wisdom that suited his three thousand five hundred years of age.
Zhong Shi glared at Chen Jing with the most baleful expression he could manage. "You know I despise getting my beard wet after I spent so many hours making it look just right! That was childish!"
"Little One... what have I said about thinking too much of yourself?"
Zhong Shi growled and turned his back to his lover before he flicked the fluffy part of his tail upward in a gesture of contempt. He regretted doing that a moment later when Chen Jing roared, which caused a bolt of lightning to crackle down just beside his head.
"Ai ya!" Zhong Shi exclaimed.
"Have you learned your lesson, or must I summon more lightning?"
"No!" Zhong Shi said, and then he hastily amended, "You don't need to do that again. I'll behave!"
He trembled for a moment, but then Chen Jing pressed against him and let out a long sigh. "Some days, you are such an unruly hatchling. What am I to do with you?"
"I'm sure you can think of many things to... punish me. Especially when we're in human form."
Chen Jing rolled his large eyes. "You're incorrigible. Perhaps I was better off with my wives."