In which we hear more from Dimitra and Skyler. And if anyone knows anything about detective work, I’m all ears! Or, more accurately, eyes. It was midnight when Dimitra found her husband ensconced in the small room across from Corey’s that he liked to call his study. He had painted it a hunter green and hung burgundy curtains that were usually tied back to reveal the backyard full of the small gardens she lovingly tended. Half of the room was taken over by a mahogany desk and swivel chair. Across from the desk was a tall bookcase packed with an assortment of books, from fiction to non-fiction and a few…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter Ten
Hmmm…Something from Dimitra’s POV. And, dare I say it, could Corey actually be normal? Dimitra knew her daughter was home when she heard Corey shout, “Thanks, Mrs. Flynn!” Smiling to herself, she headed for the front door to welcome her daughter home from school. After five months as their daughter, Corey had been nothing other than a perfectly happy little girl. Skyler hadn’t tried to get her to talk about the murders since her first day with them and the two were often thick as thieves at night while they played games. Dimitra opened the door just as her daughter was sprinting up the steps. Across the street, Mrs. Flynn…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter Nine
“Welcome to your new home!” Dimitra Adams said cheerfully from the doorway of a quaint, pale blue house surrounded by rose bushes. Corey smiled and bounded up the front stairs, towards her new mother. Dimitra was a petite woman with long black hair tumbling down to her waist in curls. Her eyes were a deep green and she wore green framed glasses. She was dressed in a lavender shirt and jeans and had a light blue apron tied around her waist. Her arms were wide open and she bent down to receive her new daughter. Corey hugged the woman tightly. All the way, Skylar had talked about his wife, about…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 8
One and a half years later Corey huddled on her bed, arms wrapped tightly around her teddy bear, face buried in the bear’s fur. Outside, the summer heat was stifling, even at night. The moon was bright as it neared the midnight hour and a gentle breeze wafted through Corey’s bedroom. It was late, but Helen was still awake, still waiting for Andy to get home, even though she knew he was likely going to yell at and hit her again. Andy had lost his job six months before and, now with their finances in chaos, he had been getting drunk almost every night since. Drinking made him violent and…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 7
Corey groaned and turned over in bed. The sun was just beginning to rise, so she knew it was early, too early to be awake. But she’d spent most of the night awake. The image of Mrs. Allen staring her straight in the eye wouldn’t leave her head. She wasn’t looking forward to her second day of school. She shut her eyes tightly, willing herself back to sleep, for those last few blissful hours. Oh, how she wished it were summer still! Or that she was in the third grade already. The current third graders were already raving about Mr. Thomas. He was supposed to be one of the best…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 6
Corey had some misgivings about the new school year. Her parents had discussed moving again, but they hadn’t wanted to put their daughter through more changes. It was bad enough that two of her classmates had died tragically the year before. The only real reason they had for not moving, though, was Terese. Through everything, the little blond girl hadn’t left Corey’s side and Helen and Andy knew how much Corey needed a friend. But, sometimes, Corey wished they could move far away and get away from all the weird deaths. The other kids kept looking at her like she was sick or crazy or something. That, and it was…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 5
The phone rang just as Helen was ushering Corey out the door the following morning. Corey’s steps were lagging as she followed her mother out the door for the third day of school. She didn’t want to go. Something bad had happened. Inside, Andy answered the phone and she could hear his “hello” ring out through the house. “Hurry up, dear,” Helen said, smiling encouragingly. “Let’s not make you late today.” Hades forbid I be late, Corey thought. She immediately blinked just after she thought that, wondering just where the Hades part had come from. She was familiar with Hades; her biological mother had read a few mythological stories to…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 4
Two years later Corey wasn’t sure if she was going to like first grade. She had liked preschool and kindergarten well enough, having made a few friends, but then she and her parents had moved into a new school district and now she was about an hour away from all her friends. She supposed it was better to start over at six rather than being sixteen and having to start over without the friendships she’d spent years cultivating. But she still missed her old friends. She also thought everyone, including herself, looked a little funny in the same navy blue uniforms. She’d gotten used to the tan at her old…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 3
“Welcome to your new home,” Andrew Marks said as he swept open the front door to Corey’s new home. Corey gave him a timid smile and followed Andrew and his wife Helen through the front door. Her small feet met soft carpeting as soon as she entered and she looked around at soft blue walls. There were vases of pussy willow in the front hall, flanking a long dark brown table filled with pictures and a basket of keys. Three months after her parents’ untimely deaths, Andrew and Helen Marks had come to adopt her. She had been curious about the blond woman and dark haired man. They had apparently…
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Gates to Asphodel, Chapter 2
The POV is a tricky little thing…haven’t yet decided exactly what I want yet… The police officers had Corey sitting on the porch swing, with a young female office next to her to keep an eye on her, while they poked and prodded around in her home. Corey had her teddy bear tucked under one arm and was happily gnawing away at a banana nut muffin. The officer was casting weird looks her way, but the little girl ignored her. Mrs. Appleton was wailing and wringing her hands as she paced the width of the porch near Corey. Both women seemed to be waiting for Corey to start crying, but…