Supernature: Paranormal Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

By Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake

Discover the touch of the supernatural in this volume of short stories and novelettes.
In July 2012, Wittegen Press gave away a short story, or story part every day to their readers. Each story was only available for one day, but now the 5 paranormal romance and paranormal fantasy stories from The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games have been gathered here into 1 volume.

The Name Is The Game by Sophie Duncan
A new placement, a new start together for orphans Paul and Amanda. However, they soon discover all is not as it seems with the mysterious Miss Torris.

Cleave To Until Forever by Natasha Duncan-Drake
Paralysed by an explosion, Adam must heal more than his legs when he discovers his wereleopard ancestry.

The Vampire Who Loved Me by Natasha Duncan-Drake
Jack Boddington was your every day, jobbing spy until his last assignment goes horribly wrong. Then he wakes up twenty years later with a thirst for blood.

Girl In The Mirror by Sophie Duncan
Penelope Beverly must discover the secret of the ghost girl in her mirror when she takes a position as companion to Miss Verinace.

Timothy by Natasha Duncan-Drake
Darcy is a modern girl, but even she is shocked when her mother gives her the family heirloom as she is about to go off to university and it's a dildo named Timothy.

These stories, plus all the other stories from the Wittegen Press Giveaway Games can be found in one volume:
- Myriad Imaginings: All The Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

If you would prefer to select stories by genre, they are also available in five separate anthologies:
- Book of Darkness: Horror Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
- Beyond Our Horizon: Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
- Supernature: Paranormal Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
- Romantics: Erotic Romance Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
- Bright Young Things: Young Adult Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

Also, if you are a particular fan of Natasha Duncan-Drake, or Sophie Duncan, their stories are also available in individual anthologies:
- Half of Everything: Stories by Natasha Duncan-Drake From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
- The Other Half of Everything: Stories by Sophie Duncan From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wittegen Press
• Release date: Jan 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781908333452

Sophie Duncan

Half my time I am a project manager developing IT solutions. The other half, you'll find me scribbling away at many a story that just won't leave me alone. I've been writing since I was a wee thing, and publishing since I discovered the internet in 1994 or so.So what do I write? Contemporary and urban fantasy have mainly been my playground, but I have done some real world settings as well. I do like mystery and have been reading (and watching) Agatha Christie since I was a child. I've also been known to do a bit of poetry.Style: I have been told I do angst well, so if you want your heartstrings twanged, or your tummy to tie in knots until the end, then I'm your gal. I am, however, a happy ending junkie, although I do throw a hint of realism in there sometimes as well. I like a few twists and turns on the way in some of my plots, although I have written my share of PWPs as well. I have to admit a small obsession with eyes: I believe they are the seat of beauty in a person, so I play with them in creature fic and use them for expression in others - personal hang up, sorry. Also, I have never met a cliché I didn't like and I am a firm believer that cliché is fine if you do it right.Writing is a passion and there's nothing better than writing for an audience. Any writer who says they don't care about feedback must have had an ego amputation :) If you life my scribbles, I'd be very glad to hear from you.

Book preview

Supernature

The Paranormal Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

by

Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake

Published by Wittegen Press

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Wittegen Press Giveaway Games 2012

http://www.wittegenpress.com/

Copyright © 2012 by Sophie Duncan

http://www.wittegenpress.com/sophieduncan

Copyright © 2012 by Natasha Duncan-Drake

http://www.wittegenpress.com/natashaduncandrake

Artwork by Sophie Duncan and Natasha Duncan-Drake

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

ISBN: 978-1-908333-45-2

Table Of Contents

The Name Is The Game by Sophie Duncan

Cleave to Until Forever by Natasha Duncan-Drake

The Vampire Who Loved Me by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Girl In The Mirror by Sophie Duncan

Timothy by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Afterword

Also by Sophie Duncan: Death In The Family

Also by Natasha Duncan-Drake: The Chronicles of Charlie Waterman

Also from Wittegen Press

Wittegen Press Giveaway Games 2012

During July of 2012 Wittegen Press gave away one short story, or story part per day.

Every morning a new short story was available at:

http://www.wittegenpress.com/giveawaygames

Each title was available for download for one day only.

These titles have now been compiled into a selection of anthologies. This anthology contains all the paranormal romance and paranormal fantasy stories written for the games.

The anthologies available are:

Myriad Imaginings: All The Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

Half Of Everything: Stories By Natasha Duncan-Drake From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

The Other Half Of Everything: Stories By Sophie Duncan From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

Book Of Darkness: The Horror Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

Supernature: The Paranormal Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

Romantics: The Erotic Romance Stories Fromt The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

Beyond Our Horizon: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

Bright Young Things: The Young Adult Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

~*~

The Name Is The Game

by

Sophie Duncan

This story is paranormal contemporary fantasy.

Author's Note

The Name Is The Game was published in two parts 6th and 7th July 2012.

I first wrote this story down nearly twenty years ago. I woke up from a vivid dream and spent the day writing it down. The plot has not significantly changed since, although, I hope, my writing style has improved.

Although I did have several drafts of this story, both on paper and in the computer, I made a conscious decision to write it from scratch with those drafts as inspiration rather than part of the text, because I hadn't touched it for about ten years and I wanted to bring my fresh, more experienced eye to it.

I'm not very good with the whole writing short thing, it's a talent I'm practising, but most of my work tends to be over 10K words, even the short stories. I was not surprised when I couldn't fit this plot into one short story, it had always felt like a novella length piece from the beginning. We therefore cut it into two chunks and presented the two parts on consecutive days. It was fortuitous that there was a convenient place to split it approximately in the middle and I didn't have to tweak the text to give the first part a decent stop for the reader.

This, I think, will remain a standalone work. I've had the odd idea for continuing the 'adventures' of Paul and Amanda, but nothing concrete, so, since I have enough follow on ideas for other universes, this story will not get a sequel.

~*~

A building can’t have feelings, but Paul had the distinct impression that the one he faced was malevolent. He’d passed Torris House many times to and from school, but he’d never really looked beyond the dark trees which surrounded the structure and its driveway. As he looked up at the arched windows and looming chimneys through the car windscreen, he swallowed hard. This was to be his home for six months – it made his blood run cold.

He was a modern kid, used to all the new buildings that had been built after the war. The dorms he’d lived in since he was a baby had been specially built to house all the children that the biological disaster had left without parents. They had replaced the rubble, which he could barely remember. Yet this house was old, it had survived the war by some twist of fate, and the blackness behind the leaded windows only added to the feeling of age that swept through Paul as he took it all in.

Paul had never thought of himself as the fanciful sort. In fact he had always been the practical one – good at carpentry, metal work, electronics, a Mr Fix-It. That’s why this job had been such a good opportunity, a handyman for a big house, a place to learn about the world in sheltered protection before making his own way alone. Well, alone wasn’t strictly ever going to be true if everything went the way he wanted it to. He slipped his hand into that of the girl beside him, and smiled to himself as his grip was returned.

He didn’t need to look at Amanda to know that her face was showing the same trepidation as he felt. He’d known Amanda since they’d been placed in the same House in the orphanage, and a friendship had become more as they’d grown together. Amanda was his other half, artistic, imaginative, sensitive, and he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. She was the perfect companion, both for him and, apparently, for the mysterious owner of Torris House.

A tighter squeeze of his hand drew Paul’s attention away from his musing, and he glanced over to Amanda. The soft blue eyes which looked back at him held the same tension that was running through him.

At that moment, if he hadn't known that without this placement they'd have been split up, Paul would have told Warden Gard, their driver, to turn around. Instead he smiled – he was the strong one, he’d been certain about this, he had to be strong now, despite his sudden revelations. He wanted to be with Amanda more than anything else in the world, and creepy second thoughts would not get in the way.

Well, here we are, Gard announced with his usual exuberance as they stopped in front of the house.

The man turned round in his seat, an excited grin on his face. Their anxiety must have been obvious, because the man's grin turned to a knowing smile and he reached out and patted their joined hands.

Nerves are understandable, guys, he began knowingly, but you really are incredibly lucky to get this placement.

We know, Paul breathed quickly, without this place we'd be separated in the placement programme.

There really is no need to be nervous, y'know, the carer reassured. Miss Torris has been taking my assignments for five years now and she has really helped them get on in life after their placements. She shows me the letters to her sometimes. All of them are such high fliers now, all over the world.

Paul nodded and tried to bury his disquiet: he didn't want to let anyone down with his panic. He liked Gard very much. The man could be a bit over the top sometimes, but his heart was in the right place.

Come on then, Amanda finally made the move and opened her door of the car. Paul climbed out of his side of the vehicle and went round to the boot to collect their bags.

He yanked the two packs out of the car and, while his hands were occupied, Amanda dove in and began adjusting his hair. He took it patiently, blowing his dark fringe out of his eyes as she tutted at him. Then she started on her own hair.

How do I look? she asked him.

Paul's answer would always have been, 'beautiful', but he had learnt to play at checking, since it bothered Amanda, so he swept his gaze over her neatly tied blond hair and subtle makeup and then down over her dress. He stalled a moment at the way her blouse parted over her breasts just so, but a slap of her hand meant he finished his examination and re-met her gaze.

Perfect, he replied with a grin.

Amanda wrinkled her nose at him for that little gesture, but stopped fiddling. With one last tweak of her skirt, she turned to where the warden was waiting for them.

Just lovely, Gard announced, holding his hands out to the couple. Miss Torris is going to love you both.

Paul accepted the pat on his shoulder silently, as did Amanda, but Gard didn't seem to notice the remaining tension in the air, he just turned and strode up to the huge old front door and hauled down the heavy iron bell-pull. He then turned back, mouth open to start talking again, but, almost instantly, the door swung inwards.

Paul squinted at the dark hole the door left, no light came from inside, and a quick glance at the windows told him their darkness was no trick of the light, they were all shuttered. The gloom meant that it took him another few seconds to detect movement from within the building and then his eyes slowly made out a tall figure, female, he thought by the fact that a line of the body swept down from the waist in a long skirt.

Good afternoon, Warden Gard, a smooth, silky voice floated out to him and Paul found all his attention focusing on its owner. Do bring the children in, I have been expecting you.

Paul would have objected to being called a child under normal circumstances, he was eighteen after all, but the way the woman said it felt right.

So nice to see you again, Miss Torris, Gard replied and headed straight into the unknown.

Torn between the existing instinct to run and a niggle of fascination for his, as yet, mainly unseen employer, Paul adjusted his grips on the packs and followed Gard into the hallway. He felt his mouth going slack as he walked into what was a cavernous entry way packed with what had to be antiques from before the war. He found himself staring up a long, curling flight of stairs, but the light levels were so low, just a few lamps glowing at intervals down the hallway, that he could not see the top of the steps.

The door slammed behind them and Paul jumped, dropping the packs and turning to the noise. His heart leapt into his throat as he finally set eyes on Miss Torris. He'd been warned the woman was eccentric, but what he beheld only a few steps away reminded him of the gothic romances that he'd sometimes sneaked off Amanda to read. Miss Torris stood at least six foot tall, the same height as him, and her slender figure clothed in a long, flowing burgundy gown only accentuated her height. Raven-black hair, which didn't look like it was from a bottle, surrounded her pale face and cascaded over her shoulders and her smile came in ruby red. Paul couldn't help staring.

I apologise for the darkness, Miss Torris broke the awkward silence, her smile deepening to reveal perfect white teeth, but I am sensitive to too much light, a genetic defect. I hope that won't bother either of you.

Not at all, Amanda surprised Paul when she responded before his brain had even finished processing what had been said.

He blinked and glanced at her smiling profile, seeing the nerves still there, even as his thoughts failed to catch up with his own.

You must be Amanda Payne, Miss Torris gushed and held out a lily-white hand.

Paul looked down at the extended digits. Every finger was tipped with the longest, sharpest nails he had ever seen and they were painted ebony-black. It took a few moments, but Paul watched dumbly as, eventually, Amanda reached out and took the offered hand. He was watching so closely, he noticed his girlfriend shiver.

And you must be Paul Armstrong, Miss Torris dropped Amanda's hand and suddenly, Paul found himself the centre of attention.

A shiver ran up his own spine, but as he looked into his employer's dark eyes, for no reason he could fathom, he gave a stiff little bow. Musical laughter rang in his ears then and Miss Torris clapped her hands in delight.

I'm not quite that old fashioned, but it is so nice to see such manners in the young, she teased a little and Paul felt his cheeks grow hot.

He did not have to bear the humiliation very long, however, because just as quickly as she had caught his attention, Miss Torris then turned to Gard and told him, Thank you, Gard. As always, you bring me such lovely employees. I'm afraid I can't offer you tea, as you know I tire easily and I must rest soon.

Paul's instincts grated at the polite dismissal, but the whole moment seemed to roll over Gard's head. The man smiled and nodded.

Of course, I understand completely, he said and then turned to Paul and Amanda. I hope you two will be very happy here. You have my card if you need anything.

Paul resisted reaching for the little business card that was sitting in his suit pocket, but he was glad it was there.

Oh, they shan't want for anything in my care, Miss Torris gushed, arm going round behind the warden and ushering him towards the door.

She stepped back when Gard opened the door, letting sunlight fall on the mat, and Paul had to squash a momentary urge to dash into the light. It was silly, he felt instantly foolish, but as he watched the door close behind Gard, he couldn't shake the odd, panicky feeling. However, when Miss Torris turned back and smiled at him, mostly with her eyes, the anxiety settled and he relaxed back onto his heels.

Well, well, together at last, Miss Torris announced, hands held demurely in front of her, and Paul knew he was on display.

He held his breath as he was looked up and down and felt the burn in his cheeks growing again.

You are perfect, Miss Torris finished and with another clap of her hands, started towards the stairs. Come, I will show you to your rooms and then I must leave you to take my rest.

~*~

Ten minutes later, Paul found himself alone in his new bedroom. It was huge, bigger even than the whole dorm in which he had slept at the orphanage. The bed too was three times the size of the bunk he had slept on and was a grand four-poster with heavy embroidered covers that matched the curtains.

Unlike the bed, the windows didn't have any curtains, only shutters and Paul had been perturbed to find he couldn't open them, especially since the bulb in the ceiling light was only just enough to light