Bobbing for Dragons: A Love Story

By Jason Beil

Bob never should have taken that last bite of cake. After all, he was supposed to save the last piece for Sara! While trying to escape Sara's cake-driven wrath, he stumbles into a rip in time and space and finds himself lost in a world of giants, witches, werewolves, and dragons. All Bob wants to do is get home--but what if his destiny lies in this strange new world?

This work, edited and compiled by Jason N. Beil, is a collaboration of the following authors: Derek E. Keeling, J Bryden Lloyd, P.L. Blair, Kellie, Recluse, Ella Stradling, Eric C. Zawadzki, Kenneth J. Mayer, Homecooking, Marc Iverson, Martin D. Gibbs, Pipeline, and Jason N. Beil.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jason Beil
• Release date: Mar 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301327195

Jason Beil

Jason Beil has written numerous short stories, countless songs, and a rock musical fantasy, The Other Side of Never. He has published the first two novels in his epic fantasy cycle, The Talisman War Trilogy. The first novel in the cycle, The Talisman of Faerie, was published in 2004 and translated into German in 2010 under the title Flucht Nach Faerie. The Second novel, The Sword of Kings, was published in 2010.A trained vocalist and musician, Beil graduated from Millersville University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. He pursued musical theater in his twenties, appearing in productions such as Cabaret, Oklahoma, Some Like It Hot, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He previously sang with the holiday a cappella group, Occasional Singers. Until the end of 2015, he was the keyboardist of the popular east coast cover band HyJinx (aka Lovely Rita). He has since reunited with his very first band, The Rockadudes.Beil has recently returned to acting and has appeared in local productions of 1984 (Martin), Heathers: The Musical (Ram’s Dad/Big Bud Dean/Coach Ripper), Jesus Christ Superstar (Pilate), Peter and the Starcatcher (Lord Aster), Garfield: The Musical With Cattitude! (Jon Arbuckle), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Robert Lemonteur), The Rocky Horror Show (Eddie/Dr. Scott), Chess (Freddie Trumper), Freaky Friday (Mike), and Pippin (Charles).

Book preview

Bobbing for Dragons

A Love Story

Jason N. Beil, Editor

Written by Derek E. Keeling, J Bryden Loyd, P.L. Blair, Kellie, Recluse, Ella Stradling, Eric C. Zawadzki, Kenneth J. Mayer, Homecooking, Marc Iverson, Martin D. Gibbs, Pipeline, and Jason N. Beil

Copyright 2013 by Jason N. Beil and the individual authors

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Gathering the Pieces

Chapter 2: Let the Games Begin

Other Books by the Authors

Editor’s Note

Chapter 1: Gathering the Pieces

Bob’s clammy hands gripped the handle of the serrated knife with such force it turned his bulging knuckles white. He felt lightheaded. The hunger inside him had been striving to reach out and do the deed that lay before him. It wasn’t his first time.

This will be the last one, I promise, he thought as he licked his lips.

He loved it. There was no point in trying to fool himself.

No one will even notice if I cover it up well enough.

He looked around to see if anyone was coming. Then with one slice, he cut into the last piece of cake. He knew he was supposed to save it for Sara, but he couldn’t help himself.

The front door opened. He spun in his seat, fighting to swallow the mouthful he had taken and conceal the damaged wedge on his small plate. With a flick, his fork arced gracefully into the nearby sink with a dramatic ‘plop’. He just managed to close the fridge as Sara pushed open the kitchen door and peeped inside.

Hi! I’m back, she announced with her usual pleasant smile; then her eyes fell to the empty plate on the table and her face dropped into a murderous frown. You just had to do it, didn’t you? Her frown held promise of pain to come. The bloody last piece. Dammit! You promised!

Sara turned, picked up the fork from the sink, and walked toward him with a murderous look on her face. He stepped backwards, his arms held up in vain defense.

It’s… it’s in the fridge! he protested. I only took one bite. Honestly! Take a look if you don’t believe me!

Sara pressed on, adjusting her grip on the fork as she chose the spot to stab. Still he withdrew. Frantically seeking an escape, he noticed the laundry chute alongside him and threw himself headlong into the darkness.

As Sara began to stuff her face, she thought she should start taking more Midol before she hurt someone or her palms got hairy again.

He fell… forever, it seemed. The chute… he knew where it was supposed to end. In the basement, where he should spill into the oversized hamper Sara had insisted on buying. But he should’ve landed in the hamper by now. Darkness surrounded him. He could see nothing, but he had a vague impression of spiraling—spiraling? Something wrong with that… the chute fell straight—had fallen straight.

He shot out from the darkness and landed with a bone-jarring collision against something hard. Ground. Earth. A smell of loam filled his nostrils. A breeze stirred the air around him.

What the…? Where the devil am I?

As he lay there stunned, a strange whiffing noise came closer. In the half-light of a waning moon he saw only shadows, but something was nearby, sniffing him out. And it was big.

Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum! I smell the breath of a cake-eating scum! boomed a voice far above his head.

He blinked and lifted dazed eyes to behold a huge face scowling down at him. Eyes the size of a Buick met his gaze with furious intent. He was truly scared.

Is he going to eat me? He wondered. Great, I taste like cake.

The giant reached down and picked him up. He wiggled in the massive hand but to no avail.

What do you want with me, you freak of nature? he screamed, still trying to free himself. The giant brought him to eye level.

Somebody stole my birthday cake and all my birthday presents! Your breath smells like cake, so I think it was you. What do you have to say for yourself?

I… I… I…

You’re not aboard a ship, and I’m not your captain! the giant thundered. Stop with the aye, aye, aye already!

I didn’t… didn’t eat your cake, he stammered. It was… it was my girlfriend’s cake, and I only—

Cake thief! the giant roared. A huge eye pinned him with its glassy glower. Do you know, the giant’s voice fell to a murmur that somehow sounded more menacing than his roar, what we DO to cake thieves around here?

Um, give them more delicious cake to eat and let them go home? he asked timidly. He hoped he didn’t sound too hysterical.

Wrong! the giant roared again. "We either eat them, although