The Fate of My Own Future

By Dayle A. Dermatis

Annalee Sänger: Siren, smartmouth, spy. (Okay, not exactly that last part.)

Her mission: Bring in an Oracle, a woman with the power to predict the future. In a busy casino. Dodging security and bad guys who want the Oracle for themselves.

Problem: The Oracle has other plans. And Annalee’s magical powers of persuasion need some fine tuning….

The latest installment in a new, not-to-be-missed urban fantasy short story series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Soul's Road Press
• Release date: Nov 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386789185

Dayle A. Dermatis

Dayle A. Dermatis is the author or coauthor of many novels (including snarky urban fantasies Ghosted and the forthcoming Shaded and Spectered) and more than a hundred short stories in multiple genres, appearing in such venues as Fiction River, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and DAW Books.Called the mastermind behind the Uncollected Anthology project, she also guest edits anthologies for Fiction River, and her own short fiction has been lauded in many year's best anthologies in erotica, mystery, and horror.She lives in a book- and cat-filled historic English-style cottage in the wild greenscapes of the Pacific Northwest. In her spare time she follows Styx around the country and travels the world, which inspires her writing.To find out where she’s wandered off to (and to get free fiction!), check out DayleDermatis.com and sign up for her newsletter or support her on Patreon.* * *I value honest feedback, and would love to hear your opinion in a review, if you’re so inclined, on your favorite book retailer’s site.* * *For more information:www.dayledermatis.com

Book preview

The Fate of My Own Future

The Fate of My Own Future

Dayle A. Dermatis

Soul’s Road Press

Contents

About This Book

The Fate of Her Own Future

About the Author

Also by Dayle A. Dermatis

Be the First to Know!

Written on the Coast

About This Book

Annalee Sänger: Siren, smartmouth, spy. (Okay, not exactly that last part .)

Her mission: Bring in an Oracle, a woman with the power to predict the future. In a busy casino. Dodging security and bad guys who want the Oracle for themselves.

Problem: The Oracle has other plans. And Annalee’s magical powers of persuasion need some fine tuning….

The latest installment in a not-to-be-missed urban fantasy short story series!

The Fate of Her Own Future

AS FAR AS I know—not much of a gambler here—the various tribal casinos in Southern California all look pretty much alike. Desert Oaks Casino, rising out of the scrubby desert hills near San Diego like an oasis that steals water from travelers, was a long, one-story building flanked by a tower of hotel rooms and at least two cement parking garages, plus asphalt, pulsing with neon signs .

Inside, the lights were low and yet somehow it was all too bright from the clinky-blinky slot machines. The rows of games presented a confusing maze. I know this is on purpose to get people to stay and give the casino all their money under the excuse that it’s fun, but most people didn’t look like they were having fun. They looked jaundiced from the lighting, and smelled of too much perfume and cologne, and cigarettes, and denial.

Every casino has a theme, and this one was—surprise!—desert oaks. Any areas leading off the main gaming area—to the buffet, the high-stakes poker room, the showroom where Styx would be playing tonight—was bracketed by two fake tree trunks, the branches arching up to meet in the center overhead.

I stood near one of those trees, trying to look anonymous as I watched a roulette table.

I tapped my almost-invisible, state-of-the-art in-ear wireless communications thingummy, which made my ear itch, and said, I’ve got eyes on the target.

My handler, Davis Monroe, sighed. Please stop talking like that. We’re not the CIA. Before