α to ζ: In Memoriam

By Sylvan Scott

She's called "Mistress Innocence": a sex worker from the Beech District in Otawatapolis. Her life has been anything but easy and, lately, it's taken a turn for the worse. When made a witness to a horrific crime, she finds herself bargaining with forces she doesn't fully understand...

...Forces that want to make her their pawn...

“α to ζ” (“A to Z”) is my name for a story setting that encompasses magic, super-science, and costumed, powered individuals. The world is populated by humanoid animals in addition to humans. And although humans are the most numerous type of people, they comprise only one of roughly sixteen-hundred different, intelligent, mammalian species dating back to at least the last Ice Age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sylvan Scott
• Release date: Oct 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463382516

Sylvan Scott

I wrote about robots. When I was a kid, my first story was about robots that looked like people: the only survivors of a world-wide nuclear war. What can I say? I grew up in the 70's. Since then I've sculpted all manner of stories about all sorts of topics. Science Fiction and Fantasy still remain favorites of mine and, usually, what I can express in speculative fiction I'd rather not express in other formats. I love short stories and am working on making this writing bug that I've harbored for so many years finally work for me. Here goes nothing.

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. Frank

The world-setting (containing the Beech District, Gulfbay Sound, Holy Baptism Riverside Church, Otawatapolis, Tainocay, Quinn’s Bodega, Wing’s Kitchen, and other landmarks within this story’s context) as well as the characters of Myra Host, Mistress Innocence, the Parliament of Souls, Aaron Bucker Stahl, Father Sinjin Arthur Greenbriar, Mother Willow, Arthur Quinn, Syndra Quinn, Slayer, Salvo, Roderick Simm, Sister, and others are owned by Sylvan Scott/David J Rust. This story may not be shared or edited without the express written permission of the author.

α to ζ:

In Memoriam

©2019 Sylvan Scott

Bucker was the prettiest of men. Deep, blue eyes flecked with white motes, he could charm the pants off anybody. His cascades of black mane contrasted sexilly with his short, grey pelt. Then, there was his coloration: three white spots over his heart echoed by scatterings of smaller, freckle-like dots along the sides of his muzzle. Aaron Bucker Stahl was distinct from other asses. Lithe, muscular, and agile, he had been the most popular prostitute on Beech Avenue.

Aaron hadn’t been Myra’s type nor vice-versa. But they had been friends. Looking out at the snow drifting lazily from the post-Midnight sky, she shivered. Both used to tie their Open For Business ribbons to the branches of the same tree. It was tradition: every purveyor of carnal delights did the same. Tonight, most of the branches were bare. Hers had not been hung.

As Mistress Innocence she hadn’t felt up to it. Her business was granting fantasies. And while leather, metal studs, whips, and handcuffs helped with her performance, she hadn’t been in that mental space since the accident.

Suffering barely a scratch, she had been luckier than Bucker and their inebriated taxi driver.

Both Bucker and she were voracious sci-fi readers and loved catching plays when not impoverished. Bucker cooked; Myra mended and