Wednesday’s child is full of woe. I always thought that sucked for them but the rhyme rather fits Aisling, the heroine in Ariel’s book that has no name beyond what I (via Sade) have declared it. Anyway, it is Wednesday and it time for new words. The judge in last week’s Thursday Threads opted to pick a winner and then leave comments on the other entries. This can happen when not many of us participate. I, for one, appreciate any feedback. The judge had this to say about my words: Clean. Engaging. Well done ensemble dynamics with a grounded emotional core. Real talent. I especially appreciate that last bit because that ol’ Imposter Syndrom bugaboo keeps rearing its ugly head. Moving on. The prompt for last week is: *”That might be worse.”* Imma just gonna toss this one out there because where it falls in the story? Yeah, that should remain a mystery for the moment. And no, it’s not because I have no clue! 😆

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Light spilled from the stone arch that had appeared in the middle of the forest. Sade stepped toward it but Sinjen jerked her back. She snarled at the vampire. He simply stared at her until she rolled her eyes.

“Fine.” She pivoted and looked at the other men gathered in a semi-circle. Dragon, werewolf, baby fae. “Which of you has a better plan?”

Nikos and Caleb met her gaze at least. Druic stared at the grass growing just beyond the toes of his boots. None of them spoke.

“Sinjen?”

“No.”

“No what? No plan? No clue? No interest in rescuing Ariel?”

“No, you cannot got through that doorway.”

“Because I’m human? I’ve been dragged into and out of more realms in my lifetime than—”

“None of them were charmed.” Druic’s soft voice cut through her tirade. His eyes flicked up to meet hers for a fraction of a second. “It is Fae and not even I can pass through.”

Sade wanted to hit something…or someone. Curses sputtered on the end of her tongue and she finally cut loose with a string that had all four Magicks blushing. She wound down and finished with. “I can’t leave him there.”

Nikos sighed. “There is possibly a…” He glanced at Caleb. “What did you call it?”

“A back door.” Caleb shook his head at Sade. “That might be worse.”

“Ask me if I care.”

His voice tinged with resignation, Sinjen said, “You will go anyway.”

“He’s my friend.”

That explained it all.
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Sade sometimes gets ahead of herself but she is nothing if not loyal. And Ariel is a friend. She might want to pin him back by his pointy ears on occasion and both Caleb and Sinjen enjoy the quiet when Ariel isn’t around, but she would no more abandon him to some terrible fate than she would Caleb or Sinjen. The same holds true for Roman, but the gargoyle is busy taking care of business down in New Orleans. As for Nikos? He tends to play things close to the vest. Writers, do your “worst” with the prompt. Readers, I hope you enjoyed this snippet. Aaand our question of the day–for everyone–is…🥁… What’s the worst thing that could happen if Sade walks under that arch?