Just My Personal Opinion, Of Course...

8:10 p.m., the Sydarian Embassy, Washington, DC:  “Did you get the package?” The words, calm and quiet, displayed none of the seething tension Ambassador Jamar Farahani held inside. He hated working with scum like this--dirty, violent. Uneducated. But that was the only kind of man who would undertake this type of job. “Yeah, we got her,” replied the rough voice on the other end of the line.  “When are you coming to pick her up?” “Tomorrow. Maybe. It depends on the weather. Right now, they will not let any planes take off from the airport. Not even private jets.” Jamar’s hand tightened on the phone as he watched the snowstorm outside his windows. “There is supposed to be a break in the morning. So hopefully, I can get out then.” “If that’s the best you can do, I’ll just have to sit on her for a while. But get here as soon as you can. My guys are getting restless.”  “Just make sure nothing happens to her, Johnson.” Jamar’s voice turned cold and hard. “If she is rap...

Ten-Oh-One: 22  +1 = 23. I am twenty-three years old. I push open the gilded door of the Josephine. Monsieur Jacques gave me a keycard, no questions asked. He almost seemed relieved to see me. I am now also part of this hotel. Along with Marie, Margaretha, Caroline, Esther, Lola, and the others. I am one of them now. The room is as it was when I visited it two weeks ago with my athletic client. But then I only saw it in the dark, and  here it is bathed in the light of the setting sun. The star only disappeared three minutes ago, if that, and the building is covered in its dying glow. The window is open. The light dives through it, licking the gilding. ~~~ Hotelles By Emma Mars "Listen, I didn't even know you were getting married until about five minutes ago...At least you won't have to worry about being a Hotelle anymore." "A ho-what? Excuse me?" "Rebecca never told you?" "No..." "Apparently, ano...

"I ceased to believe in angels when I was three years old; when the evil from which my mother so valiantly tried to protect me came and took her, plunging me headlong into madness. Evil I know your name. And it has always been Father. Three times I thought I’d broken the bond for good. Three times I was captured and dragged screaming defiantly back into hell. This time there would be no escape. There was nowhere to run. It was sure to end in death.  "The fight had finally been knocked out of me by the time I was twenty-five. My father was all-powerful. His name rang through the halls of justice when an undesirable need arose to service the dark pleasures of those same men. I was his daughter, and I was not immune.’ My short life had been written in blood. I could smell cigarette smoke and stale beer and heard the sound of raucous laughter as I lie there drugged and fighting to maintain consciousness.  “This is some cold-blooded shit. She must have something big on the old...