The New Ashton Chronicles
Short Fiction
These short stories, one-shots and drabbles are exercises in style and characterization for the characters of the New Ashton Chronicles and as such may not be entirely canonical to the published series. Fics are often first drafts and contain errors or typos. Most fics are in PDF form and so require a download (I plan on converting them to Google Docs soon). Fics marked with * are in Google Docs. Word counts are approximate. Fics may contain strong language, adult content, violence, etc. so please read at your own discretion.
These are all free to read.
To Be Updated Sept. - Oct. 2023
These are all free to read.
To Be Updated Sept. - Oct. 2023
- Monster - Mason Davis reflects back on his earliest memories, two hundred years later. Written from his perspective, he learns too soon the stigma of his half-demon heritage. Originally part of my NaNoWriMo project in 2014. 2100 words.
- A Perfect Soul - He gave up everything-his humanity, his soul, his freedom, his sanity-for immortality and love. The soultaker's journey through four centuries reveals his salvation was indeed his damnation. Somewhat canon divergent. 8684 words.
- Can't Blame a Demon for Trying - An impromptu visit to his former witchy lover, Andy, doesn't end quite end like Dylan expects it. 544 words.
- Just Like Him - Young Andy just wants to study her spells, but little sister Vinnie won't leave her alone with questions about their deceased father. 510 words.
- Home Sweet Fucking Home - When he receives an urgent call from his sister, demigod Aaron Slater puts aside his deviant life and returns to the hometown he swore he'd never visit again. The news isn't good and Aaron is faced with a life-changing decision. 2594 words.
- Bother Me a Little More - Their friendship has always verged on something more. Jamie finds the demon's pestering almost endearing. 230 words.
- Bittersweet Symphony - Her 21st birthday celebration is cut short. The secret of CJ's father finally comes to light and Mason regrets having waited so long to reveal the truth. Emotions run high. Can they salvage something that was never there? 3600 words.
- Hard Feelings - Andy makes an attempt to be friendly with her ex-lover's cousin (and best friend) Vivian, but hard feelings still linger. 1300 words.
- A Busy Day of Nothing at All - A long drive home after a long day of work results in some playful banter between cousins Vivian and Glen. 620 words.
- How Sweet It Is - A discussion about candy preferences might lead to a friendship between Jamie and Andy. 840 words.
- Shoplift Standstill - Casey's sticky fingers were bound to get her into trouble one day. Maybe she should've thought better of trying to steal from the soultaker's comic stop. 800 words.
- Too Little Too Late - Charlie Slater tries to reach out to his son but Aaron is too hotheaded-even for a demigod-to let go of old grudges. 532 words.
- Donut Debacle - Vinnie loves donuts—but she doesn't like to share. Andy's disappointment comes as no surprise. 300 words.
- Winning Friends - Casey's reluctant to make friends, especially with a werewolf, but Adam seems nice enough. And he'll try anything to make the hunter's day just a little brighter. 272 words.
- Better Luck Next Time - Sara wants something from Dylan, but the games demons play are not so easily won. 594 words.
- Tea Talk - Casey's disappointment at the lack of good refreshments is palpable for empath Neoma. Life's too short for bad snacks. 330 words.
- Five Times Dead - Death is such a novelty to an immortal demon. Kat looks back, curiously, on all the times it touched her. 635 words.
- Haunt Another Day - Mason Davis doesn't appreciate being haunted by his former friend and lover, especially when he knows Victor has some sort of agenda. 864 words.
- Of Snacks and Spells - Andy and Carla know that you can't learn a new spell without the proper snacks. 435 words.
- Devious * - Ousted from power, Alexandra waits for her next opportunity. She can be devious too. 1354 words.
- Five Years Later * - Grace looks back on five years of grief. 550 words
- In Blind Judgment * - The Hallowed Circle Coven thinks Bernice should retire as High Priestess. She shows them otherwise. 1200 words.
- Irked * - It's just another day of irritation for Andy & Danica. 600 words.
- Isolate * - Dalton has to get away. 800 words.
- No Bed of Roses * - Vinnie enlists Carla to help house-sit. Carla sadly realizes that involves more than she thought it would. 720 words.
- Vows * - Mara helps Wren prepare for her wedding day. 380 words.
- When You Know, You Know * - Vivian, Glen, & Adam get together. The possibility of starting a new pack comes up. 1450 words.
- What The Future Holds * -In a somewhat distant future, Andy prepares to become High Priestess of the Kindheart Coven. 565 words.
- Torn * - Flashback to Alexandra when she knew Rae. The young hunter is toying with magic and Alexandra is not amused. 812 words.
Fictober18 Prompt Challenge
- Day 1: Can You Feel This? - While cleaning out a garage, Andy and Vinnie stumble upon a magical object. 517 words.
- Day 2: People Like You Have No Imagination - When Dylan calls Carla at 3 am on "urgent business" to the comic shop, she reconsiders how much she likes her job. 643 words.
- Day 3: How Can I Trust You? - CJ wallows in self-pity. Drowning her sorrow doesn't do much for her resentments. 440 words.
- Day 4: Will That Be All? - It's been a very long day at the Dine Right Diner and if Vivian hears anyone say "will that be all?" one more time... 256 words.
- Day 5: Take What You Need - Feeding on emotions is unfortunately necessary for Neoma, but she hasn't in a long time. Andy steps in with an offer before her friend starts to feel worse. 600 words.
- Day 6: This Ends Now- Victor is getting stronger, testing his ghostly abilities. Mason doesn't much care for it. 630 words.
- Day 7: No Worries - Malcolm is anxious to get going; Mara is meeting his daughter for the first time. But the witch isn't so worried. 300 words.
- Day 8: I Know You Do -Mimic becomes concerned that Lang prefers only her shape-shifted forms. 743 words.
- Day 9: You Shouldn't Have Come Here - It's hard enough being half-vampire/half-human, but Ian's vampire mom doesn't make it any easier for him when she shows up unexpectedly. 637 words.
- Day 10: You Think This Troubles Me? - Some demons of Earth have yet to understand Sara isn't like them at all. 450 words.
- Day 11: But I Will Never Forget This! - The Newfound Pack bond over some much needed lighthearted fun. 690 words.
- Day 12: Who Could Do This? - When Casey's apartment is trashed, Vinnie does whatever she can to comfort and help her. 490 words.
- Day 13: Try Harder, Next Time - With Mason's encouragement, Andy pushes her powers to new limits. 630 words.
- Day 14: Some People Call This Wisdom - A trip to another dimension doesn't go so well for Dylan and Kat. She's not so impressed with her father's so-called wisdom. 500 words.
- Day 15: I Thought You Had Forgotten - A year after Jamie's relapse, empath Neoma pays him a visit. She remembers the promise she made to him. 653 words.
- Day 16: This Is Gonna Be So Much Fun! - Vampires Nancy and Sylvie have very different experiences when it came to their respective sirings. Nancy envies that her lieutenant had a choice. 500 words.
- Day 17: You're Not Gonna Like It - Kat's a strange sort of creature, even by half-vampire Ian's standards. 340 words.
- Day 18: You Should Have Seen It - Vinnie tries to reach out to CJ but fails. CJ doesn't want to talk about her so-called father. 540 words.
- Day 19: The Worst I Have Done - Nancy goes to extremes to get Aaron's attention, but he's not interested. 550 words.
- Day 20: I Hope You Have a Speech Prepared - In the early days of their romance, Victor promises to teach Mara something. 424 words.
- Day 21: Impressive, Truly - A drunken Carla tries to impress Danica with her own show of 'magic'. 375 words.
- Day 22: I Know How You Love Games - Ian gets Mimic a gift and she's overjoyed. 314 words.
- Day 23: This Is Not New - Mara and Mason will never have the same relationship they had before, and Mara mourns it. 500 words.
- Day 24: You Know This To Be True - While on vacation, Victor protects young Andy from the Hallowed Circle Coven. 515 words.
- Day 25: Do Not Stray - Mason coaches Vinnie through astral projection. She's determined to get it right. 446 words.
- Day 26: Is It Really There? - Lang and Ian share a joint and some philosophical musings. 370 words.
- Day 27: Remember, You Have to Remember - Dylan has one of his bad moments but Andy is there to help him through it. 535 words.
- Day 28: You Know What I Mean - Ian thinks back on a childhood memory, but isn't sure if CJ shares the same sentiment. 436 words.
- Day 29: It Can't Get Any Worse - Carter saves Patrick from his first demon--but they're not out of the woods yet. 490 words.
- Day 30: Do We Really Have To Do This Again? - When Jamie asks him to wait for their father, Aaron gives up. Why should he give his estranged father more of a chance? . 525 words.
- Day 31: I've Waited So Long For This - It's finally here! The magazine in which Glen's photographs have been published finally arrives. Anne shares in on the accomplishment. 340 words
30 Days of Writing April 2019
- Silence - Mimic does what she does best: being silent and sneaky. 320 words.
- Tough - CJ gets into a fight with a random demon. 467 words.
- Smile - It's been a long week for both Casey and Vinnie. The girls just want to relax, with no worries. 788 words.
- Storm - Victor's anger manifests as a dangerous storm. It's up to Mara to calm him and stop its destruction. 779 words.
- Snow - Mimic has always loved the snow, and Lang and Ian don't mind walking a bit longer in it if it makes her happy. 500 words.
- Blade - What kind of blade could leave her father, a demon, with a scar? Kat wants to know. 235 words.
- Wind - Andy marvels over the differences between air magic and telekinesis as she practices. 313 words.
- Foot - Carnage for the sake of carnage? Dylan has some demented, bloody fun. 360 words.
- Cold - Grief comes in many forms. For demigod Charlie, its cold and full of guilt. 390 words.
- Pencil - Carla is fed up with her boss's little annoyances. 180 words.
- Nose - While roaming as a wolf, Anne lets her senses guide her down memory lane. 200 words.
- Promise - Kat learns from a young age that promises are made to be broken. 205 words.
- Necklace - Mara receives a surprise gift from Mason, one which leaves her uncertain about their relationship. 640 words.
- Mind - A stranger asks Danica the wrong question and she uses her conjuring powers to answer him. 356 words.
- Books - Vivian learns her new bookshelf won't hold all of her books. 350 words.
- Deal - Sylvie hates the creep Nancy has to deal with. 465 words.
- Avoid - Aaron's been busy with the black market; Nancy thinks he's avoiding her. They meet up at a demon bar. 560 words.
- Soft - During the beginning of Neoma and Andy's friendship, the teenagers bond. 436 words.
- Forgive - Ian visits his mother's grave. 295 words.
- Sharp - Young Casey admires her father's weapons and aspires to be like him one day. 272 words.
- Teeth - The pain starts long before the shift. Glen is anxious. 210 words.
- Dying - Patrick recalls what dying was like before he became a revenant. 333 words.
- Rock - Demon Sara rules her servants with a cruel hand. 317 words.
- Sick - Jasmine is sick and Carter is worried for his daughter. 331 words.
- Broken - Jamie sees how just how bad Kay's illness has progressed and it hurts him. 275 words.
- Gone - Lang is happy to run free through the woods. 289 words.
- Road - Aaron decides to take a drive on his motorcycle. 235 words.
- Sky - Mara and Vinnie cut their gardening short before the rain comes. 279 words.
- Change - There's always room for magical improvement. Mason tests himself. 217 words.
- Sleep - Adam's had a long night and crashes at Glen and Viv's place. 250 words.