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    Five Stories: Volume Three
    Five Stories: Volume Three
    Five Stories: Volume Three
    Ebook112 pages1 hour

    Five Stories: Volume Three

    By Shaun Kilgore

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    About this ebook

    Five Stories: Volume Three is a collection of short stories by author Shaun Kilgore. Stories included: "A Previous Engagement," "The Oracle Of Sadeer," "Chasing Demons," "The Shaldar's Pride," and "Whispers In The Dark."

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFounders House Publishing LLC
    Release dateMar 17, 2012
    ISBN9781476147666
    Five Stories: Volume Three
    Author

    Shaun Kilgore

    Shaun Kilgore is the author of various works of fantasy, science fiction, and a number of nonfiction works. His books appear in both print and ebook editions. He has also published numerous short stories and collections. Shaun is the editor of MYTHIC: A Quarterly Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine. He lives in eastern Illinois.

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      Book preview

      Five Stories - Shaun Kilgore

      FIVE STORIES

      Volume Three

      Shaun Kilgore

      Copyright © 2012 Shaun Kilgore

      Published by Founders House Publishing, LLC

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Table Of Contents

      Introduction

      A Previous Engagement

      The Oracle Of Sadeer

      Chasing Demons

      The Shaldar's Pride

      Whispers In The Dark

      About The Author

      Introduction

      With the completion of this collection, I have finished fifteen short stories. It is quite the milestone for me and I'm pleased that I'm making more progress as a fiction writer. I had spent five years writing web content as a ghostwriter and occasionally getting credit for the nonfiction works that I've completed. Behind all of that progress, I have maintained a desire to write fiction. In the latter half of 2011, started making this transition when I was able to secure longer nonfiction works. As of this writing I have published four books that were written with co-authors.

      Five Stories: Volume Three is finally ready for publication and I hope you enjoy my mix of speculative fiction. I have compiled sword and sorcery, urban fantasy, and a few sci-fi stories in this volume. It seems this is where my interests typically lie. Five short stories, five unique tales for your reading pleasure. Thanks for coming back if you've read the previous two volumes. There will be more collections in the future.

      Shaun Kilgore

      Danville, IL 2012

      A Previous Engagement

      From the shadows of a leafless sycamore, Douglas Finch watched with uncharacteristic interest as movers carried bits of furniture into the small gray-green house across the street. It seemed as though he had a new neighbor. The prospect wasn't especially cheerful. Nonetheless, he found himself outside his own modest, little house on a blustery day to witness the new arrival. A stiff breeze made him pull his flannel coat tight about him and mumble under his breath. Twice he considered walking across the street and asking one of the movers, but had second thoughts. A little waiting never did any harm after all.

      Without his watch, Douglas gauged that he had been standing there for less than thirty minutes. The movers continued their lively conversation, heckling each other and laughing, all while hefting what looked like a white leather couch inside the house. Next, they unloaded a pair of gold-gilded lamps, and end tables to match. Douglas had a suspicion that his neighbor was a woman though he didn't want to presume too much. He itched for a cigarette. How long had it been six months or seven? Douglas could almost taste the nicotine. Maybe he should just call it a loss and go back inside. A cup of hot tea sounded like heaven.

      Just as Douglas turned to leave, a black S-10 pickup pulled up just behind the moving van. He waited. The driver's side door opened with a squeak of protest from the poor hinges and a woman climbed out. The first thing Douglas saw was her hair. It was blonde, the palest blonde he had ever seen. But this gal was no packaged, platinum beauty. Her silky locks spilled loosely over a weathered, navy pea coat that covered her to mid-thigh and she wore loose fitting whitewashed jeans that bagged at the ankles. She smiled and waved to one of the movers who shouted in response.

      Yo, Abby, me and Tony aren't sure where you want all this stuff so we're just setting it in the living room. That okay with you?

      Abby laughed then said, Yeah, that'll be great Rick. Where's Tony?

      Tony emerged from inside. Hey, Abby, how you doing? Was wondering when you'd show. You sure do have a lot of junk here. Me and Rick were thinking about taking some of this off your hands and disposing of it all proper like.

      Don't you touch a thing Tony Barducci! You hear me? She pointed at the man for emphasis.

      Tony held up his hands defensively. Okay, okay. Somebody's touchy today. Ha, I was only kidding.

      Douglas watched the exchange with interest now. No one had noticed him yet. Abby closed the gap still between her and the two burly guys and briefly embraced them both before smacking them each on the arm, and saying, Now get back to work!

      Douglas found himself smiling. She certainly was a spitfire.

      Douglas had known very few women, but knew enough that he most certainly did not generally wish for their company. To say that women complicated life was an understatement and Douglas Finch had taken this to heart long ago. He had no qualms about being a bachelor; he found peace in his solitude usually. At least he did until the moment this woman stepped into his carefully constructed piece of the world. Douglas felt awkward just standing there, gawking across the street. The notions crowding in to his head embarrassed him. Just as he made up his mind to go back inside his house, she saw him. Abby stopped talking and waved in Douglas's direction halting his ragged retreat.

      Hello! she said.

      Douglas could feel his legs trembling. Yet, he was able to reply. Oh, uh, hello there...

      Abby waltzed across the street, her hair swinging back and forth with the motion. Douglas dropped his gaze to the concrete at his feet. He felt suddenly awkward and the urge to flee from this apparition grew stronger. When he glanced up he found Abby standing just a few feet away. The woman greeted him again with a warm smile that caused her face to glow. Douglas couldn't help but smile back. It was positively odd. He never smiled. The expression felt alien, so out of place after so long wearing nothing but a frown--though sometimes a well-placed scowl--to shake things up a bit.

      My name is Abby Simpson. Looks like I'm your new neighbor. What's your name?

      Douglas Finch. Douglas replied.

      Abby stretched out her gloved hand. It's a pleasure to meet you Douglas Finch. This certainly is a quiet neighborhood you have here.

      Douglas accepted the proffered handshake hesitantly. The woman's hand was so small, so delicate in his monstrous grasp. Yes it is. It's far enough from downtown to make you think you're in the country, but close enough that you can find almost anything you could possibly need in one of the supermarkets or shopping malls. Douglas couldn't believe he had said so much to a complete stranger. He cleared his throat then said, At least, in my opinion.

      Abby nodded. Hey, I'll take your word for, it Doug.

      Douglas wrinkled his nose. Uh, Douglas, not Doug. I never liked Doug. Sorry. His face flushed.

      That's okay. I would rather be called Abby any day than Abigail. My dad's the only one who gets away with it anymore. Mentioning her father brought a twinkle to Abby's eyes that held Douglas fast.

      Well, Douglas, again it was nice to meet you. We will see more of each other, I'm sure. Take care now.

      Bye. Douglas watched Abby cross back over and then go inside her gray-green one story.

      He let out a sigh and then turned towards his own front door and ambled up the walk, still unable to shake the grin from his lips.

      * * *

      At 7 a.m., the alarm went off and Douglas struggled to untangle himself from his sheets in order to silence the blaring sound. Another day had begun but something was definitely different. More specifically, Douglas realized that the first thing in his mind upon waking was Abby Simpson and that disturbed him greatly. Though, as he went through the motions of waking up, squinting in the near darkness of his bedroom and stumbling to the bathroom to shower to, her haunting face was soon chased from his mind by the day's schedule.

      After the shower had removed the last vestiges of grogginess from him, Douglas threw on a pair of sweatpants and a hooded shirt then entered his smallish kitchen. All in all, his house was just big to accommodate him and his elusive cat Felix. But this was fine. It was the way he planned things. Douglas had always been a loner. His thirtieth birthday

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