Closed Species Novels & Stories

I pulled a thick legal document from my purse. "What's that?" Damien asked, suspicious. "Our prenuptial agreement," I said, placing it on the table. "Article 15. The Betrayal Clause." The elders leaned in, their eyes scanning the page like vultures circling a kill. An elder read the clause aloud, his voice grim. "In the event of 'catastrophic operational failure due to gross negligence,' resulting in financial loss exceeding one million dollars or the arrest of family personnel, the aggrieved party has the right to immediately terminate the alliance and recall all invested assets."

She was showing off expensive jewelry, beaming as she wrote, [Someone who loves you will give you the very best. I clicked [Not Interested], desperate to avoid seeing more of their lovesick posts. When my name was called, the doctor asked one last time if I was sure. "The baby is developing well. It's really a shame to terminate now." I nodded, swallowing back tears, and signed the consent form. I told myself over and over that the pain would be temporary as the nurse prepared the anesthesia. "Do you have a family member here? This procedure requires someone to sign off." I shook my head. "No, it's just me."

Zalu explains sadly, and I want to throw up. The image she has painted in my mind is awful. Now I know how serious these fights can get and I can't do anything to protect my Capt. "The Froles still haven't learned. They mate with each other 97% of the time," Xiu whispers, and Zalu gives her a sad smile.

“ What, it’s not like I’ll die of lung cancer, “ he said pulling the cig out of his mouth. He took a big inhale of it and exhaled it out of his nostrils “There are children here. They don’t need to get a bad idea of doing that, “ Argue. “ Well, it’s not like they’ll die from lung cancer, “ he countered “ Whatever, it’s still gross, “ I said moving on. I suddenly realized it was daytime. I didn’t know much about any other supernatural beings, but I did know that vampires did burn in the sun. It was not a preferred way of doing so I’ve heard. “ How are you outside? It’s freaking daytime you freak! “ I exclaim “ My ring. Didn’t they teach you that in werewolf school, “ he says putting out his c

I nod. We stop at a door with no handle, just a keypad. The waitress types a code, the light turns green, and she pushes it open. "Wait here. I'll be back with Ms. Jade in two minutes." I step inside. The VIP suite is all black leather and dim gold light, a curved sofa dominating the center, a one-way mirror covering the far wall. Through it, I can see the entire club below—the dance floor, the bar, the booths. But they can't see me.

All she needs is just to close her eyes and sleep. George noticed her lack of interest and he stopped kissing her to look into her eyes, he sighed when he saw how tightly she closed her eyes and groaned, “what is going on, Irene? Why are avoiding me these days? What is going on? Don't I attract you any more, or do I have a smell you don't like? I have only made love to you twice in the past two months now. How are we going to have babies if I don't touch you? Or do you still need some time? Speak to me, honey, I am dying in silence.”

He's s her open up the side, trying to explain himself. Eva went home and cried so hard until she's asleep. So many things are running through her mind. She couldn't wrap her head around the idea that he was cheating on her. Feeling so much heartache, Eva went home and locked her door. Then she went straight to bed and cried even harder. After a while of crying, Eva loud knock outside her door. She stood up and opened only to Jack. "Eva—" but just slammed the door shut. "Eva! Open the door, please!" Jack begged. "If you will not open this, I will kick it open!" She stopped walking away from the door. Contemplating if Jack was serious. Then she decided to open it finally.

"We've spent years learning how to stay open." Charlotte nodded. "Now we have to learn how to close some doors." The statement sounded almost radical after so many years defending possibility. Yet both understood. A life without closure was no more alive than a life without openness. Living systems breathed through rhythm. Expansion. Contraction. Curiosity. Commitment. Discovery. Devotion. The future would require both. --- Months later, Sophie presented one final observation to the Sanctuary. She projected a simple graph. Unlike her earlier analyses, it contained almost no technical language.