Halo Answers 2023 Summer Novels & Stories

“It's understandable though.” “And why is that?” I took a sip from my hot chocolate. “You're a part of the moon. You're its halo,” he told me. “Such a beautiful halo if I may add.” I blushed. “I love you, my beautiful halo.” He leaned in and his lips met mine. “I love you too,” I murmured once we pulled away.

The entire time we walk in silence but I know Dante has something on his mind. He absentmindedly touches his lips, licking them, grinds his teeth together, and keeps looking back. I pull him to a stop, and I want to know, what is he doing? “Something smells wonderful,” he whispered. I remember the monster in the forest. I tell Dante a half-life and a truth. I found a monster with delicious honey, I ate him, and now he is gone. Not dead, but gone, and that is all he needs to know, that is all he will ever know about how I survived the Danger of Daylight.

“Then let us proceed.” The clerk turned her attention to Halo first. "Please state your full name." Halo inhaled. "Halo Alfred Remington." She didn’t think it would feel like this at first, but the thought of knowing that this would be the last time she would officially refer to herself as Halo Remington felt like.......relief. The clerk nodded and then shifted to Talon. Despite already knowing him. It was customary that they stated their names themselves. “ "And yours?" "Talon Sullivan Ashwood."

I breathe in ghost jazz, bacon, and the faint sulfur of the springs. The crown settles, warm and quiet. HOME: Hot Springs, Arkansas Status: Safe Threat Level: Zero (for now) Next stop: Atlantis (whenever they’re dumb enough to surface) I grin at my ridiculous family (living, dead, shifter, fire, fox, oni, monk, queen). Celeste: “Summer break officially starts now. Pool’s open. Ghosts are bartending. And the world can wait another week before we drown it.” Al raises a glass of something definitely not legal.

The head of the orphanage found me in the middle of the scorching summer, which was why he named me Theros Sommar. When Daisy learned of it, she then said that moving forward, the summer solstice every year would be my birthday. She then prepared birthday gifts for me and even baked a birthday cake for me to celebrate. Ever since my gastric bleeding the other day, she had forbidden me from drinking again. But the mood back then had been just right, so I pestered her until she gave in and allowed me to drink some red wine. One thing led to another, and that night, she finally gave herself wholly to me.

Jace exhales. “ I don't know yet” Alex answered, looking back at his laptop. “ Okay, the contest is also this weekend. I have had a long week because you took a break” Jace said, rolling his eyes. “Sorry boo bear” Alex said, “ what no way! Only Zara has the right to call me that” Jace voiced, scrunching his face in disgust. Alex chuckles.