http://slow.writerscafe.org/TKBickel The original writings of author TKBickel en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1775986545 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 The Crossroads’ Enchantment I find myself spellbound at the center of the dusty crossroads. A passerbymight wonder if I'm here to tempt the fate of my soul...but no. Who reallybelieves in those silly legends anyways? It's the surroundingbeauty that has me firmly .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/1210183/ EM Faustus was so kind to lend me his world to create a short story. If you are a fan of EMF and read ‘Dog’ (on Amazon.com, gees where have you been) you might enjoy this little tale or tail http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/1070889/ The Dark Secret of Ms. Lily’s Roses From a darkened bedroom, Alice Holt peered nervously through the cracked window blinds at the pristine two-story white house across the street. Her mind could practically see through the house to its backyard containing a greenhouse and an extensive.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/1061969/ Blood rush, adrenaline pumped and all senses sharpened. She stood between the brothers but her natural need to protect them goaded a forward step. The crunch of the snow under her foot sounded unnaturally loud in her ears. She wanted to be the first out of the gate to chase the miniature vampire d.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/1037497/ For the Helena's Blue Rose Cafe Group special contest. Check out the group and try it yourself. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/1020044/ Goggons was at a loss. "What's going on?" Sam's fingers raked long dirty blonde fringes out of his deep blue eyes. "Long story short, this band and us don't mix well. They seem to heighten our…moodiness. And from the looks of it, ‘Street Rules’ just engaged. The last time that.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/1014942/ Too much frustration powered her right hook, taking down her mammoth sparring partner. Damn it! I'm going to hurt him if I don't control myself better. Samantha thought as she hurried to help the down man. She spit out her clear rubbery mouth guard. "Are you okay?" The man jumped up and shook hi.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/1010947/ Prologue "Quiet woman! Do not push me any further or you will regret it!" Sarrsus paced circles around an old woman sitting cross-legged on the dirt floor.             Her palms rested lightly on her knees. Every muscle relaxed an.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/999239/ Following A Hunters Evolution from the Forever Hunting Series Samantha has an idea of who and what she is but who are truly her allies? Don’t judge a person or being by what they are but who they are http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/999230/             My breath quickened as I first laid eyes on the beautiful towering building. Smiling, I pulled into the parking lot, buzzing with activity. ‘Yes I know, it's been a while,’ I thought. ‘Responsibilities of family a.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/967700/ One soft simple request blindsided her. She never thought anything like this would or could happen to her. Sitting silently on the bed with her jaw hung open on a hinge, her mind shut down not knowing what to do. She didn’t realize her lungs abandoned her too until Sam reminded her, “S.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/958614/ Mick found himself in another unusual situation. Standing in a witch’s living room, almost butt naked, with an almost butt naked witch circling him. The dreaded tingle began to ebb its way across his skin.Kelsey stopped in front of him with a simple request. “Raise your arm please.&r.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/958595/ Mick strolled around Kelsey’s living room. It wasn’t close to what he envisioned a witch’s house would look like, as in dark velvet, jars of pickled foreign looking animals and maybe Vincent Price laughing in the background. Don’t forget a big black kettle in a huge firepla.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/958590/ The rage took Sam by surprise. Still holding her inferno face, his grip hardened to keep Malmisha from jerking away. “What the hell?” He peered deeper in the hazy hate filled eyes. “Sammie where are you? It’s time to evict this spirit.”“I’m not leaving u.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/957158/ Mick’s eyebrow rose. “Excuse me, you mean me?”Samantha’s lips pulled with a strange smile. “It’s most definitely you. You were her protector back then and seem to be now…to a point. I’m truly impressed of your dedication. I would have adventured a.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/957156/ Samantha sensed herself falling forward. Sam’s worried call, asking if she was ok, sounded distant. A long drugged out minute pasted as the numbness melted away. Her brain felt crowded. Like a child being scolded, something shoved her conciseness into a small corner of her mind. Feeling retu.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/957155/ The cool breezy night whipped around the mysterious group of rocks. Being the bewitching hour added to the eeriness of their situation as the four hiked up from the dark road towards the center of the historical stones. Samantha felt a low vibration, like a hum of flowing power. Sam avoided smashi.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/957154/ Days later, four bodies jammed into a classic Mini Cooper and raced down the twisted English countryside roads. Mick tried to keep his personal protest under wraps about the fiery redhead witch, way to good looking for his comfort, in the driver seat. No-way was he going to sit in the front seat n.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955991/ Quietly, Castella quizzed Samantha. “Do you know what it says or mean?”Samantha studied it again as strange familiarity nagged. “It’s like I should know it but the meaning is just beyond my reach.” She became frustrated, desperation clawed at her, doing nothing but .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955983/ The trio entered the house while the others had some business to finish in the woods. Mick took the lead and was greeted with a warm smile by the older woman. “Don’t be shy. Come on in.” Sam followed Mick as Samantha shadowed Sam. She fidgeted and rubbed at the drying blood on he.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955978/ Vivid green sparkled in Samantha’s eyes. “Aren’t you the stupid little Demon or do you have a crush on my man?”Sam’s smile deepened to how good the sound of ‘my man’ coming from her made him feel.“B***h!” Short, dark and depressing had the .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955506/ A swirl of fog blanked the land. The red SUV Goggons drove swam through it to a cottage in the middle of no where. Samantha thought the stone house, with an old style thatched roof, looked very cozy and quaint next to the dense woods. With the fog drifting around the cottage, it left an air of mys.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955493/ A new dawn to a new day arrived and Samantha decided to sleep in and miss it. Sam returned with breakfast and coffee when he met up with Mick entering their quaint Inn. He appeared like a man in need of a shower and sleep, with a glow of having way too much fun on his smiling face. “I suppos.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955485/ She was still over Sam’s shoulder when they crossed the threshold of their room. She quickly and quietly locked the door as they passed by. Sam gave her a little toss and her backside hit the bed with a déjà vu feeling. He turned to go lock the door. With her quick stealthy gra.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955188/ Time flies when you’re having fun and the next day was a blur. Mick spent the day with Shannon and Goggons played tour guide for the lovebirds. After dropping by the museum to picking up her beloved Johnny with Bonnie and Clyde, Goggons carted them to interesting historical sites and castl.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955168/ Evening approached and so was Mick’s hot date. Lying across the bed she watched him spruce up at an odd upside down angle. “You know…We could come with you…If you feel uncomfortable being alone in a foreign land.”He glanced at her odd angle. “I’ll be f.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955158/ The airplane wheels screeched on the tar mat at Dublin signaling the end of a surprisingly productive flight. Mick had a date with Shannon tonight. No surprise there. Sam and Samantha managed to get some real rest. Sam also managed to relax her fighting mood and let her hair down…literally... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/955035/ Sam lifted the chairs shared arm rest as the plane leveled off at cruising altitude. The seatbelt sign dinged off. Samantha peeked around Sam at Mick across the isle. She could feel all kinds of wacky vibes coming from him. “He’s not taking this well.”They both could see the wh.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/953533/ Sam and Samantha sat in the line of black plastic chairs at the airport terminal, waiting to load on the plane. They were busy whispering to each other while keeping an eye on Mick. He sat across from them with arms crossed and one crinkled, squinty, pissed off look. He hadn’t said a peep to.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/953532/ Sitting on the couch in her big fluffy white hotel robe and wet hair, Samantha’s fingers raced angrily across Sam’s laptop keys. She became more pissed with every answer to her questions.Muffled snores filtered up from Sam’s head, buried under his pillows while sleeping on his .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/953531/ Mick’s head leaned on the other side of the hotel room’s door while holding the key. Well it seems quiet. It turned out to be one of the strangest nights and he didn’t end up in a girl’s bed. That was a big strange right there. Macy practically crawled in his pants but Br.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/953530/ The simple blunt statement stunned Samantha. Briefly, she thought her body was in pain until he touched her cheek, rubbing a spot of blood off with his thumb. “I need you…I need you now. I will need you tomorrow. I will need you every single day after that…The question is Saman.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/953528/ Now they could see it was a male. Not quite as tall as Sam, he wore black and his shoulder length hair matched the dark night. No wonder she couldn’t totally see him. He blended in with the night’s cover. The spook seemed Greek to her and that raised more questions. This wasn’t t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/953527/ Sam opened the big wooden door for her. Stepping out into the night, she drawled in a deep breath of the cold New York air. It had been an Indian summer but it finally felt like October in New York.He wrapped his arms snuggly around her and rested his chin on top of her head. “I take it th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/952218/ Samantha’s right arm came around in a blur, grabbing the wrist of the hand that almost slapped her butt. Her thumb and index finger tip pinched either sides of the center of the man’s wrist as she contorted the bold man’s arm behind his back. She guessed this college boy, by the .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/952217/ Being a gentleman, Sam opened the big wooden front door to the bar for Samantha. He followed her as close as possible without touching. She was going to let him play his little boy games for now. Just as long he didn’t cross the line she had drawn.People started to file in for their weeken.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/952216/ Sam knew he was in for it. It was a short trip back and Samantha didn’t say one word to him. He was really hoping to beat Mick back. If she could win their little bet it could lighten the mood she’s in. Sam unlocked the door and was greeted with a victory smiling Mick on the other side.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/952215/ As they entered Wrighterby’s office, Brenda stood next to her desk with her arms crossed accompanied by a concerned look. “Are you ok?”“I’m fine.” She tossed the empty can in the basket by Brenda’s desk. “I just had a little blood sugar issue.&rdqu.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/952214/ Samantha felt the change like an electric storm brewing. She glanced over to find a dark cast and vibe all over Sam.Jack reached their little group as Samantha stuck out her hand to the professor. “Professor Wrighterby it’s good to see you.”“Come here Samantha and quit .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/952212/ The sun rose with the sound of birds singing a victory song to Mick eager to win his bet today. Juggling the morning paper and a tray of coffee, Mick fumbled the key in the door. Swinging it open, he dropped the paper at the view of a women’s taunting backside in front of Sam. His eye candy .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/951553/ “I’m not going in there!” Sam eyed the clear glassy store front and its contents. From its high heel shoes to the dresses in sight, including the bra and panties sets. Just looking at those was making him blush.Samantha shoved from behind. “Oh yes you are or you can go ba.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/951552/ Samantha had her jeans rolled up and her bare feet in Baby’s back window to absorb the early afternoon sunrays. She watched her pink toenails bounce up and down to the beat of Sheryl Crow’s ‘Everyday is a Winding Road’ playing in her ear buds. Baby dodged and weaved through.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/951550/ Sam tried to keep out of Samantha’s line of sight the whole day until evening rolled around. There was something he was dying to give her. Poking his head in the bedroom, he found her rolling clothes and stuffing them in her duffle bag. She sensed his presents even with her back to the door... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/951546/ Mick sat back in his chair watching the shouting match between his Sams across the kitchen table. Now how the hell did I loose control of this simple little discussion? This was a new and he didn’t like it one bit. He could never think of a time when they yelled at each other. Sure one might.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/948867/ Wrapping his arms around her, wafer-thin air returned back in his lungs. “God…Sammie…How did…you do that?”Lying in the wake of peace and satisfaction, she noticed the change. Besides the reawakening of the heighten senses, surge of energy and hunger. The hole in .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/948865/ Changed into her favorite dress and boots, she now drifted out to the garage to hang out with the boys. The local classic rock radio station could be heard playing Lenny Kravitz’s American Woman in the garage. Quietly she stepped through the side door and looked around. The garage looked l.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/948795/ The morning sun woke Samantha. Lying still in the warm bed, she noticed a different feeling, a touch of light heartedness. Sitting up on the side of the bed, she let her bare feet dangle. Looking down at the feet swinging back and forth, she noticed her pretty pink nail polish was almost worn off... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/948794/ The unknown of what to expect caused difficulty to breathe, her head hurt from the blood hammering through it as she stepped through the doors thresh hold. It looked like a ghostly world as she mover further into the shell of a home. Life use to be here. Now there was just an essence of it.Passi.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/945263/ A few days passed with a couple more Dr Phil sessions. Samantha finally stepped up and faced her box. This time she closed it and tucked it away in the far back regions of her mind, not wanting or hoping to use it ever again. The wall could wait until another day.Adventuring out the front door, .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/945252/ Days passed as she basically slept, ate and regain her strength. Sam continued to be the mother hen hovering, not allowing her out of his sight. She finally convinced him she wasn’t going anywhere and wanted to take a bath without him being a door stop.Flipping her head down to rub the hai.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/TKBickel/945248/