Adam Andrews Johnson

Z’Matri was oblivious to the spell that had incapacitated almost every Shift around Teshon City. He was hiking back toward the city of Duguza with the Shift who did not realize she was a Shift, Illastria. She had insisted on returning to the cottage high in the forested mountains to check in with her wife and child, and once Illastria was satisfied that her family was safe, she and Z’Matri started back down again. Illastria was intrigued by his offer. “So what kind of job do you have in m

An urgent banging came from the front door of the house where the mystic lived with his husband and daughter. He peeked through the peephole and saw a neighbor whom he recognized but did not know by name. He opened the door. “Hello, friend,” the mystic began. “Is your daughter alright?” The mystic did not know what that meant. He looked back at Lahari, who was sitting at the dinner table with Theolan. “She’s fine. Why do you ask?” “Three Shift women who live upstairs from

Before the attack on the Dusty Oyster, a large group of Demifae leadership and officers had been gathered together at their headquarters. “Abernathy is dead,” Gilnik declared. “We have no choice. He has moved up our timetable, and we need to act much sooner than we were expecting. My crew has been gathering intel on the center where Abernathy bungled the attack and all his men were slaughtered. We will be the ones to take it out. Shifts have gotten too bold of late, and they need to be re

It was the middle of the afternoon and the sun was shining, as Dozi and Tchama headed to the Shifton Youth Outreach Center. Auntie Peg and Dotty Marbles had invited them to come meet the three new arrivals. “Hi, gals,” Auntie Peg said as Dozi and Tchama entered. The queens gave them each little air kisses, and Auntie Peg added, “Dot and I intended to introduce you to all three of our new friends, but the younger two girls have run upstairs to play with Fennah. There’s no telling when they’l

Olona’s eyelids slid up. Dozi was seated beside the exam chair where she had been sleeping. “Hey there, you,” Dozi said quietly. “Welcome back.” She smiled. Olona winced as she sat upright. She took a sharp breath and asked in a weak voice, “Is he dead?” Dozi smirked. “You mean, the guy whose foot… and then head you blew off? Yes, he’s pretty dead. Lahari told us about everything.” Olona lay back again. “Do you want me to help you get into bed?” Dozi offered. “Y

While Gawa was heading with her group to the armory, Tisa was in a much larger contingent of Shifts on their way to the Heights. Unlike Gawa’s crew, who were stealthy in their initial assault, those in Tisa’s crowd were determined to be seen by as many people as possible. They were carrying torches, and quite a few of them were singing a song in the native language of the people of Duguza. A bell began ringing out, and one of the Shifts marching beside Tisa said, “That’s the city watch’s

The city armory was a building that sat at the nasty waterfront. It had been built in that location when the river was still usable, but even as the waters soured, the building remained the weapons storage facility for the city of Duguza. Gawa was with a small group of Shifts sneaking up one of the dark streets toward the stink of the river, and their destination. Gawa’s entire unique body, with marble-like patterns swirling across her skin, was hidden from view. She was wearing boots, tr

Far away from Teshon City, Z’Matri, Tisa, and Gawa were on three separate missions. With Tisa and Gawa’s assassinations of the mayor and the chief of the watch, the city of Duguza was in chaos. Three different politicians had attempted to seize control of the mayor’s position, and the city’s guilds were beginning to fracture. Their members were unsure who they were supposed to report to with their financials, and several important groups’ leaderships were in upheaval. The dead commander of

Auntie Peg and Dotty Marbles were in the middle of a reading lesson for the children at the Shifton Youth Outreach Center, when a trio of young people suddenly appeared out of thin air. “Oh my stars and moons and planets!” Auntie Peg exclaimed to them. “Hello there, what a lovely little Bio-Shift you are. I’m Peggy, and this is Dot. Welcome to the Shifton Youth Outreach Center. What are your names?” All the children who lived at the center were there except Nunyani. The slime-cover

Olona was struggling to breathe. The pain in her chest was excruciating, and she could not move. Lahari and S’Kay needed to help her up from the concrete, and Olona was not able to stand on her own. “Take me… inside,” she managed to get out, and she nodded back toward her shop, the First Organic Mechanic of Teshon City. The three women left Abernathy’s corpse in the gutter, and they entered. “I need…” Olona attempted, but she could not get her words out. She pointed at her t

I really appreciate hearing your feedback, especially when its about something that happens in the story which is different than what you hoped or wanted to happen... my editor had completely different thoughts from yours on this chapter haha and my partner thought something completely different as well! I toyed with the idea that Croosen would become a Shift-ally, but I wrote her to be so vile earlier in the book that it didn't feel like she deserved redemption. I also considered making her death linger and making her suffer, but that idea seemed like a little overkill (I know, I know, a lot of my stuff is overkill haha) I just didn't want to force readers to have to suffer along with her. I do like your idea that Abernathy could have ended up taking her out, which would have been fun, but in the end, death-by-squish felt like a satisfying way for me to remove her permanently

Abernathy awoke in surroundings that disturbed him. He sat bolt upright and vomited stinking putrescence all over the already foul alleyway where he had passed out. The group of Demifae who were hunting him had not found him. The sun was beaming down, and Abernathy did not know how long he had been unconscious, but he wanted to get out of the disgusting alley. He pushed himself up and saw the dead body of the green-furred Biological Shift lying in the gutter. Abernathy knew people were af

With the sun pounding down and the narrow streets congested with people heading to and from the city’s many day-markets, Croosen stumbled through the crowd. She was only partially aware of those around her. Her neck surgery throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the suffering in her mind. The murdered Biological Shift’s memories remained no more than incoherent flashes of things that made no sense to Croosen, and they were pervasive. Thoughts of the other inhabitants who had lived in th

Djaruki awoke before Tygo or Filiou, and seeing the two girls sleeping peacefully made her smile. She could hear quiet noises coming from downstairs, and she tried to rise without waking her two young traveling companions, but they stirred. Filiou’s eyes began to shimmer. She sat up, stretched, and said, “Good morning, Djaruki.” Tygo opened her eyes and gave Djaruki a big smile. She scrunched down, pulled the blankets tight around her face, and exclaimed, “Morning!” She sounded very

Olona pulled open the front door of the Shifton Youth Outreach Center, and she entered. A hammer was hanging from her belt. “Well hey there, doll!” Auntie Peg called out to her. “Hi, Peggy. Is Sumi around?” Auntie Peg nodded toward the back of the center. “She’s gardening with some of the kids. Head on out there with them.” “Thanks,” Olona replied. She went through to the enclosed courtyard behind the center and called out, “Hey, everyone!” Nunyani ran up and gave her a h