Dr. John NYC

The language of the Mogul Emperor is confusing but I get that it is part of his mystique. I think what may feel jarring to some is that the cadence of your normal writing and his language is so different. Still, I can see how that may be part of what you are weaving into the final fabric of your story. Certainly, you are part of a long tradition in that regard. You can think of characters in many stories who speak in such mystical, oracular language: Dune (as you mentioned), Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, et al. Like the other comments, I will be holding my breath waiting for the next chapter to see if Elyran can convince Marati of his deep and abiding love.

Painful. No, not the story: it's great fun although I feel as though you're constantly biting your tongue to keep from all out laughing, comicfan. No, what is painful is the way you measure out the information, one grain at a time. It's like watching some artsy commercial where a desperate househusband is pouring rice in slow motion: painful. Way to keep us hooked! PS: Any chance the blind date could be Daniel? He certainly caught Jonas' attention.

All the work was definitely worth the effort, Hasimir: great chapter! I'm excited to see what happens now that they are out of the prison -- not that I think that life is going to become significantly easier outside. Elyran's trust in Maraki was truly inspirational, and I'm glad they both enjoyed their initial lovemaking -- for it was definitely lovemaking in my opinion -- despite the initial pain and damage for Elyran. Let us hope he finds a healer soon. Maybe the growing use of his magic will speed the healing? Once again, can't wait for the next chapter!

OK, Sar is forgiven for being such a blind "pendejo" at times. (Sorry, but the Spanish word just has the right sound.) Plus, I finally see that it is not that it is not so much that he is being blind: it's that he thinks differently, and especially when all hell is breaking loose, his thought processes just don't align with Glory's. Guess, I should have seen it earlier as I've been living that same dilemma for more than 2 decades. Anyway, Nephyllim, your characters are fabulous: frustrating, annoying, pedantically, realistically fabulous -- just like real people! On to book 3...

I was so engrossed that I wasn't going to respond until I had finished, but this chapter was really disturbing. I don't understand why Sar would phrase things the way he did after Glory had just come out of that lab having been "studied" almost to death. I know Sar was a bit dense on the empathy side at times, but this time it seems as though he was much denser than ever before. At least Glory is home again and has flashes of trust in Sar. Ok, back to reading -- and hoping things resolve well.

Something very intriguing is happening. I wonder how long until someone connects it to the broken paperweight? Thanks for your story!

What a cliffhanger, Hasimir! So many questions left -- and at just the point where we were going, I hope, to hear Elyran say that he loves Maraki, too. REALLY looking forward to the next chapter!!! John

WOW!!! What an incredibly moving love scene. For a romantic like myself, you captured the moment with just the right blend of details and emotions: friendship, caring, concern, and above all the love that is growing between the two of them. I cannot guess whether their friendship love will grow into romantic love, but even if not the latter, it will be satisfying. One question: do the words and phrases in Ogrushkai come from an existing language? If not, have you formed the basic grammar of the language you created? Thanks again, Hasimir, for a wonderful story! John

Haunting, incredibly sad and yet such an intriguing insight into the souls of two people. It was a compelling read, Hasimir, but I think I am glad that it was only a short story.

How long will it take before Ryker can trust and love again? Will he and Seral have that much time before political realities of their world and the universe at large intrude on their bonding? Me thinks not with Cia telling their story -- at least not as much as they would really like to have. Fascinating new universe you're creating, Cia!

I'd say dramatic is definitely an understatement! I'm sad that Ellis had to kill and to do it via his newly formed fangs and venom, and yet I'm glad that he did it -- and not for himself but for his mate. How Carthera! In many ways, that scene showed more than even the fangs and venom how much he has changed since his bonding and mating with Dav. Your comment about it being the beginning of the end for the series, however, was perhaps the most shocking thing of all. I was thinking as I finished the chapter how much new information you wove into the time leading up to the fight: Wheril, Bob, and others all pointed to fantastic directions for new stories in this wonderful universe you have created. I do hope that you reconsider it being the end! Now, as my heart slows down to something more normal: THANKS, Cia!

I, too, love your characters and the fact that, at their core, they want to be good people -- whatever their race or evolutionary past. (Thanks, sorgbarn, for verbalizing that fact first!) Though the fantasy part of this story gives it a different slant from your others, the quality of your characters and the almost mathematically precise but deeply emotional use of the language connects it with them and creates, yet again, a reading experience that makes me happy to see a new chapter having been added. Danke schön, Hasimir! PS: One of my goals when I retire is to get closer to your command of English in another language. Your writing nurtures my dream!

Ditto to the others' comments about enjoying the first chapter. You certainly have put enough hooks in to make me eagerly await the next chapter -- without making it so cryptic as to be offputting. Congratulations on your first creative writing efforts -- I look forward to more!

No earthshattering theories of how Henry escapes (assuming that he does...), but I have to profess a strong optimism that he will escape -- because I still want him to get toether with Gonzalez, and not just for drinks! I do like the idea of him leveraging the precarious balance of the wheelbarrow and perhaps assisting Billy into the alligator pond instead of himself. That would be too easy of an end for Bridget, howver, and would still leave Sanchez and B'stoke without an end that would tie obviously into hers (not that I have any doubts that CJ could construct an ending that would connect them all). None of these musings seem to connect to the foreshadowing that CJ mentions, except maybe the twisting balance of the wheelbarrow. The other point is that I still don't know what the plan is for killing Trevor without raising even more suspicions. So perhaps for the moment he really IS going to "be" a reporter and string the 4 along until everything is fitting together. Killing them all there in the restaurant does not fit the elegant though intricate simplicity of CJ's plots. At least we have more time to think about what might happen, right? Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Añon Nuevo! Bonne Année! Ein guten Rutsch! All the best in 2012!

How intriguing the mixing of cultures in the wedding and earlier events! I love the description of the walls changing when the flowers are put in the alcoves, and the ritual of both parties collecting flowers from other people but capped off with the heart flower from their mate made me want to see the film version of this story. I'm so glad you are continuing the story because it really does have a life of its own now. PS: I can't wait to see how long before Seeon realizes that there is no First Wife!

Wonderful to see more about the interactions among the 3 boys, and particularly as it might connect to the dolphins seeing them as a pod. I also liked learning more about how Attunga is set up and governed. Now to learn more about the dolphins and what they want...

Good start! I'm certainly intrigued by the double husband-double wife structure of the royal family. Is it just for the royals or does it occur among others in the land? Looking forward to learn more in the coming chapters! John

Not sure how you do it, but I swear the level of adrenalin rise goes up with each chapter recently. Whew! Now, does the mistake of George cancel out the mistake of Gonzalez and Henry (who I still think should end up as boyfriends), kind of like a double negative in English or does it reinforce the impact like a double negative in Spanish?

I share the previous sentiment: 2 steps forward and, at least this time, 3 steps back or so it feels. It certainly does get the adrenalin flowing early in the morning! Better go take my meds or I'll be joining Canuk in the cardiac unit. Although you do want to smack Lisa for continuing to use the guesthouse and tell Bridget too much, I can understand her reluctance to close off that relationship when Bridget is the first mother figure in her life for a long time. She at least continues to have doubts. I agree with other posters, that I have hope that some combination of Greg, Henry, Gonzalez -- or other twist of plot -- will ultimately keep Joel and Lisa out of jail on drug charges. It was certainly a smirking kind of irony that both George as well as Gonzalez and Henry seem to have gotten sloppy. I do keep wondering if Henry and Gonzalez will end up as boyfriends. Thanks for another captivating chapter! Now, where is that blasted Basingstoke... John

Certainly gets more and more intriguing, comicfan. I must admit I'm looking forward to finding out for what Seeon should have been tested. I'm thinking that he has some of the psychic powers that his sisters did, but for some reason if feels as though there is something more. Maybe we'll learn more in the next chapter??? I must say that from the brief meeting so far, I am continuing to think that Seeon is likely to be better off in the new land than in his homeland. Thanks, comicfan! John

Cia, I know this story has been out for quite awhile, but I just discovered it and wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. The ambiguity between what light and dark means (physical, spiritual, psychological, or a mix of things) makes it deliciously intriguing -- and just a touch frustrating. That question and my desire to understand certainly kept me reading. I also love the message about how it takes the dark to fully display the light and vice versa. Certainly that is a message that resonates with me. Thanks for yet another touching story! John

Seeon may not have much choice, but one can always hope that what he finds in the new kingdom may be better than what s/he expects. Thanks for another intriguing chapter!

As others have already commented, incredible to see so many threads woven back together from the Prolog onward, but also still more threads still to weave -- thank goodness as I like so many others am thinking about what happens to our weekly plans when "The End" appears. The one thing I will say in disbelief is that Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Trev's grandparents) really did name a daughter Rachel Shelly Smith. Shame on them! They could honor the grandmother with a mass, or a plaque, or even a building, but saddling a kid with a name like that is cruel. PS: Thanks for not leaving us in suspense of what Rachel would think about Trev and Shane's relationship!

Surprised? No. Flabbergasted stunned, astounded? Yes. Incredulous? Yes. Trying to realign my head, neck, and body from the whiplash? Yes. WOW! That was definitely some chapter, Cia. Not to mention ending in a major cliffhanger. My favorite touch was that Ellis is starting to smell with his tongue. Me thinks the mate bond is definitely not broken. More! More! MORE!!!