Monday, May 8, 2017

Tuesday Tales - Mother




It`s time for Tuesday Tales.



 Welcome back! “Mother” is our word this week. Today I’m sharing snippets from my new M/M shifter romance, An Erie Uprising, which will be the final novella in the Lake Erie shifter series.

In this excerpt, Templeton is fleeing the scene of a rebellion bomb that has just destroyed the OTTER (Office for Transmogrification Registration) building where he worked. He’s desperate to get back to Lupei Manor and check on his parents and Mikel, as well as the others who call the manse home.

This story may have gay erotic scenes, strong social issues addressed and mature language. If those things offend now is the time to move onto another Tuesday Tales blog. Thanks for stopping by!



I curled into a ball, stuffing my nose under my tail, and tried to keep my brain active. It was a short ride, and thankfully so, for as scattered and shaken as I was, I’d been having trouble focusing on staying awake. When the truck bounded and bounced in and out of a pot hole, I squeezed myself back between the kegs a bit more and waited. The door on the rear opened and light flooded the back. I grimaced at the sunshine. The driver was whistling. I hunkered down, belly flat to the icy cold flooring. The keg I was hiding behind moved. I arched my back and stamped my feet. The driver took one look at me and dove out of the back of the delivery truck cussing like a sailor.

Long nails scrabbling for purchase, I hustled my fuzzy ass out of that truck, hit the ground with a ‘Fwump!’ and then took off in the direction of home. Running down the road I warmed up, my thoughts got a bit clearer, and my worry grew heavier. Once I smelled familiar land – and the heavy scent of wolf – I left the roadway and used the rocky shore of Lady Erie to guide me back to Lupei Manor.

The looming mansion was shrouded in fog as a cool front rolled over the still warm water. I paid no heed to the mist or the gargoyles sitting so high above. I hit the doors at a dead run, leaping and scratching, chattering wildly, trying to get someone’s attention. After a moment, it came to me that I could shift and turn the damn door knob, which I did. Eru was standing on the steps running a feather duster along the hand-carved balustrade when I ran inside, panting madly, my backside bared to her gaze. As was my frontside. She screamed and shoved her pointed face into the feather duster. I cupped my genitals and bellowed for Rugby. As soon as I saw him rushing down the stairs, I spoke to him.

“Find me some pants – and some brandy - and then meet me in the library,” I said while backing away from the tiny girl with her face firmly buried in ostrich feathers. Rugby took Eru by the elbow and led her back to the second floor. I turned tail and bolted to the library to wait for my trousers and my loved ones to arrive. Loved ones! By Fenris, my parents! What had become of them? I dove for the old black phone sitting on a petite little side table just outside the library. The dampness of the keep was creeping through my bare feet and up the back of my thighs. Lifting the handset from the cradle, I spun the dial several times and bounced from one foot to the other.

When my mother answered I nearly wept. “Mom, are you safe?”

“Templeton! Oh, thank the Elders!” I grimaced at the old saying. “Your father has been calling your mobile phone ever since the news about the offices came over the radio.”

“I’m fine. Just a little shaken. Mom, I want you and dad to throw some clothes into a bag. I’m going to send Rugby to fetch you and get you on a plane.”

“Templeton what happened at the OTTER office? Mikel? Is he safe? They’re saying it was a rebel bomb. Do you know anything about that? Why? Why do people have to blow things up? Why can’t they just all get along?”

“Because change always comes with loss, Mom. Please, get some clothes packed. Rugby will come get you and take you to the airport in Erie. Fly down to Texas and visit Cousin Felicity.”

“But Templeton, those hog-nosed skunks are always so uppity.”

“Mom,” I had to inhale to calm myself. “Just go to Texas. I’ll pay. I need to know that you’re safe.”

“Okay, Templeton, we’ll go visit Felicity. Promise me you’ll stay far away from all this uprising stuff.”

“I’ll do what I can about the uprising, Mom.” She sighed so I assumed that she’d been placated. “Now go pack. Rugby will be there in thirty minutes.”

“Call me when this unpleasantness is over.”

“I will, I promise. Give Dad a hug for me. I love you.” I gently replaced the handset into the cradle. The major domo stepped out of the shadows to my right, clothing draped over his arm. I never flinched. I guess once one has had a bomb go off twenty feet from him, an elderly Elven halfling appearing out of nowhere loses its shock value.

“You heard my conversation with my mother?” I asked while shaking out then stepping into a clean pair of dark blue khakis. He handed me my spare spectacles which I quickly slid on.

“Yes, Master Reed. I’ve already made the reservations for the flight to Corpus Christie and used Master Lupei’s black American Express.”

“Good man.” I pulled an old sweater over my head. “Get my parents on that plane. I’m entrusting you with their care.”

“I shall deliver them safely onto the airplane. Master Reed?” My head popped out of the sweater’s stretched neck. “Is it true that a bomb detonated in town?”

“Yes. Yes, it’s true.” I touched the scab on my cheek. “Things will never be the same for any of us here in the manor. Now go. I’ll go rouse the rest. May the Elders… I mean may the gods of the North watch over you.”




Copyright 2017 ©by V.L. Locey

*~*~*

Click on the link below to return to the Tuesday Tales main blog for more great reads from the Tuesday Tales authors.




3 comments:

Susanne Matthews said...

Wow! Great scene. Can't wait to find out what happens next!

Jean Joachim Books said...

Love the mother and son banter, so true to life! Templeton is a wonderful character, and yet he's a skunk! I need to know why the bomb went off and who set it. This story is heating up so well.

Jillian said...

Love the feather duster part! Great story so far.