Ted Archives

April 16, 2007

Ted: In the Houses of the Holy

The Regina stood straight for the first time in years. She stared the beat cop in the eye, defiant, until I arrived.

I knew the Rex had a protege, but not that she was female. Or so young.

"You okay? The medics would like to make sure you're ok before they leave." I knew she was the Regina now, but I was not one of her subjects. And I sure as hell wasn't going to arrest her for killing the Rex.

"I'm fine, Detective. I'm ready to go."

"Miss, you won't be charged."

"Then I'm really ready. To go home."

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April 17, 2007

Ted: Inner Voice

The doorbell and the telegram surprised her. Hearing from her dad after thirty eight years surprised her. Who even sends telegrams anymore, anyway?

She read the telegram. Well, guess I'll go. Packed an overnight bag, rented a car, and drove out to New Mexico.

The desert was a wonderland of color. The night air was colder than she thought it would be. This is a freaking desert, why the hell do I feel like I need a sweater?

She parked and steadied her nerves. She poured the gasoline and lit the match. I wonder where I can find a motel.

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April 18, 2007

Ted: The Night of the Wicker

Susan held Uzay's hand as they walked up the path. She could hear the cries of the crowd, see the flames.

"Honey, explain this to me again? What is this all about?"

"Susan, trust me, this is just the first night. If you don't have fun, we don't have to come back. But it's tradition."

"But Uzay, why have a Furniture Festival in the first place?"

"This community is populated by folks from the Old Country. They went through hardships aplenty to survive and make their way to these shores. The festival commemorates their flight from the evil Ottoman Empire."

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April 19, 2007

Ted: Three Dukes for Penny

I stepped through the mirror and straight into the lab of Penny's father.

He was there. Along with three very well dressed gentlemen.

"Interesting spell, son. Came right through all my protections like they weren't there. How's it work?"

"It is a simple spell I learned at a young age. Primative compared to your art. You probably just didn't have your spells set to detect it. But I'm here for Penny's sake, sir, and it's rather important."

"These three are here for her, too. But I must say your entrance puts you way ahead in the suitor department."

"Suitor?" Shit.

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April 23, 2007

Ted: Duck, Duck, Goose

"Eeeeeeeeeeeek!"

"The Phantom Gooser strikes again!" thought Edward as he ducked down below the serpentine arrangement of clothing hangers. The elephantine mall afforded him a perfect feeding ground for his ravenous appetites. The rabbit's warren of back passeges along with his security key gave him plenty of opportunity to stirke mongoose swift then fade like a cockroach.

The job was ideal for another reason. The food court where the mall rats hung out gave him plenty of pigeons on which to prey. So many high school girls, and some middle schoolers, loved getting off 'free' after they got caught shoplifting.

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April 24, 2007

Ted: Leaving the Nest

"Dad, I have something to talk to you about. It's really hard to say in person, knowing how you feel, so that's why I'm leaving you this."

I had no idea what my daughter was about to say in her note. Was she pregnant? Did she drop out? God, no, she can't be dong this to me!

"Dad, you always taught us to make up our own minds about things and to be be true to ourselves. I am doing that now when I tell you this. Please realize I have thought this out completely."

"Dad, I'm a Republican now."

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April 25, 2007

Ted: Her Oldest Friend

Fast forward fifteen years, and am walking in to ask the Regina to repay an old debt. She has built herself a reputation for strength, sense, and stability. Darker things were only hinted at, never spoken aloud.

Still, I wasn't ready for the woman I saw before me. The skinny little girl I saw back then had been replaced by a beautiful woman. Her hair and body both shone with health. Her eyes were hooded though. I didn't know if that was from fear of me or shame that I was the only one alive who knew what had happened.

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May 1, 2007

Ted: Nyekulturny

The Regina was loved by her proles. They came to her with certain skills or she helped them gain new ones. Her people were not divided by income: they all got equal shares. Individual accomplishment was rewarded with time off. An extremely well done job landed one of her proles on Jamaica for six months.

The Kraut and Old Zar ruled thier realms by fear, but defered to the Regina when Accounting Day came.

So I stood, in a room so unlike that one fifteen years ago, and asked her to break faith with her people.

"I need a name."

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June 22, 2007

Ted: No Loose Ends

Eloise had been having one of her best days in the last two years. The spa treatment had been a luxury too long denied. Lunch at Phillipe's was near divine.

But the best was yet to come. The sun was wending its way rapidly down towards the sea as she stood at the the edge of Promontory Rock.

She left the letter for her son, grown now with kids of his own, with the limo driver as she sent him on his way. She didn't require the car any more that day.

Here is where she would cure her cancer.

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June 26, 2007

Ted: The End of the Beginning

The Greater Circle: eighty-one men stood firm.

The Lesser Circle: nine women were ready.

The Inner Circle -- one man, one woman, and the Child -- began the dance.

The Child led them. The lines in the stone began to vibrate, filling their world with music. Each step was perfect -- befitting dancers who had drilled since they could walk. The patterns in the floor began to glow as the Power they raised began to pass through them.

As each dancer died, the Child channeled their Power into the Seal, locking the monster away.

The monster bargained for it's freedom until the last.

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